News
Construction firms honoured at Annual Awards
Coventry and Warwickshire's biggest achievements in construction in the past year have been honoured at the industry's own 'Oscars'.
The FORCE (Forum for Constructing Excellence) Awards, in its fifth year, were held at the Ricoh Arena and a number of local firms and projects picked up gongs.
Peter Deeley, the chairman of the Coventry-based Deeley Group, won the 'Special' award for his lifetime's contribution to the industry.
The North Warwickshire Justice Centre in Nuneaton was voted the Landmark building of the year after its completion by HBG Construction, while the Pride in Camp Hill community project won the Regeneration Award.
Coventry firm G.A.J Construction landed the Supply Chain prize, while Southam-based Alumet Systems won the Engineering Excellence Award for its new ABLE Façade System.
The Hill Close Garden Centre in Warwick proved it had green fingers in more ways than one by winning the Environmental Performance Award.
ISG InteriorExterior, which is currently working on the redevelopment of the Belgrade Theatre, lifted the Training Award.
Ryton-on-Dunsmore company Metropolis Architecture won the prize for Design thanks to its innovative work on a home in Leicester.
The Chairman of FORCE Dhiran Vagdia, of Kenneth Holmes Associates, said: "It was another wonderful occasion and, once again, we could honour some magnificent achievements.
"There were winners from right across the region – all of which were extremely deserving after coming up against some very stiff competition."He added: "It is only right that we pay tribute to everything that is great about construction in this area – be it personal or collective."
"The industry is absolutely crucial to all of our lives and it is impossible to imagine where we would be without it."
"So I was very pleased for each and every award winner – as well as every other person connected with construction present at the awards because we were really celebrating all of their achievements."
Main sponsors include: Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, Royal Bank of Scotland, WMCCE, Benfield Group and Coventry University Enterprises.
Award category sponsors include: Regeneration Bank of Scotland Corporate, Landmark Shortland Horne, Supply Chain Management Edmund Shipway, Environmental Groundworks and Chadbourne, Design RIBA and CIOB, Engineering Excellence Deeley Group and Training Midland Heart.
The Practice is pleased to annouce that one of it's architects, Dhiran Vagdia, has been made one of the City's Ambassadors.
The Practice supports Constructing Excellence in the Thames Gateway
Dhiran Vagdia presented, on behalf of FORCE, at the launch of the Thames Gateway Best Practice Construction Club.
The audience included a mix of companies working in the Thames Gateway area, the home of the 2012 Olympics site.
Want to sell your Construction services to Warwickshire County Council?
An Open Day will be held on Friday 17th November 2006 to inform construction companies (both Civil and Building) how to sell their services to Warwickshire County Council.
Local Authorities are the largest commissioning agencies in the sub-region. They buy everything from architecture and consultancy to complete packages for properties, bridges and roads. Many businesses have found this a traditionally difficult market to break into, so this event will tell it like it really is - how to do business with them, who to contact, and what do construction companies and consultants need to know about selling to the WCC.
In conjunction with FORCE, the WCC have organised a series of free presentations which will explain the issues, highlight what businesses need to do to get on board, and give information about the help available to enable to increase the opportunities to work with the public sector.
There has been some concern expressed in the industry recently about longer-term contracts and how these may affect the chances of smaller companies winning Local Authority work. These and many other issues will be discussed at each session, which will also include a "Meet the Buyer" to give businesses the opportunity to discuss their products or services with those who actually place the orders.
Dhiran Vagdia, Chairman of FORCE and architect at local architectural practice Kenneth Holmes Associates, says "This is precisely the sort of open forum session small and medium sized companies need to firstly dispel the myths about selling to the Local Authority, and secondly to work positively towards offering the WCC their services and products, either directly or through the correct supply chain. FORCE is very pleased to be associated with this event, and that the WCC have taken the initiative to actively help and support local SMEs in getting local contracts."
The event will be held at the Shire hall, Warwick. Presentations will be given at 9:30am, 11:30am and 2:00pm. Before and between each presentation there will be networking opportunities and a chance to meet the buyers and support organisations.
Sir Digby Jones backs FORCE awards
The Forum for Constructing Excellence (FORCE) is delighted to announce that Sir Digby Jones, Director-General of the CBI, will be the keynote speaker at the FORCE gala awards dinner on February 22 2007 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. The event now in its fifth year is expected to attract an audience of over 350 professionals from the construction sector.
The FORCE awards recognise and reward excellence in the construction sector and are open to construction-related companies in the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region. There are a number of award categories including landmark, training, supply chain, engineering, excellence, regeneration, design, environmental performance and a special award nominated by the Force Steering Group.
Dhiran Vagdia FORCE Chairman said: "This year we are expecting a record number of entries from organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire. The awards have gone from strength to strength and the 2007 gala dinner is set to be our best yet. There is still time to put forward nominations and be part of the next year’s celebrations."
FORCE is the construction best practice club for the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region and has been established for over 5 years. The club is designed to allow people from across the construction industry to get together to learn and share best practice.
The West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE) has given its support to the awards by becoming main sponsors of the event.
WMCCE, which is part-funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, supports FORCE as one of the region’s industry-led best practice clubs. Thanks to funding WMCCE can offer subsidised or in some cases free-of-charge business improvement services to eligible companies.
For ticket enquiries and nomination forms please contact Romee Latif through the WMCCE website.
WMCCE and FORCE promote young construction talent
As part of National Construction week, a construction skills day organised by Building People gave young people the opportunity to experience the wide range of exciting opportunities available in the industry.
The event held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire was attended by over 400 students from 15 schools in the region. The students were able to try stone masonry, painting and decorating, brick laying, carpentry, surveying, plumbing, electrical circuitry and engineering tasks as well as to talk to learning providers, career advisory agencies and construction companies from across the region.
The day was funded by sponsorship from businesses in the region and the West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE) and the Forum for Constructing Excellence (FORCE) was delighted to contribute.
FORCE is the construction best practice club for the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region and has been established for over 5 years. The club is designed to allow people from across the construction industry to get together to learn and share best practice.
Dhiran Vagdia Chairman of FORCE said "National Construction week aims to address the skills shortage in the industry. FORCE sponsored this event to help promote the career opportunities available to young people."
WMCCE, which is part-funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, supports FORCE as one of the region’s industry - led best practice clubs. Thanks to funding WMCCE can offer subsidised or in some cases free-of-charge business improvement services to eligible companies.
The Practice supports St Andrew's House, Earlsdon, Coventry
This week, the Practice was pleased to be supporting the St Andrew's Home £2m Redevelopment Appeal, by organising a coffee morning hosted by the Canal Basin's very own Country Crust Tea Rooms.
New Practice Secretary
The Practice welcomes our new Secretary, Jane Castle.
Jane has recently returned Coventry after living in Cornwall where she was a Manager of a well known stylish boutique hotel. Jane gained her qualifications at Secretarial College and went on to study Law and Commerce.
Myton Hospice receives donation for charity appeal
Myton Hamlet Hospice in Warwick was presented with a cheque for over £1,000 from representatives of the Forum for Constructing Excellence (FORCE). The donation will go towards an appeal to build and run a second hospice in Coventry, providing much needed extra beds within the local area.
Myton Hamlet Hospice opened in 1982 and provides in-patient care for people with a life limiting illness throughout Warwickshire and the City of Coventry. It is a registered charity and depends on public donations.
FORCE raised the money, which came to a total of £1,035, at their annual Awards Dinner Charity Collection in October last year.
Bogdan Kuncewicz, who was president of FORCE at the time of the dinner, said "The total raised came to £2,070, of which half went to St Andrew’s House and the other half towards the Coventry Myton Hospice Appeal".
Dhiran Vagdia current president of FORCE said "Everyone gave generously at the Awards Dinner, and we were delighted to not only celebrate construction in the Coventry and Warwickshire area at the Dinner, but also raise a fantastic donation to such a worthwhile cause".
Claire McDowell on behalf of Myton Hospice said: "We are delighted with the donation from FORCE. So far our fund raising appeal has gone well and we are working extremely hard towards achieving our target of £5 million. Construction work on the new hospice starts in June next year."
Sir Digby Jones Director-General of the CBI will be the keynote speaker at the FORCE Gala Awards Dinner, on February 22nd 2007 at the Ricoh Arena Coventry. The event now in its fifth year is expected to attract an audience of over 350 professionals from the construction sector. Bookings are now being taken for tables at the event.
To book tickets for the FORCE Awards Dinner please email Romee Latif through the WMCCE website.