16 January 2014

The *A-one+ consortium (including Costain) has scored silver in the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme (CCS) National Company Awards 2013 for its work in enhancing the industry’s image over roads in north east England.

The CCS awards are better-known for being applied to individual worksites, something that does not apply to an organisation like A-one+, whose workplaces move frequently to sites scattered over hundreds of miles of road.

“We decided to go for the CCS National Company Awards as opposed to the Site Awards because the duration of our schemes is quite short and difficult for the CCS assessor to really get a flavour of what the company does,” said Phill Beaumont, Area 14’s Network Manager.

“The Company Awards have a list of criteria to be measured against; there is an ‘accepted level of conformity’ and we’ve been consistently above that.” Indeed, some of the categories on which Area 14 was assessed were rated ‘innovative’ – the highest possible ranking.

Area 14 won a Gold Award in the 2012 placings, but the award of a silver in 2013 reflects a statistical quirk, rather than any diminution of standards, says Phill.

“In 2012, we were new to the awards and we had some innovations that some other people have now caught up with. We just haven’t had so many innovations this year.”

CCS assessment scores are calculated over a year that runs from August one year to July the next: “Since July, we’ve already had two scores of 10 and one of nine, so we’re confident that we will be back up to Gold this year.

“Even with Silver, we’re still in the top 10% of around 700 companies that entered, so it remains a fantastic result.”

The awards were presented by Julia Evans, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders, at London’s Plaisterers’ Hall. The 2013 awards were the biggest to date, with the scheme presenting the highest number of awards ever to companies that have made the greatest contribution towards improving the image of construction.

Commenting on the 2013 awards, CCS Chairman David Watson, said: “Those companies that received an award have gone above and beyond the expected and have set the standards for others to follow. It is a great pleasure to be involved to celebrate those companies which have made the greatest contribution towards improving the image of our industry.”

 

*A-one+ is made up of Costain, Colas and Halcrow.

Ends