Creagh Concrete, which last year announced it’s most successful year since the downturn in 2008, and the creation of 100 new jobs, has announced the first in what it says will be a series of new contracts. The Toomebridge based concrete products manufacturer, has won the prestigious contract to build a new library in Roehampton, just outside London. The library will be situated within the University of Roehampton Complex and work begins in April. The contract, runs for 35 weeks, with Creagh Concrete having been involved with the project for over a year and half. The project will see the family owned company construct an architecturally exposed concrete frame with brick-faced precast panel façade. Announcing the contract, Creagh Concrete Managing Director Seamus McKeague said this announcement was the first of many this year, “Creagh is entering 2016 in confident mood, and we are pleased to announce this prestigious contract at the University of Roehampton. We’ve been involved in a previous similar project with the architect, Feilden Clegg Bradley, on the new Manchester Metropolitan University Student Union building, and look forward to continuing our excellent relationship with them. We’re also pleased to be working with contractor Geoffrey Osborne, with whom we are forging a great working relationship. We hope to make more significant announcements in the coming weeks and months as Creagh Concrete develops its range of contracts and expertise.” The company is also working on a range of exciting projects across the UK, such as a £3 million flooring project at the new Ulster University campus, a £2.1 million car park in Leeds and a £1million new school project in London. It will also announce further infrastructure and construction projects in the coming months As part of its strategic objectives, the business will invest considerably across its multiple sites in the coming 5 years, with plans for further job creation as the business continues to grow. Creagh Concrete has a number of specialist divisions working within each sector of the construction industry. The company’s core product range is precast structural products and prestressed flooring, with an extensive range of flooring systems designed for commercial or residential applications. The company employs 650 full time staff and sub-contractors, across its 7 locations, and completed over 3,000 contracts of varying sizes in 2015.

Octink is delighted to announce that 2015 was its best year yet for the company’s Build division. Having completed seven marketing suites by the end of the year, revenue was 35% more than projected, demonstrating the respect and trust that it has earned in this field. Octink’s Managing Director, Mike Freely explains, “Over the past few years we have really cemented our position in the marketing suite sector. We come in and take the pain away from the property developers and construction companies as we are able to do everything from planning and consultation through to design, development and decoration, a complete turnkey solution. On top of this we are also able to help dismantle and recycle the suites as well, providing that all important ‘whole life’ service. We find that as the majority of the marketing suites we work on are bespoke solutions which are situated amidst big property developments, we are in a better position to focus fully on building the suites on behalf of the developers.” Recent examples of projects that were completed just before the end of 2015 include Keybridge House, which is one of the next wave of marketing suites that form part of the on-going regeneration of Nine Elms. Working closely with the appointed main scheme architects and partners Fabrica and Mount Anvil, Octink provided a complete concept to construction delivery and internal fit-out service in just 18 weeks. The resulting two-storey marketing suite utilises an array of contrasting materials, textures and finishes that together create a truly unique design and visitor experience. Another high profile project the company worked on in conjunction with LBS properties was for The Madison, a stunning 53 storey residential building near Canary Wharf. Octink provided the ground floor marketing suite which included a reception area, meeting room, drinks area, soft seating area, interactive models, and a sales zone for up to six sales staff, as well as a one bedroom apartment on the first floor. The project was completed in just 12 weeks, inclusive of a three week stripping out process, rendering the entire front façade, along with installing curtain walling, and a stepped and balustraded front entrance. Octink’s Build division is headed up by Simon Martin, Client Services Director at Octink, who comments: “Our experience in this sector underpins how we execute our ideas and solutions to provide a superior service. From the early days of when marketing suites were small portacabins, to the intricate and eye-catching modern structures being built today, the Octink team has seen and done it all – and we are always learning and applying these lessons to the next job. We have built every type of marketing suite possible and, while no two building sites are the same, nothing is unfamiliar to us. This insight benefits the way we approach every stage of the customer journey, ensuring we deliver an end-product that meets both our own and our customers’ high standards.” Mike concludes, “2016 is shaping up to be another exciting year for our Build department and the marketing suite opportunities we have in the pipeline. With the decision to create a maintenance and aftercare department for this part of our business, we believe that we are in a very strong position to offer the construction and property development industry something unique. We are also proud of our ethos of wherever possible bringing young people in to train ‘on-the-job’ in apprenticeships, and help to fill that skills shortage that as a nation we are currently experiencing. As an SME, for our Build division this was particularly challenging in 2015, but with a strong construction sector we hope this will improve and look forward to seeing what the coming months will bring.”