As Greyfriars Project Management prepare to take another multi-million-pound project they manage into construction, Jon Barnard finds it hard to believe it’s just five years since he established the business. “With construction starting on the site of the Great Yarmouth Operations and Maintenance Campus, it’s incredible to be able to
Salford-based MC Construction is blazing a trail after teaming up with environmental business Play It Green to reduce its carbon footprint. The company is the first construction business to join Play It Green’s Climate Positive Workforce programme as it steps up its drive to lower its carbon emissions and to
The company is committed to community engagement worldwide In recognition of its commitment to communities and sustainability across the globe, Doosan Bobcat (Bobcat) employees and members of its leadership team have been celebrating the company’s support of nearly 100 organizations and municipalities through volunteer efforts to benefit the places where
INTERNATIONAL M&E consultancy CPW is set to be featured in the publication titled His Majesty at 75: The leadership and Vision of King Charles III in recognition of the company’s continued commitment to sustainability and training the next generation. CPW has always placed sustainability at the heart of its business practices and projects. Whether meeting
Local housebuilder Story Homes recently held a corporate golf day and raised £8,000 for its charity partner, Cancer Research UK (CRUK). The golf day, hosted at Macdonald Linden Hall Golf & Country Club in Northumberland, saw 20 teams of four compete in a Texas scramble style format. Prizes were awarded
FIVE firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have landed in Morocco as part of national research and rescue efforts following a devastating earthquake in the country. The GMFRS team flew out to Marrakech on Sunday evening (10 September) and are part of a UK International Search and
A housebuilder delivering new homes in Telford has teamed up with a recycling solutions provider in a bid to become more sustainable and positively impact the environment. Miller Homes, currently building new housing at its Earls Grange development in the Priorslee area of the town, has joined forces with recycling
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day this weekend, analysis by, RIFT, has shown that while the number of suicides across England and Wales has declined in recent years, it remains most prevalent amongst those in skilled trade occupations, particularly within the construction sector. The analysis of data from the Office
Many employees lack the knowledge and skills to help prevent suicide in the workplace, reveals new research by MHFA England ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on the 10 September. Over 1 in 20[1] people make a suicide attempt at some point in their lives. Data shows as many as
Two social landlords joined forces earlier this month to transform the grounds at a supported living scheme in Herefordshire. Platform Housing Group and Stonewater Ltd teamed up with Orphans Press to create a ‘happy to chat’ bench within the communal garden at Newman House in Leominster as well as tidying up the area to
As Greyfriars Project Management prepare to take another multi-million-pound project they manage into construction, Jon Barnard finds it hard to believe it’s just five years since he established the business. “With construction starting on the site of the Great Yarmouth Operations and Maintenance Campus, it’s incredible to be able to look back at the scale of projects which we’ve helped deliver in just five years” says Jon. Begun in 2018, Greyfriars Project Management specialise in the delivery of major development and infrastructure projects. Greyfriars have solidified their position as a key player in East Anglia’s project management industry, providing their services for a number of high-profile programmes across the county and beyond. With a focus on managing projects which create genuine community value, they predominantly work with local authorities, charities, academy trusts and similar organisations, and have supported works ranging in budget from £250K to £500M. “We’re proud to have made projects which deliver real public benefit our focus and specialism. As an East Anglian business, it’s so rewarding to be part of developments which deliver such a positive impact on our community” adds Jon. Notable projects Greyfriars have been involved with include: the delivery of the Operations and Maintenance Campus which is in construction, a revamp of a community area for Great Yarmouth’s Middlegate estate, a £500M development of the A46 Newark Bypass, a redevelopment of Angel Road Schools in Norwich, new facilities for the National Trust at Horsey Windpump and Morston Quay and two of the ongoing A47 dualling projects. Despite celebrating just their fifth anniversary this month, Greyfriars have benefitted from Jon’s twenty years of experience in project management. With a background in civil engineering, Jon started his career with May Gurney. He completed his apprenticeship before then working in a number of local authority roles, including leading sustainable transport project delivery in the Greater Norwich area and managing one of the first projects to go through the Planning Act 2008 Development Consent Order process – the Norwich Northern Distributor Road. “Leading Greyfriars has been a new challenge, particularly leading a new and growing business through the pandemic. We’ve built a strong presence in the local business and construction communities, including becoming a committee member of Norfolk Constructing Excellence, invested time in training and development, benefitted from outsourcing elements like marketing – and created a great team which I am incredibly proud of” says Jon. Greyfriars have experienced rapid growth in their first five years and now employ 15 highly-skilled project management staff, with more set to join before the end of 2023. “The Project Manager is a very specialised role and we’re privileged to have found some of the very best in our region to join our team. In a construction industry dominated by men, I’m also very proud of our 60% female team” states Jon. As the Norwich-based consultancy looks ahead to the next five years, they’re focusing on growing the business even further: “We’re looking forward to the successful and timely delivery of all our current projects, as well as taking on additional exciting contracts. We’re eager to continue playing a part in delivering projects which boost the regional economy, and expanding our presence across the local community. Next steps for us include taking on an apprentice to help the next generation develop their skills” concludes Jon. Greyfriars provide full project management services, including programme management, procurement, cost management, masterplanning and more for clients in the public, private, education and charity sectors. For more information about their extensive service offering, visit: https://greyfriarspm.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salford-based MC Construction is blazing a trail after teaming up with environmental business Play It Green to reduce its carbon footprint. The company is the first construction business to join Play It Green’s Climate Positive Workforce programme as it steps up its drive to lower its carbon emissions and to progress towards becoming a net zero operation by 2038. MC Construction has signed up its entire 60-strong team to Play It Green’s online subscription service. For a monthly fee, every staff member will receive weekly tips, discounts, education and tools to help them and the business reduce their footprint. A total of 780 trees will be planted each month on behalf of its staff. In addition, as part of the same subscription, the North West Air Ambulance Charity will receive a regular donation as the company’s charity of the year. Ten per cent of Play it Green’s revenues go to each member’s chosen good cause. Play It Green, which was launched in 2021 by Chris Thair and Richard Dickson, is based in Manchester. The B Corp accredited business has grown to have subscribers across nine countries, including Sri Lanka, Germany and Australia as well as the UK. Among Play It Green’s members are Warrington Wolves RLFC, basketball team London Lions, Shire Leasing, Ecoegg, Levitex, Ikonic Technology, Affirmative Finance, Dains Accountants, Manchester Central and The Regency Club London. Russ Forshaw, managing director of MC Construction, said: “The impact of the construction industry is widely documented on the global stage. World leaders have committed to shifting towards a more sustainable future. This is a responsibility for everyone in the industry, regardless of size, and we are determined to play our part. “As a long-established business, our success has always been anchored to our core values, including taking responsibility for our actions. “By joining forces with Play It Green, we are showing our commitment to building upon our existing initiatives to tackle and reduce the environmental impact of our work. “We recognise that there is no quick fix, and that positive results will come from concerted effort, but we are fully committed to a strategic and determined approach to achieve our net zero target by 2038. Our partnership with Play It Green is a positive step on that journey and will help us make a tangible difference. “Play It Green shares our values and has a straightforward and transparent approach, making it a natural fit for us. I have no doubt that our fantastic team will engage with the Climate Positive Workforce programme, ensuring that environmental and sustainability considerations are further embedded in our culture.” Chris Thair, chief executive of Play It Green, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome MC Construction into our community. “The Climate Positive Workforce service now moves them to the next level by continually educating and rewarding their staff, giving them the knowledge, drive and tools to bring innovation and further positive action within the business. “Our model significantly boosts our members’ ESG credentials, helping them move to net zero and make a positive ongoing environmental and social impact. “We look forward to working with MC Construction and creating a brighter future for their business, local community and the planet.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The company is committed to community engagement worldwide In recognition of its commitment to communities and sustainability across the globe, Doosan Bobcat (Bobcat) employees and members of its leadership team have been celebrating the company’s support of nearly 100 organizations and municipalities through volunteer efforts to benefit the places where Bobcat employees live and work. On 12th September 2023, more than 1000 employees in 12 countries across Bobcat’s global footprint participated in company-organized projects, volunteering thousands of combined hours. “As an organization, we aim to create positive social impact to enhance the communities where we live and work, as well as benefit our neighbours,” said Scott Park, Doosan Bobcat CEO. “Our community engagement initiatives are a company tradition, and over the years, we have supported hundreds of organizations with thousands of volunteer hours all with the goal of creating a better tomorrow.” Impactful community projects across EMEA region In Dobris in the Czech Republic, where Doosan Bobcat’s headquarters for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are located, 179 executives and employees participated in activities including a city and forest clean-up project; bush and tree planting; fence painting and preparing a surface for a children’s playground. Volunteers used a fleet of Bobcat equipment including skid-steer, compact track and wheel loaders with various attachments to help in the projects making tough jobs easier, while increasing efficiency and productivity. Representatives of the town of Dobris and community employees joined Bobcat staff in these volunteer efforts. The Mayor of Dobris, Pavel Svoboda, commented: “With so many people involved at once and with the equipment used, we can really conduct meaningful and impactful projects in a short period of time to benefit all the residents and make our town an even better place. I am grateful for any helping hand.” Projects varied across all 15 of Bobcat’s EMEA business sites and involved 407 employees serving a combined total of 949 hours on behalf of their local communities. Their tasks included recycling projects, litter picking and a wildflower meadow restoration project, as well as various donation projects such as blood donation, food donations for charity organizations and money donations to fund local fire brigades. Bobcat employees from around the world participated in the initiative, encompassing the Europe, Middle East, Africa, North America, Asia, Latin America and Oceania regions. The global effort supports Bobcat’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments to community engagement, sustainability and responsible growth as an organization in the communities where its employees live and work. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
INTERNATIONAL M&E consultancy CPW is set to be featured in the publication titled His Majesty at 75: The leadership and Vision of King Charles III in recognition of the company’s continued commitment to sustainability and training the next generation. CPW has always placed sustainability at the heart of its business practices and projects. Whether meeting strict energy efficiency targets for the University of Leicester’s George Davies Centre, the largest non-domestic Passivhaus project, or decarbonising historic, listed buildings for the University of Oxford – bringing buildings to life in ways that are better for the world is key to its approach. This is in close alignment with the causes His Majesty has supported throughout his life, championing sustainability and working closely with business and leaders to tackle climate change head on. Neil Foster, director at CPW, was interviewed for the book, which is set for release later this year on 14 November to celebrate the King’s 75th birthday. Neil said: “It is an honour to be showcased in His Majesty at 75: The Leadership and Vision of King Charles III for our focus on sustainability, a passion that we share with the King. “The built environment is a huge contributor to emissions, so we are highly conscious of the impact of sustainable design and acknowledge our responsibility to improve industry standards. With every building we design, we aim to minimise carbon emissions and its environmental impact. That’s why we are so proud to be one of the built environment specialists recognised for our efforts in this commemorative album.” CPW’s apprenticeship programme, which was established more than 25 years ago, is also highlighted within the book and is committed to nurturing local, home-grown talent and bridging the skills gap by developing the sustainable engineers needed for the future of the industry. More than 15% of its workforce is currently part of the apprenticeship programme across a variety of levels in all offices, marking CPW’s investment into the next generation of engineers. Neil added: “It’s a huge achievement for the whole team, across all our offices, to be featured within the book. It’s a real testament to our dedication to sustainability, I’m excited to have the opportunity to showcase our ways of working, projects and apprenticeship programme within this slice of history.” His Majesty at 75: The Leadership and Vision of King Charles III, produced by publisher St James’s House, is authored by royal biographer Robert Jobson and will feature pictures by royal photographer Arthur Edwards. It is available to order on the St James’s House website. For further information on CPW’s sustainability work visit www.cpwp.com or follow @CPWengineering on social media. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Local housebuilder Story Homes recently held a corporate golf day and raised £8,000 for its charity partner, Cancer Research UK (CRUK). The golf day, hosted at Macdonald Linden Hall Golf & Country Club in Northumberland, saw 20 teams of four compete in a Texas scramble style format. Prizes were awarded for nearest to the pin’ on each par 3, ‘longest drive’ on one of the par 5s and ‘hole in one’ competition. Most teams donated a prize for a charity raffle or offered a charitable donation in return for hole sponsorship and paid an entry fee with all proceeds going to CRUK. Story Homes reached out to employees, subcontractors and agents in a bid to fill the team spaces and had an overwhelming response; as a result, the event was a huge success raising thousands of pounds for the housebuilder’s charity partner. Dan Ferguson, Assistant Quantity Surveyor for Story Homes in the North East organised the event. He said: “We wanted to organise an event that would raise a significant amount of money for our charity partner and it was great to see subcontractors, agents and employees come together for this very important cause. “We were blown away by the generosity of those who attended the golf day and are delighted at the amount we managed to raise. I’d like to thank all those who entered a team and made the event such a success.” Each year Story Homes colleagues vote for a charity partner to dedicate its colleague and company fundraising to, with activities and events planned throughout the year to raise funds for the charity. Commenting on the charity partnership and the golf day, Nicky McKenna, Relationship Manager for CRUK said: “Cancer Research UK is incredibly grateful that employees of Story Homes organised the fundraising golf day in September. “In a world where 1 in 2 of us will get cancer, we’d like to sincerely thank everyone involved for helping us to beat cancer. Every pound that we receive helps us fulfil our strategy to beat cancer sooner, supporting scientists, doctors and nurses. This money will help fund our ground-breaking research, our work to develop improved cancer drugs and our programme of practical information for people diagnosed with cancer. Cancer Research UK is working towards a world where everyone can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. Story Homes’ dedicated fundraising will help us create this world. Thank you.” To find out more about Story Homes in the North East, visit https://www.storyhomes.co.uk/north-east/, or to find out more about CRUK, visit https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
FIVE firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have landed in Morocco as part of national research and rescue efforts following a devastating earthquake in the country. The GMFRS team flew out to Marrakech on Sunday evening (10 September) and are part of a UK International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) team made up of 60 operational crew members from 14 fire and rescue services. The team has been deployed through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office following a request for support from the Moroccan government after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake stuck on Friday (8 September.) The GMFRS team consists of Station Manager Martin Foran who is acting as Operations Commander and who also travelled to Turkey earlier this year to support the UKISAR search and rescue operation following the earthquake on the Turkey-Syria border. He is joined by Watch Manager Gavin Kearsley from Ashton Technical Response Unit, who will be a crew leader; Watch Managers John Hughes and Simon Cording from Leigh TRU, and Crew Manager Ross Strother from GMFRS’s Technical Training team, who will all be technicians. They are being supported back in Greater Manchester by Watch Manager Mike Hirst who is coordinating the GMFRS response and who also joined the Turkey response in February. GMFRS Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Barry Moore, said: “GMFRS is pleased to be supporting the national search and rescue operation in Morocco and we send our thoughts to the people of Morocco and everyone affected by this devastating event. “Our team of five highly skilled search and rescue technicians have safely arrived in Marrakesh where they have set up a base of operations and we expect to hear more from the team in the coming days, but we are grateful to them and to their families.” National Fire Chiefs Council Chair, Mark Hardingham, said: “The thoughts of the UK’s fire and rescue services are with all those affected by the devastating earthquake in Morocco. “A team of specially trained firefighters and medics from the UK has been deployed to assist following a request from the Moroccan government to the British government. “They will be providing specialist technical support where it is needed most to save lives and support local emergency service teams”. For updates, follow @Manchesterfire Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A housebuilder delivering new homes in Telford has teamed up with a recycling solutions provider in a bid to become more sustainable and positively impact the environment. Miller Homes, currently building new housing at its Earls Grange development in the Priorslee area of the town, has joined forces with recycling solutions provider Go Green, to provide a sustainable solution to its on-site wood waste. The trial period of the scheme began at the Telford development last year, and to date has seen more than 32 tonnes of waste wood repurposed through Community Wood Recycling, a leading social and environmental enterprise that has been recycling wood since 1998. Go Green introduced Miller Homes to Community Wood Recycling who have been using the housebuilder’s excess wood to create new products including benches, planters and bird boxes. Jo Stott, head of environmental sustainability for Miller Homes, said: “We’ve been working closely with our waste management partners over the past 12 months to drive waste reduction and increase recycling across our business, with our employees and trusted business suppliers across the group. “By working with partners like Go Green, we can find positive solutions for unavoidable waste from our sites, although our goal is always to reduce waste in the first instance. “We are very pleased with the outcome of the waste wood initiative at Earls Grange, which has contributed to achieving our 2025 waste recycling target of 75 per cent across all our sites ahead of schedule.” Haley Coggan, business development manager of Go Green, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with customers such as Miller Homes, who are dedicated to implementing the waste hierarchy in their waste management procedures and are actively advancing sustainability efforts.” Miller Homes’ trial scheme at Earls Grange in Telford is part of the national housebuilder’s wider plans to become more sustainable and achieve tangible targets towards its company goals to create a better place, where people and the planet prosper. For more information on the services provided by Go Green, visit https://gogreen.co.uk/services/. To find out more about the homes being built at Earls Grange in Priorslee, visit https://www.millerhomes.co.uk/new-homes/west-midlands/earls-grange-priorslee.aspx. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day this weekend, analysis by, RIFT, has shown that while the number of suicides across England and Wales has declined in recent years, it remains most prevalent amongst those in skilled trade occupations, particularly within the construction sector. The analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics by RIFT found that: – The construction industry is one that RIFT is heavily involved within and, as a result, the company has supported The Lighthouse Club – a charity dedicated to helping those within the industry who have fallen on hard times – for almost two decades. The Lighthouse Club’s many volunteers give a whole range of welfare and wellbeing advice as well as providing emotional and legal support. One of their most valued services is their emergency financial assistance. The Club raises money to give to those who need it, for example, if the family breadwinner can’t work because of illness or injury. If you work or have worked in construction and you’re in need, there’s somebody at the other end of the phone. The Lighthouse Club’s Construction Industry Helpline 0845 605 1956 is open for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. the Lighthouse Club has also recently launched its Make it Visible portal, with the aim of reducing suicide and improving welfare and wellbeing within the construction industry across the UK and Ireland. The portal provides access to a wealth of information, advice and guidance on a wide variety of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support. Bradley Post, MD of RIFT, commented: “The choice to take your own life is rarely down to one specific factor. While it is an extremely complex issue, the data does suggest it is more prevalent within certain occupations such as skilled trade roles and construction. We hear first hand about the range of issues facing those within the sector on a daily basis, whether it be financial or otherwise. That’s why we work so closely with The Lighthouse Club in order to provide support and advice during tough times and the work they do is quite frankly remarkable. They are available 24/7 and we would urge anyone struggling within the construction industry to give them a call, whatever the reason may be.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Many employees lack the knowledge and skills to help prevent suicide in the workplace, reveals new research by MHFA England ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on the 10 September. Over 1 in 20[1] people make a suicide attempt at some point in their lives. Data shows as many as 650 suicides in the UK each year could be work related – this is approximately 10% of all suicides.[2] MHFA England’s new research, among 2,000 people in work, found many don’t know what to do if they’re concerned a colleague is thinking of suicide. A third of people surveyed (33%) believe incorrectly that asking about suicide can put the idea in someone’s head. Only one in ten (13%) know to ask a colleague they are worried about whether they have a plan to end their life and nearly 40% admitted they didn’t know if asking this question was the right thing to do. However, all the evidence[3] shows that asking someone, who has a plan to take their own life, a direct question about suicide can save their life. Despite positive shifts in how we talk about mental health at work and in wider society, suicide is still stigmatised. MHFA England’s research shows a third (33%) of employees would speak to their manager if they were experiencing poor mental health but less than 1 in 5 (19%) would discuss having suicidal thoughts. The top reasons are, not feeling comfortable (61%), being worried it would impact their job (36%) or that they would be judged (35%). This research shows over 75% of employees do not believe suicide prevention is part of their organisation’s wellbeing strategy so MHFA England is calling on employers to explicitly include suicide awareness, prevention and support in their plans. One part of the solution is Suicide First Aid training. Suicide is preventable through education and intervention, which is why MHFA England has partnered with the National Centre for Suicide Prevention Education and Training (NCSPET) to deliver Suicide First Aid (SFA) training to workplaces. MHFA England also offer consultancy to help employers develop and implement plans to support those having thoughts of suicide and those impacted by suicide. Suicide First Aid training provides people with a greater understanding of suicide, including how to spot the signs of someone who may be thinking about suicide and the confidence to intervene and help create a suicide-safety plan. Simon Blake, MHFA England’s Chief Executive said, “The stigma and silence surrounding suicide is harmful. To prevent deaths by suicide, we must do everything we can to eliminate stigma. Workplaces have the potential to play such an important role, yet our research shows a large number of people are unsure how to approach a colleague they are worried may be considering suicide. This means they may not ask the lifesaving question – ‘are you thinking about ending your life?’ Workplaces can help prevent suicides through awareness raising, education and ensuring support. Many people experiencing a suicide crisis are in workplaces day in day out. In addition, it is estimated that when someone dies by suicide, 135 people are affected [4]. “At MHFA England we want a society where everybody has the knowledge, skills and confidence to discuss suicide including at work. That is why we have produced a free resource to raise awareness about how we can support someone who may be experiencing a suicide crisis.” Jamie Compton-Rea, Chief Operating Officer at the National Centre for Suicide Prevention Education and Training said,“As two leading organisations dedicated to suicide prevention, the partnership between the National Centre for Suicide Prevention Education and Training and Mental Health First Aid England has expanded the reach of the lifesaving skills taught in Suicide First Aid. By merging our expertise, we’re not just delivering training – we’re fostering a proactive approach to suicide prevention that empowers individuals with the skills they need to have effective conversations that could save a life.” One organisation that has already trained a number of staff in Suicide First Aid is Colas Ltd, who deliver sustainable solutions for the UK’s transport infrastructure. Part of the international Colas Group, the organisation has 1,460 employees across 20 UK locations. Christian Veritas, Business Unit Manager Colas Ltd based in Leeds completed the Suicide First Aid training, he said, “For me, one of the main takeaways from the course was the importance of language – I’d never really thought the language around suicide and am so much more aware of the power of language in breaking down stigma. “I’ve also really noticed the change in how people are checking in on each other. In our working environment, there can be quite a lot of bravado, so it can be hard to break through to a more personal level, but the training has really taught us to ask the right questions, in the right way. I’ve noticed that people are talking more and looking out for each other which is just incredible to see.” To find out more about MHFA England’s Suicide Prevention offer and to access a free resource to learn how to talk about suicide in the workplace, visit: visit https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/campaigns/world-suicide-prevention-day-2023/ If someone is at immediate risk of attempting suicide, dial 999. If someone is having thoughts of suicide encourage them to call Samaritans on 116 123. [1] https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/media-guidelines/suicide-facts-journalists/ [2] https://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/The-Whole-story-2021.pdf [3] https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helping-someone-else/supporting-someone-who-feels-suicidal/talking-about-suicidal-feelings/ [4] https://lifeinmind.org.au/suicide-prevention/approaches/postvention/postvention-australia-guidelines Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Two social landlords joined forces earlier this month to transform the grounds at a supported living scheme in Herefordshire. Platform Housing Group and Stonewater Ltd teamed up with Orphans Press to create a ‘happy to chat’ bench within the communal garden at Newman House in Leominster as well as tidying up the area to provide a better environment and peaceful retreat for the residents to enjoy. The initiative came about as part of a 150th birthday celebration; Orphans Press – a print, publishing, design and web agency based in the town – was established in 1873 to support the Leominster Orphan Homes, founded in 1869 and located at Newman House until its closure in 1951. The home housed 18 destitute children from industrialised parts of the country who had been orphaned. Henry Stanley Newman – founder of the Leominster Orphan Homes and Orphans Press – was determined to make sure that the children felt at home there, providing access to education, training and religious teachings. The event also included the planting of a ceremonial apple tree. Helen Bowden, Director at Orphans Press explained: “We discovered that there used to be an orchard in the garden at Newman House where the children used to pick apples. We decided to commemorate Henry Stanley Newman by planting an apple tree where the orchard used to be.” Newman House is run by Stonewater Ltd; since March 2022, Platform Housing Group has been undertaking repairs on Stonewater homes in the Herefordshire area. Matthew Stock, Grounds Maintenance Delivery Manager at Platform Housing Group said : “We were absolutely delighted to be approached by Orphans Press to undertake such a fabulous project on behalf of Stonewater. The history behind the home is fascinating and being involved with it has really brought it all to life. We hope the residents of Newman House will enjoy their new bench amidst the beautiful grounds.” Helen Holland, Connected Communities Peer Leader, Neighbourhoods, at Stonewater, said: “We’re so thrilled that Stonewater can be part of such a positive and essential initiative. We understand how necessary it can be for people to be able to chat to others, especially given the difficulties we’ve all faced over the last few years. We’re glad to be able to help strengthen the sense of community among new and future residents.” Helen Bowden concluded : “Newman House is such an important part of the history of both Orphans Press and Leominster. We felt it was important to do something really special for our 150th birthday and collaborating with Platform and Stonewater to transform the grounds at Newman House was the perfect way to commemorate Henry Newman and give back to the residents.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
