Construction

THE GOLDEN TICKET: CLEGG FOOD PROJECTS CONSTRUCTING NEW CHOCOLATE FACTORY

NATIONAL construction company Clegg Food Projects has begun work to convert the former Phillips Avent facility in Glemsford, Suffolk, into a world-class cocoa & chocolate production factory after being appointed as the Principal Contractor. International Malaysian-owned cocoa manufacturer Guan Chong Berhad (GCB) appointed Clegg Food Projects to part-demolish and construct a new

Read More »

CRUDEN GET OFF TO A RACING START AS THEY BUILD OVER 100 NEW HOMES

Cruden has started work on a new housing development in East Lothian, its fourth active site in the region. Situated in Wallyford, on the outskirts of the popular coastal town of Musselburgh and its historic racecourse, the much-anticipated £20m new development lies just 8 miles from the Capital and will

Read More »

NEW STO ONLINE RESOURCE IMPROVES FAÇADE DESIGN PROCESS

A new online resource has been launched by Sto to provide architects and specifiers with a quick, convenient and practical new way to bring their façade designs to life. The interactive Sto Cladding Creator allows customers to develop their façade designs using the company’s StoCleyer B resin brick slips, StoBrick

Read More »

HG Construction set to reach new heights with SCAPE Leeds scheme

HG Construction has been named as the main contractor on SCAPE’s new student accommodation scheme in Leeds which will top 100m high and provide 693 bedrooms for local students. The Merrion Street development will be Scape’s first student accommodation scheme in Leeds and HG Construction’s first development in the city.

Read More »

Seddon celebrates 125th anniversary with £1million fundraising pledge

Seddon – the UK’s largest privately owned and family managed national contracting business is marking its 125th anniversary with a series of events and pledges that will celebrate this most incredible milestone, bring people back together and raise over £1million for charity. The fifth generation, family-owned business, headquartered in Bolton,

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 326 : Mar 2025

Construction

Caddick Construction (NW) strengthens apprenticeship programme with seven new appointments

Caddick Construction’s growing apprentice programme across the North West is going from strength to strength with the appointment of a further seven new faces over recent months. The young recruits come from a variety of educational backgrounds as Caddick continues its commitment to bring through new talent to meet demand in the North West construction sector. Nathan Crowther and Malachy Cefai join as apprentice quantity surveyors while studying for their degrees in Quantity Surveying at the University of Salford. Nathan Worrall, from Liverpool, has joined as an apprentice administrator as he studies for his Level 3 in Business Administration at Warrington College. Harry Young, Georgia Harper, George King and Cameron Snow were taken on as trainee engineers while studying for their HNCs in Civil Engineering or Construction in the Built Environment. As well as studying at local colleges in Wigan and Leigh or Warrington, the apprentices are gaining live construction experience on Caddick Construction projects such as Guinness Point at Trafford Park, Gemini 8 in Warrington and AVIATOR at Ellesmere Port. All have the opportunity to shadow team members on site and, as part of their qualifications, they also spend a number of days on site to embed their knowledge and understanding of the wider construction industry. Ian Guildford, Contracts Manager at Caddick Construction, said: “We have a fantastic calibre of apprentices working closely with us on some high-profile projects across the North West. It is essential we equip the future workforce with valuable construction skills, enabling them to work on live projects. Work readiness is key if we are to continue to bolster the economy across the region and prepare the next generation for the construction sector.” Michelle Swarbrick, Social Value Manager from Caddick Construction, added:“Having joined Caddick to help deliver social value across the North West, I’m delighted to recruit seven apprentices from across the region demonstrating our commitment to tackling future skills shortages in the industry.”

Read More »

Mobile Mini recognised for Customer Experience (CX) success at UK B&I Awards

Mobile Mini UK, one of the leading worldwide providers of portable accommodation and secure storage containers, has furthered its reputation for excellence after being named the GOLD winner of the Customer Experience category at the 2022 UK Business and Innovation Awards (UK B&IA). These prestigious awards celebrate achievements across a multitude of sectors and industries, highlighting successful and innovative businesses from all corners of the UK. 19 trophies were awarded to winners via a virtual awards ceremony in diverse categories reflecting distinct areas of business and innovation excellence. Mobile Mini has a fleet of over 40,000 portable units for a variety of storage solutions and 16 strategically placed sites throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Members of staff from the business gathered at the company headquarters in Stockton-on-Tees to witness the moment they were crowned winners of the Best Customer Experience Award, alongside their multi-award winning CX partners Think Wow. Think Wow support companies with strategy and training when they establish a need to remain customer-focused, competitive, profitable and happy. The team undertake a deep-dive review of company culture, shared objectives and customer feedback, then use detailed insights to expertly design a positive future strategy. Once agreed with senior members of staff, the Think Wow team assist with the implementation and adoption of newly refined processes. These activities assist with building a positive brand reputation, growing business operations from within and most importantly, empowering all staff and customers to both provide and receive the best possible experiences. Mobile Mini recognised that post-pandemic, customer needs, expectations and behaviours had significantly changed and the company understood maintaining standards, as well as improving approaches, was more essential than ever before. The business launched its CX project with a presentation to almost 300 members of staff, outlining the thinking behind implementing a renewed customer focus. The Think Wow team mapped out unique experiences and spoke with individuals and teams to establish what could be done better, embedding themselves within Mobile Mini to avoid working in a vacuum and ensuring accurate holistic benchmarking took place. They also directly contacted customers to establish an external view of what succeeds and used this insight to build improvement objectives. Rebecca Brown, CEO of Think Wow said, “Partnering with Mobile Mini on their Customer Experience strategy has been one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve had at Think Wow. Their passion and enthusiasm for getting things right, not just for customers but for employees too is genuinely special. We couldn’t be happier that their hard work and commitment to consistently great customer experiences has been recognised with this award win. We’re sure it will be the first of many to come!” Simon Gray, Head of Region at Mobile Mini, was the customer experience project lead for the partnership with Think Wow, he said, “Mobile Mini has built a reputation for excellence and we are pleased that the ongoing efforts of our staff have been highlighted with this fantastic award. There is always room for improvement and despite our recent acclaim and achievements, Mobile Mini is committed to never standing still and always challenging ourselves to do better. This accolade is truly about everyone at Mobile Mini. It is the responsibility of our people across the UK to look after our customers directly and indirectly. Every member of staff deserves recognition for contributing to this achievement through a consistent level of service and going above and beyond every single day. Our thanks go to Think Wow for their support and expertise in guiding us on our continued customer experience journey.” Mobile Mini has won multiple awards in recent times including being named ‘Safety Team of the Year Highly Commended Winner’ at the last International Safety Awards and winning the North East Business Award for its COVID-19 response. The business supported the NHS with units throughout the pandemic, rolled out life-saving defibrillator equipment to all of its branches and invested in new safety features on an upgraded fleet of trucks. 7% of employees at Mobile Mini are now qualified Mental Health First Aiders and the company continues to adapt its approach to better support general well-being and work-life balances.

Read More »

GROUND IS BROKEN AS DELIVERY OF THE £54MILLION GLASS FUTURES DEVELOPMENT IN ST HELENS GETS UNDERWAY

Glass Futures, Network Space Developments, St Helens Borough Council, Liverpool City Region, MPs Marie Rimmer and Connor McGinn and contractor Bower & Kirkland welcomed UKRI and BEIS to the site to mark the ground-breaking of the Glass Futures Centre of Excellence. The 165,000 sq ft transformational global glass research and innovation facility is expected to complete in January 2023, ready for internal fit-out. Network Space Developments (NSD) has appointed building contractor B&K to deliver the building at Saints Retail Park, occupying a site with links to the historic glass industry for which the town is famed. Delivery of the project was conceived and is being managed by landowner and developer NSD, on behalf of a partnership including not-for-profit research organisation Glass Futures , St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UKRI (UK Research & Innovation). This dynamic and fast-moving partnership has rapidly turned the Glass Futures concept into a deliverable and contracted scheme in less than two years. NSD will continue to manage the delivery of the project through to practical completion. The building has been presold by NSD to global investor Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust, part of abrdn, to secure forward funding and conclude a viable delivery strategy.  Property Agents B8 acted for Network Space with CBRE acting on behalf of abrdn. It has been pre let to St Helens Borough Council on a 15-year head lease and will be sub-let to Glass Futures, which will occupy and manage the building to deliver industry and government backed research and development projects focused on decarbonising glass production. It will also provide a platform for the industry to access an experimental scale furnace to test and run trials for implementation at commercial scale on a state-of-the-art line, both collaboratively and individually. Led by Bowmer & Kirkland the Centre’s construction will bring a host of social and economic benefits to St Helens and the wider Liverpool City Region including commitments to local employment opportunities and apprenticeship hours. Speaking at the ground-breaking event, St Helens Borough Council Leader, David Baines, said: “It’s great to be here today to see construction begin on Glass Futures, the state-of-the-art, globally significant project. Over the next year, the glass research and innovation facility will be built on the brownfield site of the former United Glassworks, with a focus on decarbonising glass production. “It will once again put St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation and help us play a significant role in the Green Industrial Revolution, leading the way for other industries to cut their carbon emissions. “The fact that work has begun only two years since the scheme was conceived is testament to some exceptional partnership working, and I’d like to thank Glass Futures and everyone involved for their efforts in getting us to this stage.” Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Just a few months ago, the UK hosted world leaders at the COP26 summit in Glasgow. It was agreed there that urgent action is needed to tackle the emergency we face from climate change. Glass Futures is a prime example of how we can do that – whilst also building back from the economic fallout from Covid-19. “St Helens has always been a global leader in the glass industry and Glass Futures will be a key part of making sure it retains that role in the future of the industry as it decarbonises, whilst being a key driver for jobs and skills.” Bruce Adderley, Challenge Director of the UKRI’s Transforming Foundation Industries challenge, said: “The goal of the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge is to help energy and resource intensive industries such as glass, steel, cement, ceramics, paper, and chemicals develop new green technologies and more efficient ways of working together. “This event at St Helens is an important milestone on the road to achieving this aim which is essential if the UK and its regions are to deliver world-leading net-zero carbon clusters. As we progress with its development, this global centre of excellence will support the glass and other foundation industries in their transitions to more efficient, productive, and environmentally conscious operating models.” Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston, said: “For centuries glass has been a huge part of St Helens. It is part of the fabric that makes up our town. Glass Futures will keep St Helens at the heart of the global glass industry for many more years to come. “The ground breaking today represents a significant step towards a promising future for St Helens. Glass is going to be the green material of choice for decades to come. The research and innovation that takes places at Glass Futures will make sure that local people and our town benefits.” Catherine Chilvers, Development Director at Network Space, said: “Today’s event was a notable milestone for the project and follows two years of dedicated partnership working between ourselves, Glass Futures, St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UKRI. It is fantastic for all partners to see the works commencing on site as we transform a redundant former glass works site into a global R&D asset. The project will proudly secure St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation and sustainable glass production.’’ Glass Futures’ Chief Executive, Richard Katz, said: ““With the ground-breaking ceremony, Glass Futures has reached a real milestone in the delivery of its Global Centre of Excellence for glass in R&D, innovation and training. Due for completion next year, we will be targeting the elimination of carbon from mass production in the glass industry, as well as other Foundation Industries. “For the future of mankind, it’s essential the world wakes up to the damage it’s doing to itself and collectively acts now to dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions whether from industry, transport, agriculture or domestic heating. The Glass Futures’ hot glass experimental facility is a substantial stepping stone to cutting emissions, designed to work both collaboratively or privately with industry to identify and deliver sustainable

Read More »

THE GOLDEN TICKET: CLEGG FOOD PROJECTS CONSTRUCTING NEW CHOCOLATE FACTORY

NATIONAL construction company Clegg Food Projects has begun work to convert the former Phillips Avent facility in Glemsford, Suffolk, into a world-class cocoa & chocolate production factory after being appointed as the Principal Contractor. International Malaysian-owned cocoa manufacturer Guan Chong Berhad (GCB) appointed Clegg Food Projects to part-demolish and construct a new factory to enhance the processing and manufacturing facilities, that will produce cocoa butter, cocoa powder, liquor, and chocolate. The 17-acre site redevelopment will include new access, car parking and manufacturing facilities, warehousing and a biomass boiler to supply renewable energy for the production process as well as solar panels and electric car charging points.  Oliver Jenkins, business development manager at Clegg Food Projects, said: “We are delighted that GCB appointed us to oversee and construct its new factory as it enters into the UK market for the first time.  “GCB’s vision is to be a market leading cocoa supplier and the new factory will feature efficient and sustainable processing equipment to help make this a reality.  “It is an exciting time. We have begun work and we cannot wait to see it completed. The new factory will bring jobs to the area and will hopefully just be the beginning for GCB as they grow into the UK market and wider.” GCB cocoa, which was established in Asia when it began trading cocoa beans in the 1980s, is principally involved in the manufacturing of cocoa derived food ingredients. With its move into the UK market, the firm has pledged to invest significantly and create jobs for the local area.  Brian Bowen, general manager at GCB Cocoa UK Ltd, said: “We are very pleased to have appointed Clegg Food Projects as our Principal Contractor.Their understanding of what we need to achieve and the solutions they have provided will significantly assist helping GCB create its manufacturing footprint in the UK.” Clegg Food Projects has more than 40 years’ experience in the sector working with a number of household brands, both in the UK and abroad, across a wide range of sectors including bakery, beverages, dairy, fresh and frozen produce and many more. For further information visit www.cleggfoodprojects.co.uk or follow @CleggFoodP on Twitter. 

Read More »

HS2 opens huge new factory as work ramps up on UK’s longest railway bridge

Work on the UK’s longest railway bridge ramped up this week as HS2 began production of 1,000 enormous concrete segments that will form the deck of the Colne Valley Viaduct. Stretching for 2.1 miles (3.4km) across a series of lakes and waterways just outside London, the viaduct will carry high-speed trains as part of the HS2 project, designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and North, boost the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel. The huge deck segments – which weigh up to 140 tonnes – are being made on site at a temporary factory built specifically for the project. The mammoth 100m long building, which is visible from the M25, has an internal volume of 105,000 cubic metres – making it larger than the Royal Albert Hall. HS2 Project Client, David Emms said: “We’re already making strong progress on the Colne Valley Viaduct – sinking the foundations, building the first piers, and now starting production at the new modular viaduct factory. Once complete, this iconic structure will carry trains at up to 200mph – improving connections across the UK, freeing up rail capacity and offering passengers low carbon travel options. “It’s great to see how much progress has been made and I look forward to seeing work on assembling the deck structure later this year.” Every segment will be a slightly different shape depending on where it fits into the viaduct and the modular approach was chosen to ensure quality, safety and efficiency in production and to avoid bringing them in by road. At the peak of construction, around 12 segments – each the size of a double-decker bus – will be cast every week using a ‘match-casting’ technique. This approach – where each segment is poured against the previous one – will ensure the whole arch fits perfectly when reassembled on site. The huge project is being led by engineers from HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. Once construction is complete, the factory and surrounding buildings will be removed and the whole area between the viaduct and the Chiltern tunnel will be transformed into an area of chalk grassland and woodland as part of HS2’s ‘green corridor’ project. Daniel Altier, Align Project Director “Seeing the first deck segments being cast in the factory marks a significant milestone for the project. The design of the viaduct is such that each segment will be unique, delivering a structure which I have no doubt will be one of the most striking elements of HS2 once complete. “I would like to thank all the Align team and our supply chain partners that have enabled us to get to where we are today and in particular VSL, Danny Sullivan, Sendin and Tarmac.”  The design of the Colne Valley Viaduct was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal. Set low into the landscape, wider spans will carry the viaduct crosses the lakes, with narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement views across the natural surroundings. Work has also begun on the 56 giant piers that will support the viaduct, working from north to south. Weighing in at around 370 tonnes, the first 6m tall reinforced concrete pier was cast on site by a team of engineers who used a specially-designed formwork to create the shape of the structure. This was then removed after 4 days to reveal the final product. Each pier is designed to support the full weight of the deck above and rests on a set of concrete piles going up to 55m into the ground. This foundation work began earlier this year and will require the construction of 292 piles and 56 pile caps across the whole length of the viaduct. Once complete, the team will then use a specialised ‘launching girder’ resting on top of the piers to lift the deck segments into position. In another visible sign of progress on the project, the team have also completed the construction of the first two of four jetties across the lakes to get equipment into position to support the construction thereby taking construction vehicles off local roads. Where the viaduct crosses the lakes, the piles are being bored directly into the lakebed, using a cofferdam to hold back the water while the pier is constructed.

Read More »

CRUDEN GET OFF TO A RACING START AS THEY BUILD OVER 100 NEW HOMES

Cruden has started work on a new housing development in East Lothian, its fourth active site in the region. Situated in Wallyford, on the outskirts of the popular coastal town of Musselburgh and its historic racecourse, the much-anticipated £20m new development lies just 8 miles from the Capital and will see 101 new homes built as part of a wider masterplan development at Wallyford Farm and St Clements Wells Farm. Cruden Homes (East), part of the Cruden Group, is building 41 new homes for private sale and a further 60 much needed affordable homes, including 45 units for social rent and 15 for mid-market rent, on behalf of Dunedin Canmore Housing Association. The 7.39 acre development, which has been exclusively designed by EMA Architects and engineered by Will Rudd Davidson, will comprise a range of affordable homes including one and two bedroom cottage flats and two, three and four bedroom houses in a mix of mid-terraced, terraced and semi-detached house styles. The private homes will feature two and three bedroom terraced, three bedroom semi-detached and four bedroom detached houses. The first affordable homes are expected to be delivered in Summer 2022, with first completions of the private homes programmed for early 2023. A sales launch is anticipated in Autumn this year. Steven Simpson, Managing Director of Cruden Homes (East) said,  “We are pleased to start work at this landmark development in Wallyford. Both private and affordable homes are in such high demand across the country, so bringing over 100 new homes to East Lothian is a highly-anticipated and welcome addition to our existing portfolio of new homes across the region. We have a long history of successfully working with Dunedin Canmore Housing Association and we will be supporting the local community by providing new jobs and work placements and working with local businesses.”

Read More »

NEW STO ONLINE RESOURCE IMPROVES FAÇADE DESIGN PROCESS

A new online resource has been launched by Sto to provide architects and specifiers with a quick, convenient and practical new way to bring their façade designs to life. The interactive Sto Cladding Creator allows customers to develop their façade designs using the company’s StoCleyer B resin brick slips, StoBrick clay brick slips and Glass Mosaic finishes, and visualize the perfect solution for their individual project. “This is a significant step forward that delivers a number of benefits for our customers,” explains Sto’s Sales Development Manager, Joe Mellor. “The Cladding Creator provides visitors with a virtually endless array of design possibilities covering these façade finishes. They can refine their ideas by changing different parameters such as sizes, textures, bond patterns, colour combinations, joint mortar and glass mosaic options, before arriving at a final visual solution that gives them a very clear and accurate indication of how the various hues and textures will appear on their own building.” The resulting file can then be downloaded and used with any modelling software to create images for various purposes, such as client presentations or inclusion into drawings. “This greatly simplifies the process of choosing between the many different options available, saving valuable time for architects and specifiers,” adds Joe. “Once they have arrived at a design they wish to follow, they can then order a sample direct from the website, making the whole specification process even more efficient.” The Sto Cladding Creator focusses the spotlight on the BBA-certified StoCleyer B resin brick slips, which offer great design freedom, with the option to be manufactured in almost any colour combination or texture. Made from over 90% mineral component, they allow the creation of brick façades at a fraction of the weight, cost and installation work associated with traditional brick, as well as creating considerable energy savings in the manufacturing and transport processes. All the façade finishes chosen via the new Sto Cladding Configurator are compatible with the StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system, and StoVentec rainscreen system.

Read More »

HG Construction set to reach new heights with SCAPE Leeds scheme

HG Construction has been named as the main contractor on SCAPE’s new student accommodation scheme in Leeds which will top 100m high and provide 693 bedrooms for local students. The Merrion Street development will be Scape’s first student accommodation scheme in Leeds and HG Construction’s first development in the city. The scheme, which will be built on the site of the former Santander building, comprises purpose-built student accommodation including shared amenity spaces built across two blocks, with two retail units on the ground floors.   The tallest of the two blocks will be 32 storeys, making it HG Construction’s tallest development to date and amongst the tallest buildings in Leeds. The second block will be 11 storeys high. The new scheme is set to make an impressive addition to the Leeds skyline, with striking unitized glass facades on the high-rise building.  Shared facilities will include a cinema, communal kitchens, gym, study and breakout spaces, a fourth-floor terrace with outside space, and cycle storage at ground level. SCAPE is one of the UK’s leading student accommodation providers, focusing on the quality of the student experience and their personal well-being.  The Leeds scheme will be the 10th scheme that HG Construction has delivered for SCAPE.  The company is currently building a 774-bed student accommodation led scheme for SCAPE in Canada Street, London and has recently finished a student accommodation and co-living scheme with 500 beds in Guilford. Adam Quinn, Managing Director, HG Construction said: “We are delighted to be partnering with SCAPE to deliver this iconic new student accommodation scheme in Leeds. SCAPE has an excellent reputation for developing high quality, innovative student accommodation schemes which provide an exceptional living experience for students across the UK. We are proud to be involved in this significant new development in Leeds, our first project in the city, and we look forward to working with SCAPE and the wider team to bring this scheme to life.” Adam Brockley, Global CDO, SCAPE said: “We look forward to continuing our partnership with HG Construction to bring to life our vision for a new student accommodation scheme at this landmark site in Leeds. HG Construction has earned an impeccable reputation for its forward-thinking design and innovative developments that go above and beyond anybody’s expectations. We are proud to be bringing our high-quality accommodation to a city so well-known for its vibrant student life as we continue with our ambitious plans to develop the global Scape offering.” 

Read More »

Timber import volumes showing a return to regular winter pattern, says TTF

Timber and panel product import volumes continued to show a steady decline in Q4 2021 as more ‘regular’ demand returns to the market, according to the latest Timber Trade Federation (TTF) statistics. The latest TTF statistics found the volume of timber and panel products imported into the UK declined by 158,000m3 in November 2021 as compared to October 2021. Despite these declines, with 768,000m3 of timber and panel products imported into the UK in November 2021, the total volume of imports reported in 2021 exceeds 11 million m3. Most products categories are also nearing record import volumes in 2021 even as they enter more regular trade patterns – including the usual winter decline. Softwood import volumes fell to 471,000 m3– a 90,000 m3 reduction from the previous month – and this trend was carried across product categories ranging from particleboard to OSB and MDF. TTF head of trade and technical policy Nick Boulton said: “It is normal for timber and panel product imports to tail off towards the winter months as construction demand slows amidst the festive season, and as colder weather deters home and garden renovations. “The fall in the volumes of imports in Q4 2021 also likely reflects the state of supply lines in the structural softwood market which appeared to be largely saturated at that time. “As the weather improves and demand for timber climbs, we can expect to see timber imports rebound in our trade statistics, which is a regular pattern for the timber industry. “Over the coming year we expect to see a comparatively stable market – but this doesn’t mean there won’t be any squeeze on the supply chain particularly amidst rising international demand. “We will be exploring all these trends in full in our next Market Statement, which will come out next month.” Members can read the full report and more on the TTF Statistics Hub: https://ttf.co.uk/statistics/

Read More »

Seddon celebrates 125th anniversary with £1million fundraising pledge

Seddon – the UK’s largest privately owned and family managed national contracting business is marking its 125th anniversary with a series of events and pledges that will celebrate this most incredible milestone, bring people back together and raise over £1million for charity. The fifth generation, family-owned business, headquartered in Bolton, has asked colleagues, customers and its supply chain to come up with their own personal pledges that pay homage to the notable number, whilst raising money for The Christie Charity. So far, these include a challenging 125mile walk, a 125-hole round of golf and a 125km swim.  As well as celebrating a century and a quarter in business – only three out of every 100 family businesses make it through to the fourth generation and beyond – Seddon hopes that its endeavours will help it fundraise £1million for The Christie Charity, as well as raising money for other worthy causes that are close to participants’ hearts. Founded in 1897 by George and John Seddon, what started out as a Salford-based bricklaying business, today employs over 650 people and has an annual turnover of £200million. Nicola Hodkinson, Seddon family member and company director, said: “125 years in business is a huge deal, so we’re going all out to mark the occasion with the gusto it deserves whilst raising as much money as we can for a charity that’s so close to our hearts. “It’s timely that our anniversary falls as we’re starting to reconnect post-pandemic, so we hope those who take part will see it as a perfect opportunity to get back together with colleagues and friends, in support of each other’s efforts. “Commercially, the milestone has also prompted us to really focus on our future, to ensure that we’ll still be building homes, schools, healthcare facilities and commercial premises in another 125 years. “Our children have now entered the business and are cutting their teeth. Along with my brothers Jamie and Jonathan, I’m mentoring them on how to be business owners. They’re also moving around the business to gain experience of it and the industry as a whole. “In the words of my father Christopher, it’s our job to make the next generation the best owners they can be. And that’s exactly what we’re doing, for the longevity of the Seddon name.” Roger Spencer, CEO of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’ve worked with Seddon for over 25 years, and, during that time, they’ve raised a phenomenal £875,000 for The Christie Charity. “It’s really exciting to be part of its latest year-long fundraising campaign, which we’re all hoping will see Seddon surpass the £1million mark. The pledges we’ve heard of so far are fantastic and are sure to raise lots more money. The generous donation of £250 from every Seddon Homes house sold to The Christie at Macclesfield, which opened in December, is also predicted to add an incredible £175,000 to the current total during 2022. “It’s certainly set to be a very special year and we congratulate Seddon on what is an absolutely fabulous achievement.”

Read More »