COMPLETE construction partner Stepnell has celebrated the achievements of six young people, who have successfully completed a ‘Get into Construction’ programme run by The Prince’s Trust. Working together with The Prince’s Trust and in collaboration with GLP Training, and with the support of supply chain partners VD Interiors and Phase9
NATIONAL contractor Stepnell is bolstering its reputation in the education sector across the South West, as the business works on its sixth school project in Dorset in the operating year. Stepnell’s work across the multi-million-pound school projects, which include renovating buildings dating from the early twentieth to the twenty-first century,
NATIONAL contractor Stepnell has completed works on behalf of Brio Retirement Living to design and build the £29m Beechwood Park – a 106 dwelling luxury retirement living community in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. The completed Beechwood Park retirement home boasts a range of one, two, and three bedroomed bungalows and apartments, each
LIFE-CHANGING support for employees is being provided by complete construction partner Stepnell, through a number of new initiatives and tools to help increase the awareness around mental health in construction and enhance employee health and safety. Stepnell has taken action to address the issues by significantly increasing the number of
CONSTRUCTION company Stepnell says that after a year of consolidation and planned improvement, the contractor has experienced a strong start to the financial year with a good level of orders secured for 2021/22 across its regions. The complete construction partner has reported a turnover of £104 million and increased net
FOLLOWING the outbreak of Covid-19, the construction industry was forced to move many of its processes online and modernise at a rapid rate in order to stay afloat. As we start to come through the pandemic and restrictions are beginning to ease, many of these practices have been implemented permanently
The UK construction sector was heavily impacted by the disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Tactics, which were speedily adopted by the industry to keep sites open, will no doubt continue post pandemic. TOM WAKEFORD, joint managing director of 154-year-old family firm Stepnell, which operates throughout central and southern England,
NATIONAL construction partner Stepnell has recently completed the multi-million-pound redevelopment phase of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) Costume Workshop in Stratford-upon-Avon. The renovation of the Grade II listed site, which required retention and heritage remedial works and was valued at more than £6 million, included the stockroom and costume cottage
A SITE that is smaller than the length of a double decker bus and comes with its own kayak is the latest challenging project to be taken on by construction firm Stepnell. The construction of Boulevard Wharf in Nottingham – comprised of 76 student accommodation studios – is one of
20 construction and trade students have been welcomed by Stepnell to a number of high-profile building sites across Leicester. There they were offered hands-on work experience on five major projects within the commercial, conservation, education and health sectors. The students took part in up to 60 days of work in their field
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
COMPLETE construction partner Stepnell has celebrated the achievements of six young people, who have successfully completed a ‘Get into Construction’ programme run by The Prince’s Trust. Working together with The Prince’s Trust and in collaboration with GLP Training, and with the support of supply chain partners VD Interiors and Phase9 Roofing who donated materials, labour and tools for students, Stepnell helped to facilitate the three-week course onsite during its work on the University of Worcester’s new state-of-the-art healthcare teaching facility. This is currently under development at the university’s Severn Campus on Hylton Road, Worcester. The course has led to all of the young people achieving a City and Guilds Level 1 Award in Health and Safety within a Construction Environment (RQF), as well as a CSCS Card. Elaine Kendall, social value and engagement manager at Stepnell, said: “Upskilling local people and supporting them into employment is a key focus for Stepnell, as we understand the positive societal impact delivering social value has on the communities where we work. We are delighted to be a part of this fantastic programme to help local young gain the experience, knowledge and qualifications they need to start a career in construction. “This collaborative partnership with The Prince’s Trust and GLP Training is helping to improve the employability of young people in Worcester and inspire the next generation, supporting our aim to address the skills shortage we face in the construction industry.” The programme culminated in a celebration event on the final day of activities at GLP Training’s offices, in which representatives from Stepnell, the University of Worcester, The Prince’s Trust and GLP Training were in attendance. Katie Marie Lynch, Youth Development Lead at The Prince’s Trust said: ‘‘The programme was a great opportunity for young people to explore a career in construction. Each of the young people gained invaluable skills both theoretical and practical, including teamwork and building confidence, which enabled them to build a foundation to work in the construction industry. “Working in collaboration with GLP Training and Stepnell was a positive experience and we look forward to seeing the progression of each young person in the future.’ Gemma Parsons, CEO of GLP Training, said: “This is a fantastic programme that enables young people to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to enter the world of construction through a supportive learning environment on an actual construction site. “Learners not only gain the relevant qualifications to enter this key sector but also gain practical work experience in a variety of construction skills to introduce them to a career in construction. The young people have been fantastic and their enthusiasm has been clear in both the learning and practical training.” Mark Evans, assistant director of Estates at the University of Worcester, said: “The University makes a significant contribution to the local economy. When procuring works we always look to include a commitment to working with local contractors and encouraging training and development opportunities wherever possible. “It is therefore pleasing to see that our latest development is having such a positive benefit in the local community, offering these excellent training opportunities to young people.” To find out more about Stepnell’s apprenticeship opportunities, visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
NATIONAL contractor Stepnell is bolstering its reputation in the education sector across the South West, as the business works on its sixth school project in Dorset in the operating year. Stepnell’s work across the multi-million-pound school projects, which include renovating buildings dating from the early twentieth to the twenty-first century, is contributing to the county’s upgrading programme and adding to an ever-growing portfolio of education building expertise. Stepnell began their sixth project, a major renovation at Coombe House, on the outskirts of Shaftesbury in October 2021. Formerly St Mary’s School – a Roman Catholic day and boarding school for girls that was closed in July 2020 due to funding issues – the 165,000 square feet of mixed-use accommodation set within 55 acres was purchased by Dorset Council for £10 million as part of the council’s five-year £145 million capital programme. The project is due to complete in spring 2022. Previously, three projects have been completed on behalf of Gillingham Primary School, Ferndown Upper School and Blandford Upper School, with Coombe House, Woodroffe School, and Corfe Hills School currently underway. Corfe Hills School works are part of the efficiency estate programme and involve extensive remodelling and refurbishment of an existing year block. Provision of all new M&E Services, and IT Services. This also includes the provision of existing services to the remainder of the school at all times whilst implementing all new M&E and IT services. Provision of new classrooms, new windows and doors and associated ventilation. Formation of new IC’S and assistance with the decant of a number of classrooms. All works are taking place in a live school environment with works in close proximity to occupied classrooms. The project at Ferndown comprised of alterations to classrooms through new stud partitions, suspended ceilings and new flooring. At Blandford Upper, new ceilings, toilets and shower cubicles formed part of the refurbishment of the changing rooms. Remedial fire stopping works and fire doors were implemented between compartments to the roof void of block four. Furthermore, fire stopping measures were installed between the stairwells in block H and the adjoining class and storerooms. Rob Speirs, regional managing director of Stepnell, said: “Working within live sites in educational settings poses unique challenges but we are delighted to have been able to safely and efficiently complete works around the opening requirements of the school. The result is an enhanced space for high-quality education via the remodelled year block and existing school areas.” Rob added: “We were thrilled to have secured the redevelopment project for Coombe House, which will be pivotal in increasing the accessibility to high quality SEND institutions in Dorset. “Alongside our completed projects at Ferndown Upper School and Blandford Upper School, each development has shown Stepnell’s capability to form strong collaborations – including with Dorset Council and architects Kendall Kingscott. Our works in the region are helping to enable more resilient communities in a county where parents are desperate for their children to be educated to a high quality and meet their needs closer to home.” To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
NATIONAL contractor Stepnell has completed works on behalf of Brio Retirement Living to design and build the £29m Beechwood Park – a 106 dwelling luxury retirement living community in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. The completed Beechwood Park retirement home boasts a range of one, two, and three bedroomed bungalows and apartments, each cladded in Cotswold Stone, and set against a quintessential countryside backdrop within one of UK’s most desirable market towns. Sustainable living solutions have been incorporated into the design and build, to include district heating, combined heat and power generation, and full home automation. As a result, this project has been awarded the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘‘Very Good’’ standard rating and BRE HQM (Home Quality Mark) Level 3. Designed with a wide range of community facilities and communal areas, the retirement home is home to beautiful landscaped gardens, and includes an exercise trail, raised bed gardens and Brio’s brasserie and bar Slate & Grain. Furthermore, there is a purpose-built social space for recreational activities, club fitness suite, spa and lounge. A shuttle bus is also available for shopping trips and excursions. Colin Chiles, operations director at Stepnell, said: “We are delighted to open the doors to Beechwood Park, a to provide a first-class retirement living experience in the heart of the Cotswolds. “Together with Brio, we have prioritised the environmental performance of the residential community throughout every phase of planning and delivery, which has been recognised as part of the BREEAM accreditation process to achieve “Very Good” standard. This has been achieved as result of a strong collaborative effort.” To achieve the BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standard, the team demonstrated ‘best practice’ – the performance rating reserved for the top 10% of new UK non-domestic buildings. Colin continued: “This development follows a series of retirement village projects in the region, including the recently delivered £5.25m Edwardstow Court in the centre of Stow. Stepnell has quickly become recognised as a national contractor of choice for retirement developments, which has organically grown through a series of successful partnerships.” The residential units are now available with a range of buy, part-own, rent and part-rent options. Stepnell’s completion adds to a growing portfolio of care projects, which will soon include the £6.5m The Gables Care Home on Bennett Drive in Birmingham and a £4.3m refurbishment project at the Town Thorns Care Home in Rugby, with work currently underway at both sites. To find out more about Stepnell’s healthcare and retirement living expertise, visit: www.stepnell.co.uk. Join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
LIFE-CHANGING support for employees is being provided by complete construction partner Stepnell, through a number of new initiatives and tools to help increase the awareness around mental health in construction and enhance employee health and safety. Stepnell has taken action to address the issues by significantly increasing the number of mental health first aiders and rolling out mental health awareness training for all of its employees – including stress management, guidance on how to better manage time and advice for improving personal wellbeing. According to the suicide by occupation report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 240 suicides have been reported within the construction industry and building trades in England during 2019, significantly outnumbering all other recognised industries and indicating a mental health crisis in the industry. In addition, the Chartered Institute of Building reported in 2020 that 26 per cent of construction workers had experienced suicidal thoughts and 97 per cent had experienced stress over the previous year. Tom Wakeford, joint managing director at Stepnell, said: “As a construction partner, we recognised a direct response was needed to address these troubling statistics. We are now proud to provide a range of mental health support mechanisms to help people in a number of ways. “We take the wellbeing of team members very seriously and recognise our responsibility to always be there for our colleagues and look out for one another. The industry can be stereotyped as a ‘tough’ industry, with middle-aged men working on building sites where people’s feelings are often not spoken about, but in fact it is much more than that and these stereotypes aren’t doing any favours for this challenging sector. “The industry has been hit hard like many industries over the past year, but by implementing these new initiatives we hope it will help to offer support and show that we are listening to our team members. Stepnell has also increased the number of mental health first aiders in the firm and has revised a clear approach for how they can support colleagues, with line managers and all members of the senior team having undergone mental health training.” Follow-up support using online platform Clear Review – an employee engagement software that improves performance and wellbeing – has encouraged employees to have one-to-one conversations with colleagues, with a regular review process allowing for a clear and continual approach to identify and address any concerns. Stepnell has implemented an employee assistance programme for those that require additional support, which gives free access to confidential one-to-one counselling sessions. This is offered through Health Assured, a free helpline for support and guidance on health, legal and financial matters. This includes an app that provides webinars – featuring famous speakers – and a mood calendar to help employees track how they are feeling. Stepnell has also implemented an agile working policy, which includes three days working in the office and two days remotely, with core working hours from 9:00am to 4:30pm to ensure that employees are still able to cooperate on tasks throughout the week, but can also enjoy an improved work-life balance after finishing at 4.30pm. Tom added: “We have experienced great success with the changes to increased flexible working so far, and we have noticed the benefits that this creates for employee wellbeing and productivity. “It is well known that the construction industry suffers from higher levels of mental-health related problems, and through a combination of training and access to counselling, we want to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and educate our employees on how, where and when to seek help if they need it.” To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation around mental health in construction at @Stepnellltd.
CONSTRUCTION company Stepnell says that after a year of consolidation and planned improvement, the contractor has experienced a strong start to the financial year with a good level of orders secured for 2021/22 across its regions. The complete construction partner has reported a turnover of £104 million and increased net assets of more than £16 million for the year ended 31 March 2021 – with a net profit of £1 million – providing a solid foundation for the company going forward which compares favourably to other construction businesses alike. Tom Wakeford, joint managing director at Stepnell Ltd, said: “2020 was an extremely challenging year for many businesses, particularly for those in the construction industry. The year was dominated by the emergence of the global Covid-19 pandemic and economic uncertainties associated with Brexit. “Stepnell was one of a handful of contractors to continue on site throughout lockdown and the commitment of our employees and our supply chain relationships was fundamental – we were able to source materials and sub-contractor support across our projects. Our results reflect our decision to work with our clients through the pandemic which was a great achievement.” The family-owned firm increased its Net Promoter Score, which is used to assess performance and help measure client satisfaction, to +45 in May 2021, showing that the company is performing well above average and is committed to delivering the best service to its clients. Tom added: “We are delighted to have increased our NPS to +45 which is rated as ‘good.’ This is a tremendous performance and enormous credit to our employees and the companies we work with and is a great achievement, particularly in the current climate.” Stepnell has secured a number of exciting project wins and its current projects are performing well, including Stepnell Park – a new £10m business park adjacent to Stepnell’s head office in Rugby – which is now substantially let. Stepnell has also recently secured work at a number of hospitals including five schemes for Royal Berkshire Hospital, refurbishment works for Northampton Hospital and building works for Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, as well as starting on site at £9.7m retirement build Wooburn Green for Lifestory Group. The contractor has also recently secured a number of other healthcare wins and has started on site at two significant care home projects, including £6.5 million care facility Bennett Drive Care Home for repeat client Cinnamon Care and £4.3m refurbishment project to the existing Town Thorns care centre for Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund, both located in the Midlands. They have also been been appointed to build a £9m grade A office building for repeat client MHR as well as a new £2.5m refurbishment centre for National Grid in Leicester. Tom added: “Stepnell has secured orders which will enable it to deliver sales in excess of £100m during 2021/22, in line with our current business plan. The company has started the current financial year with an excellent level of secured work – circa 85% of the planned workload for the year – which we are really pleased with.” The 154-year old firm, which operates across central and southern England with a three-region model, prides itself on its unique complete construction partner approach offering a wide range of services including detailed risk management and partnership during pre-construction to work with its clients to solve the problems before they occur. Tom added: “We pride ourselves on our ability to be involved early in projects, to provide an end-to-end service where we can understand our clients’ objectives, offer enhanced solutions and work with them to achieve the best outcome. “Despite the challenges of the global pandemic and the uncertainty of Brexit, our focus upon service to our clients is the cornerstone of our business. The continuation of this ethos across the business has led to the majority of the work which has been secured for 2021/22 in respect of which we anticipate a similar level of turnover to 2020/21. “All of our regional teams have been working incredibly hard to secure new project wins and ensure that we emerge from this pandemic as best as we can. Stepnell has a more diversified range of projects than ever before, with the group also having the benefit of a property portfolio of more than £40m. “With our stable business model and continuing our selective approach to tendering for construction projects – to which its skill base is best suited and where terms and conditions do not impose unacceptable levels of construction risk – we are confident of our position to withstand market risks and continue our upward trajectory.” To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
FOLLOWING the outbreak of Covid-19, the construction industry was forced to move many of its processes online and modernise at a rapid rate in order to stay afloat. As we start to come through the pandemic and restrictions are beginning to ease, many of these practices have been implemented permanently by businesses that have reaped the benefits of working online – and complete construction partner Stepnell is no exception. The family-run business had been embracing cloud-based technology and digital platforms long before the Covid-19 pandemic, but the positive impact digitisation has had on client satisfaction has become even more prominent throughout the pandemic, making project delivery as cost and time efficient as possible. Stepnell, which works on public and private sector projects across the UK, has been utilising a selection of programmes to maximise efficiency and deliver outstanding service to its clients – as well as recently hiring a new technical manager as part of its company-wide advancement in BIM. One of the programmes currently being used by its team is Fieldview, a cloud-based app which offers managers the ability to view and amend shared documents – such as quality checks and health and safety protocols – on a live platform that provides updates in real time to project teams, stakeholders and sub-contractors. It also allows managers to have a detailed overview of each project while working remotely and collects data that enables Stepnell to make informed improvements about its ways of working. Fieldview runs alongside Viewpoint for Projects, which is a design management tool that stores plans and drawings, allowing architects and sub-contractors to effectively collaborate with the Stepnell team while keeping the client up to date with building design alterations. The team also uses Biosite to maximise site management efficiencies, helping to speed up induction processes, oversee the number of operatives on site and monitor the expiration of qualifying documents such as CSCS cards. Biosite also works to monitor the sustainability of each project, measuring the carbon footprint of each site worker’s commute in order to moderate transport emissions on eco-friendly builds. Tom Wakeford, joint managing director at Stepnell, said: “Without a doubt, the future of the construction sector lies in technology – especially following the pandemic, which forced us to embrace cloud-based platforms and move processes online in order to continuously collaborate while social distancing. Stepnell is intent on being at the forefront of this change, and we believe that these tools are a great place to start on our journey towards digitisation. “As a construction partner, it’s important that our role remains collaborative, so we’re in constant communication with both our clients and sub-contractors to keep them updated on the progress of the build. Transparency is an essential part of our service, and these platforms enable us to deliver this to our clients by not only providing live updates, but also by protecting their personal data and ensuring our teams are trained to a high standard so they can exceed expected requirements.” Stepnell has also been working to upgrade its systems internally, being one of the first businesses in the sector to migrate to the Nutanix Enterprise Cloud. Stepnell has also listened to customers and was one of the first contractors to achieve ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus qualifications, which reinforces the company’s efforts in protecting sensitive client data. The team is also using Clear Review to help manage the performance of its staff online, a programme which helps to set objectives, arrange in person or virtual catch ups with mentors and line managers, and deliver constructive feedback to aid professional development. Tom continued: “Stepnell is constantly looking for ways to evolve and improve, so we are always on the lookout for technology that will help us to develop further. The use of these platforms, and the appointment of our new technical manager, will help us move towards continued growth, and we look forward to seeing how the rest of the construction industry embraces these changes over the next few years.” With more than 14 years’ BIM experience within the sector, new technical manager Charlotte Brogan will be dedicating her time to working with other technical and design managers in the business to improve the use of new and existing platforms across the business, pushing Stepnell to further expand its technological capabilities. Charlotte said: “I’m very excited about getting stuck into my new role and working alongside the Stepnell team to embrace new technologies and processes that will help to continuously elevate the business. “I was initially attracted to Stepnell as it is a family-run business, which means it has the values and company ethos that I often look for in an employer. The scope for development at Stepnell – both as a business and for my personal career growth – is huge and I look forward to working alongside teams in each department to introduce new platforms that can streamline processes and make sure we deliver the best service possible to our clients.” Stepnell is not only using these tools to improve relationships with existing clients, but it is also using online platforms to attract new business and win potential bids. Tom said: “We have also been utilising the Conquest estimating tool for many years and we are currently upgrading to its enquiries system, which will replace our own bespoke system. This will make us more efficient and means our teams can do more. “These platforms have all had an incredible impact on the success of Stepnell, and we’re excited about trialling more BIM products in the future and continuing to push the boundaries of modernisation within construction. Next up is an upgrade to our finance system to make us more efficient.” To find out more about Stepnell, visit https://www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
The UK construction sector was heavily impacted by the disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Tactics, which were speedily adopted by the industry to keep sites open, will no doubt continue post pandemic. TOM WAKEFORD, joint managing director of 154-year-old family firm Stepnell, which operates throughout central and southern England, says the industry needs to work collaboratively to keep the recovery juggernaut on track. “’Build, build, build!’ was the rallying cry last June. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new deal to put infrastructure at the heart of the government’s economic growth strategy. Johnson said he was committed to build, build, build – in order to fix not just problems created by the pandemic, but issues that the UK had experienced for three decades. “Johnson said he was committed to building new homes, fixing the NHS and tackling the skills crisis – as well as mending the gap in opportunity, productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK. All the time, the construction industry needed to build back better, greener and faster. “Seen by many then as the industry to help lift the UK out of economic gloom, construction is vitally important to the UK’s recovery. In December, the government issued its Construction Playbook – a blueprint of how the government saw local authorities working more closely with the construction sector. It came at the right time and is being adopted by thousands of organisations across the UK – Stepnell included. “Looking back to March 2020, COVID-19’s impact was immediate. Within a few days of lockdown, remote working was the norm. For some contractors, work on site stopped overnight – and the construction sector stood blinking as companies took in the huge catastrophe before them. “But, despite not being able to assess the future, the construction sector did what it always did – rolled up its sleeves and got on with the job in hand. Projects usually delivered from the board room were now being designed in people’s living rooms and kitchens, which meant contractors looked for new ways of working to ensure projects kept on track. “Alongside government support through furlough and other initiatives, there was stronger collaboration among contractors, supply chain and agencies. This unity meant a camaraderie and a strong sense of everyone having their part to play to achieve the common goal of delivering projects and keeping sites open. “Many contractors, including Stepnell, continued to work on site – and very quickly adapted to new ways of working to ensure colleagues’ safety. “By their very nature, contractors are agile, with their number one role being a problem solver for clients. This agility enabled us to swiftly adjust to solve a very different set of problems during lockdown one in 2020. As an industry, we moved at speed to meet clients’ expectations and we worked closely with clients to manage risk, ensure project delivery and overcome the many hurdles COVID-19 presented together. With our clients, we focused not just on project delivery, but also health and safety and wellbeing. “We also turned to managing our projects in an even more innovative way – using digital technologies and closely looking at new ways of working in order to achieve the results we needed. As well as taking a ‘partnership’ approach with clients, we also worked even closer with our supply chains. Again, working in partnership with supply chain partners, we were able to pay suppliers as early as possible and work together to achieve the results we collectively needed. “Stepnell had a flexible supply chain, which could also adapt quickly to demand. This, like many other factors we have adopted because of the pandemic, will be in place post-pandemic. The ‘not just for COVID’ approach means that the industry will continue to look at new technologies such as cloud working. The industry was way behind in terms of new technologies prior to COVID-19 – one of the positive things to come out of the pandemic for me is to see how crucial we view technology in the long term. “And of course, the pandemic has highlighted an issue that has been present in the construction industry for years – colleague wellbeing. Before the pandemic, the industry already had above average rates of divorce and suicide. Colleague mental health is something which became even more of an issue in 2020 – and will no doubt need to remain a focus for the industry once the worst of the pandemic is over. “On a positive note, the industry could potentially use the recent changes to ways of working to diversify its workforce. The pandemic has plunged the industry into the quickest and deepest possible experiment in flexible working — which has proved to be a success. “Not only that, but the construction industry was in the news during the first part of lockdown – not always for the right reasons as the public could see working sites when others had to stay away from workplaces. But the news pages highlighted construction and the way it was adapting, as well as new technologies. Construction companies’ ability to adapt to these changes, and so quickly, could make the industry more accessible and attractive to a wider talent pool – including young people. “Another key factor I see is the real importance of social value. Something that may have been seen as an exercise to tick boxes and score points against competitors pre-pandemic has been brought to the forefront during COVID-19 to show the genuine benefit to communities which our construction projects can bring. Whether that’s sandwiches for construction workers from a local café which has been closed for months or CSR projects to engage with local schools, which were also forced to lock their doors. “Continuing to bring young people into the industry is crucial. Stepnell has 14% of our workforce as trainees and apprentices – we see opportunities to give young people (an age bracket affected by the pandemic like no other) a great opportunity in a fantastic rewarding
NATIONAL construction partner Stepnell has recently completed the multi-million-pound redevelopment phase of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) Costume Workshop in Stratford-upon-Avon. The renovation of the Grade II listed site, which required retention and heritage remedial works and was valued at more than £6 million, included the stockroom and costume cottage buildings that were originally constructed in 1850, and the scene dock building constructed in 1887. Stepnell also worked to remodel the internal spaces to create a new reception area, costume workrooms, costume stockroom and prop workshop, as well as a costume fitting and exhibition area – which in the future will be open as part of public tours Adrian Barnes, regional director at Stepnell, said: “This was an incredible project to work on and we’re so happy that we were able to play a part in preserving such an important era of British history. We have a wealth of experience in working on heritage projects, so we’re glad that we are able to add this to our growing portfolio of restoration schemes.” In 2019, Stepnell also completed the restoration of Stratford-upon-Avon’s 16th century Falcon Hotel, which underwent a comprehensive internal refurbishment while preserving its historic front. Adrian continued: “Although these projects are amazing to work on in terms of legacy and community value, logistically they can be incredibly challenging. While on site at the Costume Workshop, we had to work within the constraints of limited noise and vibration to ensure we didn’t disrupt local residents or damage the structure of neighbouring buildings, which also hold historic significance. “Not only did we need to consider the preservation of the surrounding area, we also had to navigate operations with limited access and space as the site was surrounded by the RSC cottages and head office, and a small road leading to a local school. “The issue of space was also heighted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines. The team did a great job of implementing stringent health and safety precautions that allowed work to continue throughout both national lockdowns – something that we think was pivotal in the project’s success.” Stephen Rebbeck, technical director and project lead at the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Stepnell on this challenging project to keep our world class Costume Workshop close to our theatres in the heart of historic Stratford- upon-Avon. The end result gives us a place to create the best facilities for our costume-making, as well as offering new training and apprenticeship opportunities and allowing visitors to experience our Costume Workshop for themselves in the future. “We are enormously grateful to all our funders and donors for their support including crucial local support from the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund”. Stepnell worked closely with architects Aedas Arts Team to blend the Workshop’s traditional aesthetic with more contemporary elements to help boost its functionality so that staff can properly utilise the creative space. The build, which is now fit for purpose, serves both the women’s and men’s costume workrooms, a dye workroom, an armoury, and a millinery and a jewellery workroom. Julian Middleton, executive director at Aedas Art Team, said: “Rather like a theatrical production, creating buildings to support the performing arts is a genuine team effort. Stepnell understood this from the very start and it was the cornerstone of their approach. The team worked collaboratively and proactively throughout the construction process as we tackled the challenges of working in and around important historic buildings. For us, they did a great job amidst the most extraordinarily challenging of times – with imagination, pragmatism and good grace.” The 19th century, two-storey build spans across 1,644sqm and the RSC has now begun work to recommission the Costume Workshop and move the Company’s skilled costume makers into their new home, which will re-open when government restrictions are lifted and the RSC is able to re-open the Company’s theatres. To find out more about Stepnell’s, visit https://www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
A SITE that is smaller than the length of a double decker bus and comes with its own kayak is the latest challenging project to be taken on by construction firm Stepnell. The construction of Boulevard Wharf in Nottingham – comprised of 76 student accommodation studios – is one of the most complex jobs taken on by the contractor to date due to the unusual dimensions of the 11-metre-wide site and its proximity to the city’s canal. Because of this, a kayak forms part of the team’s emergency rescue procedure, meaning that any items that inadvertently fall into the canal can be retrieved. Shaun Moses, site manager for Stepnell, said: “It is certainly one of the more unusual sites we’ve worked on. Along with the obvious issues that come with building so close to the canal edge brings, the overall site is just 11 metres wide, meaning that day-to-day operations must be very carefully managed. “With incredibly tight boundaries and the buildings themselves designed to fill the entirety of its footprint, the site is a real challenge, but the team has worked closely with the developers from an early stage to create a solution that is workable and allows the whole operation to run smoothly.” The project sees the studios spread across three buildings providing views over the canal and towards the city of Nottingham. Designed by MAS Architecture, the scheme will also feature high-spec communal areas, including an on-site gym and movie room. Tom Sewell, East Midlands’ regional director at Stepnell, said: “The story of this site is really one of collaboration. Our team worked extensively with the client through the design development process in order to design and manage a project that met a high standard in terms of appearance and finishes – all while working to the budget and the challenges the site provides.” Muthar Al-Salloum, managing director of MAS Architecture, said: “This is a prestigious development that we are really pleased to deliver. Boulevard Wharf will provide much-needed contemporary student accommodation within Nottingham city centre and the scheme is one of only a few self-contained student accommodation developments in the city – providing all the necessary facilities onsite – thus creating a homely and luxurious environment for students to thrive in.” To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd
20 construction and trade students have been welcomed by Stepnell to a number of high-profile building sites across Leicester. There they were offered hands-on work experience on five major projects within the commercial, conservation, education and health sectors. The students took part in up to 60 days of work in their field of choice over the last three months. The sites they worked on included St Martins Lodge, Percy Gee Building students’ union, Friars Mill commercial offices, De Montfort Mews student accommodation and Langwith Medical Centre. The scheme was delivered in partnership with Leicester Employment Hub and Leicester College “We have been working closely with Leicester Employment Hub to identify suitable placement opportunities for students looking to build a career in construction and enhance their knowledge. Thanks to our expertise across different sectors, we have been able to offer valuable placements on projects that will have a lasting impact on local people.Tom Sewell regional director from Stepnell said: “The site teams have really enjoyed coaching the students and their enthusiasm to learn and ask questions has meant that they have made the most of the time with our employees. “Investing in the communities we work within and the future generation of the workforce is something we’re really passionate about at Stepnell and we look forward to securing more work experience opportunities for young people in the future.”
