Double win at Construction Excellence Awards for Gilbert-Ash
Thursday 5th November 2015
The team at Gilbert-Ash were very pleased to receive two Construction Excellence Awards at last week’s Construction Employers Federation / Specify Magazine awards. The company won the Construction Excellence Awards for Exporting and for Environmental Responsibility.
In 2013 Gilbert-Ash took the strategic decision to proactively grow its business outside Northern Ireland. The company turnover at this time was split 20% in Northern Ireland, 70% in GB and 10% in international markets.
The first step was to put a comprehensive business improvement programme in place to make sure any future growth would be sustainable over the long term. This involved re-evaluating and improving every department and function within the business, from construction to commercial.
A proactive export strategy followed which involved a brand refresh and the repositioning of the company to reflect the high calibre of projects that had been completed, many of which have been deemed world class with two Stirling Prize shortlisted projects and one winner.
The company adopted a dual approach to export development, both geographical and segments within these markets.
In GB Gilbert-Ash has focused on niche sectors - Landmark buildings, Arts & Culture and Science & Technology. By doing so, in the last 18 months the team has won contracts worth £160 million to deliver the National Army Museum, Bartlett School of Architecture, Institution of Engineering & Technology, Centre of Excellence for Fetal Medicine at King’s College Hospital, 5G Innovation Centre (World First), Battersea Arts Centre, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
In international markets the company has focused on developing a long-standing relationship with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and won projects at the British Consulate in Dusseldorf and the British Embassy in Sri Lanka. As a result Gilbert-Ash is fast establishing a niche for Embassy work and has recently completed work for the Polish & US Embassies in London.
The export strategy is proving highly successful. Since January 2015 Gilbert-Ash has hired 40 new staff and expanded its offices premises in London to better service and support the business. Dedicated resources have been set aside for continued business development, marketing and PR to keep promoting and building on the current export success.
Gilbert-Ash’s turnover has risen dramatically from £75 million in 2014, to having secured £130 million of business in 2015 and a further £120 million already secured for 2016.
In terms of Environmental Sustainability, Gilbert-Ash recognises its responsibility to design and construct efficient buildings in a responsible manner, to protect the natural environment and to have a positive social and economic impact on the communities in which it works.
To support this goal the company has developed a sustainability strategy which incorporates the following principles:
• Ethical Business
• Employees & Workforce
• Building Relations through Social Value
• Health, Safety & Environment
Gilbert-Ash has embedded sustainability throughout all its business practices. Read about our Corporate Responsibility Strategy on our website to find out more about how this impacts on the company, clients and communities it works with.
