Midlands Centre for Cyber Security sets the standard
The project team at the Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security development in Hereford has been recognised for their continued commitment to improving the image of construction.
The flagship project at Skylon Park in Hereford’s Enterprise Zone was awarded 44 out of a possible 50 credits for their most recent Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) visit – a not-for-profit, independent organisation founded to raise standards in the construction industry.
Contractors voluntarily sign up to the scheme to abide by their Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements.
The project was also awarded two additional points for innovation, something which is, “very hard to come by,” said Speller Metcalfe’s technical director, Adrian Speller.
“We work extremely hard to meet and exceed scheme standards on our sites,” he continued, “however innovation points are assessed by a central judging panel and only awarded to initiatives that have never before been seen in the UK, so to receive two is a fantastic achievement for the site team.”
These two new initiatives included ‘Six Acts of Charity’, where different coloured laces designed specifically for site boots were sold to raise money for a variety of charities including WWF, Breast Cancer Care and Plastic Oceans, alongside the site team’s high standards of presentation regarding localism information.
Other CCS successes include:
- Donating PPE to Hereford Hospital to support NHS staff;
- A running social ‘Cyber Speeders Club’;
- Delivering a series of lectures for University of Wolverhampton students both on site and on campus;
- Educational and professional site visits including Constructing Excellence groups;
- Various charity initiatives;
- Working with Hereford College of Arts to deliver a ‘live client’ module;
- Primary school students building an ‘eco patch’ on site;
- Educational / insight project development videos including Cross Laminated Timber, Cast In Situ Floor Slab and a series of bird’s eye view pieces.
Steve Lamb, Head of Capital Developments at the University of Wolverhampton said: “The team’s environmental and sustainability efforts, as well as the overall site set up, is one of the best I have seen to date. My favourite aspect of the CSR work has been the charity shoelace initiative, where I chose a charity close to my heart, and still have my laces proudly on display.”
As a result of achieving a score of eight or more in each of the schemes five categories, the project was awarded a Certificate of Excellence.
