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As previously reported the PHD Group retained this year’s prestigious Access and Scaffolding Specialist award. Reflecting on the win the access firm has said much of its success is put down to its continued investment in staff development and welfare.
The much-coveted title comes from the Construction News Specialist Awards 2019 evening, held last month at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Judges described PHD Group as ‘setting the pace in an incredibly tough sector’ and highlighted the complicated scaffolding work the company has carried out around Big Ben as the iconic 96 metre tall tower undergoes an extensive restoration programme.
But the judging panel was equally impressed by the business’s commitment to its staff.
The judges commented: ‘While Elizabeth Tower was a flagship project in 2018, the firm also provided innovative solutions on high-profile jobs such as Harrow Square (working for Barratt) and Deptford Foundry (Anthology/John Sisk), both of which were adjacent to live rail lines and had restricted access.
‘For staff, the firm offered free health checks, regular mental health talks and flu jabs. It also handed out 25 of its own health and safety awards for operatives last year.
‘The group invests in training and professes to offer clear career-development paths, while promoting fairness, inclusion and respect in the workplace.’
Danny Dwyer, Managing Director of PHD Group, said he was delighted that the judges had highlighted the investment the company makes in its staff as well as the access solutions it provides to complicated projects.
Mr Dwyer said: “Any company is only as good as its staff and its an important part of our ethos that employees at all levels have the best possible training, welfare and working conditions.
“We believe that by investing in our employees we are helping to create a happy, productive workplace that ultimately benefits the customer as they have a highly motivated team working on their projects.
“Because we are an innovative firm that comes up with specialist solutions to difficult problems its important that our staff are trained in a particular way and buy into that ethos.
We took on 22 apprentices in 2018 and hope to take on a further 30 this year. We’re delighted that the judges recognised our commitment to people and building up a good company culture.”
Earlier this year PHD Group announced that it planned to create a national infrastructure of access companies across Britain through an acquisitions programme.
The company plans to create regional hubs in key geographical areas and is already targeting Cambridge, The Midlands and the Northern Corridor.
Alan Brockhouse, CEO of PHD Group, said: “It’s a huge achievement to win this award for consecutive years and we feel that it puts us in great stead as we look to start creating a national infrastructure for the company in 2019.
“One of our key considerations when looking to buy a company is that they will have the ability to take on and adopt the company ethos that we have created.
“All the staff have worked incredibly hard and deserve huge credit.”
