Category: News

O’Brien were recently thanked for their generosity in supporting the Home of Hope Orphanage in Malawi.

The donation will be an incredible gift for their vision of setting up the Vocational Training Centre and will make a huge impact on the lives of young people. The funding will go directly to the HOH, towards the purchase of new equipment and its staffing of the centre. The donations received will be combined with several other companies to ensure the overall gift is significant and makes a big impact to the project and its progress.

The Vocational Training Centre is the next stage in Home of Hope’s vision for equipping orphans and other vulnerable children to lead independent lives to the full, by providing them with vocational skills to enable them to enter skilled employment, or set up businesses of their own.

The project is grand: constructing the prerequisite infrastructure, sourcing the tools and equipment essential to the courses and employing staff. It is a long-term venture and it will be good to be able to see the progress that has been made over the past few years and the difference further funding will make for the future.

http://malawiorphanfund.uk/home-of-hope/vocational-training-centre/

O’Brien Contractors was congratulated alongside teams that delivered the Module 4 Engine Manufacturing Centre completion.

The completion of these works is a significant milestone in the development of Jaguar Landrover’s Engine Manufacturing Centre. As part of a £450 million expansion,  the project has doubled the size of its Engine Manufacturing Centre, and raised the total investment to £1 billion, making it the most significant new automotive manufacturing facility to be built in the UK in the last decade.

Stuart Chamberlain, O’Brien Contractors Director, said: “We are delighted to receive positive feedback on such a prestigious project for JLR and look forward to working with them again on further projects.”

Stace’s, Adrian Murray, Associate Project Manager, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate everyone involved for all their hard work and dedication over the last two years; from moving 210,000m³ of earth to turn disused playing fields into a level building plateau while providing safe habitat zones for protected bird species and seeing them lay eggs, then constructing an 11m-high, 85,0000m² building almost doubling the size of the existing facility in a challenging timeframe with a very collaborative approach sensitive to the needs of JLR and its process equipment fit-out.

You and your teams have each and all delivered to JLR a fantastic building for fit-out of its process equipment and ultimately production of state-of-the-art engines. I’m sure you are all as equally proud as I am to have been involved in and contributed to this prestigious project for JLR. We wish JLR all the best with the continuing fit-out of process equipment and JLR’s ongoing success as a whole, looking forward to the award winning facility producing state-of-the-art engines for many years to come.”

O’Brien’s recent projects for JLR, include: The Gaydon Triangle Project and i54 Jaguar Landrover Manufacturing Plant Extension.

We have won a Gold Award in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Occupational Health and Safety Awards for the fourth year running.

We will be presented with the award during a ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel on Wednesday, July 12, 2017. The award was achieved during a special year for family-safety charity RoSPA, as it celebrates its centenary.

Peter O’Brien, Managing Director of O’Brien Contractors, said: “Health and safety is sown into the fabric of our business and this is why we have made it one of our core values. We place great emphasis on minimising the risk of accident or injury to employees and sub-contractors, as well as members of the public. It is not just about staying compliant.”

O’Briens commitment to occupational health and safety has seen its industry-leading standards recognised with accreditations ranging from OHSAS 18001 to CHAS, Achilles Building Confidence (five star rating) and Achilles RISQS. 68% of its annual training budget was also dedicated to H&S training and 80% of their site operatives were also qualified to NVQ 2+ standard during 2016.

“It is always pleasing to receive recognition for outstanding achievement; especially rewarding when it is for maintaining an outstanding health and safety record over a sustained period of time.” said Peter.

Judges consider entrants’ overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards are the most prestigious in the world of occupational health and safety, and held in high regard around the world, as winning one demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record. Achieving the standard required is no mean feat.

“This is a special year in the history of RoSPA, and we congratulate all of our winners in this, our centenary year”.

We have been chosen to work on the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) new Service Family Accommodation scheme.

In the latest phase of the Army Basing Programme to support the relocation of 4,300 military personnel and their families in the Salisbury Plain area, the multi-million pound development will deliver up to 917 new homes over 3 separate sites.

Working in partnership with main contractor, Lovell Partnerships, we will be undertaking the infrastructure works to the proposed scheme and these will include the construction of adoptable Section 38 roads and sewers, along with associated provision of services, i.e. gas, water, electric, IT and comms.

Also, the overall project requires the upgrading of existing county highways in the form of new roundabouts, junctions and highways. These works will be carried out concurrently by ourselves with the housing development operation.

Stuart Chamberlain, O’Brien Contractors Director, said: “We are honoured to have been chosen by Lovell Partnerships and look forward, once again, in applying our civil engineering expertise to deliver a development to the highest levels of quality. It is testament to our team who worked on the Beacon Barracks SFA scheme, that Lovell has shown confidence in our capability to deliver this prestigious project.”

John Leary, Lovell Operational Director, said: “The SFA scheme presents many exciting challenges but what is paramount is the necessity to assemble the right team, a team capable of delivering quality work throughout a high volume fast track programme.  OBCL were a key player on MOD Stafford and I am delighted to have them alongside us on the Plain.  Our partnership gives me the confidence that we can meet the Client’s demanding programme and at the same time assure DIO of value for money”.

Established in 1958, O’Brien Contractors is a Midlands-based provider of civil engineering, design and build and groundworks services, as well as turnkey sports pitch solutions.

Key projects and customers, include: Beacon Barracks SFA development with Lovell Partnerships, the regeneration of Longbridge town centre with Morgan Sindall, the Nestlé factory with John Sisk & Son and Gestamp’s Four Ashes Park with Readie Construction.

We have proudly supported Kier Construction and Sense with a garden makeover that Alan Titchmarsh would be proud of.

Our team helped carry out the transformation at Sense’s King’s Heath care accommodation, following the invitation by Kier Construction Central’s office to support them with one of their local community projects.

O’Brien’s work, included: level reduction, a base for slab area, new slabs (200 in total), scrub removal and the installation of ducting across the garden.

Kier Construction Central had previously completed individual, small-scale community support activities related to their construction projects, but realised by combining their efforts, they could have a greater impact if targeted in the right direction.

A garden refurbishment at a property owned by Sense in Kings Heath was identified as a suitable type and size. The property is the home of four adults who all have varying impairments, and require 24 hour care.

Adam Ewing, Project Manager, Kier Construction, said: “Our objective was to improve the whole outdoor experience of the garden, including: safety, access, aesthetic, sensory and maintenance aspects.”

The garden in its original state was very basic, run down, un-safe and not a suitable for the residents.

“The new garden will open the space up and provide residents and their visitors with a wonderful place to meet up, relax and enjoy being outdoors.”

Tony Mitchell, Operations Manager, O’Brien Contractors, said: “We didn’t hesitate to get involved when asked by Kier to support them. We are a family run business, built on a tradition of making a positive impact on the lives of people in and around our operations.

“Sense really does a fantastic job providing people who are deafblind, have sensory impairments or complex needs, with a more independent lifestyle and everyone involved felt that their contribution, however big or small, will really change people’s quality of life for the better.”

Adam Ewing, added: “O’Brien’s assistance was pivotal to the success of the project and their support throughout was a key factor. I would like to thank the team for all their help on behalf of Kier Construction Central.”

Our leading sports pitch construction division, O’Brien Sports, has secured a hockey pitch resurfacing project at Bridge Street Sports Centre in Leominster.

Appointed by Kier Construction, under the Scape National Minor Works Framework, our 8 week contract involves the careful removal of the existing sand filled synthetic grass pitch and enkaflex shockpad, in preparation for the installation.

The new playing surface will feature an International Hockey Federation (FIH) approved, sand dressed Domo Hockey Extreme surface placed upon a Domoflex 5010 prefabricated shockpad.

Prior to the resurfacing works, sub base tests will be conducted to ensure the levels are in accordance with the specification.

Steve Hillman, General Manager, O’Brien Sports, said: “We are pleased to be providing sports pitch services for Kier Construction, having previously worked with them on a number of civil engineering schemes across the Midlands.

Our works are taking place within a live setting, but we understand the importance of preplanning, in-terms of traffic management and health and safety, to ensure a safe environment, along with minimal disruption is provided to local residents and people using the facilities, at all times.”

O’Brien Sports delivers natural sports pitches used for rugby, football and cricket. It also supplies synthetic and multi-use games area pitches, with surfaces suitable for just about every sport and user – from hockey clubs to school rugby and community football teams.

Recent projects, include: a 3G football pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), polymeric sprint track and car park for Broxhill Sports Centre in Romford, a 3G multi-use sports pitch for Warden Park Academy in Cuckfield and a 3G football pitch for Christ’s College Finchley in London.

Staff from leading groundworks and civil engineering specialist, O’Brien Contractors, have shown their support to the Way Ahead Project in Leamington Spa by raising money and donating Christmas gift packs during their Christmas Jumper Day.

Part of the Salvation Army in Leamington Spa, the Way Ahead Project provide a Christmas meal and all year support for people who are homeless, having difficulty overcoming alcohol or drug addiction or struggling with mental health.

Peter O’Brien, Managing Director, O’Brien Contractors, said: “I’m very proud of the team for being supportive of these events that raise money for good causes. The Way Ahead Project provide fantastic support, helping some of the most vulnerable people in our local community turn their lives around.”

Since 2013, O’Brien Contractors has backed a number of local and national charities to the tune of £48,000, through sponsorship or organised events, including: Help for Heroes, British Blind Sport, ILEAP, Alzheimer’s Society, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation.

“Next year, we have ambitions plans to raise a whole lot more through organised events and I’m pleased to announce one of the charities we will get behind is Zoë’s Place, a baby hospice in Coventry.”

The charity Christmas Jumper Day raised just over £150 and 22 gift boxes were donated.

If you would like to donate to the Way Ahead Project, visit: www.justgiving.com/Wayaheadproject

We have been appointed to work on the revamp of KKR and Quadrant Estates’ Gallagher Retail Park in Wednesbury.

Appointed by principal contractor, RG Group, we will deliver a host of ground works at the popular retail park near Junction 9 of the M6 – including: reconfiguration of existing retail units, construction of new retail and food units, together with the refurbishment of the car parking areas. The expansion is also anticipated to generate more than 200 new jobs for the local area.

Tony Mitchell, Operations Manager, O’Brien Contractors, said: “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to partner, once again with RG Group on such an important project for the local region.

Our experience of working on active developments will come to the fore with this project as two thirds of the retail park remains open for business. We will also be working to a tight programme of works, including working across multiple areas and multiple phases, as well as organised scheduled deliveries to ensure minimum disruption to shoppers on the busy weekends leading up to Christmas, and a safe passage to and from home for pupils from the adjacent school is provided.” added Tony.

Established in 1958, we are a second generation, family-run business that has gone from strength to strength and expanded into a range of new sectors.

From commercial units and Olympic-standard sports facilities, hospitals, universities, highways and commercial housing developments, our extensive experience consistently leads to the delivery of class-leading solutions.

Key projects and customers include: the regeneration of Longbridge town centre; groundworks and infrastructure works for Morgan Sindall and the Primark Retail Distribution Centre; foundations, drainage and underground services with Sir Robert McAlpine.

For more information, please contact Neil Nickolds, Marketing Manager on 01926 319 724 or email neilnickolds@obriencontractors.co.uk

We have secured a second contract with Readie Construction at Bericote Properties’ Four Ashes Park scheme near Wolverhampton.

The new £126.3 million 50,000 square metre manufacturing facility is being developed for Gestamp, an international group dedicated to the design, development and manufacture of metal automotive components, and will enable the company to create a more efficient and competitive, customer focused factory for clients in the region, namely BMW, Honda, JLR, Nissan-Renault and Toyota.

Appointed by principal contractor, Readie Construction, we have secured a contract for the installation of three 6m deep factory pits, capping beam, office floor slab, associated internal and external drainage, service trenches and external works.

Peter O’Brien, Managing Director, O’Brien Contractors, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded another subcontract by Readie Construction. We have an excellent track record of delivering civil engineering services across the Midlands and as with all our schemes, our team will approach the project in a flexible manner, offering cost and efficiency savings to ensure we deliver the best results for our client.”

Established in 1958, O’Brien Contractors is a second generation, family-run business that has gone from strength to strength and expanded into a range of new sectors.

Its portfolio of civil engineering projects, include: Regeneration of Longbridge Town Centre in Birmingham, Beacon Barracks SFA housing scheme in Stafford, Primark Distribution Centre in Kettering, New Cross Hospital’s new Accident and Emergency Centre in Wolverhampton and University of Birmingham’s campus expansion in Birmingham.

The new plant will be fitted out with new state-of-the-art stamping equipment and is designed to safeguard the 800 jobs at Gestamp’s current Cannock plant.

If your boss gave you the choice of travelling a minimum 5 hour round trip in the car, or to make that journey in 5 seconds at the click of a button, what would you choose?

Well, for engineering surveyor, Gareth Price and his team at civil engineering and groundworks specialist, O’Brien Contractors, that choice has become a reality, thanks to director, Mick O’Brien, whose investment in 3D machine control and Trimble Connected Community software, has dramatically reshaped the business.

In order to understand how the solution works, Finning News took up the offer from SITECH UK and Ireland’s Zoë Adnitt, to visit Mick at a new sports pitch project in Romford and then travel to O’Brien’s head office in Leamington Spa, all in one very long day.

The project itself involved the creation of a brand new 3G sports pitch and a multi-use games area (MUGA), constructed next to an existing sports centre. With very tight tolerances required to meet the exacting standards for the pitch, before the job was secured, the surveying team carried out an in house survey, modeled the whole project in 3D and then monitored it throughout the earthworks programme, as Mick explained:

“Having proven the benefits of machine control on previous sports pitch projects, we have now gone to the lengths of setting up a new specialist division for this type of work.

“So in practical terms, our first aim with any project is to try and ensure that no material leaves site, eliminating the need and cost of truck movements. This is achieved by recycling good quality soils and designing in features like earth bunds to use material that would normally be classified as inert waste.

“Our challenge throughout this process is that we have to stick as closely to our design as possible, but you never truly know what you will unearth or how materials will compact, until you actually start doing the job.

“This is why you have to be on top of a project from day one. Typically before GPS enabled 3D machine control, we would have had to send a member of our team down to site on a very regular basis, which is a costly exercise when a round trip is 5 hours. This was the reason that prior to our investment in this technology, we tendered for jobs much closer to our base in Leamington Spa.

“This was obviously quite restrictive to our growth, especially in the more specialist sports pitch market. So by using two-way communication through the Trimble technology using the GPS network, the machines are able to tell us what they have been doing and we can see the daily progress onsite at the touch of a button.

“Equally, we can see the all important levels being achieved and therefore continually update our calculations around material movements, settlement and compaction. This means that Gareth, our engineering surveyor, can make relevant adjustments to the 3D model from his desk, delivering changes to the individual machines onsite, at the touch of a button, via the Trimble Connected Community.

“So what would be a round trip of at least 5 hours to our latest Romford project to upload a file from a memory stick or complete a survey using older techniques, is a 5 second file click and drag process, which is then sent through the cloud.

“In commercial terms, this approach has totally changed our capabilities and more importantly for the customer, changed the way a project is delivered. Our customers get a 3D design matching high quality finish, reduced truck movements, which pleases the local residents and a faster job, at a fixed competitive price.

“It really is a win win for both parties and a transformational journey from regional to national contractor for our business, I honestly don’t know how we could run a profitable job without it.”

So if you’ve got an earthworks project you’re looking to start, click here to talk to us about how we can help you generate cost and efficiency savings.