Category: News

We are delighted to announce work is due to start to improve an existing access road and create a new route into the £800 million Fairham neighbourhood in Nottinghamshire.

The 606-acre site is in the process of becoming a whole new neighbourhood for Nottingham with 3,000 new homes, one million sq ft of employment space and 200 acres of open green space. The works are all part of £100 million of infrastructure improvements scheduled for Fairham.

Day and night-time works will start to increase from Monday 5th September 2022 with a completion in April 2023 in order to create a new access road and controlled junction for Fairham, along with improved access to the existing Park & Ride site.

Access to and from the Clifton South Park & Ride will be maintained at all times to keep traffic flowing while works to create new earthworks, carriageway and signalisation takes place. Construction traffic will be rerouted away from civilian traffic during the works.

We will be carrying out the work on behalf of Clowes Developments, the company behind the Fairham masterplan. Fairham is being brought forward in partnership with Homes England, the government’s housing accelerator.

https://fairhamlife.co.uk/access-works-for-800-million-fairham-neighbourhood-underway-this-autumn/

Connecting People to Places, Public Realm Works

O’Brien take our client’s vision, from design to reality!  We are experienced in creating public places for communities that are sustainable, environmentally and ecologically friendly, that also respect and acknowledge the surrounding area and the communities in which we work, for people to live, work, interact and enjoy.

With over 50 years of successfully delivering civil engineering and landscape solutions, O’Brien continues to work collaboratively with our clients to achieve high quality public realm spaces which are innovative and bespoke across a diverse range of sites, including universities, town centres, cemeteries, new town developments and public parks.

Turnkey Solution

By offering a complete turnkey solution, O’Brien can add value and deliver cost, quality, and program certainty to clients across work packages which include, hard and soft landscaping, roads, paving, drainage requirements, utilities installation and diversions, lighting, fencing and bulk earthworks.

Collaboration

We work across all sectors of the built environment with a broad range of stakeholders from clients, consultants, planners, local authorities, architects, highways departments, utility providers, and ecology, environmental and archaeological specialists. Working collaboratively is central to the successful delivery of our schemes.

Public Interface

Our projects require the need for us to interface with members of the public, sometimes in very sensitive environments. We establish clear lines of communication and liaise with all stakeholders before and during the delivery of our projects to keep them fully informed of planned activities and on going operations. This is done via letter drops or using Social Media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Early Contractor Involvement Benefits

 Early contractor involvement enables O’Brien Contractors to add value through increased input on design and construction decisions. Working collaboratively with the client and the design team throughout all stages of a project allows us to provide clients with early access to project information and helps forge a trusted relationship. Not only will early engagement save time, but it also allows for the mitigation of risk, improves project performance, ensures cost effectiveness, and enables delivery which is right first time.

Recent public realm projects include (please see links to projects below):

• Wixam’s Bedford Wixams, Greenway and Town Park, Public Realm Works, Bedford
• Port Loop, Birmingham – Urban Splash Port Loop Development, Birmingham, Phase 3b
• New Canalside Cemetery, Rowley Regis – New Canalside Cemetery, Rowley Regis
• Shire Lodge Cemetery Extension, Corby – Shire Lodge Cemetery Extension
• University of Birmingham – New Library External Works and Route to the Vale – https://obriencontractors.co.uk/projects/university-of-birmingham/

 

Highways and Infrastructure Works

From construction of new roads and road junctions, traffic roundabouts, realignment of highways Section 278 and 38 works, utilities work, new signage, lighting, drainage and temporary traffic management, O’Brien have the expertise and experience to carry out all elements of highways and infrastructure works. We deliver a full spectrum of civil engineering and groundworks across a range of different sized infrastructure and highways projects, from smaller developments to major highways works.

O’Brien are experts at carrying out infrastructure works on sites being prepared for further development, including industrial and commercial, housing developments and manufacturing sites.  We carry out all bulk earthworks, road construction, car parks, footpath, cycleways, highways bridges and roundabout construction, Section 278 and 38 works.  We undertake all drainage works including Section 104 works and utility installation works.

Public Interface

Where our projects involve interface with members of the public, including in very sensitive environments, we liaise and notify members of the public and residents prior to and during our projects.  We provide information to keep them fully informed of activities, with open lines of communication at all times

Collaboration:

We work collaboratively with consultants, local authorities, highways agencies, planners, architects, and utility providers, as well as ecology, environmental and archaeological specialists, to achieve the contract objectives and goals of the client and other stakeholders.

Technology: 

As a company, we have been at the forefront of Machine Control since its early adoption in the UK in the 90’s and have assisted the major manufacturers Trimble and Topcon with developing their systems for market and continue to do so to this day. Realising the potential and investing into such systems early has left us at the leading edge of this technology here in the UK.

We are currently rolling out Easy BOP Construction Management Software across the business for efficient, timely and paperless information for our head office, site, and transport department.

Early Contractor Involvement Benefits

 The most effective way for O’Brien Contractors to work with our clients, to deliver as much value as possible is through Early Contractor Involvement. By being a part of the initial design, specification, and programming process, we ensure that projects are scoped, de-risked and costed effectively and by using our senior management team as consultants where necessary, we can provide operational and commercial advice on feasibility studies.  Our extensive knowledge and experience mean that we can solve problems that arise and propose alternatives that can make jobs safer, quicker and more cost effective without affecting the quality of the end product.

Recent projects include:

• Bicester Road, Oxfordshire: Oxford Road, Bicester – Section 278 Works
• West Longbridge: West Longbridge Development, Regeneration Scheme
• Wykham Park Farm Development: Wykham Park Farm – Highways Infrastructure Works

O’Brien’s intrepid golfing enthusiasts, Ben, Wayne, Martin and Guy supported SDC’s Golden Anniversary charity golf day last month at Wellingborough Golf Club.  Alas they didn’t win any competitions or prizes on the day, but had a great time joining an enthusiastic group of golfers, all helping to raise money for charity.

SDC’s Board of Directors decided to raise money for good causes for their 50th anniversary year, and decided that given the business was founded on collaboration and integrity, with a passion for supporting local communities at its core, decided on a year’s worth of unique events leading up to September 2022 to raise £110,000 for good causes.

Congratulations to SDC on a fabulous event!  Cheques for £5,000 were presented by SDC to two great charities at the event, detailed below.

• FACES (Family and Children’s Early-help Services) is a well established local independent charity offering practical and emotional support to families under stress.

• Headway promote understanding of all aspects of brain injury and provide information, support and services to survivors, their families and carers.

 

Carl Corry one of our Site Managers has just completed a 285 mile bike ride over 4 days, taking in beautiful English and French countryside whilst raising money for the Royal British Legion.

Carl  decided to undertake the ride after his friend Danny who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan wanted to raise money for the British Legion.  Carl’s longest bike ride prior to the event was 45 miles the week before! Carl and Danny were among a group of 7 friends undertaking the ‘Pedal to Paris’ bike ride together as a team.

Carl said, “I truly enjoyed the event and met a lot of people who received funds off the RBL due to mental issues and injuries”.

Well done to Carl and all his friends on a fantastic achievement.  If you would like to make a donation to Carl’s fundraising page, please click the link below thank you:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carl-corry

 

 

O’Brien Contractors has been awarded the RoSPA Gold Medal Award, which is our 9th consecutive RoSPA Gold Award and our 5th Gold Medal, so we are over the moon!

The internationally-renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, are the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK and has been awarded to us in recognition of our practices and achievements, in helping staff and clients and stakeholders get home safely at the end of the working day.

The RoSPA Awards scheme, which receives entries from organisations around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety  management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

Managing Director, Peter O’Brien, said:

“We are delighted to have been recognised with a RoSPA Gold Award for the last 9 years, with a Gold Medal Award again for the 5th year running.  As a company we are dedicated to making sure that all of our sites are safe both for everyone working on them and for members of the public, Receiving this award again is testament to how hard we all work to achieve that.”

O’Brien Contractors is committed to providing safe and healthy working environments for all of our staff.  O’Brien  provides ongoing training, information, supervision and advice so that all of our employees are competent to work safely and are committed to providing the resources necessary to support this provision.

Our industry-leading standards have also been recognised with many other occupational health and safety accreditations ranging from ISO45001 to CHAS Gold, Achilles Building Confidence and RISQS.

O’Brien turn sports facility visions to reality, getting projects off paper and out of the ground!

Our experienced Sports, Civils and Construction teams provide a turnkey solution for all projects, from conception, design and planning through to completion, with a proven track record of delivering a diverse range of design and build projects, to exacting client aspirations, providing value engineering to reduce cost, and provide environmental solutions.

From unused former landfill or undeveloped land being turned into first class sports venues, to providing new and refurbished school pitches.  We work sympathetically to the surrounding environment, including live environments, protection and enhancement of ecological areas and having respect for the communities in which we work.

The contracts that we deliver include synthetic and natural pitches, such as those used for rugby, football, hockey, tennis, Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) pitches, as well as athletic tracks, with a range of surfaces to suit all uses, from schools to professional sports teams and public community facilities.

Providing outstanding single and multi-pitch projects, including construction of sports academies, clubhouses, car parks, civil engineering and construction works, including car parks, all drainage and utility arrangements landscaping and more!

Our clients include football clubs, rugby clubs, sports clubs, schools and residential land development companies.

We are SAPCA approved for MUGA, Synthetic and Natural Turf Pitch Construction, FIH (International Hockey Federation) accredited for Hockey Pitch Construction, as well as ISO9001, 14001 and 45001, CHAS and Achilles Building Confidence accredited.  We also have a 9^th Consecutive RoSPA Gold Award winner for health and safety! 

Examples of site wide solutions for brand new sports facilities:

Aston Villa FC  – Completed Project

Aston Villa New Training Ground, Bodymoor Heath (obriencontractors.co.uk)

Old Saltleians RFC – Current Project

https://obriencontractors.co.uk/projects/old-saltleians-rfc-new-rugby-grounds-and-clubhouse-development/

Early Contractor Involvement Benefits

 The most effective way for O’Brien Contractors to work with our clients, to deliver as much value as possible is through Early Contractor Involvement. By being a part of the initial design, specification and programming process, we ensure your project is scoped, de-risked and costed effectively and using our senior management team as consultants where necessary, we also provide operational and commercial advice on feasibility studies.

 

Projects completed / current in the last 12 months:

• Old Salts RFC – brand new site consisting of 7 Rugby Pitches, Car Park, Clubhouse – in progress
• Bromsgrove School – car park extension, road, netball / tennis courts 3G hockey pitch – in progress
• Joseph Chamberlain School – MUGA pitch, Car Park and Welfare/Changing room facility – in progress
• Aston Villa – new site, new academy building, multiple pitch formations, car park, all services – completed
• Solihull School – Playing fields, car park, access road, groundsman building – completed
• Western Park – new development community facilities– 8 rugby / football pitches, bowls green, fencing, footpaths and lighting – completed

It’s employee award time again!

Ashley Tobin has been awarded our quarterly ‘Outstanding Employee Award’ for the second quarter 2022, for his hard work on his project sites.

Project Manager Guy Baker nominated Ashley and said “I would like to nominate Ashley, “he is reliable, trustworthy and very experienced in what he does. He works hard, gives it his all and always gets the job done”.  Well done to Ashley!

O’Brien values the skills, experience and dedication of our site teams.

In recognition of this, we have for many years run the ‘Employee Outstanding Achievement Award’. The award goes to a member of one of our site teams each quarter to coincide with our quarterly newsletter.

Project Managers nominate the operative that they think has gone above and beyond for the previous quarter and the candidate with the most recommendations wins the award. In recognition of their outstanding contribution on site, the winner gets a £500 cheque and a certificate .

Anthony Watson Pedals Through France on a  Cycle Challenge to Raise Money for the Royal British Legion

Our Pre-Construction Manager, Anthony Watson is busy on his bike at the weekends training for his forthcoming charity ride to Ypres, Belgium with the Royal British Legion Cycling Group.

This annual charity event passes through the historic Somme region of France before crossing into Belgium and finishing at the iconic Menin Gate in Ypres.

This event is truly about the journey as the riders visit several historic battlegrounds and war memorials to remember those who gave so much to defend our freedom.

Starting from Dunkirk beach, he will be visiting the moving memorial to the Wormhout Massacre, the trenches and scenic memorial at Vimy Ridge, visiting St Mary’s A.D Cemetery, the Tunnelers Memorial, Ploegsteert Memorial as well as the Missing, the Australian Memorial in Fromelles, Mesen, the Caterpillar Crater, Hill 60, Tyne Cott the Aeroplane Cemetery and finally we will pass through the spectacular Menin Gate in Ypres.

Anthony is raising much needed money for the Royal British Legion and would be grateful if you could visit his JustGiving page to donate.

The link to the page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pedaltoypres2325july2022-craigsigley?fbclid=IwAR2nULnJdT04x8RcL3-U6WAeWqYPyrN6XFEA0BGddPIdCYTt_nkfr7TNZ3Y&utm_id=124

Anthony would also like to thank the businesses who have given generously and sponsored his Team WCA cycling jerseys this year.

These are;

• O’Brien Contractors Ltd
• Auctus Management Group Ltd
• Cordia Blackswan
• Nolan Associates Consulting Structural and Civil Engineers
• Clancy Consulting
• Dragonfly Consulting
• Briggs & Forrester Group
• rg+p Ltd
• Barclays, who are matching fundraising up to £1,000.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

O’Brien welcomed Luke and Mason, 2 Year 10 students for a taste of construction life on a week’s work experience out on site and in the office, an experience they both enjoyed, confirming an interest in groundworks for Mason and sparking an interest for Luke.

O’Brien have for many years had a longstanding commitment to encouraging and developing young people in the construction industry, providing them with opportunities to gain experience with our company with work placements, work experience and apprenticeships.  We believe it is important that we encourage and support the next generation of construction workers.

Mason

Mason is 15 years old and a Year 10 student and has an interest in working in groundworks when he leaves school.

Mason really enjoyed his week with us and commented, “It is hard work but being out on site with the lads, who were brilliant with me, has shown me what to expect when I choose this career when I leave school.”

Luke

Luke is 15 years old and a Year 10 student and really enjoyed his week of work experience and commented:

“I was fortunate enough to spend a week working at O’Brien Contractors as part of my work experience in 2022.

After a thorough health and safety introduction I spent some time in the finance office as well as at various construction sites. Finance was my very first office experience and it gave me an insight into the financial workings of a company. The remainder of my time was spent on site, sparking an interest in civil engineering. This was by far the favourite part of my week; I found the work both interesting and enjoyable.

O’Brien staff were professional and helpful, I really appreciate the opportunity. I would like to thank them all for their encouragement and time.”

O’Brien Welcomes the Opportunity to Provide Young People with Work Experience Opportunities

O’Brien welcomes the opportunity to provide young people with the opportunity to overcome concerns around the world of employment, giving them insight and understanding of the workplace through work experience placements, particularly if they have an interest in the construction and civil engineering industry out on site or in support functions that make up our head office.

A live working environment gives our work placements the opportunity to experience the work life routine.  The experience gives them knowledge and confidence along the way, which is important when making the transition from education to employment, a prospect which some young people find daunting and even particularly difficult.

O’Brien have for many years provided short- and longer-term work experience opportunities in both our office and site environments, which for many students have confirmed their choice of working within our industry, encouraging a new generation of construction workers.  Providing work experience placements also forms part of our commitment to social value within our business.