VolkerWessels UK is a leading
multidisciplinary contractor
that delivers innovative
engineering solutions across
the civil engineering and
construction sectors, including
rail. The skilled teams in its
VolkerRail and VolkerFitzpatrick
businesses are recognised as
sector leaders, delivering high
quality projects through a safety
conscious and collaborative
approach. VolkerWessels UK
said it was proud to sponsor
the Rail Partnership Awards,
highlighting its commitment
and contribution to the industry,
and recognising the efforts
of those who dedicate their
career to improving the national
network.Best Collaboration
Jo Kaye, who is managing
director of Network Rail’s
System Operator, joined Julia
on stage for the first award.
She had judged the category
alongside James Brewer,
head of rail supply chains at
the Department for Business,
Energy & Industry Strategy.
Between them, they had
selected the Buckingham Group
Contracting as the winner for
its work on the Liverpool Lime
Street station upgrade.
Delivered by a fully integrated
team, applying ISO44001
principles and working from
a bespoke co-located projectoffice, the £148-million
Liverpool Lime Street
upgrade project provided
increased platform capacity by
reconfiguring and improving
asset condition within the 1.5-
mile approach and 24-metre
deep footprint of this Grade 2
listed station.
The project was a key
regulatory milestone for the
Northern Hub and Great North
Rail Project programmes, that
was undertaken whilst ensuring
Liverpool was ‘kept open for
business’.
Collaboration was key to
the successful delivery of the
works, with all parties working
as one team to deliver the
project under a hub and
spoke arrangement. The
‘hub’ was led by Network
Rail IP Signalling (The Client).
The key stakeholders were
Buckingham Group (principal
contractor under CDM),
Buckingham Group (civil
engineering contractor),
IP Northern Programmes
(programme management),
S&C North Alliance (track and
OLE contractor) and Siemens
(signalling contractor).
Amey, Atkins and Siemens, on
behalf of the Rail Supply Group,
were highly commended for
the Rail Sector Deal - launched
by government as a process to
create partnerships between
the government and industry on
sector-specific issues that can
create significant opportunities
to boost productivity,
employment, innovation and
skills.So too were Siemens
Mobility and Galliford Try for
the Derby Area Remodelling
Project, a major £200
million enhancement and
renewal programme that was
successfully commissioned on
8 October 2018, following the
completion of a 79-day partial
closure - the longest continuous
partial closure ever undertaken
in the UK.Investing in People
Alison Rumsey, group HR
director of Network Rail and
attending the event on her last
day working for the company,
came on stage to make the
award for Investing in People.
Her fellow judge, San Johal, HR
director of Highways England,
has also recently changed jobs.
This category recognises
suppliers that have created an
environment that promotes
accountability, opportunity and
diversity. In the judges’ opinion,
Story Contracting’s Fit4Future
business strategy was the best
example from the entries.
When the company was
founded 30 years ago by
Fred Story, he had just three
colleagues working with him
on a variety of projects in
and around Carlisle. Today,
the company employs over
700 local people across the
UK, delivering a wide range
of rail, civils, housing and
manufacturing projects.
Story Contracting recognises
that it is successful because
of the skills, commitment and
professionalism of its people,Story Contracting's
Fit4Future business
strategy won the
Investing in People
award.The Liverpool Lime
Street station upgrade
saw Buckingham
Group Contracting
clinched the Best
Collaboration Award.32 RAIL PARTNERSHIP AWARDS