As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we will be featuring stories of some of our wonderful apprentices.
Georgia’s story:
I was keen to learn about leadership roles and wanted to pursue that as a career. At the Danny Sullivan Group I’ve been given a fantastic opportunity to be the training team lead. It’s amazing how much I have grown as a person and a leader. The wide range of responsibilities has really increased my confidence and a broad understanding of the sector. This apprenticeship is helping me to visualise the type of future leader I want to be.
Since starting my apprenticeship in November 2021 I’m learning every day on the job and being able to get qualified at the same time. This not only benefits me but also the business. My colleagues are great, and I’ve learnt a lot from their expertise. I’m confident I’ll be progressing to a more supervisory role in the future which is perfect for my development.
I really do see myself being part of the DSG family for years to come.
To see our current apprenticeship opportunities please visit https://lnkd.in/dkSN5ivK
As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we will be featuring stories of some of our wonderful apprentices.
Clint’s story:
I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to do an apprenticeship with an integrated masters. I have learnt so much at the Danny Sullivan Group, such as advancing my Excel skills and understanding various systems. My manager is very supportive and directs me towards project management, which in itself brings many skills like time management, stakeholder engagement and effective communication.
It’s great to be able to look forward to coming into the office where the team are lovely. Everyone works hard, but we also have a good laugh too. I’ve always felt part of the DSG family. I do feel I have been given a great opportunity in comparison to other graduates I know.
As a systems and data analyst, there is potential for lots of progression here and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for me.
Clint’s manager Umer says, “ As a progressive organisation we firmly believe in equipping our staff with the best tools to do a great job. It makes us more productive and allows us to value our people and do the right thing. Apprenticeships are one of the many ways we’re fulfilling this commitment to our people and the DSG family. Clint is a remarkable example of someone who is benefiting on the apprenticeship journey. He is a great asset to our diverse team”.
To see our current apprenticeship opportunities please visit https://lnkd.in/dkSN5ivK
As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we will be featuring stories of some of our wonderful apprentices.
George’s story:
“I joined Danny Sullivan Group two and a half years ago and have completed two apprenticeships. I now have three qualifications, NVQ 2 in groundworks, NVQ 2 in site team leadership and a NVQ 3 in occupational works supervision. In addition to gaining my qualifications I have done so much training, it has been brilliant. A combination of all this has helped propel me to where I am today and helped me move up the career ladder.
DSG has played such an important part in my career progression I will always be very grateful to them. I got to grown my skills whilst getting paid, met new people and gained lifelong skills and #skillsforlife.
My highlight has to be my recent completion of Trainee Foreman Apprenticeship. After a year of hard graft, getting to the finishing line has felt amazing. To get this qualification at such a young age just goes to show if you put your mind and hard work to something and with the right support anything is achievable.
I would 100% tell young people especially those who struggle with school like I did to do an apprenticeship with DSG. Classroom based learning wasn’t for me. Here I have been able to be very hands on and your part of a great friendly team who really take care of you and look out for you.
I have loved my time with DSG and also learned so much from many experienced people in the organisation.”
To see our current apprenticeship opportunities please visit https://lnkd.in/dkSN5ivK
A CSCS card is probably something you’ve heard of if you work in construction or are looking for a career in construction. The goal of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is to ensure the safety of UK construction workers and sites. Additionally, it aids in the efficient operation of such sites.
You can learn everything you need to know about the CSCS card in this article. The CITB Health, Safety, and Environment Test, also known as the CSCS Test, will teach you how to apply and what to expect. It is simple to apply for the CSCS card on your own once you understand what it is and what kind of card you require.
How does a CSCS card work?
The CSCS card, which construction workers in the UK can get, is a way to show employers that a person has the right qualifications and training to work on a construction site. The card is a method for ensuring that UK construction sites maintain high standards and are safe places to work.
Who provides the CSCS card?
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) provides the CSCS card. The government established the CITB, a non-profit organization, with the goal of reducing construction site accidents. It also aims to build the reputation of the UK’s construction industry as a world leader in the field, ensure that workers receive adequate training for the job, and improve construction workers’ skills.
Is a CSCS Card required?
Although employers and contractors are not required by law to require employees to have CSCS cards in order to access the site, major contractors are increasingly requiring them.
If you want to work in construction, you should have a CSCS card because it will make it easier for you to find work. To prospective employers, having a CSCS card demonstrates your competence as a construction worker. You will notice that the majority of job advertisements highlight the importance of possessing a CSCS card.
How long is a CSCS card valid?
A CSCS card is valid for five years before needing to be renewed. If you remain at the same level as your current card after five years, the renewal procedure is straightforward and you will only require a new card. To be eligible for a new CSCS card, you will need to provide the necessary evidence of your qualifications if your occupation or skill level has changed since you last applied for one.
How do I submit a CSCS card application?
There are various CSCS cards to choose from. You must choose which card is appropriate for your occupation and qualifications before beginning the application process.
How is the CSCS card application handled?
The CSCS card application process is straightforward. There are two methods of application: either as an employee or an individual. Now, we’ll take a look at each of these routes.
Getting a CSCS card for yourself
If you want a CSCS card for yourself, the quickest way to apply is to call CSCS at 0344 994 4777. During the phone call, they will ask you to pay a £36 card fee, so make sure you have your credit or debit card on hand.
However, there are a few pieces of information that need to be gathered before you can proceed to this stage. Before processing your application, the CSCS will request the following from you:
Collect the evidence. After reading the CSCS Card Types article, you will need to determine which card you are applying for and then provide evidence of your qualifications for that card. You will need to show that you have earned or are on your way to earning the appropriate nationally recognized construction-related qualification.
Send your proof via email. Pass the CITB Health, Safety, and Environment Test (CSCS Test) after submitting evidence of your qualifications via email to cscs@citb.co.uk. You must have passed the appropriate CITB Health, Safety, and Environment Test (CSCS Test) within the past two years to obtain a CSCS card.
You can call CSCS and pay for the card once you’ve gathered all the necessary information. Your card will then be mailed to you. Sadly, postal applications are no longer accepted by CSCS, and they do not provide refunds.
Later on in this article, we will provide a more in-depth explanation of the kinds of qualifications that are accepted for the CITB Health, Safety, and Environment test.
How long does it take to process the CSCS card?
After submitting your application, you should expect to receive your CSCS card in the mail within twenty days. If the CSCS requires any additional information or clarification regarding your application during this time, they may get in touch with you. You should contact CSCS directly to inquire about the delay if you have not received your card within five weeks of submitting your application.
It is essential to monitor your application. The application will be closed if you haven’t finished it within 90 days of starting it. To start a new one, you must pay an additional £36.
How do I book my test for a CSCS card?
To book a test to obtain a CSCS card to begin a job in construction, visit the CITB.co.uk website for further information on how to book.
If you already have CSCS card and would like to work on one of our major construction projects, including M4 Smart Motorway, HS2 Project, Hinkley Point and several others, visit our jobs board.
The secondary lining of London’s new super sewer’s 7km western section has been completed, marking a significant milestone for the Tideway project.
Secondary lining is required to strengthen the super sewer and create a smooth surface for flows to travel once the sewer is operational in 2025. It is poured wet, in situ, around a massive machine called a’shutter’.
The secondary lining works in the western section began in March 2021 and required over 800 individual concrete pours to complete the journey from Acton to Fulham in south-west London. Approximately 48,000m3 of concrete was used to create the secondary lining in this section of tunnel.
The concrete was batched on-site at the Carnwath Road Riverside site in Fulham and delivered to the six shutters by concrete trains known as bullets to a pump located on a logistics crossing within the tunnel.
The tunnel boring machine Rachel completed the main drive of the 6.9m internal diameter, 7km tunnel in late 2020, and the team is now preparing the site for the secondary lining of the main shaft at Carnwath Road Riverside.
Danny Sullivan Group is proud to be a part of this significant project; it is a fantastic accomplishment, and it has been exciting to see how it has progressed over the years through hard work.
Danny Sullivan Group Operations Manager, Micky Swainsbury, commented on the achievement saying:
“This has been a true testament of hard work, dedication and shear ambition from the BMB project team’s and all involved, and we at DSG are very privileged to be included.
BMB Tideway West has been truly leading the way with the Tideway Tunnel project with its completion of the secondary lining. Along with BMB’s clear vision of clearing the River Thames, Its has saved 1000’s of dangerous vehicles moving around the busy hustle and bustle of London roads, and been a key employer to Londoners, local counties and the UK.
BMB Tideway West is an unparalleled example of civil engineering and tunnelling in this city, and although this project has been working tirelessly below ground and out of view for many in London, this amazing project will serve the great capital for many years to come”.
With the start of work on thirty-eight cross passages connecting the northbound and southbound tunnels, the construction of HS2’s longest tunnels, which extend for 10 miles beneath the Chilterns, has entered a new phase.
Every 500m, 15m-20m long escape tunnels are bored to connect the two main running tunnels 40m below the surface.
An expert group of miners is breaking out of and excavating from one running tunnel to the neighbouring tunnel using a remotely controlled excavator.
A sprayed concrete lining supports the ground as the excavation proceeds (SCL).
Each passage is between 15 and 20 metres long and was constructed by Align, the main works contractor for HS2, a joint venture between Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.
Following the installation of a waterproof membrane, a secondary concrete lining is built in the cross passage behind specialised formwork.
The safety doors can be installed at either end of the passageway once it is finished. More than 300 of these are being produced by Booth Industries, a Bolton-based company that was awarded the contract to supply them for all the tunnels between London and Birmingham.
The cutter head for the Tunnel Boring Machine was lowered into the shaft last week, marking yet another significant accomplishment for the Silvertown Tunnel project.
The TBM is the largest diameter TBM in the UK, with a diameter of 11.91m, or nearly three double decker buses.
Last month, the 1,800 tonne machine started being lowered into the launch chamber in pieces. There, it will be put together and later this summer will be commission before beginning to bore the 1.4 km tunnel.
Parts of the TBM shield and the 250-tonne main drive of the TBM have recently been lowered into the launch chamber along with the cutter head.
As well as the cutter head, parts of the TBM shield have also recently been lowered down into the launch chamber, as well as the 250-tonne main drive of the TBM.
The site’s conveyor, which will transfer tunneling waste from the chamber to barges for later transportation along the river, is almost finished. Meanwhile, the first of the concrete tunnel rings, which will be installed as the TBM advances across the river, has also started to arrive.
The 1.4 km twin-lane road tunnel connecting North Greenwich and Silvertown is being built by the Riverlinx Construction joint venture, which is made up of BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Construction, and SK Ecoplant.
When it opens in 2025, the new twin-bore tunnel will relieve pressure on the frequently congested Blackwall Tunnel and expand the number of buses that can cross the river at this location.
As soon as it opens, the tunnel will operate at least twenty zero-emission buses per hour in each direction, greatly enhancing cross-river connectivity and enabling more people to access new employment opportunities.
The name “Jill” was chosen for the TBM last month, according to a Riverlinx announcement, in honor of Jill Viner, the first woman to operate a bus in London in June 1974.
The first tunnelling success for HS2 is being celebrated! In Warwickshire, a 2,000-ton TBM with the name “Dorothy”—after Dorothy Hodgkin, the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry—has finished its mile-long excavation beneath Long Itchington Wood.
The 125m long TBM began its journey at the North Portal of the tunnel in December 2021, and on Friday it made its way through the reception box wall at the South Portal site.
This significant project milestone was completed by almost 400 employees of Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV JV), the main works civils contractor for HS2.
The TBM has installed 790 concrete rings, each made of eight two-meter-long segments, thanks to the expert tunnelling team’s round-the-clock shift work over the course of seven months.
Around 250,000 cubic metres of mudstone and soil are being removed by the machine as it excavates both bores of the tunnel. This material is then transported to the site’s slurry treatment plant, where it is separated out and reused for landscaping and embankments.
At the north portal site, a 254-meter-long conveyor that transports the excavated material over the Grand Union Canal eliminates the need for the equivalent of 30,000 HGVs from neighbourhood roads, minimising negative effects on the neighbourhood and reducing carbon emissions.
The TBM will be brought back through the tunnel over the course of the following four months while the cutterhead and front section are taken apart and moved back to the north portal. It will be put back together and prepared for launch when the tunnel’s second bore begins.
This is a fantastic milestone, and the Danny Sullivan Group is proud to have a role to play in the development of the HS2 Project. We look forward to seeing how the project develops further in the years to come.
Balfour Beatty is encouraging its supply chain partners to sign on to a new Code of Ethics.
The company has decided to abandon its prescriptive Code of Conduct in favour of a Code of Ethics that outlines key principles that it expects its employees and supply chain to follow.
The ‘Doing the Right Thing’ Code is supported by a Speak Up hotline that promises whistleblowers confidentiality or anonymity.
Balfour CEO Leo Quinn stated that the code and accompanying Supplier Standards would become part of Balfour Beatty contracts and ongoing relationship framework with suppliers in the future.
He said: “The Code of Ethics sets out clearly the principles for conducting our business that should guide us in our everyday decision-making and ensure we act with integrity.
“The Code applies everywhere, every day to everyone who works with and for us.”
Quinn added “It tells others what they can expect of and from us, the standards we set ourselves in being “Trusted” and how we ensure that our decisions and actions are consistent with our values.
“We expect our employees and those who work with us to read it, make sure your teams do the same, and complete the training that supports it.
“We encourage everyone to strive to comply with the spirit of the Code and to know that we will always support you if you do the right thing. Each of us has a personal and collective responsibility to make sure our business is worthy of the trust others place in us.”
Danny Sullivan Group is committed to being a responsible employer and looks forward to participating in a fantastic initiative that will undoubtedly make the construction industry a better place.
Inclusion, Respect, and Employee Wellbeing are key components of the code of ethics, which is something we at the Danny Sullivan Group take pride in, which led to us achieving the Fairness, Inclusion, and Respect Embedded level Certification, making us the first organisation in the construction industry to do so.
Original article: Aaron Morby https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2022/07/07/balfour-beatty-calls-on-suppliers-to-sign-up-its-code-of-ethics/
The first of five planned ‘green’ cut and cover tunnels on the HS2 project has begun construction by French engineering firm Matière.
Engineers for HS2 used a twin arch ‘M’ shape structure design, which is more efficient than a standard box structure and uses less concrete.For the 2.5km Chipping Warden green tunnel in Northamptonshire, segments are being manufactured offsite in a factory in Derbyshire.This lighter-weight modular approach is expected to reduce the amount of carbon embedded in the structure by more than half. It also necessitates fewer workers and equipment on the job site.
Stanton Precast in Ilkeston will produce over 5,000 massive concrete tunnel segments, which will be assembled by Matière.The tunnel will then be covered with earth, and trees, shrubs, and hedgerows will be planted to blend in with the surrounding countryside.
EKFB’s Project Manager, Jeremie Martin, said: “This three-year construction programme will benefit from off-site manufacturing making the green tunnel build more efficient than the traditional on-site building method.
“The HS2 green tunnels are a first of its kind in the UK. We have designed them as a twin arch ‘M’ shape which is more efficient than the standard box structure, reducing the amount of concrete required, which is a great example of how innovative engineering design can reduce carbon impact.”
The tunnel is expected to be finished in 2024.
Similar green tunnels will be built in nearby Greatworth, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, and Burton Green, Warwickshire, totaling more than four miles in length.All of the tunnels will have specially designed ‘porous portals’ at either end to reduce noise from trains entering and exiting the tunnel, as well as small portal buildings to house safety and electrical equipment.
To apply for opportunities to work on major projects such as the HS2 project with Danny Sullivan Group, register here on our jobs registration page: www.dannysullivan.co.uk/jobs-registration
