It’s Gold for Park Community School – one of the UK’s top 1%

There were 474 awards of bronze, silver or gold in the whole of the South East and South West combined – with 4342 sites eligible in the area and 8976 sites eligible across the whole UK. Park Community School was therefore placed in the top one per cent.

Rick Barot, project manager for the scheme, said: ‘With every construction project, there are technical or logistical challenges, and problems to solve. That’s what we’re here and trained for. On top of that, however, is the positive attitude we bring to our work – whether we use the build programme as a broader opportunity to assist a community and a client with learning opportunities for example. That’s where a good contractor can stand out. I’m very proud that our BAM team has been recognised in this way.’

Modernisation of the community school included demolishing classrooms, refurbishing and building teaching facilities, and landscaping around a school that remained in operation throughout. Rick’s team worked with other local schools, the Princes Trust, provided training and apprenticeships for local people, and took into account the needs of neighbouring houses when scheduling works. 60 per cent of the BAM team travelled fewer than 30 miles to site from their homes every day, and Rick Barot says that £12 million was generated for businesses within a 20-mile radius too.

The team received the award gold award at a ceremony in London on 28th May. The project has won BAM’s own safety award and it won an Amazing People Award from the Education Business Partnership.

Elsewhere in Hampshire, BAM has built numerous buildings for Southampton University, the new Hampshire County Council HQ in Winchester, Somerstown Central in Portsmouth, and a range of other projects.

Furher information: Mark Slattery, press and media manager, BAM Construct UK Ltd, 01442 238415.