BAM secures most responsible West Midlands business award
Hemel Hempstead, 13 June 2014 - Helping students design gardens in competition with one another has won a construction firm the accolade of most responsible business in the West Midlands.
BAM Construction, based in Solihull, was presented with the ‘Big Tick’ award by Business in the Community at a ceremony on Wednesday 11 June at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
The company’s community work is headed by Phil Eves who organises hundreds of BAM volunteers to work on gardens for the RHS Spring Festival in Malvern.
Now in their eighth year, the award-winning gardens are designed by local schools and linked to their curriculum. BAM volunteers and trainees then help the children turn their designs into reality. Phil Eves, Midlands education coordinator, behind the scheme said: ‘I would like to thank everyone who has supported the show, and volunteered their time to help the local community. We have supported this project for seven years, and our eighth year sees us hosting 20 schools and colleges that BAM is linked with in one way or another. We only have nine days to build these so it’s all hands on deck for the band of volunteers who’ve signed up.’
The company also runs an innovative apprenticeship scheme with Coventry City Council. It is behind many Midlands structures such as the new headquarters for Severn Trent Water, the restoration of Brindley Place, the refurbishment of the National Indoor Arena, and an industrial development for Rolls-Royce subsidiary, AEC.
Rod Stiles, Midlands regional director for BAM, said: ‘The Malvern Schools Design & Build Challenge is a truly unique national initiative which BAM have supported proudly for many years. With financial investment directly linked to the achievements of students, a truly sustainable project has been developed in our region, which has supported BAM’s wider community engagement programme, promoting employee volunteering and collaborative working with our supply chain, clients and neighbours.’