27 January | Erith take part in safe cycling programme

Erith took part in the Olympic Park’s safer cycling programme this month with its aim to create a safer environment.

The event was aimed at both cyclists and lorry drivers. A tipper lorry was parked up for the day so cyclists could get an idea of what drivers can and can’t see to help them empathise with the difficulties presented in driving around the park.

Both cyclists and lorry drivers could exchange places to view the difficulties from each position and ways in which they could help improve their view as a driver.

As a result of the programme, cyclists were offered free health checks and repairs for their bikes from a local bike shop. Safer cycling goodies were also handed out including lights and LED armbands. Free Fresnal lenses, which allow lorry drivers to see cyclists and vehicles on the passenger side of the lorry, were available for lorry drivers along with advice about fitting them.  

Erith are pleased to be involved with these initiatives.  

25 January | Erith ahead of schedule and below budget at Bradwell

The demolition and deplanting of Bradwell Power Station was the pilot project for a sequence of multiple decommissioning projects across the country to be undertaken by Magnox Limited.

The works comprised of the demolition, deplanting and bulk asbestos removal to the main turbine hall, auxiliary turbine hall, steam pipe annexe control room and water treatment facility for handover to Magnox Limited to facilitate their requirements.

During the project Erith enabled a recovery of 10,000 tonnes of concrete, 12,000 tonnes of various metals to achieve an overall recycling rate of 92%.

Erith’s safety record was particularly impressive, with zero HSE reportable incidents for the 92,500 man hours of the contract. The project, which took 15 months to complete, came in ahead of schedule and below budget.

Graham Cotton, Magnox Project Manager, said: “It was one of the most enjoyable projects I have worked on. Erith, the contractors who carried out the work, and the rest of the team, have been great to work with and I am so pleased to have delivered such a significant project so successfully”.

For the full article please click here

3 December | Chairman of The Erith Group's New Year Message

We have filed our 2010/2011 accounts which are available at Companies House.

They show an increase in turnover to £66.9M and a Group profit rising to £1.2M

for the year. Although margin was adversely affected by bad weather and the

cumulative effect of several bank holidays during the first six months of trading,

the second half of the year was successful and the board is satisfied with a decent

result in a difficult market.

The confidence derived from a strong balance sheet, combined with a substantial

forward order book and excellent workforce renders the company able to weather

the current financial crisis and strong enough to embrace both the challenges and

opportunities a difficult market inevitably presents.

At this time we would like to thank our clients, staff and suppliers for all your continued

support and would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy, healthy and

prosperous New-Year.

Steve Darsey

Chairman of The Erith Group

15 December | Merry Xmas and a Happy New-year from all at Erith

The Directors and Staff of Erith Group would like to

takethis opportunity to wish all visitors to our

website a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

As with past years, Erith will be donating the money normally spent on Christmas

cards to charity, this year, once again, we will be supporting Demelza House -

Hospice Care for Children.

15 December | Vietnam to Cambodia charity bike ride

Jim Hollands of The Erith Group completed the Vietnam to Cambodia bike ride in aid

of the British Heart Foundation this Winter. Jim cycled a colossal 470km through two

of South East Asia’s most fascinating countries over a period of 5 days managing to

raise £3,500 for the worthy cause.

Exhausted Jim Hollands commented: “It is a proud feeling to support such a worthy

charity, when you consider today’s current economic climate it is so important we help

out where we can”.

14 December | Erith become a Technical Member of CL:AIRE

CL:AIRE works with its Technical Member Organisations to collect and use

astrategic industry information for the purposes of developing  new initiatives

on delivering better regulation for the industry. As a Corporate Member, Erith

are able to seek information from leaders of best practice and sustainable

approaches. In line with Erith’s commitment to improving their environmental

standards they have now received Technical Membership. As a Technical member,

Erith are now considered an organisation with high technical understanding

with the ability to share information for the benefit of the industry.

12 December | Victoria Station Safety Scheme

Erith have implemented a monthly safety appraisal scheme which rewards

good practice and health and safety behaviour on their works on the Victoria

Station Upgrade. As a way of encouraging safety behaviour, Erith are offering

the best Health and Safety suggestion from site workforce a series of vouchers

to spend in high street stores.

Recent winners include: Peter Stokes, Jaime Hessian and Rremzi Ciku.

Health and Safety Manager Sean Cook commented "incentivisation is strongly implemented within the Group and the scheme is effective in encouraging

employees to stop and think before they undertake a task both at work or at

home".

25 November | Erith barge through the carbon crisis

Erith is featured in Decembers edition of Canals, Rivers and Boats in recognition of their use of Barges. The innovative approach has been implemented to transport materials away form the site via the River Lea. The methodology aims to help cut the Groups carbon footprint and avoid congestion to the roads with additional vehicles. The eco-friendly method is part of the Remediation to the Poplar Former Gas Works in East London as part of National Grid’s transformation of the site into land for beneficial use.

This is the third project to be completed by Erith using this environmentally friendly method.

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14 November | Erith Awarded Landscaping Team Work Award

Erith Contractors was awarded the landscaping teamwork award by the ODA in recognition of our performance and collaborative work on the hard landscaping north of the Olympic park.

Project Manager Richard Turner said “Collaborative working is the key to all great projects and this has proved a great example of such works”.

14 November | New Pre-Construction Director Appointed

Erith has appointed Paul Nurton as the Group’s new Pre-Construction Director. Paul’s role will encompass all aspects of business development, estimating and bid presentation.

Paul spent the last 27 years with John Doyle Construction, the last 14 years of which he was Managing Director.

Paul commented “I’m looking forward to the new role and having an integral part of the continual expansion and success of the Erith Group”

5 November | Out with a bang in Amsterdam

Fireworks exploded in Amsterdam as The Erith Group had a hugely successful night at the World Demolition Awards in Amsterdam, scooping 3 awards and being highly commended in a fourth.

Awards for the Marcol House project, in Regent Street, London and the demolition of Pfizer’s pharmaceutical plant in Sandwich in the Urban/Confined Space and Collaboration categories respectively were followed by the prestigious Training Award. In addition the judges awarded Erith a Highly Commended in the Safety category.

Back to back victory in the urban/confined space category was down to the intricate façade retention and temporary works involved at Marcol House in Regent Street. The works consisted of the retaining of a high grade II Listed façade totalling 50 metres in length, together with corbelling and balcony feature. As a consequence of the retained demise, it was necessary for Erith Contractors to remain flexible in the façade retention solutions, with an external temporary works retention system being developed for part of the Regent Street façade, and an internal façade retention system which incorporated and utilised the permanent steelwork being developed, to retain the façade above All Bar One.

The collaboration award presented a project with a very different set of challenges, located in Sandwich Kent. The project consisted of a 420,000m2 site with a maximum of 150 workforce involved in the demolition and bulk asbestos removal of a live pharmaceutical plant. It is not often that two competitive major demolition contractors work side by side to meet the client’s rigid timeline requirements and collaboratively working in a team called ‘Project Trident’. The project involved the collaboration of Erith and Sheffield based EDS decommissioning with consultants Gardiner and Theobald and Client Pfizer Global Manufacturing working in close proximity for a duration of 13 Months.

These successes, as well as our approach to training and Health and Safety, innovation, customer care and other successful projects assisted us in proving that we deserved the Training Award with our new Safety 24:7 programme which is based around behavioural Health and Safety.

The judging panel was made up of some of the leading figures in the world of demolition and Erith faced stiff opposition from some of the world's leading demolition companies across 3 continents. The four successful awards represented all the categories in which we had entered and been nominated.

4 November | Erith awarded 'Considerate Contractor' Gold Award from Corporation of London

Erith received the considerate contractor gold award from the corporation of London this week in recognition of our performance on UKPN’s electrical sub-station Seacoal House. The project consisted of the demolition of a seven storey office block above an electrical substation in Limeburner Lane, within the city of London.

Andy Fifield stated “I am delighted that we received such a prestigious award for a very intricate project which involved extensive preparation”.

3 November | School Ambassadors visit local school

Erith’s Schools ambassador Guy Mallard and Serhan Cemal visited Hurstmere Secondary School today as part of Erith’s aim to assist local schools and the community. Guy and Serhan took part in a careers fair to help create a link both with schools and the construction industry and help offer guidance and development to school leavers who have a genuine interest in the industry.

Serhan said “I always feel a sense of satisfaction offering guidance to students and help them understand the construction industry better whilst putting something back into the community”

22 October | Hats Off

Erith’s Bradwell team recorded an impressive 95,000 man hours worked without an accident at the Demolition and Asbestos Removal project at Bradwell Power Station in Essex.

Andy Dyson commented “This is a great achievement, safety is the most important factor when working within a demolition environment and I’m very proud to achieve such a statistic”

14 October | Erith accounced as Framework Contractor for Magnox Ltd

Erith was awarded a place on Magnox Ltd’s framework earlier this month for the demolition and bulk asbestos removal for 10 Nuclear Power Station across the UK.  The contract is for a period of 10 years, which follows in sequence the completion of the demolition of the turbine and reactors buildings of Bradwell Power Station in Essex which was the pilot project for the sequence of a further 10 power stations owned by Magnox.

7 October | Erith receive ARCA Gold award for training

For the fourth year running Erith has been awarded the ARCA Gold Award for Training. Achievement of this award is based on a review of Training procedures as well as the percentage of turnover spent on Training by the Company.

6 October | High Accolade for Asbestos Operative

The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association presented Renato Gunther with ARCA’s ‘operative of the year’ award in recognition of his performance and commitment to the industry in 2011.

20 September | NVQ Level 2 Training for all Erith Drivers

Under Erith’s commitment to training and on-going development of its entire staff; the Haulage division has recently undertaken to enrol all its HGV drivers onto the NVQ level 2 scheme.

The specific HGV NVQ qualification will ensure Erith has one of the most competently trained fleet of drivers within the industry sector. This qualification is on top of our current commitment to have all HGV drivers fully CPC trained by the end of 2012.

The NVQ qualification will see all drivers being assessed on the job, from the beginning of their working day undertaking the pre-use checks, observation of loading and driving techniques to completion of waste transfer and consignment notes.

The commitment to getting all the drivers signed up to the scheme by the end of October 2011 was completed a week early even though signing up only started on the 14^th October. Erith has employed the services of a full time NVQ assessor to complete all of the NVQs by the end of Mach 2012.

Stuart Accleton said “In our commitment to better than best practice, Erith as a Group always aims to provide staff with the best possible training we can facilitate”.

6 September | Erith on the Up

After a remarkable year in business Erith has been placed 12th in the 2011 D&Ri Magazine's Top 100 Demolition and Recycling Contractors. The ranking is based on company turnover and shows the growth of the company having shot up 12 places from last year. Erith was also amongst the 5 top UK based demolition companies within the top 25 of D&Ri 100.

David Darsey said “It is important for the Group to keep developing and expanding as an organisation”.

19 August 2011 | Hybrid motors help crunch carbon fooprint

Erith has recently purchased a range of hybrid and eco-friendly cars to help cut down the Group’s carbon footprint.

The hybrid cars consist of the combination of clean energy from the electrical motor with the power of the gas powered engine resulting in lower emissions and a greater mileage.

Liz Winter commented, “Road transport accounts for 22% of total UK emissions of carbon dioxide in today’s environment so it’s key we help try and reduce our transport emissions wherever we can”.

6 August 2011 | It's a 'Win-Win' situation

Erith picks up an outstanding commitment award in their development of local lad Harry Ellis. In recognition of Erith’s best practice approach to helping the community Erith were presented with an outstanding commitment award by Ray Sams, the Mayor of Bexley, with Harry Ellis also picking up the outstanding achievement award at the Territorial Army Centre in Bexleyheath.

Steve Darsey commented “Erith takes pride in developing those which face significant disadvantage”

2 August 2011 | Help for City Club

NATIONAL grid workers downed tools to help improve the access road to Tuffley Rovers Football Club.

Huge potholes prevented people attending matches and forced them to park far away.

KICKABOUT: From left; Scott Lewis, from National Grid, Graham Moody, chairman of Tuffley Rovers, Andy Waldron site manager for Erith Contractors and Stephen Kidley Project manager with Celtic. (With thanks to 'This is Gloucester')