Carillion beats Bridgford Interiors and Wates to the contractor prize

Winner

Carillion

Only the best headlines can be attributed to Carillion’s quantity surveying team on its challenging £270m Project Hal scheme for News International. As with any good story, this one – covering three schemes in London, Knowsley and Scotland – was changing right up to the deadline; in fact there were two redesigns of the initial proposals before the 30-month programme started on site. Despite this, Carillion’s QSs kept the programme on time, with final accounts agreed prior to completion and no disputes anywhere in the supply chain. Somehow, they also found time to start up a five-a-side football tournament that quickly attracted the rest of the project team and fellow project QS Davis Langdon.

Runners-Up

Bridgford Interiors

The fast track world of retail fit-out calls for rapid solutions from QSs, and this nimble outfit have proved themselves more than equal to the task. Bridgford’s five-strong commercial team produces a staggering 353 tenders and estimates over the year. Its clients, which include Tesco, Asda, Marks & Spencer and Westfield, are obviously impressed, as 85% of the firm’s £34m turnover is a result of repeat business. It also attracted 11 new clients last year.

Wates

Wates’ in-house QS training outfit, which was also shortlisted for the training initiative award, provides us with an example of teamwork at its best. Representatives from each business sector across the group are included in the team, ensuring that QSs benefit from the expert advice most suited to their role. In 2007, the team ran 15 courses nationwide, enabling more than 300 staff to benefit from 2,400 hours of training – most of them delivered through a network of in-house volunteers.