At Heron Bros, we are immensely proud of our people, our business and the work that we do.  And in 2020 as we deal with the global pandemic, we are more determined than ever to celebrate the incredible work delivered by our project teams across the UK.

We recognise the daily challenges facing our project teams.  And as always, they have rose to the challenge by evaluating site practices, reducing touch points, embracing new tech solutions and implementing new and improved procedures to ensure the safety of all workers on site.

Unfortunately due to Covid19, we are unable to celebrate our achievements together in the usual way.  However, we will still celebrate together virtually from the safety of our own homes.  And November 2020 has been a big month for award ceremonies at Heron Bros, with four taking place over just three days.

The 24th November brings about two ceremonies.  Firstly we have the Investors in People Platinum Employers of the Year (50-249), we are very proud to have been a finalist. Grainne O’Kane, Associate Director HR & Legal said, “Heron Bros are delighted to be shortlisted as Finalist in the prestigious Investors In People Awards 2020.  The nomination recognises the uniqueness of the Heron Team placing the Heron values of relationships, passion and forward-thinking at the heart of our business.  We look forward to the Global Award Ceremony and we extend our best wishes to all the worthy Finalists.”

The judges had this to say about our submission for the prestigious Award “A ‘Wow’ factor all the way through this entry and I love it. The words are brought to life by your passion, energy and commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and supporting and developing your people to achieve the business plans in place for the next 3 years. Well done to the whole Heron Bros Ltd team.”

Heron Bros also welcome the final of the RICS Social Impact Awards 2020 Grand Final, the 86 winning projects from 12 national and regional awards are to compete for UK-wide recognition in their respective categories, as well as the highly-anticipated Project of the Year award. Our Belfast Leisure Transformation Project won the regional RICS Social Impact Awards – Leisure Project of the Year, Judges were impressed at the social impact of this 4-year transformation programme. From the inception to the present time the project team consulted its relevant community. Its goal was to ensure that “everyone has access to modern, fit for purpose leisure facilities” and this project delivered just that. We were very proud to have reached the Grand Final of this prestigious award.

 

We also celebrate our Contracts Manager, Theresa McErlean, who has been recognised as one of Sixty of the best construction managers in the UK to have been named in the CMYA shortlists for nine categories.

Theresa was shortlisted for the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Construction Manager of the Year Awards 2020. She was named as a finalist within the Leisure Category for the successful delivery of the £30m Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing & Leisure Complex.

Theresa McErlean, MCIOB said, “This was a unique and complex project with a wide range of challenges throughout. We had a great team on the project with a high level of collaboration. I would never have reached these finals without the wider team; I am extremely proud to have represented Heron Bros. on the national stage.”

Finally, we have the Business in the Community (BITC) George Dawson Award for Environmental Contribution. Our Site Manager Diarmuid Mullan, entered for his work throughout the Belfast Leisure Transformation Project and his efforts to lead and inspire his site, including the supply chain, to deliver a sustainable project; to educate his community on the environmental impacts (positive and negative) of construction; and to bring about effective change on a small scale but with a big impact.  We are confident that Diarmuid will continue to have a positive impact on future Heron Bros projects.

And on the 26th November we are attending the virtual launch of the BITC NI Environmental Benchmarking Report 2020. Since 1998, the Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey has pushed the environmental agenda to the fore.  Over 100 organisations of all sizes and from a range of industry sectors including, construction, education, engineering, and food and drink, taking part in the most recent survey.  We look forward to the launch and hope to maintain our place in the top platinum cohort.

Deputy Group Managing Director, Martin O’Kane, said “We are extremely proud to have been finalists in these awards, it is a real testament to the team we have here at Heron Bros. the commitment they have to their roles and how they can better themselves and the world around them. We are Hopeful that next year we can celebrate our achievements in person.”

 

For more information about Heron Bros., you can visit our website at www.heronbros.com