Lisa faced an uncertain future after she completed her A-Levels and was unsure about her next step. Lisa felt that she didn’t have the skills or confidence to go straight out into employment. So, she enrolled on the Princes Trust Team Programme. 

The scheme helps young people over a 12-week personal development course offering work experience, qualifications, practical skills, community projects and a residential week. It helped Lisa develop key skills, confidence and motivation, enabling her to move into work.

Lisa gained a huge boost to her confidence during the programme and after she successfully completed her work experience with Heron Bros. Lisa was offered a full-time administration position within our Accounts Department on graduation from the Team Programme.

Grannie O’Kane HR Manager, pictured with Lisa said “Since starting, Lisa’s skills and confidence have grown, she is now enrolled on a NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration and is a valued staff member of the Heron Bros. family.”

On Saturday 14^th June four Heron Bros. staff modelled our new Cycling Shirts while completing the FRoG (Fun Run of the Glens) bike challenge over multiply distances of 50m and 100m to help raise £28,000 for Cancer Focus NI and The Simon Community NI. 

The management and staff of Heron Bros. would like to congratulate Quantity Surveyor James McMullan, Finance Director Paddy McTaggart, Property Director Paul Mulholland and Commercial Director Noel Mullan on this excellent achievement.

Pupils at St Mary’s Primary School in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, will soon be settling into their new premises as Heron Bros. recently completed the renovation and extension to their old fire damaged school. The semi-rural Scottish school will be re-opened in the coming weeks in time for the new school term. 

The £3.1 million renovation is part of South Lanarkshire Council’s £814 million Primary Schools Modernisation Programme and was timely after the school was fire damaged in 2012.  Heron bros. delivered this spectacular refurbishment to the school’s original listed building and constructed a new two-story extension to provide exciting state-of-the-art facilities for the school’s pupils and staff.

North East Education and Library Board

£12m

On 16^th May Colonel Denis Desmond CBE, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Derry, unveiled a plaque to officially open the spectacular new 600 pupil Magherafelt High School.

In attendance was Heron Bros. Construction Director, Eugene McAneney who said “It was very exciting to see the new High School take shape and it is wonderful to be here again today to officially open Magherafelt’s newest High School.”

Harbour Commission 

£10m

At the official launch of City Quays 1 on 11^th June Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson MLA and Martin McGuinness MLA, and the DRD Minister Danny Kennedy MLA, it was revealed that work on the project will support 400 construction jobs. 

The £10 million, 83,000 sq ft building represents phase 1 of Belfast Harbour’s wider 20-acre, £250m City Quays development. Designed to Grade A specifications to appeal to inward investors and growing indigenous businesses, the five-storey building will help address the shortage of high-end office space in Belfast.

The First Minister Peter Robinson said: “Growing the economy and creating jobs is a key priority for the Northern Ireland Executive. Our Programme for Government has a clear focus on creating high quality positions and today’s announcement will ensure the best possible office accommodation in state of the art facilities.”

To see how fantastic City Quays 1 will look on completion please visit the project fly through at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHFHxMRCOeI

Corban Investments

£13.4m

Heron Bros. and developer Corban Investments have started construction of the £13.4 million facility which is being built adjacent to the Reel Cinema. 

The investment in the landmark seafront location will result in a purpose-built beachfront leisure centre complete with ‘wave design’ roof and featuring a 25m pool with moveable floor, multiple changing facilities, gym/fitness suite, dance studio, 4 court sports hall, cafe and community rooms.

One of Heron Bros. key aims is to maximise community benefits from the regeneration of this project on the Aberavon Seafront. Heron Bros. Liaison Officer Shauna Young, will be working closely with the Council’s Business Development team throughout the duration of the contract to ensure local businesses benefit from the project.

A ‘Meet the Buyer’ event has already been held where Heron Bros outlined the opportunities on the project and explained how contractors can register on their approved supplier list.

The event was attended by over 100 contractors including sign makers, window fitters, structural steel providers and general builders.

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said: “This will be a wonderful twenty first century facility we can all be proud of and will be a focal point in enhancing our strategy and vision for regenerating the whole area.

“I am delighted to see that the contractor is working with us to provide trading opportunities for local businesses.

“Creating local job opportunities is one of our key priorities and it is vital that we make the most of investment and construction projects such as this one to benefit local people and businesses.”

Glasgow University

£13.4m

Heron Bros. are delighted to be delivering this fantastic project in partnership with Glasgow University. We look forward to supporting Glasgow University’s strategy and vision for regenerating the whole area starting with the spectacular new £13.4 million Stevenson Extension and Glasgow University Union (GUU) Refurbishment. 

The new-look Stevenson Hive Building will be built on the site of the existing Hive nightclub and interconnect with the existing B-listed GUU and Stevenson buildings, to form a combined sports and leisure hub.