vinci in the uk - winter 2009 issue 3 · freyssinet also offers cathodic ... the civil engineering...

BulletinIssue 03 Winter 2009The newsletter of VINCI in the UK

Contents Introduction

Introduction 2

New Contracts and Projects Update 4

Focus Project 10

Corporate Responsibility 12

Overseas News 16

WelcomeWelcome to the winter issue of Bulletin, a newsletter intended to present news of VINCI’s activities in the United Kingdom.

VINCI is the world’s leading concession and construction group. Activities are organised into four major operational units, each of which is a leader in its field:

- Concessions

- Energy

- Roads

- Construction

In addition to contract and company news, there is a section on Corporate Responsibility (CR) which reflects the commitment of the VINCI group to sustainable development in all areas of the business.

To put all this in the global context of VINCI, there is a section dedicated to news of VINCI’s activities worldwide on page 16.

Editorial and Design: VINCI PLC, Astral House, Imperial Way, Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 4WW T: 01923 470435 F: 01923 470219 Web site: www.vinci-uk.com

Front cover image: Heathrow Airport Terminal 4

VINCI in the UK

VINCI in the UK has an annual turnover in the region of €2 billion and in excess of 9,500 employees. Through a national network of businesses, VINCI companies in the UK reflect the four operating sectors of VINCI. The main companies are described below, a number of which are made up of small to medium sized subsidiaries and operating divisions.

VINCI in the UK Bulletin

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Concessions cVINCI Concessions is Europe's leading operator of transport infrastructure concessions including highways, bridges, car parks, airports and light rail systems. In the UK, VINCI Concessions is a shareholder in the two bridges crossing the River Severn and the Newport Southern Distributor Road.

VINCI Park UK Limited has successfully developed a range of parking solutions for local authorities, transport and healthcare facilities, as well as retail and private business locations. In addition to numerous local authorities and hospital trusts, its clients include BAA, ODEON cinemas and various Universities.

VINCI Investments Limited takes a long term approach to working with public bodies and developers in delivering PFI and PPP schemes for infrastructure, property and managed services. The Company is targeted at the education, criminal justice, office and general accommodation property sectors as well as infrastructure maintenance.

Construction fVINCI Construction UK Limited is the main operating company of VINCI PLC and comprises five divisions: Building, Civil Engineering, Air, Facilities and Technology.

These divisions include the activities of Norwest Holst and Taylor Woodrow, as well as the regional contracting brands of Crispin & Borst, Gordon Durham, Haymills, Stradform and Weaver. Forming part of the Building division, PEL Interiors concentrates on the delivery of fit-out projects on a national basis.

Energy

VINCI Energies specialises in the provision of electrical, mechanical and IT engineering services through a network of business units across the United Kingdom. These services are complemented by a specialist maintenance operation which includes a fully accredited test and inspection service.

Roads

Ringway delivers the full range of highway maintenance services to local authorities. The Company has enabled UK clients to benefit from French road technology and was involved at street level in the delivery of the congestion charge initiative in London.

VINCI Construction Grands Projets designs and builds major civil engineering and building structures throughout the world. These have included three major sections of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; all seven of the rail and road tunnels for Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport; the Clackmannanshire Bridge in Scotland; and currently the widening of the M1 between junctions 25 and 28.

Bachy Soletanche Limited is the UK subsidiary of Soletanche Bachy, a multi-disciplined geotechnical contractor specialising in foundation and underground engineering.

Entrepose Industrial Services Limited is involved in the turnkey delivery of gas, oil, and petrochemical pipelines, gas-compressor stations, as well as the design, development, construction and maintenance of petrochemical-storage facilities and process installations.

Freyssinet Limited specialises in the pre-stressing of bridges, buildings and other civil engineering structures and also provides cable stays for major bridges and stadia. The Repairs division undertakes structural repairs and strengthening of bridges, tanks and buildings. Freyssinet also offers cathodic protection and retained earth solutions, and owns Nuvia Limited, one of the UK's largest and most independent suppliers of nuclear services.

Nuvia Limited undertakes nuclear operations including consultancy through to design and build, complex nuclear decommissioning, waste management, land remediation and radiation safety.

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Issue 03 - Winter 2009

New Contracts and Projects Update

Bachy SoletancheA34 Alderley Edge By-Pass

Bachy Soletanche is working on the A34 Alderley Edge by-pass in Cheshire to provide assistance on water table challenges found at the Welsh Row section of the project. At this point the road level will be in a cutting with the road box formation being 6m below the ground level. It is Bachy Soletanche’s experience in the construction of slurry cut-off walls – a system rarely used in Britain on road construction – that is benefiting this delicate section of the project. A slurry wall is a non-structural barrier that is constructed underground to impede groundwater flow and is often used on land reclamation projects.

VINCI Construction UKDocklands Light Railway - Three-Car Capacity Enhancement Project c

The Civil Engineering division of VINCI Construction UK is undertaking a £208 million design and build project to enhance Docklands Light Railway (DLR) infrastructure to allow the current two-carriage trains to be upgraded to three-carriage trains. This is in response to growing user numbers and to meet passenger demand during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

East India Station is one of a number of stations being upgraded as part of the DLR three-car project.

During a 52 hour weekend possession, major capacity upgrade works were carried out which extended its platforms by 30 metres on each side of the track to accommodate the extra carriage.

VINCI Construction UKKing’s Cross Redevelopment Scheme f

A contract worth £153 million is being undertaken for Network Rail at London’s King’s Cross Station. The project includes the restoration of the existing Grade I Listed buildings adjacent to platform 8 and the provision of a new concourse including a bespoke diagrid steel roof structure with glazed coverings.

This contract has been secured in addition to the ongoing £28 million contract which includes the design, construction, testing and commissioning of a new plant room and service yard.

VINCI Construction UKTechnology Strategy Board

VINCI Construction UK has secured up to £150,000 of research and development funding from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) which will be used for research into the retrofit of social housing to reduce its carbon footprint.

This is in response to the industry agenda for R&D, set by the National Construction Technology Platform, of which VINCI Construction UK is a leading member.

The funding was secured by a team from the Company’s Technology and Facilities divisions who put together a proposal that builds on their existing work in this area.

FreyssinetA316, Twickenham

Freyssinet Repairs division has recently completed the design, supply and installation of 124 bridge bearings to a 1km section of the A136 Country Way dual carriageway, near Twickenham, West London.

Freyssinet designers engineered a temporary propping system, capable of withstanding loads in excess of 1000 tonnes and which also lent itself to a rapid cycle time to minimise programme duration.

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VINCI Construction Grands ProjetsForthspan

VINCI Construction Grands Projets is part of the Forthspan Joint Venture, along with Morgan Est, BAM Nuttall and Balfour Beatty, which will compete to participate in the procurement of Transport Scotland's £2.3 billion Forth Replacement Crossing, the UK's most significant new bridge in 20 years.

Funded by Transport Scotland, the 2.7km Forth Replacement Crossing will be located to the west of the existing Forth Road Bridge and will provide a new high quality dual carriageway crossing of the Firth of Forth, along with associated approach roads, junction improvements and an intelligent transport control system.

VINCI Construction UKTesco, Skipton c

The store at Skipton is one of three projects recently completed for Tesco by the Building division of VINCI Construction UK. The new 36,000 sq ft store is clad with masonry, a unique feature for a Tesco store. This was a planning requirement given the close proximity of the site to the perimeter of the conservation area.

VINCI FacilitiesVINCI Facilities has consolidated its operations

VINCI Facilities has consolidated its operations by combining a number of highly regarded and successful brands:

• Crispin & Borst• Haymills Property Solutions• Rosser & Russell• Taylor Woodrow• TCL Granby

By consolidating the activities of these brands, VINCI Facilities is able to deliver a fully integrated facilities service to the British, Belgian and Dutch markets.

With almost 20 years experience of providing technical and integrated facilities management services developed in the mature UK market, VINCI Facilities specialises in total facilities management and maintenance to corporate estates and provides a range of comprehensive support to multi-site building portfolios.

This extensive portfolio includes over 800 bank branches, 120 clothing, apparel retail and department stores, 80 corporate offices and 1,100 electronics stores and distribution centres in the private sector. VINCI Facilities also operates extensively in the public sector, working with a number of Central Government agencies, Local Authorities and the Defence Estates to provide facilities management and maintenance to their portfolios.

VINCI FacilitiesNew Contract for Welsh Assembly Government, Aberystwyth

VINCI Facilities is pleased to have been awarded a three year contract to provide integrated facilities management services to the Welsh Assembly Government at its new regional Headquarters in Aberystwyth, mid Wales.

Under the agreement, VINCI Facilities will provide reception and back office services, 24/7 help desk, planned and reactive maintenance and cleaning.

VINCI FacilitiesWandsworth Borough Council Decent Homes

The Building & Maintenance division of VINCI Facilities has been awarded a £2.2 million contract to upgrade 320 properties in South West London as part of the Decent Homes programme.

The contract includes the renewal of both kitchens and bathrooms and associated electrical works whilst working in occupied properties.

VINCI FacilitiesDWP Job Centre Upgrades

Working with Telereal Trillium, TCL Granby has secured a two year contract to undertake a rolling programme of refurbishment and alteration projects to Job Centres in four regions in the South of England.

The first phase, which is currently underway, involves upgrades to 19 properties for the Department for Works and Pensions.

VINCI FacilitiesBSI

BSI British Standards is the UK's national standards organisation that produces standards and information products that promote and share best practice.

A three year static M & E maintenance programme involving the TUPE transfer of the current team at the BSI Head Office in Chiswick was won against strong competition. The project is scheduled to commence in November 2009 and is valued at £900,000 over the term.

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VINCI Construction Grands Projets / VINCI Construction UKCrossrail

VINCI Construction will draw upon the capability and expertise of both VINCI Construction Grands Projets and VINCI Construction UK Limited as part of the joint venture formed between Morgan Est, Balfour Beatty, VINCI Construction and Beton- und Monierbau which have joined together as BBMV to participate in the procurement of London’s Crossrail project.

All four businesses have a solid record of delivering major infrastructure schemes in London and throughout the world and now jointly will provide the full range of skills, resources and technical expertise required for such a large scale project. The total value of the project has been estimated at around £15.8bn.

VINCI Construction UK/FreyssinetLiquid Natural Gas Storage Tanks f

The Civil Engineering division of VINCI Construction UK is currently constructing a concrete LNG storage tank on the Isle of Grain in Kent. Freyssinet has undertaken post tensioning to all four of the site’s new tanks, starting with three in 2005 and the most recent in 2009 for VINCI Construction UK.

The Royal Albert Hall would fit inside each of the Isle of Grain LNG storage tanks, making them the largest above ground LNG storage tanks in the world. The four new tanks have quadrupled the capacity at the facility, enabling the plant to take on 20% of the UK’s current gas demand.

RingwayEssex Highway Improvements

Ringway Infrastructure Services has secured a two year extension to its existing contract for Essex County Council.

The contract extension is worth up to £12 million, with the further possibility for potential major projects. This will secure the contract until 31st March 2012.

Ringway/VINCI Construction UKUlley Reservoir, Rotherham

Ringway and VINCI Construction UK have been awarded a contract valued at £3.5 million to reconstruct the famous Ulley Reservoir in Rotherham. Two years ago, the reservoir could have burst its banks, flooding the M1 and local villages.

VINCI Construction UKSheffield Building Schools for the Future

The Building division of VINCI Construction UK has been awarded a £25 million contract by Sheffield City Council to refurbish and extend High Storrs Secondary School as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Sheffield’s BSF work is being carried out by VINCI Construction UK as part of a £320 million programme to rebuild or refurbish every school in the City by 2015. Four new schools have so far been delivered as part of the programme.

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VINCI Energies UKJaguar Cars, Castle Bromwich c

Actemium, part of VINCI Energies UK, has recently completed a contract to design, install and commission an energy saving lighting system at Jaguar Cars' Castle Bromwich Plant.

The contract involved the replacement of an existing lighting system by using the latest technology in energy efficient high frequency luminaires. The solution also takes into account occupancy profiles as well as incorporating sensitivity towards natural light. The need for manual switching or control is avoided by the inclusion of a “smart module” in each light fitting. The result in this application is a 75% saving in energy consumption when compared to that of a standard lighting specification.

Utilising the same technology, VINCI Energies is now assisting other clients in the commercial and service sectors, as well as industry, in implementing this system to assist in achieving their CO2 reduction commitments.

FreyssinetInverbervie Bridge

Makers Freyssinet, the structural repair division of Freyssinet, has completed the £1.4 million refurbishment of the A92 Jubilee Bervie Bridge for Aberdeenshire Council.

The curving eight span reinforced concrete structure, which stands 20 metres over the Bervie water on the busy A92 between Montrose and Aberdeen, has undergone various repairs over the years due to the ravages of the harsh winters in the area.

An innovative approach was adopted by using an impressed current cathodic protection system to protect the heavily chloride contaminated soffit and beams. Over 8,500 discrete anodes and a remote monitoring system were attached, together with extensive hydrodemolition and repair to defective areas to ensure the bridge is protected to the highest standard.

RingwayBracknell Forest

Ringway Infrastructure Services has secured a five year extension to the existing Bracknell Forest Council Term Works Contract.

The contract extension, worth up to £8 million, will secure the contract until October 2014.

Bracknell Forest Council were clear that the extension was granted as a direct result of the excellent quality of work and customer care delivered by the Ringway team.

VINCI ParkAcquisition of Karspace Management

VINCI Park has acquired Karspace Management Limited. The acquisition will further strengthen VINCI Park’s strong track record in the health and local authority sectors, from on street enforcement to hospital contracts.

Following the acquisition, a number of high profile clients will join VINCI Park’s roster including Bedford NHS Trust, London Borough of Enfield, Royal Glamorgan Hospital and the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

Entrepose Industrial ServicesWales & West Utilities d

Entrepose Industrial Services has been awarded a £3 million contract by Wales & West Utilities.

The project involves modifications to 13 above ground installations in South Wales including the replacement of water bath heaters, high and low pressure inlet and outlet systems, mechanical works, electrical and instrumentation systems, civil and structural modifications as well as complete new builds at some locations.

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VINCI Energies UKRecycled Paper Plant, Kings Lynn

In August this year, production began on the new PM7 newsprint paper machine installed at Palm Paper, Kings Lynn.

VINCI Energies Companies, Actemium Germany, Lee Beesley Nottingham and Lee Beesley Merthyr Tydfil were able to provide a fully integrated solution for the design, installation and commissioning of field instrumentation and control cabling systems for the plant.

Against an extremely tight time plan, the PM7 machine, which produces newsprint quality product from recycled paper fibre pulp, was started up three weeks ahead of schedule.

VINCI Energies UKEton College

In September 2009 the MESL Group (part of VINCI Energies UK) won a three year contract to provide Mechanical and Electrical Building Services for Eton College, the high profile public school.

The prestigious estate, consisting of academic and residential buildings, some of which are listed and dating back to 1440, has a vast and diverse array of facilities and systems and as such, part of the MESL brief is to continue working closely with the college to reduce energy consumption across the site and assist in their goal of reducing emissions and carbon footprint.

The company had already embarked on a programme with the college to address the efficiency of heating systems and has introduced high efficiency boilers, sequencing/time controls and improved lagging and insulation, the first phase of which is now delivering significant savings in energy related costs.

VINCI Construction Grands ProjetsM1 Widening e

VINCI Construction Grands Projets is part of a joint venture undertaking a £340 million design and build contract to widen the M1 from three to four lanes over a distance of 23km between junctions 25 and 28 near Nottingham.

Part of the contract involves the replacement of a 42 year old bridge structure. Overnight work to lift new bridge beams into place was successfully completed during a 24 hour closure of the motorway.

A 500-tonne crane was set up on the northbound carriageway to lift a 38.5m pair of girders weighing 57 tonnes into position, while a smaller 250-tonne crane was set up on the southbound carriageway to lift a second pair of girders weighing 41 tonnes and measuring 29 metres.

Bachy SoletancheBachy Soletanche Expands into Yorkshire

Bachy Soletanche has opened a regional office in Wakefield, West Yorkshire where it has relocated its Anchor, Grout and Mini-pile division. Simplex Foundations will also operate from this office.

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NuviaDounreay Site Restoration Limited Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) is the site licence company responsible for the closure programme at Britain's former centre of fast reactor research and development.

The site operators for the Dounreay and Sellafield Nuclear Licensed sites are required to undertake a routine monitoring programme of beaches around the sites to detect radioactive particles.

Nuvia has undertaken monitoring for radioactive particles of selected beaches on behalf of DSRL since 1999. Initially monitoring was undertaken using a standard Groundhog system which has been developed over the years to meet the more stringent detection requirements for the work.

Nuvia has recently been awarded the contract to continue undertaking these surveys until 2013 following a competitive tendering exercise.

Nuvia has conducted surveys of beaches near the Sellafield site since 2006. Trial surveys were initially undertaken to demonstrate that the techniques developed at Dounreay were viable on the differing beach conditions in Cumbria, where much of the beach surface may be of shingle or cobbles.

A one year contract was then placed, which was extended to cover a total of 150 ha of surveying on ten beaches along the Cumbrian coast and as far north as the Solway Firth.

Nuvia has recently been awarded the contract, following a competitive tendering exercise, to continue undertaking these surveys until 2013.

Nuvia has developed its Groundhog™ system to provide efficient monitoring of these large areas with real time particle detection capabilities. Traditional techniques for surveying land potentially contaminated with radioactivity are labour intensive and the recording and interpretation of data is subject to human error. Nuvia’s Groundhog™ service eliminates human error and the need to grid a site or use landmarks. Radiological contamination maps are produced to sub-metre accuracy and 100% site coverage can be proven.

FreyssinetMedia City, Manchester d

Freyssinet is carrying out the post tensioning works for their fourth building on the Media City development at Salford Quays in Manchester.

The new development is spread over 36 acres and includes facilities for Salford University and the BBC.

Bachy SoletancheUnderground Car Park, Newbury c

As part of a retail and mixed used development in Newbury, Bachy Soletanche is underway with the second phase of a multi-million pound bearing pile and secant wall piling project which will eventually form a two-storey underground car park.

Several geotechnical solutions had been arrived at before piling commenced and just as many considered during piling to address the array of services, site programme and other physical constraints on the urban site. As a result, the wall has an irregular shape which suits the bored pile solution finally chosen.

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Focus Project

Heathrow Terminal 4 Check-in Extension and RefurbishmentTwo new check-in zones, encompassing 42 new check-in desks, have been handed over six weeks early by the Air Division of VINCI Construction UK as part of the £70 million terminal extension and refurbishment project now nearing completion at Heathrow's Terminal 4.

The extension of the check-in area will accommodate an increase in the number of airlines based at the Terminal from 7 to 39 following their relocation from Terminals 1 and 2.

A major feature of the project is a new, fully glazed façade which is being promoted by BAA as the benchmark for future bomb blast resistant façades at all their airports.

Sample testing took place at VINCI Construction UK’s Technical Centre in Leighton Buzzard. Stevan Brown, Design Technical Leader, BAA congratulated the division, saying: “Not only have you met what at one time looked like a difficult deadline but, in doing so, have also more than satisfied the quality standards asked of you and have provided BAA with a really fine looking new frontage to T4 Departures.”

The contract included the strengthening of an existing multistorey car park to accommodate a new passenger drop-off area, as well as a new landscaped forecourt area, new offices and retail accommodation and new baggage system links.

Critical to the success of this project has been the ability to work in a live environment with minimal disruption to the travelling public.

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Corporate Responsibility

Ringway

Trainee Highway Worker Apprenticeship Scheme

The Highways Magazine Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate companies, authorities, products and services that demonstrate excellence and innovation within the industry. Ringway Lincolnshire recently won an award in the category of Employer of the Year for its Trainee Highway Worker Apprenticeship Scheme.

The apprenticeship scheme was developed to target young people not on the education, employment or training (NEET) register between the ages of 16 and 24.

In addition, the scheme has been highly commended at the annual Business in the Community (BITC) Awards for Excellence.

Nuvia

PAAVQ-SET

Nuvia has recently received accreditation from PAAVQ-SET, an approved qualifications and examinations authority, and has received its Certificate of Centre Approval to offer the following approved qualifications under the Qualifications and Credit Framework:

• Diploma in Nuclear Decommissioning, Level 2 (NVQ)

• Award for Nuclear Industry Awareness, Level 2

• Diploma in Radiation Protection, Levels 2 & 3 (NVQ)

Nuvia also provides a range of other radiation protection training courses, all of which can be found on http://www.radiationtraining.co.uk/

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VINCI Innovation Awards 2009 c

The aim of the VINCI Innovation Awards is to highlight the potential and capability contained within the VINCI Group and reward employees who devise, develop and implement original solutions.

The competition takes place every two years and is open to all employees. There are two stages of the competition: regional and Group-wide.

VINCI companies in the UK form part of the Northern European region along with VINCI companies based in Belgium, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. This year a total of 1,443 innovations were submitted worldwide, of which 148 came from the Northern European region.

Winners from the Northern European region will be presented with their awards at the Royal Institution of Great Britain on 19th November 2009, following which a special issue of Bulletin will be produced in recognition of their achievements.

VINCI Construction UK

Women in Construction Award

The annual Women in Construction awards celebrate the achievements of women and companies actively working to include women in a traditionally male dominated industry. Emma McNab, a Project Manager within VINCI Construction UK’s Air division, was this year presented with an award in the category of Professional/Consultant of the Year.

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VINCI Education

Sheffield Children’s Festival e

VINCI Education is leading on the delivery of the Sheffield Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in partnership with Sheffield City Council. However, the Company’s involvement goes far beyond its contractual obligations, most notably through its continued support of Sheffield Children’s Festival.

Commenting on this year’s Festival, Andrew Percival, Managing Director of VINCI Education Limited said: “VINCI Education is committed to providing children with the opportunity to reach their full potential through the provision of exceptional facilities and learning environments. Sheffield Children’s Festival consistently highlights the exceptional talent and enthusiasm of the children involved and we hope that the experiences available this year continue to inspire even greater creativity, participation and fun.”

VINCI Park

Community Links c

Based in Canning Town, Community Links has been helping children, teenagers and adults in deprived neighbourhoods for over 30 years.

As part of the month-long West India Quay summer festival, VINCI Park teamed up with Community Links to provide the opportunity for some excluded young people to visit Canary Wharf and add a splash of colour to the exterior of the car park.

A team of ten young people aged between 13 and 16, from the Community Links Education Programme, were tasked with creating a mural depicting “summer in the city”. The project, led by locally based art therapist, Ravinder Atwal, was on display throughout July.

Geraldine Blake, Chief Executive Officer of Community Links, said: “VINCI Park has provided a fantastic opportunity for the young people from Education Links, which helps children excluded from school continue in their education. The mural is making a great impact on West India Quay.”

A month before the summer festival, over 30 people took part in the VINCI Park abseiling event, also held at West India Quay car park. The event raised around £4,000 for Community Links.

VINCI Park

Lone Worker Protection System

VINCI Park will be rolling out Romad mobile ‘safety phones’ for lone workers across most of its off-street contracts. This follows a successful pilot programme of the compact phones which link staff to a 24-hour security control centre. VINCI Park says it is committed to meeting its responsibilities under lone worker legislation, including protecting employees from violence from members of the public. VINCI Park piloted 34 Romads over an 18 month period. Over the course of the pilot there were genuine activations of the device from 11 employees working alone. Activated Romads resulted in a quick response from the police and, in one case, the arrest of an individual.

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Corporate Responsibility14


VINCI Construction Grands Projets

Clackmannanshire Bridge d

Morgan VINCI, made up of Morgan Est and VINCI Construction Grands Projets, completed the Clackmannanshire Bridge in Scotland in November 2008. Since then it has received an award for Transportation Structures at the Institution of Structural Engineers Structural Awards 2009.

The judges commented: “Environmental and economic considerations determined the bridge location, and also strongly influenced the choice of construction method. [...] This is an outstanding example of how innovations can be drawn together within a highly constrained design and build environment to deliver a fine structure on time and on budget."

This major construction project was designed and built in a way that minimised the impact on local flora and fauna, for which the Morgan VINCI Joint Venture recently won a 2009 Green Apple Award in the Environmental Best Practice category. The Green Apple Awards, organised by The Green Organisation, reward companies, associations and individuals who endeavour to promote environmentally sound practices to preserve our natural environment for future generations. This year, for its 16th edition, the prize attracted more than 500 applications.

Ringway

Former Ringway Pupil Returns to Help His Old School in Crawley c

Former Seymour primary school pupil, Shahzad Hussain, recently led a group of volunteers from Ringway to help transform a derelict space of ground to enhance the learning experience for pupils at his old school as part of the Business in the Community’s employee volunteering scheme.

Seymour C of E primary school will now benefit from the development of a new space that is safe, usable and hopefully inspirational after a dedicated team of Ringway staff gave their support and time.

Seymour C of E primary school head teacher, Sarah Park said: “Thanks to the energy and efforts of volunteers from Ringway we have now moved much closer to our goal which is to establish an outdoor Discovery Area consisting of a small copse and a sensory garden. The Discovery Area will provide a safe space where our younger children can develop their experience and understanding of the natural environment.”

Receiving the award (left to right) are Pierre Villard - VINCI Construction Grands Projets, Simon Bourne - Scott Wilson, Tony O'Donnell - Morgan Est.

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Ringway

Institution of Civil Engineers Steve Tebb Awards 2009 c

Ringway’s graduate-run schools workshops were the overall Company Winner for the Institution of Civil Engineers Steve Tebb Awards 2009.

The aim of the Award is to honour and recognise individuals and companies that have shown outstanding commitment to giving their time, energy and resources to promoting civil engineering to young people.

Judges commended the graduate-run workshops that Ringway has developed for schools, and were particularly impressed with the coordinated delivery of both the practical and academic aspects.

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Carbon Reduction Commitment

The British government is committed to reducing carbon emissions within the UK by 60% by 2050, in comparison to 1990 levels. From 2010, the largest non-energy intensive organisations will be targeted via the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). This includes the construction industry.

In response to the CRC, all VINCI companies in the UK are working together to ensure that we are prepared to respond to the commitment at the start of the first compliance year in 2010.

Further information on the CRC can be found at www.carbonreductioncommitment.info/

In addition to responding to the CRC, the VINCI Construction UK Technology Centre is able to offer innovative solutions for all aspects of sustainable construction and energy management. Further information on the services provided by the Technology Centre can be found at www.vinciconstruction.co.uk/technologycentre

RoSPA Gold Medal Awards

Entrepose Industrial Services has won a Gold RoSPA Occupational Health & Safety Award based on the company’s performance during 2008. This is the third consecutive year that Entrepose has achieved this accolade. The company’s submission was based upon its performance on the Phase 1 Water, Brine and Nitrogen Pipelines Project at Stublach in Cheshire for client, Gaz de France Storage Limited. In addition to the RoSPA award, Entrepose also received a letter of thanks from the client for their excellent safety record and performance throughout the seven month project.

Nuvia was awarded its 12th consecutive RoSPA Gold Award earlier this year which gives the Company its third RoSPA President’s Award for Occupational Health and Safety.

Ringway received their third Gold Award in recognition of their continued improvement of the management of Health and Safety.

Four of the businesses within VINCI Construction UK received awards at the annual RoSPA Awards ceremony. Another is to receive its award at an event later in the year in Glasgow.

Overseas News

Opening of the A19, 101 Kilometres of Eco-Motorway

The A19 motorway which links Artenay and Courtenay, south of Paris, puts into practice the concept of the eco-motorway which has been developed by VINCI Autoroutes to promote new standards with regard to safety, the environment and user-friendliness.

The new stretch of motorway forms the junction between two existing linked networks which adds up to 2,700km of motorway operated by six different companies. To overcome the complications this entails, an interoperable toll system was developed, the first of its kind on this scale.

One side of the motorway’s hard shoulder will be indicated using unbroken markings which will form an “uncrossable barrier” to prevent other vehicles drifting across into broken down vehicles. The unbroken line will only be used on one side so that the improvement in safety can be compared with the broken line on the other side using radar and laser systems to carry out measurements.

Over its 101km length, the A19 has 116 animal crossings which is twice the average number on other motorways. In addition, a water management system has been installed which will ensure runoff is treated before being returned to the environment and which will confine any accident pollution.

Strategic Partnership Between Qatari Diar and VINCIQatari Diar and VINCI have formed a strategic partnership which, if approved, will position VINCI as a major player in the energy services sector. In exchange for CEGELEC, an international group that provides services to businesses and local authorities, Qatari Diar would receive 31.5 million VINCI shares. This would make it VINCI’s largest shareholder behind the Group’s employee savings funds.

CEGELEC operates primarily in four major sectors: electrical engineering, climate control and mechanical engineering; automation, instrumentation and control; information and communication technologies; maintenance and services.

The company has 27,000 employees and is present in over 30 countries around the world. The transaction would boost VINCI’s annual turnover by around €3 billion.

VINCI Construction in the USA

It is the diversity and expertise contained within the VINCI Group that has enabled a number of subsidiaries to enter the American market.

Soletanche Inc was set up in 1960 and focused on a small number of large projects until 2005, when Soletanche Bachy acquired Nicholson Construction from the bankrupt Italian Rodio Group. Soletanche brought financial stability to Nicholson in exchange for Nicholson’s sales and marketing network throughout the US. Nicholson worked on the World Trade Centre site in the days following 9/11 in 2001. Currently work is underway to support the entire ground segment and the retaining walls of an exterior box that will provide access for vehicles and visitors to the future World Trade Centre.

VINCI Construction Grands Projets won its first project in the USA in 2006 as part of a consortium with Frontier-Kemper Construction Inc and Parsons RCI Inc, two American civil engineering companies.

The consortium is currently building two tunnels for the Brightwater wastewater treatment plant north of Seattle.

Altogether there are 18 VINCI subsidiaries present in America, all of which meet regularly to share ideas, experience and expertise and to identify opportunities for working together.

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vinci in the uk - winter 2009 issue 3 · freyssinet also offers cathodic ... the civil engineering...

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