Teambuild is an annual competition where the UK construction industry’s most talented under 30 year olds complete a series of simulated construction challenges to showcase their abilities to industry bodies and sponsoring companies.
Taking place in Oxfordshire the competition saw eight cross-discipline teams compete in five timed heats which required them to deal with hypothetical situations that could be faced on a current construction site – the North West Bicester Eco Town.
Prior to the start of the competition each team was provided with a brief, so on arrival at the venue they were quickly asked to begin the series of challenges set, with each task designed to test their ability to plan, develop, design and innovate, as well as demonstrate a thorough understanding of the many issues facing the industry today.
One of the challenges competitors faced was to design an Eco Pub incorporating a number of Saint-Gobain’s products. Products included Vario, Saint-Gobain Isover’s advanced air tightness and moisture management system; Glulam from engineered timber specialist Pasquill; SGG Planitherm One thermally efficient glazing from Saint-Gobain Glass and Thistle Durafinish, a hardwearing plaster from British Gypsum.
Competitors were from various major businesses in the construction industry, as well as utilities companies, engineering consultants and national regeneration agencies. These included VINCI, Skanska, Homes and Communities Agency, BDP, Kier, GBM Minerals, Taylor Woodrow, Wates, Mott MacDonald and Anglian Water.
Judged by representatives from sponsoring companies and industry bodies, including the Worshipful Masters from both the Chartered Institute of Building and the Chartered Institute of Architects, the teams competed to win £4,600 in prizes.
Lindsey Walker, strategic marketing leader for Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland, presented LogEco with their award and commented: “I was hugely impressed by the overall standard of the competitors and their entries, but LogEco’s iconic design was definitely a worthy winner of the Innovative Use of Materials as they presented a combination of practical and highly innovative uses for our products.
“At Saint-Gobain, we are committed to ensuring the industry is equipped with the products and skills required to deliver a low carbon built environment. Teambuild 2011 enables us to support the development of emerging talent within the construction industry, equipping tomorrow’s aspiring construction leaders with practical expertise and knowledge that will help them further their careers within the sector.”
Saint-Gobain’s sponsorship of Teambuild 2011 is part of its ongoing strategy to promote industry training and skills development in the UK. Along with supporting external events, Saint-Gobain offers a wide range of training facilities throughout the UK and Ireland, providing customers with convenient access to a wide range of training courses and industry expertise. Facilities include a UK network of Technical Academies that offer training and technical expertise on cross-brand solutions incorporating Weber, Saint-Gobain Isover and British Gypsum products, brand-specific training centres focussing on up-skilling specific skill sets such as plastering, the Greenworks Training Academy in Birmingham which is dedicated to sustainable product solutions and renewable technologies and a purpose-built Technical Academy in Ireland.
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