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Queen’s Awards recognise construction

22 Apr 14 Willmott Dixon, Berkeley Group, ISG and Turner & Townsend are among the construction companies recognised in the 2014 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

Contractor Willmott Dixon and house-builder Berkeley Group were cited in the sustainable development category, while ISG and Turner & Townsend achieved the accolade for international trade.

One area that the judges highlighted in the decision to grant a Queen’s Award for Enterprise to Willmott Dixon was how it invests ‘£1 million annually for improving skills and social fabric in local communities’.

Willmott Dixon claims to have pioneered low-waste, low-carbon, building structures. Other factors behind the award include being the first construction company to achieve carbon neutrality and attain the Carbon Trust Standard. Willmott Dixon says that 88% of its construction projects achieving at least an EPC B rating and the percentage of its waste sent to landfill has been cut from 40% in 2007 to 5% in 2012.

Willmott Dixon group chief executive Rick Willmott said: “We have invested considerable time and money over many years to ensure sustainable development is part of our culture and values, and you can see this in the output of what we build.  We do it because it is in the best interest of our business, the environment and people in the communities where we work.”

This year is the second time that the Berkeley Group has been recognised, having previously won the award in 2008.  The company said that the award recognised five years of continuous achievement in delivering sustainable development.

Berkeley Group claims to be the first house-builder to commit all new homes to be designed to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and in 2010 it committed to appoint an ecologist on all developments to advise on protecting and enhancing biodiversity.

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International trade award winner ISG said that its demonstrated to the judging panel that its strategic diversification into new growth markets and geographies across the globe deserved recognition.

“The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade represents an independent validation of our achievements,” said ISG chief executive David Lawther. “We continue to grow our businesses, working with multinational customers such as Google, RBS, Marks and Spencer, Unilever, Barclays, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany.

 “The profile of the UK construction sector has never been higher overseas and received a major boost following the successful staging of the London 2012 Olympic Games, in which ISG played such a key role. We have combined that reputation with organic growth and a series of strategic and successful acquisitions in key markets internationally, while continuing to improve our position in the UK.”

Turner & Townsend’s award follows previous wins in 2003 and 2009. Over that same period, its turnover has grown from £61m in 2003 to £360m for the financial year ending 30 April 2014, while the workforce has trebled from 1,128 to 3,609.

It has opened 43 new offices in the last 10 years and now operates in 130 countries around the world. Overseas markets account for 55% of the turnover.

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