Newsletter
November– December 2012
Issue No.65
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year
To everyone at Alpha
Some fascinating facts “Yule” not want to miss
The worlds tallest Snowman well actually its a Snow woman!
measures in at 122ft and weighs
a huge 130,000,000 lbs
There’s a 6/1 chance of
snow this Christmas
The amount of chocolate biscuits eaten by
each office department in December 2012
Contract News
November December 2012
Issue No.65
C09/12 Warehouse Extension
The wall cladding is being installed and we are planning the break in works to the existing building. Works have progressed well.
C19/12 Entrance Works
The entrance works have gone as far as they can, awaits completion of the Security Building.
C17/12 New Security Building
The works are progressing, cladding and glazing are ongoing. Works need to be completed in the new year.
C14/12 Goods Lift & C18/12 Canopy
Steel work for the canopy and lift shaft motor room are complete. Cladding works are well underway with the lift shaft cladding almost completed,
and cladding to the canopy commencing imminently. Lift installation works are underway and openings into the existing Fill & Pack building have
been formed.
C06/12 Envar, Huntingdon
The new IVC building is substantially complete with the exception of some minor cladding and the completion of electrical installation works. Site
wide drainage is currently being installed and completion is expected January 2013
C12/12 SITA EFW
All works on site are now substantially complete
C20/12 Taunton Substation
Works have progressed well and in accordance with the programme, with all works anticipated to be complete by 14-12-12.
C 08/12 Darley Abbey
Completed except for final snagging after completion of the other WPD contracts.
C13/12 Bolsover
The second bund was refurbished on time to allow installation of the new transformer. Additional roofing and land drainage work will be completed
before the Christmas break.
C08/12 Walton
A new transformer bund, NER bases, gabion wall and tarmac access have been completed. The new main gate, and additional cable troughs will be
completed before Christmas. Thanks to Bob Marsh, Kyle, Dave & Carl for completing the above works.
C16/12 Neepsend
Approximately 30% of the flood wall is now constructed with erection of the security fence to start in December. Work on phases 3 and 5 are due to
start in January. Foundations for the gabion wall were delayed due to severe flooding, however these will be completed and tested, prior to wall
construction before we break up. Finally we had a successful Achilles, on site, scoring over 90% in all areas inspected—Thanks to Ken, Abid, Carl,
Pat, Ryan and MTN.
C14/10 Tynemouth OC
These works will commence in early January with Ashley Carlin at the helm. Good luck to all involved.
C14/10 Kirkstall
We are pleased to report that we demobilised from site at the end of November. The final handover is due to happen in January.
C09/11 Wilton
We commenced site establishment on 3rd December and will be moving on to vacuum excavation of trial holes and starting the bund works in the
New Year. Good luck to all who will be involved on this project.
C18/11 Bramford
The challenges continue and we continue to battle on. Hopefully the first phase of the road will be completed before the Christmas break with the
final phase being completed in the first week back in the new year- all weather dependant.
C19/11 Sizewell
Site has now been set up and we now await instructions to proceed from National Grid. There are still a number of site staff who have not completed
the necessary forms for the Scottish Disclosure and EDF Entry Permits. We cannot stress the importance of finalising these forms enough. Please
ensure that the individuals who have not yet sorted this out, use the Christmas break to gather the required information for issue to Gavin immediately after Christmas.
C14/09 Creyke Beck
Works have progressed well, however we are a few weeks behind programme due to unforeseen circumstances. We hope to be completed in
January. Thanks to Ian Jackson and crew for their continued efforts on this job.
Winning work
We are finding tendering extremely competitive in this current economic
climate. Instances of our competitors ‘suicide bidding’ to win work is
becoming more and more common. This is not a strategy we are willing to
adopt.
However, we still need to secure sufficient workload for our business. As a
result, our profit margins are being squeezed tighter and we are having to
make an increased number of optimistic assumptions within our estimates.
If our bid is successful, we need to ensure that these become true more
often than not.
Everyone’s efforts to ensure that we complete the works to the
satisfaction of our client and remain within budget is greatly appreciated.
If anyone has any specific suggestions that can be adopted across the
company that can save money, or make money, then please do not
hesitate to contact myself, or your line manager.
MD’s Notes
Another year comes to an end, our best year ever for turnover with
nearly £16m of work undertaken.
With all the pressures on sites to undertake works safely, to high
standards and to tight programmes, I must congratulate all of our site
teams and office support on achieving the majority of our business goals
this year.
I understand that working for the clients that we do and within difficult
site environments no project is straight forward, but you keep on
delivering.
Looking ahead we currently have £8.4m of work going forward into
2013, this gives us a good start, but securing further orders during the
first half of next year is key for maintaining a similar workload as 2012. I
will keep you posted on how we do.
On behalf of all the Directors I would like to wish you and your families a
very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Anthony Bamford—Commercial Manager
Rob Smith—Managing Director
Employee Representative for all HSE Matters
Please remember your employee rep is Ken Richards. Ken is always
available if you wish to talk to him about any concerns you may have regarding HSE matters or any suggestions for improving our systems of
work.
Ken’s mobile number is 07717 580115.
Wedding Bells
Our congratulations to Site Engineer Abid
Rehman who after many weeks of
planning got married at the beginning of
December. Well Done from us all at Alpha.