Greater London Enterprise Awards 2020

18 | Greater London Awards 2020 Oct20203 Best Special Scaffolding & Construction Contractor - City of London Millcroft is a scaffolding and construction contractor with a 40-year track record and a team of over 150 skilled employees. Following the firm’s well-deserved success in the Greater London Enterprise Awards 2020, we got in touch with Billy Jones to find out more this award-winning firm. Established in 1972, Millcroft is widely considered the experts in scaffolding design, implementation, and management, ensuring of safe access and work areas for construction, demolition, or restoration teams. To begin, Billy provides a brief overview of the firm and offers more insight into the type of projects its involved in. “The experienced in-house scaffolding design team work collaboratively with clients to fully understand the safety, operational and commercial considerations of the project and develop a best-fit approach. Capable of tackling even the most complex of briefs, including heritage structures, unstable buildings and publicly accessible locations, our team ensures buildability and flexibility are integral to every project. Typically, we advise on the most appropriate scaffolding materials for the project and always deploy a skilled and experienced in-house team on site. Speed of installation and adaptability are always key considerations, and the number of advanced scaffolders on our team means that our clients can be confident of a reduced risk of delays and impeccable attention to detail.” Since inception, the firm has been involved in a number of different scaffolding projects including heritage and restoration, demolition and temporary works, transport infrastructure, birdcage for internal fit-out, sensitive, and unstable structures and public access solutions. In all its projects health and safety is always a key focus for Millcroft, and as Billy goes on to explain, protecting its employees is of most importance to the firm. “Safety is a critical element of successful scaffolding and access projects, which is why, the whole team at Millcroft is always focused on safety for your team, for ours and for anyone else on site, including the client or the general public. Every project is individually risk assessed and designed to engineer out risk as far of possible. That includes risks associated with set-up, use of the scaffold, access to the scaffold when it is not in use and adaptations during the project. It also includes risk factors such as fire safety, wind loadings and surge protection, all tailored to the specific project and the client’s brief. By fully exploring the brief, we ensure we understand how the scaffolding will be used and the wider scope of works so that we can put forward the most appropriate and safety-focused design possible. “At our own CITB Site Safety Plus-approved training centre, we can deliver a range of professional development courses for both our own team and our customers, as well as working with colleges and training providers. In-house training programme include SMSTS, SSSTS, ABC and health & safety awareness courses, along with first aid at work, mental health awareness and fire marshalling. “Every member of our team has a personal training plan, which is reviewed and updated every year. Each plan is developed collaboratively with the employee in question to ensure it reflects their career ambitions and plays to their strengths, as well as enabling us to offer our clients the highest standards of safety and service.” In order to deliver the best possible services to its clients, Millcroft invest a lot of time and effort in training its employees as Billy goes on to explain. “At Millcroft, the calibre and commitment of our people has always been at the heart of our success. Playing to the strengths of every individual, training them to be the best that they can be and working collaboratively within our own team and with our clients are the building blocks of quality results, tailored to the requirements of each project. Investment in training and our team is repaid with their loyalty and dedication.” With such an outstanding reputation in the field of scaffolding and construction, much of the firm’s success can be attributed to its team members commitment to the job as Billy points out. “The team never settles for what’s quickest, easiest or cheapest, instead they focus on what’s best for the project, for the client and for robust health and safety outcomes. As a result, we are able to offer clients a good experience, continuity and the highest levels of health and safety. As problem solvers, they work with clients to understand what the site team will need so that we can provide a best-fit approach. Most of all, we love what we do and do whatever it takes to get the job done, on time and to the highest safety standards.” Finally, Billy discusses some of the trends we are currently seeing in the construction industry before outlining some of the firm’s plans for the future. “If we take a closer look at the industry, some of the biggest trends we are seeing right now include the development of 3D modelling and the nurturing of health and safety culture. Both of these elements play a critical role, particularly in the process of scaffolding design. “Moving forward, we will be looking to encourage careers in scaffolding whilst maintaining the excellent reputation we have established in our field. Driven by a professional and innovative management team, it’s our goal to ensure client’s expectations are met and exceeded time after time.” Company: Millcroft Contact: Billy Jones Web: www.millcroft.co.uk