Atkins sweeps the board at Highways Magazine Excellence Awards - 05 November 2008
Atkins picked up three awards at the 2008 Highways Magazine Excellence Awards - becoming the first company to win so many.
Atkins picked up Consultant of the Year for the work undertaken by Gloucestershire Highways – a partnership with Gloucestershire County Council – during the 2007 floods. Atkins was also announced winners of the IHIE Excellence in Employee Development Award and, with Northamptonshire County Council, the Environmental Initiative Award.
Philip Hoare, managing director of highways services, Atkins said: “I am delighted that Atkins took home all three of the awards we were shortlisted for. Each of these recognises very different aspects of our work. Our Gloucestershire Highways partnership with Gloucestershire County Council proved its strength during the floods of 2007, and the Consultant of the Year title is testament to the way the integrated team responded to the most difficult of situations.”
This year saw the inaugural IHIE Excellence in Employee Development Award, intended to celebrate the industry’s commitment to solving the skills shortage. Atkins won this award for its Employee Development Framework, an initiative which sees that each member of staff is given their own tailored training and development programme. This programme provides a continual review of the technical and practical competence of all staff benefiting the individual, the company and the industry as a whole.
Sarah Ryan, HR and training director, said: “Our reputation is built on the knowledge, skills and relationships our people develop. So investing in learning is a given. The real challenge is making sure training is relevant, appropriate and supports our people to really push the boundaries in their chosen professions. We are delighted to receive this award as it is clear recognition that our learning and development offering is making a real difference to our people and is competitive across our industry sector.”
Atkins also won the Environmental Initiative Award for its work with Northamptonshire County Council, and supply chain partners Nynas and Hanson, to develop ‘Climate Friendly Asphalt’. The award recognises the innovative, effective and efficient process the team developed, enabling the recycling of asphalt at cold temperatures. This greatly reduces carbon emissions and enables 100% use of recycled content.
While each award recognises very different aspects of the work delivered by Atkins, they all show an unrelenting commitment to excellence making Atkins worthy winners of all three honours.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Louisa Perry
Communications Manager
Atkins Tel: 01372 756297
Mob: 07970 575193
Email: louisa.perry@atkinsglobal.com
Notes to Editors:
Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is a multinational engineering and design consultancy, providing expertise to help resolve complex challenges presented by the built and natural environment. Atkins is the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe, the largest engineering consultancy in both the UK and the Middle East, and the UK's second largest architecture firm.
Atkins’ current ITS projects include:
• Major infrastructure works, such as design and programme management of the civil works for the Dubai Metro red and green lines;
• In the defence sector, the MoD’s Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) programme – overseeing the development of the next generation of medium weight armoured vehicles for the military;
• Significant road contracts, such as a £150 million, five-year integrated contract for Gloucestershire County Council, delivering highway maintenance, design, emergency response, winter maintenance, re-surfacing and recycling;
• Key rail projects, including a £65 million, three-year resignalling contract in Basingstoke; and
• High profile designs, such as Durrat Al Bahrain, a spectacular 20 sq km resort for 45,000 people on the south coast of Bahrain, comprising 13 man-made islands.
Atkins won Engineering Consultant of the Year 2008 at the prestigious Building Awards. The company was named among the “20 Best Big Companies to Work For 2008’ by The Sunday Times; The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2008; and The Times Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work 2008. The company was construction sector winner for the third consecutive year in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2008.