Tracking success at the Network Rail Partnership Awards

The Network Rail Partnership Awards moved from Birmingham to London this year. Some six hundred representatives of many of the company’s suppliers gathered for dinner in a large hall at the National History Museum, dominated by the skeleton of an enormous dinosaur.

Sir David Higgins, CEO of Network Rail, welcomed his guests with a short review of the year. He commented that there had been some difficult times, the extreme weather over the winter had not helped, but the help and dedication of all Network Rail’s suppliers had kept the railway moving.

“These awards offer the opportunity for Network Rail to recognise and reward our partners and suppliers”, he stated. “Without them we would not have the railway we have today. Although we still have a lot to accomplish, I am delighted to have the opportunity to look back over last year and see what has been achieved. There have been a huge number of entries, all of them to a high standard, and the judges have had a difficult job in selecting the winners. Congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted. I am proud of what you have achieved, and I hope that you are too.”

With that, Sir David passed the evening over to host Fred MacAulay who was well known to the guests for his television appearances on Have I got News For You, Mock The Week and QI.

After an excellent dinner, Fred MacAulay regaled an appreciative audience with his memories of train journeys past and other transport experiences, and then it was time for the awards themselves.

Safety

Fittingly, Safety was the first category to be presented, and Robin Gisby, Managing Director Network Operations, was called upon to make the presentation. “Safety should never be taken for granted,” Robin stated. “This award highlights an organisation which not only sustains safety in the workplace but one which continuously tries to understand safety culture and improve it through commitment, behaviour and by successfully demonstrating the benefits, helping to ensure safety procedures are at the forefront of employees minds at all times.” He then made the award to J Murphy and Sons Ltd for its Corporate Behavioural Safety Programme.

Atkins, and the Safe By Choice programme, were highly commended by the judges.

Innovation

Next up was the Innovation Award. This aims to recognise companies working with Network Rail to create smarter and more efficient ways of working and delivering for the passenger. David McLoughlin, Finance and Commercial Director Investment Projects, was asked to present this Award. He made it to Variable Message Signs Limited for its Lightweight Signalling System – structures & signals (pictured right).

“This company has created innovative ways of overcoming problems faced by Network Rail,” David commented. “They did this by developing a revolutionary system that not only saves time and money; but reduces safety risk and the need for specialist machinery. What’s more this was all achieved in record time.”

Highly commended were Balfour Beatty, Jacobs, Tony Gee & Partners and First Capital Connect with the Blackfriars Station & Bridge Construction Works.

Community & the environment

The Community Engagement award recognises companies who have made a clear impact on society and local communities through community or charitable giving programmes. Robbie Burns, Major Programme Director, was asked to present this one (pictured right) which went to Hull Kung Fu for helping to reduce railway crime.

Sole Events were highly commended for their Sole Cycling initiative.

Environmental Sustainability was awarded next, this time by Richard O’Brien, Route Managing Director, Wessex. It is an award for organisations that have made sure that environmental impact has played a genuine part in their work on or near the railway. It was presented to a project that “made sure that all materials used would be recyclable in the future and implemented successful eco solutions to assist with the running and delivery of the project.” The winner was Lancashire County Council for Accrington Eco Station.

VolkerRail Plant was highly commended for their work to reduce CO2 emissions from on-track machines.

Jo Kay, Route Director, London North Western, was asked to present the Good Lineside neighbour award to an organisation which has thought about the impact of its work on the people who live nearby and which has made sure their interests were looked after properly. It went to the Friends of the West Highland Lines for the Recovery of Iconic Views on the West Highland Lines.

The old and the new

The Information Technology Award was presented next to Logica (above), an organisation which has recognised, developed and implemented a successful Project Synergy. In presenting the award, Susan Cooklin, Director, Information Management, stated that this is a “technological solution which will not only save Network Rail several million pounds but will continue to drive success in the future, setting the benchmark for future projects”.

The judges also highly commended two entries: Further Creative for Moving Ahead. Building a Sustainable Future – Network Rail Online Corporate Responsibility Report 2010, and Virtusa UK Ltd with their Information Management – Web Enhancements.

Fred McAulay asked Jerry Swift, Head of Community Rail, to join him on stage to present the Heritage Award. Although there had been five strong candidates on the shortlist, Jerry told the audience, “This project really stood out to the judges for the respect shown for the historic fabric of the area, the steps which were taken to preserve, and in some respects enhance, the heritage, and the success of the consultation processes that have worked alongside local communities and various organisations concerned with the area’s heritage. This entry also ensured that key listed buildings and other important historic structures remained unaffected whilst reducing one of London’s worst bottlenecks.” The winner was Skanska UK Civil Engineering for work on the Thameslink Programme, Borough Viaduct (pictured above).

Because of the strength of the entry, the judges highly commended two others: May Gurney Rail Services and WSP with the Renewal of London Victoria Station, and Spa Valley Railway (Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society Ltd / The Wealden Railway Company Ltd) with the Spa Valley Railway Extension to Eridge.

People and teams

Halfway through the proceedings and it was time for the Investing In People Award. Peter Henderson, Director Asset Management, was called upon to present this award which he did to Babcock (VT Flagship) for the highly successful Network Rail Apprenticeship Scheme.

“This company has continuously worked alongside Network Rail to implement and improve unique training and development opportunities for future employees,” Peter stated. “It ensures that not only skills are imbedded but that the company values, culture and promise are respected.”

The University of Warwick with the Stepping Stones Programme and Balfour Beatty Rail for Site Management of the Future were highly commended.

The Team Contribution Award recognises those who have shown how teamwork has made a clear difference to the railway and brought benefits to Network Rail. Patrick Butcher, Group Finance Director, presented the award for this category for which nine entries had been shortlisted. Patrick acknowledged this when he said “Network Rail aims to achieve successful teamwork in all its projects. Although all the projects tonight have delivered aspects of excellent teamwork, the shortlisted entries for this category have really gone above and beyond; demonstrating what can be achieved if we work together”.

“However, the winner is a truly remarkable project on a number of levels and the engineering skills with which it is being executed in one of the most densely built areas of London is of world class standard. This company has demonstrated that through collaborative planning and close working you can energise the whole team in creating a truly successful delivery”. The recipient was once again Skanska UK Civil Engineering for the Thameslink Programme, Borough Viaduct.

Invensys Rail was highly commended for its work on the Durham Coast Resignalling Programme.

Best projects

The Best Projects Awards are divided into three categories, all of which were presented by Simon Kirby, Managing Director Investment Projects. Best Project – Small is for projects and organisations that have delivered an all-round outstanding project with Network Rail up to the value of £3m. Amalgamated Construction Ltd won it for their Eglinton Street Feeder Station Renewal.

Osborne and the Canterbury West “Access for All” Project were highly commended.

Best Project – Medium is for projects valued between £3million and £20million. This one went to Galliford Try Rail for the Newport Station Regeneration, a project that Simon said would have “far-reaching and lasting benefits, marking a step forward in achieving the vision of regenerating a city into a dynamic, thriving and business friendly city. With its sheer size and unique design, this project creates an iconic gateway for Wales”.

Morgan Sindall was highly commended for their work on the Marylebone Station Roof Renewal.

Best Project – Large, for projects valued at over £20million, is obviously one of the flagship awards. Seven projects were shortlisted, but the winner was Invensys Rail on behalf of Balfour Beatty Rail, Invensys Rail, Carillion, BAM Nuttall and URS Scott Wilson for the Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Link.

“Despite extreme weather conditions, the winner of this award not only managed to deliver a new passenger railway to the area for the first time for over 100 years but the team’s dedication to the project ensured it was delivered on time and produced minimal disruption to the local residents,” enthused Simon.

The judges also chose to highly commend two entries: Atkins, Carillion and Delta Rail with the North London Railway Infrastructure Project and Skanska UK Civil Engineering for the Thameslink Programme: Borough Viaduct.

Special award

Now came the time for a Special Award for a project team which judges felt needed some additional recognition for its contribution to Network Rail’s work and the rail industry as a whole. Sir David Higgins explained: “One of the projects this year was nominated for five awards in the teamwork and project categories. The judges found each of these submissions to be of a very high quality and prepared by suppliers who were committed to safe, on time delivery. However, the real story was the ability of the whole supply chain, including the client and its many stakeholders and customers, to work together to bring major new infrastructure into operation. For this project the Borough Council and TOCs were members of the project development group, the suppliers collaborated to ensure that their schedules and activities supported one another and the project director is known locally as the King of the Railway”.

The 2011 Special Award went to the Reading Station Area Redevelopment project team.

Supplier of the year

Sir David remained on the stage for the final and ultimate award of the evening, Supplier Of The Year. “This award goes to an organisation that has demonstrated quality and best practice in its work with Network Rail and which has contributed the most to the success of the whole rail service over the last year. The company Network Rail has chosen as its supplier of the year 2011 is Invensys Rail”. The applause showed that this was a popular award as Invensys Rail’s Nick Crossfield, Business Unit President, received the company’s trophy (pictured below).

So fourteen awards were presented to Network Rail’s deserving suppliers and partners from a total shortlist of 67. The wide range of those suppliers was evident from the total change in winners from last year’s awards, and no doubt the 2012 recipients will be different again. Network Rail’s supply chain really does have great strength in depth.