As a construction company, Bouygues UK affects the lives of a large number of stakeholders, and through the buildings it designs and delivers, leaves a lasting legacy for society.  A responsible approach to how Bouygues UK works is expected and makes business sense.  Bouygues UK’s proactive approach to respecting the environment, its staff, its many stakeholders and their communities is simply the right thing to do and is part of the way Bouygues UK does business.

It has been 15 years since operations started in the UK and founded on the strong and distinctive philosophy of its parent company, Bouygues UK believes that it brings a fresh approach and a desire to do things differently.

To view our Corporate Responsibility Report 2011, please click here

The 2012 Business Language Champions programme launched in August 2011, inviting schools across London and the South East – where Bouygues UK predominantly operates – to participate in the scheme.  In January 2012, 11 teams consisting of four pupils each visited the London Headquarters of Bouygues UK to compete for their chance to go to Paris. 

Each team was tasked with delivering a presentation to a panel of Bouygues UK judges based on the theme ‘How my school can benefit the local community’, with the rules stating that at least the introduction and conclusion must be spoken in French.   Over a period of eight weeks, 11 teams were whittled down to three comprising two runners-up teams and a winning team, with the pupils from Bishop Challoner being named as the overall winners and the pupils from St Augustine’s School and The Connaught School for Girls coming runners-up.  All three teams landed themselves the Paris trip.

The prestigious prize kicks off with a tour of Challenger, the headquarters of Bouygues UK’s parent company Bouygues Construction in Versaille, on the outskirts of Paris. The spectacular complex, which caters for 3,200 of the Bouygues Group’s employees, includes an opportunity for the students to enjoy an authentic French lunch.  The remainder of the trip involves a mixture of organised and independent site seeing so that pupils can experience the beautiful French capital in their own way.

Connaught School for Girls team member, Javairia Qadir, said of her experience:

“Bouygues has inspired me to follow the career path of business.  I am excited about the trip as it will allow me to practise my French speaking skills”.

French and Spanish Teacher and Deputy Year Leader at Bishop Challoner School, Helen Harrison, said:

“After visiting Bouygues UK’s head offices it was apparent to the students that speaking a language is really useful in the work place and I believe they will look into continuing languages as a result of the competition.   The experience has undoubtedly benefitted all the students who took part in terms of their French speaking and presentation skills as well as boosting their confidence”.

St Augustine’s Work Related Learning Manager, Mr Ydri, said:

“These types of enrichment programmes can only add value to a school’s curriculum and make teaching and learning more enjoyable.  The trip to Paris will give students tangible opportunity to practise French as well as get inspired by professionals at Bouygues Construction’s headquarters – a very comprehensive learning experience indeed”.

Arnaud Bekaert, Deputy Managing Director at Bouygues UK, who was part of the judging panel for the 2012 Business Language Champions, said:

“Bouygues UK is part of a large and culturally diverse global group operating all over the world so we place huge value on speaking different languages and the career opportunities this creates. The Business Language Champions scheme is the ideal platform to nurture the importance of languages among young people and I have really enjoyed being part of this competition and witnessing the exceptionally high standard of French used throughout”.

ENDS

 Notes to Editors:

The Business Language Champions programme was launched by The National Centre for Languages (CILT) four years ago in support of young language students and was run in partnership with Bouygues UK until 2010 when the funding allocated to the CILT programme expired.  With the Business Language Champions programme’s objectives strongly aligned to Bouygues UK’s culture and values, and the company’s wealth of experience in the education sector and its links with many of London’s boroughs firmly established, Bouygues UK decided to continue the scheme on its own for the second time. 

About Bouygues UK

Bouygues UK delivers innovative and sustainable construction across a wide range of sectors. Our biggest strength is our commitment to intelligent management throughout the entire life-cycle of each project –your guarantee of efficiency and excellence.  Our commitment to sustainable design and our passion for innovation is well recognised, and we are proud that our project teams consistently receive awards for ethical and considerate construction practices.

www.bouygues-uk.com

The Brent Housing PFI project is creating 384 affordable homes – including 20 residential care units – across the borough over the next two years, helping the council address the shortage of suitable housing for homeless families, reduce reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation and modernise residential care services for people with learning difficulties. There are 13 sites within the scheme, which comprise a broad range of properties from five and six bedroom town houses to flats of all sizes to suit individuals and local families of different sizes.  All comply with eco homes level three or four which underlines Bouygues UK and Brent Council’s commitment to sustainability.

The Partnerships Awards have been running for 14 years and have evolved over that time to reflect the PPP markets.  For the first time, this year sees all the categories opened to international projects and players now that the PPP world is very much a global one. 

The Partnerships Awards dinner will take place on Thursday 31 May at The London Hilton on Park Lane.

http://www.partnershipsbulletin.com/awards/index.html

Established in 1869, Thomas Vale expects to generate a turnover of just over £200 million for the 2012 financial year end (March 2012), and employs over 700 people. With a Head Office in Worcestershire and regional offices in central Birmingham, the company has a well-established client base across central England.

Thomas Vale specialises in new build and refurbishment within both the public and private arenas including the retail, office and leisure sectors, and has a proven track record in housing and regeneration through its long-term public sector partnerships. The company’s solid growth and successful delivery of projects has resulted in considerable recognition throughout the construction industry, which includes winning the Construction News ‘Judge’s Supreme Award’ three times in recent years.

This is a significant acquisition for Bouygues Bâtiment International’s expansion programme in the UK, providing it with access to a buoyant geographical region that complements the Bouygues Construction Group’s existing subsidiaries in London, the South East, South West and Wales, namely Bouygues UK, Warings, Leadbitter, Denne and ETDE. Thomas Vale will benefit from the technical capability and commercial expertise of a global construction group with an unwavering commitment to UK growth.

Olivier-Marie Racine, Deputy CEO of Bouygues Construction and Chairman of Bouygues Bâtiment International, said:

“Thomas Vale is a company with an impressive performance history, solid strategic partnerships and a strong heritage in the Midlands. This is an important region of England for the Bouygues Group and a great addition to our UK portfolio.”

Madani Sow, Chairman of Bouygues UK, Warings and Bouygues Development, said:

“This is a great step forward for Bouygues in the UK, enabling us to enhance our construction capabilities and extend our geographical reach. We are confident that the vision and values we share with Thomas Vale will enable us to capitalise on the strengths of our UK construction subsidiaries.”

Tony Hyde, Group Managing Director of the Thomas Vale Group, said:

“This is a very exciting time for the Thomas Vale Group, its employees, clients and other stakeholders. The resources that are now available to us through the Bouygues Group will allow us to continue to increase our market share in our key industry sectors. This move will allow the business to capitalise on additional emerging markets and opportunities which complement our skills and experience.

“We look forward to continuing our working relationships with our public and private sector clients.”

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About Bouygues Construction Bouygues Construction is one of the world’s leaders in the building, civil works, energy and services sectors. It has proven expertise in the finance, design, construction, maintenance and operation of buildings and structures, offering its customers a vast range of innovative solutions. The Group is addressing the environmental challenges confronting its businesses through a pragmatic and far-reaching approach, which covers the design, construction and operation of buildings and structures for which it is responsible. It has the firm ambition of being a leader in terms of sustainable construction. With 52,000 employees throughout the world, the Group generated sales of € 9.8 billion in 2011.
http://www.bouygues-construction.com

About The Thomas Vale Group The Thomas Vale Group is one of the most awarded principal contractors in the UK to date and has an established and enviable reputation for quality and delivery on some of the country’s largest and most high-profile projects; working closely with public and private sector Clients alongside professionals, consultants and stakeholders in a non-adversarial manner. The Group offers a comprehensive range of services from concept, through feasibility, design, construction, engineering, life-cycle maintenance and facilities management. Named Building Magazines’ Contractor of the Year 7 times and the only contractor in the UK to have been awarded the Construction News Judges Supreme Award thrice. At the forefront of change within the industry, the business is committed to the delivery of sustainable and economic solutions and employs over 3,500 people directly and indirectly via its subcontractors and consultants.  http://www.thomasvale.com

Considerate Constructors National Awards are given to only the highest scoring 7.5% from 8500 eligible sites in recognition of exceptional standards of consideration towards local neighbourhoods, the general public, the workforce and the environment.

This year over 3000 guests attended 11 award ceremonies held across the UK, where over 690 awards were presented to the highest scoring registered sites in 2011.

Phoenix School, a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school on Bow Road, is gaining a brand new building as part of its £7 million remodelling and refurbishment scheme which is part of Tower Hamlets’ Building Schools for the Future programme.  Construction at Phoenix School began in July 2011 and is scheduled for completion in August 2013.

The new premises will provide a dynamic and creative learning environment for the sixth form pupils at Phoenix School which boasts a robust expressive arts faculty with a particular focus on sensory learning.  The majority of the 1,700 square metre space will be dedicated to arts, crafts and drama with further spaces for food technology, fitness, generic teaching rooms, a common room and a dining area.

The new building also features a rooftop terrace equipped with work stations and a pond to encourage education in construction skills whilst promoting the importance of biodiversity and sustainability.

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said:

“Improving education continues to be a priority of mine.  Building Schools for the Future is not just about bricks and mortar, it is about the young people who will experience life-changing benefits from this investment.”

Councillor Oliur Rahman, Lead member for Children’s Services, said:  

“These better teaching facilities will further improve the quality of education in our borough and help inspire Phoenix School students to attain greater achievements for generations to come.”

Managing Director of Bouygues UK, Lionel Christolomme, said:

“It is fantastic to have reached this stage in the construction of Phoenix School and we’re proud to play such an important role in its transformation.  By providing spaces that will maximise the school’s passions and strengths, we really feel that we’re helping to make a difference to education in East London.”

The £7.6m construction project, in Bayswater, part of Westminster Council’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, contains a number of specific design elements intended to minimise distractions for pupils with autism and enhance their concentration levels in the classroom.

The National Autistic Society has advised on a number of the new school’s design features, which include everything from eliminating distracting radiator bars and keeping window frames uniform, to hiding the flashing lights of internet routers within ceiling cavities.

College Park School now also includes a new sixth form provision, providing pupils with more continuity in their education.

Other features of the new school include:

• A new state-of-the-art sensory room where pupils can enhance their concentration levels through the use of interactive equipment
• External learning zones to cater for different ages, abilities and behavioural styles
• Minimal visible storage and clutter in classrooms to aid concentration
• A youth centre for pupils, which provides a social interactive space
• State-of-the-art drama facilities, including a hall and drama suite available for community use
• Several ‘blue rooms’, which provide distressed pupils with space for quiet time out
• Double handrail heights on stairs to accommodate younger pupils

The new school is designed by David Miller Architects and is the eighth school to be delivered by construction company Bouygues UK under Westminster Council’s BSF programme.

Westminster Council’s cabinet member for children, young people and community protection, Cllr Nickie Aiken, is set to officially open the new school on Thursday alongside chair of governors Roger Birkby and head teacher Regan Watkinson.

Commenting on the new College Park School, Cllr Aiken said:

“College Park is one of only a small number of schools in the UK to be specifically designed to cater for the needs of pupils with autism under the BSF programme.

“I’m extremely proud that the school’s upgraded facilities, along with its new sixth form provision, are now really pushing the boundaries in giving these pupils the best start in life and access to the very best educational and career opportunities.”

College Park head teacher Regan Watkinson added:

“Our new school is amazing and the building feels vast; it’s light and airy with huge rooms and the specialist facilities we have now are outstanding. The kids have been blown away by the transformation and it already has had a positive impact on behaviour.”

Bouygues UK managing director Lionel Christolomme said:

“The excellent working relationship between Bouygues UK, Westminster City Council and the staff at College Park has enabled us to deliver a fantastic new building with sensitively designed spaces and leading edge facilities. We are very proud of the learning environment we have created at College Park and the positive impact it is already having on its pupils.”

The scheme is a Brent project which is delivering much needed new housing in the borough through a public private partnership. The Mall, where the celebration took place, will be one of the last sites to be completed by construction company Bouygues UK. 11 of the scheme’s 13 sites have now been handed over, with the remaining two sites – Brook and The Mall – to be handed over in March and August 2012 respectively. Occupation of the completed sites has been immediate, with residents now secured in 252 homes.

The properties are a welcome addition to the borough and will help the council address the shortage of suitable housing for homeless families, reduce reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation and modernise residential care services for people with learning difficulties. The scheme delivers a broad range of properties from five and six bedroom town houses to flats of all sizes to suit individuals and local families of different sizes.  They all comply with eco homes level three or four which underlines Brent Council’s commitment to sustainability.

Attending the event were representatives from Brent Council, Brent Coefficient (BCE), the organisation which is wholly owned by The Hyde Group that has been appointed by Brent Council to deliver the project, design and build contractors Bouygues UK and its sister company Warings , facilities management contractor Ian Williams Ltd, housing management contractor The Hyde Group, HCA, Barclays Capital  and Nord LB.

Andy Donald, Brent Council Director of Regeneration and Major Projects said:  

“Addressing the shortage of housing is one of the council’s top priories. We want to ensure there is a supply of good quality homes and care homes available in the borough and it is schemes like this that help us meet that need”.

Speaking at the event, Lionel Christolomme, Managing Director of BouyguesUK said:

“It’s fantastic to have reached this stage of a scheme that will be so beneficial to the residents of Brent, with so many homes already in occupation. This is a great achievement for the PFI housing team and we are looking forward to the final completion of the scheme in August this year”.

Steve Wicks, Director of the Brent Coefficient, said:

“It’s hard to believe we are marking the dismantling of the last crane, not just on this site, but across the Brent Housing and Social Care PFI project. It seems as though not long ago we were discussing buying the site.

“We’re now only a few short months from the end of construction, and none of this would have been possible without the effective and well established partnership working between the four organisations.”

“The Brent Coefficient has always been committed to bringing benefits to the Borough by assisting Brent Council address the shortage of suitable housing, and with the help of Bouygues UK it is proud to have gone even further by constructing buildings of high quality finish and of striking individual design.

“Our underlying purpose at Hyde is to improve the lives of people who live and work in the communities where we have a presence.  I’m so proud to say that these buildings are the platform from which we look forward to continuing making a lasting difference to the lives of those living and working in Brent,” concluded Steve.

Notes to Editors

The Brent PFI Project

The Brent PFI Project is made up of the following 13 sites:

• Tudor gardens (15 care units)
• Empire Way (57 dwellings)
• 191 Willesden Lane (7 dwellings)
• 9 Willesden Lane (13 dwellings)
• Winchelsea (31 dwellings)
• 167 Willesden Lane (5 care units and 6 dwellings)
• Barnhill Cottages (15 dwellings)
• Melrose (21 dwellings)
• Perrin Road (11 dwellings)
• CampbellHouse (5 dwellings)
• Fawood Avenue (66 dwellings)
• Brook Avenue (44 dwellings)
• The Mall (88 dwellings)

MIPIM, 6-9 March 2012, The London Pavilion – Bouygues Development and the London Borough of Newham have agreed the terms of the Principal Development Agreement (PDA) for the £600 million Canning Town Centre scheme.

Announced at MIPIM 2012’s London Pavilion, the Town Centre scheme was developed by Bouygues Development and its consortium partner One Housing Group and forms part of the London Borough of Newham’s £3.7 billion Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme.

The six hectare site will reconnect the areas north and south of the A13 flyover – i.e. Canning Town Corner with Barking Road and Rathbone Market – to create a vibrant, accessible and safe Town Centre. Phase 1 of the scheme will comprise 179 residential units of private and affordable housing, and a Morrisons supermarket of over 7,000 square metres. Work will start on site in Canning Town during the final quarter of 2012.

The entire Town Centre scheme includes approximately 1,100 mixed tenure housing units, over 30,000sqm of leisure and retail space and over 3,000 sqm of space for community facilities. New pedestrian links and cyclist provision is also included, as well as 1,100 secure parking spaces, and the whole scheme is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

One Housing Group is the RSL for the scheme and Bouygues UK is the main contractor.

Speaking of the PDA, Stephane Slama-Royer, Managing Director of Bouygues Development, said:

“Reaching this milestone for such a transformational development is the result of a great working partnership between Bouygues Development and Newham and the dedicated team of agents and advisors who have worked tirelessly to reach this point. To be funding such a massive regeneration scheme at cost is a fantastic achievement for Bouygues Development and we are very proud to be involved in a project that will bring positive change to the communities who live and work in Canning Town”.

Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of London Borough of Newham said:

“This scheme is the real game-changer for Canning Town, and illustrates the scale of our ambition when it comes to delivering regeneration in Newham. More than that though, it is being delivered very much for the local community and with existing residents at its heart. They will benefit from a new town centre and all the opportunities that come with that – jobs, new homes and community facilities. It’s through initiatives like this that Newham is bringing together physical and social regeneration to form strong, prosperous and resilient communities.”

Clive Dutton, Newham Council’s Executive Director for Regeneration and Inward Investment, said:

“To be delivering a new, £600m town centre scheme in the current market is a huge achievement and testament to the strength of Newham’s regeneration vision and our ability to work with private and public sector partners to deliver that vision. The Bouygues Development scheme will spur on not only the wider Canning Town and Custom House regeneration programme, it will also give momentum to the wealth of opportunities throughout Newham’s arc of opportunity running from The Royals through to Stratford. It is further evidence that East London and Newham in particular are at the heart of London’s future economic growth.”

The project, known as The Meadows, is the first development on the University’s major Knowledge Gateway site. The £22 million complex, designed by Lewis & Hickey, comprises 12-bed town houses, accommodating 228 students and a further 420 en-suite study bedrooms in clusters, along with ’The Hub’ an eye-catching  pavilion that will house a student common room, a launderette and a ‘grab-and-go’ retail facility.  The project, which also includes the refurbishment of some existing student accommodation known as the Quays, is due to start on site in Q2 2012, with handover scheduled for Q3 2013.