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Why BCL
Your groundworks partner of choice
Pre-Construction
Whether it be a request to review drawings, advise on project programme durations or simply bounce ideas off, we actively promote early engagement on projects so that the construction journey is made simpler and more efficient for all parties.
Our Pre-Construction team is able to advise on cost and buildability from an early stage and our Estimating team is able to price projects using Bills of Quantities provided by clients or from our own take-off and pricing. We will always try and find value engineering solutions that can assist a projects budget whilst also considering any logistic and environmental constraints.
Some clients have also seen the benefit over the years of design reviews during the pre-construction phase where we head to their offices to put the drawings on the table and review in depth how the design will work once we arrive on site. It is this engagement that can add real benefit to our clients projects as our works tend to be on the critical path of a project and getting it right is crucial to project success.
Health, Safety and Environmental
Our commitment to working safely with consideration and awareness for the environment is underpinned by our investment in our team and systems we operate.
We hold ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO45001 accreditations and HSE requirements are managed across the business by our in-house HSE Manager, who compiles the necessary risk and method statements required on our projects.
Active engagement by our clients, site teams and management is encouraged as we deliver projects in a safe manner. Our HSE Manager and Senior Team Members undertake regular site audits across all of our projects providing feedback to the teams and also to our clients. Internally a project HSEQ leaderboard is managed to drive standards and uphold our excellent HSEQ record.
In addition to the above, our in-house HSE Manager oversees the training required by the team in collaboration with external specialists to ensure that we are up to date with any qualifications required to deliver our projects in a safe and controlled manner.
On-Site Delivery
When it comes to delivering a package of works on your site, you will find approachable and professional teams representing BCL, supported by the team back at head office.
Our process is delivered by competent and qualified Site Managers allocating resources to undertake the tasks set ensuring delivery of the project for our clients is at the forefront of what we do.
Our delivery capabilities are wide ranging (working for both housebuilders and main contractors) and include; land remediation, bulk earthworks and disposal, sheet piling, foundations, concrete slabs, drainage works (adoptable and non-adoptable), services (utilities), external works and finishes, RC frame structures, highway works and drainage remedials.
We typically work within 90 minutes of our head office in Bridgwater which enables us to reach the South West of England and South Wales. Covering, Dorset, Devon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
Quality Control
We hold ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO45001 accreditations combined with our own internal Quality Assurance (QA) management procedures. This ensures we are delivering a product that is in accordance with our client’s requirements and to the necessary standard.
We regularly self-report and audit our sites to ensure quality standards are where they need to be which is assisted by project specific test and inspection plans, agreed with our clients up front.
As a business we pride ourselves on our reputation for delivering a quality product and outcome for our clients, demonstrated by working with the same clients and individuals time and time again.
At BCL, our performance for a delivering a successful and quality product has been recognised by our clients with multiple awards. An example of this was a recent award from our Main Contractor client Bouygues (UK) who presented BCL with their “TOP PERFORMER” award for works at Kingsmead Academy. BCL were commended for a “collaborative approach, open communication and programme input for a successful handover”.
Investing in the Future (Apprenticeships)
At BCL we believe in giving back and bringing through the future of the construction industry. Whether this be Groundworker Apprentices working across our different projects or Quantity Surveyors working between the offices and sites, it is important that we make this commitment to ensure our future is bright. Over the past few years we have had successes with the following examples of Apprentices coming through the BCL Academy whilst obtaining a recognised qualification:
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Trainee Quantity Surveyors – Degree Qualified via Day Release at University
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Finance Manager – AAT Level 3 Qualified via Day Release at College
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Apprentice Site Engineers – Qualified via College Day Release
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Apprentice Groundworkers – Qualified via College Day Release
We partner with Weston College and Bridgwater College for delivery of our Groundworker and Engineering Apprenticeships and our news section will ensure you are kept up to date with how they progress.
In addition to the above we also provide NVQ qualifications to a large majority of our workforce through on the job studying. Our team enjoy undertaking their NVQ’s in conjunction with local training providers and education establishments as it provides them with a nationally recognised qualification to support the work they do each day whilst also improving their skillset.
Each year we ensure we employ a new cohort of Apprentices so if you are interested in becoming part of the team then please fill out the contact form on our website with your details and we will be in touch.
Social Values
Corporate social responsibility requirements are considered at every stage of the projects lifecycle ensuring that the impact we leave on the local community is a positive one and something to be remembered for.
We engage with our clients social advisers and are often found assisting or leading on schemes in the community. Whether this be attending school careers fairs, carrying out interviews for prison leavers or raising funds for the local food banks.
You may have also seen our branding on one of many sports teams we sponsor in the local communities we operate. We have recently been able to sponsor:
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South West Mini’s Football Club
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Sydenham Boxing Club
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Nether Stowey Football Club
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Hutton Moor Rockets Football Club
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Marcus Worth Racing
Plant and Engineering
At BCL we have made a substantial investment in our own fleet of plant consisting of large 21 ton Excavators down to 6 ton Excavators and everything in between. Our larger excavators (13 ton and 21 ton) are fitted with Leica GPS Control and Steelwrist / Engcon tiltrotator technology allowing the finest machine control in open spaces or tight locations, which is perfect for the type of work we carry out.
Keeping our plant up to date is important to BCL to ensure that we provide the latest technology providing the best solutions possible for our clients whilst operating the most efficient machines from a carbon footprint perspective.
In-house engineering provides us with the capabilities to react swiftly in a construction environment and using the latest technology our Engineers can undertake survey work, update models for our GPS enabled Excavators and machinery reducing risk on site.
We have our own GPS enabled Excavators of differing sizes to assist you on your projects that work hand in glove with our engineering capabilities.
Supply Chain
Where we have to source materials or source specialist supply chain members we ensure these are vetted to the standards we promote through a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire process aligned to our ISO accreditations.
Our team of Buyers at Head Office liaise with the supply chain on a regular basis and when placing orders for materials and plant ensure any client restrictions, logistics and requirements are communicated to ensure effective deliveries in a timely manner.
We regularly undertake reviews of the construction materials we purchase, ensuring we remain competitive and our clients are obtaining value for money. In addition, our Buyers ensure we remain compliant with industry regulations by tracking our waste (i.e. muck away) and vetting hauliers as required.
As a business we are active members of the Supply Chain Sustainability School which assists our knowledge base around the three core pillars of sustainability.
Principal Contractor Role
BCL regularly operate as a Principal Contractor on our clients projects, responsible for overseeing all aspects of construction, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, coordinating subcontractors, and maintaining the quality standards required.
We often find on our residential schemes our clients like us to go in from day one as Principal Contractor, setting up the project and commencing the groundworks and frame allowing our clients to focus on the procurement of later packages whilst we get them out the ground.
Our team here at BCL are fully versed in undertaking the Principal Contractor role and we hold all of the required accreditations, insurances and qualifications to do so.
Should you want to learn more about how we can undertake this role for you then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We can also provide you with examples of where this has been successfully undertaken on projects ranging from £100,000 to £15 million.
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