CASE STUDY
Cardigan Primary School
What we did: ​
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Having secured the project, LEB were provided with a 2-week mobilisation period before the school summer shutdown. Given the short mobilisation period, the management team worked together to plan the project in significant detail and prepare the procurement schedules for both materials and subcontractors. Our external HS&E advisors provided guidance throughout the project, which included monthly on-site audits; our site manager (SMSTS) completed weekly inspections, along with monthly inspections carried out by the Managing Director (MCIOB, SMSTS). The management team was well coordinated, with each team member understanding their responsibilities wholly, which in turn aided in delivering a completed project that surpassed all quality expectations with no recordable accidents or lost time injuries.
Client
Ceredigion County Council
Client Contact
Cardigan Primary School
Location
Cardigan Primary School,
Ceredigion, SA43 1EH
Contract Value
£2,735,000
Date
Framework/Contract
18/07/2022- 07/07/2023
NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract option B
RISK MANAGEMENT:
Health, Safety & Environment
Working in a live environment across multiple locations in the school created a challenge for LEB to ensure safe systems of work were in place on site. Our external HS&E advisors played a major role in developing these systems and aided in their execution by completing monthly site audits. The LEB management team ensured that all risks identified were mitigated and managed on site. Environmental and quality procedures were adhered to by all contractors and managed at site level by the site and contracts managers allocated to the project.
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Budget Management
The budget was well managed with value engineering options been highlighted to the client throughout the project. LEB prides itself on developing long term relationships with clients and have found that providing value for money along with highlighting the opportunity to reduce project costs is well received by clients.
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Time Management
The meticulous planning and programme control allowed the 66-week contract period to be reduced to 51 weeks. Managing the programme well reduced contract period and ultimately any disruption to the school or its neighbours.
COLLABORATION
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LEB maintained constant clear communication with key stakeholders at the school, where LEB communicated daily plans and stakeholders had opportunity to discuss concerns with the site manager. Weekly progress meetings were carried out with all subcontractors to ensure that the programme was maintained and to discuss any concerns or clashes between trades. Monthly progress meetings were carried out with the entire design team alongside the clients.
Our project management software (Procore) enabled key stakeholders and staff to be invited to the platform to receive/send formal correspondence. The system recorded the correspondence and provided opportunity for review at the end of each project. These sessions were used to identify areas for improvement or to promote good practice. We also issue feedback questionnaires to key stakeholders at the end of each project to review our approach to collaborative working.
TRAINING
During the course of the project, additional LEB operatives were provided on site telehandler training to ensure the operatives have the correct certification to operate the machine. LEB promotes the opportunity for our workforce to gain additional skills and will support them.
Work experience – Two students from Cardigan college (Coleg Ceredigion) on site for 10 days to get an inside look at construction works. Both were shadowing a Senior Supervisor during their time on site.
CHALLENGE & INNOVATION
From the start, the Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi project was, to date, the largest single value contract undertaken and completed in conjunction with 2 other high value projects. The three projects running simultaneously demanded that the LEB management team offered complete dedication to the deliverance of these major projects alongside other smaller schemes. Planning proved to be the key factor in the safe and successful delivery along with clear and open communication with not only the various members of the LEB management team, but clients, sub-contractors, operatives and stakeholders
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LEB offer a tier 1 contractor approach to construction where significant time and effort is put in upfront to identify potential issues, clashes and opportunities for design improvement. The time spent upfront mitigating risk and communicating the client requirements to all parties involved pays dividends once the construction phase begins.
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS
Live construction projects can impose stress and disruption to clients and the end users, in this case an entire school. As a contractor we understand the disturbance this may cause. The disturbance of the project was soon forgotten by all parties when the benefits were witnessed post-handover. This project has provided the pupils and staff with an expanded setting with fresh and modern amenities. LEB delivered this project on a personal level and provided a service and finished product that will benefit generations of pupils at Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi.
As a token of our appreciation for this remarkable partnership and to give back to the school, we gifted a brand new "Buddy Bench". The "Buddy Bench" is more than just a piece of furniture; it symbolises friendship, inclusivity, and kindness. It's a designated spot where the children can come together during break times, creating a safe space for new friendships to blossom. Whenever a child feels like they need a buddy to play with or talk to, they can sit on the bench, signalling to their peers that they'd like some company. Our "Buddy Bench" also showcases our unwavering commitment to sustainability. Crafted from 100% recycled plastic waste, the bench incorporates the equivalent of 2000 plastic drink bottles, reducing their environmental impact if they were to go to landfill.
LEB also arranged for an Ice Cream van to visit the school, providing all pupils and staff with a sweet treat to celebrate the end of term!