CJ Best Places to Work in Construction: Photo Gallery & Comments

Ten construction companies walked away with the right to call themselves one of the industry’s best employers after winning one of Contract Journal’s prestigious Best Places to Work in Construction Awards.

Below you will find the photographs of the winners picking up their awards, their comments on winning, and what staff said about the company.

Winner: Building contractor with 11-50 staff: Xircon

Shortlisted: Gipping Construction, WJ Butcher (Romford), Wynne Construction, Yorke Construction

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny (left) with Xircon managing director Alex Miller (centre) and Hays Construction director Tim Cook.

This was a hard-fought category. Xircon has clearly set out to be a people-focused organisation from the very start. Regular team lunches, celebration meals when the team wins a new project and all-round great atmosphere put Xircon ahead of its competition.

What Xircon managing director Alex Miller said: "Xircon was set up with the vision of creating a vibrant, enjoyable organisation and we were delighted to get this feedback telling us it is working so far."

What its staff said: Both a can-do attitude and a will-do attitude.

Winner: Building contractor with 51-100 staff: Mount Anvil

Shortlisted: Conlon Construction, Jehu Project Services, Strata Construction

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny with Mount Anvil chief executive Killian Murphy and Hays Construction director Tim Cook

Mount Anvil appears to have got its internal communications absolutely right - it's one of the few companies where communications were only mentioned in the employee survey in a positive light.

What Mount Anvil chief executive Killian Murphy said: "We are thrilled winning is testament to the pride and confidence our staff have in being part of the Mount Anvil team. Engaged, positive and motivated people will deliver fantastic results and excellent customer service - this is what Mount Anvil is about."

What its staff said: I'm made to feel like a valuable member of the team

Winner: Building Contractor with 101-200 staff: Richardson Projects

Shortlisted: Bardsley Construction, Galliford Try Partnerships, Shaylor Group

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny with Richardson Projects managing director Alan Richardson (left) and Hays Construction director Tim Cook

Richardson Projects obviously works hard and plays hard, with the company's social events cropping up time and time again as a good thing. It also earned praise from the working mothers among its staff for its flexible approach.

What Richardson Projects managing director Alan Richardson said:"I'm delighted to win this award for the second year running and second time of entering! I'm really pleased our staff consider our firm to be a great place to work and appreciate the efforts we take to create an enjoyable working environment. As a thank you, we've given an extra day's leave to staff in 2007."

What its staff said: Close-knit family firm who care about individuals

Winner: Building contractor with 201-500 staff: Inspace

Shortlisted: FT Construction Group, Holloway White Allom, Pearce Group

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny with Inspace chief operating officer Chris Durkin (left) and Hays Construction managing director Tim Cook

Inspace has a high level of professionalism and a good structure, say its staff. Almost all respondents mentioned its friendly atmosphere.

What Inspace chief operating officer Chris Durkin said:"Of all the awards we enter, this is perhaps the most important to us because the results are based directly on what our staff say about working for us."

What its staff said: A really caring organisation

Winner: Building contractor with 501 or more staff: Fitzpatrick Contractors

Highly commended: John Sisk & Son

Shortlisted: North Midlands Construction, The Apollo Group

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny with Fitzpatrick framework director Mark Thomas and ConstructionSkills director of communications and marketing Nicola Thompson

Fitzpatrick has worked hard to improve and is seen as being on the up by its staff. Friendly is a word that is mentioned a lot by its employees, as is the opportunity it gives to staff to grow in their roles.

What Fitzpatrick managing director Jim Elders said:"I'm delighted. It means so much, because it's our staff telling me they like working for this company as much as I do. The questionnaire was a great chance to get feedback on where to focus our attention next to ensure we remain among the Best Places To Work In Construction."

What its staff said: A genuinely caring company that encourages personal advancement

Winner: Civil enigineering contractor: Concrete Repairs Ltd

Shortlisted: AE Yates Group, Hewlett Civil Engineering, JN Bentley

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny with Concrete Repairs Ltd managing director Tony Rimoldi (left) and ConstructionSkills director of communications and marketing Nicola Thompson

One respondent said CRL is "the best I've ever worked for" in a lifetime working in construction. Another said that working at CRL had given him "brilliant opportunities". The word "Utopia" was even mentioned by one respondent.

What CRL managing director Tony Rimoldi said:"I'm delighted to receive this award on behalf of my staff for the second year running. Effectively it is an audit of the company by its staff allowing them to describe their feelings without constraint. Winning is a great boost to all of us. We work in a demanding industry, but there is no reason why the workplace should not be challenging and fun in equal measure. We have the best team in the business and I will continue to listen to all of them."

What its staff said: We all work well as a team, there is no pressure and we laugh every day

Winner: Specialist contractor: Quad Contracts

Shortlisted: Mitie Engineering Services (North), Progressive Systems, SE Controls, Welconstruct

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny with Quad director Daniel Nebbitt (left) and ConstructionSkills director of communications and marketing Nicola Thompson

The employees at Quad feel they work in a good environment, heading for the same goals.

What Quad director Daniel Nebbitt said:"Both I and my colleagues were overwhelmed by a genuine feeling of surprise and elation when we were announced as the winners. As an employer, we believe in trying to provide a good work environment for our staff. To have won this award, is truly amazing and we feel very proud."

What its staff said: You are treated as a person and not just a number

Winner: Professional services company: Helsmann

Highly commended: Tony Gee and Partners, Walsh Associates

Shortlisted: HLM Architects, MPG Associates

From left: Contract Journal editor Emma Penny, Helmsman operations manager Nicky Garrett and Helmsman managing director Tony Wilson and ConstructionSkills director of communications and marketing Nicola Thompson

This was a tough category, as the two commendations suggest. Recognition of a job well done is universal at Helmsman. Employees said that it's a "very happy organisation and a pleasure to be part of". Others said they wouldn't want to work anywhere else.

What Helmsman managing director Tony Willson said: "Winning the category shows that an open, motivating and inclusive management style has helped to create the incredible team working for us."

What its staff said: My employers saw in me potential that I didn't know I had.

Winner: Supplier: Peri

Highly commended: Genset

Shortlisted: GE Equipment Services Plant Hire, Rationel Windows (UK)

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny with Carl Heathcoat of Peri and ConstructionSkills director of communications and marketing Nicola Thompson

Peri is growing rapidly and that's an exciting proposition for its staff. The firm still has a strong family feel to it with a good social calendar.

What Peri managing director Carl Heathcote said: "Voted for by our staff, it makes us really proud to win. Everyone at Peri makes a significant contribution to our success. The key is to make sure they know it and winning an award like this suggests we're getting something right."

What its staff said: Good facilities, a genuine investor in people

Winner: Most improved company-year-on-year: Yorke Construction

Highly commended: Galliford Try Partnerships

Shortlisted: AE Yates, Peri, Tony Gee and Partners

Contract Journal editor Emma Penny with Andrew Deacon (left), QS John Veale, and Hays Construction managing director Tim Cook (far right)

Yorke Construction has made a big step forward and is, as one employee described it, a "great team". A challenging workplace, recognition of a job well done, and a great working environment all helped in the firm's success.

What Yorke Construction business development manager Andrew Deacon said: "As a team, we will use the award when moving forward to new areas targeting more ambitious, high profile and prestigious projects. This is viewed as a confidence boost to our staff and clients alike."

What its staff said: Good health and safety on site

What employees want:

Inevitably, the wags in every company came forth with some suggestions of how their working lives could be improved. Here are a few of them:

• A £1m bonus.
• Free membership at the golf club of my choice.
• 100 days holiday a year and a 20-hour working week.
• Hire Halle Berry as the site secretary on my site.