Two female engineers have been central to Wiltshire based MJ Church being awarded a place on National Highways’ new six-year Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF).
The framework will enable the delivery of renewals across a range of activities, including substantial civils work on barriers and drainage, traffic management activities and design services for a range of projects. It replaces the soon to expire existing contract mechanisms, the Construction Works Framework (CWF), Design Services Contracts (DSC) and Asset Support Contract (ASC).
The company’s Claire Coetzee and Susie Mott, lead the Framework for the company through its framework contracting division and helping it win a £90m deal which secures work for its 400 staff for the next six years.
The company has been selected by National Highways to deliver one of its major projects, working on highways schemes for the A road and motorway network from Cornwall to Kent, reports the Gazette & Herald.
Group managing director Ben Staff said: “We are thrilled to be chosen as one of the civil engineering contractors to keep the UK’s main road infrastructure fit for purpose.
“We are proud to have been chosen to deliver this work over the next six years as this gives our committed workforce confidence in our future.
“The work Claire and Suzie have done – not just on the bid, but also on the existing framework with National Highways – has been central to our success and they deserve high praise. We know they will run this for us with the same professionalism and enthusiasm over the coming months and years.”
The company, which started life in 1974 as a small plant and tipper hire business from its HQ in Marshfield near Bath, has grown to become a multi-million pound earthworks, civil engineering, plant and waste management contractor. Its lorries and plant are a familiar sight on construction and highways projects across the region. Founders Mike and Paula Church are still involved in the company and their son Tom is the plant and transport director.
Civil engineer Claire has worked in the construction industry for 26 years and been part major projects like the Queens Jubilee Bridge in London.
She said: “I love my job and I’ve loved being an engineer from the very first day my career began. I was always interested in construction, went on to do construction at college and later a degree in civil engineering at the University of Plymouth. Working with the team at MJ Church has been wonderful, it’s a company which inspires and cares for its staff and I’m looking forward to leading the framework team through its next chapter.”
Suzie, will be managing the finance and contracts around this £90m deal. She joined the company two years ago after more than 18 years working with a railway contractor. She has Masters degree in quantity surveying from South Bank University.
She said: “I’m proud and excited to be part of the M J Church team which will take these works forward. I believe we have won this contract because National Highways has come to trust and believe in us as we work very hard to be open and transparent in all that we do.”
Securing this contract means MJ Church is also recruiting.
