A new Grotto for Santa
Dec 9, 2015
4 year old Oliver Cheshire with Santa in his grotto at Dr Kershaw’s
Emanuel Whittaker and a number of its suppliers have been giving a helping hand to Santa at his grotto at Dr. Kershaw’s hospice in Oldham.
Every year the hospice hosts a very popular Christmas Extravaganza which raises funds for the hospice and Santa has been known to drop in and say hello. Obviously, he needs his own grotto and Arron Cheshire, Community Fundraiser from Dr Kershaw’s, was concerned it was not up to scratch.
“We had been using a small and dark office in the Hospice, but we wanted something that was a bit brighter and more magical for Santa,” he said. “We decided to ask our friends at Emanuel Whittaker if they could help.”
Facilities Manager from Emanuel Whittaker, Phil Peacock was confident that, with the help of other local businesses, Santa could enjoy a more luxurious base while visiting the hospice. Timber was provided by Joseph Parr and Howarth Timber which allowed the Emanuel Whittaker joiners to build walls and a door onto the existing wooden gazebo within the Hospice grounds. Signage to the grotto was provided by Signbox and Bladen Electrical made sure all the electricals were safe to use. Kind volunteers from Dr Kershaws decorated the grotto and made it habitable for Santa to use during his visit.
‘As usual we were bowled over by the kindness and generosity of our sub-contractors,” said Phil. “The space has been maigically transformed from a gazebo which was exposed to the elements to a lovely and cozy grotto which is a much nicer area for Santa to talk to the children of Oldham.”
Typically, the great British weather meant further shelter for other stall holders was needed and Arron asked if Phil had any contacts who could provide a marquee. Fortunately, Phil is a Scout Leader and so he put a call out on Facebook to the North West scouting community. The Oldham and District scouts came to the rescue and not only provided the marquee but also enough scouts to erect it and to take it down – saving the hospice around £1000.
“We have been very moved by the kindness of Emanuel Whittaker and their sub-contractors and of course the fabulous scouts from Oldham who made our Christmas Extravaganza such a success,” said Arron. “The event raised over £8,000, with the grotto making just under £500 and everyone who attended was pleased for the cover provided by the marquee. Most importantly of all, Santa was very impressed with his grotto and said it had never looked nicer.”
Rachel wins Judges Choice Award at Builder and Engineer Awards
Nov 20, 2015Congratulations to Emanuel Whittaker’s External Wall Insulator Rachel Howarth, who won the Judges Choice Award at last nights Builder & Engineer National Awards at Old Trafford.
Rachel was short-listed for the ‘Rising Star’ award after making history by being the first person in the UK to complete the new External Wall Insulation qualification earlier this year. Rachel was joined by her dad, Paul, and friends and mentors John Woolley, Lee Bradbury and Procure Plus’s Mark Wilson.
When the Rising Star award was won by another nominee, Rachel and her guests were all devastated. Whilst still commiserating, the host announced the final award of the evening – the Builder & Engineer “Judges Choice Award”. Imagine Rachel’s suprise when the host called out her name.
The Judges Choice Award celebrates and recognises outstanding performance within the industry and as the award is drawn across all other categories, it truly is a remarkable achievement. The award highlights individuals or companies who are making an incredible mark on the sector and who deserve recognition for there contribution to the UK’s reputation as a leading design and build nation.
Congratulations to Rachel and all of Emanuel Whittaker’s Mentors who have help her to achieve this award.
Hundreds of Salford families benefit from newly-refurbished homes
Nov 4, 2015The first phase of major improvement work to thousands of homes across Salford has been completed.
Work began in April to revamp almost 400 properties in Ordsall and Weaste, following the transfer of more than 8,300 homes from Salford Council to Salix Homes earlier this year.
The project marked the start of an ambitious two year investment programme, which will see 2,200 homes undergo £22m of much needed improvements including new kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors.
Emanuel Whittaker has just added the finishing touches to 230 homes on the Tootal Estate in Weaste, while building specialist A Connolly has completed improvements to 166 homes in South Ordsall.
South Ordsall tenant and mum-of-six Jolene Knight has had a new kitchen fitted in her home and is thrilled with the work.
She said: “I absolutely love my new kitchen and it’s made a big difference for me and my family. I just love spending time in the kitchen, I practically live in there now.”
The second phase of improvement work has now begun, which will see essential improvements carried out to a further 250 homes at the Meadowgate estate in Seedley and the Gerald Road estate in Charlestown.
Mark Foster, head of investment at Salix Homes, said: “The first phase of our significant investment programme to social housing in Salford has now drawn to a close and we are incredibly proud of the fact that almost 400 families are now enjoying their new and improved homes.
“As we continue with our ambitious investment plans for our communities, we are confident that we can create a modern, sustainable and fit-for purpose homes of which we can all be proud.”
Over the next five years, Salix Homes will invest £75million in improving homes and communities across Salford to ensure that every property meets the Government’s Decent Homes standard by 2020.
John Gallagher, contracts director at Emanuel Whittaker said: “It’s testament to the dedication and hard work of our site team, and that of Salix Homes, that the first phase of the work on the Tootal Estate has been successfully completed, on time and on budget.
“Replacing kitchens and bathrooms is quite disruptive for tenants, however, we are delighted to have achieved 100 per cent satisfaction and we are looking forward to replicating that success in phase two.”
Simon Harrison, managing director at A Connolly, added: “We’re delighted to have had such a positive impact on the refurbishment of homes on the South Ordsall estate. We will apply the same focus on quality, skills development and service levels for Gerald Road residents that has enabled us to add value and bring enhanced standards of living to the resident of Salix Homes.”
Plans revealed for MediaCityUK gateway transformation
Sep 23, 2015A new vision for the future of an ageing building near MediaCityUK in Greater Manchester has been revealed.
Ailsa House – now
Ailsa House – artists impression
Salix Homes has unveiled artist’s impressions for a £300k makeover at Alisa House, which is located on Langworthy Road, a gateway into the 200-acre MediaCityUK development in Salford.
Emanuel Whittaker have been appointed to transform the 24-apartment block as part of a £22m Salford investment strategy over the course of the next two years.
Emanuel Whittaker’s contracts director, John Gallagher, said: “We are really excited to be helping to give Ailsa House a much-needed makeover.
“Not only will the residents be able to appreciate their new and improved homes, but externally everyone can enjoy the new look of this landmark building.“
The work on the building’s exterior will include new doors and windows, with the old balconies being replaced with balconies made of glass.
Salix Homes’ head of investment, Mark Foster, commented: “Ailsa House was built in the 1960s and is in desperate need of modernisation, so this development marks a major milestone in our £22m investment programme to homes and communities across the city, which will greatly improve the quality of life of our tenants.
“The apartment block sits on a key route into MediaCity, so we are very proud to be able to deliver these essential improvements which will complement the wider regeneration in Salford.“
If planning consent is granted, the project is expected to start in November and be complete by Summer 2016.
Emanuel Whitaker opens Salford training centre as part of multi-million pound contract wins with Salix Homes
Sep 2, 2015
Pictured from left: Emanuel Whittaker Contracts Director John Gallgher; Salix Homes Head of Property Service Mark Foster; Executive Director of Operations Sue Sutton; Emanuel Whittaker Contracts Manager Terry Kidman and Partnerships Manager Rukhsana Nabi
Emanuel Whittaker has established an apprentice training centre as part of its new depot in Salford.
Emanuel Whittaker has established the new depot on Missouri Avenue in Weaste to support long-term contract wins in the city, and has created the training facility to help boost local employment opportunities though its work with housing provider Salix Homes.
“Having secured continuity of work in Salford we wanted to demonstrate our commitment to the area. The new office will help us to create sustainable employment, source local suppliers and subcontractors and use local services,” said managing director, Clive Newton.
Emanuel Whittaker works with social landlords across the North West to refurbish their housing stock, and was recently awarded a contract worth over £7 million by Salix Homes to help deliver its £22 million improvement programme to homes across the city over the next two years.
Mark Foster, head of investment at Salix Homes, said: “Emanuel Whittaker is a main partner in our investment programme and has already played a significant role in the first phase of our modernisation plans for our housing stock. Having them based closer to the areas where we work will help us to deliver value for money. We are particularly excited about the new training facilities, which will allow us and other Salford-based partners more opportunities to work with young people and apprentices.”
As well as the training centre, the Salford office will provide meeting space for local teams and a huge warehouse which will take deliveries of stock to allow for more cost and resource savings.
Other partners who will benefit from the new office facilities will include Salford based housing providers Contour Homes and City West Housing Trust as well as Trafford based regeneration consortium Procure Plus.
Mark Wilson, regeneration manager at Procure Plus, said: “It’s great to see our framework partners offering employment support in the local communities we operate in. As a regeneration consortium, it is vital that we continue to assist the creation of training opportunities within our local areas to sustain long term employment and revitalise the community.”
Emanuel Whittaker director John Gallagher added: “This is a new and exciting phase in the growth of our business and continues our commitment to enhancing social value contribution in the areas where we work. We currently recruiting three full time staff and we anticipate more vacancies will be available in the future.”