HS2 contractors strike gold
29 December 2022
Two of HS2’s main works civils contractors, SCS JV and EKFB JV, have become the first HS2 construction teams to achieve the gold accreditation from the Supply Chain Sustainability School.
Part funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and industry partners, the School was set up in 2012 to boost knowledge and collaboration in the built environment, supporting the UK’s ambition of achieving Net Zero by 2050.
Signatories are encouraged to take measures to lower emissions on construction sites, address and reduce tailpipe emissions, and train staff on why and how to reduce emissions.
HS2’s civils contractors, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV) and EKFB JV – a team comprising Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall – have both been awarded the highest level by the School.
To achieve the gold standard, companies must meet specific standards and are reassessed every 12 months. They also have to demonstrate increased competency in sustainable practices, attend multiple training events and share best practice with other companies.
Speaking about the achievement Andrea Davidson, HS2 Ltd’s head of environment sciences, said: “With two of our contractors now achieving gold standard for sustainability, HS2 is really pioneering sustainable construction in the UK. The size of the project means that we are able to invest in innovative practices, allowing them to become mainstream and scalable which will make a huge difference to the sector in the future.”
HS2 recently announced that ten of its construction sites are now totally diesel free.
SCS JV has collaborated with plant hire suppliers with the aim of delivering lower emissions on sites. It environment team works closely with Flannery Plant Hire, L Lynch, and M O’Brien on refresher sessions so site personnel understand how to effectively reduce tailpipe emissions from plant.
Measures implemented by EKFB JV include phasing out diesel lighting towers and introducing more eco-friendly solutions such as solar and hybrid lights, as well as changing generators to hybrid sets across sites.
● Picture shows a smart meter at SCS JV’s Canterbury Road site in South Kilburn.
