2019 has been another busy, productive and exciting year for everyone involved with Mackley – with a number of high-profile awards and achievements underpinning a successful 12 months.
We’ve delved into the archives to provide a quick-fire round up of some of the memorable moments – as Mackley looks forward to entering the new decade in style.
January
The year started with works at the Shoreham Adur Tidal Walls scheme entering their final phase of completion – after more than two years on site.
The scheme was separated into 10 reaches, with Mackley returning to site in January and February to carry out the final works at W5 (Riverbank – houseboat reach) and W7 (Shoreham Airport).
February
While the final touches were being applied at Shoreham, the scheme was able to toast its first success of an award-laden year.
The scheme was presented with a prestigious Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) National Site Award – which recognises exceptional standards of consideration towards local neighbourhoods and the general public, the workforce and the environment.
Meanwhile, Mackley successfully completed a project to maintain the structural integrity of the harbour arm in the historic town of Hastings on the Sussex coast.
March
In March, the Shoreham Adur Tidal Walls scheme was officially opened, with Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, labelling it a ‘genuine success in partnership working’.
Sir James Bevan said: “Only by coming together and finding a solution to covering the costs have we been able to finance and build this remarkable engineering project.”
The ‘amazing’ Shoreham team was also praised by a local primary school, following a donation of resources including two benches for the school playground.
April
In April, two Mackley employees were labelled heroes, after wading into the sea at Sheerness to save a teenage girl.
Gary Clarke and Bogdan Vehes were members of the Mackley team carrying out the Sheerness Beach Recycling Scheme.
The pair noticed a girl in the water who was refusing pleas to return to the shore – wading into the sea themselves to bring her back to safety.
Elsewhere, Mackley provided a positive update on remedial work it was carrying out on a flood wall which protects key assets along the river Thames in Greenwich – including Trinity Hospital and Greenwich Power Station.
The Shoreham scheme was presented with a Bronze National Site Award from the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
May
A programme of works carried out by Mackley to repair and improve a half-mile long structure to protect Brixham harbour in south Devon was the feature of a new video.
First erected in 1843, Victoria Breakwater was severely damaged during Storm Emma in March 2018.
Working on behalf of Torbay Council, Mackley was contracted to rectify the damage and improve the breakwater for the future defence of the harbour – which plays a key role in helping the small fishing town to thrive.
Away from construction sites, an annual six-a-side football tournament, held in memory of a former Mackley employee, raised more than £3k for the St Barnabas Hospice.
The Ivan Mitchell Memorial Trophy was contested at Steyning Town FC on Sunday 6 May, and raised a total of £3,258.70 for the local charity.
Mackley also supported Mental Health Awareness Week 2019, with a host of events taking place during the week – including an hour-long mental health workshop.
June
As 2019 reached the half-way point, Mackley completed two of seven weir refurbishments – designed to reduce the risk of flooding and improve fish stocks by installing fish passes along the River Wey in Surrey – for the Environment Agency.
The first two weirs, at Hamm Oils Mill and Walsham, were successfully completed as part of the £9m Wey Weirs Refurbishment and Fish Pass Project.
Meanwhile, Mackley participated in an interactive event designed to celebrate and raise the profile of young people’s achievements in science and engineering – while work to install two electric vehicle charging points at Mackley’s headquarters at Small Dole was completed.
July
In July, Mackley commenced work to repair and extend the slipway at the RNLI Portsmouth lifeboat station.
The inshore lifeboat at Portsmouth has provided search and rescue cover for the eastern Solent for 40 years – and, with 100 shouts a year, is the 10th busiest RNLI station.
Following an assessment earlier in the year, Mackley was delighted to announce the renewal of its Investors in People silver level accreditation.
August
In August, the Godalming Flood Alleviation Scheme took centre stage – with works nearing completion.
The £4.9m scheme has helped reduce the risk of flooding to at least 90 properties in the town – which has a history of flooding, with four notable events in recent years – in 1968, 1990, 2000 and 2013.
Elsewhere, a total of 60 players from 16 teams took part in the Mackley annual golf day on 22 August, raising money for three worthwhile charities.
The 18th edition of the event – organised in partnership with UBFC Golf Society – took place at the Ham Manor golf course in West Sussex.
September
As summer drew to a close, Mackley completed a series of works at one of the three RNLI lifeboat stations on the Isle of Wight.
Founded in 1867, Bembridge Lifeboat Station is located on eastern end of the island, adjacent to the infamous Bembridge Ledge.
The works consisted of high pressure jetting all of the support piles down to bare metal and then repainting with three coats of paint.
Closer to home, the first phase of work to build a new headquarters for Sussex Yacht Club was complete.
Working for the project’s main contractor, W.Stirland, Mackley was tasked with overseeing the groundworks and delivering a concrete frame package for the club’s new headquarters.
October
In October, the £4.5m Godalming Flood Alleviation Scheme was officially opened by Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency, and Jeremy Hunt South West Surrey MP.
Emma Howard Boyd said: “This innovative flood scheme project is an example of how partnership working at all levels can achieve fantastic results.”
Mackley completed work to repair and extend the slipway at the RNLI Portsmouth lifeboat station – as well as a project to repair and improve a half-mile long structure which protects the harbour in the south Devon town of Brixham
There was also further award success for Shoreham, as it was crowned Climate Resilience Project of the Year at the British Construction Industry Awards on 9 October.
Looking to the future, Mackley was awarded a contract to carry out the next phase of a scheme which will protect more than 4,500 homes and businesses on Portsea Island from the risk of coastal flooding.
November
In November, students from the University of Brighton paid a visit to a coastal defence scheme in the West Sussex village of Elmer, where works recently got underway.
The Elmer Coastal Defence Scheme is being carried out by Mackley, working as part of Team Van Oord, on behalf of the Environment Agency, Arun District Council and Elmer Sands Limited.
The Shoreham team toasted yet another accolade, this time after being presented with a Green Apple Environment Award on 25 November.
December
To end the year, Mackley was delighted to be accepted as a corporate member of the Pipeline Industries Guild – the only association world-wide to cater directly for the needs of the pipeline industry.
Mackley also received ‘Cyber Essentials certification’, demonstrating it has implemented a sensible baseline of organisational cyber security.
17 December 2019
