Rock reveals new posts for senior management team

Rock International Holdings Ltd is pleased to announce that due to a restructuring of our senior management team, two members are to assume fresh roles and responsibilities.

John Walsh is to become the company’s executive director, while the managing director position previously held by John will now be undertaken by Michael Sharkey.

“As executive director I look forward to maintaining contact with our key clients and suppliers,” John explains, “so that they may enjoy continued access to Rock’s senior management team as we reinforce our status as the industry's leading waterproofing specialist.”

John views his new executive director role as that of an ambassador for the business. It will enable him to actively support Rock’s future growth, while also allowing him to explore other opportunities beyond the construction industry that has employed him for over 20 years.

Michael Sharkey joined Rock in June 2009 from SIG plc, having previously held senior management roles including managing director level at large UK and European companies in the building industry. As Rock’s business development director, Michael has been instrumental in securing an enviable contract pipeline and has helped substantially grow Rock’s market share and enhance our standing in the industry.

This restructuring is an important element of a carefully planned strategy. It aims to strengthen Rock as a business and further our status as the delivery partner of choice for the UK’s most prestigious projects. NBGI, our financial backers, continue to demonstrate their total commitment to supporting the business going forward.

On a personal note, John Walsh has expressed his sincere gratitude for the support that he and the business have received from Rock’s clients and suppliers throughout his seven year tenure. “All of us at Rock look forward to cementing our relationships and moving them into this new era with Michael Sharkey as our managing director.”

Rock’s apprentice programme – the key to a committed and skilled workforce

In 2011 Rock’s construction director, Mike Goddard, gave four apprentices the opportunity to have hands-on, professional experience of our industry. The benefits, however, are mutual, and he plans to employ an equal number of apprentices in 2012. “To achieve the level of future growth Rock envisages, a structured apprentice programme is vital,” Mike explains. “Skills shortages and recruitment difficulties can pose a genuine threat to long-term growth. We seek to renew and enhance the skills of our people, as well as improve industry standards in general. By supporting colleges and taking on apprentices, we are able to harness fresh talent and bridge any potential skills gaps.”

Two of the apprentices are training at our head office in Chiswick, while two others are working on site. Hayden Viggers is currently involved with projects in Birmingham. Frank Judge is gaining experience on projects throughout London while also attending the Mastic Asphalt NVQ2 course at Hackney Community College. Frank says that when he joined Rock he quickly realised how committed the business was to giving him the best possible training. “I was paired with a highly skilled mentor who has been in the roofing business for over 25 years. That coaching, combined with Rock’s training passport scheme and their excellent training academy in Elstow, enabled my knowledge and practical capabilities to take huge leaps forward.

“While enrolled at Hackney Community College,” Frank continues, “I have also been fortunate enough to gain on-site experience on numerous high profile projects, including The Heron in Moorgate and the Leadenhall project near Liverpool Street. So far I am finding my experience at Rock very enjoyable, as I know I have the full support of a company that genuinely wants to see me succeed and perform to the best of my abilities.”

There’s more good news, as Frank has been nominated Apprentice of the Year 2012 by CITB-Construction Skills. He acknowledges that the nomination would not have been possible without the backing and training he has received from Rock. “I honestly believe,” he says, “that Rock are striving to help the future of the construction industry and to see me develop into an important part of the company’s future.”

Martin Botha

Our dedicated health and safety manager

Having served nine years as logistics manager at Elliott Thomas, Martin Botha has recently joined Rock as our new health and safety manager. “At Elliott Thomas I was involved in every aspect of managing site logistics to ensure an efficient and safe environment for all those working on site,” says Martin. “My new role will see me drive a cultural change throughout Rock in our bid to achieve Zero Harm by 2015.

“Traditionally, our industry’s approach to safety has been based on management-led observations, feedback and goal setting. But I believe that lasting behavioural change requires modification of contributors to unsafe behaviour, reinforcement of safer practices, and inclusion of strategies that sustain change over time. In this respect, getting the workforce on board is essential. I shall be conducting a one-to-one interview with all operatives at our new training facility in Elstow, accompanied by a 45 minute presentation and questionnaire that will reveal to me their current mindset.

“These will be the first steps to greater workforce engagement, so that it becomes second nature for people to rethink the decisions they make each day which influence the health and safety of themselves and others. Rock will be putting behavioural change into practice and will actively encourage our industry partners to follow suit.”

Mark Collinge

Rock’s new senior surveyor

Rock’s current phase of carefully planned growth has only underscored how critical it is to deliver fully on contracts. It was for this reason that in November 2011 we recruited Mark Collinge as senior surveyor. Until then, one of Rock’s longest standing professionals, Chris Brereton, had taken sole responsibility for quantity surveying. In line with Rock’s increasingly diverse portfolio, Mark has established our commercial department and recruited five full-time surveyors from the market. Before joining us he was a senior surveyor at Lakesmere, the national building envelope specialist involved on projects as large as Heathrow Terminal 2.

“Rock is gearing up for around £30m turnover this year in contract roofing and commercial business,” Mark revealed, “so in the last few months I have appointed a team who will focus on our expanding commercial contracts. I am based both in London and Birmingham and favour a very hands-on approach to my work. With our new team of quantity surveyors Rock is better equipped to keep a close eye on project finances and contractual relationships while continuing to provide clients with genuine value for money.”

On course for higher standards

Training at the Rock Academy

2012 sees the inauguration of the Rock Academy, a brand new training facility that shares the same site as our manufacturing plant in Elstow, Bedfordshire. The academy will provide third party certified training not just for our own people, but for those from partner organisations who wish to gain a better understanding of Rock’s areas of specialism. These include waterproofing, green roofs, renewable technology, tunnelling – all interfaces, in fact, that are associated with the finished deck. Those employed by our main contractor clients, such as younger, up-and-coming project managers, are sure to benefit from the hands-on guidance and coaching given by Rock’s experienced trainers.

Accompanying the launch of the Rock Academy is an internal scheme just for our own personnel, the Rock Passport. Our employees will each have a passport which carries a record of their training and qualifications to help establish standards and consistency. 

Rock’s training will promote teamwork and personal accountability, advocate the continuous improvement of skills and knowledge, and seek to raise standards of professionalism throughout our industry. Both the Rock Academy and the Rock Passport signal our dedication to excellence in performance through a stimulating and engaging learning experience. 

A model of its kind

Rock embraces BIM strategy

Last year the Department for Business released a strategy paper concerning Building Information Modelling (BIM), with the decision to mandate use of BIM in the delivery of all future government-procured construction projects. BIM involves the generation of a 3D digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building. It’s a sobering thought that 80% of a building’s costs are incurred post-construction by ongoing maintenance. This expenditure can be significantly reduced by BIM, which enables more informed decision-making from the earliest conceptual stages through to design and construction.

Rock welcomes this government strategy and now plans to adopt it for ourselves. Better quality information at the start will allow a building to run more efficiently for years to come, enhancing the project's long-term investment potential. Aligning our internal processes to support BIM offers Rock’s clients the advantage of a 3D digital model of the building elements we deliver to ensure that all design interfaces are robust. By reducing the whole life costs of a building through 3D modelling, Rock seeks to add even greater value to any given project.

Have it in black and white

Rock’s work to be underwritten by AWM

In a market proposition unique to Rock, we are partnering Auditing Workmanship & Materials Ltd (AWM) to offer our clients a warranty on our roofing materials and installation.

Any area of construction can suffer  defects due to poor workmanship, imperfect materials, flaws in the original design or failure to comply with building regulations. While this is as true of the roof slab as any other element, Rock is able to point to a track record where such a scenario is either extremely rare or unknown. Main contractors have come to place complete trust in our unrivalled professionalism, which is why such a high proportion of our work is through repeat business.

We appreciate, however, that total peace of mind is a precious commodity for any client. While we believe that Rock will still be in business for many decades to come, there’s little doubt that clients enjoy the kind of assurance you get when a job is underwritten by an insurance company. Post-installation, AWM will retain a relationship with our client so that, should any issues relating to Rock’s work be encountered, AWM can be called on to swiftly remedy the situation. The warranty covers all materials and labour, and extends for 25 years on all Rock’s waterproofing and green roof systems. For our clients, the result is greater project security at minimal cost – a further example of Rock’s commitment to service.

Eyes on the prize

Rock is Construction News Awards 2012 finalist

The Oscars may boast more glitz, and the BRITs may grab more headlines. But in our line of work, the Construction News Awards remains the biggest show in town. Which is why we are extremely pleased to announce that Rock has been named a finalist in the Specialist Contractor category in the Construction News Awards 2012.

These illustrious awards are a source of great prestige for any successful recipient. Becoming a finalist in this category is quite an achievement in itself, as each year sees many outstanding submissions from specialist contractors who are recognised leaders in their particular field. Rock clearly impressed the Awards panel, comprised of a number of renowned figures in the world of construction. Our submission detailed the transformation of our business, in part by driving innovation to create value, which has led to Rock becoming the first choice specialist roofing contractor for some of the biggest names in the industry.

The next stage will see us engage with the Construction News Awards judges in what will be a very rigorous face-to-face interview. It may seem daunting, but we are confident that our submission team will make a powerful and well-argued case for Rock. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 10 July at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane. Here’s hoping that Rock will discomfit our fellow nominees by taking home a little new silverware. If so, we’re sure to give it pride of place.

New Rock faces

Although the prolonged economic downturn has seen many in our industry struggle, Rock has continued to steadily grow. Importantly, this has been controlled growth, made possible by the careful reengineering of our business over the last three years. To meet our vision for future growth we are currently in the phase of expanding our team of professionals and have, in recent months, recruited 20 new full-time staff across the UK – a combination of young graduates and experienced site managers.

Since becoming managing director of Rock, John Walsh and his board level colleagues have focused on building Rock into an organisation which will support the kind of growth we are currently experiencing. “To prepare Rock for what might come,” John explains, “we implemented a strategic planning process which would ensure sustained and controlled growth. Effective monitoring, analysis and shrewd decision-making are all key, and have helped us recognise that this is the right moment to bring a significant number of fresh, highly qualified staff on board. I am very much looking forward to working with all of Rock’s new people across the UK.”

Kingspan joint initiative

Rock is scrupulous in implementing our comprehensive site waste management plan. Not only have we significantly reduced the quantity of waste material on site, but of the modicum of waste that is inevitably generated, 94% is recycled. Impressive as this figure is, there’ll be no rest until we meet our stated target of zero waste to landfill by 20 December 2012.

Now we come a step closer to realising this ambition, through our close involvement with education sector schemes in Birmingham, the site of the UK’s largest urban Building Schools for the Future project. There we have been able to take advantage of a service launched by our partner Kingspan Insulation, who will take back waste insulation materials and associated packaging from construction sites. As it is largely insulation board and panel offcuts which have proved an obstacle for Rock in achieving zero waste, Kingspan’s initiative is very welcome.

Undamaged insulation boards are earmarked for reuse, while the remainder are broken down into their constituent parts to manufacture new boards or are transformed into packaging materials. While Rock continue to work on the Birmingham schools programme, our partnership with Kingspan is helping make each project that much more sustainable.

Net Gains

Rock sponsors netball team

We can’t claim that fans of Formula One are likely to see a car bearing the Rock logo tearing round the streets of Monaco. And it may be some time before a Premier League squad has a home ground called the Rock Stadium. But as we do have a competitive streak, we are very proud to sponsor a group of dedicated sportswomen out on the netball court. So let’s hear it for Team Rock!

Team Rock plays in the Reading & District Netball League (RDNL) and the Berkshire Premier League. What they lack in newspaper headlines and huge transfer fees they more than make up for in passion, drive and team spirit – everything, in fact, that makes the game worth playing.

Last year Team Rock were runners-up at the national open tournament held annually in Bream Sands, and were promoted from Berkshire premier league Division 2 to Division 1. “We were also the winners of a recent tournament organised by the Army,” team member Elaine Harris told us, “beating the Army A, B and C teams made up of personnel who had flown in from as far as Germany and Cyprus for the occasion.”

Since October 2011 the ladies have been sporting their new black and white Team Rock kit, emblazoned with the Rock logo. But has it helped their form on the court? “We are currently sitting in fourth place in both the Reading and the Berkshire leagues,” revealed Elaine. “We love the new kit, and Rock’s support has given us a real boost. We’re driving for a strong finish to the season because, as always, top of the table is our ultimate goal.”

We wish Team Rock all the best. More details can be found by following this link.

Extending Rock’s reach throughout Scotland

John McGreavey

In January 2012 Rock appointed John McGrevey as its business development manager in Scotland to help maximise opportunities in the north of the UK. A respected industry figure in Scotland, John held the position of senior contract manager at W F Price Roofing before joining Grainger Building Services Ltd. His many years as Grainger’s contract director saw him gain vast experience and an excellent reputation on projects throughout Scotland, Ireland and the north of England. Based in Cambuslang, just southeast of Glasgow, John’s current mission is to bring Rock’s waterproofing technology and renewable energy systems to a larger UK market.

“In Scotland we are focussing on winning contracts that cover all aspects of cladding and roof finishes,” says John. “The pace is already quickening, and while looking after the contracting side I’ve found myself involved in every area, which can include producing site sketches. Establishing a firm foothold, where we are competing against more established contractors in this region, is the kind of challenge I relish. Already we have had considerable success in the education sector, with two significant projects for Miller Construction that include the Garthdee campus masterplan for Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. With the skill, experience and quality of service that we are known for, I see no reason why Rock cannot become the market leader here that it already is further south.”

To contact John McGrevey, please call 020 8956 2473 or email jmcgrevey@wearerock.co.uk

Bridging the skills gap with Rock’s apprentice programme

Rock’s apprentice programme is central to our strategy for future growth. On the one hand, it ensures that the skills of our workforce are renewed and extended for many years to come. On the other, it helps raise standards in general throughout our industry, and demonstrates our willingness to creating employment opportunities in areas neighbouring many of our projects.

Rock has been closely involved on a number of schemes in the West Midlands in partnership with Lend Lease, and in the London Borough of Southwark with Mace and Costain. The local authorities in each have specified the use of local labour and apprentices in their respective areas – an initiative which Rock fully supports. To this end, we have taken on two new apprentices, one from Birmingham and one from Southwark, to support them as they study at Hackney Community College for a Mastic Asphalt NVQ Level 2.

Hackney Community College is, in fact, the only further education institution in the country that offers this traditional skill. Hayden Vigers, our apprentice from Birmingham, told us, “The facilities are excellent, with a specialist workshop and all the equipment we need to master what is a highly skilled trade. The staff have been great too, as they’re friendly and helpful and clearly very experienced. I’ve also really enjoyed working with the team at Rock, and look forward to applying my new mastic asphalt skills to a variety of projects, especially those that involve regeneration.”

Rock provides case study for co2balance

At Rock, we help building owners and developers reduce and mitigate their contributions to climate change through more intelligent use of roof areas. Green roofs and renewable technology incorporated into the design of roofs can play an important role in helping buildings significantly reduce any negative impact on the environment.

Established in 2003, co2balance is an organisation which offers carbon footprint calculation, carbon management and reduction services and an ethical way to offset greenhouse gas emissions through Gold Standard energy efficiency projects.  Rock spoke to co2balance about our own environmental programme and the ways in which we are meeting the demand from those customers wishing to embrace the CarbonZero agenda.

To read the article, please click here, where you will find a piece titled ‘Rock’ among those listed.

The Shard

The Shard is without doubt the capital’s most anticipated and, quite literally, high profile building. In September 2011 a final crane, the tallest ever assembled in Britain, rose 317 metres above ground level to complete the top 23 floors.

Rock has been responsible for waterproofing the Shard and for providing temporary waterproofing to protect it throughout construction. But our involvement doesn’t end there. As the final pinnacle, named ‘the spire’, takes shape, Rock has been contracted to dry line the lift shaft by installing Firestop plasterboard. This product is a gypsum board specially formulated with glass fibre and other additives to provide superior fire resistance, guaranteeing an effective fire barrier for at least one hour. Superior waterproofing and protection from fire are clearly essential features of the Shard’s overall design. We are delighted that Rock’s excellent working relationship with Mace has resulted in our close association with such an inspiring and ground-breaking project.

Although the Shard will have a viewing gallery, stunning night-time vistas from the 35th floor can already be enjoyed thanks to professional panoramic photographer Will Pearson. Go to willpearson.co.uk and follow the link to the photographer’s blog.