Member Article

Construction firm gets ‘Big Tick’ for community focus

A North East construction firm’s commitment to building stronger communities has been recognised with a major business award.

Gus Robinson Developments has received A Big Tick in the prestigious Business in the Community (BITC) Responsible Business Awards.

The honour recognises the firm’s work developing the skills and prospects of young people from across the North East and in particular, its successful apprenticeship programme.

And it could lead to a hat-trick of further industry awards for the Hartlepool-based firm with the business also being shortlisted in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) Renaissance Awards and in two categories of the Construction Excellence North East Awards.

The firm, which employs approximately 100 staff, has also invested £75,000 in four new transit vans and two new vans with the aim of improving fuel efficiency across its fleet of vehicles.

Dan Robinson, Chairman of Gus Robinson Developments, said: “I am absolutely delighted for everyone in the business that their hard work and dedication has been recognised.

“It gives us a chance to celebrate the huge strides we have made in the past few years and appreciate that those achievements are being recognised by our peers at a national level.

“In particular, the BITC Big Tick award is a huge honour because it is such a respected scheme that recognises some of the biggest firms in the world such as Jaguar, The Body Shop and Marks and Spencer.

“Since this business was founded in 1975, we have always had the community at our hearts. It was the perspective of my father Gus who ultimately defined our core values. His view was that at all times the company should act as a force for good in society.”

Gus Robinson Developments’ Big Tick in the Responsible Business Awards came in the ‘Inspiring Young Talent’ category, which recognises businesses that are addressing youth unemployment via inspiring and innovative apprenticeship and work experience programmes.

The judges were particularly impressed by the firm’s success in progressing young people through the business with several former apprentices now in senior management and boardroom positions, such as Financial Director Jeanette Henderson.

She said: “When I started 32 years ago I had no aspirations to be the Financial Director, but Gus recognised some ability in me and supported me through training and nurtured and encouraged me and helped me when I wanted to fit things around my family. That’s certainly the ethos here and it’s always been the way.”

Gus Robinson Developments has also been shortlisted in the Residential Category in the RICS Renaissance awards 2014 for its construction of a social housing development in Hartlepool; and is also in the running for both the Leadership and People and the SME categories in the Construction Excellence North East awards.

Dan Robinson added: “It will be a busy few months with several awards ceremonies to attend but it’s all credit to the amazing team we have here.”

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