Esh Border ConstructionEsh Construction is proud to begin work helping to revitalise the historic Borders knitwear industry.

The company has been appointed to deliver the redevelopment of Scott & Charters’ knitwear factory in Hawick.

Esh’s work will see the existing facility in Fairhurst Drive, Burnfoot make way for a new facility with improved efficiency – across energy, noise-levels and manufacturing.

The significant investment project – which includes the construction of new premises and a car park – will secure the long-term future of the site, bringing direct benefit to the local economy.

Scott & Charters was established in 1955, and an ambitious programme of works will also ensure the company’s manufacturing capability is maintained throughout.

All production will take place in the original factory at the front of the site as the new modern facility takes shape towards the rear.

Esh Construction’s Regional Director for Scotland, Gerard McMahon said:
“As a firm with strong ties to the Borders region we are very proud to help deliver this exciting project for the region and wider knitwear industry.

“Maintaining an operational facility while redevelopment works take place is a key part of the brief.

“We have experience in delivering such projects and are pleased that we will be able to adopt a collaborative approach to help Scott and Charters achieve just that.

“A great deal of planning and hard work will go into bringing this fantastic project to fruition.”
Managing Director of Scott and Charters, Malcolm Grant said:

“Scott & Charters are delighted to have secured the services of Esh Construction, and I have no doubt they will deliver this custom built factory within the timeframe required, all to the highest of specifications.

“The fact that this bespoke redevelopment is being built on our existing Fairhurst Drive site, proposed significant challenges to both Esh and Scott & Charters, with neither company able to afford the luxury of down time. However by liaising closely together, we have been able to continue knitwear production, whilst there have been no restriction to the construction schedule.”

Esh Construction recently delivered a new B&M store in Stenhousemuir for Stirling-based Ramoyle Developments Ltd, and in 2015 it successfully completed a £3.7million factory expansion for Kirkcudbright-based pâté manufacturers Castle MacLellan Foods.

It also recently delivered the £11m Engine Shed building conservation centre in Stirling on behalf of Historic Environment Scotland, and it is currently working with Edinburgh City Council and Collective on delivering the capital’s prestigious £3 million Calton Hill observatory project.

Esh Border ConstructionRepresentatives from Esh Border Construction and Heriot-Watt University met this week to celebrate the beginning of an extensive refurbishment project at the prestigious higher education establishment.

Livingston-based Esh has been awarded the contract to completely transform the university’s Cameron Smail Library into a modern and welcoming learning environment for students, lecturers and support staff.

The £4m project will see Esh strip back the existing building, before constructing a new layout with replacement fixtures, fittings and decoration.

Beginning on the ground floor, the project will be completed over five phases across each level of the live site, which is still being utilised by students and staff as a 24/7 learning resource and place of study.

Works will also see the replacement of internal doors, the refurbishment of toilet facilities, and the addition of new windows, as well as new mechanical and electrical installations.

Esh Border Construction’s Regional Director for Scotland, Gerard McMahon said:

“The Cameron Smail library was a pioneering academic building when it was constructed over 40 years ago. It has since been used as a model for universities across the world and we are very proud to play such a pivotal role in securing its future as a modern state-of-the-art learning facility.

“Careful planning and preparation has been put in by our teams in full consultation with the team at Heriot-Watt and we are confident disruption will be kept to a minimum as we look to deliver a cost-effective, energy-efficient, modern facility.”

Professor John Sawkins, Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching, Heriot-Watt University said:

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Esh Border Construction on this refurbishment to turn our library into a modern, flexible and comfortable environment fit for a forward-looking ambitious university.

“Throughout the planning works we’ve been working closely with students, academic colleagues, library staff and consultants to get the best use of the space to provide access to a wide range of print and electronic resources and comfortable study space to support our students’ academic success.

“With improved space and technology, this construction project clearly demonstrates the University’s commitment to delivering the very best learning and teaching environment for all our students.”

Esh is delighted to work with architects Lewis and Hickey, quantity surveyors Turner Townsend, structural engineers Peter Brett Associates, mechanical and electrical engineers RSP and project managers WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff.

Matthew Fair, project architect with Lewis and Hickey said:
“Lewis and Hickey are pleased to be working with Esh Construction to fully refurbish the Cameron Smail Library at Heriot-Watt University. The scheme looks to update the existing facilities and considerably enhance the student experience of a key building within the campus.”

The Heriot-Watt projects follow a strong pipeline of work in the education sector for Esh Border Construction.

Esh Border ConstructionPupils at schools across Scotland are set to learn all about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), thanks to Esh Border Construction.

The Livingston-based firm’s Added Value team is delivering a range of interactive tools and props, known as STEM kits, to the school with the aim of positively shaping career aspirations from an early age.

Youngsters will now use the kits, which are based around STEM topics, to learn about the subjects in a series of workshops designed to educate and inspire the designers, builders and engineers of tomorrow.

Each kit includes construction-related books, toys and materials which support four student exercises: wall building, using ratios, measuring, and designing a structure.

Regional Director of Esh Border Construction, Gerard McMahon said:

“It is wonderful to see children getting enjoyment from the kits, exploring the practical ways in which STEM can be put to use, whilst gaining valuable hands-on knowledge and skills outside of a traditional classroom environment.

“STEM subjects have been identified as having a skills shortage but initiatives like this will help promote the topics to children in a fun and interactive way.”

A number of schools are set to receive the kits over the next academic year.

To learn more about STEM opportunities with Esh Border Construction visit: http://www.eshgroup.co.uk/added-value/community/get-into-stem/ or email: addedvalue@esh.uk.com

Image: Primary three pupils Lexie Collins and Wojciech Ryniecki, both aged seven, from St Peter’s Primary School in Galashiels with Marie Campbell, Added Value Coordinator for Esh Border Construction.

Esh Border ConstructionEsh Border Construction’s expansion plans have been further boosted by the announcement of two new senior appointments to its Scottish operation.

Paul Devine has been named Construction Director while Paul Curran has been appointed Commercial Manager as the Livingston-based business continues to target fresh growth.

A Civil Engineering graduate of the University of Strathclyde, Mr Devine brings 20 years of construction industry experience from two decade-long managerial roles in the Central Belt.

The Gartcosh resident is expected to play a major role as Esh Border Construction looks to extend and enhance its vibrant and sustained pipeline of Scottish Successes.

Mr Devine will take the lead on the delivery of high quality developments and will help to drive the ambitious business forward.

New Commercial Manager Paul Curran meanwhile brings a wealth of knowledge following a succession of similar roles with UK companies across the past 30 years.

The Edinburgh resident will focus on bids for new work and contract negotiation, ensuring financial management to the highest standard.

They join a burgeoning senior team that was recently boosted by the internal appointment of Regional Director for Scotland, Gerard McMahon.

In tandem with Mr McMahon, the two fresh appointments are aimed at steering the company’s growth strategy, with both expected to play a leading role in shaping its long-term fortunes.

In recent times, Esh Border Construction has secured high-profile projects in the region of £2m-£10m such as Stirling’s Engine Shed and Edinburgh’s Calton Hill observatory – and both Mr Devine and Mr Curran hope to be instrumental in replicating and extending that success further down the M8 corridor.

Mr Devine said: “I believe there is huge potential here and that was one of the key aspects that attracted me to the Construction Director role.

“I’m in no doubt that Esh Border Construction can grow into a leading name in the Central Belt, becoming even more successful than it already is, and I hope that my own skillset can serve to enhance that.

“I aim to bring my two decades of experience, wide client base and supply chain know-how to the fore across a range of projects, including the refurbishment of Heriot Watt Library in Edinburgh – the first project for Esh Border in which I will be involved from commencement to completion.

“With the help of the fantastic team that is already in place at Esh Border Construction, I hope that there will be much more to follow as we embark on an exciting new chapter for the business.”

Mr Curran added: “I was immediately struck by the huge opportunity at Esh Border Construction – the people, the job, the culture, and the exciting variety of work.

“From the refurbishment of listed buildings at Calton Hill, to fast track steel frame projects, there is a real diversity of work on offer here.

“There’s also a huge Scottish market for social housing, the delivery of which I find to be genuinely rewarding.

“I’m really looking forward to delivering more in that vein and am thrilled to have been appointed to this senior role within such a forward-thinking business.”

Esh Border Construction has an extensive track record of successfully delivering projects across a variety of sectors for a wide range of clients, including education, retail, industrial, commercial, leisure, public, healthcare, and historic buildings.

It has significant experience of all forms of procurement and project delivery including joint ventures, framework agreements, and traditional tendering.

The company operates within a framework of fully ISO accredited Safety, Quality and Environmental Management Systems, supported by comprehensive internal operating procedures, and it has extensive experience in delivering ‘Very Good’ and ‘Excellent’ BREEAM Rated Projects.

Picture by Christian Cooksey/CookseyPix.com on behalf of Esh Border Construction and Beattie Communications. For more information please contact David Walker @ Beattie on 01698 787848 Ash Border Construction held a day for school pupils to come and see what it is like to be interviewed for a job. The event was held at the Macdonald Houston House hotel near Livingston. All rights reserved. For full terms and conditions see www.cookseypix.comRecord numbers of Scottish school children are set to benefit from an award-winning employability skills programme, as Esh Border Construction’s Building My Skills launches for the third academic year.

The initiative, which will engage 42 businesses and 2,000 students from 14 secondary schools across Scotland, brings together pupils and employers.

Its aim is to offer students a well-rounded introduction to the world of work, equip them with valued employability skills, and deliver relevant and worthwhile advice from real business people.

Simon Philips, Managing Director, of Esh Border Construction said:

“It is wonderful to have such a wide variety of delivery partners on board for this year’s programme.

“The ethos of Esh Border Construction is very much rooted in the ideal of giving back to the communities in which we operate. That is why ‘Added Value’ programmes, such as Building My Skills, play such an important role in our delivery.

“We are extremely proud of the initiative and it has been truly wonderful to see how it has grown in Scotland. Special thanks should go to our valued delivery partners, our Added Value team, and of course the participating schools and their ever eager pupils.”

Darush Dodds, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Added Value at Esh, said:

“The collaborative nature of Building My Skills is what makes it such a unique offering and we’re very excited by this year’s programme. It is great to see so many businesses on board as we look to deliver worthwhile quality careers information to the workforce of the future.”

Students from schools across the Central Belt, Fife, the Lothians, and Borders will receive five 45minute sessions from a range of business sectors, delivered across the academic year

Businesses taking part include: Edinburgh Airport, Peace Recruitment, Jewson, Peter Brett Associates, Contract Scotland, Kwik Fit, NHS Borders, Dyslexia Scotland, Fife Council, and Rabbie’s Tours.

Each session is delivered by a different business guest who will provide an insight into their career path, their sector, valued employability skills and support the completion of a ‘checkpoint’.

The scheme is backed by the Developing Young Workforce (DYW) programme – which aims to better prepare children and young people aged 3–18 for the world of work.

Jen Henderson, Programme Manager with DYW said:

“The Building My Skills programme provides a fantastic forum to develop the employability of students. The programme is delivered by a community of business partners who, by the wide array of businesses and sectors they represent, also offer a diverse breadth of insights which we haven’t seen before. DYW Forth Valley are really excited to be part of this and supporting Esh and the business partners to grow and develop our future workforce in Scotland.”

Students who successfully complete the programme will be invited to the regional mock interview day – where they will be put through their paces by a local employer.

The scheme, which is now underway, has received national plaudits including nomination in the CSR category at the flagship Scottish Business Awards, Business in the Community’s coveted ‘National Big Tick for Education Partnership’, and CECA National Inspiring Education National awards.

Companies wishing to take part in Building My Skills can contact addedvalue@esh.uk.com for more information.

Esh Border ConstructionEsh Border Construction is poised to embark on a fresh chapter for the business after announcing the appointment of a new Regional Director for Scotland.

Gerard McMahon will take over the role as the Livingston-based business continues to target fresh expansion.

The father-of-three initially joined the company as a Commercial Manager last year and quickly impressed with his outstanding work on key projects.

The company has quickly recognised his vital contribution with promotion to Regional Director, and he now hopes to extend and enhance Esh Border Construction’s vibrant and sustained pipeline of Scottish successes.

The internal promotion is aimed at steering the company’s growth strategy and Gerard is expected to play a leading role in shaping its long-term fortunes.

A graduate in quantity surveying from Glasgow’s Caledonian University – Gerard, who is from Coatbridge, Lanarkshire – brings extensive industry experience, having worked in various sectors including Commercial build, social Housing, education, healthcare, retail, refurbishment and Energy Services.

He believes that Esh Border Construction’s proposition as neither a national or small local construction business will allow it to continue growing the company’s position in the niche mid-market sectors in Scotland, helped by heavy investment in streamlining its proposition.

Esh Group has undertaken a £5m overhaul of its technology and IT systems, which the new Regional Director believes will help in its targeting of fresh wins in the Central Belt.

In recent times, it has secured high-profile projects in the region of £2m-£10m such as Stirling’s Engine Shed and Edinburgh’s Calton Hill observatory – and Gerard now hopes to replicate and extend that success further down the M8 corridor.

He said: “There undoubtedly continues to be a huge opportunity for an agile, mid-sized business like ours in Scotland and I hope to seize that after inheriting a fantastic workforce that’s desperate to realise its full potential.

“Across the past year, I’ve gained an intimate knowledge of the team’s key strengths when it comes to the delivery of both new build and refurbishment projects, and we now hope to harness those attributes in fresh ways.

“When I joined Esh Border Construction, I was immediately struck by the team’s can-do attitude and enthusiastic ‘Added Value’ ethos where community enhancement is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s a real pleasure to now be overseeing that for Scotland.

“It’s a very inclusive business which has invested carefully in its future thanks to an apprenticeship-led environment where we’ve been proud to see many young people coming through and excelling in a variety of ways. Indeed, we only recently achieved an Investors in Young People silver accreditation.”

Gerard added: “Last year, Esh Border Construction moved its offices in Livingston to bigger premises at Fairways Business Park with significant scope for further expansion amid more innovative ways of working. That marked an exciting new chapter for the business and we are now keen to see where it takes us.”

Earlier this year, the Livingston-based company was able to build on its social housing successes by signing up with Link Group, Kingdom Housing Association, Hillcrest Housing Association, Places for People, LAR Housing Trust, Thenue Housing Association, and City of Edinburgh Housing Assessment Management Framework.

The collective value of this work could mean over £100m value throughout the frameworks’ duration to the construction specialist – which has a strong history of working in the social housing sector – across the next few years.

Esh Border Construction has an extensive track record of successfully delivering projects across a variety of sectors for a wide range of clients, including education, retail, industrial, commercial, leisure, public, healthcare, and historic buildings.

It has significant experience of all forms of procurement and project delivery including joint ventures, framework agreements, and traditional tendering.

The company operates within a framework of fully ISO accredited Safety, Quality and Environmental Management Systems, supported by comprehensive internal operating procedures, and it has extensive experience in delivering ‘Very Good’ and ‘Excellent’ BREEAM Rated Projects.