Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to from January through to March.

Supporting the Next Generation of Construction Professionals

We’ve continued our commitment to developing future talent through our T-Level placements. This quarter, we checked in with Jada, Tyler, Adam and Vito, who are now halfway through their placements on our new build sites at The Brooks and Orangery Lane.

Working alongside our team, they’ve been gaining valuable hands-on experience while supporting their Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction course. From building confidence onsite to developing a deeper understanding of construction processes, it’s been fantastic to see their progress and enthusiasm for the industry grow. We’re proud to play a part in helping shape their future careers.

Site Visits Bringing Construction to Life

In February, we were delighted to welcome students from Shooters Hill Sixth Form College for a tour of our Orangery Lane development.

The visit provided a great opportunity for students to experience a live construction site, learn about the importance of health and safety, and see modern methods of construction in action. Orangery Lane will deliver 40 new net zero council homes, alongside new public open space, as part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Greenwich Builds programme.

A big thank you to our Site Manager, Keith Hill, for hosting such an engaging and informative visit.

Investing in Local Communities

We were pleased to donate £500 to the Family Action Food Pantry Programme in Tower Hamlets this quarter. The donation will help support local families through the provision of essential items, including food supplies, women’s hygiene products, and improvements such as shelving and vegetable storage at pantry locations. Initiatives like this are vital in ensuring community support networks remain accessible and effective for those who need them most.

Engaging with Schools and Inspiring Careers

Careers engagement has been a key focus for us this quarter, as we continue to promote opportunities within the construction industry.

YouthBuild Graduation

In January, we attended the graduation ceremony for young people who have successfully completed the YouthBuild programme. It was an inspiring event, recognising the hard work, resilience and commitment of participants as they take their next steps towards employment and further opportunities.

St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School Careers Fair

Our Social Value Manager, Ayesha, and HR & Learning Development Advisor, Sarah, met with students from St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School as part of our ongoing community engagement work linked to our Worcester Close project with Gravesham Borough Council. It was encouraging to see such strong interest and curiosity about the wide range of roles and careers available across the construction industry.

Borough Academy Networking Session

In partnership with Construction Youth Trust, we supported a careers networking session for Year 10 students in February. The session gave students valuable insight into career pathways, routes into the industry, and real life experiences from professionals working across construction.

Eltham Hill School Employability Day

We were pleased to return to Eltham Hill School for their annual careers fair for Year 8 and 10 students at the beginning of March. The event provides a great platform to discuss different roles within construction, and we were impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and thoughtful questions. We look forward to welcoming some of them for work experience later in the year as part of our continued partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Looking Ahead

As we move into the next quarter, we remain committed to creating opportunities, supporting communities, and delivering lasting social value across all our projects.

From developing future talent to strengthening local partnerships, we’re proud of the impact we’ve made so far in 2026 and we’re excited to build on this in the months ahead.

Stay up to date with all our latest news and on social media – follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram andFacebook.

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Here’s why redeveloping urban infill sites matters, and why it’s such a focus for us.

Utilising underused land

Urban infill development is all about making the most of land that’s already in a built up area. Instead of building outwards, infill projects transform vacant lots, former garage sites or dilapidated buildings into new productive spaces. This approach makes efficient use of existing land without expanding into greenfield space, helping to preserve countryside and natural habitats.

In redeveloping these sites, we also reduce pressure on local authorities to fund new infrastructure, as infill projects can tap into existing utilities, roads and services.

Revitalising communities

One of the most visible benefits of infill development is its impact on neighbourhoods that have been overlooked or are in decline. Derelict garages, empty lots, or ageing buildings can make an area feel run-down and neglected. Thoughtful redevelopment breathes new life into these spaces, increasing footfall, attracting new residents and improving safety.

Infill developments can often act as a catalyst for further investment in an area, encouraging new shops, services and community facilities to support new residents, helping to build stronger, more sustainable communities.

Supporting housing supply

Cities and towns across the UK face ongoing housing demand. Urban infill is a key part of addressing this, as it enables new homes to be built close to existing amenities, transport links and employment centres.Increasing residential density within existing urban areas helps provide a range of housing options without expanding development into surrounding countryside.

At Elkins, our experience in delivering high quality infill developments means we can help maximise housing provision even on awkwardly shaped or constrained sites, turning what many see as problems into well-designed, desirable places to live.

Enhancing sustainability

Urban infill sites tend to be located close to shops, schools, transport and other key amenities. This means future residents are more likely to walk, cycle or use public transport, reducing reliance on cars and contributing to a lower carbon lifestyle.

By building in established areas rather than on the edge of towns, infill development also minimises the need for new roads, sewers and other costly infrastructure extensions, making better use of what already exists.

Boosting local economies

Redeveloping infill sites doesn’t just create homes, it also stimulates local economic activity. Construction projects create jobs and, once complete, new homes support spending at local businesses. Vacant sites that once detracted from neighbourhood value can become assets that enhance their surroundings.

As these areas become more desirable, they can attract further investment and improvements, creating ongoing positive change that benefits residents and local businesses.

Urban infill development is a practical and sustainable way to make our towns and cities stronger, greener and more inclusive. At Elkins, we’re proud to play our part in revitalising these sites, bringing forward thoughtful, high quality developments that contribute meaningfully to the places we build in.

See some of our urban infill projects here.

To stay up to date with all our latest news and project updates, follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

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The works were delivered alongside our current new build project with Gravesham Borough Council, where we are constructing eight new affordable council homes at Worcester Close. Working in partnership with two of our subcontractors on the project, MAC Scaffolding and Energy Engineering Ltd, the Elkins team refurbished two bathrooms at Wombwell Park Pavilion. The £8,500 investment will help improve the facilities and make the pavilion more accessible for a wider range of sports clubs and community groups.

The pavilion is managed by Sports 4 Change on behalf of Gravesham Borough Council and plays an important role in bringing people together through sport and activity, with a strong focus on building community connections and reducing social isolation.

The completed works were celebrated last month with a visit from Cllr Karina O’Malley, Gravesham Borough Council’s cabinet member for Housing Services, and the Mayor of Gravesham, Cllr Jenny Wallace. They were joined by representatives from MAC Scaffolding, alongside Elkins’ Social Value Manager, Ayesha Wright, and Senior Contracts Manager for the Worcester Close project, Trevor McLellan.

Cllr O’Malley said: “The refurbishments here at Wombwell Park will open up the pavilion to many more groups and we are grateful to Elkins and their partners for their contribution. These improvements will make a real difference to the groups who use the pavilion. It’s wonderful to see a construction project that not only provides new homes but also invests in our neighbourhoods. This is what true social value looks like – supporting people, places and opportunities for years to come.”

Elkins’ Social Value Manager, Ayesha Wright, added: “We are always working to ensure our social value activities have a positive impact on the communities we work in, especially when they have a long-lasting impact such as this one.”

The pavilion refurbishment sits alongside our work at Worcester Close, demonstrating how investment in new housing can also bring wider, lasting benefits to the surrounding community.

Keep up to date with our projects and social value work by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

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Career Skills and Training for Young People

As part of our partnership with YouthBuild, Elkins’ HR & Learning Development Advisor, Sarah Feleppa, attended the World of Work in Construction event in October, where employers and young people came together for a lively and engaging session filled with discussion, games and speed networking. We were pleased to be part of such a positive event and to help showcase the wide range of opportunities available for young people within construction.

We’re delighted to see our T-Level students making excellent progress as they reach the halfway point in their year-long work placements with us. Four of the students, Jada, Madeleine, Vito and Tyler, recently spent the day with The STC Group, taking their HS&E OPS tests and getting hands-on in a plumbing skills session. All of the students passed their qualifications with exceptional scores of between 48 and 50 out of 50 and will soon be receiving their CSCS cards. We’d like to thank Suzanne Kearney, John McLean, Lee Harvey and everyone involved in delivering an inspiring day, as well as our teams at The Brooks and Orangery Lane for their continued support in mentoring the students.

It was fantastic to recently receive this feedback from Dan Bogle at London South East Colleges on the students’ progress so far: “We really appreciate everything Elkins is doing for our students. They are really blossoming since they have been with you.”

Investing in Community Sport

We’re proud to be sponsoring South Thames Girls Football Club for the second consecutive year, supporting the team throughout the 2025/26 season with a donation towards new kits, training tracksuits and pitch hire. At Elkins, we believe grassroots sport plays an important role in young people’s physical and mental wellbeing, while building confidence, teamwork and resilience. We wish the team every success for the season ahead.

As part of commitment to providing social value for our Worcester Close development for Gravesham Borough Council, we recently undertook work to refurbish two bathrooms at Wombwell Park Pavillion for Sports 4 Change. The pavilion supports local sport and activity projects focused on strengthening community bonds and reducing social isolation. Thanks to our partners MAC Scaffolding and Electrical Engineering Ltd for also providing donations which helped us bring this project to fruition.

Supporting Communities This Christmas

This festive season, we’ve been pleased to support initiatives helping families and individuals across the communities where we work.

Through our Repairs & Maintenance contract with Phoenix Community Housing, we contributed £580 towards Christmas presents for children, distributed as part of the organisation’s festive activities throughout December.

We also donated £500 to support the Refugee Christmas Dinner organised by Mama2Mama Baby Bankunder our Royal Borough of Greenwich contract. Our Social Value Manager, Ayesha Wright, and Sarah Feleppa volunteered at the event, helping with cooking and set-up.

Mama2Mama CEO, Zuzana Fratrikova, shared her thanks: “I would like to express my gratitude to Elkins Construction for their generous donation towards the dinner. None of this would have been possible without you. After seeing the function room filled with smiles, gifts, food, laughter and pure joy, I know we can look back proudly and say this was a great success, and so much of that is thanks to you.”

Looking ahead

As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to build on this momentum and deliver even more worthwhile social value initiatives that support people and communities for the long term.

Stay up to date with all our latest news and on social media – follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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What is Awaab’s Law?

From October 2025, Awaab’s law states that social housing providers must investigate and remediate serious damp and mould hazards within legally binding timeframes. Where hazards are judged to be emergencies, remedial action must begin within 24 hours.

For less acute but still significant damp or mould problems, housing providers must:

• Investigate within 10 working days of being notified
• Provide tenants with a written summary within three working days of the inspection
• Begin remedial work typically within five working days.

Failure to meet these deadlines may result in enforcement action, legal claims, compensation orders, and reputational damage.

What this means for housing providers

Awaab’s Law shifts damp and mould management from best practice guidance to legally enforceable standards. Key implications include:

Faster, mandatory response times
Social housing providers must assess and address damp and mould issues within strict deadlines

Clear communication with tenants
Written findings and remediation plans are required following every inspection.

Legal accountability
Failure to act within the prescribed periods exposes landlords to legal challenges.

Proactive maintenance
Providers must move from reactive repairs to structured programmes of early detection, routine inspection, and preventative works.

While the first phase focuses on damp and mould (and emergency hazards), subsequent phases from 2026 to 2027 will extend to other hazards covered by the housing health and safety standard framework.

For housing providers with large, complex portfolios, meeting these expectations will require enhanced inspection regimes, robust reporting processes, and reliable contractor support capable of delivering high quality, time critical works.

How Elkins Construction can help

At Elkins, our established repairs, maintenance, and compliance-focused processes make us ideally placed to support housing providers in meeting the requirements of Awaab’s Law. With more than 60 years of experience in the industry and a dedicated direct labour workforce, we provide consistency, quality, and rapid mobilisation when it matters most.

Damp and mould surveys and remediation
Our teams carry out detailed investigations to identify root causes, including ventilation failures, structural leaks, roofing defects, plumbing issues, and condensation risk, ensuring long-term solutions rather than temporary surface treatments. Our in-house roofing team, led by experienced specialists, supports investigations where water ingress or roof condition may be contributing factors.

Rapid response capability
We understand the new statutory response times and offer rapid deployment for emergency issues, clear escalation routes, and efficient scheduling to support housing providers in meeting the 24 hour and five day remedial requirements. Our digital job management systems provide timestamped records, photographic evidence, and audit trails.

Resident-friendly delivery
We prioritise safety, cleanliness, and minimal disruption. Our operatives are experienced in working in live occupied environments, liaising sensitively with residents and providing clear communication throughout inspection and remedial works.

Compliance and documentation
Awaab’s Law places high importance on documentation. Our established QA processes include checklists, photographic verification, works certification, and structured reporting. We ensure providers have the evidence required to demonstrate timely action and compliance.

Preventative and planned maintenance
To support proactive management, we provide routine inspection and maintenance services covering damp risks, ventilation systems, plumbing, roofing, and external fabric condition. This helps reduce recurrence and ensures long-term compliance and asset protection.

Support with decarbonisation and ventilation improvements
As providers move towards PAS2030 and wider decarbonisation goals, we can support ventilation upgrades, window replacements, insulation works, and energy efficient improvements, which are key components in addressing condensation and mould at the source.

Why Elkins?

• Over 60 years’ experience delivering repairs, maintenance, and refurbishment in social housing
• In-house trade operatives ensuring consistent quality and rapid mobilisation
• Specialist roofing and fabric teams for leak and water ingress related works
• Strong QA culture with detailed documentation and photo evidence
• Expertise in live, occupied environments
• Capability across fabric, M&E, ventilation, and compliance-driven works
• Alignment with housing providers working towards improved safety, health, and decarbonisation outcomes

Ensuring safe and healthy homes

Awaab’s Law is a significant milestone in social housing regulation. It gives residents greater protection and places clear, time sensitive responsibility on landlords to tackle health hazards quickly.

For social housing providers, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity: a challenge to strengthen repair and maintenance systems, but also an opportunity to improve resident trust, deliver safer homes, and demonstrate responsible asset management.

At Elkins, these expectations align with our values and the standards we deliver every day. We are ready to support social housing providers in achieving full compliance and, above all, ensuring homes are safe, healthy, and comfortable for the people who live in them.

If you’d like to discuss how we can support your housing stock in meeting Awaab’s Law requirements, please get in touch at enquiries@elkinsconstruction.co.uk

To stay up to date with all our latest news and project updates, follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

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Supporting Local Communities through Sponsorships

We were delighted to continue our sponsorship of Bermondsey Carnival, which took place on August Bank Holiday in Southwark Park. The annual event is an important part of the local community calendar, bringing residents together for an afternoon of free music, entertainment and family activities.

We were also proud to be the Premium Sponsor of the Kidbrooke Family Fun Day in July, a free event organised by Global Fusion Music & Arts and Greenwich Councillor, John Fahy. The day was a huge success, filled with live music, dancing, delicious food and activities for all ages.

Continuing our partnership with Phoenix Community Housing, we were pleased to contribute towards their Summer Fun events this year, which brought together over 1,300 residents for a variety of different free activities across three different events.

In Gravesham, our support helped fund five basketball and four tennis coaching sessions as part of the Council’s free summer activities for children. Samantha White, Sports and Recreation Officer at Gravesham Borough Council said: “Thank you for all your efforts in creating social value within the Borough – it’s really amazing.”

We’re pleased to be sponsoring South Thames Girls FC for the second consecutive year, contributing £2,876 towards new kits, training tracksuits and pitch hire for the 2025/26 season. In addition, we’ve committed to funding 20 training sessions for the team, which will cover their training costs for the entire year. We’re proud to support projects that encourage young people to stay active, confident and connected through sport.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Construction Talent

Over the summer, we were proud to welcome many students for work experience placements across our sites and offices, giving them an insight into life in the construction industry.

In July, we hosted Harry from St Michael’s Catholic College, who spent time with our Commercial and Preconstruction teams, exploring the world of Quantity Surveying and Estimating.

In the same month, we were joined by four fantastic students, Malachi, Favour, Aaqil and Nesrine, from City of Westminster College, Leigh Academy Halley and Construction Youth Trust. They experienced a week packed with hands-on learning, from site visits and HSEQ training to HR processes and a CV workshop.

In August, Tyler, a student from Tower Hamlets, joined us for a placement at our Well Hall Road office, shadowing our Quantity Surveying and Estimating teams and gaining first-hand experience producing Bills of Quantities and takeoffs.

In September, we were pleased to host Kayden, Theo, and Mary through Southwark Council and the Southwark Education Business Alliance. They explored different departments, visited live new build sites, and learned about sustainability and project management in construction.

We are pleased to have had some lovely feedback from our work experience students over the summer:

“The team was so friendly, each member put us at ease, it really was like being in one big family living in the same house at Elkins!” – Favour

“Everyone was so welcoming and supportive, the experience has helped me feel more confident about what I might want to do in the future.” – Theo

Finally, we previously announced we were providing work placements for T-Level students, Vito, Adam, Madeline, Jada and Tyler as part of their Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction course at London South East Colleges. The students have been gaining valuable experience on site at our The Brooks and Orangery Lane projects. We were pleased to receive this feedback from Adam on his experience so far: “It’s been amazing seeing everything happen in real time, I’ve learnt so much.”

Local Volunteering and Improvement Projects

As part of our employee volunteering programme, Sarah Feleppa and Tayla Bruen lent a helping hand at Gravesham Borough Council’s Park Life Family Community Day in August, welcoming guests and coordinating car parking at the event. With over 200 attendees enjoying activities including bike repairs and a climbing wall, it was a fantastic day supporting local families.

Our team also carried out refurbishment works at KASBAH’s Maddison House in Northfleet, a shared residence supporting adults with disabilities. One of our Multi-Traders, Costa Panayiotou, completed a range of improvements, from clearing overgrown areas to repairing gates and painting benches, helping to create a safer and more welcoming environment for residents.

Looking ahead

From supporting young people into construction careers to preserving local heritage and creating spaces for communities to thrive, we’re proud of the positive impact we’ve achieved this quarter. A huge thank you to everyone at Elkins and our partners who’ve helped make these initiatives possible, we look forward to seeing what the next few months bring.

Stay up to date with all our latest news and on social media – follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Maddison House offers a shared living environment for local disabled young adults and is run by KASBAH, an organisation offering a range of flexible support services to empower and promote independence for people with physical and/or learning disabilities. The house fosters a supportive community while encouraging residents to live independently, giving them the freedom to come and go as they wish. The improvements to the outdoor spaces directly enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of those living at KASBAH, creating areas for relaxation, socialisation, and recreation.

Our Multi-Trader, Costa Panayiotou, led the works, which involved a wide range of improvements. Tasks included weeding and tidying the gardens, cutting back overgrown areas, repairing gates, painting garden benches, replacing the floor in the bike shed, and providing a new table. Together, these enhancements have transformed both the front and back gardens, giving residents a more enjoyable and inviting environment to spend time outdoors.

Earlier this month, members of the Elkins team were pleased to attend a barbecue at Maddison House, in celebration of the support KASBAH has received from various sources throughout the year. This provided a wonderful opportunity to see the back garden being enjoyed by staff and residents.

Sam Williams, House Co-ordinator at KASBAH, expressed her delight with the results: “Costa has done a really good job, even fixing our infamously dodgy gate. The front garden now looks huge! Thank you so much for all your help.”

We are pleased to support KASBAH and to see how our efforts can make a real difference in the community. Through projects like this, we’re proud to be helping create spaces that local residents can enjoy for years to come.

Find out more about how we’re supporting important initiatives in the communities where we work by keeping up with our latest news and following us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

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I’m a Bid and Marketing Assistant at Elkins Construction

What does your role involve?

I work as part of the Pre-Construction team, which helps the company win new business. Part of my role is bid writing, which involves working with commercial, estimating, planning and design to collate and compile the required information to submit successful tenders and secure new projects.

The other aspect of my role is providing marketing support for the business. This includes managing promotional activities, creating content for the website and social media, visiting live sites to capture progress, and producing additional marketing collateral, such as brochures.

What’s your background?

I was previously at a marketing agency for six and a half years, working with different clients across a variety of industries. Elkins was one of our clients and I worked closely with the company, managing its marketing activities for three and a half years, before coming in-house. So, although I’m new to the team, I came in already having a good understanding of the business and the industry.

What are you enjoying most so far about your role?

I’m really enjoying working with the rest of the team. Everyone has been really welcoming and I already feel like part of the family. It’s also great to have the opportunity to visit the projects, see the work being done, and speak to the people working on them. This isn’t something I was able to do before, and it’s really brought the work Elkins does to life for me.

What appealed to you about Elkins?

Having worked with Elkins closely for a number of years, I knew quite a lot about the company already and really liked its values and ethos. I’d heard so many good things from existing employees about the work culture and how supportive and friendly everyone is, which was a big influencing factor for me.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love travelling to explore the history and culture of new places, and of course taste all the delicious food! Closer to home, you can often find me at the theatre watching a play or musical. It’s one of my favourite things about being close to London and I’ll take a chance on seeing almost anything. Otherwise, I usually have my head in a book – my favourite way to relax is by escaping into a story.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Organised, adaptable, adventurous.

We’re off to the pub – what’s your order?

Always a G&T for me!

Say hello to Katherine on our social media channels – you can find us on LinkedIn, Facebook,and Instagram.

Get to know the rest of the Elkins team and keep up to date with all our latest news.

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The works took place across several weeks in June and included restoration of the Bourner Memorial, British Legion Memorial, and the War Memorial at All Saints Church. These structures are not only of historical importance but also serve as focal points for community remembrance events and ceremonies, particularly during occasions such as Remembrance Day.

The project was part of Thanet District Council’s long-term scheme to protect 25 monuments on public land identified to be in most need of restoration.  The improvement works included essential cleaning, stonework repairs, repointing, repairing railings, relaying paving stones and other conservation measures to ensure the longevity of the memorials.

Speaking about the project, Andreea Plant, Head of Property at Thanet District Council, said: “The ultimate aim is to ensure that all statues and monuments on public land are preserved for future generations, and that the events or people that are commemorated are remembered for years to come. […] The contributions of our contractors WW Martin, AD Construction, Elkins, PJ Mears and BSW have made this project possible, and I would like to express my thanks to them all.”

Elkins Social Value Manager, Ayesha, said: “We are proud to have been a part of restoring some of these important historical landmarks in Thanet and helping to preserve them, so they can remain a place of reflection and learning for future generations.”

Find out more about how we’re giving back to the communities where we work by taking a look at our latest news and following us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

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Greenwich Builds

We’ve been continuing to deliver social value for Royal Borough of Greenwich and in April attended its Greenwich Social Value Showcase at Charlton House, which celebrated the positive impact of the social value initiatives being carried out under the Greenwich Builds contract.

We’ve also recently completed several of our Greenwich Builds projects, and we were pleased to attend Royal Borough of Greenwich’s welcome event for the new residents at our Halsbrook Road development back in April. During the event, special tributes were made to Councillor Christine Grice, who sadly passed away last year. A part of the development has been named in her memory. Mayor of Greenwich, Jit Ranabhat, and Leader of Greenwich Council, Anthony Okereke, were in attendance, alongside other councillors, Christine’s family and the new residents, plus our MD, Ray Elkins.

Work placements

We continue to work with YouthBuild to provide opportunities for local young people to get into the construction industry. At the end of May, our HR & Learning Development Advisor, Sarah, attended Youth Build’s mock interview and CV writing session at their Thamesmead Centre. Following this, we had five of the candidates join us for a week of work experience from 2^nd-6^th June as part of our commitment to providing work placements for local residents under our Greenwich Builds contract. Anisa worked in our HR department, Tobi and Kylan in Site Management, Jaden worked with our RLO team and Summer with our Multi-Trade team.

We have recently been joined by another YouthBuild candidate, Matt, who will be with us for work experience every Monday until he goes to university in September. He’ll be working with Site Manager, Dave Conroy, at our Buckhurst Street site and observing the various trades associated with delivering a modular new build project.

In June, we also hosted a site visit for Youth Build partners at our new build site, The Brooks, where the candidates got to see the project in progress and learn more about the modular construction process. At the end of the month, our Social Value Manager, Ayesha, will also be attending Youth Build’s ‘Young People Building Community Together’ event.

In our last update, we announced we were providing work placements for London South East Colleges’ first intake of Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T-Level students. We were pleased to welcome Tyler, Che, Jada, Madeleine, Vito and Adam to start their placements in June. They will be working with our Site Manager, Ian Stubbs, Quantity Surveyor, Chris Pierce, and Project Manager, Keith Hill, one day a week across two of our Greenwich Build sites for the next 40 weeks.

We’ve also been continuing our work with local schools to inspire young people into careers in construction. Ayesha conducted mock interviews with students in years 10 and 12 during a session at Eltham Hill School and attended Haberdashers’ Borough Academy’s careers networking event with Construction Youth Trust, where she spoke with Key Stage 4 students about the different routes into the construction industry. In mid-June, Ayesha, our HR Manager, Sarah, and Labourer, Alex, attended Bygrove Primary School to deliver a ‘Going to Work’ assembly to students about the various roles in construction.

Community initiatives

We’ve been working on several projects with local organisations to improve community spaces over the last three months. We’re working with Kasbah, an organisation providing support services for people with disabilities, to renovate its centre’s outdoor spaces as part of our social value commitment to Gravesham Borough Council. Improvement works include painting fences and benches, installing a new picnic bench and garden table, tidying up flower beds, weeding and supplying new flowers.

In June, we arranged for improvement works to three war memorials in Thanet – Bourner Memorial, the British Legion Memorial and the War Memorial at All Saints Church. The works are part of Thanet Council’s project to protect and restore some of its most significant statues and monuments. Andreea Plant, Head of Property at Thanet District Council, said: “The ultimate aim is to ensure that all statues and monuments on public land are preserved for future generations, and that the events or people that are commemorated are remembered for years to come. […] The contributions of our contractors WW Martin, AD Construction, Elkins, PJ Mears and BSW have made this project possible, and I would like to express my thanks to them all.”

We are also in discussions with local organisation, Sports 4 Change, to see how we can assist with internal improvement works required to its hub. The organisation does important work to facilitate sports and activities that transform lives and encourage healthier, happier futures for local communities.

Local donations

In addition to offering our services, we’ve also been supporting community organisations with their work through donations over the last three months. Under our recently awarded contract to build new homes for Gravesham Borough Council, we have made an early start delivering social value, with £1,500 worth of donations to four organisations helping distribute food and other essential items to people in the local community – Hive Hope Food Bank, Gravesham Food Bank, Salvation Army and the Community Cupboard.

Over the last few years, we’ve been committed to encouraging young people into sport by supporting local youth teams in the areas where we work. Continuing this commitment, we’ve also donated £500 towards running Gravesham Council’s free tennis and basketball sessions as part of its summer fun programme running during the school holidays.

Earlier this month, we agreed to donate four iPads to three local charities as part of our social value commitment for Tower Hamlets Council: Jubilee Street Practice, which delivers a wide range of health and wellbeing activities for local residents; Globe Community Project, a grassroots charity providing services to some of the borough’s most disadvantaged communities; and Turners and Locksley Community Centre, which provides a vital local hub promoting community cohesion. Mohammed Kenawi, Projects & Operations Officer at Globe Community Project said: “We are incredibly grateful for the IPad donation from Elkins Construction. This will have an immediate positive impact on our operations. Specifically, we plan to use it for our project’s weekly registration process. For a long time, our volunteers have managed this with paperwork, so transitioning to the tablet will save significant time and effort, allowing them to focus more on supporting our community members.”

This summer, we’re also excited to support two summer festivals for local people as part of our social value commitment under our Greenwich Builds contract. We have donated £2,500 and will be the principal sponsor at Hornfair ParksFest on 22^nd June and we will contributing over £4,000 to cover the entire cost of Kidbrooke Community Festival on 13^th July. Both festivals are key events in the summer calendar that provide a free day out for families and help bring local communities together.

Stay up to date with all our latest news and on social media – follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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