Teamwork
As an agile and privately-owned principal contractor, we at Buxton can quickly adapt to new ideas and roll out initiatives that provide superior service to our clients and communities. We keep up-to-date with the latest approaches and legislation in the sector, giving us a competitive advantage.
At Buxton, we recognise the importance of collaboration and non-adversarial working practices, and we strive to shift the industry's mindset to prioritise true value for communities.
Teamwork is critical to successful collaboration, and trust is the cornerstone of what we do at Buxton.
We believe in working together as one to achieve effective results, which reduces the number of changes needed and helps us stay on time and on budget.
This emphasis on trust and teamwork promotes accountability, inclusivity, efficiency, quality, and ongoing improvement, aligning with the principles of the Construction Playbook and providing optimum efficiency from the outset.
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At Buxton, we engage stakeholders early to identify and address potential problems before they become a reality, creating a more cohesive relationship with stakeholders and ensuring that all their expectations are met.
We use various methods such as regular meetings, open communication channels, and sharing detailed project plans and timelines, allowing us to stay informed, identify potential issues, and respond quickly and efficiently.
By engaging stakeholders early, we believe that we can build better relationships and create projects that meet and exceed customer expectations.
In summary, Buxton is a nimble and adaptable principal contractor that stays ahead of competitors by keeping up-to-date with the latest approaches and legislation. We prioritise collaboration and non-adversarial working practices, emphasising trust and teamwork to reduce the number of changes needed and stay on time and on budget.
We engage stakeholders early to identify and address potential problems before they become a reality, building better relationships, and creating projects that meet and exceed customer expectations.
Health & Safety
"Safety Is No Accident"
Health and Safety is integral to our business activities and we recognise and understand our responsibilities. We adhere to legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, are compliant with ISO 45001, and registered with CHAS.
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We strive for continuous improvement in our standards and aim to achieve a safe, risk-free working environment. We have produced a comprehensive Health and Safety Policy and all management and site staff receive full training, which is constantly monitored and updated, and refresher courses undertaken. Our policy is reviewed annually and revised to reflect any changes in legislation.
As a company we expect our employees, subcontractors, and suppliers to comply with our Health and Safety Policy and to take individual responsibility to ensure that work is carried out to a high standard, without risk to themselves or others.
Consultation with employees, clients, and our external consultants is an important part of our practices and it is through this process that we set targets to monitor our methods and performance.
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ISO 45001: 2018 SSIP
Certificate Number: 6491-
Expiry - 8th Jan 2024
Alcumus ISOQAR Ltd
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CHAS - 2831
EXOR CC3964
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We are proud to have achieved ISO 45001 status which is the world’s first International Standard for occupational health and safety aiming to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses around the world.
We have demonstrated we have a robust and effective set of processes for improving work safety on our sites.
Achieving conformity to ISO 45001 brings huge benefits to us and shows we provide a safe and healthy workplace for our workforce, seek to reduce work-related injury and ill-health as well as continually improve H&S performance.
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Our Environment
At Buxton, we believe that protecting the environment is not just a responsibility, but a vital part of our business practices.
That's why we have obtained the ISO 14001 standard and are committed to operating responsibly, not only to meet regulatory requirements but to play our part in safeguarding the environment for future generations. In order to achieve this we must act sustainably - sustainable in our operations, our procurement, and in our communities. Buxton looks to engage on this matter, within the business, with our clients, and with the people that live in and around our projects.
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We recognise that our daily business activities have an impact on the environment, that’s why we have set, and are continuing to set ambitious targets. We believe that these actions are just the start of our efforts to reduce our impact and make a positive contribution to the environment.
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Our Environmental Policy provides the foundation for our commitments and is communicated to all our employees to ensure its success. We provide training and regular updates to keep our team informed about the latest research and findings. We review the policy annually, measure our objectives, and regularly report on our progress to ensure that we are providing the necessary resources to meet our targets.
Sustainable methods in construction are something we have been implementing for years.
Our experience with sustainable technology, such as exhaust air heat recovery and rainwater harvesting, has allowed us to complete many projects with BREEAM status or Code for Sustainable Homes. We are proud to have played a significant role in reducing our environmental impact while delivering high-quality, sustainable projects.
We believe that it is our responsibility to protect the environment and that we can make a positive difference through our actions. We remain committed to continuously improving our environmental performance and reducing our impact on the environment for the benefit of future generations.
ISO 14001: 2015
6491-EMS- 001
Expiry - 8th Jan 2024
Alcumus ISOQAR Ltd
NHER - 2029
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Aftercare
At Buxton, we fully recognise the importance of regular, clear, and consistent reporting, effective communication, and open, honest relationships both with our clients and with associated stakeholders.
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Our Head of Quality & Aftercare, Graham Wrigglesworth, and his dedicated team, ensure that our clients are completely satisfied with the service received from us. The team will carry out visits to your project, completing a site visit record and noting any items to be monitored. They will discuss their findings with the project team, using the results for future workshops, technical alerts, and examples of high-quality work. The Aftercare team also ensures that any defects are responded to and rectified in a timely manner, within the agreed Defects Liability Period.
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We have a tried-and-tested process for management of any issues reported during the Defects Liability Period (DLP), which begins with ensuring from the outset that all sub-contractors fully understand and buy into their contractual requirements for response times post-handover. We have in the past, where the contract required it, incorporated the Soft Landings framework or a similar system into our handover process, which provides allotted times for a “surgery” for new occupiers to discuss their issues with the Aftercare Manager for the first few weeks.
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In order to review our project performance, we use Customer Satisfaction Surveys to provide feedback on all our operations, these are sent out at three points, Mid Contract, Handover, and End of Defects. The responses to these surveys are used to compile our Key Performance Indicators which are of paramount importance at Buxton. They are a fundamental part of our service provision, allowing the measurement of performance against targets or benchmarks and also measuring and demonstrating continuous improvement.
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We utilise our customer's comments to shape the way forward for future projects and to benchmark our performance by identifying any areas for improvement and for celebrating what we do well within the business. Customer care is a requirement of everyone working for Buxton, including site operatives, subcontractors, office support/administration staff, and senior management. Therefore, we provide training and support for our teams to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and the skills to provide this. Ultimately, the sustained success of our core business relies upon the quality of delivery and the extent to which we exceed our clients and our own expectations.
Quality
At our company, we place customer satisfaction at the heart of our business. Our ultimate goal is to deliver the highest quality of service for sustained success. To achieve this, we have quality assurance processes in place that are accredited to the ISO 9001 standard. This forms the basis of our operations across all business activities, and we engage an external quality assurance consultant to ensure that we maintain compliance.
We are dedicated to continuous improvement, and measuring customer satisfaction is a key aspect of this. We actively seek feedback from our clients, and this input plays an integral role in compiling our key performance indicators. By monitoring our performance regularly and using these indicators, we can assure our clients of the quality they can expect when working with us.
We believe in close collaboration with our clients and aim to add value at every step of the way. We listen carefully to their needs and work with them closely to ensure that our services not only meet but exceed their expectations. Our focus on delivering exceptional customer service is a core value that drives us to achieve excellence in all that we do.
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ISO 9001: 2015
6491-QMS- 001
Expiry - 8th Jan 2024
ISOQAR Limited, Alcumus Certification
NHBC - 58857
Supply Chain
For nearly a century, we have built strong and successful partnerships with our subcontractors and suppliers. We view transparent and open communication with these companies regarding cost, quality, delivery, and problem-solving as essential for our mutual growth.
Our supply chain partners are expected to share our commitment to these criteria. We also prioritise social value, encouraging practices that benefit the local community and environment.
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Our procurement procedures are designed to ensure that we gain value for money, maintain quality, and meet project deadlines. As part of our value engineering process, we request alternative proposals from our subcontractors and suppliers after assessing the compliance of bids.
These proposals are then reviewed and discussed with the project team to ensure their acceptability.
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At our company, we recognise that close collaboration with subcontractors and suppliers is essential to providing our customers with the quality they expect. To ensure consistency, we have implemented a Partnership program that involves pre-qualifying subcontractors and suppliers under our Quality Management System (QMS) and benchmarking key performance indicators (KPIs).
Our Partnership program also encourages three-way communication and interaction between all stakeholders. We host regular meetings with key supply chain partners to ensure everyone is up-to-date and working in unison. We use these meetings as an opportunity to discuss value engineering initiatives and exchange ideas, which allows for a sense of ownership of project delivery across the entire team. By respecting the roles of each team member, we can work together more effectively and accomplish project objectives.
Delivering Social Value in partnership with our supply chain
At our company we require our subcontractors and suppliers to actively contribute to delivering social value, reinforcing our commitment to benefiting the local community and environment.
Subcontractors and suppliers can assist in this mission by engaging in activities such as carrying out volunteering work that benefits local communities and partnering with local and national charities to support employment opportunities and environmental regeneration.
They can work with local charities on key themes to deliver additional community benefits and collaborate with education and training providers, industry bodies, and charities to offer curriculum support and work experience opportunities. Additionally, supporting their people to live healthier lives is another way to enhance social value.
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To minimize environmental impact, our partners can use resources efficiently to reduce waste and maximize value, play a part in reducing air pollution, noise, vibration, and nuisance within local communities, and promote sustainable and ethical procurement.
They can also promote green spaces and increase biodiversity net gain, recognizing the social value this brings.
Fair wages and working conditions are essential for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Our subcontractors and suppliers are expected to ensure that their employees receive fair wages, supporting economies and fostering growth. Advocating for living wages is not only beneficial for business but also the right thing to do, reflecting our respect for human rights.
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If awarded a project from Buxton Building Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers are expected to work together to ensure the implementation of the framework and contents of our Social Value Policy, maximizing the positive impact on the communities we serve. By embracing these actions, our partners help us create a positive and lasting impact on the communities we serve.
Green Procurement for our future
At our company, I am proud to say that we take our commitment to minimising our environmental impact very seriously. As an ISO 14001-certified company, we are constantly exploring ways to improve our sustainability practices and reduce our carbon footprint.
One way we have achieved this is through delivering multiple projects that comply with BREEAM, Passivhaus, and Code for Sustainable Homes. We have also implemented the latest green technologies, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, heat pumps, heat recovery systems, rainwater harvesting, insulation, energy-efficient glass, and other sustainable solutions.
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Our procurement department plays a crucial role in our efforts to reduce our environmental impact. Whereever possible, we buy local and prioritise sustainable sourcing of forest products and only work with suppliers who can provide full FSC/PEFC chain of custody certification for timber products. We also collaborate with manufacturers who have achieved the BRE Standard, BES 6001.
To minimise waste production, we have adopted strategies such as ordering the correct quantities of materials, reducing packaging waste, and recycling materials wherever possible. Our dedication to continuously improving our environmental performance is unwavering, and we are always searching for new ways to lessen our impact on the planet.
At our company, we understand that every eco-friendly choice we make today is an investment in a better future for all of us. That is why we are passionate about improving our environmental practices and decreasing our carbon footprint. We are committed to making a positive impact on the world and are constantly exploring new ways to achieve our sustainability goals.
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Modern Methods of Construction
We are committed to delivering more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective construction solutions for our clients, and so, as a forward-thinking and innovative principle contractor, we realised early on the potential of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to build smarter, quicker and more efficiently. We believe that these modern systems can help to reduce construction waste, speed up the building programme and improve cost control.
We are committed to incorporating MMC into our construction activities and have formed close working relationships with a number of specialist suppliers and manufacturers in order to take advantage of the latest technology and materials available.
Our supply chain partners are highly experienced in delivering high-specification built environments – from social housing to medical and community centres – using a wide range of bespoke, factory-fabricated MMC systems including closed panel timber frame, structural insulated panels (SIPs), modular (volumetric) solutions and more.
We are committed to providing our clients with more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective construction solutions and, as such, we have developed an in-depth understanding of the opportunities afforded by MMC. By utilising the latest advances in construction technology, materials and techniques, we are able to reduce construction waste, speed up the building programme and improve cost.
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Building Information Modelling (BIM)
BIM is a process that can help to create and manage information on a construction project throughout its entire life cycle.
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This process involves the development of a coordinated digital description of all aspects of the built asset, combining information-rich 3D models and associated structured data such as product, execution, and handover information.
The involvement of those that will be involved at a later stage of the project during the early stages can help to ensure that the design information developed is coordinated and of maximum benefit to those involved in the construction and operation stages.
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As the project enters the construction phase, the information generated can be used to plan and build more efficiently, and any changes that need to be made can be done in a transparent and recorded way. Additionally, once the construction project is completed and the in-use stage begins, the information that has been modeled can be used to operate the built asset.
The digital models provide accurate cost and programme information, as well as manage delivery and change risk, while also enhancing collaboration through process and technology.
BIM offers many advantages, such as reduced waste and costs, improved construction scheduling, accurate cost and programme information, improved visualisation for clients and stakeholders, and enhanced collaboration through process and technology.
Buxton is an early adopter of BIM and has provided training to consolidate and enhance BIM understanding, processes, and skills across teams, clients, and supply chain partners.
Wavel Plant Hire & Sales
Our plant hire, transport, and tool sales division, Wavel Plant, located in Lingfield, Surrey, provides an all-inclusive hire and sales service to Buxton and external companies.
Our dedicated manager, Chris Heyden, has been an integral part of Buxton for over 30 years and works closely with our site teams to ensure that we have the necessary plant and machinery available across our operations and to our valued customers.
At Buxton and Wavel Plant, we recognise the importance of investing in new equipment and the latest technology to ensure that we continue to provide the highest quality construction services to our clients.
As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, all plant and machinery are regularly serviced to ensure optimal efficiency and reduce any negative impact on the environment.