A Story of Partnership

Network Rail recognised the achievements of its contractors and supply chain last night at the 2014 Partnership Awards, held on London’s south bank. Writes Nigel Wordsworth

The sixth annual Partnership Awards were introduced by chief executive Mark Carne, who said: “Everyone here tonight has made a difference to Network Rail and I’d like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude for everything you have done to help deliver a better railway for a better Britain.”

Awards were divided amongst 11 categories covering everything from Heritage to Sustainable Excellence and Best Small/Medium/Large Project. Companies were able to make submissions for as many or as few categories as they wished. These were then whittled down to a published shortlist by the judges and a winner – and usually one or two highly commended entries – chosen from those.

Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne.

Comedian Ed Byrne entertained the guests, mainly with anecdotes about rail’s mortal enemy – the aviation industry. He then also presided over the awards themselves.

Some big names did well. Balfour Beatty Rail won two awards, for Safety and for Heritage, Carillion won Driving Efficiencies, which was nothing to do with train driving, andSpencer Rail won two – Best Large Project  and Best Collaboration along with Balfour Beatty, Atkins and Medway Council.

However, smaller concerns also had their time in the limelight. Capgemini UK won Best Use of Technology & Innovation for Linear Asset decision Support (LADS) with Dual Inventive highly commended, while Mission Room were Highly Commended for Safety.

At the end of the category awards came two more. A Special Award was presented by the MP for Newton Abbot, Anne Marie Morris, to the team that rebuilt the Dawlish Sea Wall and the Great Western main line to Cornwall. Tom Kikham, Andy Crowley, Rob Burr and Rob Allen were named individually, but the 300-strong ‘Orange Army’ received the award.  Quite a number went on stage to receive it.

Then it was time for the final award, the Supplier of the Year.  Mark Carne presented that one himself, and it went to the recipient of the Best Small Project award – Story Contracting.  A cheer went up, not only from the Story team present but from the room at large, showing that it was a popular choice.

As a large group of smiling Story faces walked to the stage for the presentation and photographs, the remaining guests were left to ponder that, for the second year running, Network Rail had chosen one of the middle-ground, companies which are sometimes principle contractors and sometimes sub-contractors, proving that the contributions from suppliers of all sizes are truly valued for the contribution that they make to the railway.

Winners

Special Award – Dawlish reconstruction

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR – STORY CONTRACTING