J S Wright has secured a deal worth more than £2.5 million for a major new development of all-affordable housing in Surrey.
The company is to design and build the mechanical services for all 97 apartments and communal spaces at Thamesview House in Walton-on-Thames.
The £20 million one to two-bed scheme is being built with staggered heights from six to nine storeys by award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group for affordable housing provider PA Housing. It will replace an outdated existing nine-storey residential block comprising 64 homes built in 1972.
Thames View House will bring the number of new apartments J S Wright and Hill are working together on to over 1,000.
The company will design and install air source heat pumps (ASHP) at Thamesview House.
Each apartment will be equipped with a heat interface unit (HIU) to deliver instant hot water on demand and hot water to radiators at low return temperatures.
The brief will also involve installing residential sprinklers for fire protection and an above-ground drainage system and supplying and installing all sanitaryware.
Further services include a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system and building management controls with a pre-payment billing system for each apartment’s energy use.
Wright Maintenance will also provide 12 months of maintenance support for the development including all communal areas.
Work on-site on the 18-month project is scheduled to start in June 2023.
J S Wright is already providing the services for a total of more than 950 homes at Lampton Parkside in Hounslow, the First Development Site (FDS) on the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth, McArthur’s Yard in Bristol, South West Lands in Wembley, and the Rennie Estate in Bermondsey for Hill.
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An artist’s impression of Thamesview House in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey
Tony Maxwell has been appointed by J S Wright as its new Head of Procurement.
He will be responsible for all operational and strategic procurement management including reviewing and negotiating trading agreements, sourcing best-quality sustainable and environmental products and supplier services, as well as maintaining and building relations with existing and new suppliers.
Based in London, Tony will lead a procurement team that includes experienced M&E buyers and hirers. He will also join a head office team that is in the process of digitising the business practices and operations of J S Wright and Wright Maintenance to enhance operational efficiencies and compliance.
With more than 30 years of experience in the building materials distribution industry, Tony has been a Regional Manager for both BSS and Wolseley UK, and for more than 20 years a Branch Manager for BSS where he was responsible for opening and managing new branches across London and the Southeast.
Tony said: “I am keen to further develop J S Wright’s relationships with its partner suppliers as well as bring on more suppliers to support its ambitious five-year growth target. I also aim to keep J S Wright fully aware of how new products coming to market will be able to support the company’s ESG (Environment, Social and Corporate Governance) commitments.”
Managing Director Peter Grierson said: “I am delighted to welcome Tony to this key new role within our senior management team. Tony’s extensive experience in building product distribution and branch management will help us maintain our profitability and competitiveness, as well as our sustainability and environmental credentials, as we grow as a business.”
Tony will also reinforce J S Wright’s commitment to supporting the mental health of its employees. As an active mental health campaigner, he was part of a team that raised more than £100,000 for the charity Mind by driving an old London black cab from Leicester to Lake Como in Italy and back.
J S Wright has appointed Dean Burgess as IT Manager.
With more than 15 years of experience in the IT industry, he was previously Head of IT for national children’s charity NYAS (National Youth Advisory Service), where he was instrumental in gaining the charity Cyber Essentials accreditation vital for gaining government contracts.
Dean will be responsible for developing and maintaining the electronic network systems for both J S Wright and Wright Maintenance, which includes ensuring that all their systems remain secure and compliant.
Working with Associate Director IT and Support Services Simon Bevin and Finance Director John Stevenson, Dean will also play a key role in the ongoing digitalisation of the company’s management systems that will increase efficiencies by making all data accessible as a single source of truth.
Managing Director Peter Grierson said: “Dean will help support our ambitious growth plans and enable us to provide an even better service to customers.”
J S Wright has promoted two of its senior managers to Associate Directors.
Simon Bevin has been appointed Associate Director – IT & Support Services, while David Bradbury has taken up the role of Associate Director – Design, both based in Birmingham.
Simon joined J S Wright in 2007 as a CAD Technician and rose to CAD Manager and then CAD & IT Manager, having been successfully involved in a number of challenging technological projects.
Managing Director Peter Grierson said: “Simon’s exceptional experience and performance will enable the company to move forward confidently in meeting customer expectations for technology-based solutions.”
David Bradbury joined J S Wright in 2014 as a Senior Design Engineer before being promoted to Design Manager. The mechanical engineering graduate is a fully accredited Heat Network Consultant and was recently made a Member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
Peter said: “David has helped put J S Wright at the forefront of heat network design and installation and will be a key driver in maintaining the strength of our Design Department.”
He added: “These promotions will strengthen our management structure and ensure that our ever-increasing workload is carried out to the highest standards.
“They are also fitting reward for outstanding management success and prove our commitment to investing in the training and development of our people.”
It was a second year of success for all three companies that picked up the prizes at J S Wright’s Supplier Awards.
The annual event celebrates outstanding levels of quality, commitment and service delivery by the company’s suppliers.
R&M Fixings & Supports, Mec-Serv and SAV Systems were named as Supplier of the Year, Subcontractor of the Year and Manufacturer of the Year, respectively.
All three companies also won last year’s awards, while for SAV Systems, it was the eighth time that the company had won the Manufacturer of the Year title.
The trophies were presented by Managing Director Peter Grierson in a ceremony held at San Carlo restaurant in Birmingham.
Peter said: “We would not be the successful business that we are without the support of our key subcontractors, suppliers and manufacturers. Partnerships like these, built on trust, honesty and great service and supply, play a vital role in enabling us to continually grow our business.”
Steve Cargill, R&M Fixings & Supports Director, said: “We are delighted to have been named Supplier of the Year by J S Wright for two consecutive years. This award would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our entire team.
“Our partnership with J S Wright is vital to our success and we are committed to continuing to provide high-quality service and products to them in the future.”
Matt Pullin, Mec-Serv Director, said: “I am thrilled that we have won the Best Subcontractor award for the second year running. I am proud of all our team for their continued hard work that has again resulted in this coveted honour from a key client.”
Jan Hansen, SAV Systems Sales Director, commented: “This year we are particularly proud to win the Manufacturer of the Year award, with 2022 having been a difficult year with supply chain issues. So this does give us some acknowledgement that our efforts were well received.
“We are proud to work with J S Wright and look forward to many more years of doing so.”
The awards were based on nominations by the company’s mechanical and electrical design and contracts engineers and its foremen.
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Peter Grierson presents trophies to Jan Hansen, Steve Cargill and Matt Pullin
J S Wright is to provide the heating and ventilation services for a new affordable housing scheme in south east London.
The company will design and build the energy efficient services for the Rennie Estate, comprising 49 apartments in two new blocks of twelve storeys and four storeys on Galleywall Road in Bermondsey, for award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group and its housing partner Southwark Council.
The contract, valued at more than £1.5 million, will include the design and installation of air source heat pumps (ASHP), which absorb heat from outside air, to deliver hot water at low flow temperatures to the individual apartments via heat interface units for radiators and domestic services.
J S Wright will reduce noise generated from power generation by surrounding the ASHP plant with acoustic enclosures. It will also equip the development with mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems.
The design and build brief will extend to providing residential sprinklers for fire protection, above ground drainage, and all sanitaryware, the latter also supplied by J S Wright. A building management system for monitoring and controlling all the mechanical systems is also part of the deal.
Work on site is scheduled to begin in June 2023 with completion due in April 2024.
Managing Director Peter Grierson said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this opportunity to help support a major local need for affordable housing by delivering high quality mechanical services that will reduce carbon emissions and running costs.”
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An artist’s impression of the new Rennie Estate in Bermondsey
J S Wright has won a circa £17 million contract for the latest phase of London Dock.
The company has been contracted by St George, the luxury residential brand of the Berkeley Group, to install the mechanical and electrical systems for all 359 new-build apartments within Saffron Wharf.
The block of mixed-tenure apartments is part of a master plan for 1,800 new homes and 180,000 sq ft of commercial space on the 15-acre site of the former News International printworks.
J S Wright will play a major role in connecting the existing phases of London Dock by extending its district heating system and mains cold water service to serve Saffron Wharf and future phases.
Works will consist of installing a low temperature hot water (LTHW) distribution system, including a heating substation, and a boosted cold water (BCW) plant room with distribution network, along with a CAT5 cold water service, soil & waste, above ground drainage, and rainwater services.
J S Wright will also equip the site with the fire sprinklers to serve the apartments and commercial areas, as well as extend the hydrant main and wet risers to serve all the cores.
The mechanical shell and core package also involves installing natural and automatic smoke ventilation systems for the car park, refuse bin stores and commercial units via a ventilation substation, and fitting a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system for heating and cooling common areas.
The electrical infrastructure work will include installing mains and submains distribution and containment systems, lighting and external lighting. Fire alarms, access control and CCTV, TV, data and phone systems, and electric vehicle chargers are also part of the package.
The homes will in turn be fitted out by J S Wright with hot and cold-water services, heat recovery ventilation, radiators and underfloor heating and cooling services via VRF fan coil units.
The mechanical work will also include installing billing and control systems and connecting and commissioning the installation of bathroom and ensuite pods supplied by the sub-contractor.
J S Wright will also provide the homes with all their electrical systems including lighting, small power, fire alarms and door entry systems.
Work on site is scheduled to start in late 2022, with completion of the contract due in early 2025.
(Caption) An artist’s impression of the new Saffron Wharf phase of London Dock
Peter Grierson has joined J S Wright as Managing Director, taking over from Phil Leech who has now become Chairman.
Previously National Sales Director for Wolseley Pipe and Climate, Peter will take control of the day-to-day running of J S Wright and Wright Maintenance.
With more than 30 years of experience in the sale of building products to the construction industry, Peter began his career as a trainee sales representative with the national Graham Plumbers’ Merchant chain before joining Alumasc selling rainwater and drainage systems to specifiers and contractors.
He then moved to pipeline and heating solutions giant BSS Group as Key Account Director, rising to Southern Region Director and then National Business Development Director. Prior to joining Wolseley, he was Regional Sales Director South for interior fit-out product specialist SIG Interiors.
Among his career highlights, Peter was heavily involved in his previous position with helping to turn a business lacking in clear direction and clarity into a driving force and market leader in terms of service and performance.
He will work closely with a highly experienced team including Contracts Director Matt Coy and Design & Estimating Director David Cook.
Peter said: “I look forward to working with my new colleagues in continuing the company’s success built up over 132 years. Having enjoyed a long association as a supplier, I have always regarded J S Wright as a business that conducts itself with integrity, is heavily focused on its people, and ensures that exceptionally high-quality standards remain paramount.”
“My outlook from early in my career has been to deliver to the customer exactly what has been promised and build lasting relationships on the strength of the trust which that brings. It involves having people around you with a shared vision, mission and purpose and ensuring that in all discussions and negotiations everyone feels they have been heard and achieved some gain.”
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Peter Grierson, the new Managing Director of J S Wright
Intrepid J S Wright team members have raised more than £5,000 for their adopted charity after completing an epic challenge in the Lake District.
Twenty-six staff and three suppliers tested their fitness, commitment and determination by taking part in the Lakes Triple Challenge in aid of Warwick-based Molly Ollys, which cares for children with life-threatening illnesses.
They cycled through the trails of Grizedale forest, trekked to the summit of the 803-metre-high Old Man of Coniston and kayaked across Coniston Water, one of the UK’s largest lakes, covering more than 24 miles over an eight-hour period.
J S Wright Director and Team Leader David Cook said: “This was an incredible achievement after our staff and suppliers endured a day of testing and gruelling challenges. We were all proud of our efforts for such a great charity.”
Molly Ollys provides emotional and financial support, where appropriate, to children throughout the UK with terminal and life-threatening illnesses.
Staff from J S Wright and sister company Wright Maintenance have now raised more than £7,000 for their chosen charity this year from events including a sponsored football match, a one million steps marathon, a virtual walk to the company’s London office, and a dress down day before the Jubilee Weekend.
(Caption) Members of the J S Wright team celebrate completing the Lakes Triple Challenge
A J S Wright team of staff and suppliers are set to embark on an epic challenge to support the company’s adopted charity.
They are heading to the Lake District on September 17 to take on the Lakes Triple Challenge with the aim of raising as much money as possible for Warwick-based Molly Ollys, which supports children with life-threatening illnesses
Thirty colleagues and six suppliers will test themselves trekking, biking and kayaking across the national park throughout the day.
Their challenge will be to kayak across Coniston Water, bike ride through Grizedale Forest and trek to the summit of the iconic peak of The Old Man of Coniston. They will also pay their respects to Her Late Majesty the Queen.
Charity organiser Angie Swann said: “Our target is to raise £5,000, which is enough to pay for ten wishes for the children that Molly Ollys supports. The challenge is part of our efforts throughout 2022 to help bring some magic into the lives of desperately ill children during their darkest moments.”
Staff have already raised more than £2,000 for the charity from events including a sponsored football match, a one million steps marathon, a virtual walk to the company’s London office, and a dress down day.
Rachel Ollerenshaw, Co-founder of Molly Ollys, commented: “We are so grateful to the J S Wright team for choosing Molly Ollys as their Charity of the Year. They have already raised lots and every penny makes a real difference to children facing the most terrifying health challenges.”
Molly Ollys provides emotional and financial support, where appropriate, to children throughout the UK with terminal and life-threatening illnesses.
J S Wright has secured a contract valued at more than £4.7 million for a new mixed-use development at Neptune Wharf in Deptford.
The company will fit out all 199 private and social ownership apartments with mechanical services and carry out the shell and core works for six commercial units on Grinstead Road.
Galliard Homes is driving the regeneration scheme in the same district as its now sold-out Seagar Distillery development, for which J S Wright fitted out the second phase of 137 apartments in a £1.2 million contract.
J S Wright will install an energy centre incorporating gas-fired combined heating and power (CHP) plant to distribute low temperature hot water (LTHW), and a boosted cold-water plantroom with distribution pipework to serve all six blocks and 10 mews houses on the development, which will range from three to 12 storeys including office space, a café, bike repair shop and parking space.
The shell and core works involve installing soil and wastewater services, internal rainwater services, gas services, and dry risers for firefighting. The company will also fit commercial fire sprinklers and capped services to all the commercial units, as well as provide automatic controls.
It will fit out the one to four-bed apartments on the scheme with hot and cold-water services and a mix of radiator and underfloor heating supplied via heat interface units (HIUs), as well as sanitaryware, and soil and waste services.
The contract package for the apartments also includes installing domestic sprinklers and ventilation systems.
J S Wright is set to start work on site this month on the 55-week contract.
Managing Director Phil Leech said: “Having successfully supported Galliard Homes on major projects throughout London and Birmingham, it is a testament to our expertise that we have been appointed yet again to help deliver another major mixed-use regeneration scheme.”
Picture: A CGI of the Neptune Wharf development in Deptford
J S Wright has been awarded a second phase of work on London’s largest estate regeneration.
The contract, worth more than £9.5 million, is to provide the mechanical services for 352 new apartments on the First Development Site of the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth.
The company is already close to completing a £6.5 million-plus services package for the 229 apartments in the first phase (Phase A) of the FDS.
The first two phases (Phases A and B) of exclusively social housing are being delivered in partnership with award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group, housing developer Notting Hill Genesis and Southwark Council.
The FDS will eventually have 800 new homes – and the regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate will ultimately deliver 3,500 new homes, half of which will be designated as affordable.
For Phase B, J S Wright will design and build an energy centre with gas-fired combined heat and power units and gas-fired boilers that will feed heat interface units in each apartment to deliver instant hot water on demand and heating to radiators at low return temperatures
The contract will also involve installing a cold-water plantroom and distribution network for boosted cold water and residential fire sprinklers to all apartments.
In addition, the Phase B work will include fitting mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems, wet and dry risers, sanitary ware, internal rainwater, and above-ground drainage systems.
Also within the commission is a building management control system that includes a pre-payment billing system for each apartment’s energy use.
The company is beginning work now on Phase B of the Aylesbury Estate FDS, with the contracted work due for completion in December 2023.
Managing Director Phil Leech said: “Having already showcased our excellent skills and experience in designing and installing building services in a fully integrated way for the first phase of this life-transforming development for residents, I am thrilled we have been selected to complete phase B.”
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A CGI of the Aylesbury Estate First Development Site Phase B in Walworth
J S Wright has promoted two highly experienced members of staff to directors.
Matthew Coy and David Cook have taken on the positions of Contracts Director and Design & Estimating Director.With 47 years of industry experience between them, they are the latest examples of J S Wright’s investment in staff progression and development as the company moves forward as an employee ownership trust (EOT).Matthew, who joined J S Wright in 2014 as contracts manager before rising to associate contracts director, has worked in building services for 24 years. He has delivered projects valued at up to £26 million across the commercial fit out, industrial, hospitality, hotels and high-end residential sectors.
Based at head office, he now oversees all operational aspects of the company’s M&E contracts carried out from its Birmingham and London offices.David Cook joined J S Wright in 1999 as a technical apprentice before rising to design engineer, commercial design manager and then associate design director.
Also head office based, he is now responsible for all pre-construction work while also working closely with Matthew on all projects. He leads a 30-strong team of design, estimating, CAD and document control staff.
Matthew and David are both fully qualified heat network consultants.
Managing Director Phil Leech said: “These promotions are part of a natural progression for those that show outstanding team leadership skills and are committed to upholding our values of quality, integrity and collaboration. I have every confidence that our M&E business growth and service delivery will go from strength to strength under Matthew and David’s directorship.”
J S Wright has won a contract valued at more than £3.5 million for a new harbourside development in Bristol.
The company will design and build the mechanical services for 142 high-quality apartments on a long-derelict site at McArthur’s Yard on Gas Ferry Road in the city’s historic dock area.
The £36 million project led by award-winning housebuilder Hill in association with leading housing provider The Guinness Partnership will deliver a mix of one to three-bedroom homes for market sale, shared ownership, and social rent, as well as ground floor commercial space.
J S Wright’s contract will involve designing and installing an energy centre with associated pipework to distribute low-temperature hot water heating to radiators in each apartment via direct single plate heat interface units (HIUs).
The company will also install a boosted cold-water system for the domestic hot and cold-water supply.
In addition, J S Wright will install energy efficient mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems, smoke ventilation and dry risers, as well as water sprinklers within residential areas.
The company will also supply and install the sanitaryware for each apartment, an internal rainwater system, and above-ground drainage.
The brief will also involve providing a building management system (BMS) incorporating a prepayment billing system for monitoring each apartment’s energy use.
J S Wright is due to start on site this March, with completion of the contracted work scheduled for May 2023.
Managing Director Phil Leech commented: “We are thrilled that the successful relationship we have built up with such a major housebuilder in equipping its many developments across London has been extended to Bristol.
“We now look forward to employing our specialist M&E expertise in helping to bring new much-needed high-quality energy efficient affordable homes to one of the few remaining brownfield areas of the city.”
Picture: An artist’s impression of the McArthur’s Yard development
J S Wright has secured a £7.25 million-plus contract for a new housing development in Hounslow.
The company will upgrade existing heating systems and equip 260 new apartments within the first stage of Lampton Parkside, a development being delivered in joint venture by Notting Hill Genesis and Hill Group.
Leading housing provider NHG and award-winning housebuilder Hill are transforming the site formerly occupied by an old civic centre into a development of more than 900 energy efficient and carbon neutral homes for a mix of private sale, shared ownership, and affordable rent.
The mechanical works will involve upgrading an existing energy centre, built in Phase One for the entire development, with new gas-fired condensing boilers and combined heat and power units to maximise energy efficiencies, along with a new underground district heating system serving the remainder of the development.
J S Wright will also provide each apartment with low pressure hot water to feed an underfloor heating system via a heat interface unit connected to an on-site district heating network. It will also provide a boosted cold-water service for landlord areas and water sprinkler systems for residential areas.
The company will also use its in-house prefabrication facility to supply the heat interface units within the utility cupboards, reducing the number of trades on site.
J S Wright will equip the apartments with mechanical heat recovery ventilation to reduce energy costs. It will also supply and install sanitaryware, above ground drainage, and dry risers for fire protection.
The company has begun work on site with completion scheduled for July 2023.
Managing Director Phil Leech commented: “We are delighted that our expertise and experience as providers of energy efficient M&E building services has been reflected in this commission for such a major development.”
Picture: An artist’s impression of Lampton Parkside in Hounslow
J S Wright has been honoured with a top regional training award.
The company beat off stiff competition to be named as Best Medium Employer at the Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards 2021, held at Edgbaston cricket stadium.
It was chosen on the success of the J S Wright Academy which, since the launch in 2008, has taken on 55 apprentices on a range of craft and technical courses in which learning skills are also nurtured by existing employees.
The judging panel was impressed with how the apprentices are given a complete understanding of the business and full support through on-site experience and individual mentoring – an approach that has seen no less than 33 of those 55 apprentices still with the company.
Associate Director and Leader of the J S Wright Academy, Paul Millington, said: “I am delighted to have received this award on behalf of J S Wright. We started our Academy to help our young people develop their careers within the business and to help bridge the skills gap, with the result that we now have a sustainable and highly motivated workforce.”
Managing Director Phil Leech added: “We regard our apprentices as our leaders of tomorrow and invest heavily in instilling in them the leadership qualities and values which have sustained us through our history and are key to our continuing to expand and diversify as an M&E services provider.”
The awards were run by BirminghamLive in partnership with the Ladder for Greater Birmingham campaign, and J S Wright’s award was sponsored by Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP.
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Phil Leech, Paul Millington and staff celebrate J S Wright’s award-winning success
J S Wright has secured a contract valued at more than £9 million to install the engineering infrastructure systems for the third and largest phase of one of London’s biggest regeneration projects.
The mechanical and electrical package will serve 620 apartments at Hallsville Quarter, a new £600 million town centre scheme which is being developed by Bouygues UK for Canning Town in the east London borough of Newham.
The mix of private rented, shared ownership, affordable and extra care units, spread across the eight buildings constituting Phase Three, are part of ambitious plans to create a thriving community and establish a legacy for Canning Town.
J S Wright will provide a heating distribution network to circulate low temperature hot water from an energy centre to the apartments, along with the pipework systems from plantrooms to distribute mains and boosted cold water.
The mechanical works will also include installing above ground drainage in landlord areas and internal rainwater harvesting systems.
In addition, J S Wright will install variable refrigerant flow heating and cooling services and domestic services for the extra care units. It will also provide domestic services for a management suite and a Shop Mobility facility.
The electrical works will involve fitting a low voltage power distribution network, fire detection, suppression and containment systems, landlord lighting and power services, and external lighting.
Work on site has already started on the project which is scheduled for completion in late 2023.
J S Wright is already working with Bouygues UK on another contract to fit out the M&E services for Castle Park View, a 375-unit private housing scheme in Bristol and the first to be connected to Bristol City Council’s heat network.
Managing Director Phil Leech commented: “We are delighted that such a prestigious developer has turned again to our mechanical and electrical expertise to help transform the lives of residents in a rapidly developing area of London.”
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An artist’s impression of the third phase of Hallsville Quarter
J S Wright has secured a contract worth more than £6 million to help turn a derelict canal-side site in Birmingham into a quality residential-led development.
The company will install the mechanical infrastructure services and fit out all 650 apartments at the 117-acre Soho Wharf scheme at Soho Loop on the city’s Main Line Canal, opposite Birmingham City Hospital.
The £165 million regeneration project is being driven by joint venture partners Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital with the aim of transforming the former industrial site to attractive new apartments and townhouses, commercial space, and parks and gardens.
J S Wright will install a boosted cold-water plantroom with distribution pipework to all six blocks on the development, which will range from six to 14 storeys including retail and parking space.
In addition, the shell and core works involve installing soil and wastewater services, internal rainwater services, and dry risers for firefighting.
The company will also fit out all the one and two-bedroom apartments on the scheme with hot and cold-water services as well as soil and waste services.
The contract package for the apartments also includes installing domestic sprinklers and both heat recovery and extract ventilation systems.
Work has already commenced on the project with completion scheduled for summer 2023
The company is already carrying out a £4 million contract with Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital to fit out 379 new-build apartments at The Timber Yard on Pershore Street in Birmingham’s Chinatown.
Managing Director Phil Leech commented: “With Birmingham undergoing a similar regeneration to London, it is a testament to our expertise that we have been appointed yet again to help deliver many more quality apartments in our home city.”
(Caption) An artist’s impression of Soho Wharf in Birmingham
Nigel Marriott (right), Owner Director at Trebles, receives the Supplier of the Year award from National Design and Estimating Director Andrew Smith
Three key suppliers were honoured for their outstanding levels of quality, commitment and service delivery at J S Wright’s 2020 Annual Awards.
The company’s Board directors presented awards in three categories to representatives of the winning companies at Cucina Rustica Restaurant in the city’s Jewellery Quarter.
Wolverhampton-based specialist pump distributor Trebles was presented with the Supplier of the Year award, while Woking-based SAV Systems, a provider of energy-efficient heating and ventilation solutions, received the Manufacturer of the Year award.
The Sub-Contractor of the Year award was awarded to Birmingham-based Direct Control Systems, a provider of building services control and management systems.
The awards were based on nominations made by J S Wright’s design and contracts engineers and the company’s foremen. The broad range of criteria in all categories included quality, proactivity, service level involvement, technical content and after sales support.
Jan Hansen (right), Sales Director at SAV Systems, receives the Manufacturer of the Year award from Finance Director Martin Roberts
Stuart Davis (right), Director of Direct Control Systems, receives the Sub-Contractor of the Year award from Managing Director Phil Leech
Nigel Marriott, Owner Director at Trebles, commented: “I am extremely proud of our team’s continued dedication and commitment to offering exceptional service to the industry, especially in helping to navigate it through the global pandemic, and of our being recognised in this way.”
Jan Hansen, Sales Director at SAV Systems, said: “We are very proud to have been presented with this award. Anyone can sell good products but maintaining good customer relationships and satisfaction is something we pride ourselves on.”
Stuart Davis, Director at Direct Control Systems, commented: “It has been an honour to receive this award on behalf of all the hardworking staff at Direct Control Systems. It feels even more special given how difficult things have been during the pandemic – and reassuring that J S Wright’s staff have recognised this.”
Managing Director Phil Leech said: “The consistently outstanding levels of service we have received from our loyal and trusted suppliers – especially during a pandemic – have been a key contributor to maintaining our success as a £50 million business.”
J S Wright has secured a contract valued at more than £9.5 million for the prestigious Hockley Mills development in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
The company will design and build the M&E services for all 395 apartments at the £105 million mixed-use scheme on Pitsford Street for developer Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited.
J S Wright will provide a range of services for the build to rent apartments that are being constructed in six new buildings on the former brownfield site.
The one to three-bed apartments are part of a project to build a total of eight highly distinct buildings, including retail, leisure and office space, that reflect the unique heritage and architecture of the Jewellery Quarter.
The mechanical works will include the design and installation of apartment services including soil and waste, hot and cold water, sanitaryware and ventilation systems.
Residential sprinkler systems, external rainwater services and landlords boosted cold water distribution, along with corridor smoke ventilation and car park ventilation systems including dry risers, are all within the scope of the mechanical works.
Thermal modelling techniques will be used to reduce overheating, and SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) and SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) energy efficiency calculations made to meet Government emission targets.
The electrical works will involve the design and installation of the low voltage switch room including the switchboards for powering the apartments and landlord areas.
The commission will also include providing apartment lighting and external lighting systems, access control and CCTV equipment, domestic fire alarms, lightning protection and electric vehicle charging points.
An IT system for landlord property management will also be installed by the company as part of the electrical package.
Work on site is scheduled to start in September 2021 with completion due in June 2023.
Managing Director Phil Leech commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded our first mechanical and electrical contract with Sir Robert McAlpine, especially as it enables us to help turn a brownfield site in our home city into an attractive development for contemporary working and living.”
(Caption) An artist’s impression of the the Hockley Mills development
The amenities contract for one of London’s biggest build-to-rent luxury developments has been awarded to J S Wright.
The deal, worth more than £1.6 million, will involve providing the mechanical services for the amenity spaces within two buildings (Blocks B and D) at Nine Elms Parkside in Battersea.
The development is being built by Telford Homes for global rental housing developer Greystar, and its amenities will include receptions and office space, together with residents’ gyms, lounges, bars, dining rooms and libraries.
Already working for the developer on a separate £20m mechanical services package for all 894 buy-to-let apartments within the two buildings, JSW will also provide two years of planned maintenance cover through its facilities management company, Wright Maintenance, as part of the package.
J S Wright will fit out the amenity spaces with 4-pipe low temperature heating and chilled water fan coil units, trench heating and comfort cooling (DX) air conditioning systems. Supply and extract ventilation via heat recovery units will also be installed.
The company will also install domestic hot and cold-water services, soil and waste, and sanitaryware installations. In addition, the company will connect all the mechanical services to a building management system (BMS).
Work on the 80-week project is set to begin on site this month (June).
Managing Director Phil Leech said: “We are delighted that the expertise we have already been demonstrating on our first-ever residential project for Telford Homes has now led to being awarded the amenities package.”
Nine Elms Parkside is part of a new neighbourhood stretching from Battersea to Vauxhall that will eventually contain 20,000 homes as well as cultural, retail and business facilities.
Caption: A CGI of what Nine Elms Parkside’s amenities will look like
J S Wright has renewed its sponsorship of the West Midlands’ premier junior netball club for the third consecutive season.
It will remain principal sponsor of Parkside whose girls currently play at Under 12 to Under 15 levels in the Birmingham Intermediate Netball League (BINL) and at Under 14 and Under 16 levels in the National League.
J S Wright’s renewed sponsorship will enable the Sutton Coldfield-based club, which is run entirely by volunteers, to continue to invest in quality training equipment and subsidise the entry fees for tournaments as its members return to indoor netball following the easing of Covid lockdown curbs.
The club, which trains at North Birmingham Academy and plays its BINL matches at the University of Birmingham, plans to resume matches on a friendly basis from May and to take part in tournaments again from June 21.
Netball has seen a huge rise in popularity among girls inspired by the Vitality Roses England women’s netball team which will enter the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as defending champions.
Parkside has an enviable record of producing county and England players. Former England captain Ama Agbeze MBE and current internationals Beth Cobden and Layla Gusgoth are among those that started as club juniors.
Having won numerous county and national titles since it was founded in 1995, Parkside juniors currently make up more than half the Birmingham Academy (county) squad, while the club’s Under 12s won the inaugural Sutton Netball League at the start of last year winning all 16 of their matches.
David Griffiths, Parkside Netball Club Chairman, commented: “Given that most of last season was cancelled, the club is extremely grateful that J S Wright has continued to support us in these difficult times.”
He added: “J S Wright’s support has proved invaluable in giving the increasing numbers of girls across Birmingham that are keen to take up netball the opportunity to train and play in a safe environment, gain confidence and achieve their potential, and make lasting friendships.”
Andrew Smith, J S Wright National Design and Estimating Director, whose daughter Lily plays for the club, said: “As a company that is committed to providing a safe and inclusive career path for our young people, we are delighted to continue to support a club that both nurtures the sporting ambitions of young girls in the community and aids their fitness, confidence and mental health.”
Caption: New players at Parkside Junior Netball Club sport their new JSW-branded hoodies in the company of their trainers
Darrell Mitchell has been appointed as the company’s new Human Resources Manager.
He will be responsible for leading the HR team and developing an HR strategy that incorporates the company’s values and culture.
With 25 years of experience in senior HR roles, Darrell was previously an HR consultant writing and delivering his own online management training courses. Before that he spent five years leading the HR function for the maintenance and development teams of a large housing, maintenance and care company.
His varied experience also includes a five-year stint as HR Manager for the Royal Shakespeare Company and a 20-year career in the Prison Service.
Having reached the elite level of his profession, Darrell is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), having completed a CIPD Level 7 Diploma. He is also an ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) qualified mentor, and a qualified and experienced coach.
Darrell said: “I am looking forward to supporting J S Wright’s board and associate directors in developing and managing the company’s HR systems and processes as the company continues to expand and diversify, as well as helping all its employees to achieve their career goals.”
He added: “The HR development strategy will fit closely with J S Wright’s values of integrity, loyalty and quality, and its collaborative and supportive culture.”
J S Wright has grown substantially over the past ten years to become a £50 million business with new electrical and prefabrication departments, a new residential maintenance company, and a directly employed workforce that has risen to 190 people operating out of offices in Birmingham and London.
Phil Leech, Managing Director of J S Wright, commented: “Darrell’s extensive experience, particularly in employee mentoring and training, will prove invaluable in helping us achieve our aims of becoming the M&E contractor of first choice for businesses we choose to work with.”
Darrell is also a singer, song writer and a guitarist, performing with the Midlands-based indie/folk band The Occasional Orchestra in his spare time.
J S Wright is to equip the first phase of a new housing development at Lambeth in south London.
The company will provide the mechanical services for 16 energy efficient apartments in a new five-storey building at Knight’s Walk.
The contract, valued at more than £600,000, with housebuilder Hill also includes one year of planned service maintenance cover provided by J S Wright’s residential maintenance company Wright Maintenance.
J S Wright will install a communal heating and hot water system with distribution from a central energy centre to apartment radiators.
The company will also equip all the apartments with an MVHR heat recovery ventilation system, sanitaryware, and soil and wastewater services, as well as provide the building with above-ground acoustic drainage services and a rainwater harvesting system.
The commission also involves providing a pre-payment energy billing system linked into a computer-controlled building management system (BMS) and controls, and plantroom ventilation.
Work on site has already started with completion scheduled for August 2021.
Managing Director Phil Leech commented: “We are delighted to be able to team up again with a leading housebuilder in helping to provide comfortable energy efficient new homes in south London.”
(Caption)
A CGI of what Phase One of Knight’s Walk will look like
A new Mechanical Project Manager has been appointed to J S Wright’s project management team.
Gerry McNally, based in Birmingham, has40 years of experience across the retail, commercial, education, leisure, healthcare, hoteland public sectors of the industry.
Gerrywas previously project manager for the Birmingham branch of anotherM&E services provider where his credits included managing theinstallation of the mechanical services for the recent refurbishment of the Grade II-listed Studley Castle Hotel in Warwickshire.
He is currently working on the company’s £8million project to fit out 276 new apartments within the second phase of the £220millionLondon Square mixed-use development in Bermondsey, including the installation of its heating, ventilation, sanitaryware, fire protectionand drainage systems.
Managing Director Phil Leech said: “Gerry’s vast experience will prove invaluable as we continue to grow steadily as the preferred supplier ofmechanical and electrical services to businesses we choose to work with.”
J S Wright has enhanced its reputation as one of the industry’s safest business operators after clinching a new globally recognised management award.
Despite strict lockdown restrictions, the company has achieved certification to the new ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management standard, the world’s first international OHS standard, which has replaced its BS OHSAS 18001 accreditation for protecting employees.
As one of the first M&E building services providers to be awarded the coveted accreditation, global standards organisation BSI assessed J S Wright on its approach to health and safety against a rigorous and robust set of processes.
J S Wright’s IMS & Site Administration Manager Christine Wiesztort (left) and Business Systems Auditor Jane Dimmick led the programme to deliver the integrated approach to health and safety including the involvement of all 186 members of its directly employed workforce required by the new standard.
It took six months of working within the challenging constraints of the Covid-19 lockdown, which included the need for remote auditing, for the IMS (Integrated Management System) team to successfully achieve full compliance.
Christine said: “The IMS team was extremely proud to have achieved this accreditation after overcoming a number of obstacles thrown at us by Covid including a lengthy sixth-month gap during the year to the award.”
Managing Director Phil Leech commented: “This is a fantastic achievement and thanks go to all involved especially Christine and Jane in what has been a particularly challenging time.
“Achieving ISO 45001 certification provides our clients, suppliers and employees with an added level of confidence in the way we operate.”
The IMS team is already preparing for the company to have all three of its safety, quality and environmental accreditations renewed in the New Year.
A team of young footballers from Solihull are bonding together in style thanks to J S Wright. Leafield Athletic City Under 10s will play in a new match strip donated by the company as soon as grassroots football returns after the national lockdown. J S Wright has supplied the smart shirts, shorts, and training jackets in the club’s yellow and black colours as the team’s new official sponsor. The youngsters, who play 7-a-side football with substitutes in the Central Warwickshire Youth League at Leafield Athletic’s ground at Tythe Barn Lane in Shirley, on Sunday mornings, have all progressed from the club’s Under 7s. Team coach Peter Burke said: “The team love the look, lightness and fit of their new strip. It has made them all feel a bit taller and given them a better sense of togetherness as they look forward to playing matches again after the lockdown.“As an FA-affiliated club run entirely by volunteers, we provide football for teams from Under 7s to Under 35s. We also play a wider role in the community by promoting fitness and wellbeing, which is why we have been providing home training sessions by video to keep the boys in shape during the interim.” J S Wright Associate Director Terence McLaughlin, whose son Niall plays for the team, said: “We are delighted to bring some community cheer to our region in these difficult times by sponsoring a junior football side.”(Caption – The J S Wright-sponsored Leafield Athletic City Under 10s football team in their new JSW-branded match strip)
J S Wright has won a top national award for championing equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
The company beat off competition from scores of other nominations to be named as Construction Services Employer of the Year at the finals of the 2020 BAME Apprenticeship Awards.
The awards ceremony, presented on YouTube and Facebook after the Covid pandemic forced the cancellation of an in-person event, celebrated the outstanding work and achievement of black, Asian and minority ethnic apprentices and the support provided by employers and learning providers.
J S Wright was also celebrated as a finalist in the Small Medium Employer of the Year category at the Awards, while one of its Plumbing and Heating apprentices Shaun Donaldson was applauded for reaching the shortlist for the Construction Services Apprentice of the Year Award.
The awards were hosted by TV and radio presenter Remel London and actor and comedian Tez Ilyas, and the winner of the Construction Services Employer of the Year Award was announced by Surju Kanani of Kaplan Financial.
Addressing hundreds of viewers live on screen, Remel London said that J S Wright “prides itself on the training of its staff, giving them the opportunity to develop their entire career with the help of their innovative development programmes and the support of senior staff, many of whom have been with the organisation since they were apprentices themselves”.
Associate Director and Leader of the JSW Academy Paul Millington said: “This is a brilliant achievement and a tribute to the success of our Academy and training programmes and the high quality of our apprentices.
“Special congratulations go to Shaun Donaldson, an outstanding apprentice who fully represents our core values of quality, responsibility, collaboration and integrity. This has enabled him to become an inspirational role model.”
Managing Director Phil Leech commented: “As a company, we have always been fully committed to nurturing an inclusive and diverse workforce in which everyone is valued and given the opportunity to progress.”
The prestigious event was run by Pearson, the world’s learning company, and its partner Thinkfest, and the judging panel included head judge Olga Bottomley, CEO of Straight4ward Solutions; Errol Ince, Vice Principal for STEM at London South East Colleges; former National Union of Students President Shakira Martin; and NOCN Managing Director Graham Hasting-Evans.
Olga Bottomley said the year had been “fantastic” and the quality of the apprentices has been “phenomenal”. “It has been a pleasure to be a part of such an amazing cause that really highlights diversity in apprenticeships,” she added.
.Actively supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce, J S Wright’s mechanical and electrical apprentices are all members of its industry leading Academy, which helps develop their leadership and communication skills. The company’s technical trainees also follow an Experience programme which involves being mentored in its values, processes and procedures by senior colleagues and gaining the all-round knowledge needed to become its leaders of tomorrow.
J S Wright’s apprentices also benefit from work-based college courses through industry training provider JTL, which was shortlisted for the Training Provider of the Year title at the Awards. The company supported finalist Shaun Donaldson, who is about to embark on his final Level 3 NVQ Plumbing course with the provider while also working on a multi-million pound project to fit out hundreds of new apartments at The Timber Yard development in Birmingham.
J S Wright has secured a £20million contract to support one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects.
The company is to fit out the mechanical services for all 894 apartments – the largest number in its 130-year history – in two buildings (Blocks B and D) at Nine Elms Parkside in Battersea on the south side of the River Thames.
The build-to-rent development is being built by Telford Homes as main contractor for global rental housing developer Greystar as part of the Nine Elms regeneration project – a new neighbourhood stretching from Battersea to Vauxhall that will eventually contain 20,000 homes as well as cultural, retail and business facilities.
J S Wright will fit out the one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Nine Elms Parkside with underfloor heating systems, along with fan coil units for comfort cooling. The company will also equip the kitchens and bathrooms with hot and cold-water services, soil and wastewater disposal systems, sanitaryware and mechanical extract ventilation systems, as well as install above ground drainage services and fire sprinklers for both buildings.
All the works will receive two years of planned maintenance cover carried out by JSW’s facilities management company, Wright Maintenance Ltd.
Work has begun work on site with completion due in the third quarter of 2022.
Managing Director Phil Leech said: “We are delighted to have been awarded our first contract with Telford Homes to fit out what amounts to the largest number of apartments in our history at one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects.”
A computer generated image of what Nine Elms Parkside will look like
J S Wright has boosted its project management team after appointing Matthew Brough as a Mechanical Project Manager.
Based at the company’s Birmingham headquarters, the former apprentice who lives in Stoke-on-Trent has almost 25 years of experience in building services engineering, having previously been a senior project manager and engineer for another Midlands based M&E contractor.
Prior to that, Matthew was a senior mechanical engineer and natural gas manager for an engineering services company, where he helped deliver contracts for the Shetland Gas Plant and the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre near Loughborough.
Matthew is currently working on a £17million contract to provide the mechanical and electrical services to the first phase of The Silk District residential project at Whitechapel in east London.
Managing Director Phil Leech said: “Matthew’s extensive skills and vast experience will help us continue to meet an ever-increasing demand for our mechanical and electrical services from leading UK developers.”
