Page 13 - A4 Journal 2020

The Company

TeambuildUK 2019

The popular UK construction industry
competition Teambuild UK took place
from 15th to 17th November 2019 with
some unexpected events when it came to
announce the winners.
Once again this annual industry event in
the UK enjoyed support from major
industry bodies including CIOB, CET, WCC,
WCCA and Future Designs.
This year saw a wealth of talented
competitors with six teams representing
11 major construction companies and
consultancies around the UK. “We know to
expect some of the most focused,
talented and motivated professionals in
the construction industry, as participants,”
says Richard Brindley who represents the
charity. “This year was no exception and
we were incredibly impressed by the high
quality of the ideas and presentations.
The TeambuildUK 2019 Competitors, Sponsors and Judges
As always, the teams were tasked with
taking on the design development and construction of a complex project which would take several years to complete in the
real world, but is condensed in the Teambuild competition into a highly accelerated weekend of intense activity and training.
“Individuals are expected to work together as multidisciplinary teams, when many have never met before. We also throw in
unexpected but realistic challenges, such as Extinction Rebellion protesters taking up residence on their site, or burst sewers
or collapsing buildings and see how they react.” This year’s competition was based on a real current project: the Milton Keynes
University (MK:U) for Cranfield University and Milton Keynes Council. The MK:U project was to design and implement a £188m
(c61,120 sqm) Phase 1 Business & Entrepreneurship faculty campus on a city centre site in Milton Keynes, which is due to
open in Summer 2023. “We chose this project because it is such an interesting concept of creating a new university focused
on artificial intelligence and advances in information technology,” explains Richard Brindley. “It is also complex, involving
residential, retail and academic spaces and involves an ambitious partnership between the MK Council and Cranford
University. As it is a real project, as always, there is a sense that you can ‘feel it, touch it, see it’.” Six teams, representing top
construction industry companies, made it through to the hotly-contested finals, and impressed throughout with their
professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication.
Their performance was evaluated by six senior industry figures, each representing a construction institution. This year the
judging panel included Patricia Bessey (PM Worshipful Company of Constructors), Richard Brindley RIBA (Past Master of the
Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects), Christine Emmett (Kaizen Business Advisors Ltd), Richard Newton
(EngineRoom) Richard Rooley (FCIBSE, Teambuild founder) and Richard Schofield (FRICS Hon.FAPM, Rider Hunt Management
Services).
The winning team, Design and Conquer, with team members from a diverse range of companies (Weston Williamson, WSP,
BDP, Mott MacDonald) and disciplines excelled against a strong field, and were awarded a cash prize of £2,000, sponsored by
the Worshipful Company of Constructors. “Design and Conquer were well-organised from the start,” says Teambuild
chairman Patricia Bessey. “All of the individuals on the team were confident and we felt, could have led the team. They gelled
well and their solutions and presentations were excellent.” “This year, however, we felt the need to add an extra prize for
Most Improved Team. Tetris, whose young members came from Mott MacDonald demonstrated such a degree of fast
learning and excellent response to feedback that all the judges felt we had to acknowledge their hard work and talent when it
came to the prize announcements.” The Procurement Prize - £1,500, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Chartered
Architects was awarded to Team Root from BDP. Martha Andrews, an interior designer from BDP, who was also part of Team
Root, was awarded the Leadership Prize of £500, which was sponsored by the Commercial Education Trust “We felt Martha
had real sparkle,” says Patrica Bessey. “As judges, we all noticed that she was able to pull her team together in a way which
was gentle and subtle. We also noticed that her team listened to her and were happy to do as she suggested. She has a real
aura and confidence about her and it’s clear she is destined for greater things.”
As well as their sponsors, Teambuild would like to thank Milton Keynes Council, Cranfield University and Malcom Reading
Consultants for kindly allowing their MK:U project to be used as the project scenario for Teambuild 2019. Teambuild is also
very grateful to the leading construction companies and consultancies who see the value of the Teambuild initiative to
develop the talent of their young professionals, including: BDP, Barrett Mahoney, Buro Happold, Civic Engineers, Costain,
Elementa Consulting, Hawkins Brown, Mott MacDonald, WestonWilliamson and WSP.

Autumn 2020 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Page 13