Teambuild 2019
The popular UK construction industry competition Teambuild UK took place from 15th to 17th November 2019. Once again this annual industry event 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,” said 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.” 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 m2) 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 a 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. They 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. They were awarded a cash prize of £2,000, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Constructors. The Procurement Prize – £1,500, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects was awarded to Team Root from BDP.
There was, however, a surprise announcement for another of the teams during the announcement of winners. “Design and Conquer were well-organised from the start,” says Teambuild chair 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.”
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,” said 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 thanked 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 was also very grateful to the leading construction companies and consultancies, (including: BDP, Barrett Mahoney, Buro Happold, Civic Engineers, Costain, Elementa Consulting, Hawkins Brown, Mott MacDonald, WestonWilliamson and WSP) who see the value of the Teambuild initiative to develop the talent of their young professionals,
