COVID-19: AI support for multiple major NHS projects

Aggregate Industries assist in construction of critical emergency hospital facilities across the UK

COMMITTED to meeting the complex challenge of providing critical construction supplies at what is an unprecedented time for the industry, Aggregate Industries say they are proud to support the development of various critical emergency hospital facilities for coronavirus patients across the UK.

Most recently, the company supplied an urgent concrete specification required in the transformation of Deeside Leisure Centre, in North Wales, into a 250-bed emergency hospital.

This involved the temporary reopening of Aggregate Industries’ Chester concrete plant during the Easter weekend, whilst various staff volunteered to help ensure the critical supply was delivered in time ready for an end of April launch.

The company also recently supplied the concrete materials required for the GMEX Convention Centre in Manchester, which is being converted into a 1,000-bed Nightingale hospital for coronavirus patients affected in the Northern region.

This followed a donation of the full concrete specification required in the development of the new 1,000-bed NHS Louisa Jordan temporary hospital within the Scottish Exhibition Centre (SEC), Glasgow.

The company’s Asphalt division has also donated the materials required by its specialist contracting arm Spadeoak for work carried out on the Nightingale hospital at ExCeL London.

Moreover, Aggregate Industries’ Cauldon Cement arm recently took swift action in responding to a call for vital PPE supplies by two nearby surgeries. The team there donated a number of professional masks, gloves and sanitisers to each surgery, both of which have served many of the local cement team staff and their families over the years.

The company’s Heights Quarry also responded to a similar call for protective equipment in the Tees area.

Guy Edwards, chief executive officer of Aggregate Industries UK, commented: ‘As a business, we feel a huge appreciation for the NHS and the extraordinary work that its staff and other key workers continue to do in helping keep the nation running during this unprecedented time.

‘We are, therefore, incredibly proud to have been involved in the construction of the new critical facilities at Deeside Leisure Centre, the GMEX Convention Centre, ExCeL and NHS Louisa Jordan, and remain actively involved in a number of other NHS projects.

‘Our hope is that by each playing our part in whatever way we can, whether by providing construction materials and expertise or giving extra support to the many communities we operate in, we can help make a difference.’

Aside from coronavirus-critical projects, Aggregate Industries continue to be involved in many high-profile NHS infrastructure improvements. Most recently, the company was selected to provide the full concrete specification required in the development of a new £100 million hospital facility being built in Edgbaston, Birmingham, as well as a multi-million-pound ward refurbishment at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Mr Edwards added: ‘As we look ahead to what continues to be an unprecedented chapter for construction, as with every industry, our priority remains on supporting COVID-19 efforts and, where possible, playing our part in keeping construction running.’