A WELL-KNOWN York construction business has won an award for delivering exceptional social value on a school project.

William Birch and Sons Ltd gained a 2016 RISE (Research, Innovation, Sustainability and Enterprise) award after the Leeds Sustainability Institute and selected the company as an outstanding example of delivering value to the York community.

The 93-employee building and refurbishment contractor was praised for its commitment to engaging local services and considering community needs.

This included developing skills and training, not just for its own staff but for the wider community, including students at the school and the local unemployed.

When William Birch was awarded the £3.9 million contract to expand Fulford School and provide new sports and teaching facilities the client, City of York Council, was keen for the 142-year old company to also deliver community benefits.

This included apprenticeships, training, work placements, upskilling and employing locally based unemployed people. This was alongside engaging a robust local supply chain for materials and services.

Simon Potter, construction manager, said “As an SME William Birch recognises the challenges facing organisations of this size in an increasingly competitive market and responds through engaging local organisations first and foremost where we can - 73 per cent of specialist subcontractors appointed to the project were from Yorkshire, 31 per cent of these from the city of York itself.

“We also managed to procure 95 per cent of our total materials cost sourced within 20 miles of the school.” He said students took part in construction and architecture-related workshops and seminars, there were guided student site visits, four apprentices worked on the project, the firm provided a number of work placements and was also able to recruit two new employees.

Cllr Keith Aspden, council deputy leader who has responsibility for apprenticeships, said this was high-profile recognition for the company’s work to support local jobs, apprenticeships, education and training opportunities.