HARDIES CELEBRATES SAFECONTRACTOR ACCREDITATION AS DALKEITH OFFICES MOVES TO HISTORIC CORN EXCHANGE
Hardies Property & Construction Consultants, which has fourteen offices across Scotland, including a head office in Edinburgh and another office in Dalkeith, has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety.
Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors.
Hardies, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013, is one of Scotland’s largest multi discipline surveying firms. It serves clients in both the private and public sectors with a complete operation in property and construction development, including property valuation, building and quantity surveying and project management.
The firm also handles the leasing and sale of commercial and industrial buildings; CDM Co-ordination and the provision of Energy Performance Certificates. Altogether, Hardies employ over 100 members of staff, professionally qualified in various disciplines.
The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.
Derek Ferrier, Hardies Managing Partner said: “We are delighted to achieve this latest health and safety accreditation which comes hot on the heels of us receiving an excellent health and safety audit from Ellis Whittam, a leading H & S and Employment Law firm.”
“They praised our day to day practices on health and safety in our own offices. Supplying Health and Safety services to the construction industry is one of our major sectors here at Hardies, from site audits, safety awareness courses and site specific induction talks to deploying a full Safety, Quality & Environmental Management System for small to medium contractors.”
“Obviously we want to take care of our employees, and so workplace safety is very important in an office environment as is also ensuring that we meet all of the required legislation.”
Derek added : “With the help of Ellis Whittam, we have developed robust and efficient health and safety systems, and they continue to work with us, to keep up these exceptional standards. Now that we also have SafeContractor we feel that we are providing our clients and other suppliers with whom we work on sites, with the utmost peace of mind.”
John Kinge, technical director of Safecontractor said: “Well done Hardies. More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Hardies has done.
“The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within this important sector. As consultants and advisors, Hardies serve the needs of the construction industry, working closely with them on a daily basis.”
“Safecontractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process,” he added.
Under the Safecontractor scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website.
Over 210 major, nationwide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.
In Dalkeith, Hardies, currently based at South Street, is just weeks away from its relocation to the historic Grade A Listed Dalkeith Corn Exchange. The firm will set up a new administrative hub and enjoy a new state of the art internet phone system.
Having been redeveloped by Melville Housing Association, who themselves are moving into the building, the Corn Exchange will provide an enlarged museum space for the Dalkeith History Society, a Board Room available for community meetings and events – and Melville’s reception area which will display a permanent exhibition detailing the history of the Corn Exchange as part of the recently launched Dalkeith Heritage Trail.
Hardies Partner in Dalkeith, Keith Gifford, said : “We are very excited and are really looking forward to the move which is now planned for 18th March. We have had to wait a little longer than expected due to the installation of a new internet based VOIP phone system which will allow us to radically improve communication with our other offices, staff and clients.”
“It’s a first for Hardies and could lead to us having a centralised reception for the whole firm.”
As Keith explained the new office will also give his team more space, and an opportunity for an “admin hub.”
“It will be very advantageous as we will have an Admin Support Hub which will cover the whole Hardies office network throughout Scotland, so it will benefit my team as well as Hardies as a whole,” he said.
“We wish Melville well with their move this week – they have done a fantastic job overall- and can’t wait to see their offices,” he said. “The whole building is a great resource for the town.”
Neil Edgar, Development Manger with Melville Housing Association said : “We can’t wait to move in and are confident that Hardies will soon feel right at home here in the Corn Exchange.”
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