SOCIAL VALUE
H.H. Smith & Sons Co. Ltd are committed to improving the community, economy and environment where we live and work
Our waste minimisation programmes reduce waste to landfill and ensure materials are recycled where feasible. We are working on reducing carbon emissions by increasing the use of electric vehicles, operating a shared travel policy, and implementing innovative energy saving manufacturing and production methods. All bring project benefits and add value beyond the traditional contract requirements.
JULY 2024
Helping Steps to Recovery and Kirklees Council
We were delighted to help Steps to Recovery and their partners Kirklees Council in revamping both their Peace Pit Polytunnels and S2R community allotment
“Works included building new planting stations, new composting system and much needed repairs and revamps to the poly tunnel and the potting shed roof. The works were very well received and the lads enjoyed working in such a pleasant setting”
Padraig O’Neill // Site Manager
MAY 2024
Bury College students visit
We were excited to provide a tour to the current level 1 construction students from Bury College. Mike Smith and Gareth from Kenmac Associates explained all the elements of works involved at this current stage including the demolition of the existing hair and beauty building, structural alterations to form new external windows & doors and partition installation.
FEBRUARY 2024
Many hands make light work, as new group of volunteers start onsite
The volunteer group have taken to the training scheme really well, and in the picture below, the group can be see working with Jenny and Heritage Conservation Joinery Specialist Tim Phelps. Tim was brought in to train the group in historic joinery restoration, and he commented that he was surprised at how quickly they had taken his training onboard, and how naturally they had taken to the process.
NOVEMBER 2023
Construction Taster Day
Great to welcome so many new faces onto the site and give them the tour of all the specialist trades on site.
SEPTEMBER 2023
Paint Saints Partnership
JUNE 2023
Apprenticeship Opportunities for construction students
Juan Crous and Ollie Glasse sat down with 10 of the students to discuss opportunities for Plastering, Brickwork and Joinery. The day was valuable in giving some of their full-time students an experience of a real interview as they look to source an apprenticeship this summer.
MARCH 2023
Greater Manchester Colleges’ Construction Skills Competition
Great to be part of the Greater Manchester Colleges’ Construction Skills Competition last week.
Held at Tameside college, students from various colleges across Greater Manchester took part.
Bernadette Tatton from our office visited the event and awarded some prizes to the talented students.
FEBRUARY 2023
St. Patrick’s Day Parade sponsors
This year HHSmith sponsored the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Huddersfield.
An absolutely brilliant event bringing the community together.
SEPTEMBER 2022
Firefighters make use of the scaffolding at Rochdale Town Hall
We recently opened our Rochdale Town Hall site on a weekend to facilitate high level training by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. Crews from both Rochdale and nearby Littleborough benefitted from being able to carry out rope rescues, safe working at height climbs up the scaffolding, and off-site ladder pitches. The crew manager from Rochdale Red Watch, thanked HH Smith for going out of their way to help with the invaluable training which many of his crew have never had the chance to undertake.
AUGUST 2022
Volunteers working with Lancashire Conservation Studios
The volunteers working with Lancashire Conservation Studios, have now completed their 12-week course with us on site at Rochdale Town Hall. The volunteers were assisting with the cleaning of the furniture, wooden decoration, and the painted walls to the historic rooms on the ground floor and undertook extensive training on how to correctly clean and conserve historic elements.
One member of the course, who was very nervous about joining the programme, thoroughly enjoyed her time onsite and her love for history and historical research shone through. Not only was she able to develop her skills and delve deeper into aspects of local history of the Town Hall and where she lives in Middleton, but she spoke at the graduation presentation of how the course had massively helped her with her mental health. She is now continuing to put her experience into practice and is volunteering with conservation, research, and documentation teams
JULY 2022
Students from Hopwood Hall College start on site
Art students from nearby Hopwood Hall college have been employed by H.H. Smith to assist Hirst Conservation with the restoration works to the ceiling panels and ornate timbers in the Great Hall at Rochadale Town Hall.
The students, who have all recently completed Level 2 in Art at college, have been employed on a 12–16-week placement which will run until most of them begin University later this year. Each student is working alongside a mentor from Hirst Conservation, and all are enjoying working on the restoration of a majestic building that many live around the corner from.
It’s a fantastic paid opportunity for young members of the local community to gain valuable work experience for their CV’s, not just working on a Grade 1 listed building, but also working with internationally renowned Hirst Conservation.
JULY 2022
Public hard-hat scaffolding tours continue
Another hard hat tour took place this month with visitors enjoying an hour-long tour of the construction and conservation works that are currently taking place at Rochdale Town Hall. The feedback received from the visitors was excellent with many amazed at the amount of work that has already taken place onsite, and everybody said they cannot wait to see the results