On Thursday 9 July, Warden hosted its very first charity quiz night, bringing together staff, friends and suppliers for an evening of entertainment, networking and fundraising.

Held at Weeton Village Hall, the event was held to raise money for HOBY UK, our nominated charity partner for 2026.

We chose to work with HOBY UK this year because of its commitment to creating long-term, meaningful social impact by helping young people develop the confidence, leadership skills and opportunities they need to reach their potential.

Sponsored by Smiths Equipment Hire and hosted by Britain’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer finalist Max Fox, the quiz was attended by more than 60 guests.

Alongside the quiz, guests had the chance to win a range of prizes, including a television, spa and restaurant vouchers and a coffee machine, helping to raise over £200 for the charity.

Ian Williams, managing director of Warden, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people come together to support such a worthwhile cause. The evening was a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues, clients, suppliers and friends while raising money for a charity that is making a real difference to young people’s lives.

“A huge thank you to everyone who attended, donated prizes, sponsored the event and helped make our first quiz night such a success. We’re incredibly proud to support HOBY throughout 2026, and this is just the start of what we hope will be a fantastic year of fundraising.”

HOBY UK empowers young people through leadership programmes, helping them build confidence, develop essential life skills and create positive change in their communities.

Warden has completed work on two major schemes for Halton Borough Council which form part of the Reconnecting Runcorn regeneration programme.

Works included the transformation of the former Granville Library into a multi-purpose community facility named WELL Runcorn, and the conversion of part of the Camden Buildings into a new digital skills hub.

WELL (Wellbeing, Education and Lifelong Learning) Runcorn brings health, education and wellbeing services together in one location in the heart of Runcorn town centre. The hub can support up to 60 new further education students and enable around 500 additional healthcare assessments each year.

We were responsible for the delivery of a new mezzanine level for classrooms and learning space, consultation rooms, meeting and multi-purpose areas, a café for members of the public, and a staff kitchen.

The £2 million Camden Buildings project saw the creation of flexible learning spaces and workspaces for Halton Council and community organisation Power in Partnership, designed to support skills development and employment opportunities.

Works involved the strip-out and refurbishment of the Grade II listed building, while preserving its historic façade. Warden also delivered a new two-storey extension, winter garden-style lobby with breakout and event space, games area, learning kitchen, and rear garden.

As part of our commitment to social value, we worked with Halton Borough Council to support the Runcorn Community Foodbank, supplied art and unused construction materials for use within the Camden Buildings, and delivered 84 apprenticeship weeks.

Ian Williams, managing director, said: “These projects are a great example of the positive impact regeneration can have on a town and its people. We’ve transformed two important buildings into modern facilities that will support health, education, learning and enterprise, while preserving the heritage of Runcorn town centre.

“These were collaborative projects from start to finish, and the end results reflect the commitment of our team, client partners and supply chain. We’re especially pleased that the quality of the completed schemes have been recognised by stakeholders, and we hope the buildings will serve the community well for many years to come.”

The £23.6m Reconnecting Runcorn regeneration programme consists of eight individual projects that aim to improve the livelihoods of residents and boost the local economy.

As part of the programme, Warden is also currently completing refurbishment works on Halton Stadium – home of Rugby League side Widnes Vikings – which is due to complete later this year.

WELL Runcorn was developed by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Halton Borough Council, Riverside College, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The professional team on the project included Cronshaw’s Electrical, WMB (Mechanical), Parkfield, Collective, Jenkinson’s, Glazing by Design and LY Joinery.

The professional team for the Camden Buildings included Bolton Steel, Triangle Joinery, B21, Collective Flooring, Wakefields Demolition, SML Painters, Glazing by Design, Truline Groundworks and Eurosafe.

Warden Construction has won the Delivering Value Award at the 2026 North West Regional Construction Awards for our impactful social value initiatives throughout the Gorton Public Realm project.

The 20^th annual North West Regional Construction Awards took place on July 2 at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool. Attended by over 400 professionals, the awards recognise the companies throughout the region that have embodied the principles of constructing excellence over the past year.

The prestigious Delivering Value award celebrates projects that maximise economic, social and environmental returns throughout their lifecycle.

Gorton Public Realm was a redevelopment project delivered on behalf of Manchester City Council that transformed vacant land in the town centre into a vibrant social space designed for markets, performances and events.

Community engagement and environmental considerations were built into every stage. Initiatives included early community consultations to help us shape the project, providing careers advice to local jobseekers through the Job Centre, and donating materials and equipment to the Men’s Sheds group.

Environmental and economic benefits prioritised low-emission transport and using locally sourced materials and labour wherever possible.

Our team also visited St James’ Primary School to engage with pupils through various activities, helping to challenge stereotypes in construction and promote future careers.

As well as the Delivering Value award, we were also shortlisted for Best Project of the Year for our work on Lea Primary School, and shortlisted for the SME of the Year category, for which we were ‘Highly Commended’ by the judges.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden Construction, said: “We couldn’t be happier that our work at Gorton was recognised at The North West Regional Construction Awards this year. Creating lasting social value is an essential part of how we deliver every project, and this recognition is a testament to the dedication of our team and partners.

“The shortlist this year was particularly strong, which makes this achievement extra special. It’s fantastic to see so many organisations across the region demonstrating how construction can make a genuine difference beyond the buildings themselves. Huge congratulations to all the winners and nominees; let’s keep raising the bar.”

To learn more about the Gorton Public Realm improvement project, please visit: https://www.warden.co.uk/building-meaningful-community-connections-in-gorton/

For more information and to see the full list of winners, please visit: https://www.nwrca.co.uk

Photo credit: Carl Sukonik – www.thevain.co.uk