Warden has completed work on a new permanent home for a popular Manchester café venture that helps people with anxiety get into employment.

We worked with Manchester City Council to provide a new eco-style modular café building which has allowed community interest company Grounded MCR to have a larger, permanent base in Cringle Park, Levenshulme.

The new home includes accessible toilet facilities for park visitors and complements several other recent investments made by the council in Cringle Park, including upgraded competition standard tennis courts, outdoor gym equipment, improvements to the play area and a new zip wire. The new facilities were officially opened by Lord Mayor, Councillor Paul Andrews.

Grounded MCR CIC was set up in 2021 by local couple Natalie and Kerry and previously operated as a mobile coffee stand, moving its distinctive yellow trike between Cringle Park and Platt’s Fields and appearing at local markets, festivals and events.

It has helped many vulnerable young people and adults to learn barista and hospitality skills, helping them to gain confidence and boost their employability skills. It welcomes people dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, or other challenges that might make them feel vulnerable.

Ian Williams, managing director, said: “This is a great project to be involved in and one that will provide many benefits for local people. Grounded MCR is more than just the delicious coffee and cake, it’s providing a valuable community service and supporting people towards better mental wellbeing.

“We’re proud to have worked with Manchester City Council to provide Grounded MCR with a vibrant social space that will allow them to do so much more to help people.”

Natalie Lobel from Grounded MCR, said: “Grounded Manchester CIC is so happy to have been given the chance to open a community cafe in Cringle Park. Thank you to MCC – between us we can support local disadvantaged people into work whilst improving the mental health of our staff and customers. We can’t wait to get cracking.”

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods said: “We’ve created a strong partnership with the community in Cringle Park and the result is this fantastic new cafe and toilet facility where people can relax, enjoy quality food and drinks and feel part of the wider community.

“We are investing in our parks with our communities as they are places where people can enjoy nature, play sport and feel pride in their park – they are not just green spaces, they bring people together and are beneficial for both our physical and mental health.

“Our commitment is demonstrated in the 50% uplift we’ve seen in Park visitors from pre pandemic level. 9.2 million park visitors across the city in the past 12 months”

Our work on the £200,000 project involved the preparation works for the new facility, including new drainage and foundations and installing the new modular building and accessible toilet facilities.

In addition to the cafe, extensive planting and landscaping improvements have been made, including a new ‘green roof’ to ensure the cafe is sympathetic to the park surroundings.

The cafe will be serving a range of affordable hot and cold food and beverages and in line with the council’s commitment to reducing food waste, Grounded MCR will be working with FareShare to save unused food from being wasted.

Warden faced a surprising turn of events at our office in Kirkham when staff discovered, and helped to rehome, over 20,000 honey bees.

While investigating an unusual hum outside the office, our team uncovered a hive of approximately 23,000 bees hidden inside a manhole cover at the bottom of the car park.

The discovery was as fascinating as it was rare, honey bees typically make their homes in trees or above-ground spaces, not underground infrastructure.

Recognising the importance of handling the situation responsibly, our operations team contacted the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) to remove the bees safely.

Once they arrived, the BBKA team removed the manhole cover and used a nucleus box as a mock hive to successfully gather and relocate the entire hive, ensuring the wellbeing of both the bees and our staff.

The colony has since been rehomed across several local bee farms, where they will continue their vital work producing honey, pollinating local plant life, and playing an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Eric Hassall, member of the Blackpool & Fylde British Beekeepers association, said: “Honey bees typically make their homes in trees, so finding a hive in an underground manhole is highly unusual, and made for a particularly complex removal. Down to sheer luck, we were fortunate enough to capture the queen which encouraged the rest of the colony to follow into the nucleus box.

“The team at Warden handled the situation exactly as they should have, by contacting us rather than pest control. Bees are vital to our environment, and relocating a hive of this size helps preserve a pollinator population that plays a major role in sustaining local ecosystems.”

Ian Williams, managing director, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the BBKA for their quick action and deep knowledge. It’s not every day you find tens of thousands of bees beneath your office, but we’re proud to have helped protect these important pollinators.”

Warden brought the team together for an afternoon of connection, recognition, and inspiration at its annual company update.

The event, held this year at Haydock Racecourse, served as an opportunity for staff from across the business to come together, celebrate key milestones, and look ahead at our plans for 2025.

Managing director Ian Williams and other members of the leadership team led a series of presentations reflecting on our 2024 achievements, highlighting the positive impact of our social value initiatives in the communities we serve, and outlining our strategic goals for the year ahead.

A presentation was also delivered by Andy’s Man Club, a suicide prevention charity that runs free peer-to-peer support groups for men across the UK, on the importance of mental health awareness in the workplace.

The afternoon was topped off with our annual staff awards, celebrating individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond over the past year.

This year’s awards included Apprentice & Mentor of the Year (Connor Holmes & Teri Robinson), Building Something Greater (Blackpool Youth Hub), WOW Factor Quality (Osian Griffiths), People’s Choice Award (Neil Gorst), HSE Champion (Neil Addison) and the Top Gun Award (Chris Seville).

Ian Williams, our managing director, said: “Bringing our people together is always a highlight of the year. It’s a chance to celebrate achievements, reflect on our impact, and share our ambitions for the future.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work the team has delivered over the past 12 months, and I’m confident that, together, we’ll continue to build something greater in 2025 and beyond.”

Warden is proud to have won the ‘Transformation Award’ at the 2025 Red Rose Awards – one of the region’s leading business awards events.

The prestigious award recognises businesses that can demonstrate how ongoing transformation has resulted in improved performance or growth, while servicing customer needs and securing new opportunities.

Last year we made significant investments in our people-focused strategies and also putting social value at the heart of everything we do.

This included building a more inclusive workforce, focusing on continuous development opportunities, and empowering employees with the tools and training they need to grow.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “Transformation is an ongoing journey that we’ve embraced by embedding our values into everything we do. We’re passionate about making sure our people feel valued by creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

“Beyond the workplace, we’ve built a real sense of team spirit, whether we’re tackling a Tough Mudder together or driving sustainability initiatives, we know our impact goes beyond just business. Through training incentives to our apprenticeship programme, we’re constantly investing in our people because their success is our success. This award reflects that commitment, to wellbeing, learning, and growing together as a team.”

As well as winning the ‘Transformation Award’, we were also a finalist for the ‘Built Environment Award’ which recognises businesses whose work contributes to Lancashire’s built environment.

Hosted by Lancashire Business View, the Red Rose Awards celebrate Lancashire’s business excellence by providing a platform to showcase success, highlight achievements and build connections across the county’s industries.

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

We are pleased to announce the appointment of a new social value lead, reinforcing our commitment to delivering lasting benefits to the communities we operate in.

Heather Thompson has joined as a social value co-ordinator, ensuring that meaningful social value continues to be embedded at the highest level in every project we deliver.

Drawing on 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Heather brings a strong background in stakeholder engagement, community outreach, and project coordination, with proven expertise in managing community-focused initiatives.

She will lead our corporate social responsibility efforts, oversee events and develop strategies to boost the positive impact of its projects by working closely with community groups and suppliers to support workforce development and training.

This involves building strong relationships with clients and developing communications with the site teams to achieve social value targets. She will also support with apprenticeship recruitment and preconstruction bids.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “At Warden, our philosophy of building something greater goes beyond constructing buildings, it’s about improving lives and enriching communities.

“Heather’s background is a perfect match for our commitment to social responsibility. She will help to ensure our projects create real, measurable benefits within our communities while driving sustainable growth and lasting success.

“We’re excited to see the fresh ideas she brings to the team and trust her approach will set a new standard for community-focused business practices across all our projects.”

Heather adds: “I was really impressed with Warden’s dedication to social value. The whole team has bought into the ethos of benefiting people, communities and the environment, as well as creating a more inclusive, responsible industry.

“I’m excited to step into my new role and make a meaningful difference, building on the great work Warden has achieved over the years.”

Warden has strengthened its leadership team with the promotion of James Flitcroft to the role of construction director.

James has been promoted from his previous role as operations manager, making him our fourth director alongside managing director Ian Williams, commercial director Adrian Atkinson, and financial director Dan Culshaw.

The wider management team also includes HSEQ manager Edwin Esevohare and business development manager Susie Harrison-Serella.

As operations manager, James was responsible for managing all phases of project delivery, leading teams, overseeing design and risk management, and reporting on contract progress.

In his new role, he will continue to oversee project delivery while taking on additional leadership responsibilities, playing a key role in driving improvements to the efficiency and quality of our delivery processes.

James Flitcroft

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “This promotion reflects James’ dedication, hard work, and significant contribution to the business over the past two years.

“It also highlights Warden’s ongoing commitment to people development, nurturing talent and supporting the continued growth of the company. We are confident that his expertise and vision will further strengthen our position as a leading SME in the construction industry.”

James adds: “I’m excited to step into the role of construction director. It’s been an amazing journey so far, with plenty of exciting projects in the pipeline, and I’m proud to be part of such a strong team.

“Working alongside Ian, Adrian, and Dan, I’m confident we’ll keep building on Warden’s success and make our mark in the industry. I’m looking forward to playing my part and continuing to improve the way we deliver projects for our clients and the communities we serve.”

Warden has completed construction work ahead of schedule on a £1.7m expansion of a youth centre in Blackpool, that will provide new opportunities for young people in the area.

Set to open in the spring, the expanded Blackpool Youth Zone will offer a variety of activities for young people and provide a safe and supportive space to learn, grow, and develop their talents.

We completed work on the state-of-the-art centre and handed the keys over to Blackpool Council two months earlier than expected.

Located on Gorton Street in the Talbot and Brunswick area of the town, we replaced the outdated facility with a 3,229 sq ft single storey, multi-use building.

It includes a fully equipped kitchen area, offices, toilets, two large halls for physical activities, and two smaller rooms that will host a range of other programmes, including gaming sessions.

In addition to the structural work, we completed extensive mechanical installations, including air source heating systems and IT infrastructure. External works, service infrastructure, and drainage systems have also been completed, ensuring the building is fully functional and ready for use.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “We’re really pleased with the progress we’ve made on the Blackpool Youth Zone. Working closely with Blackpool Council and Blackpool Boys and Girls Club, we’re proud to be part of a project that will have a lasting impact on residents in the area.

“Social value is at the heart of everything we do. For this project, we sourced much of the supply chain locally and provided valuable apprentice training to our team, helping the local workforce gain valuable skills.

“Alongside the construction work, our team got involved in the community by volunteering at the local food bank, took part in litter-picking, and planted trees on site.”

Councillor Kath Benson, cabinet member for young people and aspiration, adds: “I am absolutely thrilled that the centre has been handed over two months ahead of schedule.

“Young people from the Blackpool Boys and Girls Club helped to design the building and it is great to see their suggestions come to life. Over the next few months, all the furniture will be delivered and installed ahead of an official opening in the spring, it will be a very special day when it is full of young people for the first time.”

The scheme is being funded from a grant from the government’s Youth Investment Fund, which the Blackpool Boys and Girls Club and Blackpool Council secured.

Jed Sullivan, youth worker at Blackpool Boys and Girls Club, said: “The trustees are thrilled to announce the handover of our brand-new youth centre. This exceptional facility is the culmination of a fantastic partnership between us, Blackpool Council, and the DCMS Youth Investment Fund.

“Designed with our young people in mind, this state-of-the-art centre provides a safe and inspiring environment for learning, and what better way to celebrate our upcoming 90th anniversary than with the launch of this incredible space. We’re excited for this new chapter in our club’s history and the opportunities it will provide for the youth of Blackpool.”

Our team has played an active role in the community, volunteering at the local food bank, joining litter-picking efforts around Blackpool, and creating a time capsule to highlight the community’s contribution to the project’s success.

In addition, we ensured that 89% of the supply chain used was sourced locally, boosting the local economy and creating job opportunities.

Warden has completed work on the installation of the annual Manchester Christmas Markets, setting the stage for the festive season across the city.

With this year’s markets completed on schedule, visitors can look forward to exploring an array of stalls, enjoying festive activities, and seasonal treats.

We completed the installation for the second consecutive year on behalf of Manchester City Council and North West Construction Hub.

Ian Williams, managing director of Warden Construction, said: “We’re delighted to have been involved with the setup for Manchester’s iconic Christmas Markets for the second year running.

“Our team worked hard to ensure that each site across the city was prepared safely and efficiently, so visitors can enjoy the festive experience without a hitch. It’s a privilege to be part of such a beloved event in Manchester.”

The Warden team successfully oversaw the erection of all market stalls and features, including the installation and removal of Heras fencing to ensure a smooth setup process for structures and the delivery of materials.

Traffic management measures were implemented to support safe delivery routes, minimising disruptions in the city centre and carried out in coordination with the council to allow seamless operations alongside other seasonal activity.

The professional team for the installation included WMB Installations (electricians), Arena Group (fencing), and Go Traffic Management (traffic management).

The markets opened on Friday 8 November and will remain a central attraction until 22 December.

Warden has started building work to convert part of the Camden Buildings, in High Street, into a new learning and workspace on behalf of Halton Borough Council and community learning organisation Power in Partnership.

The project involves refurbishing No.59 High Street by replacing the building’s existing timber structure with a new steel structure, enabling the creation of a three-storey ‘winter garden’ style space that will act as a lobby, break-out area, and small events space.

A second part of the project involves the creation of a new-build, two-storey extension on the site of the adjacent former post office at No.57. This space will be linked to No.59 and provide an internet café, games area, learning kitchen and access to a rear garden, with a first-floor space for group activities.

The £2m project is part of Runcorn’s wider £23.6m Town Deal, which is delivering eight town centre regeneration projects overall.

Ian Williams, managing director of Warden Construction, said: “This is a project that’s delivering so many benefits for Runcorn – supporting skills development for local people, regenerating the town centre, and also enabling heritage buildings to be preserved for future generations.

“The architects and the design team have done a fantastic job coming up with a solution that enables the building and its historic façade to be retained, while creating inspiring new spaces for people to learn, grow, and work towards securing further training and employment opportunities.”

The project at 57-59 High Street is expected to be complete in Autumn 2025. The project team includes K2 as architects, Arcadis as client’s agent and AKS Ward as structural engineers.

Jack Manners, project architect at K2 Architects, said: “We’re thrilled to contribute to the transformation of the Camden Buildings. This development will bring together Runcorn’s digital and skills initiatives and create a collaborative space for community-driven businesses to thrive.”

Future work at the Camden Buildings will also see 63-65 High Street restored as a space for digital skills training and performing arts. A Georgian-era building at 71 High Street has already been restored by Warden Construction as a studio and exhibition space for artists.

Warden has completed work on two refurbishment projects in the education sector on behalf of Manchester City Council.

The first project has seen a complete re-roofing of a Sure Start children’s centre in Rusholme, including internal remedial works.

The rapidly deteriorating concrete tiled roof has been fully replaced with modern metal tiles, helping provide long-term protection for the building, as well as a better look, enhanced security and cost savings.

A separate project has delivered a new school entrance atrium for Chapel Street Community Primary School in Levenshulme. The project included the demolition of an existing atrium and its replacement with a modern brick and aluminium building, including new foundations.

James Flitcroft, operations manager at Warden, said: “We’re proud to be supporting Manchester City Council on the continuous refurbishment and renewal of its built assets. Both these projects have future-proofed important education buildings that are helping to provide bright futures for young people and families.

“The Sure Start centre is Rusholme had been hampered by persistent water ingress issues with the building’s original roof due to its age and condition, disrupting activities at the centre. The new roof we have put in place with JBR, our roofing subcontractor on the project, will protect the building for decades to come.

“Meanwhile, our project at Chapel Street has provided a more vibrant, secure and efficient school entrance that will improve the school environment for pupils, parents and teachers. We’re pleased to have completed these projects while both buildings were fully occupied and remained in use, ensuring minimal disruption for our clients.”

The Rusholme Sure Start centre is one of six roof replacement projects that we have completed on behalf of Manchester City Council.

Working with JBR, the project centre saw titanium grey Brit met Slate 2000 tiles replacing the original concrete tiles. The product comes with a 50-year warranty, which means the centre’s roof is protected for decades to come. The longevity and reduced maintenance needs will provide long-term cost savings for the client.