Warden’s delivery of the Lea Community Primary School expansion marked a significant investment in education and community enrichment.

Commissioned by Lancashire County Council and completed over two phases, this £3.5 million project doubled the school’s intake capacity through a new four-classroom extension, as well as extensive refurbishments to the kitchen, library, and Key Stage 1 areas.

The project also delivered a new suite of state-of-the-art outdoor facilities including an all-weather playground, interactive zone, and sensory garden, enhancing physical development and inclusive learning.

Community engagement remained central throughout the two-year build. Warden’s team delivered interactive workshops with pupils during both phases, ensuring the school remained an inspiring environment for children while under construction. Another social value highlight was the creation of a new sensory garden within the school grounds featuring planters, a sandpit, weaving frame, a pathway and viewing area, delivered with the support of our supply chain.

We also supported school events including the summer fair and Christmas party with prize donations and worked closely with the school community to ensure minimal disruption while delivering long-term value.

Social value summary

Strengthening communities

Warden delivered lasting value to pupils and families by:

• Hosting two engaging school visits during Phases 1 and 2, including storytelling, safety talks, LEGO-building and interactive planning sessions with children to improve engagement and reduce disruption.
• Donating £350 in prizes to support the school’s summer fair and Christmas celebrations.
• Running construction-focused sessions as part of the school’s Inspiration Week, designed to help children explore future careers in a fun, age-appropriate way.
• Harnessing the expertise and resources of our supply chain team to create a sensory garden within the schools grounds, as well as donating leftover timber and materials for use in a school allotment project.
• Ensuring all site staff had access to Warden’s Employee Assistance Programme, offering 24/7 mental health, legal, and bereavement support throughout the project.
• Supporting an official opening event on project completion, attended by Warden staff and providing further opportunities to engage the local community.

Driving environmental responsibility

Environmental measures were built into every phase of the project:

• An air source heat pump and rooftop solar panels were installed on the extension, lowering the school’s energy use and utility bills while reducing its long-term carbon footprint.
• Warden staff followed the company’s green transport plan throughout, using hybrid or electric vehicles and car-sharing to reduce emissions from site visits.
• 30 trees and 10 bushes were planted as part of the landscaping works, regenerating green space and improving air quality for pupils and staff.

Empowering local employment and skills

Warden continued its mission to build opportunities for local people:

• 95% of employment on the project was sourced locally, exceeding the 90% target.
• A total of 16 apprentice training weeks were delivered across trades including bricklaying, plastering, painting and joinery, supporting practical skills development for the next generation of construction professionals.

Through this project, Warden aimed to show how school infrastructure can become a catalyst for broader social, environmental and educational value, benefiting the Preston community for years to come.

Warden’s delivery of public realm improvements in Gorton, Greater Manchester, also delivered a win for local school children and community groups.

Commissioned by Manchester City Council and completed in 2025, this ambitious transformation created a vibrant new public square adjacent to Gorton Market, enhancing connectivity, social inclusion, and the local economy.

The flexible public space – designed to host markets, performances, and events – has revitalised the area and encouraged year-round community use. Imaginative play features, integrated lighting, and green infrastructure have combined to create a safe, biodiverse and inviting environment.

A standout initiative as part of our social value activity was a visit to St James’ Primary School, where Warden engaged young children through interactive activities and storytelling, helping to challenge stereotypes in construction and sow the seeds of future careers.

The team also collaborated with the Gorton Men’s Sheds group, donating tools and materials to support community-led woodworking and wellbeing activities. Apprenticeship and training opportunities, sustainable transport, and wellbeing support were embedded throughout the build.

Social value summary

Strengthening communities

Warden delivered meaningful social impact through partnerships and local engagement:

• A LEGO-based construction session at St James’ Primary School engaged 15 children and challenged gender stereotypes in construction, using stories and hands-on learning.
• 42 pallets and a DeWalt drill were donated to the Gorton Men’s Sheds group, supporting their community projects including raised planters and a polytunnel.
• Tailored careers advice and support were offered to Gorton jobseekers at the local Job Centre, encouraging access to roles within Warden and beyond.
• Support was also extended to the Manchester Congolese Organisation (MACO), offering youth resources and an invitation to the public realm’s opening event.
• Warden’s Employee Assistance Programme was made available to all staff, offering 24/7 wellbeing, legal and counselling support.

Driving environmental responsibility

A range of sustainability-led actions underpinned the Gorton delivery:

• 3,520 miles were travelled using low or zero-emission vehicles, including Warden’s all-electric Mini, helping reduce carbon impact on the project.
• An additional 122 car miles were saved through car sharing and efficient transport planning.
• Over 6,000 kg of waste was successfully diverted from landfill.
• Locally sourced materials and labour supported both the economy and Warden’s green supply chain goals.

Empowering local employment and skills

Warden’s commitment to inclusive growth and learning opportunities was demonstrated through:

• Two new local jobs were created via the supply chain, surpassing the original employment target.
• Quantity surveying apprentice Tom Shepherd completed the full duration of the project, gaining real-world experience in procurement, cost tracking, and stakeholder coordination.
• Apprenticeship targets were reallocated when safety concerns prevented further placements, ensuring value was still delivered through community-focused alternatives.

Warden’s completion of the Blackpool Youth and Community Centre strived to be a benchmark in community-focused construction.

Commissioned by Blackpool Council and completed in January 2025, this state-of-the-art 3,229 sq ft facility not only replaces an outdated building but also delivers substantial social, environmental, and economic value to the Talbot and Brunswick area.

One of the standout social value initiatives from the project was working with local children to create a time capsule to be buried on the site containing items from the present day. This was aimed at engaging with children and getting them thinking about the future, as well as creating a commemorative moment for the development.

We were also thrilled to support our client’s Big Food Project, volunteering our time at two food bank shifts, and donating money we raised through on-site fundraising activity.

Social value summary

Strengthening communities

Warden actively supported youth and community engagement throughout the project with:

• A time capsule event, in collaboration with the Blackpool Boys and Girls Club, involved children placing mementos into a capsule buried on site. The initiative involved 22 staff hours, exceeding the 20-hour goal.
• Volunteers contributed to The Big Food Project, delivering two five-hour food bank shifts and on-site fundraising.
• All site staff had access to Warden’s comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, offering 24/7 wellbeing support including structured counselling and crisis intervention.

Driving environmental responsibility

Warden demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability through:

• 20 hours of litter picking were completed by site operatives.
• A Carbon Reporting Guide was developed and shared with local SMEs, reflecting 10 hours of specialist input.
• Staff travelled a combined 9,378.6 miles in low or zero-emission vehicles, supporting Warden’s green transport plan.
• A £200 donation funded the planting of four trees at the centre, aligning with biodiversity targets.

Empowering local employment and skills

Warden showed its commitment to skills development and local jobs by:

• 3.03 full-time equivalents (FTE) were achieved – exceeding the original 3.0 FTE target.
• 100% local employment was maintained, surpassing the 90% target.
• Four weeks of apprentice training were delivered across key trades including groundworks, bricklaying and quantity surveying.
• A further 45 weeks of accredited training were completed by three senior team members, significantly above the initial three-week goal.

Through our delivery of the Blackpool Youth & Community Centre, Warden has proven its dedication to leaving a legacy that extends beyond the physical structure – embedding social, economic and environmental value at every stage.

Staff from Warden have raised £6,700 for children from disadvantaged communities by taking part in the gruelling Tough Mudder challenge.

A team of 20 from Warden took part in the event which sees competitors supporting each other to complete an exhausting 10k obstacle course in Heaton Park.

The team raised the money for our 2024 Manchester charity of the year Wood Street Mission, which supports struggling families in Manchester and Salford.

The funds raised by Warden will go towards Wood Street Mission’s Smart Start campaign which provides children from struggling families with the right school uniform, ensuring children feel confident and comfortable and can achieve their full potential.

Ian Williams, our managing director and one of our 20 participants, said: “We found out about the amazing support offered by Wood Street Mission during our work on the installation of the Manchester Christmas Markets.

“We decided to make it our Manchester charity of the year for 2024 and we’ve done a number of things to support them, but this was by far the toughest. We’ve been blown away by the generous support from our friends, colleagues and customers and would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who donated and got involved in our fundraising activity throughout the year.”

Des Lynch, chief executive at Wood Street Mission, added: “Warden’s team have done an incredible job raising money that will make a life-changing difference to many families living in poverty.

“It was great to visit the team earlier in the year and see the amazing work they have been doing to drive donations; we thank them for their ongoing support.”

As well as the Tough Mudder challenge, our staff have taken part in a variety of activities to support Wood Street Mission, including a Christmas jumper fundraiser, book sale donations, and support for the Wood Street Mission Christmas Appeal.

We have also supported a number of other charities and good causes through our commitment to building social value.

If you’d like donate to our Tough Mudder fundraising for Wood Street Mission visit our JustGiving page.

Eagle-eyed motorsports fans caught a glimpse of the famous Warden blue and yellow as it flashed by at this month’s North West Stages – a rally event that marks the first round of the 2024 British Rally Championship.

Warden was proud to support local rally team 3AMotorsport during the event which took place on rural roads around Lancashire.

Held over the weekend of March 22^nd and 23^rd, the North West Stages featured over 130 competitors from across the UK, Ireland and even Australia, competing over 10 closed road stages in areas including Chipping, Garstang, Scorton and Lancaster.

Thousands of spectators lined the roadside during the event, all getting a chance to see the Warden branding adorning 3AMotorsport’s Mitsubishi Evo 6.

The event also gained coverage on ITV and was publicised by many well-known brands including ProTyre, M-Sport, Motorsport UK and Probite.

The North West Stages has always had a strong focus on raising money for charity and more than £250,000 has been raised throughout the history of the event. This year the event raised money for a number of local charities and environmental projects, which are due to be announced soon.

Warden has supported the North West Stages for many years, including providing operational and logistical support for the event in the past.