Warden’s social value co-ordinator, Heather Thompson, and Ian Powell, head of group development, recently spent the day at Riverside College in Widnes to deliver an engaging programme of works session to over 100 students.

The visit formed part of our wider initiative to promote careers in construction and inspire young people to explore the vast opportunities available across the industry.

During the interactive sessions, Heather and Ian provided valuable insights into how real-world construction projects are planned and delivered, covering everything from design and logistics to teamwork and problem-solving.

The hands-on format encouraged students to think critically and work collaboratively, bridging the gap between classroom learning and on-site experience.

Heather said: “It was a fantastic experience to speak with such an engaged group of young people who are clearly passionate about their future careers. We’re grateful to Riverside College for inviting us in and for the opportunity to share how diverse and rewarding a career in construction can be.”

Lecturers at the college praised the session for its relevance and impact.

Jade Naughton, plumbing lecturer, commented: “Great session with Heather and Ian, giving some real-life construction experience in a classroom environment. Students enjoyed thinking and working out how construction projects are planned and implemented.”

Ben Whitfield, joinery lecturer, added: “The interaction with industry professionals inspired our learners to think beyond the classroom and consider opportunities other than their chosen trade. It had a genuine impact on our students’ aspirations and understanding of the sector.”

Jayne Barnes, work placement officer, said: “As a work placement officer, I found Warden’s programme of works lesson to be invaluable for our students. It provided the students with real-world insight and practical understanding that will support their future careers.

“A heartfelt thank-you to Heather and Ian for delivering such an engaging and insightful session – your time and expertise made a real difference.”

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 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.”

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’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.

Warden is proud to have chosen Macmillan Cancer Support as our 2025 charity of the year partner.

We selected Macmillan following the exceptional care and support the charity provided to our colleague Geoff during his battle with cancer.

Geoff is now back at work at Warden full time after overcoming his illness following treatment, and thanks to the amazing support provided by Macmillan.

Dan Culshaw, financial director at Warden Construction, said: “Almost all of us have been affected by cancer in some way and many of us have become familiar with the outstanding work of Macmillan as a result of this. They provide vital care and support when people need it most.

“Our team are excited to get behind our fundraising activity for Macmillan this year and it sounds like colleagues already have lots of things planned, including walking and running challenges, skydives, and coffee mornings.”

Macmillan Cancer Support is the UK’s leading cancer care charity and provides comprehensive support to people living with cancer.

This includes supporting people at every stage of their cancer experience, providing training and resources for cancer healthcare professionals, conducting research into cancer care and patient needs, and raising money to fund support for people living with cancer.

Warden was delighted to support Manchester charity Wood Street Mission as part of our wider social value commitment during our work on the Manchester Christmas Markets project.

Our team got behind a number of festive fundraising initiatives in support of the charity which works to improve the life chances of children and families living on low incomes.

Rather than take part in our annual Secret Santa, we encouraged Warden staff to instead buy a present for a child aged 4-14 to be donated as part of Wood Street Mission’s Christmas toy appeal.

Our staff Christmas jumper day also raised vital funds for Wood Street Mission with our colleagues making a donation for wearing their favourite festive attire.

The money and toys were all donated to Wood Street Mission in the run up to Christmas 2023 and we then went on to select Wood Street Mission as our 2024 nominated charity with fundraising initiatives taking place throughout the year.

A team of 20 of our staff took part in the annual Tough Mudder event in Heaton Park, Manchester, which raised £6,700 for the charity thanks to donations from colleagues, families, friends, sub-contractors and other supply chain partners.

Adrian Atkinson, commercial director at Warden Construction, commented: “Through our partnership Wood Street Mission, we’ve seen the incredible work the organisation does for the people of Manchester. We were incredibly proud to make them our nominated charity partner in 2024 and get our team involved in supporting the charity throughout the year.”

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.