Safety - A focus on people and safe practice is our culture

As a local business success story ourselves, it’s important to Blanchard Wells and Southern Concrete that we invest in and support the region’s economy.

This means that local suppliers can be found on all of our procurement schedules. Examples of who we work with include Pentagon Mercedes in Portsmouth (who supply our large works vans), Hendy Ford in Cosham (who supply our smaller vehicles), TJ Transport in Wickham (waste disposal), as well as hauliers and supply depots across the ‘PO’ and ‘SO’ region.

Every one of our 130 staff are ‘PO’ and ‘SO’ residents and many have been with the company for years. For example, Mathew Thomas was born and bred in Gosport and was the site manager for the Ocean Terminal project.

Our other two major contracts this year (Antelope Park and Waitrose) were also managed by local people from Gosport and Fareham.

Working with local business also supports our strong environmental ethos. The construction industry as a whole does not have a good reputation when it comes
to environmental matters and it’s important to us that
this changes.

We always strive to reduce the carbon footprint of any work we do. Working with local firms means that any suppliers coming onto site, or waste leaving site, travels the least possible distance, reducing the use of fuel and the effect on the environment.

We also endeavour to use as much recycled material
on site as possible, including recycled aggregates and top soils. All of our equipment and plant follows strict maintenance and replacement schedules. We can
therefore ensure that any equipment we use issues
the least possible emissions and maximises the efficiency of any job to reduce the amount of time it needs to be operated.

We are a great supporter of youth sport in the region. We believe that sport is a great way to transfer core values and principles to our local youngsters. Youth sport schemes deliver an opportunity to many children who would otherwise miss out and helps to instill the core values of discipline, team work, and friendly
competition.

The importance of team sports is replicated in the way the Blanchard Wells team works together, and we believe such values will help to set young people up for the challenges that lie ahead for them in life.

Our local sponsorship includes:
• Eastleigh Rangers Youth Football Club
• Gosport & Fareham Rugby Club
• Portsmouth Rugby Club
• Solent Barbarians Rugby Club
• Vosper Thornycroft Youth Football Club
• Winchester City Football Club

Mark Wells is also chairman of the Soldiers League – an Army rugby league organisation that raises money for The Royal British Legion, Blesma and Combat Stress. Luke Blanchard has also run the London Marathon twice in recent years.