Our Clonmel WWTP Aeration Basin Upgrade project team took home the 2024 CECA Excellence Award in the under €2 million category in Dublin tonight. The project scope for the Clonmel WWTP Aeration Basin Upgrade was to design, supply, install, commission, operation and maintain a new Fine Bubble Diffused Aeration Systems to replace the existing surface aeration systems in the existing four aeration tanks at Clonmel WWTP. Murphy was able to improve the efficiency of the final proposed solution by increasing the depth of the Aeration Basins using an innovative baffle system. The post upgrade monitoring demonstrated a 75% reduction in Energy consumption from 2060 kWh/day to 500 kWh/day. This equates to a reduction of 568,000kWh/year.
Murphy is delighted to announce it has won the Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Award at the 2024 CIPD People Management Awards. The award was in recognition of our people strategy, where Murphy is committed to championing inclusion and creating a workplace where everyone feels secure and comfortable to be themselves. Our holistic EDI programme was described by the judges as having an; “Excellent alignment of objectives, initiatives, annual targets and measurements to strategic goals. Born out of a skills shortage in the construction and engineering sector, we were impressed with Murphy’s aim to “improve life” for both current and future employees and the communities in which they work.” Our work in this space includes: In 2023, Murphy became the founding member of the first National Prison Employment Advisory Board, a unique initiative offering prison leavers a journey into employment. This employment model received recognition in parliament and is now being replicated in 91 prisons across the UK. Murphy also became the first company in the sector to adopt the Ambitious about Autism programme, creating long-term employment for neurodiverse candidates. We also partnered with the Home Office to create a scheme that helps refugees settle into their new lives and find meaningful work. The refugee programme was featured in the national press and created more than 100 job opportunities. In addition, all job advertisements went through gender-neutral language screening to ensure they were accessible to all candidates. Murphy also rolled out an in-house BIG Inclusion programme to bring employees together at all levels to have open discussions about equality, diversity and inclusion. Now, 24.37 per cent of teams are from underrepresented groups, which the judges noted was challenging given the firm had a starting point of less than 10 per cent at the end of 2020. The judges were also impressed by the plans Murphy has implemented to ‘Continually Improve’ and build on its successes, for example, the £40m training facility at Ollerton, “which will help the local community by investing in skills and boosting employment”.
Over the course of September, we were excited to welcome the next generation of construction and engineering experts as our largest ever cohorts of graduates and apprentices joined the One Murphy family. From HGV Drivers and Civil Engineers to Accounting Technicians and Business Administrators, they will play an essential role in supporting our purpose of improving life by delivering world-class infrastructure. Covering a wide range of functions, sectors and countries they’ve now all joined their project teams and are hard at work. Our 2024 Graduates at their induction Our 2024 apprentices at their induction HIGHLIGHTS Over 68 new Apprentices Over 85 new Graduates
Murphy’s enabling works on the M62 Motorway Bridge Replacement Project have continued at pace in recent months, seeing a range of impressive milestones achieved along the way. In the last period, the site team have poured 3 No Trestle Foundations to support the new structure as it is being built off-line in the site compound. The site team also constructed a concrete bell-mouth to create access directly from the M62 Westbound Carriage directly to the site compound. The bell-mouth is approximately 5m wide by 50m long – the large size of bell-mouth was required to enable delivery of the 46m long edge beams and for the future installation of the new bridge structure via SPMT. The haul road for the SMPT has also been completed. Due to the existing ground conditions and heavy weights of the new bridge structure and SPMT – a full highway carriageway specification was installed. But perhaps the most impressive milestone is the fabrication of Murphy’s largest ever Steel Bridge. Colleagues in Ireland completed assembly of the bridge structure in their recently opened fabrication shop in Newbridge, before welcoming members of the project team and client Network Rail for a trial assembly of the new structure. Network Rail were very impressed with both the structure and the new facilities. The two edge beams were then delivered overnight on Sunday 21 July. The edge beams were only permitted to travel overnight at 20mph and, due their size and weight, they were given a full police escort from leaving the fabrication shop in Newbridge to arrival on site in Rochdale via Holyhead Port. Following delivery, colleagues from Ireland have travelled to Rochdale and commenced the assembly of the new bridge structure within the site compound. By the time they are finished, over 5000 bolts will have been installed to fully assemble the bridge structure. Further ongoing works include the mobilisation of a satellite compound to facilitate the Permanent Way works. The compound will be used to build fifteen 18m Track Panels and a new S&C Panel in preparation of the core possession. The core possession is scheduled from 6 to 24 September and will require a full closure of the railway. The road closure will be supplemented by two weekend closures of the M62 Motorway, 6 to 9 and 20 to 23 September. During the first weekend closure, the existing bridge structure will be demolished in-situ and the new bridge structure will be installed via SPMT during the second weekend motorway closure. Night-time motorway closures are also planned during the weekend closures to allow the site team to undertake critical enabling works to the bridge abutments prior to receiving the new bridge. A Pre-Possession Briefing has been organised for the end of August, along with the support from our CDP team, to ensure that all personal involved in the core possession are ‘Fit to Start’ and ensure the works are delivered safely.
Teams from two of our ongoing major station projects, Cambridge South and Beaulieu Park, recently took time out to support their local communities. Cambridge South Station The Cambridge South Station team utilised one of their Giving Back Days to help improve a community recreation ground. Great Bardfield village run a community sports facility for the local area. They had raised enough funds to build a new community pavilion in 2021. However, after a rise in material costs, there was no funding left to complete the works, including the carpark. The area proposed for the car park was overgrown as well as needing to be cleared and levelled in preparation for the carpark to be laid. The team spent the day clearing the site, before bringing in plant machinery to level the surface in preparation for the new parking facility. The team also decided to use the day as a team building opportunity by swapping roles for the day. Project managers became labourers, and operatives became the planners and work supervisors. Kate Fox, from the local community said: “The Murphy team with their invaluable experience and heavy plant equipment achieved incredible progress during their visits. They undertook the tasks with a great attitude, professionalism, determination and dedication, meeting every one of our objectives. We are so grateful to the Cambridge South Station team and pass on our sincere gratitude and thanks to all the employees involved.” Beaulieu Park Station The Beaulieu Park Station team hosted a stand at the Chelmsford Skills Festival, organised by Chelmsford City Council. Over 1,200 secondary school students from across the city attended and the team spoke to them about the variety of career opportunities available within Murphy. The children also got to try their hand at driving a 20-tonne dumper truck across a building site (using a motion-simulator of course!). Speaking after the event, Chris Cayton, Managing Director – Transportation, explained why the team placed such importance on events like this: “It is crucial we encourage the younger generation to enter our industry. These types of events allow our teams to showcase the many opportunities we have to develop a career at Murphy” Murphy staff were also approached by members of the local community who had seen the progress at Beaulieu Park Station and were excited to speak about the station’s construction.
Congratulations to colleagues in our SHES and Transportation teams who were recognised at the Network Rail SHELT awards this week with two wins and a highly commended for their efforts to protect workers and the environment. Our collaborative project with the University of Salford, developing and implementing a Breathe Easy campaign and air sampling/monitoring schedule, took the ‘Physical Health’ award. This initiative tests robust control management of dust and welding fumes in the workplace, to ensure the wellbeing of our frontline workforce and supply chain. In the ‘Railway that Cares for the Environment’ category, The Environmental Visual Standard, a groundbreaking tool, was the day’s winner. This innovative tool uses 3D virtual worksites to provide a series of interactable constraints that should be considered during the stages of the project lifecycle, enhancing understanding and planning of onsite environmental constraints. Finally, colleagues were highly commended in ‘Supply Chain Management’ for their integration of a four stage approach to our Supplier portal, enhancing our delivery model. Well done to all involved for overseeing projects that support our core goal of improving life by delivering world-class infrastructure.
Murphy has officially opened our new, state-of-the-art Specialised Pipe Fabrication and Testing Facilities in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland. The new facility more than doubles the capacity of the Murphy Pipe Fabrication business and will create up to 40 additional jobs over the next five years. We were delighted to be joined by Minister Emer Higgins, CIF Director General Hubert Fitzpatrick, and CEO of Kildare Chamber Sinead Ronan to help us celebrate this milestone with our team. For over a half a century, Murphy has been the leading pipeline contractor across Ireland and the UK, offering design and construction services for the gas, water, and process industries. In recent years, Murphy has completed high quality process pipework on major infrastructure projects for clients such as: Gas Networks Ireland, Mutual Energy, Vermilion, Irving Oil, Air Products, Intel, Uisce Eireann, Shell, SGN, and Aughinish Alumina. The new test facility adds to Murphy’s capability for supplying advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) solutions for critical infrastructure, including X-radiography, Ultrasonic Testing, Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Dye Penetration Inspection (DPI), shot blasting and coating, and hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure testing. The bespoke design and layout of this facility, allows for full, unrestricted use of Xray equipment, incorporating the most up to date safety features. The new Hydrostatic Bay has a design capacity for 220 bar pressure and 9 cubic meters of test medium, and also incorporates the industry’s most up to date safety features, including remote viewing and digital test logging from an independent control area. This facility provides unparalleled safe systems of work for historically high-risk activities and provides both internal and external stakeholders with the opportunity to view a project’s status and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) results in real time. Minister of State with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail, Emer Higgins said: “I am delighted to see Murphy’s Pipe Fabrication Facility open and fully operational. Murphy is a huge Irish success story. From its foundation by a Kerry man in London 1951, to its operations today across Ireland, the UK and North America- Murphy is a business that has always had a very proud connection to Ireland, and particularly to this area of Kildare, where its Irish operations have been head-quartered since 1968. As one of the biggest civil engineering companies in Ireland, Murphy has an important role to play in helping us to deliver Project Ireland 2040, which seeks to construct a more resilient and sustainable future for all. This latest investment is testament to Murphy’s dedication to delivering the quality and excellence, on which it has built its reputation for almost 75 years.” John Murphy, CEO of Murphy, said: “It is great to see our new Pipe Fabrication and Testing Facility opening today which will double our capacity and create up to 40 additional jobs. We are proud to continue to invest in Newbridge – this not only ensures that our pipeline of work in this area continues to grow, but also allows us to nurture future local talent. Murphy’s Pipe Fabrication and Testing capabilities, like so many of our services, were developed in response to our clients’ needs and have developed in line with the innovations which have taken place within the sectors in which we work.” Murphy Managing Director (Ireland), John G Murphy said: “For over five decades our Pipe Fabrication business has supported our work throughout Ireland and the UK, evolving from mainly specialist gas pipeline works. Our new state-of-the-art Pipe Fabrication and Testing Facility here in Newbridge further strengthens our already unparalleled experience and expertise in this sector. Murphy is passionate about direct delivery for our clients and this investment shows our commitment to increasing our capacity and expertise in this area, allowing us to support our clients at every stage of their project.” Kevin Buckley, Operations Director, Murphy (Ireland) said: “We are thrilled to see the opening of our new Pipe Fabrication and Testing Facility here in Newbridge. This investment underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality services to our clients and reflects our dedication to innovation and excellence in the pipeline industry. By doubling our capacity, we can better meet the evolving needs of our clients and support major infrastructure projects across Ireland and the UK. This new facility not only enhances our technical capabilities but also provides significant employment opportunities in the local area, further strengthening our community ties.” HIGHLIGHTS - 1,200 square metre Pipe Fabrication Facility - Dedicated Stainless Steel Pipe Fabrication Facility - X-Ray facility - Pipe & Tank Pressure Testing Bunker - Shot Blasting Bay - Painting/Coating Bay
Murphy, a leading specialist engineering and construction company, is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2023, which builds on the strong momentum generated by the Group in 2022. Murphy has continued to deliver key critical infrastructure and is making good progress towards its vision of becoming the leading family-owned construction business in the three geographies in which it operates. John Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Murphy, commented: “I am pleased to report another year of growth with a resilient, year-on-year improvement in both our financial performance and operational delivery, alongside a continued commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure. These results are underpinned by the dedication and hard work of our teams, our ongoing focus on sustainable business practices and our strong customer relationships. “As we approach our 75th anniversary in 2026, our ‘Murphy at 75’ vision to be the leading family-owned construction business in the geographies in which we operate is well within reach. Our key focus remains on delivering long-term, sustainable growth, driven by our ability to provide our customers with a reliable and consistent level of performance as we strive to create a positive and lasting legacy across our projects and the communities we serve.” Financial and operational highlights Operating profit increased by 57% to £71.7m in 2023 (2022: £45.7m), driven by a strong performance across all areas of the business with increased levels of repeat business from existing customers. Net cash increased by 26% to £347.1m in 2023 (2022: £275.5m), enabling continued investment across all areas of the business, including a significant investment in key sustainability initiatives. Group revenue marginally declined 5% to £1,421m in 2023 (2022: £1,491m), primarily due to the timing and completion of projects in Canada, although this was offset by continued revenue growth in both Ireland and the UK. Employee numbers increased by 4.5% to 3,855, up from 3,688 in 2022, as Murphy continues to develop talent while creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged workforce. A 35% reduction in the number of Lost Time Injuries as part of Murphy’s continued commitment to safety for all teams. Key project highlights included Delivering Beaulieu Park, the first railway station to be built on the Great Eastern Main Line for over 100 years. Delivering two major design and construction packages for National Grid as part of their £1 billion flagship London power tunnels phase 2 scheme. Upgrading water supply to Liverpool from Oswestry water treatment works. Delivering the road infrastructure and associated utilities for a new town centre in West Dublin. Playing a key role in the Coastal Gaslink project, a 670km pipeline that will enable the export of Canadian gas from a new LNG terminal in British Columbia. Sustainability highlights Achieved a further 8.4% carbon reduction versus 2022, almost halving the Group’s cumulative emissions reduction total from the 2019 baseline by 48.2%, meaning that the Group is now well placed to reach 50% reduction target by 2026. Invested £39m in state-of-the-art, environmentally-conscious plant and equipment. Delivered a 35% increase in training and development spending, up from £2.3m in 2022 to £3.1m in 2023. Outlook Group order book grew by 31% to £3.31bn in 2023 (2022: £2.52bn) with secured and anticipated orders across the UK, North American and Irish businesses. The acquisition of WHC Energy Services enables the Group to expand its operations into the US energy renewables and oil and gas markets. Continued growth in traditional markets, as well as newer sectors such as energy security and new infrastructure investment, underpinning confidence in the Group’s strategic direction and long-term growth plans. You can read the full report here.
United Utilities has announced a new partnership with seven construction firms as it gears up to tackle its biggest ever environmental programme. The North West’s water company has proposed a £13.7bn investment programme for 2025-2030 to deliver cleaner rivers, more reliable water supplies and extra support for customers struggling with bills. Following a competitive tender process, Murphy is one of the seven which has been added to the specialist framework that will help United Utilities deliver its plans. The organisations will come together with United Utilities to form an integrated enterprise delivery organisation to deliver circa £3bn of major infrastructure and non-infrastructure programmes from 2025-2030. This work would include upgrades to wastewater treatment works and reducing spills from storm overflows. Adrian Savory, Managing Director of Infrastructure at Murphy, said; “Murphy has a long-established working relationship with United Utilities which we are delighted to be further developing. “Our purpose at Murphy is to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure and we look forward to continuing to serve communities in the Northwest through our active participation in the integrated enterprise delivery organisation.” This is the first time that United Utilities has engaged partners in this way. It will allow the organisations to make best use of their extensive expertise to work collaboratively and at pace for the benefit of the North West. Louise Beardmore/Jane Simpson at United Utilities, said: “We’re really excited by our proposals for the next investment period. They will deliver a real step change in our environmental performance and further modernise the water and wastewater infrastructure we have here in the North West. “It will be the most ambitious and challenging programme we have ever delivered and that’s why we must be ready to start as soon as our plans are approved. By putting this partnership in place with some of the best design and construction companies in the country, it will allow us to hit the ground running with projects in 2025.” The partnership has committed to investment in the North West through the supply chain and will look to create a lasting legacy by creating apprenticeship opportunities and jobs for local communities. As well as helping to deliver cleaner rivers and upgraded infrastructure, United Utilities’ proposed investment would support 30,000 jobs across the North West, including 7,000 new jobs. Regulator Ofwat will review the proposals and give its draft response by July 2024. The final plans will be agreed by December 2024.
