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Murphy is delighted to be included in the huge boost to UK supply chain as National Grid launches the Great Grid Partnership with seven new industry partners all united in the drive to deliver The Great Grid Upgrade

• National Grid launches pioneering ‘enterprise model’ as response to UK supply chain and skills shortage, announcing the first seven supply chain partners to form the Great Grid Partnership.
• The Partnership, which will initially focus on the network design and construction work required by the end of the decade for nine major infrastructure projects across England and Wales, forms part of a £9bn supply chain framework which will also support infrastructure projects beyond 2030.
• The Partnership will support supply chain capacity and foster collaboration across best practice and skills, delivering benefits for consumers and the wider UK economy.
• This investment further underlines National Grid’s commitment to the people, jobs and skills required to help deliver the energy transition.
• Investment in the UK’s electricity network industry will contribute an average of £18.4bn to GDP and support around 220,000 jobs each year between 2024 and 2035.

In a major boost to the UK supply chain, National Grid has today launched the Great Grid Partnership. The company, which sits at the heart of the UK energy transition, has named the seven partners who will support the delivery of an initial nine Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects.

The ASTI projects form a key part of The Great Grid Upgrade which is building the significant new electricity network infrastructure required to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels by connecting 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.

This new ‘enterprise model’ is a collaborative partnership bringing together National Grid’s supply chain partners. Two design and consenting service partners [AECOM Arup (JV); WSP], and five construction partners [Laing O’Rourke; Morgan Sindall Infrastructure; Morrison Energy Services; Murphy; Omexom / Taylor Woodrow (OTW)] are joining National Grid in the newly formed Great Grid Partnership.

Designed to speed up the delivery of much needed national electricity infrastructure by taking a fresh approach to UK supply chain and skills issues. The partnership aims to coordinate the planning and execution of projects, allowing each supplier and National Grid to pool their resources, skills, insights, and experience to deliver faster and more economically – driving value for money and benefits for both consumers and local communities.

By creating these long-term strategic contractual relationships, our partners will work collectively as an enterprise to drive value and innovation and secure delivery. Once established, this pioneering model will also deliver significant opportunities and benefits beyond the initial ASTI framework.

The partnership comes as the demand for products, services and skills continues to rise on a global scale as countries ramp up investment in the energy transition. It represents a huge challenge but also a great opportunity if industry works together to take advantage of the opportunity.

Carl Trowell, President, Strategic Infrastructure, National Grid said: “Today’s announcement is another significant and exciting milestone in the delivery of The Great Grid Upgrade – the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in decades. The scale and pace of this upgrade requires us to unite as an industry and to think and act differently.

“This Great Grid Partnership is a ground-breaking initiative from National Grid that places our supply chain partners at the heart of our infrastructure upgrade programme. All our chosen partners have an established history of successful collaboration in delivering major projects and enabling innovation to thrive.

“By sharing best practice and collaborating across nine of our critical major ASTI infrastructure projects, we will set the gold-standard for future infrastructure projects in terms of driving innovation, shoring up capacity across the skills base, operating responsibly and sustainably and ultimately in getting the best value for consumers.”

John Murphy, CEO at Murphy, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a place on the Great Grid Partnership and are proud of the longstanding and successful relationship we have with National Grid. Improving life by delivering world-class infrastructure is at the heart of everything we do at Murphy, and we look forward to working collaboratively with National Grid, our fellow enterprise partners and all stakeholder groups to successfully deliver the extension of England and Wales’s electricity transmission network – contributing directly to the UK government’s target to provide a net zero energy system by 2050.

Harnessing the benefits of the latest innovative technologies, coupled with a positive social value impact and safe and efficient project delivery, we will foster a robust enterprise culture to successfully build the electric network of the future”.

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1. National Grid’s policy paper: Delivering for 2035 https://www.nationalgrid.com/document/149496/download

The nine Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects are:

Norwich to Tilbury North
Norwich to Tilbury South
North Humber to High Marnham
Grimsby to Walpole
Chesterfield to Willington
Brinsworth to High Marnham
Tilbury to Grain and Tilbury to Kingsnorth
Pentir to Trawsfynydd (cable replacement)
Pentir to Trawsfynydd (second circuit)

As a leading engineering and construction firm, Murphy’s ongoing commitment to a positive and inclusive workplace culture has seen it link up with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) – the global chartered body for safety and health professionals.

Murphy’s ‘hub day’ is the first in-house, targeted cultural development course of its kind to gain the IOSH stamp of approval. In partnering, Murphy and IOSH worked together to develop a robust approach to the delegate assessment process to ensure the correct level of understanding is achieved. All delegates receive an IOSH certificate upon successful completion highlighting their support and commitment to Murphy’s approach to culture development.

And this approach is working, with 96% of delegates believing they can use the learning in their roles.

As a family-owned business dating back more than 70 years, Murphy’s values have been evident from the start. The in-house Culture Development Programme (CDP) was launched in 2010 to continue to embed these values and bring them to life. This real and relatable approach is delivered by a team of 10 in-house coaches, all of whom have frontline construction experience themselves.

The ‘hub day’ is one of the core CDP modules and engages all roles within Murphy and the supply chain – focusing on what happens before behavioural choices are made. This holistic approach to culture begins with the company values, and sees safety performance as an output, not a focus.

Gareth Riding, Culture Development Programme Manager at Murphy, said; “Our hub day is part of a motivational cultural programme which enables individuals to restructure their beliefs and attitudes about safety, themselves and their working practices. We believe it is vital to success that all our colleagues understand our values and the impact of the day-to-day choices they make in the workplace. The key is having the correct working environment that supports them.  

“Partnering with IOSH has been very beneficial, we have shown a long commitment to culture development at Murphy and to receive this approval highlights the value our approach can have. In 2023, over 1,000 of our colleagues and supply chain partners attended a hub day, alongside receiving follow up support of onsite coaching which ensures everyone feels empowered to drive positive change.”

As well as being a global chartered membership body, IOSH is a leader in developing occupational safety and health (OSH) training courses that play a key role in workforce development around the world.

IOSH recognises the flexibility required to support the changing world of business and, through its IOSH for Business team, is helping businesses put their OSH strategy first.  

Charlie Grayson, IOSH’s Business Development Manager, said the Institution was confident the ‘hub days’ were pitched at the right level to enhance Murphy’s cultural development goals and keep people safe and healthy;

 “Murphy’s ethos and desire to drive cultural development and keep people safe and healthy at work very much aligns with IOSH’s vision and strategic objectives, so there were clear benefits with us working closely together.

“Our tailored course approval service is a very rigorous process, and we were satisfied that Murphy’s Culture Development Programme met with the quality standards we expect from IOSH certified training and is very well thought-out.

“The IOSH Senior Development Officer who approved the course felt that the efforts put in by the Murphy team to further develop their assessment process are a great example of their dedication to the impact of the course on Murphy employees and supply chain.

“We look forward to continuing to work with them and to seeing how the programme, and the hub days which are part of it, develops.”

-ENDS-

Murphy

Laura Bradley, Senior Communications Manager

laurabradley@murphygroup.co.uk

IOSH

Marcus Boocock, PR Lead

Marcus.boocock@iosh.com or +44 (0)115 257 3139

Murphy is a leading international, specialist engineering and construction company founded in 1951 with a purpose to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure.

Operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America, Murphy provides better engineered solutions to infrastructure sectors including transportation; natural resources; power and water. Headquartered in London, Murphy has a number of related businesses – Piling; Utility Connections; Murphy Plant; Murphy Process Engineering; Pipeline Testing Services; Specialist Welding Services; and Electrical Services. Murphy is a specialist in delivering pipelines, design, structural steel, tunnelling, fabrication, bridges and piling, and has a substantial holding of plant, equipment and facilities.

Murphy employs around 4,000 engineers, professional managers and skilled operatives around the world. Together, they work as ‘One Murphy’ – directly delivering the people, plant and expertise needed to make projects a success.

Visit www.murphygroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: #MoretoMurphy

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is the world’s leading chartered professional body for people responsible for safety and health in the workplace. We have more than 50,000 members in over 130 countries.

We act as a champion, adviser, advocate and trainer for safety and health professionals working in organisations of all sizes. Our focus is to support our members in their efforts to create workplaces that are safer, healthier and more sustainable.

Our shared objective is a world where work is safe and healthy for every working person, every day.

Visit www.iosh.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Lower Thames Crossing delivery team complete as Bouygues Travaux Publics – Murphy awarded tunnelling contract

• Low-carbon bid from Bouygues Travaux Publics – Murphy Joint Venture (BMJV) wins Lower Thames Crossing Tunnels and Approaches contract
• The contract award completes the team that will build the Lower Thames Crossing, as BMJV joins Balfour Beatty (Roads North of the Thames) and Skanska (Kent Roads)
• The team is focused on carbon reduction, value for money and building a local workforce and supply chain ahead of a Development Consent Order decision

National Highways has today (7 December 2023) announced that it has awarded Bouygues Travaux Publics – Murphy Joint Venture the contract to build the country’s largest bored tunnels.

The Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed new road connecting Kent and Essex, and is designed to tackle congestion at the Dartford Crossing. The new route will help grow the economy across the UK by almost doubling road capacity across the Thames east of London and make journeys across the region quicker, safer and more reliable. 

The award of the Tunnels and Approaches contract completes the assembly of the Lower Thames Crossing delivery team, with BMJV joining Balfour Beatty who will build the roads north of the Thames, and Skanska who will build the roads in Kent.

The delivery team is now getting construction ready by using their extensive experience in delivering major projects around the globe to improve the design and exploring ways to maximise the benefits of the project. This includes working with local stakeholders to carry out the detailed design work that will reduce the impact of construction on the local community and environment, and to embed new and emerging low carbon technologies and materials. The team has also made commitments to develop a local supply chain, and help local people take advantage of the new green jobs and skills that will be available on their doorstep during construction. 

Matt Palmer, Lower Thames Crossing Executive Director, said: “This contract award completes a world class team that has carbon reduction, community and value at its heart. By bringing the team together at an early stage we can focus on driving out carbon, delivering the best possible value for money and maximising the huge benefits the project will deliver nationally, regionally and locally.”

“Bouygues Travaux Publics – Murphy JV and all of our delivery partners are fully bought into our passion for delivering a green-skills legacy and share our ambition to use the Lower Thames Crossing as a catalyst to change the whole construction industry’s attitude and approach to carbon reduction.” 

Bertrand Burtschell, Managing Director of Bouygues Travaux Publics, said: “We are excited to work in partnership with National Highways and our joint venture partner Murphy, alongside a range of amazing local supply chain and stakeholder partners to deliver the Lower Thames Crossing Tunnels and Approaches contract on time and on budget, while playing our part in creating a positive long-lasting legacy for the Lower Thames Crossing project in both Kent and Essex. Alongside our Lower Thames Crossing delivery partners, we will work tirelessly to deliver a project that is the benchmark for future infrastructure in terms of skills education, employment opportunities, local business growth and exemplar low carbon construction!”

Nick Fletcher, UK Managing Director at Murphy, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the Tunnels and Approaches in partnership with National Highways and our joint venture partner Bouygues Travaux Publics. At Murphy, our purpose is to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure, we look forward to working with all partners and stakeholders on this project to help realise the long term benefits of investing in a key part of the UK’s national infrastructure. Lower Thames Crossing is a great opportunity for all partners to showcase our engineering expertise and commitment to collaboration and constructing low carbon infrastructure.”

The Tunnels and Approaches contract includes the design and construction of twin road tunnels under the river Thames, which at 2.6 miles will be the longest in the UK. At over 16 metres wide they will be one of the widest in Europe to enable three lanes of traffic to flow through freely at the national speed limit. This includes the UK’s next generation of goods vehicles that are currently restricted from crossing at Dartford, such as efficient double decker HGVs and those carrying sustainable fuels like hydrogen. The contract also includes the tunnel systems, portal buildings, and approach roads.  

The Lower Thames Crossing’s ground-breaking procurement process builds upon National Highways’ track record of delivering major projects such as the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme early and on budget, and has learned the lessons from other infrastructure programmes. Bringing the delivery partners on board at an early stage, combined with the additional planning time gained by rephasing the project’s construction period earlier this year, means National Highways is able to more effectively manage risk and cost.  

The procurement approach also supported the project’s role as a Pathfinder exploring carbon neutral construction. It is the first major infrastructure project in the UK to set an ambitious construction carbon limit in its procurement process, and then allow the competition between bidders to achieve further carbon reduction at no additional cost. BMJV have used their tunnelling and engineering experience to dramatically reduce the embodied carbon below this carbon limit, as well as ways to refine the design to reduce disruption to the local community and leave a legacy of green jobs and skills in the region and broader supply chain.

The wide range of programmes are designed to provide the knowledge, skills and experience needed to launch a career in the construction industry, whilst working towards a recognised qualification.

Our apprenticeships are for people of all ages and aren’t just for school or college leavers.

Our range of entry points means that there are opportunities for those looking to change careers or progress even further in their current career.

A range of roles are available across the UK including:

• Business Administration
• Civil Engineering
• Construction operations
• Construction Management
• Digital Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Electrical Installation
• Finance and Accounting
• Groundworker
• HGV Driver
• Plant Operator
• Plant maintenance
• Planning and Project Controls
• Procurement and Supply
• Quantity Surveying
• Repair Technician
• SHES (Safety, Health, Environment, Sustainability)
• Welding and fabrication

If you, or someone you know is looking for an exciting new opportunity, then visit our Apprenticeship web page for more information. Or if you already know the role you want, head to our Murphy jobs site and search ‘Apprentice’ to get started.

Murphy & Sons Limited is pleased to be working with the Home Office to offer up to 175 Ukrainian refugees employment opportunities across a variety of roles.

The roles include onsite, operative and functional roles in areas such as finance, along with skilled opportunities in Murphy’s engineering, commercial and operations activities. Murphy’s goal is that the wide range of jobs will support a broad cross-section of the Ukrainian community that is relocating to the UK.

In addition, Murphy will offer practical assistance to Ukrainians joining the business — such as helping with language barriers, housing searches, cultural integration support and informal mentoring. As part of this, Murphy will partner new recruits with current Murphy employees who have Ukraine or other Eastern European locations as their country of origin as part of a ‘buddy system’.

Following the announcement of the support scheme, John Murphy, CEO at Murphy, commented:

“As a family-owned business, we strive to go above and beyond when it comes to supporting our people and communities. This is an opportunity to offer meaningful employment to those Ukrainians looking for work in the UK, as well as helping them and their families adapt to life here. We are looking forward to welcoming new colleagues from Ukraine to the Murphy family.”

John’s words were echoed by Dawn Moore, Group People and Communications Director at Murphy:

“We are a growing business with a number of opportunities, and we want to do whatever we can to support those impacted by the current situation in Ukraine. There are many different levels of jobs available within our business along with a wider package of support. It’s also no surprise that many of our Ukrainian, Polish and other Eastern European Murphy people have volunteered to help these prospective new joiners, which is a fantastic show of support.”

Inas Almnasra, who will be acting as Murphy Ukrainian Volunteer Mentor added:

“I was born in Ukraine and lived there until I was five, and have worked with Murphy for the past three years, so I am really looking forward to helping our Ukrainian colleagues to find their feet and get settled in the UK. The war in Ukraine is causing untold heartache for families; I’m incredibly proud that Murphy as a business is committed to helping people who are in such desperate need.”

The Refugee Support Scheme is now open to refugees of all nationalities. Any refugees already in the UK interested in applying for one of our roles should talk to their local Job Centre Plus work coach for more information or email careers@murphygroup.co.uk quoting ‘Reference 454 J Murphy & Sons jobs’.  Applications will then be forwarded onto us for consideration. All applicants must have obtained the relevant VISA/Right to Work in the UK.

Murphy would like to thank the Department for Work and Pensions and the Home Office for their support.

In the last three years we have seen fantastic progression on our IIP accreditation, moving quickly from standard level, then through Silver to now being recognised as a Gold level organisation. This growth has only been possible thanks to the incredible engagement and feedback from all of our teams and their commitment to each stage of the assessment process.

Among the feedback in the latest report, it was noted that colleagues at Murphy “reflected high levels of satisfaction, motivation and association with people describing the company as a great place to work.” Additionally, Murphy’s approach to diversity and inclusion was highlighted as being well ahead of the industry curve, along with its people strategy and also the genuine buy-in of our teams across all locations to the company values.

Murphy is now looking forward to working towards achieving its ultimate aim of becoming an IIP Platinum organisation by the end of 2025.

Murphy has once again been celebrated for its achievement of being recognised as the best big company to work for, this time at The Best Companies to Work For Awards 2023.

This latest accolade caps off an exciting twelve months for Murphy at Best Companies, during which it was firstly named ‘Best Improver’, then retained its ‘Outstanding Company to Work For’ status and then achieved the ultimate accolade in the first quarter of this year of being recognised as the ‘Best Big Company to Work For’ in the UK.

Dawn Moore, Group People and Communications Director at Murphy said; “We are delighted to have once again been recognised by Best Companies as an outstanding place to work. All these achievements have been awarded as a result of feedback from our colleagues across the business, and it is great to have members of our site and project teams join us tonight to celebrate. This is well deserved recognition for all our colleagues at Murphy and the hard work they put in every day to help us deliver world class infrastructure projects.”

In the Best Companies feedback many employees noted how there are ‘various opportunities’ available for personal development and that they had confidence that the organisation will look to promote from within.

In addition, there is a strong sense of ‘family’ within individual teams, with employees doing whatever they can to ‘help each other out’. Employees share that there is a sense of ‘community’ and ‘care’ with colleagues that leads to a shared appreciation for working with ‘people that genuinely care for your wellbeing’. It was also widely acknowledged that the leadership team ‘genuinely care about people’ and are approachable.

If you would like to join Murphy, you can take your first steps by visiting our careers site at https://www.murphygroup.com/murphyjobs

The £93.4 million contract includes work to begin main construction which will deliver a new two storey, four platform station on the West Anglia Main adjacent to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. This will include:

• ticket vending machines
• lifts providing step free access to all platforms
• accessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and space for retail/catering
• access for pedestrians and cyclists from both sides of the railway with capacity for 1000 cycle parking spaces
• modification to roads and crossings to facilitate access to the station

Together with Network Rail’s other integrated delivery partners, Alstom and South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA), Murphy will also modify and enhance the rail infrastructure to support the new station which will include:

• remodelling of the existing track layout
• installing two additional track loops to accommodate a four-platform station
• enhancements to Shepreth branch junction
• modification to the railway on the southern approach to Cambridge station
• provision for overhead line electrification infrastructure and a substation
• modification of existing signalling equipment
• closure of two private level crossing and provision of alternative access

Murphy’s enabling works are already underway with the establishment of the worksite compound, installation of overhead line masts and the front-walls of the platforms. Work will now continue to deliver the station through to completion, currently planned for 2025.

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “Awarding the delivery contract is a significant milestone for the Cambridge South project which will allow us to complete this exciting new station for Cambridge.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Murphy, as we move into the main work phase and build on the early enabling work that has already been delivered.”

Joe Kennedy, Project Director for Murphy: “We’re very excited to be continuing our work on Cambridge South Station. Murphy has made significant progress over recent months completing the enabling works, commenced installation of all four platforms, station building piling and undertaken all groundworks to facilitate the track being realigned during a blockade in December 2023.

“We have forged a strong working relationship with Network Rail and our other delivery partners, SRSA and Alstom on this major infrastructure project and look forward to completing this station for the people of Cambridge.”

This contract award was possible following a recent agreement between Network Rail and Essex County Council to complete the construction of the new station.

The £124 million contract includes main construction work for the new station on behalf of partners Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council. This phase of the work includes the construction for the new station facility, the associated infrastructure, and progress towards opening to train services for the benefit of passengers. 

As part of a wider regeneration scheme, the new station has been designed to support the economic development of the Beaulieu area and its construction will include:

• Three platforms with a central loop line and new tracks to enable stopping services to call at the station while allowing fast trains to pass through unimpeded
• Step free access to all platforms via 2 lifts
• Accessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and space for retail/catering
• Ticketing facilities, with ticket vending machines and a gate line
• Pedestrian and cycle access routes to the station
• 500 spaces for cycle parking and storage
• A bus interchange including bus stands for local services
• Pick up and drop off area with dedicated taxi bays
• Parking for over 700 cars, 5% of which to be designated Blue Badge bays, and motorcycle spaces, as well as dedicated parking for station staff, emergency services, and a dedicated space for service access

Beaulieu Park station is currently expected to be completed by end of 2025. Once open, the station will be managed by Greater Anglia and served by its fleet of new trains with services into London.  

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “J Murphy and Sons have made an excellent start with the enabling and civils works and this contract award will allow us to seamlessly continue to deliver this amazing new station for Chelmsford without pause.   

Beaulieu Park station is an excellent example of what the railway industry can do when working in partnership with local organisations to improve the railway for the benefit of communities and businesses by delivering a new station for the Beaulieu community.”

Chris Cayton, Managing Director – Transportation, J Murphy & Sons Ltd “We’re very proud to be continuing our long partnership with Network Rail through the construction of Beaulieu Park station, a major enhancement to the transport network in Chelmsford.  Significant progress has been made by the Murphy team over the past few months, including modification to the rail systems, groundworks and piling for the station building.

“In the coming months residents will see their new station take shape, as the platforms are constructed, and the steelwork is erected, ahead of major commissioning of the railway infrastructure at Christmas.”