2024 in Review: A Year of Achievements, Innovation & Impact

18 Dec

As we close the chapter on 2024, we reflect on another extraordinary year filled with innovation, collaboration and significant milestones.

From ground-breaking projects to heartfelt charitable initiatives, our teams are consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation and social responsibility.

Our work

This year, we reinforced our dedication to creating a greener future through more transformative projects.

A standout example is our work with New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton – the first hospital in England powered by renewable energy. The newly installed 7MW solar farm and comprehensive retrofit of Wrekin House showcase our ability to deliver cutting-edge, environmentally conscious solutions.

Our portfolio of sustainable projects expanded with significant initiatives like the Bradford College decarbonisation scheme, and the energy-efficient retrofit of the Queen Mary University Library. These projects exemplify our core mission: creating spaces that are not just functional, but actively contribute to a more sustainable world.

This year additionally saw us securing places on 7 key frameworks like the London Borough of Brent Council (LBBC) Technical Consultancy Framework and the Pagabo National Framework for Professional Services. It’s opportunities like these that enable CPW to continue to lead in designing and installing high-quality building services, and to deliver high-impact projects across the UK.

Awards and recognition

2024 has been a year filled with well-deserved recognition. The Molecular Sciences Building for the University of Birmingham secured the Building Project of the Year at the Constructing Excellence West Midlands Awards, while 10 Brindley Place in Birmingham won two prestigious British Council for Offices (BCO) Midlands awards for ESG excellence and innovative workspace refurbishment.

Our team members have also been individually celebrated. Mark Gordon, our Associate Director, was awarded the Engineer of the Year Award at the CIBSE West Midlands annual dinner, and Lewis Devlin, our Trainee Design Engineer, received the Education Award as well as third place Apprentice of the Year at the CIBSE Young Engineers Awards. These accolades, coupled with our RoSPA Gold Award and recognition at the Planet Mark and Investors in People Awards, highlight our commitment to excellence.

Industry voices

We believe in the power of sharing knowledge and inspiring innovation. This year, our team stepped into the spotlight, showcasing expertise and a commitment to advancing sustainable building practices within the building sector.

Steve Umbers, Director, was featured in Construction News as part of the Department for Education’s ‘Skills For Life’ Campaign, highlighting our dedication to nurturing the next generation of engineering talent. Meanwhile, Amy Clutterbuck, our Sustainability Associate, brought critical insights to Healthcare Design and Management magazine, delving into her pivotal role as NHS Net Zero Carbon Coordinator (NHS NZCC).

Our Sustainability and Innovation specialists have been active voices in key industry conversations. From delivering impactful talks at Sustainable Innovation in Healthcare to participating in Mitsubishi's event on the new UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (UK NZCBS), we've been at the forefront of industry dialogue. A highlight was the QMUL launch, where Sustainability Director, Dr Stephen Ball, and Power Team Director, Nilesh Mistry, joined discussions on climate-sensitive building adaptation.

But our vision extends beyond current professionals. We're passionate about inspiring future engineers.

Throughout the year, our team has actively engaged with schools and higher education institutions across the country, delivering talks and attending careers fairs. From the WMG Academy to St. Peter's Catholic School in Solihull, University of Worcester, and University College Birmingham, we're continuing to connect with young talent to showcase the exciting possibilities within Construction.

Community and charitable impact

Beyond professional achievements, every year we invest in community support and this year was no different.

Our teams participated in numerous charitable events, from the Business Fives Nottingham Football Tournament to a Dragon Boat race held in the heart of Birmingham, alongside raffles and fundraising in the office. Our 'Celebrate Care' event alone raised an incredible £9,378 for Marie Curie.

On top of this, we dedicated 1,661 hours to volunteering, with two more successful charity days this year, where our teams dedicated time out of their day to support organisations, such as Canal Connections, University College London Hospitals Charity, Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park and Macmillan to name a few, by completing renovation work, grounds maintenance, litter picking and hosting coffee mornings. A particularly inspiring initiative was our support for WasteShark Leeds, an innovative project with the prime goal of keeping Leeds’ waterways clean; demonstrating our dedication to local environmental conservation.

“At CPW, our success isn’t just measured in projects completed or awards won, but in the positive impact we create – for our clients, our communities, and our planet,” says Andy Hill, Director. “2024 has been a testament to our team’s incredible passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment to engineering a better, more sustainable future.”

Our impact reaches far and wide. John Hauton, our Director and Leicester Lead, continued his inspiring work in The Gambia with New Life Children’s Centre, renovating schools and enhancing education. CPW proudly supported these efforts, including sponsoring Joanna, a top-performing student with aspirations of becoming an engineer, by providing safe accommodation for her and her family to support her education and to help turn potential into reality.

Looking ahead

From the solar-powered innovations at New Cross Hospital to community work in The Gambia, we've shown that we do so much more than Revit models and upgrading building stock. It's about people, potential, and creating a positive impact.

Whether it's our M&E engineers inspiring the next generation at career fairs, our sustainability consultants sharing insights at industry conferences, or our offices dedicating hours to local causes, we're committed to pushing boundaries and creating change.

Every project is an opportunity to learn, innovate, and contribute to a more sustainable, connected world.

Here's to an even more impactful 2025!