Half-Century Reflects Decommissioning Company’s Continuous Development

To commemorate our 50^th anniversary, Hughes and Salvidge features in the latest issue of Construction National magazine detailing our past, present and future…

THIS YEAR IS a truly momentous year in the long and illustrious history of demolition and decommissioning specialists Hughes and Salvidge. It sees the Portsmouth-based company celebrate 50 years in the industry: an achievement of which everyone is extremely proud.

The past half century has seen Hughes and Salvidge progress from relatively humble beginnings to become one of the UK’s premier decommissioning groups. That has been achieved by leading the way in quality and innovation and establishing an outstanding health and safety record while increasing the array of services. In addition to demolition, that includes asbestos removal, decontamination and industrial cleaning and land remediation.

It’s an offering that has extended even more in recent years with the acquisitions of concrete crushing company K&B Crushers, H&S Metals, which specialises in metal recycling, and Aasvogel Waste Management – a fully integrated waste management solution.

The firm’s management are open enough to admit that the road to that 50th anniversary hasn’t always been an easy one. The demolition industry as a whole has faced some very challenging years, but they have managed to continue to grow, despite that, by demonstrating stringent working practices and forming strong relationships with clients as their extensive project portfolio testifies.

Director Ian Martin summed up the air of optimism at the company: “As an industry we did suffer in the recession because clients weren’t spending as much on development, but factories and steel works were closing so people were clearing those sites rather than paying rates on an empty building,” explains Mr Martin. While the loss of those businesses and jobs is sad, Mr Martin points out that demolition makes way for new development when the economy recovers. “We are creating the space for more green shoots,” he said.

High on the agenda at Hughes and Salvidge – and an issue that helps keep them at the forefront of the industry – is corporate social responsibility, and in particular environmental protection. Regarded as an integral part of the operation, it is considered seriously by every member of staff. By carefully managing all their activities to reduce potential environmental impact to a practical minimum, they can maximise the recycling potential of all project sites, aiming to recycle in excess of 95% of demolition arisings.

Hughes and Salvidge’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated by:

• Building a genuine culture of caring throughout the company and beyond

• Having a social and economic impact at a local level

• Putting health and safety of workers and clients first

• Constantly seeking to improve the environmental impact of their work.

As an audited member of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors, Hughes and Salvidge can guarantee their clients a well-managed, safe and environmentally considerate demolition project. As part of ISO 14001 accreditation and EMS, their corporate objectives include:

• Striving to continue the zero accident rate that has been achieved for the past three years

• Striving to maintain its record of no enforcement action

• Minimum 95% recycling of waste by weight

• Maintaining competency training for all staff

Ian Martin concluded: “The company’s main focus in the near future will be on building on its existing strengths and getting repeat business, however it is important not to spread yourself too thin. We will look at any new opportunity if it suits our profile and demographics, but we also have to consolidate what we have already got.”