Page 3 - W M Donald Newsletter - Edition Thirteen

SUMMER 2022
3
EWAN’S WELCOME
The pandemic feels like a lifetime ago. It’s good to return to a sense of normality...although, sadly, that ‘normality’ includes inflation at 10%, fuel costs rocketing, key materials in short supply, and an exceptionally challenging labour market.
Even with the rosiest of tinted spectacles, it is hard to see a significant reduction in fuel prices until the second quarter of 2023. A speedy resolution to the desperately sad war in Ukraine would certainly be a big help in this regard. All construction companies have seen their cost base increase with the abolition in April 2022 of the tax rebate on red diesel.
Through the hard work of everyone in the company over a long period of time, our reputation for quality and ‘getting things done’ has enabled us to build a strong order book going forward. Due to all the factors previously mentioned, however, margins are being squeezed. This highlights the need to continue to strive for efficiencies such as eliminating waste, reducing travel where possible, and clear communications between site and office.
There is plenty of positive news across W M Donald as you
will read in the newsletter. We continue to invest in plant and equipment, in particular our fleet of vans and support vehicles. We have taken fleet servicing and repair in-house, and this is enabling us to be more proactive, particularly with regards to maintenance needs onsite.
W M Donald has always seen technology and innovation as one way of staying ahead of the curve. Our new commercial drone has enabled us to bring the majority of site surveys in-house. Four members of our engineering team have qualified for their commercial drone pilot licences. There remains huge scope
for innovation in construction materials and we are currently working with one of our suppliers to understand the scope for using steel fibres in concrete across future projects.
In addition to our portfolio of housing projects, we have been successful in winning work on some major infrastructure projects. These include significant roadworks at College Street in the centre of Aberdeen and enabling works at the new Dalcross Railway Station that serves Inverness Airport.
Our latest cohort of apprentices are starting their W M Donald journeys. They have big boots to fill with three of last year’s intake being entered for the Apprentice of the Year Award at this year’s Trades Awards. I hope all our apprentices get as much enjoyment from working in civil engineering as I have over the years.
A big thank you to everyone who provided feedback in our workforce survey. The information provided is of invaluable assistance to the leadership team. A few respondents felt that the newsletter was too ‘office-based’, although they may have used a richer vocabulary to express this opinion than is suitable for the newsletter! We have started to address this within the current newsletter, and we are always open to suggestions as to how we can do better in the future.
As always, thank you for your continued hard work and commitment. Work safely.
Ewan Riddoch - Managing Director
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
04 Installing interceptors at Aberdeen Harbour
05 A day in the life of a...Site Engineer
06 The Matrix arrives at W M Donald!
06 Alan Dunning joins W M Donald as Transport Manager
07 South College Street
08 Coming soon to a site near you:
the tiltrotator
09 Occupational Work Supervision qualification: 100% pass rate for W M Donald candidates
10 Scott Sorley is (not quite) half the man he used to be
10 W M Donald and the Four Degrees!
11 Mike Brodziak: Drainage Services
Operations Manager
11 Cloverhill, Murcar, Bridge of Don
12 A day on site
14 Thinking BIG: Concrete
16 GEM Awards
16 Kincorth, Aberdeen
16 Woodend Eco Village, Banchory
17 The Perth Post
18 Just asking for a friend
19 Near misses
19 Putting W M Donald to the test
20 Trades Awards 2022
20 Women in the W M Donald workplace
21 Social & Charity
22 Inverness Intel
20 P&J Live 24 Logo Quiz