Spencer Group working round the clock on Brexit border checkpoints
TIME-CRITICAL: Andy Beach, Operations Director for Spencer Group, left, and Alan Jackson, Project Delivery Manager for ABP. Picture by Neil Holmes
Civil engineering and construction business Spencer Group is working round the clock on a time-critical project to deliver new border checkpoints at the ports of Hull and Immingham.
Spencer Group has been selected by Associated British Ports (ABP) to deliver two Border Control Posts (BCPs) required as a consequence of Brexit.
The inspection posts will be used to carry out checks on plants, plant products and animal products such as meat, fish and dairy being imported from the EU.
The Government has directed that all BCPs across the country must be operational by July 1 as part of its staggered approach to introducing new border control checks following the UK’s exit from the European Union. Full controls on goods entering the UK are required to be in place from this date.
The contract was awarded to Spencer Group on December 28. The Hull-based company mobilised a dedicated project team immediately and have been working with ABP every day since in order to deliver the works on time.
At the project’s peak, 130 Spencer Group team members will contribute to delivering the BCPs, with work being carried out seven days a week and 24 hours a day when required. Local apprentices will also form part of the delivery team.
Spencer Group is working in close collaboration with ABP to meet the challenging deadline and has made rapid progress on the project.
The company’s in-house teams have already designed the foundations, steelwork, drainage and cladding details for both sites and secured supply chain partners for the modular buildings, piling, groundworks, steelwork, cladding, internal walls and doors, refrigeration and “dock leveller” loading platforms.
Piling is also complete at the Immingham site while, at the Hull site, Spencer Group has put in place an innovative, in-house designed ground stabilisation system to reduce cost and save time in the construction of foundations.
CHALLENGING: Andy Beach, left, and Alan Jackson inspecting progress on the delivery of a new border checkpoint. Picture by Neil Holmes
The project covers the construction of a 4.1 acre facility at the Port of Hull, with a total floor space of 33,584 sq ft (3,120 sq m), and a 5.3 acre facility at Immingham, with a total floor space of 40,957 sq ft (3,805 sq m).
Andy Beach, Operations Director for Spencer Group, said: “It wouldn’t be possible to work at the pace we are to meet this demanding deadline without Spencer and ABP working together as a fully integrated team.
“The delivery time is very challenging, so it’s crucial we work in collaboration and that’s precisely what we’ve done from the very first day. We have a fantastic relationship and it’s testament to all involved just how quickly we’ve got this project off the ground.
“As a local contractor, we’re delighted to have been selected to deliver such a prestigious scheme for a key client like ABP at the ports of Hull and Immingham. This is also great news for our local supply chain partners who are supporting us on the project.”
ABP has invested around £50m to increase the capacity of its container terminals in recent years, meaning it is confident of having sufficient capacity as more stringent border controls are introduced, post-Brexit.
Simon Bird, Regional Director for ABP Humber, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to support a local supplier to help boost in the Humber economy.
“The construction of new Border Control Posts in the ports of both Hull and Immingham will help to ensure we continue to have a smooth flow of trade and we keep vital supplies coming into the nation.”
Spencer Group is one the UK’s leading multi-disciplinary engineering businesses. It delivers innovative engineering and construction solutions in the materials handling, transport, infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors, from design through to construction.