Testimonials
My name is Scott Boobier, site manager for Hale Group. My job role is getting everyone to run day-to-day as good and as fast as I can, sticking to programs, and looking after every trade on site. To be honest, Osprey have been a massive help for me. Breath of fresh air, to be honest. From a site manager’s point of view, you ask them to do something and they do it. It’s amazing and really helpful. They are definitely one of the good ones.
They are very, very open and willing to say, ‘Right, okay, this is a problem; this is the way we can do it’. There are no contractual discussions that really affect timescales; everything I’ve asked them, they’ve done. Osprey look into things more than other contractors would generally. They show us the right and correct way and they’re just on board with us. If I ask a question and they don’t know, they literally come back to me with what we’re going to do. From my point of view, it is awesome.
They’ve got a great balance of experience and bringing apprentices through. If I was higher up the food chain, I think I’d definitely look to put them across most projects. They’ll only progress and get stronger and stronger as a company. I just can’t wait for it all to be finished so I can look back, drive my daughter by, and say, ‘Look, daddy built that site’.
Scott Boobier
Site Manager, Hale Group
My name is Dionne Herbert. I’m a social value officer for Hale Group. Across all of our contracts, especially with this one with such an importance to the community, what we try and do is deliver targeted recruitment. That means local job opportunities, apprenticeships, and helping that process so people can understand what this means and how they can move forward.
It’s been really refreshing to work with Ospreys, because they’ve had a really proactive approach. Everything I’ve asked from them- and actually they’ve come to me and asked for opportunities and what they can do more of. We’ve also trialled a new scheme where actually we at Hale have paid for four months for a young woman called Alanwen to do a work experience trial. They’ve been absolutely fantastic in helping us support that because it’s not part of their obligation.
What they do differently is that they really value apprentices. It’s not a tick box exercise to them. They mentor them, they train them and they have that long term progression. They really buy into social value. It’s not something they do just to get a contract. It’s something that they really believe in.
Construction was not always like this. Realising the benefit that you can get from it in the long term, having people who are loyal to you, bringing those people through, I think it’s a real asset to them as a company. I would love to work with Ospreys on more schemes because of what they’ve achieved here and how much engagement they’ve had in that social value sphere.
Dionne Herbert
Social Value Officer, Hale Group
