Graham Construction has been named ‘Contractor of the Year’ at this year’s internationally-acclaimed NEC Awards in London for its industry-leading work providing first class health care facilities throughout Scotland.

The prestigious annual awards ceremony celebrates the world’s best project delivery examples which promote good practice through collaboration.

Representatives from company were on hand to accept the award, which builds on last year’s success when Graham Construction was ‘Highly Commended’ in the same category.

The firm is one of five Principal Supply Chain Partners working with NHS Scotland within the strategically-important and innovative Health Facilities Scotland 2 framework.

Appointed in 2013 to the six-year programme of works, Graham is currently delivering design, build and construction projects comprising of differing packages of new build, refurbishment, backlog maintenance, statutory compliance and risk reduction works for a number of Scottish NHS health boards including NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Fife, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lothian and NHS Highland.

Routinely working in live hospital environments, the award recognised Graham’s collaborative approach from early pre-construction stage to project completion is central to ensuring operational continuity, the safety of patients, staff and visitors, and the delivery of high-standard clinical accommodation with superior infection prevention and control.

Gary Holmes, regional director of Graham Construction, said: “We’re extremely pleased to be presented with this tremendous accolade, which further underlines the company’s credentials as an industry expert delivering first-class facilities for the health sector.

“Graham has completed numerous high-profile and complex work programmes in the health sector throughout Scotland, and we have done so while always ensuring minimal disruption for patients, staff and members of the public.

“The recent completion of the state-of-the-art Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Monklands Hospital – the first of a 12-phased work programme to be completed by spring 2018 – is a perfect example of this.

“Ensuring the hospital remained fully operational was one of the most important aspects of Phase One’s work programme at Monklands and I’m pleased to say this was never compromised during the project’s delivery.

“Congratulations for the award must go to all the Graham Construction teams, who continually go above and beyond to ensure each project is delivered to the satisfaction of our clients. Well done everyone.”

The awards were presented at the NEC Annual Seminar on April 27. The event took place at One Great George Street, London, bringing together representatives from the industry across the world.

NEC is a family of contracts that facilitates the implementation of sound project management principles and practices as well as defining legal relationships.

It is suitable for procuring a diverse range of works, services and supply, spanning major framework projects through to minor works and purchasing of supplies and goods. The implementation of NEC3 contracts has resulted in major benefits for projects both nationally and internationally in terms of time, cost savings and improved quality.