Work in the energy sector is expected to account for 50% of workload at Taylor Woodrow within the next three years according to plans set out in a new strategy for growth unveiled by the firm today. Taylor Woodrow managing director Phil Skegg told NCE that the business is less focused on achieving specific financial gains in that timeframe and more focused delivering sustainability in the mix of the work it undertakes. “We must not focus on growth but on our contribution to the UK’s energy transition,” said Skegg. This year the firm expects its turnover from energy related projects to be around 40%, which marks a significant change on 2017 where just 7% of its turnover was derived from the sector. “We want to move over 50% of our activity into the energy market within the next three years in line with the UK’s growing energy investments and stated long-term energy transition,” explained Skegg. “There is no immediate focus on business growth; instead, it is about a repositioning in the markets that we operate.” Skegg said that the energy growth aims to build on the firm’s strength in the rail, local and strategic highway infrastructure sectors. Following on from launch of Taylor Woodrow’s new environment strategy and framework at the start of the year, Skegg added that the new focus of the business will also have a bearing on future client selection to ensure there is “a strategic alignment of the business’s ambitions regarding the environment”. The environmental strategy set out how Taylor Woodrow aims to find new ways of working that are better for the environment and to create links across the organisation to share learning on a continual basis. The firm said that this innovation and collaboration was key to avoiding “green washing” and work to deliver demonstrable incremental improvements at every stage of the infrastructure lifecycle. To underline Taylor Woodrow’s commitment, the firm has set out some clear net zero and environmental targets, which include:

Reducing Direct Greenhouse Gas Emissions.


Reducing indirect emissions (scope 3) by 20% by 2030 compared with 2019 levels By 2030 90% of all concrete used will be low carbon concrete Ban single use plastics from sites this year Reduce waste intensity year on year to achieve zero avoidable waste by 2040 100% of non-hazardous, construction, demolition and excavation Waste diverted from landfill by 2028 Minimum of 10% Biodiversity net gain across all relevant projects by 2030
Supporting Skegg in delivering on the energy growth and net zero targets is a new leadership team, which also helps integrate the regional civils contracting businesses of Eurovia and SWH, with Taylor Woodrow, to create a stronger organisation. Taylor Woodrow has announced the appointments of Craig Prangley as operations director – projects, Louise Arrowsmith as operations director – regions, Jez Haskins in the role of business development director, Gareth Wagland is the pre-construction director and Millan Martin takes on the role of engineering director. Skegg said: “The outcome will be a single team delivering diverse energy and public transportation projects, that enhance people’s lives.” In making the announcement about the firm’s new strategy, Skegg has also emphasised the importance of skills and industry research to support the strategy. According to Skegg, recruitment, skills and training is fundamental to that plan. “Taylor Woodrow supports degree apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships and has internal processes to ensure that skills and techniques such as slip forming are passed on,” he said. Alongside traditional engineering Taylor Woodrow will also be collaborating with its partners in the research and development of energy efficient materials and off site construction to minimise the environmental impact of its processes and help create a more sustainable supply chain. Skegg added: “Wherever we can, we seek a sustainable solution for the engineering and design problems we have to overcome. That means being creative, it means being collaborative across our sector and beyond, and it means a commitment and a respect for the natural environment we work in as we create the built environment infrastructure to support the lives of people in the UK. It is about the right civil engineering solution. That’s what Taylor Woodrow is about. And that’s how, together as a team, Taylor Woodrow is forming a strong, sustainable business creating a positive legacy, I am very honoured to lead a strong senior leadership team, along with a very experienced business development, work winning and engineering teams, supporting all our project teams.”