Johnson to sponsor new eco award

SADDLEWORTH-based national construction company Johnson Group has become the 10th sponsor of the 2010 One Oldham Business Awards.

The Delph business, which also has offices in London and Glasgow, is to sponsor a new category, the Environmental Business of the Year.

This will recognise Oldham companies making a significant contribution to reducing their carbon footprint, or helping others with environmental issues.

June Smith, Oldham Council’s principal economic and business liaison officer, said: “We were approached at the launch lunch by a number of sponsors and companies asking us to consider adding an environmental award to the 2010 list.

“We agreed immediately and are delighted to have secured such a high-profile sponsor for this inaugural award. I am convinced there will be a great deal of interest and I don’t envy the judges in this one as the standard will be high.”

Alan Oldham, Johnson’s environmental champion, added: “As a growing employer and business, Johnson Group acknowledges the responsibilities that all companies and individuals have towards the environment.”

Johnson’s chief executive Jeremy Broadbent added: “We hear constantly about how climate change is going to affect our own generation and future generations. It is important that we all take action now and raise the profile of environmental issues, not through paying lip service but by recognising our significant impacts on the environment and taking the right action to reduce those impacts.

“Johnson Group is proud to sponsor this award, which will be given to the company that demonstrates a clear commitment to our environment, by actions, deeds or in support of others.

“ To all of us here at Johnson Group it’s an ideal way to demonstrate our own ‘green credential’ which is an indication of a forward thinking, responsible business.”

Johnson’s has been awarded international certification in recognition of its commitment to safety and quality within construction. The company is intending to secure certification in relation to environmental management early next year.

Entry forms will be mailed to more than 2,500 Oldham businesses next week and this year entries can be made online at a new website will be announced in this column next week.

This year’s One Oldham gala presentation dinner is on Monday, March 22, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham.



14 days to build flood town store

JOHNSON’S is working 24-7 to complete a new, temporary superstore in Workington to help victims of the Cumbrian floods.

Johnson’s has been commissioned by the supermarket giant Tesco to complete a 10,000 sq ft temporary facility in just two weeks.

Workington Council approached the supermarket giant when November’s floods tore down the town’s main river bridge, isolating people in the north of the borough from the main Tesco supermarket.

The local authority has made available several acres of land for the store, which could be in use until the early months of 2011 when a new main bridge is completed.

Johnson’s, which has undertaken work for Tesco for several years, was approached by project engineers PMK, from Bedale in North Yorkshire, to take on what the Saddleworth company is describing as one its most challenging contracts.

Working with Yorkon Buildings, part of the Portakabin Group, Johnson’s has erected the structure of the new store —bolting together 27 units - in record time and by last Sunday, 30 electricians were on site.

Target date for the new store’s opening is Monday which would be just 14 days after work started on the previously derelict site.

In addition to the 10,000 sq ft of trading floor space, Johnson’s team, headed by Geoff Terry and his seven management colleagues, are creating a further 3,000 sq ft of warehousing and staff facilities, a car-park for more than 100 vehicles, plus access roads and all the attendant groundworks services, including drainage. “It’s a huge undertaking and a real challenge but we are on track and confident we will deliver on time,” says Johnson director Bob Gregson.