Friday Update

As another week draws to a close, I do hope you are all keeping healthy, happy and feeling optimistic as each week passes and we move another step closer to overcoming the pandemic and fulfilling our aspirations that life will become a little more settled once again before too much longer.

As the media seems to have turned its attention momentarily away from COVID-19 this week to share news from the Royal family and even reports of a new robot on the surface of Mars, I do feel this is a positive sign and reflection that we are making huge leaps forwards in suppressing the virus, with some light beginning to emerge at the end of the tunnel at last which is a welcome reprieve from the dour headlines that have dominated our screens and newspapers for far too long now. My thoughts are augmented by reports of two wide-scale authoritative COVID-19 surveys which highlight that cases are substantially falling and by up to two-thirds across most parts of the UK (since last measured mid-January) evidencing that the third lockdown is serving its purpose and yielding the desired results. And, with over 16.8 million vaccinations now administered (including a few within the Team Jenner family, which is great to hear) and promises that every age group will have received a first dose by August, there is hope that Boris’s delivery of his ‘roadmap to recovery’ and update on lockdown next Monday (22nd) will offer us a little more certainty as to what the next few weeks and months will have in store. Personally, it would just be a relief if the hairdressers could re-open for a start!

A polite reminder to you all following yesterday’s communication, that the wearing of face coverings is now mandatory throughout the business when in communal office areas or when moving away from your desk, whether this is at Century House or your site accommodation. This really is critical for your own safety, that of your colleagues and in light of our recent visit from the HSE incredibly important and which could have been damning for us if they had witnessed any occurrences of non-compliance. The HSE really are interrogating all businesses who remain open to ensure we act responsibly in our actions and are fulfilling our duty of care to our people, and as such the Directors and I thank you for your continued cooperation. Please do remind yourself of the updated safe working guidelines as issued yesterday, keep up the good levels of symptom-free testing and of course remain alert to the risks.

I am delighted to report that Canterbury Medical Centre, built within the grounds of Kent and Canterbury Hospital, achieved Practical Completion earlier today as the team, led by Bob Garlinge, successfully handed over the building to our valued client Assura ready for an influx of patients expected as soon as next week. This is our second medical centre delivered for Assura in the past few months and will amalgamate two former run-down surgeries based at London Road and Cossington House in Canterbury into modern, fit-for-purpose facilities to deliver essential primary care to the district. The keys were handed over to the CEO of Canterbury Integrated Healthcare and the practice manager, as pictured below, and I look forward to sharing the official photographs, taken by our professional photographer, of the finished building in coming weeks.

This is an extremely impressive achievement given Site Manager Steve Cullen’s most unfortunate and sudden state of ill health experienced at Christmas, and due commendation must be extended to the team of Terry Reeves, Dave Tingley and Tom Welch who stepped in at the eleventh hour and worked tirelessly to complete the project, alongside Bob Garlinge and Sam Burt. Of course this achievement cannot pass without incredibly high praise for Steve Cullen himself who had positioned the project exceptionally well prior to his ill health and I hope it will give him a boost to know the scheme is now complete, much to the delight of our client and the new Doctors and will be a hugely beneficial asset to the local community. Very well done to you all.

More positive publicity was gained for our projects this week through three diverse media channels, as Kent Online featured Jenner once again, this time reporting on the renowned F51 (Urban Sports Park) and our progress in delivering this hugely challenging scheme, whilst Folkestone Seafront gained recognition with a technically-focused article featured in ‘Ground Engineering Magazine’; a bespoke engineering publication with a readership of over 5000 (with 40% of these readers at senior management level).

The Kent Online article positions Jenner most positively in delivering the project that offers huge community gains and updates on the progress of the flagship build amidst a minefield of design changes, COVID-19 induced delays and the building’s bespoke jigsaw-like façade as it journeys to reach us from Spain. You can read the full article via the following link: Urban sports park F51 in Folkestone due to open this summer (kentonline.co.uk)

Meanwhile the Ground Engineering Magazine piece showcases our capabilities to deliver technically challenging schemes such as Folkestone seafront which remains firmly in the public and wider-industry eye, and elevates our profile beyond previous perceptions of what Jenner are able to achieve and which will continue to enhance our already exceptional reputation. Please do take a moment to read the full article which is attached for ease of reading, and as pictured below, although we have been asked, because this is featured within a paid-for subscription, not to share this beyond the team internally at this stage until the publication is available to view online.

Notably and most interestingly F51 also featured in an article within ‘The Times’ newspaper last week in a piece focused on architecture titled: “Moving on up: ten of the coolest new buildings to gawp at this year” which is fantastic national coverage for the project which gains more and more interest from further afield and inclusion within many high profile publications and which gives serious kudos to Jenner in delivering this scheme.

Following my request last week to hear of any volunteering throughout the company whilst we are locked down, I was heartened to learn that Sallie has kindly been helping out at the Folkestone Food Stop on Tuesday evenings, preparing and distributing food for local homeless and vulnerable people. One of the distribution stops is located next to our Folkestone Seafront site with our floodlights proving most helpful to volunteers and I understand supplies of tinned food donations or individual homemade cakes would be gratefully received, with some of the ladies within Jenner already generously donating. You can find out more via the following link: https://www.rainbow-centre.org/our-services/foodstop/

Please do support this charitable initiative if you can, and well done Sallie for giving up your time and getting involved to help those in great need.

That’s all from me this week. As far as I am aware we don’t have any milestone birthdays, anniversaries or new arrivals (babies or staff) to share this time, so I will leave you all to enjoy the weekend and I’ll be back in touch with you again next Friday.