Winvic Honoured with Two National Highways Awards for Social Value and Safety Leadership

Winvic Construction Ltd has won two highly coveted National Highways Industry Awards in recognition of its exceptional achievements in delivering transformative social value and a having a safety-first approach at a ceremony held at Old Trafford, Manchester on 5^th March 2025.

These wins underscore Winvic’s dedication to delivering excellence on the National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) in alignment with National Highways key imperatives: Safety, Customer and Delivery, while setting new benchmarks in collaboration, community impact, and cultural change across the UK construction sector.

WINNER: Delivering Social Value: M62 Ouse Bridge – National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF)

The Winvic Ouse Bridge project team was recognised for its outstanding commitment to maximising social value through collaboration. By tailoring initiatives to community needs, the project has achieved some remarkable results including:

• Employment impact: 33% local employment, including 47 jobs for local residents and 31 roles for veterans.
• Skills and education: supporting two apprentices and two T-Level placement students, providing hands-on construction experience, and educational events, including local primary school visits and a highways career day.
• Community contributions: £9,700 raised for local causes and 195 volunteering hours, including revamping Hook Primary School’s playground and creating dignity bags for the homeless.

Environmental efforts: Volunteering projects, such as river clean-ups and nature reserve restoration.

With over £2 million spent locally, 97% of which was with SMEs, and a framework designed to replicate its success on other projects, the Ouse Bridge initiative has demonstrated the transformative power of collaborative social value strategies. This award complements the Personal Impact Medal awarded to Winvic’s Social Value Manager, Emma Rhymes, at the 2024 Highways Heroes Awards for driving regional social value initiatives.

WINNER: Home Safe and Well Champion of the Year: Millie Nimmo

The award recognised the impact Winvic’s Marketing Campaigns and Content Manager, Millie Nimmo has helped create while driving forward the company’s Doing It Right (DIR) cultural change programme and People Pillar Group. Judges praised her innovative approach and ability to influence both within the organisation and supply chain, which has made a tangible difference across the business.

Millie has become a pivotal force in the DIR culture, spearheading the successful ‘Putting People to Work” campaign which contributed to a 21% reduction in the company’s Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) from April to September 2024. The innovative “Someone’s” campaign used emotive on-site messaging and collaborative leadership engagement to emphasise the importance of health and safety. Across 11 SDF projects in the North East, North West, East and South East, strategically placed signage reminded subcontract operatives of their role in ensuring a safe working environment.

Millie has also inspired company-wide cultural shifts, organising Winvic’s first Doing It Right internal conference, mental health awareness sessions, and trade forums that promote dialogue and inspire behavioural change. Under her leadership, Winvic’s DIR programme, outperformed the HSE’s 2024 construction industry benchmark, ranking in the top 5% in seven out of eight categories and improving in seven out of eight categories compared to 2023 results, and maintaining performance in the eighth category.

As a champion of wellbeing and Mental Health First Aider, Millie championed Winvic’s partnership with construction charity Mates in Mind, ensuring that all staff, including freelance team members, have access to discounted counselling services. She also oversaw the launch of Winvic’s National Fitness Day charity challenge to promote employees’ mental and physical wellbeing, raising £76,000 over the past two years for local and national causes.

Hear from Winvic’s team speaking live from the awards ceremony here.

Rob Cook, Winvic’s Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure said: “We are incredibly proud to have received two prestigious National Highways Industry Awards, recognising our work that truly embodies The Winvic Way values and Doing It Right culture. From the transformative social impact delivered through the M62 Ouse Bridge project to our industry-leading approach to health,safety and wellbeing, these awards highlight the dedication and outstanding performance of our teams.  I’d like to congratulate Millie and the Ouse bridge team for their well-deserved recognition and for their continued commitment to innovation and excellence in supporting National Highways’ key imperatives – Safety Customer and Delivery.”

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