Winvic’s Social Value Manager Hailed as a Highways Hero

The Judges of the Highways Heroes Awards 2024 have selected Emma Rhymes, Winvic’s Social Value Manager, as a finalist for the accolade, recognising Emma for her tenacity for success. The awards ethos is that no good deed or selfless act should go unnoticed. A black-tie ceremony, unveiling the winners, will be held at London Hilton Park Lane on 28 November.

Emma not only drives Winvic’s social value delivery on National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) projects, but also chairs the National Highways SDF Southeast and North Social Value Working Groups, which respectively comprise 32 and 22 National Highways’ regional contractors.

44 collaborative initiatives and 2 legacy projects have been delivered on the SDF to date under Emma’s leadership.

Emma joined Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, three years ago with considerable knowledge of construction and social value. Since then, she has expanded her expertise and created numerous impactful social value strategies and delivered long-term benefits to communities. A blog written by Emma about her career and role can be found here.

Emma’s excellent collaborative skills and innovative and expert approach – which prioritises grass roots local needs – results in more positive outcomes for more people. She has delivered numerous successful projects and is a respected leader in her field, which has led her to be chosen as Judge for Building The Future Awards and a Future Construction Summit panel moderator. Furthermore, Emma’s work has been pivotal to multiple award wins including:

• Highways UK Excellence Awards 2023 – North NH SV Working Group (Yorkshire and Northeast Community): Team of the Year
• Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Midlands 2023 – Peddimore project: Social Value of the Year
• Birmingham Careers Hub Awards 2023 – Winvic Work Enrichment Programme delivered for SEND students: Outstanding Contribution Award
• CCS National Site Awards 2024 – Crown Place Birmingham: Silver, Peddimore: Bronze

Emma Rhymes, Winvic’s Social Value Manager, said: “It’s an honour to be selected as a finalist in these awards and to be considered a Highways Hero for my work in delivering long-lasting community benefits under the SDF contract with National Highways. Collaboration is at the heart of any successful social value strategy, so I’d also like to thank all members of the two SDF Working Groups for their commitment, passion and support for my approach.

“It’s crucial that we understand local people’s needs, act fast when there is an immediate requirement and continually look for new ways to make a real difference to people’s lives. To date we have delivered 44 initiatives and 2 legacy projects, including donations of dignity bags containing hygiene items to homeless charities, undertaken during the summer when donations typically decrease. We also donated to a local toy appeal so it could purchase items to meet the needs of age groups where item donations were lacking, and we recorded waste items for Marine Conservation during beach clean ups.

“One of the legacy projects stands out and is close to my heart; our delivery of a new playground at Hook Primary School benefits so many children both now and in the future. We ran a competition with the schoolchildren to design a new playground and two of our T-Level placement students worked to ensure the design was feasible. With the help of several subcontractors, wheelchair-friendly paths now run around the previously neglected embankment to areas with swings, a sandpit and a climbing frame. Each class also planted a tree and Year 6 leavers will plant a tree in each coming year.

“I am very much looking forward to attending the awards ceremony and hearing the stories of all the other Highways Heroes finalists.”

Heidi Salmons, Winvic’s Head of Marketing, Communications and Social Responsibility, said: “Emma’s drive and passion for delivering impactful social value is truly remarkable. She has excellent people skills, develops relationships fast and isn’t shy to challenge others. Her approach has been instrumental in not only shaping meaningful community initiatives, but also in fostering collaboration across National Highways’ regional contractors. Emma’s ability to bring people together, prioritise local needs, and create long-lasting legacies has made her an invaluable part of the Highways Community. We are incredibly proud to see her recognised as a finalist in the Highways Heroes Awards.”

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