June News!

Summer has arrived to find us still very much under restrictions but, since our last update, it at last feels like s small step back towards normality has been taken with relaxed rules on meeting friends and family outside and even the opportunity to get a McDonalds (if you can brave the queue)!  Here at SVM we have never really stepped back and have once again passed our annual RISQS audit even with the additional challenge of it being carried out remotely.  We’re still working as hard as ever from home to make sure that all of our clients still receive the excellent service that they expect.

June has continued to see no reduction in new projects arriving at SVM’s socially distanced door with works associated with the passenger management centre at Waverley station; asset plans for several station depots and fees being submitted for footbridge, AFA and ventilation works at various railway locations across the country.  In the commercial sector we have been asked to revisit a site in Bearsden for a new stage of works involving the common water supplies and we have also been asked to submit fees for design at a large residential property in Castle Douglas, a site with which we have been involved in a technical advisory capacity in the past.   

The biggest existing projects that are continuing into the summer with us include design works for Goole Swing Bridge; a rail freight yard in the East End of Glasgow; design works at Reston and East Linton; and design for some stations in the London area.  Also busy this month are design signalling feeders in Glasgow North and Edinburgh and a cluster of projects at Waverley station including design for the toilets, concourse lighting and nearby IECC.  Multiple works are still ongoing at Glasgow Central Station including DBs, LCPs and retail supplies; and depot protection design works as is design for the staff accommodation works at Ayr Station.  South of the border we are still involved with design at Birmingham Station, footbridge design near Cleethorpes and large scale works kicking off in the Rugeley to Colwich region. Projects in their final furlong in June include shore supplies design in the Nevillehill area; lighting design for Glasgow subway tunnels; Highland Mainline; HEP East; Caledonian Sleeper stabling facilities; and the current stage of 11kV works in Bristol.  

Another month has gone by without the chance for pints and curry but it is heartening to see lockdown beginning to ease.  SVM are already looking at a ‘return to work’ plan in order to manage a safe return to the office for all once we are allowed to do so.  It would be nice to think that lunchtime pizza seminars could once again be a feature in the future – however long it takes us to get there!  Here’s again wising all our clients and collaborators another safe and healthy month ahead.