Karl Hick has been shortlisted for 'Leader of the Year', BusinessGreen Leader Awards

Karl Hick, CEO of The Larkfleet Group of Companies, has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Leader of the Year’ category in the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards.

Karl said: “To be shortlisted for such a prestigious award is a privilege. I can see I am in very good company and I look forward to the event where the winner will be announced.

”From our base in the Lincolnshire market town of Bourne, I believe we are leading the way in showing how high environmental and quality standards can be introduced practically and economically to the highly competitive housing market and across all our companies. We strive to demonstrate environmental best practice and sustainability not just in the projects delivered for customers but also in our everyday business.”

The BusinessGreen Leaders Awards are among the UK's largest and most admired environmental business awards and celebrate the best and the brightest from low carbon national companies. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in London in July.

Larkfleet’s Helen Hick shortlisted for award

Larkfleet Homes joint managing director Helen Hick was shortlisted for a prestigious award at the recent Women in Construction Business Awards.

Although ‘pipped at the post’ for the title by Jackie Biswell of Apex Roofing in Lowestoft, Helen was delighted to be one of just six finalists for the 'Business Leader of the Year' award.

Helen said: “To be amongst the finalists for this award is an honour. The number of women working in the construction industry is still relatively low. It is important that we encourage and celebrate the success of those who do choose any one of the very varied roles available to them. The Women in Construction Business Awards do just this and I was delighted to be part of the event.”

The award judges put Helen into the final six as a result of her growing role at Larkfleet Homes where she has worked alongside husband, Karl, to build the company to what it is today – one of the UK’s most successful private housebuilders. Helen was promoted to joint managing director last year and she continues to hold the position of human resources director for parent organisation The Larkfleet Group of Companies.

Run for Fun!

We are delighted to be sponsoring the Bourne Fun Run again this year.  Larkfleet has been involved with the Bourne Rotary Club fun run for a number of years. It is an event close to our heart as our CEO, Karl Hick, is a keen runner.

This year the run is being held on Sunday 10 April.  Entry forms are available from Rutland Sports
Runners can either take the 3 km or 10 km route, both of which meander through Bourne Woods.  The 3 km route is aimed at fun runners and youngsters (8 years upwards), whilst those with more serious intentions can take the 10 km route.

Last year the Rotary Club attracted 350 runners and raised £4,500 for local charities.

Ready for the off at last year's Bourne fun run

Larkfleet Homes looks to the future with GPUTC

Several members of our staff recently joined forces with the new Greater Peterborough University Technical College (GPUTC) to help recruit students for its first year of operation.

GPUTC is a brand new technical education facility at the Park Crescent campus in Peterborough.  Due to open in September 2016, the state-of-the-art facility houses separate engineering and construction workshops, science and computer labs as well as social and communal areas.

The college has been holding a number of recruitment days with the support of local employers, such as Larkfleet, to help showcase the various courses on offer to prospective students who will be form 14 to 19 years old.

We have been involved with the GPUTC since before the first plans were drawn up.  We are delighted to be one of the local 'employer sponsors' for the project and we support the college plans wholeheartedly. Our CEO, Karl Hick sits on the college steering group.

Investing in the future of the construction industry by supporting local young people keen to take their first steps has always been part of our ethos and this partnership takes this to the next stage.

Among the Larkfleet staff attending the most recent UTC recruitment event were architect Mark Croker and trainee architect David Laidler.

David has been part of the Larkfleet team since starting his training.  His success has been influenced by the link created between his training and his work with us.  It is this success that we hope to re-create by our relationship with UTC.

Helen Hick, HR director for The Larkfleet Group of Companies, said: "We are delighted to be supporting this initiative by GPUTC.  At the open evening we talked both to prospective students and to parents and all of them were keen to explore the options on offer."

 

Under starter's orders at Larkfleet Homes

Larkfleet Homes CEO Karl Hick recently invited key contractors and subcontractors who work on the company's Peterborough, Rutland and Cambridgeshire developments to a night out at Peterborough Greyhound Stadium.

The team enjoyed a good evening following the various races and backing a few of the winning dogs.  Larkfleet Homes also sponsored one of the races and Karl was delighted to present the winning trainer and owner with their trophies.

Karl said: "It is important to relax as a team and enjoy some time together away from work. Larkfleet  has big plans for the future and it is vital to have the support of our key contractor and subcontractors so we can deliver these and ensure our customers are welcomed into their new homes on target.

"We continually strive to improve the quality of our new homes and our speed of delivery while maintaining or improving site safety and reducing our environmental footprint. The expertise and skills of our construction teams allow us to do this and it was good to have an opportunity to talk informally with our contractors about how they could help.

"Going forward, it is important to make sure construction skills are passed on to the next generation.  Larkfleet Homes is keen to continue development of our apprenticeship schemes and we are working with Greater Peterborough University Technical College to help develop courses for those interested in all areas of construction."

Success at the 2015 Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards

We were delighted to win the Environmental Achievement Award this year at the Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards.  The award was won by the Larkfleet Group and was kindly sponsored by Allia.

The event showcases and celebrates the very best of local businesses in and around Peterborough.

Our congratulations to Peterborough Re Use and Riverford Organics, who were both highly commended.