VIRTUS GAINS 'HIGHLY COMMENDED' RECOGNITION FROM HIGHWAYS ENGLAND

 

22 January 2016 

Virtus Ltd awarded 'Highly Commended' award with Manchester Smart Motorways at the H.E Supplier Recognition Scheme awards

We are very proud to receive such recognition from Highways England for the part we play on this prestigious Smart Motorway joint venture. We commenced work on Manchester Smart Motorways back in August 2013 at the start of the design and development phase and have been embraced as a key member of the team ever since.  Our team manage the entire Traffic Management package and the relationships developed with the TM supply chain and stakeholders by Neil and his team have been very well received by the JV DPs and Highways England.

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Neil Sears commented:
“Being appointed as a consultant to Balfour Beatty during design and development, I was fortunate enough to be included in the projects Senior Management Team from the very start of the contract. This has enabled us to showcase what Virtus can bring to such projects and allowed me to develop a very strong high performing team. Working closely with our supply chain and stakeholders throughout the design and development phase and into construction has given us a great opportunity to build some very strong relationships and introduce new initiatives, working together to overcome some of the many challenges this difficult network has given us. We will continue to develop these relationships throughout the remainder of the project and I'm really proud of what our entire project team has achieved, it’s a real example of collaboration.”

Louise Pavitt – Deputy Project Director MSM says:
"It’s down to the hard work of the Virtus team that MSM has won its’ first award.  Virtus worked hard at the development stage to provide a comprehensive Traffic Management design that helped us secure the contract in the short timescale that was available. Neil now manages an excellent team who are extremely forward thinking and keen to make a big change to the industry. The MSM Traffic Management team has developed innovative technology, embraced LEAN and has developed strong relationships with local stakeholders including Greater Manchester Police and the Trafford Centre. 

Their planning is delivered through interactive visibility boards that have been developed specifically to deal with congested and complicated M60/M62 network.  Safety is at the top of the Virtus' agenda and on MSM Neil has delivered thought provoking ‘Changing Minds’ Workshops with our supply chain, using real life coverage of incidents and visits to the Regional Control Centre to help to change behaviours of the people working on our high speed network. I am extremely pleased that the Manchester Smart Motorways and Virtus team recently received a Highways England Award in recognition of their steadfast determination to deliver best in class. The MSM Project Board and Highways England have expressed their thanks to Neil and his team for their hard work."