Class of 2025: Ryebridge apprentices prepare for the year ahead

Ryebridge has renewed impetus in providing first-hand mentorship and invaluable practical support for its team of apprentices.

Through a structured apprenticeship programme, Ryebridge invests in the next generation of construction professionals, combining site and office-based learning with part-time college courses, providing apprentices with hands-on experience and academic knowledge.

The company is currently employing six apprentices across a wide range of fields including accountancy, project management and quantity surveying, who split their time between working and studying at various educational establishments.

James Arnall is studying for a degree in civil engineering at the University of Herts, Nancy Tucker is working on L3 AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) at Bedford College, Mason Pender is at London Southbank working on his quantity surveying BSc, Ronnie Costen is studying L4 site management at Bedford College, Finn Scully is working on his L3 survey technician QS at Bedford, and Max Banham is at the University of Herts studying a foundation degree in site management.

Speaking at the company’s annual apprenticeship breakfast, managing director Sean Scully told them there would be a renewed focus from within the company on providing them with hands-on experience alongside different teams, ensuring they are constantly learning even when away from college.

Managing director Sean Scully said: “You’re the future of this company. This is the best company I’ve ever worked for - the environment’s great, the culture’s great, the people are lovely and we’re very passionate about it, and there is a massive future for you all here if this is the route you want to go down.”

Company owner Daniel Coyle added: “You’ll get a lot more practical experience here than you will at college, but there’s a reason why you go to college and that’s to learn the basics and see how It all fits together.”

This past year has included spending a week transforming a corner of the grounds at Woodlands Secondary School into a sensory garden to provide a calm space for students with complex needs to regulate in a tranquil and beautiful environment.

The apprentices were involved in the full design and delivery of the scheme, including sourcing materials and carrying out the actual work, providing them with invaluable first-hand experience of project management.

Moving forwards, all of the apprentices will be given the opportunity to spend time working on major projects and to shadow key members of senior staff like health, safety and wellbeing manager Karen Carter, contracts manager Don Wall and project manager Salvo Cardinale.

There will also be training provided in areas like programming, and the chance to research the benefits of new technology becoming available to the construction industry.

Earlier this year Ryebridge was highly commended in the Best Small Employer for Apprenticeships category of the inaugural Luton Apprenticeship Awards, which recognised companies that excel in providing apprenticeships, with a strong focus on mentorship, targets growth, and opportunities for professional and personal development.

Ryebridge apprentices with owner Daniel Coyle.

Team TDOZ accept National Building and Construction Award for London Luton Airport project

The team behind the award-winning Temporary Drop Off Zone (TDOZ) at London Luton Airport have been presented with the official trophy recognising their efforts.

Project manager Salvo Cardinale, site manager Mick Byrne, senior site engineer Thangavelu “Vani” Vanithasan and project and operations manager Joe Hankins were responsible for the job winning the Project of the Year (up to £10m) accolade at this year’s National Building and Construction Awards.

The project was a necessary consequence of the fire which destroyed the airport’s multi-storey car park back in October 2023, leaving customers without access to the terminal and costing LLA in lost revenue.

With a timetable of just 16 weeks, completing the works ahead of the busy school holiday period was essential, but Ryebridge pulled out all the stops to hand it over in just 13 and a half weeks.

Salvo explained: “It was a major project which didn’t just involve creating a new drop-off site for passengers, but the relocation of the existing taxi rank, the diversion of the pedestrian walkway into the airport, a new car park, new street lighting, a new traffic system, a new barrierless payment system using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), plus new signage, lining and street furniture.”

Joe added: “We had to phase the works in order to keep the bus terminal live, with no delays to services, prevent any disruption to taxis when the rank was relocated, and all the while avoiding any disruption to airport operations. That it was completed so far ahead of schedule is down to the efforts of all the lads involved, and so we’re accepting this award on their behalf as well.”

The completion of works on a new multi-storey car park means the TDOZ is no longer in use.

Joe, Salvo, Vani and Mick with the award.

Ryebridge win gold in National Building and Construction Awards

It was a night to remember for Ryebridge at this year’s National Building and Construction Awards.

The company won the Project of the Year (up to £10m) accolade for our work on London Luton Airport’s Temporary Drop Off Zone (TDOZ).

We were presented with the Gold Winner award at a gala ceremony which took place at the Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge Hotel on Friday.

The TDOZ project was initiated following the fire and collapse of the multi-storey Terminal Car Park 2 in October 2023, and was deemed to be time critical due to the loss of revenue caused by the multi-storey car park fire.

The new TDOZ involved the relocation of the existing taxi rank, the diversion of the pedestrian walkway into the airport, a new car park, new street lighting, a new traffic system, a new barrierless payment system using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), plus new signage, lining and street furniture.

The project had to be phased in such a way as to keep the bus terminal live with no delays, while ensuring the relocation of the taxi rank without disruption, and keeping easyJet, goods in waste away and the executive car park fully operational.

It was completed in just 13 and a half weeks, far ahead of the original timetable of 20 weeks, and even quicker than a revised 16 weeks, ensuring it was ready for the start of the school holidays.

Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully said: “What a fantastic result and great recognition for Ryebridge on the national stage. The award must be shared between all those involved in completing this project successfully ahead of schedule, in particular project manager Salvo Cardinale.”

As well as winning this award, we were also shortlisted for the Innovation of the Year category for building the mezzanine floor in LLA’s International Departures Lounge, and Community Engagement for our social value work in Luton.

This was the second time we have won the Project of the Year (up to £10m) award. In 2024 we received the title in recognition of Hat Gardens, the £1.6m transformation of a derelict wasteland into an asset of genuine community value in Luton town centre. 

Ryebridge team join Love Luton Runfest

Ryebridge runners put their best feet forwards to complete this year’s Love Luton Runfest.

The 12th town running event started and finished in St George’s Square in Luton town centre, and offered participants the chance to complete either a 5K, 10K or half-marathon route, with the furthest distances taking in the Luton Hoo estate.

Our team included managing director Sean Scully and company administrator Kate Downing and their daughter Amelie, plus Ryebridge supporter Paul Blessing, who all completed the 5K, and senior planner Patrick Gannon, who finished the 10K in an impressive 52 minutes.

Ryebridge was also one of the sponsors for this year’s Runfest, joining the likes of Luton Borough Council, the University of Bedfordshire, London Luton Airport and Barnfield College in backing the event.

Money raised from the race goes towards the Community Awards Fund, established by Love Luton to provide financial support and monetary awards to community groups, local charities and organisations that support the people of Luton.

The aim of the fund is to provide financial awards for projects and initiatives run by groups working in the local community for the benefit of people in Luton.

Sean said: “What a fantastic event! It’s great to see the whole Luton community come together to do something truly amazing for some great local causes, and Ryebridge were delighted to do our bit as participants and sponsors.

“A special shout out to Kamal Hussain from Community Interest Luton who helped Amelie to reach the finish line. He was amazing – she would have given up and walked if it wasn’t for his encouragement and support, and she ended up coming 4th out of 66 in her age group.”

The organisers say the event is a vibrant celebration of community action which helps fund projects that make a real difference in the lives of Luton residents.

Linsey Sweet, head of commercial operations at Love Luton, said: “The Love Luton Runfest is always a fabulous event and it is an opportunity to bring people from all over the town together at an event that highlights everything that is great about Luton, community, diversity, team work, support and fundraising for amazing causes.  We had visitors from across the UK and many participants from our Love Luton partners which is fantastic to see.”

Kamal Hussain, Amelie, Kate and Sean.

Patrick Gannon from Ryebridge.

Ryebridge named as a regional winner in Building Excellence Awards

Ryebridge’s run of awards successes continues with the news that the company has been recognised as a regional winner in the LABC Building Excellence Awards.

LABC (Local Authority Building Control) represents all local authority building control teams in England and Wales, and the awards are the largest business to business accolades in the sector.

They recognise quality in all types of building project and individual contributions in the construction industry, and reward excellent buildings, outstanding companies, and partnerships and individuals that go that extra mile.

Ryebridge was the winner for the Central region in the category of Best Non-residential Extension, Alteration or Conversion.

We had been nominated alongside our partners London Luton Airport and architects Rock Townsend for our work on constructing LLA’s new mezzanine floor in the International Departures Lounge.

This project, which has also been shortlisted for a host of other awards this year, drew on Ryebridge’s 15 years of experience as the framework civils company at the site, and was achieved in the spirit of collaboration between all stakeholders as part of our ongoing support of the airport’s growth.

Described as the most complex construction project ever undertaken inside the LLA terminal, the design and build of a new mezzanine floor in the IDL needed to take place without any disruption to airport operations.

It was delivered in partnership with the LLA Development Team, and required collaboration with designers, structural engineers, sub-contractors, airside operations, airport security, airport technical services, terminal duty managers and airport concessions.

Most of the work took place at night to avoid disruption caused by noise and dust, and because of the risks posed by carrying out major construction work in an active terminal.

Careful consideration was given to minimise disruption to airport operations and maintain the comfort and safety of the public, surrounding concessionaires and other airport operatives and contractors at all times.

One new foundation base was positioned under the luggage chutes which had to remain operational throughout the project. This required a Ryebridge team working initially on their hands and knees, hand-digging the base and shovelling the soil onto a conveyor belt which discharged it into electric motored wheelbarrows to walk out to the skips.

Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully said: “We always knew this was going to be an incredibly challenging project, working under rigorous conditions to maintain airport operations, and it is reassuring that our peers in the construction industry have recognised this with a host of nominations for the work in various awards.

“We hope this national coverage highlights just what Ryebridge is capable of, and encourages other organisations to engage us in the future.”

Luton Borough Council service manager for building control consultancy, Karen Amos, added: “Ryebridge is a local company who share Luton Borough Council’s vision to improve the quality and standards of building in the town, and these awards showcase the fantastic compliant builds that can be achieved with that ethos. Congratulations to all involved!”

The national finals of the LABC Building Excellence Awards will take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane on Friday January 23, when Ryebridge will be up against winners from 11 other regions for the grand prize.

Ryebridge's London Luton Airport fire recovery work recognised with major award

Ryebridge’s invaluable work in helping London Luton Airport recover from the impact of a devastating fire has been recognised with a national award.

The Temporary Drop-Off Zone (TDOZ) contributed to LLA winning the Airport Achievement category in the prestigious Aviation Industry Awards UK 2025, which were held at London’s Park Plaza Riverbank hotel on Tuesday.

The TDOZ project was initiated following the fire and collapse of the multi-storey Terminal Car Park 2 in October 2023, and was deemed to be time critical due to the loss of revenue caused by the multi-storey car park fire.

The new TDOZ involved the relocation of the existing taxi rank, the diversion of the pedestrian walkway into the airport, a new car park, new street lighting, a new traffic system, a new barrierless payment system using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), plus new signage, lining and street furniture.

The project had to be phased in such a way as to keep the bus terminal live with no delays, while ensuring the relocation of the taxi rank without disruption, and keeping easyJet, goods in waste away and the executive car park fully operational.

Ryebridge completed the work in just 13 and a half weeks, far ahead of the original timetable of 20 weeks, and even quicker than a revised 16 weeks, ensuring it was ready for the start of the school holidays.

Managing director Sean Scully said: “This was a technically complex project which took place in a live airport environment, and ensuring it was finished as quickly as possible while also to a high standard of quality was crucial to LLA’s operations. I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for all of their hard work in achieving this objective.

“We are delighted that the judges at this year’s Aviation Industry Awards recognised how important it was to the airport’s recovery after the fire, and are pleased to be celebrating this accolade with our partners at London Luton Airport.”

Ryebridge at work on berth dating back more than 100 years

Carrying out major construction work on an operating berth is a challenge in itself, but Ryebridge have also had to deal with the implications of removing parts of a suspended slab built more than a century ago.

The project, at Berth 35 at the Port of Southampton, involves the refurbishment of approximately 4,000m2 of quay paving, carried out in two phases to ensure operational access is maintained throughout the works.

With around two to three boats docking each week for periods of between one and two days, the Ryebridge team has had to stand-down during tie-up, and remove permanent fencing to allow access to the quayside, replacing it with Heras fencing for the duration.

The quayside itself is a suspended slab with crane rails installed on the top, infilled at a depth of 140mm to ensure a level surface, and dates back to more than 100 years ago.

It was actually the key docking point for the luxury ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 from 1969 to 2008, and is now part of the regeneration plan for the whole port, no longer being in use as a passenger cruise terminal.

Ryebridge was tasked with removing sections of existing concrete, and installing new surfacing layers and associated infrastructure upgrades, but because works were being carried out on a suspended slab they couldn’t go in with their usual big diggers and concrete breakers.

The solution was to sawcut the concrete 100mm either side of the crane rails, and then use handheld machinery to break up the concrete before cutting the rails into pieces and removing them.

Only then can a concrete planer be used to remove the infill off the slab in preparation for Tarmac to be laid.

Construction manager Kevin Wilson said: “The hand-breaking process is very tedious and very time-consuming, and because of the tight programme we have been working in horrific weather conditions to keep the works on schedule.

“It has been a whole learning experience, involving training in the use of this equipment, ensuring there was a rotation of teams to avoid hand/arm vibration injuries, and the use of specialised PPE like anti-vibration gloves.

“Added to this has been the challenge of working in an operational berth, with regular boat movements throughout the week, but I am pleased to say we are on target to meet the programme, and should be starting Tarmacing soon.”

Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully added: “This has been a very challenging project under some extremely difficult conditions, but we have learned on the job and will be able to take this experience forwards to ensure successful completion of other projects of this nature.”

Ryebridge director interviewed on Five Live

With the UK’s rate of inflation holding at 3.8 per cent, Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully was invited onto the BBC’s Five Live Breakfast to discuss the impact on the construction industry.

Presenter Rachel Burden told listeners that Ryebridge specialises in civil engineering in airports, ports and NHS hospitals, and asked Sean how the national economic picture was affecting the company.

He said things are challenging generally for the construction industry, but it was the rise in the cost of living for their employees which was taking the biggest toll as Ryebridge tried to ensure staff could keep up with soaring prices.

“What we’ve seen is a massive increase in wages since 2020, with rises of 25 per cent up to 45 per cent for people still doing the same job.”

Rachel asked if market demand was also pushing prices up due to a shortage of construction workers across the country, and Sean said there were loads of different factors at work.

“I think what we've tried to do as a business is be very specific about the things we're good at.

“We're very successful in operationally sensitive areas, like airports, ports and hospitals. We were the civils contractor on the groundworks for the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and again that's an operationally restrictive area.”

He said in order to survive and thrive as a company, Ryebridge has had to become operational specialists, although this did not mean charging a premium for their services.

“I think what we try and do is work in areas where we know we can be successful and can do a good job, because ultimately, to make money out of jobs, you have to make sure you deliver a programme; for example, we’ve just finished a job in Southampton and handed over an area that the port can trade in three weeks early, which is obviously brilliant for everyone.

“But it's an area that we understand and it's a role we can do, and I think strategically as a business it’s about focusing on the things that we're successful at.”

Rachel asked about the cost of building materials in recent years, which has filtered down not only to large scale projects but even small housing improvements.

Sean said: “There are lots of different factors which affect how the price of materials have gone up, obviously Brexit, the cost of steel after the Ukraine-Russian war, and the cost of living impacts on us all.

“We use local suppliers wherever we are working, but with the rise in the cost of living not just our costs go up, but everybody else’s do too. Businesses are run to make money, and the only way they can look to do that is to increase the cost of the products that we build with. It's a bit of a perfect storm, unfortunately.”

He said construction companies also enter into fixed price agreements where clients cannot take into account inflation, so costs will go up during the course of the job.

Yet despite all of these challenges, Sean stressed how Ryebridge has been relatively stable as a business for the past few years.

Sean added: “Coming out of COVID was particularly difficult for us being in airports, and that's when we started working in hospitals and other areas.

“But there are still additional challenges that affect all businesses, like National Insurance, how VAT is managed, and there are lots of other complexities in the construction sector, as you'd imagine.”

'It was the toughest thing I've ever done' - Ryebridge bosses complete gruelling London to Bristol cycle challenge

A team from Ryebridge embarked on a brutal 160-mile cycle from London to Bristol which saw them in the saddle for a staggering 15 hours.

Founder Daniel Coyle and managing director Sean Scully joined a team from Bristol Airport on the challenge in aid of the airport’s charity partner Great Western Air Ambulance.

They started off at The Brunel Museum in London on Monday and made their way along the Great West Way, finishing at Bristol Airport the following Wednesday.

They rode 100 miles over eight and a half hours on the first day and the remaining 60 miles over six and a half hours on the second, pushing themselves to the limits of their stamina and endurance.

Sean said: “It was by far the toughest thing I’ve ever done. The weather was horrific, it was mental torture and I didn’t think it was ever going to end.

“I knew it would be brutal, but had no idea just how bad it would be. I’m glad I did it as it took me completely outside my comfort zone, but now I need to recover.”

Part of the ride took them off-road for 40km, cycling along bridalways, tow paths and gravel roads, but the team worked together to overcome these obstacles, making sure nobody was left behind.

Then just 20 miles out from Bristol, they hit the wall, and found themselves struggling to complete the final stretch: “I didn’t think it would ever end,” Sean recalled. “It was relentless. Nobody was speaking, we were just desperately pedalling to reach the finish line. I couldn’t feel the tips of my fingers and there were pains all the way down my legs.”

They arrived to cheers and celebrations on Wednesday afternoon, having raised in excess of £87,000 for the charity.

Daniel added: “I don’t think either of us appreciated quite how challenging this was going to be, but every penny raised from our pain will be going towards ensuring this vital service keeps flying, so it was all worth it!”

Last year Sean and Daniel took part in a gruelling 220-mile charity bike ride organised by London Luton Airport which took them across the Republic of Ireland in aid of the Luton Foodbank and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

At the time Sean said it was the most challenging thing he had ever done, but the Bristol ride has since upped the stakes: “With a lot of charity events people end up paying to take part in something they’d always wanted to do, but this was not something you’d ever want to do!”

You can still make a donation in recognition of Sean and Daniel’s efforts here: https://greatwesternairambulance.enthuse.com/pf/london-bristol-cycle-2025
 

Pioneering machinery allows Ryebridge to finish project TWO weeks early

A team from Ryebridge shaved weeks off a major project through the use of a game-changing new piece of equipment.

After the company was contracted to carry out concrete paving reconstruction works at Tilbury Docks, the decision was taken to engage a 2m wide concrete planer, a piece of machinery which has only been used in the UK for the past couple of years.

This planed out 2,000 sq m of concrete, 300mm deep, in just two days.

All the material was graded as recycled part 1, which meant it was ready to be used elsewhere.

Traditionally a project of this scope would have involved using two or three diggers to break up the existing concrete and then transporting it to a crusher, and would have taken between two to three weeks.

The time saved was important not only for Ryebridge, but also for the port, where the use of space is commercially crucial, so the project will be completed two weeks ahead of the 10 week schedule.

Project manager Kevin Wilson said: “This machinery really is a gamechanger for the industry, and our client was extremely pleased to have this part of the docks back in use for storage much earlier than they anticipated.”

Managing director Sean Scully added: “The innovative and successful use of a concrete planer means this approach will be used on future jobs elsewhere, ensuring Ryebridge brings this best practice approach to other projects.”

Pedal to the metal! Ryebridge sponsors racing event

Ryebridge took pole position to back one of the country’s most exciting racing events.

The company was headline sponsor for the British Pedal Car Grand Prix, a high speed event which sees up to 40 teams of daredevils race their pedal-powered hot-rods around a two-hour street circuit through the market town of Ringwood in Hampshire.

Inspired by the Pedal Car Races held in the twin town of Pont-Audemer in Normandy, Ringwood Round Table decided to organise a similar event back in 1987, and it has now been going for 36 years.

After last year’s event was cancelled when the organisers ran into financial difficulties, Ryebridge stepped in with the offer of sponsorship and provided the crowd barriers for the race.

The 2025 British Pedal Car Grand Prix proved to be a resounding success, drawing huge crowds and delivering thrilling, wheel-to-wheel action despite the scorching summer heat.

A spokesperson for the Round Table said: “The atmosphere was electric from start to finish, with families, racing fans, and teams from across the UK turning out in force to celebrate this unique and much-loved event.

“In true Grand Prix spirit, the heat did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of competitors or spectators. Teams showed remarkable endurance and sportsmanship under tough conditions, pushing both their engineering and athletic limits over the gruelling two-hour race.

“This year’s podium saw an outstanding performance from the Polton Boys, who took first place with a commanding lead as only the second duo to take the crown. Peletony Racing followed closely in second, while Doughty Racing secured third after a fierce battle in the closing stages.

“With fantastic community support, exciting racing, and a brilliant display of teamwork and ingenuity, the 2025 British Pedal Car Grand Prix was one of the most successful to date. The event not only upheld its tradition of fun and fierce competition but also strengthened its reputation as one of the UK’s most distinctive and entertaining sporting spectacles. Planning is already underway to make 2026 even bigger and better.”

Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully said: “This was a fantastic event for us to get behind, and highlights our ongoing commitment to supporting the community in and around Southampton.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership in the years to come.”

Ryebridge keep things moving for road users in St Albans

A team from Ryebridge Construction completed work on a major drainage project five days earlier than expected - ensuring minimum disruption for residents, businesses and other road users.

The project, at Ridgeview Lodge in Barnet Road, London Colney, involved the excavation and installation of a new storm drain, with the road expected to be closed until Sunday.

But the determination and resourcefulness of the Ryebridge team resulted in all work finished well ahead of schedule.

Project manager Don Wall said: “Ryebridge Construction have successfully opened Barnet Road to the public this morning after a tremendous push on site to install the storm drain through a forest of services with great success.

“The road closure was until Sunday August 17, so to open the main road five days early to appease the public and remove the diversion will only benefit the council and local businesses.”

Managing director Sean Scully added: “Highway construction works are always challenging and timeframes can be difficult to achieve. We pride ourselves on accurate programming and delivery.

“Paramount importance is always safety with no exceptions however we are aware of the impact on surrounding areas and take every measure to complete on time. We had engaged with local businesses and residents and got a huge sense of frustration about these essential works and the closure so to be out early is great for everyone.”

Ryebridge makes the shortlist for four national awards categories

Ryebridge’s run of nominations for leading national awards continues…

Our work constructing a new mezzanine floor in the International Departures Lounge at London Luton Airport has been shortlisted in the Airport Achievement category for the Aviation Industry Awards UK 2025, an event which sees the cream of the United Kingdom’s aviation industry recognised and celebrated in front of hundreds of senior executives.

This recognises the challenges of constructing the 675 sq m floor in a live airport environment, a complex and extremely technical project delivered in partnership with the LLA Development Team, which required collaboration with designers, structural engineers, sub-contractors, airside operations, airport security, airport technical services, terminal duty managers and airport concessions.

The awards ceremony takes place on September 9 at the Park Plaza London Riverbank.

The mezzanine floor project has also secured us a shortlist place in the Innovation of the Year category of the National Building and Construction Awards, held at the Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge Hotel on October 10.

Alongside that particular project, we have reached the finals of the NCBA’s Project of the Year (up to £10m) category for the Temporary Drop-Off Zone (TDOZ) at London Luton Airport, and the Community Engagement category for our social value work in Luton.

The TDOZ project was initiated following the fire and collapse of the multi-storey Terminal Car Park 2 in October 2023, and was deemed to be time critical due to the loss of revenue caused by the multi-storey car park fire.

The new TDOZ involved the relocation of the existing taxi rank, the diversion of the pedestrian walkway into the airport, a new car park, new street lighting, a new traffic system, a new barrierless payment system using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), plus new signage, lining and street furniture.

The project had to be phased in such a way as to keep the bus terminal live with no delays, while ensuring the relocation of the taxi rank without disruption, and keeping easyJet, goods in waste away and the executive car park fully operational.

It was completed in just 13 and a half weeks, far ahead of the original timetable of 20 weeks, and even quicker than a revised 16 weeks, ensuring it was ready for the start of the school holidays.

Ryebridge Construction’s finalist slot for Community Engagement comes after we were recognised as ‘hero stakeholder’ for the socio-economic value created because of our work with Luton Airport, the town and the surrounding region.

This means focus on supporting and promoting the town wherever possible, with more than 90% of site and office staff coming from the immediate area, a local supply chain and close links with nearby colleges and schools which ensures a steady flow of apprentices and work experience students.

This mutually-beneficial relationship also includes raising more than £400,000 for local charities including Keech Hospice, Level Trust, Luton Food Bank and Age Concern Luton - as we recognise they are the lifeblood of the local community - being an active member of Love Luton and sponsoring Luton Town FC.

We are committed to Luton becoming a healthy, fair and sustainable town offering opportunities for everyone to thrive, where nobody has to live in poverty, which also means supporting local charities and activities wherever possible.

Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully said: “We are genuinely humbled to be recognised for our work across these different awards and categories, and would like to thank everyone involved in these projects and initiatives for all of their hard work.

“While we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for a win in the autumn, we’re just delighted to be able to celebrate these achievements with our partners and peers.”

The TDOZ at LLA.

The mezzanine floor in the International Departures Lounge at London Luton Airport.

Ryebridge hits the headlines again on BBC Look East

Bedfordshire is booming – and Ryebridge is right at the heart of making it happen.

The expansion of London Luton Airport and a Universal Studios theme park in Bedford are positive signs of growth for the local economy following the devastating closure of Luton’s Vauxhall factory in March.

Just weeks after appearing on an ITV News report looking at how the county was set to welcome these major construction products over the coming years, Ryebridge was asked to feature on a BBC Look East slot which aired last weekend.

Managing director Sean Scully appeared in a section after community activist Glenn Jenkins expressed his concerns that Luton had turned from a town of makers to a town of packers.

Sean responded: “I get the point but I actually disagree.”

Talking over footage of Ryebridge staff working on the new Alpha taxiway at the airport, Sean highlighted the company’s investment in a local workforce: “We have young people going from Level 2 all the way through to Level 5 and Level 6 higher apprenticeships, and that isn't packing stuff. That's site engineers, site foreman, site managers and supervisors.”

He said afterwards: “As a company which employs more than 90% of site and office staff from the immediate area, uses a local supply chain and enjoys close links with nearby colleges and schools which ensures a steady flow of apprentices and work experience students, our investment in the local economy is undeniable.

“We hope that appearing on news bulletins for the BBC and ITV goes some way towards highlighting the positive stories for Luton and Bedfordshire, and shows there are a lot of things to look forward to across the county.”

To see the report, visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002fz2f/politics-east-13072025

Ryebridge team on BBC Look East

Ryebridge and partners celebrate at Construction News Awards

Representatives from Ryebridge Construction, architects Rock Townsend and Associated British Ports celebrated reaching the finals of this year’s Construction News Awards – one of the most prestigious accolades in its field.

The ceremony took place at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London, attended by a who’s who of businesses from across the construction industry, and presented by TV comedy actor and comedian Stephen Mangan, best known for his roles in Green Wing and I’m Alan Partridge.

Ryebridge and our partners were shortlisted in the Carbon Reduction Champion category - just one of just 12 finalists nationwide - for taking an innovative approach to moving materials at a project in Southampton.

When working on the redevelopment of Marchwood Port on behalf of ABP, we took the bold decision to transport the 26,000 tonnes of material required by two boats, removing 3,800 lorry movements from the roads in the surrounding area.

This game-changing approach for the company not only prevented long-running congestion in the villages around the port, but avoided producing 307 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

It was even more remarkable when you consider that there was no contractual obligation to use water, that lorry movements had been approved in the planning application, and it was ultimately cheaper to use road.

But it won the hearts and minds of the local community, with many residents anxious about lorries passing through their villages.

Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully said: “Although we did not win the gong for our nomination, reaching the final was an incredible achievement when you consider how many hundreds of entries are submitted for these awards each year.

“It was a fantastic evening and a chance for us to celebrate with our partners just what we have achieved in Southampton already, and look forward to future projects down the road.”

Countdown is underway for Construction News Awards 2025

There’s just a week to go before Ryebridge find out whether they’ve secured a major accolade at the Construction News Awards 2025.

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony next Thursday, July 10, at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London.

The awards are the most prestigious and sought-after awards in construction, and winning one is considered a mark of excellence recognised by clients and peers alike, but even making the shortlist is considered a huge achievement.

Ryebridge has been shortlisted in the Carbon Reduction Champion for its work at Marchwood Port redevelopment in Southampton on behalf of Associated British Ports.

Ryebridge was praised for taking the unprecedented decision to transport 13,000 tonnes of material by two boatloads, even though the client had allowed for lorry movements in their planning application and it would have been cheaper by road.

This removed 3,800 lorry movements from the roads, preventing long-running congestion in the local area and eliminating the generation of 307 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (based on 25 tonne vehicles travelling 10 miles each).

Director Sean Scully said: “We’re incredibly excited for next week’s awards, and look forward to attending the ceremony with our partners from Associated British Ports.

“Ryebridge promotes a carbon neutral strategy across all aspects of the business, and champions any opportunity to put the planet first through low carbon initiatives, but this initiative was beyond the scope of what we’ve ever done before, so we hope it receives the recognition we think it deserves.”

Ryebridge team attend official opening of sensory garden at Luton school

A transformational outdoors project built by Ryebridge Construction at a Luton special needs school has been officially opened.

A team of Ryebridge apprentices spent a week transforming a corner of the grounds at Woodlands Secondary School into a sensory garden to provide a calm space for students with complex needs to regulate in a tranquil and beautiful environment.

It was officially launched at Woodfest 2025 – an annual celebration of all that is great about the school, including band performances, crafts stalls and community engagement activities.

The garden was the brainchild of teacher Selina Young and the school’s Eco Council, but run aground when local building firms quoted them a staggering £4-5,000 for the groundworks.

Enter Ryebridge, who not only agreed to carry out the work free of charge, but also built a pagoda for the garden while on site.

The firm’s apprentices were involved in the full design and delivery of the scheme, including sourcing materials and carrying out the actual work, providing them with invaluable first-hand experience of project management.

Woodlands prides itself on inspiring and supporting their pupils to achieve their full potential and the curriculum includes a focus on functional learning and life-skills like horticulture, which meant many of them were involved in working on the planters around the sensory garden.

Speaking after the official launch, Selina said: “After two years of work, it has been lovely finally sharing this project with the student community at Woodlands during Woodfest.

“We are excited about how we will develop this space over the coming years and have lots of ideas on how to make this a calming, welcoming, sensory outdoor experience! Again, a huge thank you again to Ryebridge for making this space accessible to all our student community and a place for students to enjoy for years to come.”

And pupils Nicholas and Mickey added: “I think it's a nice sensory garden and I like the way it is set up. It has a lot of space and I like the different coloured mirrors and the wind chime,” and “Cool, fantastic, super mega-good!”

The opening of the garden was attended by representatives from Ryebridge including managing director Sean Scully and apprentice Max Banham, who worked on the project.

Sean said: “We were delighted to see the finished garden and hear from some of the students who have been working on the site or making the most of its facilities.

“This project was one our apprentices took a real pleasure in working on, and not only did it provide them with invaluable experience, but was a scheme they felt very passionate about completing.

“Coming here today and seeing the happy smiles on Woodlands students’ makes it even more worthwhile.”

Ryebridge team appear on ITV News bulletin

Ryebridge hit the news headlines when the company featured front and centre in an ITV report on Bedfordshire’s building boom.

Reporter Rosie Dowsing heralded an exciting era for the county, with the new Universal Studios theme park and expansion of London Luton Airport set to contribute towards an additional £5bn a year for the UK economy.

That’s according to Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, which also highlighted other benefits from the redevelopment of Luton Hoo, the upgrading of the A421 and a new east-west rail link.

ITV News chose Ryebridge – as a Luton-based construction firm – to explain how these various projects created a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The report started off with Ryebridge apprentices working on the new Taxiway Alpha at LLA, before Max Banham, Finn Scully and Nancy Tucker explained how the expansion meant more opportunities and better job roles for youngsters entering the construction industry.

Senior site engineer Vanithasan Thangavelu said it was an exiting time, with the prospect of new jobs for local engineers and other construction workers.

Finally, Ryebridge founder and owner Daniel Coyle was asked whether it was a good time to be a construction company in Bedfordshire at this time.

He said: “The new Universal Studio along with the London Luton Airport expansion plans means that as a construction company based in Luton it gives us a once in a lifetime opportunity, not only to expand as a business but also to take on more apprentices.”

Speaking after the report was broadcast, Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully added: “We were happy to take up the offer to appear on this report and explain to a wider audience about Ryebridge’s support of local apprentices and the expansion of London Luton Airport.

“Everyone who appeared on screen did us proud, and this was great exposure for Ryebridge.”

You can see the report at: https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-06-19/universal-theme-park-could-be-spark-for-countys-5bn-gold-rush

Ryebridge celebrates five years in ports

Although Ryebridge Construction’s origins can be found working at airports, it was probably inevitable the company embraced the opportunities of a different, yet somewhat similar, transport hub – ports.

Having established a reputation as experts in working in restricted environments with operational constraints, Ryebridge was well placed to deliver in the challenging field of ports, where it is also essential there is no impact on day-to-day operations and a need to prioritise both safety and security.

One of the first contracts to be secured was for the Port of Harwich entrance works in 2019,

This included reprofiling and alterations to the entrance and roundabout, realignment of fence line, demolition of existing damage control unit, and the installation of anti-collision measures around the new building – including bollards, trief kerbing and CCTV mast foundations.

With the existing freight entrance adjacent to the new facility it was business critical that this was kept operational for the duration of the works.

Following the success of this project, Ryebridge scouted for other opportunities at ports around the UK, and in the wake of the pandemic won the tender for a huge multi-million pound project in Southampton.

The new Solent Rail Terminal, which strengthens the city’s leading position as the UK’s number one gateway for deep-sea trade, took 18 months to complete, including a full design and build, and was the first project of this type Ryebridge had worked on.

A £17.5m investment between Associated British Ports (ABP) and Solent Stevedores, the 18-acre facility expanded the intermodal rail transport site to broaden the service offer by providing laden and empty container handling, storage, maintenance, and repair within a single-site boundary.

Features of the new site included a newly designed track layout facilitating simultaneous train arrival and departures increasing the terminal’s efficiency and extending the rail loading pad by 130m.

The larger intermodal site – which includes container storage with full maintenance and repair facilities – can now handle a 71 per cent increase in daily services with a 125 per cent increase in number of containers handled.

The success of this project led ABP to engage Ryebridge’s services on Marchwood Phase 1, the redevelopment of the port for trading, including the construction of a vast vehicular storage hard-surface area with all kerbs, surfacing, drainage, ducts and manholes, alongside a new security gatehouse and entrance.

The project, which got underway in October 2023, involved the demolition of existing site buildings and off-site highway upgrades, alongside the realignment of the internal highway network and upgraded railway crossing points, and the installation of new high mast lights, site CCTV and the electrical infrastructure.

In a company first for environmental excellence, Ryebridge transported the 13,000t of material needed for the work on two boats, eliminating 3,800 lorry movements and the generation of 307 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (based on 25 tonne vehicles each travelling 10 miles).

Although this meant double-handling the material as it was loaded onto and off the boats, it was deemed to be worth the effort to ensure there was minimal impact on the local community.

Ryebridge’s ongoing commitment to Southampton has seen the company’s workforce grow from 10 local people and sub-contractors in 2022 to a staff of more than 50 people fully employed and drawn from the local workforce.

In November 2024 Ryebridge was engaged by DP World to work at their base at the port, removing in situ pre-cast concrete slabs, breaking out a defective drain and installing a new Gatic and brushed finished concrete slabs.

As is often the case in this environment, the project had a tight programme wand involved working in a busy live operations yard. The defective draining was causing flooding and external damage and urgently needed replacing, but by working weekends and longer days the company ensured the project was completed within time and budget.

Just over five years since Ryebridge first entered the world of ports the company has confirmed its commitment to future projects within the field, drawing on earned experience alongside the recruitment of skilled professionals best placed to operate in this marketplace.

SafeContractor status renewed for Ryebridge

Ryebridge has successfully received SafeContractor accreditation for another year.

This third-party industry-wide scheme is designed to verify the health and safety arrangements of contractors in the construction industry, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.

Certification ensures that contractors meet high standards of health and safety, sustainability, and ethical compliance, providing reassurance to clients while giving them the credibility and trust they need to stand out in the industry.

Without certification, businesses may struggle to secure work, face compliance risks, and miss out on key opportunities.

Ryebridge’s specific accreditation relates to its work in confined spaces, excavations, heavy plant and machinery, selection control of subcontractors, traffic management, and working with chemicals and hazardous substances.

SafeContractor status is a mandatory requirement in aviation and allows Ryebridge to work at any UK airport.

Managing director Sean Scully said: “Once again achieving SafeContractor accreditation demonstrates our commitment to prioritising health and safety, ensuring we continue to play our part in improving workplaces for our employees, clients, partners and the public.”