Ryebridge has been shortlisted for another prestigious accolade – the sustainability category of the 2025 Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Awards.
Finalists in the national competition are said to represent the very best leadership and talent in the built environment sector.
Ryebridge was shortlisted for its work in both Luton and Southampton, with sustainable working practices going hand in hand with investment in the local communities where it operates, ensuring more than 90% of site and office staff come from the local area and using a local supply chain to support companies within the immediate vicinity.
Ryebridge promotes a carbon neutral strategy across all aspects of the business, including the use of low emission machinery and solar powered welfare cabins, avoiding the need for polluting generators and ensuring power to all appliances, hot water and air conditioning as required. All of the company’s machines are AdBlue which reduces the emissions of mono-nitrogen oxide.
As a civil engineering company, net zero buildings are outside the scope of Ryebridge’s work, but the company strives to achieve net zero through our conduct, including recycling waste material on site.
Ryebridge was recently recognised as a ‘hero stakeholder’ for the socio-economic value created because of its work with Luton Airport, the town and the surrounding region.
London Luton Airport’s Social Value Report 2023 was delivered by sustainability strategy consultancy Brite Green and involved 12 airport stakeholders.
Ryebridge was recognised for a good balance of impact across the four key areas of work, economy, community and planet - which included having apprentices, hiring local people, supporting local schools and colleges, and spending with local businesses.
In the company’s work on the construction of the new Marchwood Port in Southampton, Ryebridge took the unprecedented decision to transport 13,000t 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.
However, using sea meant Ryebridge successfully removed 3,800 lorry movements from the roads around Marchwood and the surrounding area, completing a company first for environmental excellence despite not being contractually obligated to do so.
This not only prevented congestion in the local area but also eliminated the generation of 307 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (based on 25 tonne vehicles travelling 10 miles each).
Managing director Sean Scully said: “We are delighted to have been recognised as a finalist in these very competitive awards.
“Sustainability is a driving factor in every aspect of Ryebridge’s work, and we are focused on our hometown of Luton becoming a healthy, fair and sustainable community offering opportunities for everyone to thrive and where nobody has to live in poverty.
“In Southampton we will continue working to ensure that any future projects adhere to the same principles we demonstrated in Marchwood, offering solutions which put the planet before profit.
“We are proud of all the communities we operate in and take every opportunity to remove any impact from our essential works, either environmentally or in other ways.”
The 2025 CIOB Awards ceremony takes place on Thursday May 15 at the Hilton London Metropole.
