Gilbert-Ash puts innovation and collaboration at heart of company culture

For almost two decades, CIOB chartered construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has played a central role in the transformation of some of the UK’s landmark buildings.

And, thanks to a company culture firmly rooted in innovation, collaboration and determination – dubbed the ‘As One’ approach – Gilbert-Ash has been included in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025 list.

Last year, work began on a major transformation of Tate Liverpool, while in Wales the award-winning company has just completed a seismic extension and refurbishment of Theatr Clwyd.

Gilbert-Ash has earned a stellar reputation for its work on some of the UK’s cultural spaces. In 2009, the Belfast-headquartered contractor began work on a complete new build of the city’s iconic Lyric Theatre.

Following its completion in 2011, work began on the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre, Cambridge Central Mosque and the largest redevelopment of the National Portrait Gallery’s building since it opened in 1896.

These projects all earned Stirling Prize nominations, with Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre winning the coveted competition in 2014.

The National Portrait Gallery’s Inspiring People project saw the contractor tasked with delivering a significant refurbishment of the building, the creation of public spaces and a new Learning Centre, combined with a re-presentation of the collection, safeguarding the gallery’s heritage and creating an enhanced visitor experience.

The final stage of Gilbert-Ash’s development at the National Portrait Gallery saw the creation of a more welcoming visitor entrance and public forecourt, completed in time for the gallery’s reopening in June 2023.

As part of the redevelopment, Gilbert-Ash oversaw the transformation of the Grade I-listed Blavatnik and Weston wings of the gallery, which are part of the original building.

The creation of the new Ross Place entrance and forecourt on the north facade are designed to provide a high-quality space for both the public and gallery visitors.

Sustainability is a key focus for Gilbert-Ash. As managing director Ray Hutchinson explains, it has a number of initiatives underway to help drive down its carbon footprint.

“We set a new bar this year as our £29m office redevelopment on Manchester’s Great Bridgewater Street was recognised as a BREEAM Outstanding project,” he says.

“Innovation, collaboration and determination is at the heart of everything we do and a number of innovative approaches were taken throughout the work on Havelock House to ensure the BREEAM Outstanding rating could be achieved.”

A deep retrofit strategy included the installation of an entirely new facade system. This was developed as the optimum solution through the use of a whole-life carbon option appraisal, and ensured that, through the utilisation of the existing structure, the project retained 2,000 CO2e of embodied carbon, the equivalent of planting 10,250 trees.

The offsite fabrication of the unitised facade reduced waste and shortened time on site, while rainwater harvesting in the basement minimised water consumption. The project has also achieved Wiredscore Platinum and Nabers 5 star accreditation.

Meanwhile, in partnership with SustainIQ, Gilbert-Ash has developed an embodied carbon calculator that allows for the real time tracking of emissions at stage A1-A3.

It also provides data analytics through the SustainIQ dashboard, enabling users to monitor embodied carbon by product type and track trends across the project.

Use of this calculator, which integrates with procurement systems and BIM Revit software, has allowed the contractor’s Old Paradise Street project to exceed RIBA’s 2030 Climate Challenge and LETI’s 2030 targets.

As Gilbert-Ash goes from strength to strength, Hutchinson knows the company’s CIOB chartered status has been instrumental in its success.

He says: “At Gilbert-Ash our people are our number one asset. They are the reason clients trust us to deliver landmark buildings with many going on to forge long-term relationships across multiple projects.

“CIOB chartered status requires meeting stringent criteria and serves as confirmation that the work we do can be trusted. For our clients, it is confirmation that we will do the right thing on their behalf.

“For our people, it is a reflection of our shared values and commitment to the construction industry and provides them with a range of resources to further their careers and help them make their mark.

“It reflects the determined, innovative and collaborative nature of our people and helps set them apart from others in their field.”

Gilbert-Ash’s unique approach is based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration.

CIOB company membership: For more information on becoming a CIOB company member, please visit: www.ciob.org/company-membership.