Rob Bell, Senior Project Manager at Henry Boot Construction, discusses the company’s pivotal role in delivering the landmark National Centre for Child Health Technology at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, and how being part of the Park’s community is creating partnerships, driving social value, and opening up new commercial opportunities for the future.
Can you tell us briefly about your organisation and your role in that organisation?
Henry Boot Construction is part of Henry Boot, a business with almost 140 years of history in shaping places across the UK. Although we operate across Yorkshire, the East Midlands and Teesside, our business was founded in Sheffield, and we retain strong roots here. We’re an award-winning contractor known for building with integrity, authenticity and passion, delivering projects to the highest possible standards across industrial, logistics, residential, public sector and urban development sectors.
We work on both public and private schemes, from restoring historic buildings like The Cocoa Works in York to delivering cutting-edge facilities such as the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s aviation research centre and key developments in Sheffield’s Heart of the City, and currently the National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT) at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. The NCCHT is a major project that will transform children’s healthcare through advanced research and technology.
In my role as Senior Project Manager, I have overall responsibility for the delivery of the NCCHT project. That means ensuring the project is built safely, to the highest quality standards, and is delivered on time and within budget – ultimately creating a facility that will make a lasting difference for children’s healthcare.
How does being a part of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park help contribute to your organisation’s mission and goals?
Being a part of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park gives us a unique opportunity to live our purpose of creating great places today, to build a better tomorrow.
By delivering the NCCHT project and being a part of the Park’s community, it allows us to deliver true social value. We can engage directly with the local community and partners around the site, including the University Technical College and Oasis Academy Don Valley, ensuring everyone is kept informed about ongoing site activities and can feed into the active decision-making process. Collaborating with other stakeholders on the Park means we build deeper connections and relationships, helping everyone feel owned and invested in the project.
The ethos of the Park, with a big focus on technology, research, development, and life sciences, aligns perfectly with who we are – a modern, forward-thinking contractor. This setting reflects our core values of putting people first, doing the right thing, and being open to change, as we contribute to this landmark facility that will revolutionise children’s healthcare.
Are there any unique partnerships or initiatives that have emerged as a result of being part of the Park?
It has opened the door to some brilliant collaborations and community initiatives. We’ve hosted educational engagement visits with organisations on the Park for “behind the hoardings” and construction experiences – giving students and local people a real insight into what goes into delivering a landmark project like the NCCHT.
One of the highlights so far has been hosting a steel-signing ceremony to celebrate completing the building’s frame. Representatives from Henry Boot Construction, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, and children and young people involved in the project left their names, visions, and hopes for the future of healthcare on the structure itself. A section of that signed steel will also be preserved and displayed in the completed Centre, making it a permanent part of the building’s story.
We’re also part of the Park’s regular operational meetings, which means we can work closely with other organisations on site, finding ways to support each other and maximise efficiency.
Looking ahead, what future opportunities do you see for your organisation as a result of being involved with the Park?
Our involvement in Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park has opened the door to opportunities that will continue well into the future. We plan to build on the partnerships we’ve made here, exploring both new commercial prospects through our work on the NCCHT, while continuing to deliver social value that goes beyond the construction phase.
We’ll keep strengthening the relationships we’ve developed, supporting Park partners wherever we can. The collaborative environment here also means we can learn from other organisations on site, share best practice, and bring fresh ideas into our own projects – ensuring we continue to deliver transformational projects to the highest standards and leave a positive, lasting legacy.
