Rok celebrates prestige award

Mar 27 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

BUILDING and maintenance company Rok has been celebrating in style after winning the prestigious award of ‘Contractor of the Year 2008’ from one of the region’s housing groups.

Erimus Housing, based in Middlesbrough and part of Fabrick Group, commended the builder for its work on a number of projects, including its involvement in its £7m Decent Homes Framework, which is modernising properties across the borough.

Rok, which has offices in Stockton and Middlesbrough, celebrated the gong at an event held at the Thistle Hotel in Middlesbrough, which was attended by representatives from all the teams working on the affordable housing project.

The event was also attended by the Butterwick Hospice, which held a raffle from prizes donated from Rok and its associates to raise much needed cash for the adult and children’s hospice based in Stockton.

Steve Allen, Rok area leader, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award from Erimus Housing. It has given our team a real boost to have their hard work recognised in such a way.

“The evening was a great success and enjoyed by everyone who attended and we are looking forward to working with Erimus throughout 2009.”

Rok recently landed £164m worth of work as part of eight major housing projects across the country, which will help to safeguard its North East workforce of over 200.

The contracts came as some relief to Rok’s workers, after the firm announced last November that it was cutting 750 jobs countrywide as part of cost-cutting plans, and that £150m worth of work had been shelved or cancelled by clients following the banking crisis.

Geoff Prior, group head of asset management at Erimus Housing, said: “Rok has performed superbly during 2008 attracting almost a perfect score of 100% for customer satisfaction.

“Given that they have been commissioned to carry out the most difficult and complicated refurbishment work within the Erimus Housing programme it makes this award particularly well deserved. Well done to everyone involved in the project.”