With the UK’s water infrastructure under increasing pressure, contractors such as Gel Engineering are taking proactive steps to ensure their workforce is equipped to deliver essential upgrades efficiently and safely.
A team of 13 from Gel Engineering – from apprentices and operatives to site supervisors – recently took part in a bespoke concrete formwork and shoring training day at PERI UK’s 600 m2 training facility and exhibition hall in Brentwood. The purpose was to upskill staff ahead of a long-term collaboration on several key Thames Water projects, including the refurbishment of Rye Meads Sewage Treatment Works (STW).
Many of the team will be working exclusively at Rye Meads STW, while others are involved in multiple water infrastructure projects across the Southeast.
Rye Meads is one of Thames Water’s largest sewage treatment facilities, serving more than 400,000 people across North and East Hertfordshire. As part of a five-year upgrade programme at the site, Gel Engineering has been tasked with refurbishing 12 treatment tanks by 2030 – a job that includes cleaning out the existing structures and casting new reinforced concrete collars around the tank perimeters. With the tanks already in place, the work has to be done at around 10 m above ground level, requiring a safe and cost-effective formwork and shoring solution.
Project-specific training for safer, smarter delivery
“Our formwork design solutions are tailored to the unique requirements of each project, so a one-size-fits-all approach to training just isn’t practical,” explained Patrick Connachan, Senior Sales Engineer at PERI UK. “Product-specific training ensures operatives have the right skills to assemble and use systems safely, efficiently, and in line with the project’s requirements. We run these sessions both on-site and in our exhibition hall in Brentwood, and we’d love for all our customers to take advantage of this resource before a job kicks off.”
PERI UK has been a CITB Approved Training Organisation since 2020 and is committed to partnering with customers such as Gel Engineering to improve skills in the construction industry – particularly in the infrastructure-critical water and utilities sectors.
Gel Engineering’s training included both theoretical and hands-on elements, tailored to the demands of the Rye Meads STW project. It covered the designs of the new concrete collars to be poured around the existing tanks, as well as the PERI products the team will use – particularly the RUNDFLEX Circular Wall Formwork and MULTIPROP Aluminium Slab Props.
Reliable systems for complex works
RUNDFLEX Circular Wall Formwork offers a fast and flexible solution for forming curved structures with radii over 1 m. The system’s standardised panels are quick to install and are easily adjusted on site to the required radius, while a high concreting pressure capacity of up to 60 kN/m² further enables rapid progress without compromising quality.
To support the elevated work at Rye Meads STW, MULTIPROP Aluminium Slab Props offer lightweight yet robust shoring, offering significant time and cost savings.
Introductions and refreshers
Some of the Gel Engineering participants were experienced users looking to freshen up their knowledge and skills, while others were completely new to PERI systems. Robin Heath, Gel Engineering’s Mechanical Site Supervisor for the Rye Meads STW project, appreciated the opportunity to get hands-on with the equipment.
“We’ll be using RUNDFLEX to add an extension to a digester wall. It’s great to come and get a feel for it – have a play, see what it’s all about,” he said. “As a site supervisor I need to make sure it’s being put up properly and to design.”
Meanwhile, Darren Crandle, who supervises civil works for the company, stressed the importance of familiarising new members of the team with the systems they’ll be using on site.
“I’ve been in the game for 39 years now, so I know most of the PERI systems, but this was a great chance to bring the guys down, get a bit of team bonding going, and let them see how everything fits together,” he said.
Apprentice fitter Mitchell Armstrong felt the session was crucial for his development.
“Since I’m still learning the ropes, I wanted to understand more about what we do and how to do it better. This kind of practical experience is really valuable.”
Project Engineer Michael Owolabi echoed that sentiment, adding that the day gave him confidence ahead of managing future projects involving RUNDFLEX and MULTIPROP.
“I’d not used MULTIPROP before, so I wanted to understand its capabilities. It’s actually quite straightforward, which is great. Now I know what it can do – and just as importantly, what we don’t need.”
PERI trainers demonstrate to members of the Gel Engineering team how to install MULTIPROP Aluminium Slab Props safely and efficiently.
Laying the foundation for future success
Following the success of the session, PERI UK and Gel Engineering are already planning further training days every few months to bring additional team members up to speed as Thames Water’s schemes progress.
“For us, it’s not just about supplying equipment,” Patrick concludes. “It’s about building long-term partnerships, sharing knowledge, and helping customers deliver essential infrastructure projects safely, efficiently, and with confidence.”
Learn more about PERI UK training services or PERI UK’s expertise in the energy and water infrastructure sectors.
