Murphy has once again been celebrated for its achievement of being recognised as the best big company to work for, this time at The Best Companies to Work For Awards 2023.

This latest accolade caps off an exciting twelve months for Murphy at Best Companies, during which it was firstly named ‘Best Improver’, then retained its ‘Outstanding Company to Work For’ status and then achieved the ultimate accolade in the first quarter of this year of being recognised as the ‘Best Big Company to Work For’ in the UK.

Dawn Moore, Group People and Communications Director at Murphy said; “We are delighted to have once again been recognised by Best Companies as an outstanding place to work. All these achievements have been awarded as a result of feedback from our colleagues across the business, and it is great to have members of our site and project teams join us tonight to celebrate. This is well deserved recognition for all our colleagues at Murphy and the hard work they put in every day to help us deliver world class infrastructure projects.”

In the Best Companies feedback many employees noted how there are ‘various opportunities’ available for personal development and that they had confidence that the organisation will look to promote from within.

In addition, there is a strong sense of ‘family’ within individual teams, with employees doing whatever they can to ‘help each other out’. Employees share that there is a sense of ‘community’ and ‘care’ with colleagues that leads to a shared appreciation for working with ‘people that genuinely care for your wellbeing’. It was also widely acknowledged that the leadership team ‘genuinely care about people’ and are approachable.

If you would like to join Murphy, you can take your first steps by visiting our careers site at https://www.murphygroup.com/murphyjobs

Murphy is delighted to have been awarded the main works contract to build the new Cambridge South railway station by Network Rail.

The £93.4 million contract includes work to begin main construction which will deliver a new two storey, four platform station on the West Anglia Main adjacent to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. This will include:

  • ticket vending machines
  • lifts providing step free access to all platforms
  • accessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and space for retail/catering
  • access for pedestrians and cyclists from both sides of the railway with capacity for 1000 cycle parking spaces
  • modification to roads and crossings to facilitate access to the station

Together with Network Rail’s other integrated delivery partners, Alstom and South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA), Murphy will also modify and enhance the rail infrastructure to support the new station which will include:

  • remodelling of the existing track layout
  • installing two additional track loops to accommodate a four-platform station
  • enhancements to Shepreth branch junction
  • modification to the railway on the southern approach to Cambridge station
  • provision for overhead line electrification infrastructure and a substation
  • modification of existing signalling equipment
  • closure of two private level crossing and provision of alternative access

Murphy’s enabling works are already underway with the establishment of the worksite compound, installation of overhead line masts and the front-walls of the platforms. Work will now continue to deliver the station through to completion, currently planned for 2025.

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “Awarding the delivery contract is a significant milestone for the Cambridge South project which will allow us to complete this exciting new station for Cambridge.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Murphy, as we move into the main work phase and build on the early enabling work that has already been delivered.”

Joe Kennedy, Project Director for Murphy: “We’re very excited to be continuing our work on Cambridge South Station. Murphy has made significant progress over recent months completing the enabling works, commenced installation of all four platforms, station building piling and undertaken all groundworks to facilitate the track being realigned during a blockade in December 2023.

“We have forged a strong working relationship with Network Rail and our other delivery partners, SRSA and Alstom on this major infrastructure project and look forward to completing this station for the people of Cambridge.”

Network Rail has awarded the second of two contracts to build the new railway station for Chelmsford’s Beaulieu development to J Murphy & Sons Ltd.

This contract award was possible following a recent agreement between Network Rail and Essex County Council to complete the construction of the new station.

The £124 million contract includes main construction work for the new station on behalf of partners Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council. This phase of the work includes the construction for the new station facility, the associated infrastructure, and progress towards opening to train services for the benefit of passengers. 

As part of a wider regeneration scheme, the new station has been designed to support the economic development of the Beaulieu area and its construction will include:

  • Three platforms with a central loop line and new tracks to enable stopping services to call at the station while allowing fast trains to pass through unimpeded
  • Step free access to all platforms via 2 lifts
  • Accessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and space for retail/catering
  • Ticketing facilities, with ticket vending machines and a gate line
  • Pedestrian and cycle access routes to the station
  • 500 spaces for cycle parking and storage
  • A bus interchange including bus stands for local services
  • Pick up and drop off area with dedicated taxi bays
  • Parking for over 700 cars, 5% of which to be designated Blue Badge bays, and motorcycle spaces, as well as dedicated parking for station staff, emergency services, and a dedicated space for service access

Beaulieu Park station is currently expected to be completed by end of 2025. Once open, the station will be managed by Greater Anglia and served by its fleet of new trains with services into London.  

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “J Murphy and Sons have made an excellent start with the enabling and civils works and this contract award will allow us to seamlessly continue to deliver this amazing new station for Chelmsford without pause.   

Beaulieu Park station is an excellent example of what the railway industry can do when working in partnership with local organisations to improve the railway for the benefit of communities and businesses by delivering a new station for the Beaulieu community.”

Chris Cayton, Managing Director – Transportation, J Murphy & Sons Ltd “We’re very proud to be continuing our long partnership with Network Rail through the construction of Beaulieu Park station, a major enhancement to the transport network in Chelmsford.  Significant progress has been made by the Murphy team over the past few months, including modification to the rail systems, groundworks and piling for the station building.

“In the coming months residents will see their new station take shape, as the platforms are constructed, and the steelwork is erected, ahead of major commissioning of the railway infrastructure at Christmas.”

Murphy has been awarded the contract for the Uisce Éireann Hybrid 2 Project in Ringsend, Dublin, Ireland.

The Hybrid 2 Project, which is one the largest projects ever undertaken by Murphy, adds to a number of ongoing and previous upgrades to the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works, carried out by Murphy.

The Hybrid 2 Project will include civil works with development of access facilities, repair of movement joints and installation of new air and water mains, as well as mechanical, electrical and automation works.

The objective of these upgrades at Ringsend is to ultimately treat the wastewater for a population equivalent of 2.4 million people. Dublin’s wastewater has been treated in Ringsend since 1906. However, while the current facility was constructed in 2005 and is the largest in Ireland, it was designed to cater for a population equivalent of just 1.64 million people.

Murphy has collaborated with Uisce Éireann to modernise some of the current infrastructure and incorporate a number of innovative technical solutions to improve the quality of treated wastewater being discharged to Dublin Bay.

Murphy Ireland has officially opened its new 2,200 square metre Steel Fabrication Facility in Newbridge Co. Kildare, which will double the capacity of the Murphy Ireland Steel business and create up to 30 additional jobs over the next five years.

The new facility is now fully operational and will allow Murphy to process in excess of 100 tonnes of structural steel per week.

For over 50 years, Murphy Ireland has built a reputation for quality and excellence, offering industry-leading services in transportation, infrastructure, energy, structural steel, pipe fabrication, piling and fully integrated turnkey solutions to both the municipal and industrial water and wastewater sectors encompassing all aspects of design, construction and operation and maintenance. 

The new Steel Fabrication Facility is equipped with two 15-tonne overhead gantry cranes, two 5-tonne wall travelling cranes, and an additional 5-tonne gantry crane. All complemented by a dedicated plate processing machine and auto-saw-drill line. The facility also extends beyond the workshop’s internal storage capacity, boasting an impressive 7,000 square meters of external hardstanding storage space to accommodate projects of various scales.

Minister of State and TD for Kildare South Martin Heydon said:

“I am delighted to see Murphy Ireland’s new Steel Fabrication Facility open and fully operational. This investment in Newbridge is just the latest example of Murphy’s unwavering dedication to not only creating employment in this area since 1968, but across Ireland, the UK and more recently in Canada. As one of the biggest civil engineering companies in Ireland, Murphy has an important role to play in helping us to deliver Project Ireland 2040, which seeks to construct an improved Ireland for all, and to build a more resilient and sustainable future. This is a very positive move for Murphy, for Kildare and for the entire country.”

Murphy CEO, John B Murphy, said:

“Our Steel capability, like many of our services, was developed in response to our clients’ needs, thanks to the passion for direct-delivery and in-house expertise which is key to the Murphy operating philosophy. It is great to see our new Steel Fabrication Facility opening today, which will double our Steel capacity and create up to 30 more jobs here.

Today this facility employs 35 people, 10% of that are apprentices, so while we are investing for the future, we are also investing in the required future talent to see this facility through, not just for the next five years, but far beyond that. We are really proud to invest in Newbridge and to open this facility today, which is a testament to our confidence in the team here and the construction industry both here and the UK. Investing in facilities like this is really important for the work we will do in supporting this country and other countries to deliver net carbon zero by 2050 and we are proud to be playing our part.”

Murphy Ireland Managing Director, John G Murphy said:

“For over five decades our steel division has supported our work throughout Ireland and the UK, evolving from mainly specialist gas pipeline works to include bridges, portal frames and bespoke modular builds. Our new state-of-the-art Steel Fabrication Facility here in Newbridge will be a game-changer for our already unparalleled, expert team of structural engineers, draftsmen, welding inspectors, welding engineers, workshop managers, project managers, welders and fabricators. Murphy is passionate about direct delivery for our clients and this investment is testament to our commitment to further our capacity and expertise in Structural Steel, allowing us to support our clients at every stage of their project.”

Head Quartered in Newbridge Co. Kildare, Murphy Ireland has over 725 skilled engineers, managers, operatives, and apprentices working across Ireland.

Murphy Ireland Steel is currently recruiting for one welder, one fabricator and two apprentice welders.

Murphy Ireland Steel has three existing apprentices, who are currently in different stages of their training: one in second year, another in the third year, and the third in the fourth year.

Turnover for Murphy Ireland increased from €158.3m in 2021 to €225.5m in 2022. Murphy Ireland forms a part of the wider Murphy organisation (which had a turnover of €1.75 billion in 2022) with operations across the UK, Canada and Ireland, working together as ‘One Murphy’ by directly delivering the people, plant and expertise needed to make projects a success.

The Murphy service offering has expanded over decades, answering the multidisciplinary needs of our clients, while always maintaining our self-delivery ethos. This has led to major investment by Murphy to establish and grow all units including specialised business units such as steel fabrication, pipe fabrication and electrical delivery. This constant investment in continued excellence has led to Murphy being recognised recently by Best Companies as the ‘Number 1 Best Big Company To Work For’ across all sectors. Murphy Ireland also took home two awards this year at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards.

J. Murphy & Sons Ltd has been named as a preferred bidder by electricity network giant SSEN Transmission to deliver the c. £10bn onshore infrastructure Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) upgrade framework.

The ASTI framework includes a programme of overhead lines, underground cables and substations in order to redevelop the transmission network in the north of Scotland between now and 2030.

Jon Downs, Managing Director of Murphy’s Energy team, said:

We are very proud to have been selected as a preferred bidder by SSEN Transmission and to be playing our part in redeveloping the transmission network in the north of Scotland between now and 2030.

With our company purpose ‘to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure’, we look forward to applying our direct-delivery expertise in providing collaborative, complex energy transition infrastructure in order to ensure Government’s net zero and energy security strategies are met.”

Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, said:

Our Pathway to 2030 network redevelopment programme will play a huge role in delivering Scotland and the UK’s net zero targets and the selection of this group of preferred bidders for crucial elements of that redevelopment work is a massive step forward in delivering that.

As we aim to conclude contract negotiations in the coming weeks and months, we look forward to working with each of the selected contractors in the delivery of our ‘Pathway to 2030’ projects.

Not only will this work support the delivery of UK and Scottish Government net zero and energy security targets, but our forthcoming investments will provide significant local and national economic opportunities, helping unleash the economic potential of the north of Scotland.”

Murphy Ireland have been appointed by Northern Ireland Water to its €1.2bn Major Projects Partnership Framework (MPPF.)

This framework will deliver large, capital works projects (over £10m in value) on water and wastewater infrastructure across Northern Ireland. Commencing this month for an initial four-year period, with the option to extend for a further four-years, the framework will include upgrades to major water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and network mains.

Kevin Morrissey, Murphy Ireland Projects Director said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to the Northern Ireland Water Major Projects Partnership Framework and to have the opportunity to engage this week with the other framework partners in planning the development of the framework’s structure. We look forward to working with NI Water and its partners in the development and upgrade of its water and wastewater assets over the next 4 years and beyond.”

Paul Harper NI Water’s Director of Asset Delivery said: “This framework provides further resilience for Northern Ireland Water to provide our Customers with the best financial, sustainable and environmental outcomes. It will provide us with access to some of the best innovative providers within the Construction Supply Chain locally, nationally and internationally.”

Murphy Ireland recently turned the sod on the Donegal Towns and Villages – Ramelton, Milford and Rathmullan project for Uisce Éireann, which will put an end to decades of sewage discharge issues in North Donegal.

The project will stop the practice of discharging raw or poorly treated sewage into Leannan Estuary, Lough Swilly and Maggie’s Burn from the towns of Ramelton, Milford and Rathmullan

Murphy Ireland will be delivering the work on behalf of Uisce Éireann and expect to complete the project in 2025. 

The ceremony to mark the commencement of the works was led by Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Liam Blaney, with representatives from Uisce Éireann, Donegal County Council and Murphy Ireland in attendance, as well as members of the local community. 

This is the largest single project Uisce Éireann has undertaken in Donegal to date and is critically important for the environment and to support social and economic development in this part of the county.

It also marks another important milestone in Uisce Éireann’s plan to eliminate the discharge of raw sewage nationwide.

J Murphy & Sons Limited is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2022, demonstrating another year of significant growth and strong financial performance.

These results highlight Murphy’s commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure, while maintaining a focus on safety, operational excellence and sustainable business practices, with significant milestones in revenue, operating profit, order book, net cash and sustainability.

Financial & Operational Highlights

  • Group revenue up 17% to £1,491m in 2022 (2021: £1,274m), owing to dependable operational delivery and solid client and supply chain relationships.
  • Operating profit increased by 111% to £45.7m in 2022 (2021: £21.7m), through delivering key infrastructure projects for our key clients and operational efficiencies.
  • Net cash increased by 27% to £275.5m in 2022 (2021: £216.6m), underpinning our strong balance sheet.
  • Continued commitment to safety; 30% reduction in Lost Time Injury rate, from 0.11 in 2021 to 0.07 in 2022.
  • Increased employees to 3,688, up from 3,579, developing colleagues across the business and creating diverse, inclusive and engaged teams.

Sustainability Highlights

  • Achieved a further 16.8% carbon reduction from 2021 – Murphy’s biggest ever annual reduction.
  • Cumulative emissions reduction total now sits at 39.88% since 2019 baseline – strengthening Murphy’s position to achieve its 50% reduction target by 2026.
  • ESG Committee formed with individual accountabilities under the banners of Climate Action & Safety, Social Value and Governance.
  • Reaffirmed commitments to achieving net zero by 2030 and becoming net positive by 2050 for all emission sources.
  • £34.5m invested in state-of-the-art, environmentally-conscious plant and equipment
  • Continued investment of £2.3m in colleague training and development

Outlook

  • Order book grew by 13% to £2.52bn in 2022 (2021: £2.23bn), with secured and anticipated orders across the UK, Canada and Ireland.
  • Activities to support the energy transition continue to underpin activity across the business in our core sectors and geographies.
  • Confident in strategic direction and broader opportunities for continued growth with a strong balance sheet and ongoing investment in sustainable practices meaning that Murphy is well-positioned for future success across its three geographies of the UK, Ireland and Canada.

John Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of J Murphy & Sons, commented:

“I am delighted to present another year of growth for Murphy, demonstrating a continuous, year-on-year improvement in our financial performance and operational delivery as we continue to play a central role in delivering world-class infrastructure. These outstanding results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our colleagues, our focus on sustainable business practices and our strong client relationships.

“Our direct delivery operating model, supported by a select supply chain, continues to be central to our unique offering. At a time when resources are increasingly a limiting factor across the industry, we give our clients heightened confidence of reliable delivery performance. 

“As we approach our 75th anniversary in 2026, our vision to be the leading family-owned construction business in the three geographies in which we work is within reach, and we remain focused on delivering long-term sustainable growth and creating a positive and lasting legacy across our projects and the communities we serve.”

You can read the report in full here: https://www.murphygroup.com/2022annualreport