Thursday June 6, 2019
McGee has come a long way since Tom McGee bought his first two tipper trucks with his savings!
Over the last 60 years, London-based specialist contractor McGee has grown in size, capability, and reputation and has become a name synonymous with delivering world-class decontamination, asbestos removal, demolition, piling, civil engineering and construction services, either as standalone disciplines or as an integrated solution. Supported by in-house recycling, transport, plant and equipment
During this time, McGee has delivered a plethora of prestigious projects and continued to be at the forefront of change.
One of the company’s most iconic projects was their demolition and redevelopment of the former home of English football, Wembley Stadium. The demolition of the stands and twin towers saw the company use what was then the largest high reach excavator in the UK, the mighty Liebherr R 974.
Along with Wembley, Battersea Power Station ranks amongst the most influential the company has undertaken. Commenced in 1987 it saw the company use the first Brokk remote control excavator in the UK.
In more recent times, the delivery of 5 storeys of basement construction underneath the live Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair has been a pioneering achievement and represents the pinnacle of what the company can achieve in the civils sector.
Wanting to offer their clients a complete integrated solution saw McGee undertake work in Leicester Square for Edwardian Hotels London where they were the principal contractor for the demolition works, basement excavation – the deepest at 35m in London – and the construction of the RC frame.
The McGee website includes an interactive timeline which charts the evolution of the company since its founding in 1959 through to today.
Key milestones and achievements include:
- 1980: First recycling facility open in the UK
- 1981: Heathrow Terminal 4 earthworks completed
- 1984: A telescopic grab is used for the first time in the UK
- 1986: Europe’s largest ever temporary works scheme at No.1 St Martin’s Le Grand.
- 1997: First Use of an electric excavator to eliminate emissions at Tate Britain
- 1998: UK’s first deep basement excavation using telescopic grab, guided by CCTV at Harrods, London
- 2000: Bespoke weigh load indicator is introduced on all McGee tipper trucks
- 2003: Demolition of the iconic twin towers at Wembley Stadium followed by groundworks and foundations for the new stadium
- 2004: Demolition of the historic Grandstand at Ascot Racecourse
- 2008: Work commences at Bloomberg Square
- 2013: Gatwick Airport, Pier 5 – A Laser-Guided Tunnel Boring Machine is used at Gatwick Airport – the first time this ‘no dig’ solution has been used in Europe!
- 2013: Long term partnering with Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet (AELTC) for almost 20 years
- 2015: Roll-out of 130+ in-house designed mobile apps across the business – A revolutionary project allowing paper-free tasks to be performed on smartphones, tablets, and web
- 2016: A bespoke 35-metre telescopic excavator arrives in London – the first of its kind in the UK.
Video: McGee’s history over the last 60 years
To mark the launch of its 60th anniversary year in 2019, McGee threw a celebration for employees at the famous BT Tower in London. The night was filled with joy and laughter, taking a trip down memory lane and looking back on where it all began.
McGee in 2019
McGee remains a family business with brothers Brian, Michael and John at the helm, supported by a strong leadership team ready to take the business forward and to set the foundations for future success.
It is thanks to McGee’s dedicated and talented workforce that they achieve what they do every day and continue to pioneer exceptional engineering solutions that are being recognised with a multitude of prestigious industry award wins – Most recently taking home the Construction News Specialist Award for Contractor the Year 2019 (turnover £25m+) and Ground Engineering’s Editor’s Award for their work at the five-star Claridge’s hotel.
In March, McGee left its long term Wembley headquarters to London’s South Bank, moving into its new home on the 9th floor of the Alto Tower at South Bank Central – a unique collection of mixed-use buildings located on the cultural pulse of London’s historic river bank.
A stylish reception welcomes guests and employees. 7,063 square feet – and open plan – provides plenty of space to expand as the business continues to grow. With comfy break out spaces, stylish meeting rooms, phone booths and stunning views across London, the workspace embraces the way employees want to work. It fosters a positive team spirit and creates a real buzz!
The new office environment has created a space where people can collaborate, share knowledge and support site teams with project delivery.
“Coinciding with our 60th Anniversary year, the new offices are a statement of our desire to work in an improved space, creating an engaging and collaborative environment for staff, clients and visitors. The high-end fit out, bespoke to McGee, demonstrates to the industry and our clients our confidence and ambition for the long term future of the business. This is a significant move for the company and marks an important milestone for our future as we set the foundations of the next 60 years of success and beyond.”
Brian McGee, Managing Director
In memory of Tom McGee, who passed away as a result of a stroke in 1998, McGee nominated The Stroke Association as its charity of the year 2019. A whole host of events have been taking place across the company to help raise awareness of stroke as well as vital funds.
McGee is ever keen to take on new challenges because they have a proven track record of rising to them. Their commitment to safety will always remain a number one priority, their family values remain strong, and their company ethos and team spirit all set the business apart – along with their vision for the next 60 years…