Galliford Try launches PULSE behavioural programme at St George's Park safety conference

Galliford Try has launched PULSE, a five-pillar behavioural excellence programme, at a two-day health, safety and environment (HS&E) conference for more than 140 staff at St George's Park in Staffordshire.

The contractor said the event, held under the theme 'Under the Hard Hat', brought together members of its HS&E team and Group HS&E Forum. Chief Executive Bill Hocking opened the conference.

David Lowery, Executive Board member, introduced PULSE. According to Galliford Try, the programme is intended to support the group "to be a high-performing organisation where safety, wellbeing, quality and operational excellence reinforce one another".

Mike Webb, Group HS&E Director, said: "The launch of our new behavioural programme PULSE is an important step in helping every colleague understand the impact they have on those around them and empowering them to make a positive difference every day."

The programme

Webb followed the launch with a session titled 'Looking Beyond Compliance', which the company said focused on understanding what influences performance.

Matthew Cain, Divisional Head of HS&E, ran a scenario called 'Project Hawthorne' that asked delegates to consider a construction site scene which evolved through the day. Galliford Try said different intervals introduced circumstances affecting work planning, environmental controls and client expectations, with learning points provided by TakePoint Training.

TakePoint Training describes its programmes as combining military leadership experience with social psychology, delivered through immersive, experiential learning.

The second day covered strengthening connections and shared learning, including techniques on listening to understand, coaching and constructive challenge. Delegates ended the event by recording personal commitments on curiosity, constructive challenge and leading by example.

How it fits with existing programmes

Galliford Try's established behavioural safety programme is Challenging Beliefs, Affecting Behaviour, which the company says remains the foundation of its behavioural safety approach. It combines awareness, training, coaching and visible leadership, and the company says it also gives a consistent way to engage subcontractors in its safety culture. On its website the contractor describes the initiative as award-winning.

The company also uses proactive lead indicators covering leadership, communication, competence, culture, contractors and planning, and runs a wellbeing programme called Be Well, which it says broadens its approach beyond incident prevention by supporting physical and mental health.

Galliford Try's stated health and safety objective is to ensure no harm to anyone linked with its operations. It reports Lost Time Frequency Rate and Accident Frequency Rate as its health and safety key performance indicators for FY25 and FY26, each with a stated ambition of 'No harm'.

The previous conference

The company's previous HS&E Conference, reported on 6 November 2024, was also held at St George's Park for 140 employees. That event opened with a staged workplace incident set up by the HS&E Leadership Team and the drama group Dramanon, and its second day featured an 'Ask the Experts' panel of Peter Gibbs from Ainscough, Rob Lowe of Nationwide and Patrick Flannery of Flannery Plant Hire.

Hocking and Webb also opened the 2024 conference, with contributions from Divisional Managing Directors Ian Jubb and David Lowery.

Lowery, Divisional Managing Director, Infrastructure, was appointed to the Executive Board on 1 July 2024 and has more than 25 years' experience in civil engineering and construction. Hocking was appointed Chief Executive on 3 January 2020, having joined the company as Managing Director of Construction in September 2015.

Galliford Try announced on 1 October 2025 that it had been included in the FTSE 250 index for the first time since it became a standalone construction company, citing a record £4.1bn order book.