Engineering, Procurement, Construction management & Validation (EPCmV)
Ware site, Hertfordshire, UK
Company overview
GSK is a focused biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
GSK aims to positively impact the health of more than 2.5 billion individuals by the end of the decade.
The GSK site at Ware, Hertfordshire, has manufacturing and R&D facilities developing specialty medicines to prevent and treat disease such as HIV and asthma.
Scope
In 2020, GSK awarded Wood a three-year EPCmV framework to execute brownfield projects across its Ware facility. In 2024, this framework was extended for a further three years with a two-year extension option, secured through a competitive tender.
GSK selected Wood due to its ability to provide multi-disciplinary solutions through one project management team, flexible delivery models as well as specialist engineering, construction and quality delivery.
Wood plans, manages and executes capital project delivery on-site, from concept to handover across infrastructure, utilities and facilities, including all large and small projects. Wood’s project portfolio includes new GxP (Good Manufacturing Practice) equipment supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), capacity enhancements, HSE, obsolescence, refurbishment of labs and manufacturing areas to the expansion of warehouses and demolishing of older facilities, whilst maintaining regulatory compliance.
Projects aim to improve security of supply, introduce new products, increase production capacity and boost HSSSE (Health, Safety, Security, Sustainability and Environmental) performance.
Solution
A relationship of trust
The success of this contract is testament to the deep relationship between GSK and Wood. Trust, reliability and openness are at the heart of Wood’s operating model on-site, where both teams work as one to execute projects on time and on budget.
Over 50 Wood employees are based on-site, managing the project portfolio and following GSK’s Project Management Framework (PMF). This framework is standardised for all GSK sites, ensuring project cost and time are controlled through a project life cycle model from inception to beneficial handover.
Engineering is executed by Wood UK design hubs, where teams draw on pharmaceutical engineering and commissioning specialists from across the wider organisation to advise.
This relationship is mutually beneficial and creates a strong, collaborative culture at Ware, sharing lessons openly and growing together on-site.
Expert EPCmV delivery
As EPCm experts with over five decades of project delivery experience, Wood is trusted to deliver engineering scopes and apply process subject matter expertise to GSK Ware. Wood engages with approved subcontractors, overseeing delivery to keep projects on schedule. More widely, Wood helps GSK expand its approved vendors list by providing access to our own approved subcontractors that have been established over decades of service.
Keeping people safe
Safety remains our first priority, from people to product. Wood uses toolbox talks, safety stand downs and safety observations through both the HEART system and GSK’s own initiatives. Safety audits and management team site interventions are held regularly, as are scenario simulations. GSK internal audits have commended Wood for our continued commitment to managing construction and contractors safely.
“The collaboration with Wood under the EPCm framework has supported the successful delivery of a portfolio of projects across our site. The flexibility of the model allowed us to adapt scope and priorities as our needs evolved, while consistently meeting GMP and regulatory requirements.
The integrated approach across engineering, procurement, project management, project controls and construction has provided efficiency, cost control, and confidence in meeting critical timelines.
Result
GSK and Wood work together to achieve maximum results and value. Where challenges arise, GSK trusts Wood to define the best alternative solution to the problem.
Today, Wood’s GSK Ware on-site team continues to grow, signaling the success of this EPCm contract’s delivery.
- Keeping people safe: operations at Ware are LTI-free, since the contract’s inception.
- Project delivery portfolio: Wood has executed over 50 improvement EPC / EPCm projects, supporting GSK’s aims and asset needs.
- Supporting new product introduction: Delivery of bespoke and industry leading specialist equipment and industrialise new medicines.
- Increasing critical capacity: Engineered and delivered a bulk bottle line, allowing for the efficient filling of bottles with tablets, as well as a second sieve facility, providing additional device throughput.
- Engineering R&D infrastructure: Replacing high voltage/low voltage cables, generators and sub stations and equipping the facility with oxygen depletion system, lowering risk.
- Modernising controls systems: Replacing over 65 building management systems across the site, as well as electrical sub-stations, replacement chillers and HVAC systems to ensure efficient and robust operations
“Across multiple projects - including new GxP equipment, laboratory upgrades, utilities infrastructure improvements, and capacity improvements, we have valued the transparency and structured communication to deliver on our shared objectives.
The EPCm framework with Wood has proven to be an effective and reliable approach, and we look forward to continuing this way of working on future projects."