Recruitment
“Azhar is one in a million. He's the chap who really does make a difference.
Azhar leads the environmental challenge on one of the country’s largest stations His role as project manager is to identify various methods of reducing our impact upon the environment, and then implementing the initiatives. The great thing about Azhar is that he really cares about you and me.
Statistics are often used indiscriminately but in his case it demonstrates delivery.
He initiated the first BREEAM rated 'Excellent' accredited rail station, led delivery of the first Combined Heat & Power (CHP) plant used in a Network Rail station generating energy cost savings circa 10%. His commitment to delivering Birmingham's new Living Green Wall, the first new city centre green area in over twenty years cannot be ignored.
Other simpler initiatives included recycling in excess of 20,000 tonne (98%) of insitu concrete and protecting and monitoring an underground aquifer. Some were much quirkier, such as the use of carpet tiles with the yarn made from recycled fishing nets!
Network Rail recognised the fine work undertaken on the project and incorporated his initiatives within its sustainability roll out programme.
Azhar and Network Rail's contribution to the environment was recently recognised by the local business community through the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce where Birmingham Gateway picked up the award for 'Excellence in Sustainability'. Birmingham is Europe's largest municipal council. The judges said NR had pushed the boundaries in low carbon technology and sustainability despite developing one of the countries busiest and most complex stations.
Yet Azhar's success is around developing relationships, built from respect and trust. Not from his vast knowledge.
When people are passionate and care about something, you get taken along. With Azhar the journey is both satisfying and enjoyable. Challenging yes, but when you're changing the way we live it's only what you'd expect.“
“Azhar was Tireless in pursuing a sustainability agenda for Network Rail on Birmingham Gateway. He championed the inclusion of Photo Voltaic, solar thermal hot water, heat pumps, and the green roof on the Lampblock building and achieved a 19% carbon reduction using these various technologies.
He was Tenacious in pursuing a Combined Heat and Power solution on the station. The initiative contributed to reducing Birmingham City’s overall carbon reduction figures.“
“Azhar Quaiyoom is the Environmental Project Manager who joined the Birmingham Gateway Project at New Street Station in April 2009.
The Project is a £750m scheme being the largest redevelopment of a 1970s structure ever undertaken in the Midlands and the most complex within Network Rail's portfolio of major station developments.
Azhar has championed in a number of sustainable causes not only at a project level, but actually has been leading within Network Rail and across the Rail Industry. This has resulted in a number of major successes including incorporation at New Street (and the new South Central Shopping Development including a new John Lewis):-
BREEAM rated 'Excellent'
Rainwater Harvesting
Major recycling of construction materials
Combined Heat & Power (CHP)
Energy efficient lifts, escalators, lighting and energy
Living Green Wall
However it is Azhar's personal qualities that stand out! Not only is he technically competent in his field but he has a passion and enthusiasm for sustainable development that is unmatched. He is always challenging but is able to take a pragmatic approach to site/project challenges.
I personally remember in April 2013 when we had major cost challenges on the Gateway Project and we were looking to cut scope to save cost. Azhar fiercely defended the 'CHP scheme' and the 'Green wall' that we were looking to axe, and convinced all stakeholders that deleting these requirements was the wrong thing to do, was being short-sighted and not considerate to sustainable development. Fortunately for Birmingham and Network Rail we listened to Azhar's advice and we took a mature approach.“
“I just wanted to write and say a huge thank you from all at telent for an absolutely fabulous evening. The whole event was so beautifully staged, the entertainment was amazing and it ran perfectly. I know what a huge amount of work goes into organising an event on this scale and am delighted for you and the team for how well it all went on the night. Please can you pass on our thanks and congratulations to your whole team.”
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