The Home Office has launched a crackdown to root out illegal working in the construction industry. Operation Magnify will see immigration enforcement officers targeting construction sites and businesses that are employing and exploiting illegal migrant workers. The Home Office said it was too early to issue details about the initial
Liebherr has begun delivery of the largest single order in the history of its tower cranes division. The first of the 58 cranes are now on the site of the new Istanbul airport. The new İstanbul Yeni Havalimanı airport will be the largest in the world, capable of handling about
Specialist contractor Southern Piling has been fined £16,000 after admitting using an auger without a safety guard. The HSE inspector who caught the company out said that “there was simply no excuse for the way the machine was being used. It was in the middle of the site and there
Caterpillar has refreshed its offering in the 25-tonne crawler excavator segment with the new short-tailswing Cat 325F. Compared to its 321D L CR predecessor, the 325F provides the same productivity while offering increased lifting capacities (up to 7% over-the-front, and up to 9% over-the-side), and a 12% fuel consumption improvement,
Waste firm Sita UK has been fined £200k for safety failings after an employee was run over by a reversing telehandler. The employee set out to pass behind the 7.5-tonne telehandler when it was stationary but it began to reverse as he got to it. He was knocked to the
Maven Capital Partners, the leading UK private equity and property manager, is pleased to announce that it has completed the purchase of a 20,000 ft2 office building in Maidenhead. It is due to undertake a complete £5.5m refurbishment of the property which will result in a Grade A modern corporate
A community café which provides a vital resource for job-seekers in Salford has received a much needed upgrade. Housing association Salix Homes, which owns 8,500 properties across central Salford, and its partner contractor A Connolly have come to the rescue of Ordsall Community Café on the South Ordsall estate and
World-renowned property company United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty, has announced its continued expansion with the addition of new Director, Simon Tollit. With over fourteen years of experience, Simon specialises in the prime central London property market. Most recently Simon has focused on the very top end of the market, working
PSR Solutions While the demand for maintenance and repair has decreased, statisticians have predicted that the demand for building projects will increase in the near future. With that in mind, there has never been a better time for job searchers to sign up to an agency such as PSR Solutions,
The Home Office has launched a crackdown to root out illegal working in the construction industry. Operation Magnify will see immigration enforcement officers targeting construction sites and businesses that are employing and exploiting illegal migrant workers. The Home Office said it was too early to issue details about the initial targets for immigration officers, but said more information about swoops would be revealed later. Failure to comply with Right to Work checks can now result in a maximum fine of £20,000 for every illegal worker. And new measures included in the Immigration Bill, currently passing through Parliament, will make it easier to prosecute employers using illegal labour, with a maximum prison sentence of five years and new powers to close down contractors which continue to flout the rules. Those who work illegally will be committing a criminal offence and face the prospect of having their earnings seized, and face deportation if they do not have the right to be in the UK. As part of the drive, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire is hosting a meeting today with construction leaders about his plans to end illegal working. The event involves leaders of several construction companies working across the public and commercial sectors and industry bodies, including the Construction Industry Council, the Chartered Institute of Building, and Build UK. Brokenshire said: “Coming together with key employers and influencers in the construction industry is a chance for us to engage with those who are keen to maintain the integrity of the sector. “Illegal working undermines legitimate employers, harms the reputation of the industry, drives down wages and denies employment to hard-working UK citizens and people who are working in the UK legally. “Employers within the construction industry have a critical role to play in helping to combat this by ensuring they carry out the straightforward ‘Right to Work’ checks on potential employees that prevent illegal working in the UK.” Gillian Econopouly, Head of Policy and Research, from the Construction Industry Training Board, warned: “We have found cases where illegal workers have used fake health and safety documents to get onsite, and we are working with Government to stamp this out in the construction sector.” Right to work checks The Government has already taken action to make ‘Right to Work’ checks much easier for contractors to carry out, including by reducing the frequency of checks and the range of documents needed. Contractors with questions about checking a job applicant’s right to work in the UK can call a dedicated support line for advice on 0300 123 4699.
Liebherr has begun delivery of the largest single order in the history of its tower cranes division. The first of the 58 cranes are now on the site of the new Istanbul airport. The new İstanbul Yeni Havalimanı airport will be the largest in the world, capable of handling about 150 million passengers a year from 2020. Delivery of the first of the total of 58 EC-H series cranes took place recently and the cranes will remain installed at the airport until 2018. The airport is being built on a 9,000ha site 35km to the north of the centre of Istanbul. A total of six runways and 165 passenger bridges will be built at the new transport hub. The airport building itself will have a roof that stretches over the halls like a gigantic tent. Skylights at various points will provide daylight to the interior. The Liebherr order was placed by the project’s Turkish contractor, İGA Havalimanı İœletmesi. The order is made up of 32 cranes of the 280 EC-H 12 Litronic type, 16 of the 200 EC-H 10 Litronic type and a further ten 154 EC-H 6 Litronic models. “The Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions department has specialised in these complex construction projects and was able to score heavily with a low cost solution for this order,” said Rüdiger Boeck, regional sales manager for Eastern Europe and the Bosporus at Liebherr-Werk Biberach. The short delivery times that Liebherr was able to guarantee and the service provided by its local partner, Attila Dural Trading, were among the main reasons for winning the order, he added. “We can guarantee 24/7 service for our cranes in cooperation with our partner. That is extremely important for these construction projects where every day is vital.”
Specialist contractor Southern Piling has been fined £16,000 after admitting using an auger without a safety guard. The HSE inspector who caught the company out said that “there was simply no excuse for the way the machine was being used. It was in the middle of the site and there was nothing to prevent the guard from being fitted.” Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court heard how Health & Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Melvyn Stancliffe made an inspection of a site in Maidstone, Kent, in December 2014 and saw how the piling rig was being operated with no safety guard. HSE had previously visited three Southern Piling sites and had raised concerns about the guarding standards on each occasion. After the fourth site visit, the HSE was told that the machine had been in use for more than two weeks without the guard. Southern Piling Limited, of The Pagets, Newick, Lewes, East Sussex, was fined a total of £16,000 and ordered to pay nearly £5,000 in costs after pleading guilty to breaches of Regulation 11(1)(a) of PUWER 1998 and Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. Speaking after the hearing, Melvyn Stancliffe said: “I dread to think, even at low speed, what might have happened had someone inadvertently fallen on to the unguarded auger. This is incredibly powerful machinery, capable of causing life-changing or even fatal injuries.”
Caterpillar has refreshed its offering in the 25-tonne crawler excavator segment with the new short-tailswing Cat 325F. Compared to its 321D L CR predecessor, the 325F provides the same productivity while offering increased lifting capacities (up to 7% over-the-front, and up to 9% over-the-side), and a 12% fuel consumption improvement, the manufacturer says. The Variable Adjustable boom and stick allow working closer to the tracks in confined areas and provide increased lifting capacity. For long-term durability, the 325F uses a modified X-frame design to withstand digging and lifting forces. The heavy-duty undercarriage also uses massive track frames, heavy-duty track rollers, forged carrier rollers, and grease-lubricated track chains that significantly extend chain life and reduce sound when the machine travels, Caterpillar says The Stage IV-compliant C4.4 ACERT engine, which is up to B20 biodiesel capable, uses a variable-speed fan to further reduce energy consumption. A high-pressure fuel system has a newly designed pump and injectors for optimum combustion, and a high-efficiency filtration system protects components from wear and deposits that can result in over-fueling. Electrically controlled boom- and stick-regeneration systems recycle oil in cylinders instead of exhausting it to the reservoir, resulting in reduced loads on the main pumps for increased fuel economy and faster response. Quick-couplers and tool-control systems work with available auxiliary-hydraulic circuits to support a range of attachments. On-board technology includes Cat Grade Control, delivering 2D bucket-tip-elevation guidance to assist operators in forming precise planes and slopes, eliminating much of the staking and grade checking typically required. The AccuGrade system provides 3D guidance for making complex cuts and contours.
Waste firm Sita UK has been fined £200k for safety failings after an employee was run over by a reversing telehandler. The employee set out to pass behind the 7.5-tonne telehandler when it was stationary but it began to reverse as he got to it. He was knocked to the ground and then run over by the rear wheel of the vehicle. His injuries caused him to be hospitalised for two months. Preston Crown Court heard that Sita UK had failed to provide adequate segregation between pedestrians and moving vehicles at its waste transfer station in Darwen, Lancashire. Sita UK Limited of Grenfell Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £200,000 with £11,998 costs. Health & Safety Executive inspector Stuart Kitchingman said after the hearing: “Employers need to look carefully at their workplaces regularly to make sure that pedestrian routes are clearly marked and physically separated from vehicle routes wherever possible. “The employee could have easily been killed and still has severe mobility problems as a result of the accident. He is unlikely to be able to work in the near future.”
Maven Capital Partners, the leading UK private equity and property manager, is pleased to announce that it has completed the purchase of a 20,000 ft2 office building in Maidenhead. It is due to undertake a complete £5.5m refurbishment of the property which will result in a Grade A modern corporate HQ for the thriving Thames Valley market, which is seeing increasing demand from blue-chip companies for highly specified office space. Located in Vanwall Business Park, the site is only around 30 miles from central London, with excellent transport links to the city. It is ideally positioned for motorway and air travel, being in close proximity to the M40 and M4 motorways and Heathrow Airport, and will further benefit from the introduction of Crossrail to Maidenhead in the next few years. This is the 11th acquisition for Maven’s burgeoning UK property business, and the second office acquisition in the Thames Valley in the past 18 months, following the c. £4.8m purchase and redevelopment of Planar House (now known as ‘Eclipse’) in Marlow in 2014. The 27,000 ft2, two-storey Planar House has since undergone a multi-million pound ‘back to frame’ modernisation, including substantial external and internal improvements, including the installation of new external cladding, floor to ceiling glazing, new plant, passenger lift and air conditioning, new LED lighting and a new feature glass reception area. The upgrade has resulted in a Grade A EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating. There is a diminishing supply of modern and attractive office space in the Thames Valley market, which has been enjoying consistent growth since the financial crisis began to ease, reflecting the improving UK economy and increasing business confidence. As a result the market is seeing growing competition among tenants and rising rental rates. Maven has a fast growing, specialist property investment and development business, with executives based across the UK sourcing attractive property opportunities for investors. During the past three years the team has deployed approximately £40m of investor funds, in transactions including the development of four hotels and three student accommodation projects. Andrew Whiteley, Investment Director at Maven, who led the deal, said: “We are delighted to have sourced another high quality opportunity for our investors, as our property investment business continues to build momentum across the UK. The Thames Valley market is in rude health, as the UK economy continues its recovery, with a notable shortage of modern office space in the area following a period of very limited development of new office space. The increased competition for high quality premises is driving rising rental levels and presenting attractive opportunities for investors with the development and investment expertise. Given the increasing focus by businesses on finding a prime location and achieving energy efficiency, this project offers the prospect of a strong investor return”.
A community café which provides a vital resource for job-seekers in Salford has received a much needed upgrade. Housing association Salix Homes, which owns 8,500 properties across central Salford, and its partner contractor A Connolly have come to the rescue of Ordsall Community Café on the South Ordsall estate and upgraded its IT suite. The IT suite is used every day by the unemployed and local job seekers to improve their computer skills and apply for jobs online, but the equipment had become outdated and not fit for purpose. Salix Homes, which has recently completed a major refurb to 166 homes on the estate, asked its contractor A Connolly to upgrade the IT facilities as a lasting legacy for the community. Mark Foster, head of investment at Salix Homes, said: “Families on the South Ordsall estate are now enjoying their new and improved homes, but Salix Homes is about so much more than bricks and mortar, so when we heard that Ordsall Community Café was struggling with its outdated IT equipment we asked our contractor to step in. “The community café provides a vital resource for hundreds of local people helping the unemployed improve their skills and get back into work. Digital inclusion is a priority for Salix Homes and we have run a number of courses for our tenants at the café over the years so we know how much of a difference the new facilities will make to the community.” As part of the upgrade, A Connolly has worked with charity Business in the Community (BITC) and IT specialists Fujitsu to fit five new laptops and five new desktops computers as well as upgrade the broadband and software. Simon Harrison, managing director at A Connolly Ltd, said: “It’s fantastic that we have been able to create a digital programme for local people and do more than just upgrade the facilities. With help from BITC we have been able to start to create a digital inclusion legacy for Salix Homes’ residents. “Digital inclusion programmes are becoming more important than ever, helping people to book doctor’s appointments online, keep in touch with family and friends and discover employment opportunities. We now hope to provide a digital inclusion programme of events that can benefit everyone.” The community café on Tatton Street has been open for the past 10 years and, other than the library, is the only place in the area where the community can access computer equipment for free. Sam Hickey, director of Ordsall Community Café, said: “A lot of people in this area don’t have computers at home and when it comes to applying for jobs, you have to do it online these days so the new computer equipment will make such a difference for us.” The new and improved facilities opened to the public this week, and James Timpson OBE, national ambassador for BITC and chief executive of high-street store Timpson, stopped by to check out the work that’s taking place. HM Revenue and Customs will also be running digital inclusion courses at the café starting in December to teach people essential IT skills to improve their job prospects. To reserve your place call Carla Whitworth on 07494 543183.
World-renowned property company United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty, has announced its continued expansion with the addition of new Director, Simon Tollit. With over fourteen years of experience, Simon specialises in the prime central London property market. Most recently Simon has focused on the very top end of the market, working as a Partner in Knight Frank’s Belgravia office, selling some of the most exclusive properties in central London. Within his new role, Simon will be responsible for growing the business in key central London locations, including Belgravia, Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Mayfair. Simon Tollit says: “I am delighted to have joined Sotheby’s International Realty and am incredibly excited about the unique opportunity to grow and develop the business into one of London’s leading residential estate agencies.” Robin Paterson, joint chairman & CEO of United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty says: “The Sotheby’s brand is one of the most exclusive in the world, but the United Kingdom branch is still a growing business. We have an aggressive expansion programme which reflects our commitment to building the brand and creating a company with a wide range of valued expertise across the property market. The London property market has been one of the most stable investment havens for both national and international buyers. In response, the Sotheby’s team is built of individuals with informed perspectives and practiced knowledge across the city’s different boroughs. Simon is a well versed agent with a crucial perspective in this unique market. I look forward to him being part of the company’s development.” For more media information, please contact Sophie Richardson at Four Communications on 0203 697 4358 or 07961 578 401 or sophie.richardson@fourcommunications.com
PSR Solutions While the demand for maintenance and repair has decreased, statisticians have predicted that the demand for building projects will increase in the near future. With that in mind, there has never been a better time for job searchers to sign up to an agency such as PSR Solutions, who are one of the leading agencies providing building jobs in London. The predicted surge comes, partly, from seeing an increase in government schemes aimed at supporting first-time buyers purchasing their first home. In addition to these schemes driving demand, there are also amendments being made to current frameworks that should speed up the process for acquiring planning permission for new builds. With a faster process, there is a chance that the amount of builds able to move forward more quickly will increase, resulting in work being available sooner rather than later. It makes sense, with this in mind, that business confidence is the highest it has been in ten years; regardless of the decrease in repair and maintenance services currently required. One thing is for sure, the demand for qualified and capable construction workers will still be as strong, if not stronger, over the coming months. Information presented in the infographic were sourced from: http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/construction-outlook-remains-rosy-despite-pre-election-dip http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/ons-says-construction-output-fell-13-in-may http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/construction-industry-confidence-reaches-soaring-heights Infographic
