Boris Johnson has called on the government to slow down its planned cuts to solar subsidies to protect more than 3,000 jobs in London. The mayor of London was responding to a Department of Energy and Climate Change consultation on the proposed 87 per cent cut to feed-in tariffs. In
HR Services Scotland, the rapidly-growing HR services consultancy, has been appointed as HR and Health & Safety advisers to Moodiesburn-based building contractor McEwan Osborne. The brief from McEwan Osborne encompasses unlimited telephone and email advice to the company on all HR and Health & Safety matters, on-site crisis call-out,
A Salford housing provider and its partner contractors have welcomed their latest intake of apprentices. Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,300 homes across central Salford, has appointed 36 apprentices this year in a range of roles from construction to customer service. The recruits, who are all local people aged
Long established Heming Group, which has been trading for nearly 50 years, has been awarded a key contract to provide the groundworks at a well-known Evesham site set to become a state-of-the art £6.6 million care home. Family run Heming Services Limited, part of Heming Group, won the prestigious contract
https://youtu.be/Y9CVh-K4XgQ Blyth Utilities is to play a major role in a new UK-wide multi-utility infrastructure brand following its acquisition (on December 10, 2015) by Energy Assets Group. Blyth, based in Alva, Clackmannanshire, is a leading utility infrastructure provider to industrial and commercial and residential developers in Scotland and
HS2 is to follow Highways England’s lead by adopting a ‘programme gain pool’ for its civils work in a bid to drive costs down and encourage collaboration. Under the terms of the £12bn-worth of tunnelling and enabling contracts, firms that bring projects in ahead of time and under budget will
Boris Johnson has called on the government to slow down its planned cuts to solar subsidies to protect more than 3,000 jobs in London. The mayor of London was responding to a Department of Energy and Climate Change consultation on the proposed 87 per cent cut to feed-in tariffs. In a letter to energy minister Andrea Leadsom, deputy mayor for environment and energy Matthew Pencharz wrote that the reductions in FiTs should be phased “over a two-three year period”. He wrote: “The mayor believes that the solar PV industry needs some certainty over the next few years as it transitions to a subsidy-free and long-term sustainable future.” Mr Pencharz, writing on behalf of Mr Johnson, continued: “Unfortunately the current proposals, which have been consulted on, with little or no prior warning, to come into force in the new year has (sic) created great uncertainty in the solar PV industry, potentially putting at threat thousands of jobs across the UK. “The mayor is concerned about the potential impact on the 3,100 jobs, mainly in SMEs, which make up the solar PV industry in London.” He added that phasing in the cuts “would provide a clear pathway” for the industry, “reducing the impact of business and job losses”. Earlier this week, Ms Leadsom told a committee of MPs that she was “open-minded” over the consultation, which closes today (Friday 23 October). A number of solar installation firms have gone into forced being closed or sell off parts of their business after the government’s plans were announced, with experts claiming that thousands of jobs could be lost across the industry. Sustainable Homes managing director Andrew Eagles said the changes, along with other government policies affecting the renewables sector, had created “a perfect storm”, that could affect “tens of thousands of jobs”.
HR Services Scotland, the rapidly-growing HR services consultancy, has been appointed as HR and Health & Safety advisers to Moodiesburn-based building contractor McEwan Osborne. The brief from McEwan Osborne encompasses unlimited telephone and email advice to the company on all HR and Health & Safety matters, on-site crisis call-out, legal representation, site inspections and the production of regular audit reports. In addition, HR Services Scotland will furnish its client with an ongoing, detailed review of all its employment contracts and health & safety policies. MD of McEwan Osborne, Ian Osbourne, said: “As a growing business whose employees are engaged on a daily basis on construction sites we have to be fully aware of health & safety issues. “Our relationship with HR Services Scotland means that we have unrestricted access to a high-quality, reliable advisory service which keeps us right on a pro-active basis. In addition, as we grow, so too do the numbers of HR issues we need to address, and again, HR Services Scotland’s consistent expert input means we never step out of line.” McEwan Osborne provides a fully-integrated design and construction package for homeowners planning full builds, extensions, basement conversions, sun rooms, loft conversions and kitchen and bathroom installations. With Quantity Surveying and architectural expertise as well as a full complement of quality tradesmen, it offers one point of contact from initial consultation, through design and construction to completion and handover. Andy Purdon, managing director of HR Services Scotland said: “We are very pleased to have won this vote of confidence from a respected and well-managed business like McEwan Osborne. Our contribution will be to relieve the company of having to worry about its HR and Health & Safety issues and instead get on with the job of continuing to build a highly successful business.” Lanarkshire-based HR Services Scotland has more than 150 clients and operates in England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as well as the Central Belt of Scotland. It employs 11 people and is actively recruiting as it continues to expand. It specialises in HR, H&S, employment law and profiling, and has a small, but fast-growing training business. It differentiates itself from competitors by allocating individual account managers to clients. This account manager is a fully trained and highly qualified professional with wide experience who already knows the client’s business and is in a position to spot HR and other problems before they become unmanageable. For further information, contact Lesley McBennett, Business Development Manager, HR Services Scotland, Third Floor, Brandon House, Brandon Street, Hamilton ML3 6DA. Tel: 0800 652 2610. info@hrservicesscotland.co.uk. www.hrservicesscotland.co.uk
A Salford housing provider and its partner contractors have welcomed their latest intake of apprentices. Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,300 homes across central Salford, has appointed 36 apprentices this year in a range of roles from construction to customer service. The recruits, who are all local people aged between 17 and 41, have been employed directly with the housing provider as well as with its partner contractors including construction specialists Emanuel Whittaker, Seddon, and A Connolly Ltd, and property maintenance providers Sure Group. Among the apprentices is 20-year-old Salix Homes tenant Tom Denton, from Charlestown, Salford, who is an apprentice joiner with Oldham-based Emanuel Whittaker. Tom said: “I feel really lucky to have been selected for this apprenticeship and being able to earn while I learn. As well as learning a new skill which I know will be useful in the future, it’s good that I am helping to improve my local area.” The new recruits are working on Salix Homes’ £22million investment programme, which will see improvements made to 2,200 homes in Salford over the next two years including new kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors. Mark Foster, head of investment at Salix Homes, said: “We are very proud to work alongside our partner contractors to provide these training opportunities for local people to help them create a better life for themselves. “Apprentices represent the future of the housing sector and we are confident our newest cohort will not only gain valuable skills, experience and qualifications, but will also help us to develop a stronger workforce.” Over the next five years, Salix Homes will create hundreds of new jobs and training opportunities after tenants voted to transfer the ownership of their homes from Salford Council – a move that has unlocked £75m investment in homes and communities across the city. John Gallagher, contracts director at Emanuel Whittaker, said: “Emanuel Whittaker is renowned for its apprenticeship training and we have a strong history of working with young people. We are very pleased to be continuing this tradition with this latest selection of recruits at Salix Homes.” Simon Harrison, managing director at A Connolly Ltd, added: “Our business ethos is to raise awareness of construction careers, and also invest in young people who want to work within the industry. Our commitment to our apprentices is to take them through to NVQ3 in their chosen trade or profession and this has been recognised in our recent award through GM Chamber Wigan business awards in supporting apprentices.” Maggie Heap, community project manager at Seddon, said: “It is a privilege to be able to welcome our latest raft of recruits 119 years after we first launched in Salford. “Salix Homes is committed to not only improving people’s home through the improvement works, but also helping young people climb the career ladder. This passion is inspiring and we are delighted to be involved with the project.” Jane Cunningham, director at Sure Maintenance added: “Well trained, quality gas and electrical engineers are critical, as they keep Salix Homes’ customers safe. We are delighted to have recruited motivated and enthusiastic local people as apprentices to support the on-going future delivery of the Salix Homes electrical and gas services.” The apprenticeships are run in conjunction with procurement consortium Procure Plus. Kate Parker, senior regeneration manager at Procure Plus, added: “We are thrilled that both Salix Homes and our contractor partners have provided meaningful, paid employment opportunities for many local people who may have otherwise struggled to secure employment. “Salix Homes’ commitment to improving properties over the next five years means we can offer full apprenticeships, training people in trades which will ensure they can sustain their own employment for years to come.”
Long established Heming Group, which has been trading for nearly 50 years, has been awarded a key contract to provide the groundworks at a well-known Evesham site set to become a state-of-the art £6.6 million care home. Family run Heming Services Limited, part of Heming Group, won the prestigious contract after beating off competition from several other civil engineering contractors. The contract was awarded to the company – based in Willersey, near Broadway – by Shropshire-based Beneficial Contracts Limited (BCL). The innovative design and build construction company is run by, Matt Whitthread, who has consulted on a host of TV programmes such as ‘Grand Designs’ and ‘Honey I Ruined The House’. The 69 bed luxury care home, due for completion in January 2017, is being built on the site of Evesham’s former ambulance station at the junction of Davies Road and Cheltenham Road. Designs for the scheme, submitted by Surrey-based Restful Homes Group, include a cinema, restaurant, bar and a hairdresser’s salon. Peter Heming, Managing Director of Heming Group, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this project which is central to our target market. We will be on site for a year, building a basement and laying the foundations for the scheme. The development is in an ideal location close to our Cotswolds headquarters.” Matt Whitthread said: “We employ local contractors where possible and in Heming Group we have employed the best local contractor. The company was very professional when we approached them and were clearly very keen to undertake the work. It’s crucial to get off to a good start on a project like this and with Heming Group doing the groundworks we are in safe hands.” Tom Cawley of Restful Homes Group said: “We are pleased that Hemings and Beneficial have made a good start to work on site in Evesham and are looking forward to welcoming residents into their new homes in spring 2017. We will begin recruiting our team of care and support staff in the summer and can be reached at enquiries@restfulhomes.co.uk.” Heming Group, which has more than 40 employees, comprises Heming Civil Engineering and Construction Contractors, Major Building Services, Ford Electrical and Heming Agricultural and Plant Engineers. The company recently announced it was moving into domestic plumbing services and creating five jobs. Heming Civil Engineering and Construction Contractors has extensive experience in providing groundwork, construction and civil engineering services to clients across the midlands. With a wide range of equipment at its disposal, the company can work on all sizes of site from household groundwork to large construction sites. It can carry out all infrastructure groundwork up to DPC (damp-proof course) for developers. www.heming-services.co.uk
https://youtu.be/Y9CVh-K4XgQ Blyth Utilities is to play a major role in a new UK-wide multi-utility infrastructure brand following its acquisition (on December 10, 2015) by Energy Assets Group. Blyth, based in Alva, Clackmannanshire, is a leading utility infrastructure provider to industrial and commercial and residential developers in Scotland and the north of England, and, together with Energy Assets’ Siteworks division, will play a key role in Energy Assets Utilities – a new brand that from January next year will deliver multi-utility infrastructure projects across the country. Colin Lynch, Joint Managing Director of Blyth, said: “Since its incorporation in 2003, Blyth has grown to around 80 employees but as a company it is now time for us to go to the next level. We are delighted to have the opportunity to grow the business further by being part of the Energy Assets Group and are confident that the support that Energy Assets can offer will allow us to achieve our long term growth strategy.” Energy Assets is the largest independent provider of industrial and commercial (I&C) gas metering services in the UK and a major provider of utility infrastructure services and electricity metering and data services. The deal will see the launch of Energy Assets Utilities, integrating Blyth with Siteworks’ industrial and commercial gas infrastructure operations. Both companies are accredited under the Gas Industry Registration Scheme (GIRS), but with Blyth’s National Electric Registration Scheme (NERS) and Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS) accreditations, the new brand will deliver multi-utility infrastructure projects in both the I&C and house building sectors across the UK, utilising Energy Assets’ footprint. The new brand will position Energy Assets as a fully accredited multi-utility infrastructure provider in the commercial arena while extending opportunities in the UK house building sector at a time when the government is set to double investment to support home ownership and deliver new homes. The Group will also examine the opportunity arising from this acquisition to grow a pipeline asset portfolio, utilising its existing Independent Gas Transporter (IGT) licence. Russell Gibson, Chief Operating Officer of Energy Assets, commented: “Blyth and Siteworks share a common vision of how best to deliver high quality, responsive and competitive provision of utility infrastructure, and by integrating the respective skills, processes and resources of both organisations, the resulting Energy Assets Utilities brand will be perfectly position to meet the infrastructure needs of I&C businesses and house builders across the UK. “I am delighted to welcome Blyth into the Energy Assets Group in an acquisition that represents another step in our continuing growth strategy.” Link to video: https://youtu.be/Y9CVh-K4XgQ
HS2 is to follow Highways England’s lead by adopting a ‘programme gain pool’ for its civils work in a bid to drive costs down and encourage collaboration. Under the terms of the £12bn-worth of tunnelling and enabling contracts, firms that bring projects in ahead of time and under budget will benefit from a programme-wide ‘bonus pot’. HS2’s commercial director Beth West explains that this would help contractors focus on the overall programme rather than just their own part of it. “It is looking at incentives so that if contractors are bringing the overall cost of the programme down, [it] can be shared with all of them,” she said. HS2 hopes this will encourage contractors to “go above and beyond” in supporting each other’s work on the project. In July, Highways England adopted the programme gain pool system for its smart motorways schemes, worth £1.5bn. While all civils contractors would benefit from the gain pool, Ms West stressed that penalties for work that runs late or over budget would be applied at a project-level and only affect those firms directly involved. With the PQQ deadline for civils work set for 18 November, Ms West has also outlined her team’s priorities when assessing bids. The level and type of collaboration between joint venture partners will be one of the main issues her procurement team considers, though it will also look at capacity and capability. Decisions on contracts will be based 70 per cent on their technical content, with the remaining 30 per cent based on cost. “Cheapest doesn’t necessarily mean the best,” Ms West said. “It is very much about the quality and experience the JVs have in similar activities.” Having previously said she was sceptical about working with joint ventures, Ms West admitted she had come round to the idea but insisted that they must be proven partnerships. “The big thing for me with regards to JVs is we don’t want to be the test case for them, so as soon as they win the bid they are going to work out how they work together.” Ms West also revealed that 80 per cent of the PQQ process would be identical for every package, with only 20 per cent of the bid being project-specific. She said that seven packages with seven specific bidding requirements could put contractors off from bidding for certain lots due to resource and time restraints. HS2’s proposals would, she said, encourage contractors to bid for all packages and increase competition in the tendering process. At the PQQ stage the JVs will be able to initially bid for all seven packages. If accepted, they will then be invited to tender for a maximum of four packages and only be able to win two. At the invitation to tender stage, contractors will then go through behavioural assessments and be asked to design a small piece of the package they are bidding for. Ms West said: “We are doing this because there is no point getting contractors to do the whole design when they are going to spend a year designing and working with other contractors to think of the best solution.”
