January 20, 2016

Asset delivers AMP6 pumping chamber project

Asset International, producer of Weholite large diameter plastic pipes, is set to deliver a large number of new AMP6 projects in order to help improve the water infrastructure of the UK. As a key player in the water management industry, one of the first projects Asset International have helped to

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Construction site broadband delays finally resolved within 3 days

Countrywide Telecoms have developed an ingenious product that has taken the construction industry by storm that guarantees to connect your site or show home to superfast broadband and phone lines within three working days. Like any business, construction sites rely on internet and email to communicate quickly and effectively. You

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First Aid at Work: What you need to know

The ‘Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981’ require businesses to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and people to ensure employees can be given immediate assistance if they are injured or taken ill while at work. What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in your workplace and businesses must assess what

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TfL and Sport Relief 2016 team up to get London moving

Transport for London and Sports Relief 2016 have teamed up to encourage London to raise money by being more active. The partnership is encouraging staff, customers, schools and businesses to get involved in a range of fun activities to help raise money for people who are living in the UK

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MOD announces release of 12 sites for development

12 Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites will be released as part of the department’s drive for more efficiency Defence Minister Mark Lancaster has announced. In a move that will see £500M generated from the sale, the land will be used to build around 15,000 new homes as part of the

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UK’s largest steelmaker announces 1,000 job cuts

The government faced calls to tackle the British steel industry crisis after Tata Steel announced plans to axe 1,050 jobs. Tata Steel has confirmed its plans to cut 1,050 jobs in the UK, including 750 at Port Talbot, south Wales, as it warned that cheap imports from China were endangering

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Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

January 20, 2016

Asset delivers AMP6 pumping chamber project

Asset International, producer of Weholite large diameter plastic pipes, is set to deliver a large number of new AMP6 projects in order to help improve the water infrastructure of the UK. As a key player in the water management industry, one of the first projects Asset International have helped to implement is the upgrade of Heage pumping station in Derbyshire, which is owned by Severn Trent Water. Asset has a long history of delivering successful projects for all the UK water companies and were the natural choice for a project that came with a number of complexities, principally that space was extremely limited on site, with restricted storage capacity space for construction materials and waste. Additionally, the pumping station is adjacent to an area of ecological importance, and so green credentials were key. The refurbishment of the Heage works is being led by principal contractors Nomenca, who were charged with the role of upgrading existing facilities at the pumping station. Heage is just one of hundreds of pumping stations across the UK that will be undergoing remedial works as part of the AMP6 investment programme, as water companies look to update the country’s aged water infrastructure. Having previously worked with Asset on a number of projects, Matt Bates, Project Manager at Nomenca, knew that the site’s unique requirements could be met by Asset, whose innovative,  approach to solving construction problems, by utilising modular techniques, appealed to the contractor. Part of what the site required was a wet well pumping chamber that could be lowered vertically into the ground, to a depth of approximately 4m, in one lift. To meet these conditions Asset manufactured a 3.5m diameter by 4m long chamber, which was prefabricated and tested at their Newport factory, before being delivered and installed on site in just a few hours. It is believed that adopting such an approach saved Nomenca almost a month on programme and as a result had a major reduction on associated costs. Additional benefits to the contractor were the reduced health and safety risks and environmental impacts.   Matt Bates from Nomenca commented: “This contract at Heage SPS was a great example of Production Control. All parties from design, supplier, construction team and the client worked collaboratively to deliver success. The Weholite packaged pump station is the largest size that has been installed at present within STW and achieved the AMP6 goals of 30% quicker, 20% more efficient and 30% more productive. “NMCNomenca are promoting Weholite packaged station within the STW Framework to include both Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure work streams.” Shaun Kalies, Sales Director at Asset said: “Thanks to our superb design team and manufacturing expertise we are able to fabricate products off site and supply them in modular form so they can be installed safely and efficiently on site. This enables us to deliver one of our key client promises – better value. “We have worked with Nomenca and Severn Trent Water for many years. They have an innovative and forward thinking approach to project management and were early adopters of Weholite technology. We look forward to working with them throughout the ongoing AMP period.” For more information about Weholite call Asset International Ltd 01633 273081 or visit www.weholite.co.uk.

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Construction site broadband delays finally resolved within 3 days

Countrywide Telecoms have developed an ingenious product that has taken the construction industry by storm that guarantees to connect your site or show home to superfast broadband and phone lines within three working days. Like any business, construction sites rely on internet and email to communicate quickly and effectively. You need quick, secure connectivity from the start of your project to order supplies, liaise with architects/planners, and communicate with your head office and your customers. Yet you typically face a nine month wait for a BT Openreach lines to be installed. Now let’s talk about how broadband should be done… Our rapid site broadband solution is an ingenious device, which provides rapid broadband and phone lines wherever installed, creatively combining and utilising specialist antenna technologies. This innovative product by Countrywide Telecoms provides you with a solution to a serious challenge that has been faced by the housebuilding/construction industry over many years. Sound too good to be true? Your absolutely right, that’s what all the other developers said, however, since this product launched just under twelve months ago, Countrywide Telecoms ‘Office in a Box’ solution has to date, been successfully installed on more than 100 construction sites nationwide for leading housebuilders including Galliford Try/ Linden Homes, Barratt, Bellway Homes, Affinity Sutton and R Durtnell & Sons. The list is growing rapidly through word-of-mouth referrals. So how does it work? You send Countrywide Telecoms your sites location We then perform a virtual Site Survey and send you our results that include predicted Broadband speeds You then agree with us an installation date We will arrive in site, liaise with your site agent, fit the broadband and phone lines. As part of the installation process, we don’t just stop at the broadband and phone lines, we will also set up your printers and computers, as well as provide you with full contact details for our 24/7 technical support team where we also monitor your sites connectivity on a round the clock basis to ensure you are receiving the best service possible at no extra cost. Don’t just take our word for it, here’s what our existing customers have to say…  Natalie Flint, Sales & Marketing Director, Linden Homes says: “When we first heard about Office in a Box a year ago, we thought it was too good to be true – we could never get IT systems installed at our developments in time for launch. We decided to give it a try and commissioned Countrywide Telecoms to install broadband in the marketing suite at our flagship site Swallowhurst in Cranleigh. It was simple and instant, and since then we’ve never looked back. Countrywide Telecoms now provides a start-up service and ongoing support for all Linden Homes Guildford sites.” ————————————————————————————————————————————— Lynnette St Quintin, Sales Marketing and Customer Services Director, Barratt Homes, says: “Our Milford Grange site, in Storrington, is in a rural location and we were having real difficulties in getting phone lines and broadband installed. After a long delay, a major telecoms company told us that we’d have to wait at least another three months, so it wouldn’t be ready in time for the launch. Countrywide Telecoms set up communications in the marketing suite in less than 48 hours. I can’t rate the company highly enough.”

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First Aid at Work: What you need to know

The ‘Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981’ require businesses to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and people to ensure employees can be given immediate assistance if they are injured or taken ill while at work. What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in your workplace and businesses must assess what their first aid needs are. The minimum first aid provision for any work site is: A suitably stocked first aid kit. An appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements. It is important to remember that accidents and illness can happen at any time. Provision for first aid needs should be available at all times. Some small workplaces with low-level hazards may need only the minimum provision for first aid, but there are circumstances and factors that will mean you need greater provision. You, as an employer, are well placed to decide the provision you need. The checklist in Table 1 on the HSE Information Leaflet (available here) covers the points you should consider. To find out more about Safety Services Direct’s range of first aid provisions please visit the Company’s website.

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TfL and Sport Relief 2016 team up to get London moving

Transport for London and Sports Relief 2016 have teamed up to encourage London to raise money by being more active. The partnership is encouraging staff, customers, schools and businesses to get involved in a range of fun activities to help raise money for people who are living in the UK in the world’s poorest communities. From 1 – 20 of March, Transport for London will pledge to “make their journey more active for Sport Relief”, sharing their activities on social media where daily spot prizes will be given for the best pledges. The activities can range from cycling once a day, to taking the stairs instead of the lift. Everyone is encouraged to get involved, whatever age or ability. TfL are also hosting a guided walk around the original Circle Tube line on Sunday 13 of March, with participants listening to a podcast of well-known Londoners talking about their favourite places on the Circle Line. There will also be free food and drink for those participating in the 14 mile walk. The following weekend, Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and at locations across the Capital will host three events which will give people the chance to walk, swim or cycle themselves proud. The events include Sport Relief Mile, Swimathon at the Aquatics Centre or cycle ride at Lee Valley VeloPark. TfL’s “Time to Cycle” hub will be at the park, giving anyone the opportunity to speak to TfL staff about bike security, cycle training, route planning, new infrastructure and more. They will also host games and quizzes. Leon Daniels, Managing Director for Surface Transport at TfL, said: “We are really excited to be partnering with Sport Relief. This is a great opportunity to get active whilst raising money for disadvantaged people both at home and abroad. Whether it’s pledging to walk or cycle one journey a day, or enjoying what London has to offer on a walk around the Circle line – we have lots of fun activities available for all ages and abilities.” Boris Johnson MP, Mayor of London, said: “TfL’s link up with Sport Relief is a fantastic way to raise funds to help people in the UK and around the world, as well as being a spur to get more active. It also offers some unique experiences along the way and I hope Londoners will be inspired to take part and help raise money for this good cause.”

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MOD announces release of 12 sites for development

12 Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites will be released as part of the department’s drive for more efficiency Defence Minister Mark Lancaster has announced. In a move that will see £500M generated from the sale, the land will be used to build around 15,000 new homes as part of the government’s target to build 160,000 homes by the end of the decade. The 12 sites that will be sold are Kneller Hall in Twickenham; Claro and Deverell barracks in Ripon; RAF sites Molesworth and Alconbury in Cambridgeshire, and Mildenhall in Suffolk; Lodge Hill in Kent; Craigiehall in Edinburgh; HMS Nelson Wardroom in Portsmouth; Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire; RAF Barnham in Suffolk, and MOD Feltham in London. The government plans to reinvest the money generated from the sales back into defence spending. The sale of the sites will be the first step in the MOD’s plan to reduce the size of its built estate by 30%. Its estate spans one per cent of all UK land and covers 452,000 hectares. As part of that plan, the Ministry has committed to generating £1 billion through land sales during this parliament and contributing up to 55,000 homes. Defence Minister Mark Lancaster said: “By streamlining the Defence estate, we will ensure that it better meets the needs of the Armed Forces well into the future. Defence has the strongest incentive to become more efficient; with every pound we make by disposing of excess land reinvested into a defence budget that keeps Britain safe. We are also making an important contribution of 55,000 homes to the wider government housing targets. Every acre that we can free up will ensure that more people have the opportunity to own their own home.” More sites are due to be announced in due course with a full list published in the Footprint Strategy later in the year.

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UK’s largest steelmaker announces 1,000 job cuts

The government faced calls to tackle the British steel industry crisis after Tata Steel announced plans to axe 1,050 jobs. Tata Steel has confirmed its plans to cut 1,050 jobs in the UK, including 750 at Port Talbot, south Wales, as it warned that cheap imports from China were endangering the European steel industry. Trade unions and industry officials urged the government to give the UK steel industry help. The falling prices of global steel and a flood of cheap imports were what Tata said was responsible for the cuts, urging the UK and EU to act more urgently to deal with the crisis and take stronger action against “unfair” steel imports. Karl Koehler, Chief Executive of Tata Steel’s European operations, said: “I know this news will be unsettling for all those affected, but these tough actions are critical in the face of extremely difficult market conditions which are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. “The government must take urgent action to increase the competitiveness of the UK for its vital steel sector. This includes lowering business rates and supporting energy efficiency and anti-dumping cases so we can compete fairly.” David Cameron said the government was acting to cut energy prices for steel companies, give more government contracts to UK firms and engage with the European Union on cheap Chinese steel exports. He said: “But we’ll continue to work with them and I want to have a strong British steel industry at the heart of our important manufacturing base”. The price of a tonne of European domestic hot rolled coil – a type of steel – has more than halved from €642 (£490) per tonne in 2011 to €320. China’s annual steel exports to the EU have surged from 4.6 million tonnes to 7.7 million tonnes, which has highlighted allegations that Chinese companies are dumping steel in the EU that they can’t sell domestically. Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of the Community trade union has accused ministers of being more interested in strengthening business links with China than addressing the impact of cheap Chinese steel on the UK’s industry. “The dumping of cheap Chinese steel is one of the biggest causes of this crisis, yet the UK government remains a cheerleader for China. You can’t wring your hands over steel job losses and then shake hands with the Chinese government over cosy trade deals.” Staff at Port Talbot have been told there will be a 45-day consultancy over the proposed cuts. Anna Soubry, the Business Minister said the government will work with the Welsh assembly to support workers and find them new jobs.

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Plans for £2m flagship centre unveiled to help young people transform their lives

Ambitious plans have been announced to create a £2million flagship scheme in Salford providing much-needed accommodation and training for young people. As part of the plans, housing association Salix Homes has unveiled proposals to convert the dis-used homeless hostel Petrie Court in Lower Kersal into a state-of-the-art training centre with live-in accommodation to help young people transform their lives. The initiative, dubbed the Salford Working Out Project, will be the only one of its kind in Salford providing people aged 16-25 with a stable place to live while they work, complete their education or undertake training. The project has just received £1million funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and will be match funded by Salix Homes. Lee Sugden, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: “Our successful funding bid with the HCA has provided the green light we needed to press ahead with this project, which is fantastic news for young people in our area. “This ground-breaking initiative will provide much-needed opportunities for those who desperately want to work and make something with their lives, but are struggling to hold down a job or go to college because of their unsuitable or unstable living arrangements – it could be that they are at risk of homelessness or have no permanent place to live due to their family situations.” As part of the plans Petrie Court, on Cromwell Road, will be fully refurbished and modernised creating shared accommodation, along with a state-of-the-art training centre, gym and ICT suite. Salix Homes will also work alongside local skills and education providers to deliver training programmes and employment opportunities, as well as one-to-one support and coaching for residents. The now-empty Petrie Court had previously provided supported accommodation to young homeless people, but closed down in 2014 as part of Salford Council’s funding cuts. There are currently more than 2,200 people aged 16-25 on the housing waiting list in Salford and more than 6,000 young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETS). Mr Sugden added: “Young people today often find themselves forced out of the job and housing market, but through this project we can provide supported accommodation for them while they complete their training or education. “Not only will this project bring an empty building back into use, but this will be the first centre of its kind in Salford and will enable us to break down those barriers that are preventing some young people from accessing employment or training and provide them with the opportunities they so desperately need to transform their lives.” It’s anticipated that residents will stay at the new facility for up to 12 months, after which Salix Homes will assist them into permanent accommodation, which will form the second phase of the project. It’s hoped the facility will be open by summer this year (2016).

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