13 July 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal More research needs to be carried out to assess how sophisticated different countries are for business and their adoption of FM practices, according to a BIFM report. The report from BIFM’s International Special Interest Group (ISIG) was the result of a recent FM Leaders
Angus MacNeil slammed EDF chief executive Vincent De Rivaz in a letter to energy secretary Amber Rudd and insisted that a contingency plan must be drawn up by the government should the project not go ahead. “Given the uncertain timetable [of Hinkley] we would like to know what contingency plans
A number of house builders, warranty providers and training and trade bodies have formed a new partnership to attract new people into the UK construction industry. The Board of the Home Building Skills Partnership (HBP) met for the first time recently and has begun working in earnest on plans to
A number of opportunities have opened up for the development of a Wolverhampton brewery, with contractors who are interested in working on the redevelopment invited to a ‘market engagement event’. The old Springfield Brewery site in the centre of the city has been bought by the University of Wolverhampton with
The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series is established worldwide as the major league of lumberjack sports, with a massive global fan-base following competitive events live and on TV. Lumberjack sport’s origins go back to 19th century Australia, where foresters would compete with each other outside work, testing their technique and speed of
13 July 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal More research needs to be carried out to assess how sophisticated different countries are for business and their adoption of FM practices, according to a BIFM report. The report from BIFM’s International Special Interest Group (ISIG) was the result of a recent FM Leaders Forum and one of the key themes to emerge from it was how to “outsource across borders”. As part of the discussions at the forum, it was established that further research should be carried out to benchmark ‘market maturities’ in order to establish the level of a country’s business sophistication and its adoption of UK FM practices, particularly with preference to UK health and safety practices. Steve Gladwin, chair of the International SIG, said: “It is evident that in an increasingly globalised world there are great opportunities for FM providers wanting to provide services in new international markets. We wanted to discuss the challenges of investing in businesses outside of the UK and the pitfalls and prospects available to organisations looking to expand their geographic reach. In doing so we wanted to identify the learnings so that we can continue to support others who are considering taking this step.” Gladwin added: “As with any developing business relationship between supplier and client, consultation and collaboration is essential. But for successful FM outsourcing internationally it is critical. What became apparent is that, problems are being created by the absence of a standard FM contract. Because of the variance in business practices this means there is no set of defined terms that all involved can agree upon. Therefore the clarity of contract is of vital importance as so much UK business terminology can be easily misinterpreted abroad.” The ‘Outsourcing Across Borders’ paper with key findings and outcomes of this FM Leaders Forum has been published and is available to the FM community for download below. BIFM Members and non-members can access the paper at www.bifm.org.uk/fmlf This latest FM Leaders Forum was sponsored by Polycom. Source link
Angus MacNeil slammed EDF chief executive Vincent De Rivaz in a letter to energy secretary Amber Rudd and insisted that a contingency plan must be drawn up by the government should the project not go ahead. “Given the uncertain timetable [of Hinkley] we would like to know what contingency plans you [the government] has in place in case Hinkley Point C does not materialise,” MacNeil wrote. “I would also like to know what the UK is liable for if the project is cancelled as a result of a decision by the UK government, and what the UK is liable for if the project is cancelled as a result of a decision by France.” The letter comes just a day after the select committee grilled EDF Energy chief executive Vincent De Rivaz on the future of Hinkley Point C. Mr MacNeil wrote that he was “disappointed” in Mr Rivaz’s inability to confirm a timeline for making a final investment decision on Hinkley, despite the French economy minster indicating a decision would come in May. He said that while Mr De Rivaz stated “categorically” that the project will go ahead, he was not “inspired with confidence” due to the poor track record of Hinkley so far. “We now watch with interest for EDF’s decision in early May,” wrote Mr MacNeil. “If it has not been made by the middle of May, following Mr De Rivaz’s comments to us yesterday, we will be calling him back to explain why.” The £18bn project has been beset by delays since EDF submitted its plan to build a new nuclear plant on the Somerset site. Last October EDF agreed terms with China General Nuclear Corporation on a strategic investment agreement that would see EDF take a 66.5 per cent stake and CGN a 33.5 per cent stake in the project – with a final investment decision expected within weeks of the deal. Since then, a number of dates have been mooted as potential dates for a final investment decision to be made but all have failed to materialise. Last October EDF agreed terms with China General Nuclear Corporation on a strategic investment agreement that would see EDF take a 66.5 per cent stake and CGN a 33.5 per cent stake in the project – with a final investment decision expected within weeks of the deal. Since then, a number of dates have been mooted as potential dates for a final investment decision to be made but all have failed to materialise. Source link
A number of house builders, warranty providers and training and trade bodies have formed a new partnership to attract new people into the UK construction industry. The Board of the Home Building Skills Partnership (HBP) met for the first time recently and has begun working in earnest on plans to attract and train thousands of new workers. It will be led by John Tutte, chief executive officer at Redrow Homes, and is backed by a strong group of leaders throughout the home building industry. The HBP is aiming to grow, develop and sustain a scheme that will provide the industry with the workforce it requires in order to deliver the extra housing supply increases that are desperately needed in the UK. Its focus will be on attracting new entrants into the industry and providing focussed training to aid the development of a qualified workforce that will be required to construct the high quality new homes of today. The Board will direct and guide the Partnership, while defining its operational priorities and parameters and it will also preside over the recruitment of a dedicated that will drive the initiatives forward on a daily basis, in conjunction with the wider supply chain. It hopes that HSP programmes will engage with more than 3,500 organisations in its first four years, along with over 40,000 workers and 180 Training Providers and Colleges. Tutte said that the partnership will work towards the house building industry’s commitment to increase output and meet the country’s housing needs by attracting and training the right people to work in the industry who will deliver more, high quality homes over the next number of years. He added that the experienced Board that will oversee the partnership will help establish the building blocks that will be required to succeed. The HBP will aim to develop a better public identity for home building and influence the development of a fully trained, more professional workforce.
A number of opportunities have opened up for the development of a Wolverhampton brewery, with contractors who are interested in working on the redevelopment invited to a ‘market engagement event’. The old Springfield Brewery site in the centre of the city has been bought by the University of Wolverhampton with a view of developing it into a specialisation hub for the construction and build environment. It is hoped that the development will provide a catalyst for a larger regeneration of the local area, which will begin with the opening of the West Midlands Construction UTC in November this year, soon followed by the opening of the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills in June next year. In the next few weeks, the university will be going out to tender to look for a design and build contractor to go into partnership with the university as it seeks to deliver the School of Architecture & Built Environment (SOABE) site in 2019. The SOABE development will comprise of an 8,250 m2 gross internal area and will comprise of a refurbishment of the existing building as well as a new build element. The SOABE project’s construction value is around £20 million and the arranged contract award date is February next year, with construction to be complete two years after that ahead of the planned opening in summer 2019. Contractors are being encouraged to attend the market engagement event to learn more about the development on Wednesday June 29 from 8.30am to 10.30am at the University of Wolverhampton. The University of Wolverhampton hopes that the new building will be both efficient and iconic in terms of the use of space and the integration of old and new aspects of the site. Taking into account the new build, refurbishment and fit out elements, the project has been given a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’.
The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series is established worldwide as the major league of lumberjack sports, with a massive global fan-base following competitive events live and on TV. Lumberjack sport’s origins go back to 19th century Australia, where foresters would compete with each other outside work, testing their technique and speed of felling and cutting up trees. Over time these tests of strength and skill evolved to a professional level and in 1985 the official STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series was launched in the USA, with a standard set of rules and training structures. Europe joined the Series in 2001, and competitions are held on four continents with some 2,000 athletes from 23 nations taking part. STIHL TIMBERSPORTS comprises six disciplines: three with an axe and three with a saw; each testing athletes’ strength, endurance and technical ability. The disciplines replicate lumberjack skills, simulating the practice of felling or managing felled trees. It’s fast, it’s fascinating and it’s thrilling to watch! 2016 marks Great Britain’s forth National Championship, encouraging athletes at all levels to compete in this top lumberjack sport. 2016 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Championships Countryfile Live, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th August. STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Roadshow Treefest, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Forestry Commission, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS Saturday 27th – Monday 29th August STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Roadshow Autumn Woodfest, RHS Gardens Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championships Porsche-Arena, Mercedesstraße 50, 70372 Stuttgart, Germany ® Tickets available now Friday 11th November Team Championship Saturday 12th November Individual Championship
