Private rental prices paid by tenants in Great Britain rose by 2.6% in the 12 months to February 2016, unchanged when compared with the year to January 2016. A breakdown of the figures from the Office of National Statistics shows that rents grew by 2.8% in England, 0.2% in Wales
Wates M&E arm, SES Engineering Services, has picked up the mechanical, plumbing and electrical packages on two big London projects, which are worth £30 million between them. The double success represents a significant milestone for the company’s London and South East operations and will see extensive use of off-site manufacturing
Hi-viz vests and jackets have been developed that start flashing when the wearer is about to be run over. The concept is that when the intelligent workwear flashes, both the nearby driver and the wearer are alerted to the impending risk and will therefore take appropriate evasive action. The jackets
Three Sixty says it is “focussed on growth” as the industry prepares for next month’s opening of the shadow market. The company has already secured significant contracts in Scotland, such as Royal Mail Group and BT, and, according to Managing Director Robert Marrill, further growth is important. The process of
A new online course from APHC will give installers the opportunity to learn about the different types of business contracts, to help them prevent any disputes with their customers. A number of installers have experienced issues with customers over a number of years, whether that be failing to be paid
The final rails have now been laid for the new Metrolink line through the heart of Manchester, with the main construction works due to be complete by Christmas. Despite Manchester’s Victorian infrastructure presenting unforeseen challenges – including a collapsed Victorian sewer, and double the amount of anticipated exhumations after discovering
Site accommodation hire firm AV Group, along with its manufacturing arm Danzer Limited, will now trade under the unified brand AV Danzer after enjoying a record growth period. The move comes after year on year growth for both businesses which are closely interlinked as the Manchester based AV Group achieved
Private rental prices paid by tenants in Great Britain rose by 2.6% in the 12 months to February 2016, unchanged when compared with the year to January 2016. A breakdown of the figures from the Office of National Statistics shows that rents grew by 2.8% in England, 0.2% in Wales and 0.7% in Scotland. The data also shows that rental prices increased in all the English regions with London seeing the biggest rise at 3.8% but down slightly from 3.9% in January. If London is excluded from the calculation the growth was 1.9%. The annual rate of change for Wales continues to be below that of England and the Great Britain average while rental growth in Scotland has gradually slowed to 0.7% in the year to February 2016, from a high of 2.1% in the year to June 2015. The ONS index report said that annual price increases have been stronger in London than the rest of England since November 2010. Since the beginning of 2012, English rental prices have shown annual increases ranging between 1.4% and 3% year on year, with February 2016 rental prices being 2.8% higher than February 2015 rental prices. Excluding London, England showed an increase of 2.1% for the same period. The next biggest regional rise after London was the East of England at 3%, up from 2.9% in January 2016, and the South East at 2.9% which was unchanged over the same period. The lowest annual rental price increases were in the North East at 0.9%, unchanged from January 2016, followed by the North West at 1%, also unchanged for this period and Yorkshire and the Humber at 1.3%, up from 1.2%. BOOKMARK THIS PAGE (What is this?) Source link
Wates M&E arm, SES Engineering Services, has picked up the mechanical, plumbing and electrical packages on two big London projects, which are worth £30 million between them. The double success represents a significant milestone for the company’s London and South East operations and will see extensive use of off-site manufacturing to ensure time and cost savings. SES has been chosen to deliver plumbing, electrical and mechanical services on the 12 storey office building for Google as part of the regeneration at King’s Cross, while they have also been awarded an £18.6 million MEP contract to deliver Barts Square Phase One, a £110 million luxury residential development in the St Bart’s area in Farrington. SES will carry on its long standing relationship with main contractor Carillion and client Argent on the commercial King’s Cross project. It will be working with client Helical Plc and Carillion for the first time to deliver 144 apartments with a selection of one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses situated in seven property blocks. Tim Cunningham, SES London and south east director said: “This is a truly exciting time for our London and South East operation and the growth of our business is down to our teams’ exemplary work and innovative off-site approach.” SES was the first M&E contractor to achieve Level 2 Certification of BRE BIM, which is required by the Government to work on the Whitehall procured projects from April. Cunningham said SES’ ‘build before you build’ approach was a perfect fit for the King’s Cross Handyside Street project, which has a tight 38-week programme set to complete in December 2017. Earlier in the month, Wates Living Space Maintenance secured a £24 million housing repairs and maintenance contract with Network Homes. The five year deal’s terms state that an optional five year extension will be responsible for year round maintenance.
Hi-viz vests and jackets have been developed that start flashing when the wearer is about to be run over. The concept is that when the intelligent workwear flashes, both the nearby driver and the wearer are alerted to the impending risk and will therefore take appropriate evasive action. The jackets also beep and vibrate. Specialist developer of proximity warning indicators, OnGrade, has teamed up with Visijax, a high visibility clothing manufacturer, to produce the ‘wearable anti-collision technology’. Visijax is part of the Wearable Technologies group of firms that develop solutions for the connected worker of the future. OnGrade and Visijax have collaborated to integrate OnGrade’s SiteZone radio frequency identification (RFID) proximity warning alarm system across the full range of Visijax PPE vests and jackets, which enhance worker safety by embedding washable electronics. One of the most common causes of workplace injuries is workers being hit by moving vehicles. Similarly to SiteZone, the Visijax garments contain a two way RFID warning device; transmitters contained in both the vehicle and the worker’s high visibility jacket or vest communicate with each other, providing a full 360-degree detection zone and the ability to see around corners. The vehicle on-board receiver detects the location of RFID tag-wearing personnel and alerts the driver and worker to each other’s presence to prevent a collision between the two. Visijax says it is going one step further and adds a visual dimension to the proximity warning system so the wearer is instantly warned and identifiable by vibration, sight, and by sound. OnGrade director Gary Escott said: “Once again we are pushing the boundary of anti-collision protection by collaborating with Visijax on the new proximity warning garments. Through practical need and creative technology, we’ve found yet another way to reduce the risk of pedestrian/vehicle collision across several sectors of operation.”
Three Sixty says it is “focussed on growth” as the industry prepares for next month’s opening of the shadow market. The company has already secured significant contracts in Scotland, such as Royal Mail Group and BT, and, according to Managing Director Robert Marrill, further growth is important. The process of transferring the 90,000 strong Yorkshire Water business customer base to Three Sixty has begun, and will be formalised “when dues process has happened.” However, Marrill also emphasised that growth is not the only important thing for the company. Marrill commented: “We want to be leading the market. We want to be known for our thoughts, our ideas, our contribution. “We don’t need to be the biggest, but we do want to be the best. We’re passionate about that.” When questioned whether he had any concerns ahead of the market opening, Marrill said that he did not want to get “hung up” on different market features. Marrill said his view is that they’ve got what they’ve got, and that they should make it work to the best of their abilities. He added that, in time, things may need to change and the way the market is constructed is not “fit forever”. “There are bound to be teething troubles as we go through shadow and market opening, but until you start playing in it, you don’t know what these will be,” he said. “We’re very much about working with the market, rather than shouting about why it won’t work – that’s not our nature.” Yorkshire Water set up the company earlier in the month ahead of the market being deregulated next year. Three Sixty has a head office in Barnsley and a centre in Thornbury near Bradford. Staff are from Yorkshire Water and it is part of the Kelda Group. The company will compete for business customers throughout the UK from next April.
A new online course from APHC will give installers the opportunity to learn about the different types of business contracts, to help them prevent any disputes with their customers. A number of installers have experienced issues with customers over a number of years, whether that be failing to be paid on time, or customers who complain that the work carried out was not what they wanted to be done. The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) believes that its new Understanding Basic Contracts course may be the answer to this common problem. It provides installers with the opportunity to learn about the different contract types, so that they have a full awareness of the present consumer rights legislation and the resulting impact on their business. The course will show installers how to make sure that they issue the right contract type to their customers, whether it be on or off premises, a repair or maintenance contract or a business contract. It also explains the importance of obtaining a signed contract from the customer prior to the work commencing. Not having the correct authorised paperwork in place between installers and their customers is a common mistake that can cause problems if issues arise during, or after, the work is carried out. However, APHC’s Understanding Basic Contracts course will show installers how to use contracts to make sure that they stay on the right side of the law and get paid on time. The course will also cover areas including the components of a contract: notifications, exclusions, variations, estimates, quotations, completion and handover. The online course costs £25 + VAT for APHC members, or £35 + VAT for non-members. After successful completion of the course, installers will receive a printable APHC certificate. The course is being run through APHC’s new Online Learning Centre, which offers bite-size courses tailored specifically for the plumbing and heating industry.
The final rails have now been laid for the new Metrolink line through the heart of Manchester, with the main construction works due to be complete by Christmas. Despite Manchester’s Victorian infrastructure presenting unforeseen challenges – including a collapsed Victorian sewer, and double the amount of anticipated exhumations after discovering a former church graveyard on Cross Street – the £165 million Second City Crossing is due to open early next year. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) opened phase one of the route, from Victoria Station through to a new stop at Exchange Square, last December. All major civil engineering works for the second phase – including installing overhead lines to power the trams along the route – are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Because of the potential delays, TfGM was expecting the scheme to be complete in summer next year; however contractor M-Pact Thales (MPT) worked with utility firms and TfGM to make sure that the line is on track to be finished earlier in the year. Councillor Andrew Fender, chair of the TfGM committee, said: “It’s great to see these final sections of rail laid, one of the final jigsaw pieces in the puzzle. With some infrastructure still dating back to the Victorians, building through a busy city has not been an easy task. The scale of the venture has been impressive and, while there has been inevitable disruption, we’re close to the finish line and to customers, residents and businesses reaping the benefits. “Since the Second City Crossing programme began we’ve seen a huge increase in Metrolink use across the network, from 27 to 35 million passenger journeys a year. The need for a new line through the city has never been more pressing.” He added that TfGM has also opened a new tram stop in Exchange Square to make room for more customers.
Site accommodation hire firm AV Group, along with its manufacturing arm Danzer Limited, will now trade under the unified brand AV Danzer after enjoying a record growth period. The move comes after year on year growth for both businesses which are closely interlinked as the Manchester based AV Group achieved an 18% profit rise in the year up to September 2015, with turnover increasing from £5.8 million to £6.8 million. Danzer Limited is based at Langley Mill in Nottingham and has achieved a turnover of more than £5 million. The company also has a third depot covering the South of England, based in Essex, and employs 76 staff across its three sites. While they will continue to exist as separate companies, they will now trade and operate throughout the UK and Europe under one unified brand, with the aim of simplifying production, marketing, sales, order and invoicing processes. AV Danzer rents accommodation unites to many of the biggest construction firms in the UK, with its 4,000 plus strong hire fleet of steel anti-vandal units being used by leading construction companies such as Graham Construction, Wates, Renaker, Eric Wright Group, BAM and Skanska. Along with the manufacture of hire units, the production arm also produces modular buildings for sale to leisure operators, industry, schools and public sector organisations. This year, AV Danzer has recruited new CAD technicians as well as a new Production Manager at Langley Mill and has also invested in new production facilities, order system and accountancy software to make sure that it continues to deliver a market leading service, excellent customer service and swift delivery. In October work will get under way on manufacturing new offices for the Langley Mill site to accommodate its growing team which will see a further investment of £100k. Commenting on the move Managing Director Helen Scott said: “The hire company has been trading for almost thirty years and has grown organically during this time. Manufacturing at Langley Mill began in 1995 and has also seen huge growth, in particular with repeat orders from Local Authorities across the country for flexible and affordable classroom solutions.”
