New data from Cornwall Energy has revealed that the big six energy firms have lost 3.6 per cent of their overall market share in the last year. The report also shows that the big six dual fuel market share has fallen by 3.9 per cent compared to
A new poll carried out by Responsible Equity Release has found that nearly three quarters of BTL investors, who are of retirement age, admitted that they would struggle to make ends meet if they didn’t have their BTL income to fall back on. According to the survey, 81% of landlords
The framework, which is set to run for two years with the option of a further two, will be for projects across the 10 boroughs and predominantly involve highways works. Turner & Townsend, Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester are leading the procurement process for the framework, which
BEAMA’s Heating Controls Group welcomes three new member companies Published: 10 August, 2016 Three new member companies – Baxi, Worcester Bosch and Vaillant – have joined the BEAMA Heating Controls group, whose original members comprise Danfoss, Schneider, Honeywell, Myson, Pegler, Secure Controls and Siemens. The new members have all previously
A woman who was jailed for her part in one of the biggest mortgage fraud cases seen in England and Wales has been ordered by the court to pay back just £202. Sent to prison for two years, Nicola Spencer-Whalley pocketed around £40,000 for her role in a multi-million pound
County Durham based steel company Finley Structures has secured a contract to build a second university building for BAM Construction. The family run business, based on Aycliffe Business Park, has begun working on a 400 tonne project to build the Sarah Swift building at the University of Lincoln. The £19
The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) is offering a range of construction apprenticeship and skills based training courses, such as electrical courses, plumbing, carpentry, dry lining and bricklaying. The Construction Skills Network’s (CSN) Industrial Insights 2016-2020 report shows that the industry is due to grow by
The first property bill of Theresa May’s new government, the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, which was formerly known as the Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill, has emerged in much diluted form. The Bill was initially due to be released prior to parliament’s summer recess, but was hit by the aftermath of
The latest report by Water UK has found that there is a significant and growing risk of severe drought impacts arising from population growth and climate change. The group believes that concerted action is now required to build resilience of supply as the first of its kind research modelled the
Careers website, Go Construct, which was co-designed with more than 100 employers and launched by the Construction Industry Trading Board (CITB) one year ago, has been shortlisted for the User Experience and Design category at the forthcoming Masters of Marketing Awards. The campaign and careers website is an industry wide
New data from Cornwall Energy has revealed that the big six energy firms have lost 3.6 per cent of their overall market share in the last year. The report also shows that the big six dual fuel market share has fallen by 3.9 per cent compared to last year whilst independents reached 15 per cent for the first time, up from 0.6 per cent five years ago. In the last 12 months almost 1.45 million energy customer accounts left the big six and 1.87 million went to independent providers, due to an additional 420,000 energy accounts being added as a result of new homes connecting to the grid. Cornwall Energy director Robert Buckley said: “The new data shows a major improvement on the apathy of five years ago. The independents have achieved dramatic results in driving engagement and encouraging people to switch.” First Utility continues to be the largest of the independent suppliers with 4.1 per cent of the dual fuel market share, and 3.4 per cent of the overall market share so far in 2016. First Utility UK managing director Ed Kamm said: “The significant growth of independents shows that people are continuing to turn away from the established order in search of better deals and services.” The report follows news from Cornwall Energy data in September 2015 that showed collective overall market share for the independents has risen by 50 per cent since 2014. Source link
A new poll carried out by Responsible Equity Release has found that nearly three quarters of BTL investors, who are of retirement age, admitted that they would struggle to make ends meet if they didn’t have their BTL income to fall back on. According to the survey, 81% of landlords aged over 65 believed that their properties provided a vital boost to their retirement income, especially with low interest rates hammering retirees’ savings. Responsible Life polled more than 1,000 retirees about owning a buy-to-let property. The majority, more than nine out of ten (92%), said they are worried about the changes to mortgage interest tax relief and the impact on the profit they make from their investment property. The buy-to-let tax changes coming into force have left many pensioner landlords considering whether it’s worth holding onto their buy-to-lets at all. Four out of ten (41%) said although their buy-to-let property was a valuable income generator, they are now thinking seriously about selling it. Steve Wilkie, managing director, Responsible Equity Release, comments: “For many pensioners, having a buy-to-let property has been a life saver in this low interest environment. While their savings have languished, earning very little interest, and pension income has been hit hard by falling share prices, property income has remained strong. Without the income boost from their buy-to-let, many would really be struggling to make ends meet. But the Chancellor has yet again ignored UK’s retirees when he announced changes to the way buy-to-let would be taxed. George Osborne was so focused on taxing the rich, he forgot that a new tax on buy-to-let won’t just hit the wealthy, it will also hit those honest, hard working people, who may have a single buy-to-let property, and were just hoping it would earn them a little extra income in retirement.” Source link
The framework, which is set to run for two years with the option of a further two, will be for projects across the 10 boroughs and predominantly involve highways works. Turner & Townsend, Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester are leading the procurement process for the framework, which is the first of its type – the council has not previously had a framework in place to procure infrastructure works. Packages and projects across the framework will include earthworks, highways, street lighting, bridge construction and site clearance. There will be six lots in total (see box). TfGM and the council have outlined a number of projects that will fall under the framework, with more than £60m in works expected to be procured during the 2016/17 financial year. Greater Manchester’s civil engineering framework Lot 1: Construction only: Works up to £500,000 Lot 2: Construction only: Works between £500,001 and £5m Lot 3: Construction only: Works over £5m Lot 4: Design and construction: Works up to £500,000 Lot 5: Design and construction: Works between £500,001 and £5m Lot 6: Design and construction: Works over £5m An £8.8m project to overhaul Great Ancoats Street on the edge of the city centre is among the schemes earmarked for the framework. A package of bridge maintenance work will also be procured, with more than 300 bridges across Greater Manchester requiring repairs and repointing. Smaller schemes in the framework include £3m of road upgrades in Collyhurst and a £3.9m project to build a 5 km segregated cycle route along Upper Chorlton Road. Last week, Transport for Greater Manchester named 39 firms on its professional services framework, worth £60m over four years. Source link
BEAMA’s Heating Controls Group welcomes three new member companies Published: 10 August, 2016 Three new member companies – Baxi, Worcester Bosch and Vaillant – have joined the BEAMA Heating Controls group, whose original members comprise Danfoss, Schneider, Honeywell, Myson, Pegler, Secure Controls and Siemens. The new members have all previously been involved in other BEAMA groups and, given the increasing focus on heating controls as a key component in helping to deliver more affordable, comfortable and energy efficient homes, BEAMA believes this increased industry representation strengthens the group’s position as the leading voice in the UK controls industry. This growth also comes at a time when BEAMA, the primary UK trade association for the heating controls industry, has finally put to bed any ill-informed criticism of the benefits derived from having a full set of heating controls, with an independently verified and peer reviewed message, based on empirical data from tests performed at the University of Salford’s Energy House. The growing association demonstrates an industry-aligned belief that controls offer significant energy efficiency and comfort benefits. Source link
A woman who was jailed for her part in one of the biggest mortgage fraud cases seen in England and Wales has been ordered by the court to pay back just £202. Sent to prison for two years, Nicola Spencer-Whalley pocketed around £40,000 for her role in a multi-million pound mortgage con that was one of the biggest ever seen in England and Wales. As reported in The Daily Post, the conspiracy involved building up a vast property portfolio and exploited weaknesses on the part of lenders. Nicola Spencer Whalley’s mortgage applications involved £1.5 million. A detailed police investigation began five years ago and revealed one of the biggest mortgage frauds of its type to come before a court. At the time of sentencing, Judge Rowlands said Spencer-Whalley and her conspiritors were seeking to make “easy money”. Spencer-Whalley, of Colwyn Bay, did not attend the hearing at Chester Crown Court. During the hearing, the court heard that Mrs Spencer-Whalley had raked in £39,248.17 for her part in a mortgage swindle that was valued at between £15 and £24 million, but will only have £202.47 confiscated. The swindle occured between 2003 and 2008 and saw mortgage lenders duped into lending thousands of pounds in mortgages on properties across North Wales, Cheshire and the North West. Nicola Spencer Whalley’s mortgage applications involved £1.5 million. The £202 must be paid within three months. Source link
County Durham based steel company Finley Structures has secured a contract to build a second university building for BAM Construction. The family run business, based on Aycliffe Business Park, has begun working on a 400 tonne project to build the Sarah Swift building at the University of Lincoln. The £19 million facility will be home to the schools of health and social care and psychology, along with a professional development centre. The facility will stand on the site of the 19th century Pea Warehouse which has been demolished to make way for the five storey building, which is due to be complete in May next year. The contract win comes following Finley Structures’ erection of 500 tonnes of steel for BAM Construction to help build the £16 million Isaac Newton building at the University of Lincoln. Jim Graham, Operations Manager at Finley Structures, has worked on a series of projects for BAM over the last few years and said that it is the shared values of the two companies that make it a ‘perfect fit.’ Graham commented: “They’re quite unique in that BAM isn’t following a UK model. It’s a Dutch model with a parent company from the Netherlands, where aggression is frowned upon. “They’re very open and they expect you to be the same, so we have matching values of honesty and fair play.” Last month, BAM won the £30 million contract to deliver the Engineering Innovation Centre in Preston. BAM’s Manchester office is due to start work in January 2017 and complete the work by the summer of 2018. The EIC will be situated in the heart of Preston city centre and will be an integrated hub for teaching, research and knowledge exchange, bringing together expertise from the region from within industry and academia. It is hoped that the planned EIC will reclaim Lancashire’s role as a national centre for advanced manufacturing.
The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) is offering a range of construction apprenticeship and skills based training courses, such as electrical courses, plumbing, carpentry, dry lining and bricklaying. The Construction Skills Network’s (CSN) Industrial Insights 2016-2020 report shows that the industry is due to grow by 2.5% every year and by 3.5% in Greater London. Fiona McKinney, 24 studied at CONEL as part of an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery with Haringey Council’s housing service Homes for Haringey in 2009-11, where she still works today. She went on to secure the top prize in the Association for Public Service Excellence National Housing and Building Apprentice of the Year Awards. She commented: “I didn’t really like school and wasn’t that academic. “Woodwork was the only thing I had an interest in and I managed to get an apprenticeship with Homes for Haringey and on a course at CONEL.” Meanwhile, 31 year old Adam Tezzare began an apprenticeship with T Clarke, a nationwide building services contractor delivering mechanical, electrical and ICT services, in June, having previously studied for a Level 1 and a Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation. According to the report published by CSN, in Greater London alone over 18,000 jobs are set to be created over the next five year period. Each year the capital will require around 1,210 builders, 480 glaziers, 420, wood and interior fitters, 200 floorers and 480 non-construction operatives. The demand for skilled workers has resulted from strong investment in commercial and infrastructure projects and a growth in private housing, at levels not seen since before the start of the recession in 2008. In Greater London there are also a number of large projects in the rail industry which are also expected to continue to require skilled workers over the coming years, including Crossrail, HS2 and the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
The first property bill of Theresa May’s new government, the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, which was formerly known as the Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill, has emerged in much diluted form. The Bill was initially due to be released prior to parliament’s summer recess, but was hit by the aftermath of the Brexit vote. Among the amendments are the strengthening of neighbourhood plans and new compulsory purchase powers, while the privatisation of the Land Registry and the creation of the National Infrastructure Commission were also put on hold. A second reading of the bill will take place on October 10. The Bill will aim to give more weigh to neighbourhood plane earlier on in the planning process, encouraging community participation and ensuring that they have influence. Even if the plans are yet to be ratified, they will be taken into account, thus giving them extra weight. It will also increase the flexibility of plans, allowing existing plans to be changed, authorities to intervene more easily, and for sub-plans by communities within broader neighbourhood plans. James Bainbridge, head of planning and development at Carter Jonas, said: “The majority of neighbourhood plans to date have focused on stopping development rather than promoting it. “Neighbourhoods as they are defined often don’t have the ability to see the bigger picture to deliver the scale of infrastructure that is required.” CPO regulations will be simplified to be fairer, clearer, and faster, with the government saying that the process can currently be complex and uncertain. Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, commented that the measures to improve the CPO system are especially important as they will help to bring about infrastructure projects more quickly and efficiently. She added that these schemes are crucial for attracting inward investment and acting as a catalyst for regeneration schemes.
The latest report by Water UK has found that there is a significant and growing risk of severe drought impacts arising from population growth and climate change. The group believes that concerted action is now required to build resilience of supply as the first of its kind research modelled the possible effects of climate change, population growth, environmental protection measures and trends in water use to produce a wide range of future scenarios. It deployed new modelling techniques to look 50 years ahead across the whole of England and Wales. The results suggest that, in some situations, we are facing more frequent, and longer lasting acute droughts than previously thought. The South and East of England are the driest areas of the country and face a greater risk of more severe droughts than those previously experienced, while North and West regions of England also face greater exposure to the prospect of future water shortages. The modelling indicated that extensive measures to manage demand are required, along with enhanced supplies of water, to reduce the risk of droughts. Demand management schemes, such as promoting more efficient water use in homes and businesses, or improving building standards and widespread use of metering, must be used along with ambitious supply plans. These include moving more water from one region to another through existing waterways and new pipelines, building new reservoirs, treating more water for re-use and building desalination plants to make use of sea water. The author of the report concludes that, by adopting a step by step approach, the added cost of making the water supply more resilient to severe droughts would be equal to around £4 per year per household. By contrast, the impact on the economy of inaction could be very high, costing an estimated £1.3 billion per day during the most widespread situations of severe drought modelled in the report.
Careers website, Go Construct, which was co-designed with more than 100 employers and launched by the Construction Industry Trading Board (CITB) one year ago, has been shortlisted for the User Experience and Design category at the forthcoming Masters of Marketing Awards. The campaign and careers website is an industry wide effort to address the skills shortage in the sector head on by showcasing the wide range of exciting careers available. The site has attracted more than 400,000 visitors so far and 80,000 people have taken its online Personality Test to help find out which construction career would be best suited for them. It is also used by employers and careers advisors who are seeking information and materials to help promote construction. The awards ceremony will take place on October 4 at the Troxy in London and Go Construct will face competition for the award from Guardian Holidays and Gu Puds. Adeana Raper, of Henry Boot Construction, said that Go Construct is exactly what is needed in the industry – a one stop shop to learn about the construction sector. She added that the website is excellent for educators, parents, the industry in general and those who are curious about the construction sector. Go Construct Manager at CITB, Lorraine Gregory, said that it is great to see the hard work that CITB and the wider industry have put into developing the website, which will now be recognised at the awards. Gregory continued: “In less than a year, we’ve got together as an industry and built a great website that is helping us attract more people into construction. This is something we should be very proud of as an industry. There’s more to do and we will continue to develop and grow the site to make it even better. “We want more employers to get involved and get behind Go Construct. Industry’s support is vital if we’re to achieve our ultimate goal – getting more people interested in construction and attracting the best talent into the sector.”
