Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Fri, Apr 29th 2016 A development in Middlesbrough has given employment, training and work experience opportunities to local people thanks to the efforts of The Riverside Group and Gentoo Construction. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on
A North Lincolnshire company has been fined after a worker was injured whilst dismantling a HGV tipper lorry. Scunthorpe Magistrates’ Court heard how two employees of R Martinson Limited were dismantling an HGV lorry using a telehandler like a mobile crane for lifting operations. One employee operated the telehandler to
Aquatic ecologists are called in to assess how big construction projects will affect the environment ©Neville Williams Exploring rivers and habitats to discover their residents is part of the job for an aquatic ecologist Large building projects are delayed by all sorts of issues — money, employees who lack the
30 July 2016 – by Sheka Vyas One of the world’s largest property franchises, Coldwell Banker, is making its first foray into the London commercial market. Coldwell Banker Commercial has been set up by Chris Palmer and Robin Paterson, who have purchased the franchise from Coldwell Banker’s New York-listed parent
The York Handmade Brick Company has completed its role in the building of a brand-new building for Highgate Junior School in North London. York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, supplied 150,000 bricks for Highgate Junior School in North London. The contract was worth £225,000. David Armitage, chairman of York
Waste and construction services firm NWH Group has secured a £7 million finance facility from Royal Bank of Scotland to help the business fund future acquisitions. Following on from the purchase of the business and assets of DJ Laing’s waste management operations in Dundee for an undisclosed sum last year, the Dalkeith business said it has
Arcadis has announced that Neil McArthur, Chief Executive since May 2012, is to leave the firm by mutual agreement. The Arcadis supervisory board and McArthur agreed to a separation due to a difference of opinion over the future direction of Arcadis. The board will now begin the search for a
Mitie has won a £15 million contract awarded by Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership to provide healthcare and liaison services in custody suites. The contract has been secured by Mitie’s Care & Custody Health business, which
Surgo Construction Ltd (Surgo), one of the UK’s leading building contractors, has begun work on the £3.8 million redevelopment and refurbishment of Newcastle University’s Hatton Gallery. The Grade II listed gallery forms part of the University’s Fine Art department and is home to the iconic Merz Barn Wall by Kurt
Around 160 UK jobs will be secured after the delivery of a £131.5 million support contract for RAF Sentinel aircraft. The new contract to provide support for the aircraft for the next five years is expected to sustain around 120 jobs at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and 40 roles at
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Fri, Apr 29th 2016 A development in Middlesbrough has given employment, training and work experience opportunities to local people thanks to the efforts of The Riverside Group and Gentoo Construction. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday A development in Middlesbrough has given employment, training and work experience opportunities to local people thanks to the efforts of The Riverside Group and Gentoo Construction. The site at Grange Road has seen 10 students receive a live construction site visit, three apprenticeships have been safeguarded and four work placements are underway for students from Middlesbrough College covering mechanical and dry lining trades, with more placements to come. Julie Gray, Assistant Director of Development and Regeneration, Riverside said: “Gentoo Construction and Riverside have worked really well together on this development and we support the work and the training opportunities this project has given to local people. I am delighted that this support is helping local people to gain valuable experience”. Four people from the local community who were previously unemployed have been given a job on site covering an Assistant Project Manager role, a Tele-Handler and General Labourers. Damien Bell, General Labourer on site, said: “It’s been a fantastic opportunity getting some long-term employment on site as before this I had been out of work for a while. “I’ve learnt a lot from everyone I’ve met on site, realising theimportance of team work, health and safety and taking pride in the job I do – it’s been a great learning experience and provided me with some new skills to take with me.” Paul Webster, Managing Director of Gentoo Construction, said: “It’s great that we can work with like-minded businesses such as Riverside to deliver added value on our sites. “We’re passionate about delivering great buildings and offering real opportunities for those people closest to where we’re operating. Although the build is coming to an end, it’s good to know there are some long-lasting benefits left in the local community.” The site on Grange Road in Middlesbrough has been developed by Riverside to provide a supported residential building, comprising of 20 self-contained flats of the highest quality of social housing, along with training facilities to support people into employment. Other facilities within the scheme include a training kitchen where residents can learn about healthy eating and budgeting, IT training facilities and an interview room. The site is due to finish in August 2016. The photo attached, from left to right: Paul Webster, MD of Gentoo Construction, Joel Docherty, Connor McKittrick, Charlie Milburn and Julie Gray, Assistant Director of Development and Regeneration at Riverside. Source link
A North Lincolnshire company has been fined after a worker was injured whilst dismantling a HGV tipper lorry. Scunthorpe Magistrates’ Court heard how two employees of R Martinson Limited were dismantling an HGV lorry using a telehandler like a mobile crane for lifting operations. One employee operated the telehandler to remove a metal rail weighing about 44 kg from the chassis when it struck the second employee, 68-year-old George Henry Johnson. He suffered a traumatic skull fracture that have left him with permanent injuries and reliant on other family members for his care. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred in April 2015 found that the company failed to adequately plan, organize, control and monitor the way in which the operation was undertaken. Using a telehandler to lift and move parts like a mobile crane is a high risk activity and the company failed to apply basic principles of health and safety management to reduce the risk of serious personal injury. R Martinson Limited of Havering, The Bays Shore Road, Garthorpe, North Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £53,300 and ordered to pay costs of £1,293.10. Notes to Editors: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases. Source link
Aquatic ecologists are called in to assess how big construction projects will affect the environment ©Neville Williams Exploring rivers and habitats to discover their residents is part of the job for an aquatic ecologist Large building projects are delayed by all sorts of issues — money, employees who lack the right skills, public sentiment. But sometimes it is fish spawn, or great-crested newts. The deliverer of such bad news might be Peter Walker. When I find him standing in the River Stour in a pair of chest-waders with what looks like a clunky jetpack dating from the 1950s with dials and big switches on his back, he seems rather sunny for a harbinger of doom. More On this topic Emma Jacobs Ecological discoveries are a mixed blessing for this former academic. On the one hand, the biologist in him is thrilled to see rare fish. On the other, finding a way to preserve the ecology might prove an impediment to the site’s development, costing money and causing delays. This is murky work, literally. Which is what he likes about it. “It gives me an opportunity to have a look into that hidden world that other people don’t get to see,” he says. For him, fish hold an air of mystery. “They live there under the water . . . there are fish down there that we can’t see right now.” The aquatic ecologist advises companies on the environmental impact of construction and engineering. In other words, he will tell a developer how to build a dam, bridge or pipeline crossing rivers or seas, and how to do so in a way that protects fish. Today, he is teaching two colleagues how to use the electro-fishing backpack, stunning fish and then scooping them up with his net to take a look, before putting them back in the river. This is the other side of his work: exploring the source of pollution and advising on how to restore damaged habitats. Environmental consultancy jobs like Mr Walker’s have evolved in response to growing legislation but also to greater understanding of these issues by the public, which in turn exerts pressure on businesses and governments. Some work as sole traders, others for environmental consultancies like RSK, which employs Mr Walker, or public and charitable organisations. Yet ructions in the oil price and global mining and commodities markets are hitting the sector worldwide. Environment Analyst, a market intelligence service for the sector, says that North America — the largest market — and Asia have been hit particularly hard. The global environmental consultancy market suffered a 4.1 per cent decrease in 2014, falling to $27.5bn, according to the latest research by Environment Analyst, though the outlook might look bleaker today. Western Europe has held steady so far, buoyed by large infrastructure projects. In the UK, for example, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, the professional body, reports that membership grew by about 1,800 in 2005, up to 5,100 today. RSK reports that business is brisk, due to the planning of large projects such as the UK’s HS2 and HS3 high-speed railway links. Despite the Middle East’s weakness, the company has moved into Iraq, cleaning up the desert around Basra, washing the oil and sand, as well as developing local expertise. People such as Mr Walker try to prevent conflict between companies and environmentalists. Laws require companies planning an infrastructure or construction project to conduct an environmental impact assessment — motorway builders might be instructed to incorporate a toad crossing in their road design. Companies that fail to do so face prosecution and fines. Jason Reeves, policy and communications manager at CIEEM, says environmental issues are a priority for companies. “I don’t think anyone would agree that we should simply bulldoze our natural environment without first assessing what we may lose.” ©Neville Williams Peter Walker’s work includes investigating pollution that kills river life For companies, there can be huge harm to their reputation if they cause environmental damage, as BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 demonstrated. Such public disapproval is far from universal, however. Working in Albania, Mr Walker would see locals walking out of blocks of flats with rubbish bags and flinging them into the river. Paul de Clerck, co-ordinator of the economic justice programme at campaign group Friends of the Earth Europe, questions the significance of reputational harm for those in the business-to-business sector rather than those selling products or services to consumers. Moreover, he says some consultants depend on contracts from companies, which means there can be a conflict of interest. Other environmental campaigners note that advice provided by some consultants amounts to greenwashing and is useless. RSK says it maintains its integrity and has a reputation for “problem solving” and innovation. As with most sectors, technology has changed the job. Instead of going to a pond and setting traps for newts, Mr Walker can take a few water samples and trace them for DNA. It makes his work quicker, but is unlikely to do him out of a job. Drones are used for surveying large areas, but they can miss things so companies still want an ecologist on the ground. Trees and rivers are hurdles for drones surveying aquatic species too. Mr Walker has been “hooked” (a pun he drops into conversation more than once) on fish since his father bought him his first fishing rod at eight years old. Later, he admits he misses aspects of academia. “Doing new research, making new discoveries, is an incredible thing to do.” Yet there is much to enjoy about his career as a consultant — working in lush landscape; watching an otter drift by on its back. This river has sentimental value for him: his wife caught her first fish from here. Today, in the tangled countryside of the Cotswolds, he is examining a “pollution incident” for the Environment Agency, which has caused fish to die. He has pulled out at least 20 dead fish, including big trout, which was “a bit
30 July 2016 – by Sheka Vyas One of the world’s largest property franchises, Coldwell Banker, is making its first foray into the London commercial market. Coldwell Banker Commercial has been set up by Chris Palmer and Robin Paterson, who have purchased the franchise from Coldwell Banker’s New York-listed parent Realogy. The pair ran luxury residential agent Hamptons International until they sold it in 2006 to Emaar Properties. They currently run the UK franchise of Sotheby’s International Realty, which they bought in 2014 – also from Realogy. It focuses on high-end residential property. CBC will trade alongside Sotheby’s to meet growing enquiries from its clients about commercial opportunities in the capital, particularly owing to the fall in the value of sterling after the EU referendum result. All the content from this weekís magazine, including this article, is available in the new app. Gregor Wallace, a senior director in BNP Paribas Real Estate’s London investment team, has been recruited as managing director. He said: “It is an exciting start and shows there are opportunities post-Brexit. Where bigger firms are busy chasing pension funds, we want to focus more on private clients. There are very few niche practices left, so it is a great opportunity.” The firm employs a team of five in its Knightsbridge headquarters, which it will look to expand as the volume of deals increases. It also has the option to sub-franchise CBC in regional UK cities. CBC is the latest North American real estate adviser to target the UK. Eastdil Secured has established itself as one of the leading advisers in the country since the 2008 downturn while Avison Young has been expanding its presence steadily since 2014. Source link
The York Handmade Brick Company has completed its role in the building of a brand-new building for Highgate Junior School in North London. York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, supplied 150,000 bricks for Highgate Junior School in North London. The contract was worth £225,000. David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, explained: “This was an absolutely fascinating commission, not least because the new Junior School building had to reflect its historic architectural context as well as being a first-class environment for learning. “The brand new 4,320 sq m building is for 350 pupils aged seven to 11 years. Features include teaching spaces and a main school hall to replace an old library and teaching block, which were demolished as part of the project. “The project also included extensive refurbishment and re-roofing works to Highgate Junior School’s Ingleholme Building, one of only a few remaining 19th century ‘villa’ houses in Highgate. Mr Armitage continued: “Whilst we will never forget our Yorkshire roots, and we continue to work extensively in the county, this commission underlines our growing presence in the capital. Recent London projects include the Shard, London Bridge Place, Highbury Stadium and Carmelite House on the Victoria Embankment.” Bob Hayes of architects Architype, which designed the new Junior School, commented: “The brickwork and stone were selected as the main cladding materials to reflect Highgate’s historic context. The York Handmade bricks give a wonderful texture and softness to the brickwork. “The same brick and stone specification has been used internally, in the common areas and the classrooms, both for their robust and tactile qualities and to create a cohesive theme through the external and internal elevational treatment. “York Handmade were able to manufacture 150,000 bricks and specials within the agreed timescales and within the agreed budget. The finished building reflects the quality of the bricks and the bricklaying and achieves the qualities that the challenging design and specification required.”
Waste and construction services firm NWH Group has secured a £7 million finance facility from Royal Bank of Scotland to help the business fund future acquisitions. Following on from the purchase of the business and assets of DJ Laing’s waste management operations in Dundee for an undisclosed sum last year, the Dalkeith business said it has found itself “on a very stable financial footing.” Since making that purchase, NWH’s business has gone from strength to strength with the firm projecting turnover to increase in its latest financial year (year ending September 30, 2016) from £22 million to £28 million, along with a significant rise in profits. With the company’s haulage roots stretching back to 1953, providing lime-spreading services to local farmers, NWH Group shifted its focus towards waste management and construction services, to become one of the industry’s market leaders in Scotland. The firm now employs around 240 people at its Midlothian head office and across three additional sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. Since putting its banking requirements out to tender this year, NWH made the decision to carry on its banking relationship with the RBS. Mark Williams, managing director at NWH Group, commented: “This new financing package which RBS has put in place underlines its understanding of the company and is the right solution to help support further growth and expansion of our business across Scotland. “Following last year’s purchase of DJ Laing, we are growing our business and find ourselves on a very stable financial footing. We see opportunities on the back of recent environmental legislation to grow both organically and through further acquisitions. We are currently looking at a number of potential companies which complement our existing lines of business.” David McIntosh, relationship director at RBS, added: “NWH has successfully traded and diversified its operations over six decades. The current financial performance underlines the strength of the existing management team and its plans.”
Arcadis has announced that Neil McArthur, Chief Executive since May 2012, is to leave the firm by mutual agreement. The Arcadis supervisory board and McArthur agreed to a separation due to a difference of opinion over the future direction of Arcadis. The board will now begin the search for a new chief executive, while Renier Vree, currently Arcadis chief finance officer, will serve as chief executive on an interim basis with immediate effect. Arcadis has also stated that it had suffered a challenging third quarter caused by weakness in emerging markets and the sharp fall in Sterling. This resulted in the compnay’s operating income falling by 34% to €43m, missing market forecasts. In the UK, which accounts for 17% of the company’s overall revenue, Arcadis suffered a fall in turnover, primarily as a result of a 9% currency effect. Net revenues grew organically at 3% because of improved growth in infrastructure and water, however buildings revenue fell as a result of Brexit-related delays in clients’ investment decisions. Signalling further changes to come at Arcadis, interim chief executive Renier Vree commented: “We will continue to focus on winning work with our clients and cash collection. Furthermore we will step up the pace in aligning our cost structure to the new market realities and simplify the organisation. The strategy process remains ongoing and we will disclose our strategy update at the beginning of 2017.” Commenting on his decision to step down as chief executive, Neil McArthur said: “I am proud of what we have achieved as a company over the past five years. Together, we have expanded our core business organically and through acquisitions, going from a €2bn 15,000 people organisation in 2012, to a €3.4bn global multinational with 27,000 people under a single global brand, with a collaborative structure and culture. Now it’s time for someone else to lead Arcadis through the next stage of our journey. I have no doubt that our people will continue to deliver exceptional and sustainable client solutions, and improve quality of life across the globe.”
Mitie has won a £15 million contract awarded by Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership to provide healthcare and liaison services in custody suites. The contract has been secured by Mitie’s Care & Custody Health business, which provides forensic medical and sexual assault referral centre (SARC) examination services to a number of police forces throughout the UK. The three-year deal, with an option to extend for another two one-year periods, will see Mitie coordinate an “integrated health, liaison and diversion partnership” with organisations including five Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company, and North and East London Strategic Commissioning Support Unit. The partnership will ensure that the health of people of all ages who commit, or are suspected of a crime will be assessed while they are in custody. Those with mental health issues, learning disabilities, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities will be supported to access appropriate services. The service is also set to operate in courts. Mayor and police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd, commented: “If we are to effectively reduce reoffending and protect the vulnerable we need to think innovatively about how we commission services. People who find themselves in a police cell often have underlying health issues that may cause them to offend, such as mental ill health or substance abuse, so it’s common sense to bring police and health together.” Mitie says this is the first time that UK police and health organisations are working together to provide an integrated healthcare and liaison and diversion service in custody suites, at court and in the community.
Surgo Construction Ltd (Surgo), one of the UK’s leading building contractors, has begun work on the £3.8 million redevelopment and refurbishment of Newcastle University’s Hatton Gallery. The Grade II listed gallery forms part of the University’s Fine Art department and is home to the iconic Merz Barn Wall by Kurt Schwitters. It is set to reopen in September next year. Surgo was appointed after a competitive tender and interview process. Their brief is to refurbish the galleries, carry out internal area modifications and upgrades, renovate listed roof lights, install steelwork to carry new mechanical equipment, undertake some re-roofing works and create new meeting rooms and seminar areas. The work will be carried out in two phases – the first continuing until the end of October with phase two due to end mid February 2017. There will be some challenges ahead for Surgo’s team given that the Hatton Gallery is located within a tight site where only a small area for deliveries exists, which is further complicated by the need for shared access with another building contractor working on an adjacent site. Added to this, the Hatton is located on the delivery route to the Old Library Cafe, a building which is still ‘live’ from the basement up meaning existing services such as fire alarms and building services installations have to be maintained. Surgo director, Jeff Alexander, said: “We are delighted to be appointed to another Newcastle University project where we have successfully completed a number of projects. Our knowledge of working on ‘live’ tight sites, our listed building expertise and supply chain network combined to make us well qualified for our appointment to the Hatton Gallery. “Parts of the building are listed so there is a requirement for us to work with a conservation officer as well as with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums in relation to the priceless and iconic Merz Barn Wall by Kurt Schwitters.”
Around 160 UK jobs will be secured after the delivery of a £131.5 million support contract for RAF Sentinel aircraft. The new contract to provide support for the aircraft for the next five years is expected to sustain around 120 jobs at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and 40 roles at Hawarden Airfield near Broughton, North Wales. The deal with Raytheon UK will provide the Sentinel aircraft with in-service support and maintenance, which means it will continue to meet the RAF’s operational requirements. With the ability to gather intelligence on enemy movements and track specific targets, the Sentinel is still an important part of the UK’s operations against Daesh in Syria and Iraq Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin, commented: “Sentinel aircraft provide vital intelligence to our Armed Forces, giving them the ability to make decisions that helps keep Britain safe, including on current operations against Daesh. “As part of our £178bn equipment plan, this contract is supported by a Defence budget that will rise every year until the end of the decade, meeting the NATO commitment to spend 2% of GDP on Defence. “This new support contract will sustain 160 jobs across the UK and demonstrates the very tangible benefits which Defence is bringing to the nation’s economy.“ Tony Douglas, chief executive officer of the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation, added: “This support contract demonstrates how we are working collaboratively with industry to sustain UK jobs and to ensure our equipment remains fit for purpose and continues to meet the needs of our military customers. “This contract was required to deliver on the decision in the 2015 SDSR to extend this key airborne surveillance platform, and I am delighted with the speed that the DE&S delivery team have worked with industry to negotiate this new contract, which is a testament to their drive, professionalism and delivery focus.“
