In response to the Welsh Government’s newly published budget, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru has said that the announcement of a new £111 million fund for apprenticeships must be followed by a sector-specific plan as to where this training will be targeted. Director of FMB Cymru, Ifan Glyn,
Foresight Group has ploughed £3 million into Manchester bases civil engineering firm Utilities Design & Planning from the Foresight Regional Investment Fund. UDP, a provider of traffic management and civil engineering services, offers inspections, planning works and project management of utilities, sewer connections and highways and rail schemes. The firm
Scottish Highlands capital Inverness could be a step closer to the construction of 49 new “affordable” homes after a new planning application was submitted. However, almost immediately after the document was signed, one city councillor warned that such an expansion would require additional school provision before the houses could be
Heathrow Airport has revealed that cargo volumes have increased by 7% as it is buoyed by the expansion decision. The rise has capped a buoyant month for the transport hub after the government decided to expand the airport at the end of last month. Heathrow officials said that cargo volumes
In response to the Welsh Government’s newly published budget, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru has said that the announcement of a new £111 million fund for apprenticeships must be followed by a sector-specific plan as to where this training will be targeted. Director of FMB Cymru, Ifan Glyn, said that they welcome the Welsh Government’s announcement of a new £111 million apprenticeship fund, aimed at creating 100,000 all-age apprenticeships. He added that is it now important that the Welsh Government focuses on the task of allocating those funds to training in industries where skilled workers are needed most and where the impact will be most beneficial for the wider economy. Glyn said that for that reason, it would be helpful to provide a sector break down of where these 100,000 apprenticeships will be created, so that key industries and businesses can plan ahead. Glyn concluded: “In particular, the construction industry is still waiting on a clear skills strategy from the Welsh Government. Our sector is already suffering from an enormous talent shortage, and this is only likely to worsen as the Welsh Government embarks on its drive to build more homes in addition to the obvious pressures that will be created by major infrastructure projects such as the new Wylfa nuclear power plant. “Businesses need to know whether the projected number of construction apprenticeships to be funded will be adequate to plug this skills gap. At a time of continued reductions in UK-wide spending and economic uncertainty in the wake of Brexit, creating jobs with a virtual guarantee of high value, well paid employment that will help generate activity throughout the Welsh economy is a no brainer. Few industries are better placed to provide such opportunities than construction. This is something which we hope the Welsh Government recognises.”
Foresight Group has ploughed £3 million into Manchester bases civil engineering firm Utilities Design & Planning from the Foresight Regional Investment Fund. UDP, a provider of traffic management and civil engineering services, offers inspections, planning works and project management of utilities, sewer connections and highways and rail schemes. The firm has sales of around £6 million and employs 33 members of staff, a number that will rise through the use of sub-contractors. The investment will allow the continued expansion of the company and the ability to make the most of the major infrastructure investments in the North West. UDP was established in Salford 20 years ago by the current directors Noel Gallagher and David Hilton who will stay with the firm as part of the transaction. Former MD at Enterprise, Richard Fraser, will join as non-executive chairman, and former FD at Amey Plc, David Atherton, will join as finance director to support the current management team. This is the third investment from the £40 million FRIF which is led out of Foresight’s office in Manchester and invests in high growth SMEs in the North West area. Managing Director UDP, Dave Hilton, commented: “The Manchester market is fast providing more opportunities for expansion with focus on a growing economy and infrastructure. Foresight’s support will allow us to engage with this growth in activity through driving sales, and by expanding services into adjacent geographies to meet emerging demands.” Among UDP’s clients are Manchester and Salford City Councils, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Police and property developer Argent. Claire Alvarez, senior investment manager, Foresight added: “UDP has demonstrated strong growth in recent years, and is a great example of the type of SME that we look for in the FRIF.” Foresight WAS advised in the transaction by a team from Addleshaw Goddard led by Katie Simpson and Andy Green with financial due diligence provided by Stephen Green’s team at RSM, commercial diligence carried out by Roger Penny of RPL and management due diligence carried out by Mike Hicks of Catalysis.
Scottish Highlands capital Inverness could be a step closer to the construction of 49 new “affordable” homes after a new planning application was submitted. However, almost immediately after the document was signed, one city councillor warned that such an expansion would require additional school provision before the houses could be built. Albyn Housing Society has lodged a proposal for 49 homes at Balvonie Street as part of the Balvonie Braes development on the south side of the capital Highland city. It is proposed to be situated across from the site of the controversial and publicly-subsidised “Scotland’s Housing Expo”, which was created to showcase eco-friendly housing. The plans are a revised version of documents that were submitted to the Highland Council just more than a year previously. Calum Macaulay, Chief Executive at Albyn, commented: “We have submitted plans for 49 homes at Balvonie Street. “We’ve worked closely with local architects Colin Armstrong Associates to design a range of houses and flats for affordable rent and sale.” However, in keeping a close check on expansion in the Milton of Leys suburb and the surrounding district, local SNP councillor Ken Gowans responded: “While this is planned expansion, these houses will simply compound the school roll pressures at Milton of Leys Primary. “It is all very well building houses, but we should concentrate on building a community. “For that, we need greater capacity in our schools as well as significant improvements in our community facilities first.” Ranging styles of property have been proposed for the project, ranging from one bedroom flats to two, three and four bedroom homes. The surrounding roads may be extended to serve the expanded site. The local development plan has the greenfield site zoned for housing. Albyn bought it from the Highland Housing Alliance which ran the expo. The HHA eco scheme won awards, but made a financial loss.
Heathrow Airport has revealed that cargo volumes have increased by 7% as it is buoyed by the expansion decision. The rise has capped a buoyant month for the transport hub after the government decided to expand the airport at the end of last month. Heathrow officials said that cargo volumes increased by 7% in October, although the total number of passengers went down slightly to 6.5 million from 6.8 million in September. This is along with a 1.2% year on year fall which it blames on last month’s Hurricane Matthew in the US. The airport accounted for 30% of all exports from the UK by value outside the EU last year, and Heathrow has seized upon the latest increase in cargo numbers to further argue that the government’s decision to green light expansion was the right one. Consultations on a draft policy statement are set to get underway next year, though it is expected to be a long and arduous road to securing the construction of a third runway at the London airport with continued opposition and legal battles set to carry on taking place. John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow Chief Executive, said that the airport had already started planning how to deliver a third runway and was keen to emphasise that the benefits of expansion would be felt right across the UK. He added: “With the support of communities across the UK, Heathrow is now working at pace to deliver the benefits of Britain’s new runway – an affordable plan that creates more jobs, boosts exporters and builds an economy that is stronger and fairer for everyone – as quickly as possible.” The third runway at Heathrow threatens to worsen air quality in central London, according to the Government’s own analysis. It also raised doubts over whether another runway could be opened in 2025 at the west London airport without breaching EU legal limits on air pollution. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said that meeting air quality legal requirements is a condition of planning approval.