Piling contractor Aarsleff Ground Engineering has signed a partnership agreement with Creagh Concrete Products, allowing Creagh to manufacture ground beams under licence at its factory in Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire. It is envisaged that the partnership will be extended in due course to allow Creagh to manufacture Aarsleff ground beams at its
The Solar Impulse Foundation has launched the World Alliance for Clean Technologies. The scheme is aiming to bring together the ‘main actors’ in clean technologies to develop profitable solutions to climate change. The company behind the first ever solar flight around the world, the Solar Impulse Foundation, has launched the
Knowsley’s Shakespeare North Playhouse has moved a step closer after a number of key appointments. Mott MacDonald and AECOM Ltd have teamed up with lead architect Helm Architecture on the £26 million Prescot project, which was given the go ahead by Knowsley Council in April. The Shakespeare North Playhouse will
Reading-based international support services and construction group Interserve has secured a five year total facilities management account with six central government departments worth over £40 million. The account, known as the ‘Affiliate Cluster’, will cover the Cabinet Office, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the
Work is set to begin this week on Liverpool FC’s new flagship Anfield Stadium store, with contractors arriving on site to start working on the two-storey development. It marks the next milestone in the regeneration of Anfield and will form part of Liverpool City Council’s plan to rebuild the entire
A survey of Build UK members has found that the shortage of skilled labour has become more severe since Brexit, despite the EU referendum outcome not having an immediate slowdown in work for UK contractors overall. The survey shows that in the three months following the referendum, labour costs are
The preferred bidders for the first three contracts to build the £55.7 billion HS2 rail line have been chosen. It is understood that joint ventures between Costain / Skanska, Morgan Sindall / Bam Nuttall / Ferrovial and Laing O’Rourke / Murphy have been chosen as the successful bidders for the
SIG Roofing ’s ONE Warranty for pitched roofing has gone from strength to strength following its launch in October 2015, with many contractors now taking advantage of this single package warranty. To provide even further benefits, additional industry leading products have been included to give contractors, property owners and specifiers
Considerate Constructors Scheme crowns Most Considerate Companies and Most Considerate Supplier at 2016 National Awards The Considerate Constructors Scheme – the national scheme established by the construction industry to improve its image – has recognised the Most Considerate Companies and Suppliers at this year’s National Awards. Four companies were presented
BIM – THE CATALYST IN PROVIDING THE NHS WITH 21ST CENTURY BUILDINGS The NHS is facing additional challenges as it moves towards delivering a 24/7 service. With patient welfare at the top of everyone’s agenda, building for the future has never been as important as it is now. An increasing
Piling contractor Aarsleff Ground Engineering has signed a partnership agreement with Creagh Concrete Products, allowing Creagh to manufacture ground beams under licence at its factory in Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire. It is envisaged that the partnership will be extended in due course to allow Creagh to manufacture Aarsleff ground beams at its various sites across the UK. Aarsleff managing director Chris Primett said: “The partnership agreement with Creagh Concrete Products presents a number of opportunities for Aarsleff. As well as ensuring certainty of supply of our popular ground beams across ultimately the UK, it allows us to work in collaboration with Creagh to offer complete packages to clients for pile, ground beams and flooring. Clients will benefit enormously from being able to specify complete solutions.” This article was published on 4 Apr 2016 (last updated on 4 Apr 2016). Source link
The Solar Impulse Foundation has launched the World Alliance for Clean Technologies. The scheme is aiming to bring together the ‘main actors’ in clean technologies to develop profitable solutions to climate change. The company behind the first ever solar flight around the world, the Solar Impulse Foundation, has launched the World Alliance for Clean Technologies at COP22, which is aiming to bring together the ‘main actors’ in clean technologies to help tackle climate change. Solar Impulse has said that its aim is to federate key stakeholders in the area of clean technologies, including start-ups, companies, institutions and organisations producing, implementing or supporting the use of clean technologies. Together, the members will “share experiences and create synergies” in order to improve the overall value chain and demonstrate and advise on concrete solutions to support governments, corporations and institutions in reaching their environmental and health targets. The announcement comes less than four months after the landing of the first ever solar flight around the world, accomplished by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, and is the second phase of Piccard’s long-term goal to use low-carbon technologies to solve major global challenges, as well as reach the objectives of the Climate Action Agenda. The Alliance’s overarching ambition is to globally advance clean technologies, which it defines as: “any practical solution that allows to bridge the gap between ecology and economy. They are not limited to the production of renewable energy, but encompass technologies, systems, know-hows or processes that protect the environment, improve health, increase energy efficiency or save natural resources, while creating jobs, generating profit and sustaining growth”. “We need to embrace clean technologies, not because they are ‘eco-logical,’ but because they are ‘logical,’” said Bertrand Piccard, chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation. “Even if climate change didn’t exist, energy efficient technologies would make sense to create jobs, generate profit and boost economic development, while also reducing CO2 emissions and protecting natural resources.”
Knowsley’s Shakespeare North Playhouse has moved a step closer after a number of key appointments. Mott MacDonald and AECOM Ltd have teamed up with lead architect Helm Architecture on the £26 million Prescot project, which was given the go ahead by Knowsley Council in April. The Shakespeare North Playhouse will be constructed just metres from the site of the original Elizabethan theatre which stood in the town during the 1590s and was the only purpose-built playhouse anywhere in the UK outside of London. Austin-Smith: Lord LLB has been named as the supporting architect alongside AECOM Ltd, which will provide mechanical and electrical engineering services whilst Mott MacDonald will deliver structural engineering services. The development is due to boost the local economy by more than £10 million, with the creation of 210 construction jobs and 57 full-time positions once open. Councillor Mike Murphy, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, commented: “Securing these key appointments is a significant milestone in the development of the playhouse, which reiterates our commitment to delivering a playhouse in Prescot. “We look forward to working with Helm Architecture, Austin-Smith: Lord LLB, AECOM Ltd and Mott MacDonald Ltd, and their experienced teams, to deliver this exciting project.” Peter Scott, chair of Shakespeare North Trust added: “Our vision to have a playhouse in Prescot began 12 years ago and we’re delighted at the support and interest we have received in turning this vision into a reality. “These key appointments will help us to recreate a Shakespearean theatre in Knowsley – which was home to the only freestanding purpose-built Elizabethan era theatre outside of London.” Last month, the Shakespeare North Trust revealed more about its plans for the playhouse during a private dinner at The Globe on London’s South Bank as part of Knowsley’s showcase during MIPIM UK. Subject to funding, construction on the facility is due to commence in September next year.
Reading-based international support services and construction group Interserve has secured a five year total facilities management account with six central government departments worth over £40 million. The account, known as the ‘Affiliate Cluster’, will cover the Cabinet Office, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted). This will be the first time that all six departments’ facilities management services will be handled by a single provider. The deal is hoping to achieve double digit cost savings each year across the departments. Under the terms of the agreement, Interserve will provide a number of services including front of house, catering and security, along with electrical and mechanical maintenance. The new partnership will also see the group incorporate the use of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in line with targets of the government. Adrian Ringrose, Chief Executive, commented: “We have excellent relationships in central government and are very pleased to be expanding this partnership into new departments. We feel that our extensive experience of delivering diverse, complex facilities management services for government makes us the ideal partner for this combined contract. “Ahead of the start of this contract we are focusing on the training and development of our people, to ensure we continue to provide the highest standard of customer service.” Chief Executive of the Civil Service, John Manzoni , added: “Bringing the support services together under a single overarching account will deliver significant benefits for each department and for the government as a whole. “Thanks to the efficiencies that our partnership with Interserve will deliver, we will achieve consistent service level across the estate whilst bringing savings; ensuring we are delivering real value to taxpayers.”
Work is set to begin this week on Liverpool FC’s new flagship Anfield Stadium store, with contractors arriving on site to start working on the two-storey development. It marks the next milestone in the regeneration of Anfield and will form part of Liverpool City Council’s plan to rebuild the entire Anfield high street, Walton Breck Road, on which the Club’s new store will stand. The store will provide fans with a premium shopping experience featuring exclusive product ranges and an increased number of payment stations to ease checkout congestion on match days. There will also be a specially designed first floor café – that will open on both match days and non-match days. The new store will be built on 19,500 square foot of floor space, which is four times the size of the current Anfield store and will incorporate a brand new LFC store design concept. The colour scheme and materials will take inspiration from the architecture of Anfield and will feature design references from the original and current Kop, along with the expanded Main Stand. Chief Commercial Officer at Liverpool FC, Billy Hogan, commented: “Liverpool Football Club has an ongoing commitment to the wider regeneration of the Anfield area. This development will further enhance the Main Stand development as well as the Anfield High Street and will take us a step closer to offering our fans the best in-store experience possible. “This flagship store will be the jewel in the LFC Retail crown and it is fitting that it will be situated in Anfield – the heart of this Club.” Located on the high street, the store has been designed in support of Liverpool City Council’s vision for a new-look high street. It is also aiming to further enhance the surround of the stadium by generating more activity in the area and will feature a window design that will create an attractive frontage for the existing high street. The flagship store will not only stock a greater range of LFC merchandise, it will also offer fans access to exclusive New Balance and 47 Brand products through branded shop-in-shops that will be housed within the space. The number of payment stations will increase by 100 percent and the number of shirt printing locations will increase by over 500 percent in comparison to the current Anfield store.
A survey of Build UK members has found that the shortage of skilled labour has become more severe since Brexit, despite the EU referendum outcome not having an immediate slowdown in work for UK contractors overall. The survey shows that in the three months following the referendum, labour costs are on the rise and there has been a significant increase in the number of contractors unable to bid for jobs because they cannot afford the workforce. At the end of June, the UK voted in favour of leaving the European Union in a referendum and while it will be at least two years before the UK actually leaves the EU, there is still uncertainty about what the impact will be in the end. Trade deals will need to be put in place that will determine the extent the UK will continue to support the free movement of people and goods. Build UK’s state of trade survey for Q3 of 2016, covering the months straight after the referendum (July to September) show that while members of Build UK saw their workloads increase immediately after the vote, there were more and more difficulties in recruiting skilled operatives. However, the survey does not shed any light on whether the result of the referendum may have in any way contributed to the recruitment problems recently experienced by the construction industry. An unrelated report from brokers Willis Towers Watson on the implications of Brexit for the UK construction industry states that the industry is currently relying on foreign labour from within the EU, with migrant workers currently filling around 12% of the 2.9 million UK construction jobs. The Build UK survey does show that labour shortages stopped a quarter of contractors from bidding for work during the third quarter of this year, a number that has increased from 16% in Q2.
The preferred bidders for the first three contracts to build the £55.7 billion HS2 rail line have been chosen. It is understood that joint ventures between Costain / Skanska, Morgan Sindall / Bam Nuttall / Ferrovial and Laing O’Rourke / Murphy have been chosen as the successful bidders for the three phase one enabling packages worth a combined total of £900 million. Last December, the shortlist for the £300 million enabling packages was revealed, with five consortiums battling it out for each of the North, Central and South sections of the line. It is understood that Costain / Skanska has won the southern section of the line, Laing O’Rourke / Murphy has scooped the northern section and Morgan Sindall / Bam Nuttall / Ferrovial’s Fusion JV will take on the central section. The procurement process is now set to go into a period of standstill, with official contracts set to be awarded in the next few weeks if there are no challenges. Major joint ventures between Balfour Beatty / Vinci and Carillion / Eiffage / Kier missed out on all three lots, while Bouygues / Sir Robert McAlpine / Morrison Utility Services / VolkerFitzpatrick and Galliford Try / Hochtief / Dragados missed out on one each. Included in the work will be site clearances, structural reinforcements, demolition, drainage and other associated work. The work is due to get underway early next year. The award of the enabling contract has come almost two months later than scheduled, with companies having initially expected a decision to be made on HS2 in August. Last week, companies submitted bids for the first of the seven civil packages, worth a total of £11.8 billion. Bids for the remaining six packages will be submitted between now and Christmas. HS2 expects to award the civils packages in the spring, which have a combined value of £11.8bn.
SIG Roofing ’s ONE Warranty for pitched roofing has gone from strength to strength following its launch in October 2015, with many contractors now taking advantage of this single package warranty. To provide even further benefits, additional industry leading products have been included to give contractors, property owners and specifiers alike yet more choice and flexibility. ONE Warranty is designed to support the build-up of the roof from batten to roof coverings. The warranty covers the performance of all products involved in the build-up for 15 years under one single package warranty that is easy to use and understand, and all at no extra charge. As the strapline simply says; ONE Roof, ONE Name, ONE Warranty! Additional manufacturers to ONE Warranty include; Klober, Welsh Slate, SIGA Heritage, Dupont Tyvek, JLM, Young Black, Paslode, TIL-R and TIL-R Classic. These leading manufacturers’ products include; underlays from Klober’s Permo® Air and Dupont’s Tyvek® Supro and Supro Plus. Coverings from Welsh Slate and SIGA Heritage’s latest addition Reproduction Reclaimed Slate, along with a range of Klober’s pitched roof ventilation products, Jamestown Metals Ltd’s Zinc Ridge, Slate Hooks from Young Black and Batten Nails from Paslode are also featured. These latest products add to the existing coverings from industry leading SIGA Natural Slate, SIGA Heritage Reproduction Stone and SIGnature Clay Tiles, along with a range of market leading accessories including; SR Timber’s Premium Gold Batten, TIL-R’s pitched roof underlays, and a wide range of flashings, fixing and ridges from ALM, TIL-R and Red Bank – to name just a few. ONE Warranty has been extremely well received Janine Brady, Marketing Manager for SIG Roofing, explained: “ONE Warranty has been extremely well received and the number of contractors registering is literally growing by the day. We are really pleased to be able to increase the value of ONE Warranty by including additional industry leading products. By working with these manufacturers, contractors can enjoy an even wider range of products that are all of a high standard and highly sought after, so not only will the property owner have peace of mind knowing their roof is covered, the contractor can rest easy, knowing that they’re using top quality products.” Contractors wanting to take advantage of ONE Warranty simply have to register online at www.sigroofing.co,uk/onewarranty – once registered they will receive membership details and marketing materials to use for their customers. Following purchase and installation of the relevant products, contractors can easily register their project online in order for ONE Warranty to take effect. With 70% of contractors having had to replace a roofing product through a warranty claim and the removal of the frustration and time that contractors face when having to deal with multiple suppliers for a roof warranty claim, SIG Roofing is confident of the value that ONE Warranty brings. Whilst the scheme provides a number of valuable benefits; the key advantage is its simplicity. Users are able to take advantage of the warranty and a full service provided by SIG Roofing with no additional costs, whilst being able to enjoy a reduced and simplified administration process For more information visit www.sigroofing.co.uk/onewarranty or contact a local SIG Roofing branch.
Considerate Constructors Scheme crowns Most Considerate Companies and Most Considerate Supplier at 2016 National Awards The Considerate Constructors Scheme – the national scheme established by the construction industry to improve its image – has recognised the Most Considerate Companies and Suppliers at this year’s National Awards. Four companies were presented with the coveted top award of ‘Most Considerate Company 2016’, they are: Connect Plus Services (annual turnover: £10m and over); Rydon Maintenance – Islington (annual turnover: £3.5m to <£10m); Linfoot Country Homes Ltd (annual turnover: £250k to <£3.5m) and Solent Industrial Roofing Systems (annual turnover: Under £250k). HSS Hire Service Group Ltd triumphed as the ‘Most Considerate Supplier 2016’, making them the first registered supplier to win this prestigious title since Supplier Registration was introduced in 2014. The Considerate Constructors Scheme’s National Awards are one of the most respected accolades in UK construction. By registering with the Scheme, companies and suppliers demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the image of the industry. The awards recognise the highest performing companies and suppliers which have demonstrated excellence in relation to the community, the environment and their workforce. The prestigious awards ceremony took place on 10 and 11 November at the Four Seasons hotel in London. In total 21 Gold, 32 Silver and 43 Bronze Awards were presented to registered companies, and two Gold, one Silver and four Bronze Awards to registered suppliers. Of the Gold Award winners, seven companies were shortlisted and received the ‘Most Considerate Company Runner-up’ and one supplier the ‘Most Considerate Supplier Runner-up’. Connect Plus Services undertakes planned and reactive highway maintenance works to sections of the M25 motorway and its arterial link roads through a 30-year contract with Highways England. This enthusiastic and safety-conscious team was applauded for its constant refinement of depot and site safety, and consideration of its workforce. Linfoot Country Homes Ltd is a family-owned business located near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, specialising in high quality new and converted homes in the South Midlands for over 20 years. In constantly striving to achieve yet higher standards, this company projected an image which was a credit to all those involved. Rydon Maintenance (North London Region) is in the 13th year of a long-term contract with Islington Council for the repair and maintenance of more than 6000 properties. This potentially intrusive work demands a high degree of care and consideration and this was clearly demonstrated by Rydon through its community work. Based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Solent Industrial Roofing Systems specialises in providing roofing services industry-wide. One recent project was for a storage building on a military base in Wiltshire and the company spared no effort in ensuring the development was sensitive to the client’s operations security standards. Undertaking inner London deliveries is no easy task, but HSS Hire Service Group Ltd, whose head office is based in Mitcham, south west London, has robust policies and procedures in place to ensure professional, safe and efficient operations. Proud to honour the great achievements Considerate Constructors Scheme Executive Chairman Isabel Martinson said: “Congratulations to all award winners. The Scheme is hugely proud to honour the great achievements of top performing registered companies and suppliers. Over 900 companies and suppliers registered with the Scheme in the past 12 months, representing significant growth on the previous year, and making competition even tougher. With such high demand for construction activity across the UK, it is essential that the industry works collaboratively and continues to raise standards.” Click here to see each of the winners in the categories of Runners-up to the Most Considerate Company Award, and Runner-up to Most Considerate Supplier Award, as well as each Gold, Silver and Bronze Award winner. Visit Twitter @CCScheme #ccsawards and the Scheme’s LinkedIn company page to see more from the awards ceremonies.
BIM – THE CATALYST IN PROVIDING THE NHS WITH 21ST CENTURY BUILDINGS The NHS is facing additional challenges as it moves towards delivering a 24/7 service. With patient welfare at the top of everyone’s agenda, building for the future has never been as important as it is now. An increasing and ageing population, coupled with escalating costs, are putting a huge strain on healthcare budgets. Building Information Modelling (BIM), together with offsite construction techniques, affords quicker, informed decisions about building for the future. With many NHS trusts across the UK in debt and facing unprecedented financial challenges, the introduction of BIM offers some hope for estates managers looking to deliver savings, whilst lifting building quality, as Jim Gowan, design manager at Actavo | Building Solutions, explains: The BIM treatment Simply put, BIM is an NHS estate manager’s dream. The holistic answer to the construction industry’s unrelenting question of how to build everything and anything more safely and faster, BIM achieves higher quality standards more cheaply and, when coupled with offsite construction, creates even greater efficiencies. BIM relies heavily on better planning and design, so a building can perform to the highest standard throughout its lifecycle, from concept to demolition. In one model, BIM pulls everything together – stakeholders’ opinions, optimising environmental performance, supply chain management and identifying clashes early in the construction process. What’s more, the government is leading the way – a main contractor builder tendering for a public building must have BIM Level 2 fully engrained into their business. BIM4Health in practice The NHS has a responsibility to account for its assets and the launch of BIM4Health, in November 2014, was a key step towards greater transparency. BIM4Health’s focus is on BIM Level 2 and getting the supply chain to shift from a culture of independence towards one of collaboration – which is what BIM is all about. Combining the expertise of every party through one 3D, integrated, digital model to optimise a building’s performance, BIM results in a greater whole-life cost value of the asset, from a building’s primary use to how that may change over time. The upfront cost is clear and the savings to be made in the future are transparent. 3D visualisation of what a new build will look like, its environmental performance and savings made throughout a building’s life, enables estates managers to see beyond bricks and mortar and the possibility of modular methods. Time is of the essence in the healthcare sector and we will see a shift from traditional building methods to the quick design and delivery using offsite construction. For example, a small outpatient or specialist treatment facility can be operational after just one month’s onsite works, whereas a traditional build programme generally takes upwards of 26 weeks. BIM brings real opportunity to personalise buildings to meet not just sustainability and environmental targets. but also the needs of today and the future. BIM – fits offsite construction better than traditional Offsite or modular construction methods have often been seen as expensive compared to traditional build – but BIM is a game-changer. Modular buildings can now be built to any specification – BREEAM, PassivHaus or AECB. As BIM helps extend design life, it can exploit advances in materials and improvements in sustainability and energy efficiency. Although initial costs are broadly similar, the speed of build and reduced time onsite delivers tangible benefits for modular over traditional build. The whole-life cost and efficiencies weigh in favour of offsite. Buildings manufactured in factories and assembled onsite make the construction industry safer due to their more controlled environments. They are also faster – just four weeks, in some cases – making it easier for estate and facilities managers to plan and re-direct resources. The capabilities of offsite more than match traditional build. Patient wards, theatres, A&E departments and cleanrooms can all be designed, built and delivered in 12 weeks, reducing the impact on bed availability and the need for interim short-term hire. Actavo | Building Solutions was one of the first offsite construction companies to meet BIM Level 2 and it has been fully integrated into the business since July 2015. Instrumental in winning new business, Actavo can showcase the true benefits of offsite build as a quick, cost-effective and high-quality solution.
