Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, Apr 19th 2016 The “No more cracks” range of products from Wykamol is now available through merchants. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday A range of structural repair products previously only available to
Supplies of paving products to the nation’s builders’ merchants could be disrupted with the threat of industrial action among lorry drivers at leading paving producer Marshalls. The Unite union is planning a ballot of drivers in an overtime dispute with Marshalls. The drivers receive time and a third for overtime
5 April 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal UK pipeline operator and consultant British Pipeline Agency Limited (BPA) has extended a security management contract with Axis Security. Axis Security’s units comprise four employees covering two patrols, a north and south team, and each officer works 40
Warrior Doors, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of high-security doors and entrance systems, was awarded with new accreditation for its communal doors when it hosted a celebration to mark its 20th anniversary. The Birmingham-based manufacturer was awarded a certificate for LPS 2081 Rating B: 2015, a rigorous security standard for
Construction and infrastructure workload expectations continue to improve with respondents the most positive since the referendum, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction and Infrastructure Market Survey, Q1 2017. The pace of growth has increased across all sectors pointing to a widespread improvement in the sector.
Lambert Smith Hampton has revealed that that they have been appointed to work on a 71,000 sq. ft. project. The site is a warehouse located in Oldbury and it will be the responsibility of Lambert Smith Hampton to bring the site to market. The course of action has been announced
A Salford tower block has scooped a prestigious accolade in recognition of its ‘green’ credentials. Mulberry Court in Pendleton has picked up a top honour in the North West Regional Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Awards. The 17-storey high rise building came out on top in the Regional Large Scale
Newark and Sherwood Homes, the housing providers have announced that they will be launching an apprentice scheme. The first of its kind for the company, the Recruiting and Employing Apprentices Championing Housing Champions was launched on the 4th May at the Future First Expo in Newark. The company has dedicated
Small companies are being put off from house building because of the number of delays and rising costs. But small companies avoiding this sector means that the attempts to meet the housing demand in Britain is being slowed. Research has been carried out by NHBC Foundation which suggests that some
Coal has seen a significant decline over the last few years. In 2016 it accounted for just 9% of electricity generation and last month Britain went a whole day without coal-fired power for the first time since use of it began. The plan is to completely phase out this polluting-fuel
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, Apr 19th 2016 The “No more cracks” range of products from Wykamol is now available through merchants. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday A range of structural repair products previously only available to specialist contractors is now being made available to general builders by leading property repair and renovation supplier Wykamol. Following the highly successful launch in 2014 of its “No more damp” range of seven products through builders’ merchants, Wykamol will now offer its “No more cracks” range as a four-in-one package via the same route to market. This comprises corrosion-resistant stainless steel helical wall ties designed specifically for cavity wall tie replacement in domestic housing and heritage buildings. These feature a new drill key to replace the specialist tool previously used. These are complemented by crack stitching kits which in themselves comprise everything needed for professional wall stitching repairs, including 10 lengths of 6mm x 1m (8kN+) stainless steel helical crack stitching bars, a tub of grout, a grout applicator with high-flow nozzle, and a mixer paddle and finger trowel. The “No more cracks” package is completed by masonry to timber lateral restraint ties and crack sealer plus – a high-strength cosmetic repair filler available in brick red and stone grey for all types of masonry gaps. The products are supported by eye-catching POS (point-of-sale), guides to the non-disruptive application of the products, CPDs, insurance-backed 10-year guarantees, and training courses by Wykamol’s sales force, either at a merchants (free) or on-site. ENDS Source link
Supplies of paving products to the nation’s builders’ merchants could be disrupted with the threat of industrial action among lorry drivers at leading paving producer Marshalls. The Unite union is planning a ballot of drivers in an overtime dispute with Marshalls. The drivers receive time and a third for overtime worked, while manufacturing employees get time and a half. The drivers are responsible for delivering Marshalls’ products from 14 manufacturing sites across the UK to customers such as Travis Perkins’ 1,900 outlets, and Jewson’s 600 branches. Unite national officer for building trades John Allott said: “We are preparing to hold an industrial action ballot on the inequality in overtime rates between the drivers and the manufacturing workforce.” He warned that if the strike went ahead, there would be “a big ripple effect” on customers. Marshalls chief executive Martin Coffey received an 87% increase in his remuneration package last year, taking it to more than £2m a year. “We are calling for fairness on this issue, especially given the massive hike in Martin Coffey’s executive pay,” Mr Allot said. However, Marshalls group HR director Susie Fehr said: “Marshalls has for many years enjoyed a collaborative and supportive relationship with Unite, as the principle union represented within the business. Late last year during the annual pay negotiationthere was discussion regarding a number of other issues including this specific issue of overtime. Unite decided to take this issue off the table on the basis that it pertained to a limited group of employees. The result of the annual pay negotiation was that an increase of 2.5% was agreed. The company remains committed to finding an appropriate internal solution and most recently communicated with the impacted employees on 11th April and are looking forward to the ongoing dialogue. “Marshalls is therefore disappointed that the Union has decided to pre-empt these discussions and has not raised this as a formal dispute.” This article was published on 21 Apr 2016 (last updated on 21 Apr 2016). Source link
5 April 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal UK pipeline operator and consultant British Pipeline Agency Limited (BPA) has extended a security management contract with Axis Security. Axis Security’s units comprise four employees covering two patrols, a north and south team, and each officer works 40 hours a week. This extension of Axis and BPA’s security deal furthers the existing round-the-clock security responsibilities protecting BPA’s Kingsbury Oil Terminal Site. Andrew Murray, security manager for BPA, said: “BPA are happy to be working closely with Axis in protecting the UK pipeline infrastructure for which we are responsible as operators,” “Axis are providing BPA with a professional nationwide security management service under BPA’s own Security Management Strategy, delivering a proactive surveillance and deterrent to interference with critical UK pipeline infrastructure” David Mundell, managing director of Axis Security, said: “This is a good example of a fully functional security operation being extended through our officers’ hard work and dedication at an existing site.” The BPA controls and manages more than 800 kilometres of pipeline systems extending from Merseyside, through the Midlands, and down to the River Thames in the South-East. Source link
Warrior Doors, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of high-security doors and entrance systems, was awarded with new accreditation for its communal doors when it hosted a celebration to mark its 20th anniversary. The Birmingham-based manufacturer was awarded a certificate for LPS 2081 Rating B: 2015, a rigorous security standard for the social housing sector, for its fully glazed, stainless steel-framed door. Paul Dillon, physical security testing and certification scheme manager at BRE Global, the independent third-party approvals body that provides certification of fire, security and sustainability products and services to an international market, presented Brett Barratt, managing director of Warrior Doors, with the award. The good news follows Warrior Doors’ announcement last month that it is putting in place strategic plans for growth after achieving a record-breaking year for turnover. Brett Barratt said: “To be awarded the LPS 2081 accreditation for our security doors is the icing on the cake for our 20th anniversary celebrations. We’re really proud to have achieved it because it demonstrates to our customers that we strive to attain the very highest standards.” Jess Phillips, MP for Yardley, was one of the VIP guests at the special event, which was held at Warrior Doors’ headquarters at King’s Road Industrial Estate, Tyseley. It is wonderful to see small businesses grow Opening the celebration, she said: “It is wonderful to see small businesses grow and it is great to see such emerging entrepreneurs who are making a difference with their work and facing up to the challenges.” The company, which manufactures bespoke doors and entrance systems for organisations in the social housing, education, high-value retail, as well as critical infrastructure sectors, put on a host of activities, including laser cutting and glass-testing demonstrations Brett added: “It was great to welcome so many people to our factory to help us celebrate our 20th anniversary. We’ve grown significantly over the years, thanks to our investment in innovation and new products that have helped us to become one of the leading names in the security doors sector.”
Construction and infrastructure workload expectations continue to improve with respondents the most positive since the referendum, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction and Infrastructure Market Survey, Q1 2017. The pace of growth has increased across all sectors pointing to a widespread improvement in the sector. Survey in brief National workloads expectations improve with the most positive sentiment since the referendum. Road and rail set to remain the fastest growing infrastructure sub sectors over next twelve months. Quality of available workers cited as a barrier to growth. Workloads and 12 month projections In Q1 2017 27% more respondents reported an increase in workloads, (up from +18% in Q4 2016). Expectations for the next 12 months also remain firmly positive particularly for activity levels although they have reduced slightly in case of profit margins. The shortage of skilled labour persists in UK infrastructure and construction and is again widely cited by contributors as a factor potentially impacting the performance of businesses working in the industry. Looking at the different sectors, 34% more respondents cited an increase in private housing output rather than a decrease, which puts it above the other sectors for the pace of growth once again; this has been the case since Q1 2013. While the commercial sector saw the largest growth in workload for the quarter (compared with Q4 2016) with 31% more respondents seeing a rise, infrastructure workloads continue to grow steadily with the most significant increases in rail, road and energy categories. These sectors are also viewed as the most promising sectors in infrastructure for the next 12 months. Breaking this down, 60% of respondents felt that repair and maintenance work of existing structures is the most needed type of investment in their area whilst 40% felt investment in new projects was necessary. Growing skills shortages As workloads increase, skill shortages are still sighted as a significant problem to the industry with 53% of respondents stating a shortage of skilled labour to be a key impediment to growth. This is slightly up from 50% in the last quarter. In recent reports, the proportion of respondents noting skill shortages to be the major barrier to growth had come down slightly but the latest results along with surveyors’ comments suggest labour shortage pressure across the UK construction sector is intensifying once more. Alongside this, 65% of respondents reported insufficient availability of quantity surveyors, with skill shortages in this area becoming increasingly prominent since 2012. The results also point to the quality of available workers (rather than simply the quantity) being the principle driver in skill shortages, with 67% of respondents taking this view. Looking at this further, 59% of contributors feel that improved education pathways and training would the most effective policy response to alleviate labour supply pressures, whilst 31% of contributors feel direct government subsidisation of training would be the most effective. Financial constraints and their impact Meanwhile, financial constraints are still the most significant obstacle to growth with 70% of respondents citing this as an issue. Planning and regulation remains a significant impediment to growth with 61% of respondents citing this as an obstacle (up from 53% in Q4 2016). At the same time, tender prices are expected rise in the next 12 months. Specifically, 69% more respondents believe tender prices will go up in the building sector (rather than fall). The expected increase in tender prices may signal rising costs and shrinking profit margins which is also reflected in the 12 month expectation of profit margins easing from +26% in Q4 2016 to +18% in Q1 2017. Regionally all parts of the UK have observed an increase in pace of output growth in Q1, with the exception of Northern Ireland. The was due to the pace of growth slowing within the infrastructure, private industrials and public non-housing sectors. Output growth gathered the most pace in London and the South East where the net balance rose from +7% to +22%. From http://www.rics.org
Lambert Smith Hampton has revealed that that they have been appointed to work on a 71,000 sq. ft. project. The site is a warehouse located in Oldbury and it will be the responsibility of Lambert Smith Hampton to bring the site to market. The course of action has been announced as businesses are struggling with a lack of industrial and logistics units that are available across the West Midlands. This vacant industrial unit sits in a 6.4-acre site that is located at Parsonage Street. The warehouse unit will be available on a leasehold basis for the new tenant. This project has provided Lambert Smith Hampton with an opportunity to acquire a warehouse site. It is not very common to be able to acquire a warehouse unit that sit in a large yard and also accommodates HGV parking. The Oldbury site also has good road links with excellent connections to the motorway network. It is thought that because of the shortage of industrial and warehousing units in the region that have the right amount of yard space for the occupier means businesses struggle or have to relocate outside of the area. However, this new site will provide a boost for the area, as any future tenants will have an ideal base to operate out of. This unit is 1.5 miles away from Junction 1 and 2 of the M5 Motorway. This location means that the unit has good access to the wider motorway network including the M6, M40 and the M42. The 71,000 sq. ft. site is made up of six loading docks that have eaves height of 8.5 meters. The unit also has a 54,666 sq. ft. warehouse and a 14,621 sq. ft. loading tunnel that has a canopy and 1,759 sq. ft. of office space that is spread over two storeys.
A Salford tower block has scooped a prestigious accolade in recognition of its ‘green’ credentials. Mulberry Court in Pendleton has picked up a top honour in the North West Regional Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Awards. The 17-storey high rise building came out on top in the Regional Large Scale Project of the Year category, which recognises energy saving projects. Housing association Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,300 homes across Salford, has been working alongside its partner contractors Seddon and Alumasc to transform Mulberry Court, alongside neighbouring tower blocks Magnolia and Sycamore Court. The 1960s high rise building, which contains 96 properties, has recently undergone a £2.6million facelift and been fitted with a raft of eco-measures including external wall insulation and double glazing – vastly improving the building’s energy efficiency. The tower block also has an eco-friendly communal heating system fitted to the roof, which has helped reduce residents’ fuel bills. Simon Stott, contracts manager at Salix Homes, said: “Tackling fuel poverty and improving the carbon footprint of all our properties is a key priority for Salix Homes, so it’s a real honour to be recognised for our efforts with such a prestigious award. “Our significant investment at Mulberry Court, along with its neighbouring tower blocks, is part of our wider £75million investment programme. Residents now have warm, modern and energy efficient homes fit for the 21st century, and to win this award alongside our contractors Seddon and Alumasc really is the icing on the cake.” As part of the two-year improvement project, the properties have also been fitted with new kitchens, bathrooms and doors. Externally, the once-greying blocks have been completely rendered, cladded and painted in striking shades of green and grey chosen by the residents. Nikki Waud, business development manager at Seddon, said: “We’re thrilled to be recognised for our work at Mulberry Court, but everything we do is built on strong and ongoing partnerships. Working together with Salix Homes, Alumasc and Procure Plus “Working together with Salix Homes, Alumasc and Procure Plus to deliver this major improvement project not only provided an energy efficient solution for residents but also maximised our investment in the local area ensuring training, development and jobs for local people. Well done to all involved.” Andy Gait, area technical manager at Alumasc, added: “This is a very well deserved piece of recognition for Salix Homes and congratulations to all those involved with this exciting project. Mulberry Court has now set the standard in terms of quality and finish and the industry must use this as a benchmark for future installation of External Wall Insulation. Seddon is currently adding the finishing touches to Mulberry Court and the project is expected to be completed this summer.
Newark and Sherwood Homes, the housing providers have announced that they will be launching an apprentice scheme. The first of its kind for the company, the Recruiting and Employing Apprentices Championing Housing Champions was launched on the 4th May at the Future First Expo in Newark. The company has dedicated a great deal of time creating their own apprenticeship scheme that will be able to showcase the wide range of careers available as part of the housing sector. This Recruiting and Employing Apprentices Championing Housing, or REACH scheme has been given a boost from the announcement of the apprenticeship levy. This levy is will aim to create as many as 20 million apprenticeship placements by 2020. The Futures First Expo in Newark is a new event that will focus on celebrating everything Newark and Sherwood has to offer in regards to careers training and education. Launching the REACH scheme at the first Expo is a great way to run a new event as well as promote the opportunities that will be available for apprentices in the housing sector. The new apprenticeship scheme will help Newark and Sherwood train those that are looking to develop a career in the housing services sector. The company is planning on growing the number of apprentices that they take on each year, which means that there will be more placements available for those wanting to do an apprenticeship in this industry. At the Future First Expo, Newark and Sherwood were joined by other local businesses in order to discuss the merits of the REACH apprenticeship programme and the career opportunities that will be available within the company. Newark and Sherwood is a company that can offer a great deal of career opportunities and was ranked as 27th in industry magazine as part of the Inside Housing’s Innovation Index.
Small companies are being put off from house building because of the number of delays and rising costs. But small companies avoiding this sector means that the attempts to meet the housing demand in Britain is being slowed. Research has been carried out by NHBC Foundation which suggests that some smaller builders are having to go through what is described as “deeply frustrating” delays on house building projects. The research uncovered that some builders are waiting more than a year just on local authority planning approval. These types of delays aren’t really sustainable for some small companies, so it could be easier to not venture in to that sector in future. The research has also revealed that almost 80% of small builders were having to contend with a significant increase in the fees that are related to planning over the course of the last two years. The NHBC Foundation has published their data in a report in which the experiences of nearly 500 small companies that are usually involved in the construction of less than 10 homes each year. This report emphasizes that the number of small companies that are involved in house building is still declining. The data showed that 12% of the market share are small companies in 2015. In 2008, the figures stood higher at 28% of the market share. The Government made a pledge earlier this year that there would be radical and lasting reforms to tackle Britain’s housing shortage. These reforms include speeding up the planning system and making it more accessible as well as increasing the level of support for smaller and more innovative companies. The research that has been produced by the NHBC is important for highlighting the problems faced in the production of houses. Although the planning process is necessary to make sure that houses are built in a considerate and safe way, however the increasing cost and complexity of a vital process means that companies are steering clear of the market.
Coal has seen a significant decline over the last few years. In 2016 it accounted for just 9% of electricity generation and last month Britain went a whole day without coal-fired power for the first time since use of it began. The plan is to completely phase out this polluting-fuel by 2025, the same year that Hinkley Point C – Britain’s first nuclear power plant in more than two decades – is set to be complete. Nuclear is already the second biggest fuel when it comes to generating electricity and this is only set to increase when the new power station is complete. But, how much do you actually know about nuclear power? Do you know how it is produced or which countries have nuclear power plants? If not, this infographic created and provided by recruiters NES Global Talent, will take you behind the scenes… Provided by NES Global Talent
