Ahead of the Formula One annual Grand Prix in Monaco new research shows that the price of ultra prime property per square metre is the second most expensive in the world with only Hong Kong more costly. Last year was a strong one for Monaco with a total of €2.25
The Department for Education blamed construction cost increases and “a lack of interest” from contractors for the overspend. A Cabinet Office report showed the total budget for phase one had increased to £2.3bn from £2.1bn in January 2015. Phase one includes the rebuild or refurbishment of 260 schools in the
London exhibition venue firm, The Business Design Centre Ltd, and a building contractor have been fined for safety failings after a specialist contractor fell through a fragile skylight. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the Business Design Centre allowed workers to cross an unsafe roof, which contained three fragile skylights and
Taking on an apprentice is easy! Published: 29 September, 2016 Jon Graham, chief executive of JTL, outlines how you and your business can benefit from taking on an apprentice and how to go about it. So here we are – summer may be having a final blast but the nights
The dynamic maintenance, refurbishment and new build contractor, Novus Property Solutions has been helping to connect two parts of a site at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. The work included repairs to the elevated walkway. The repair project was over a busy road on the site and is important to
Question: What’s green, clean and can save up to 70% on energy bills? The answer is an eco-friendly affordablehousing development in Feltham, west London, built by Syntec Projects. The forward-thinking construction company was pleased to welcome Hounslow Borough councillors and industry experts to a recent preview of its flagship low-energy
Social media has transformed the ways in which businesses of all types and sizes network with their customers and clients. Although we might not typically think of interacting with construction companies in the same place we post cute pictures of our dogs or share statuses about a fabulous weekend at
Ahead of the Formula One annual Grand Prix in Monaco new research shows that the price of ultra prime property per square metre is the second most expensive in the world with only Hong Kong more costly. Last year was a strong one for Monaco with a total of €2.25 billion sales with new builds making up just 7% of total sales but 20% of total sales value. The data from Savills World Research also shows that prime two bedroom apartments on the Grand Prix track are nearly nine times the cost of comparable properties on the Singapore race track and if the track was measured as dwelling floor space, it would be worth €3 billion The report points out that Monaco is a small market and average prices are prone to fluctuation depending on the sample of properties sold in any one year. In 2015 the average resale price in Monaco stood at €3.5 milion, down 4.8% on the previous year, while the median price at €2.1 million was up 5%. The long term median price trend showsconsistent growth, averaging 5.8% per annum since 2010. ‘Monaco continues to be an exceptionally attractive location for the global wealthy and has all the key ingredients for real estate price growth’ the report says. ‘A very strong local economy employs more people than can be physically accommodated within the Principality. High demand for both residential and commercial space meets with slow supply in an extremely land limited area,’ it explains. This means that Monaco remains one of the most expensive destinations for ultra prime property in the world only Hong Kong tops it at €109,800 per square meter compared to Monaco’s €90,900 per square meter. The report points out that while Monaco’s residential property market may be very valuable it is also very small. Transaction numbers topped only 547 in 2015, but even then this represented less than 4% of private housing stock numbers in Monaco. On average, since 2006, less than 3% of private stock has traded each year. This means the average Monegasque property changes hands only once every 37 years compared to prime London where properties trade nearer once every 20 years. In the re-sale market, which accounted for 93% of deals, 509 sales were recorded. This was 8% down on 2014 volumes but still 11% above 2007 levels. The very upper tiers of the market are the most liquid and total euro volumes stand 67% above their 2008 peak. Land constrains means that Monaco is taking innovative approaches to urban development. Project Portier, a reclamations project agreed in 2015 and scheduled to complete by 2025, will add a further six hectares of land. ‘Monaco is expanding and rebuilding to remain relevant to modern-day occupier demands. The Principality’s dual status as business destination and recreation centre, coupled with safe haven credentials, will continue to underpin its appeal,’ said Paul Tostevin, associate director, Savills World Research. The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious and demanding motor racing events in the world. The 2016 F1 season features five city tracks. In Monaco, prime two bedroom apartments in proximity to the circuit have a typical price of €8,500,000. At 3,337 meters in length, the Circuit de Monaco runs through the heart of Monte Carlo and La Condamine, some of Monaco’s most expensive districts. If the equivalent track area was measured as dwelling floor space it would be worth €3 billion. BOOKMARK THIS PAGE (What is this?) Source link
The Department for Education blamed construction cost increases and “a lack of interest” from contractors for the overspend. A Cabinet Office report showed the total budget for phase one had increased to £2.3bn from £2.1bn in January 2015. Phase one includes the rebuild or refurbishment of 260 schools in the worst condition across England. A total of 214 schools are being funded through capital grant funding, with the remaining 46 backed by private finance. The Cabinet Office report said: “Over the last 22-24 months we have experienced a lack of interest from the contractors in the new batches being released into procurement, and delays on a number of schemes as contractors seek additional funding to cover increasing costs of labour and materials.” It said this had caused delays in its internal delivery programmes, with expenditure slipping backwards and an increase in the overall cost to deliver the programme. To mitigate these risks, the government has increased the number of procurement routes for priority schools to include the Education Funding Agency’s Contractors’ Framework and Regional Framework. It has also procured two batches of schools using the CSS modular framework and said it was “preparing documentation” to allow for projects to go through the OJEU portal. “The Education Funding Agency is also reviewing the location factors and the base funding rates to ensure the funding envelopes we set are competitive,” it said. It added that every project has a “back-up” option available. “Should a procurement fail, the project has been named in a second procurement so it can be quickly switched to a second procurement option.” The majority of new or refurbished school buildings will be handed over by the end of 2017. However, the government admitted that for the projects affected by “market interest and technical issues”, delivery timetables will go beyond the 2017 deadline. Source link
London exhibition venue firm, The Business Design Centre Ltd, and a building contractor have been fined for safety failings after a specialist contractor fell through a fragile skylight. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the Business Design Centre allowed workers to cross an unsafe roof, which contained three fragile skylights and open edges, and failed to prevent contractors crossing the same unsafe roof on a number of occasions. The court also heard that James Murphy, 64, from Chigwell in Essex, who had been appointed by The Business Design Centre Ltd to undertake repair work at the site, had led a specialist lead contractor over the unsafe roof on 14 May 2015. As he walked over the unsafe roof the lead contractor fell through a skylight, falling 5.5m. He suffered serious injuries including a shattered pelvis, broken wrist, and a broken elbow. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the Business Design Centre failed to ensure that access to and from the areas of the roof which required repair was suitable and safe, and that sufficient measures were in place to protect against the risks of falling from height. James Murphy failed to ensure that the job of accessing and then inspecting the auditorium roof was properly planned. The Business Design Centre Limited, of Upper Street, Islington, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2925,56 James Murphy, of High Road, Chigwell, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £4,000 and also ordered to pay costs of £2925.56 For further information on safe working on roofs visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis5.htm ; http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg284.pdf ; http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/roofwork.htm 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/ HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases. Source link
Taking on an apprentice is easy! Published: 29 September, 2016 Jon Graham, chief executive of JTL, outlines how you and your business can benefit from taking on an apprentice and how to go about it. So here we are – summer may be having a final blast but the nights are drawing in and people are getting back to work after the holidays. I hope you are finding that business is picking up and that you are starting to think that perhaps you could do with a hand. But is the thought of all that hassle putting you off? Well, there is a solution – an apprentice – and before you dismiss the idea, just give it a moment’s thought. In my previous two blogs, I have examined the benefits of apprenticeships in general but now is the time to take that first step. Think about it; wouldn’t it make your day job so much easier if you had someone to lend you a hand, someone who you could teach how your business works and how you want him or her to work alongside you, someone who will fit in and help you grow your business? So what about all that hassle? Well actually, with JTL supporting you every step of the way, the question is “what hassle?” We are here to take the pain out of finding the right apprentice to fit into your business, to take you through all the paperwork so that the apprenticeship can attract government funding support and to be alongside you, and your apprentice, from start to finish. Our training officers are all from the industry and occupationally competent so they understand your point of view and the technical aspects of the industry. The plumbing and heating market continues to grow in complexity and the apprenticeship qualifications we offer are designed to offer the solid grounding that lays at the heart of every good and successful plumbing and heating business. The first step is to contact us to let us know what your needs are. We can then send you a list of people who have been through our initial assessment process to make sure they have the capability to successfully complete an apprenticeship. Successful candidates receive a follow-up telephone call so that we can understand the type of role they will be best suited to and filter them in the right direction. However, who you recruit is entirely up to you because only you can identify the right person to fit in with your business. After all, you will be working closely together for at least a couple of years and may be up to four years, so it is important that you find the right individual. Before we place an apprentice, we will come out and spend some time with you to make sure that you meet the necessary health and safety and other legal requirements; many employers find this really helpful because keeping up with the latest legislation can be challenging. Once you have employed your apprentice, we will take over and organise all the paperwork to get that all-important government funding support and also make the arrangements for the college attendance. Our training officers will visit you and the apprentice regularly throughout the apprenticeship to support and encourage, as well as to assess progress. And if you are worried about what is in it for us, well JTL is a not-for-profit charity set up by the industry for the industry, so we are not in this for any other reason but to support you and the thousands of other businesses, apprentices and applicants who see their future in our exciting industry. So give it some thought. After all, someone gave you your first chance when you started out in the industry. Couldn’t you do the same and, at the same, benefit and grow your business? Source link
The dynamic maintenance, refurbishment and new build contractor, Novus Property Solutions has been helping to connect two parts of a site at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. The work included repairs to the elevated walkway. The repair project was over a busy road on the site and is important to connect the Clinical Education Centre and the Lyme Building. The area of the University Hospitals of North Midlands hospital was busy and well used but rusting and in need of repair. Novus started work on the project to repair the bridge in October 2016. Because of its location, the bridge needed a fully encapsulated scaffold unit that offered a safe plane for the Novus team to work as well as protecting the general public while the work was being carried out. The team also had to take in to consideration the busy road and impact on the traffic while the work to repair the bridge was ongoing. A comprehensive road and traffic plan had to be implemented on the site with a pedestrian diversion throughout the project. The three months of work started with the removal of the lighting on the bridge. The light fittings were sent away in order to be refurbished and installed with new LED lighting. The structure was not originally built to be painted, but since the rust was so extensive it was decided that the structure was to be repainted in order to protect it and prevent any further decay. This repainting happened after the repair works were carried out and a high performance anti-corrosion paint was selected with a blue satin finish. The paint came from RUST-OLEUM and is designed to offer long-lasting protection against C4 classed corrosion. The walkway surface also needed some repairing and it was blasted to clean it before it was treated with a highly durable anti-slip product to finish. The work to the bridge was finished in January 2017 and will allow staff and visitors to keep using the bridge for a long time.
Question: What’s green, clean and can save up to 70% on energy bills? The answer is an eco-friendly affordablehousing development in Feltham, west London, built by Syntec Projects. The forward-thinking construction company was pleased to welcome Hounslow Borough councillors and industry experts to a recent preview of its flagship low-energy build. In partnership with A2Dominion, The Woodsman is a range of 2 to 4-bed accommodation for affordable/ intermediate rent, due for completion this autumn. The 1,800sqf site comprises 4 houses and 20 flats, together housing up to 82 people. Significantly, Syntec is one of the first builders to adopt Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) in a social housing development. The London-based company has been inspired by home-building models throughout theUnited States and Northern Europe, where ICF is an established method on both large and small developments. Fundamentally, it’s a system that uses insulation instead of formwork, allowing the builder to lay modular lightweight blocks that are then filled with concrete and reinforcement. Managing Director Ronan Bourke says: “ICF is not a new concept, far from it – self-builders in the UK have been using it for the last 40 years. It’s now coming to the forefront due to the necessity to protect the environment by reducing energy usage. With skilled labour shortages and significant increases in the cost of materials, ICF becomes the eco-friendly building product of choice as it only takes one trade to erect and relies on only three materials: Polystyrene, reinforcement and concrete.” He adds: “In America and Northern Europe this type of housing is the norm and the tenants reap the rewards. Not only are their energy bills lower but they enjoy even temperatures with filtered air, so are generally experiencing a better quality of home than their counterparts in the UK.” As a building method, ICF is an incredibly fast process, but the benefits for the householder are where the system really shines: a combination of the airtightness of the ICF system, triple-glazed windows and a heat recovery ventilation system means a much healthier living environment – ambient temperatures with no droughts, condensation or mould; there’s no need for heating due to the highly insulating nature of the product. However, by far the greatest benefit for householders is the savings on their energ bills: comparative data has shown energy savings of up to 70% from traditional methods of build. Another benefit is that outside noise can be reduced by 50db, this being very relevant in Hounslow, home of the sixth-busiest airport in the world. With two layers of insulation and the 150mm of mass concrete, the walls in these buildings become incredibly well insulated against noise. The Woodsman development will have a monitoring system to measure householders’ energy consumption. If any residents are experiencing higher bills than expected, they can be advised on where they are wasting energy (for example, by leaving windows open: there’s no need as temperature is kept constant and stale air exchanged for fresh by the heat recovery ventilation unit.) Ronan adds: “As a company, we believe there’s no reason why goodquality low-energy homes can’t be available to everyone, not just a privileged few. We really want to make a difference. It’s just changing the mindset, moving away from traditional brick building to a faster, modulated method that, in the long term, is more cost-effective.”
Social media has transformed the ways in which businesses of all types and sizes network with their customers and clients. Although we might not typically think of interacting with construction companies in the same place we post cute pictures of our dogs or share statuses about a fabulous weekend at the beach, Facebook is a valuable marketing tool even for the construction industry. In order for commercial construction companies to take full advantage of the growing importance social media plays in our society, they need to understand how to use it to promote their business. Facebook in particular is an ideal social network for construction companies to jump on given its versatility for content publication, the large number of users, and the connections it offers to other businesses. 5 Steps to Marketing your Business on Facebook Create a Company Page First things first, establish a branded presence on Facebook. If your construction company does not already have its own company page, you can easily create one by clicking on the “Create Page” button here. Start by choosing which category your business falls into and work from there. As a company in the construction industry, your business is likely to be categorized as either a “Local Business” or as a “Company.” Quick Tip: If you choose the “Company, Organization, or Institution” option, you’ll find the category appropriate for your business by scrolling down the alphabetical list to “Engineering/Construction.” Build a Following Once you’ve set up your company page with an eye-catching cover photo and a profile picture that reflects your company (your logo is usually a solid choice), you’re ready for step 2: establishing an audience base. In order to build your following, start by inviting your current customers to like your page. You could send them an email with a link to your page or even connect with them directly through Facebook by: clicking on the “Invite friends to like this Page” button in the left panel of your company page. clicking on the ellipsis (…) button near the top right of the page in the cover photo area. Choose to “Invite Friends” or “Share” the page. You can share the page on your own Timeline or on a friend’s Timeline. Additionally, encourage your employees to share the company page through their personal Facebook account to gain more new likes. Consider following and liking other businesses in your industry on Facebook as well to get a feel for your competition and see what sort of content they post and share. As a commercial construction company, following other businesses on Facebook that may need your services one day could be useful as well. If you reach out to them, they may reach out to you whether they’re in need of a remodeling job or an expansion of their current business. Quick Tip: Don’t spend too much time worrying about the number of likes your page is receiving. Focus your energy on connecting with key customers and supporters of your business to help grow it in a genuine way. Create and Share Stimulating Content While your expertise may lie in creating quality buildings, creating valuable and quality content for your Facebook account is a very important step in the promotion process. But don’t let this intimidate you! You’re already doing great things as a business that people are interested in; you just need to capture those things in shareable ways and post! Content Examples for Construction Companies to Post on Facebook Share photos of your projects as they transform (before and after project pics). Post pictures of satisfied customers in their newly constructed environment. Post visuals exemplifying the services you offer. Upload videos of a finished project showcasing your skills as a construction firm. Link to press releases or project updates on your website or company blog. Feature a construction worker of the week to add a personal touch to your business. Countdown to the grand opening of a client’s business. Pose questions to encourage potential customers to learn more about your company. Advertise on Facebook In addition to beefing up your company page with visually engaging content, consider setting a Facebook advertising budget for your company that would allow you to: boost your posts to a larger audience, or create and share ads with target audience members to gain likes. Advertising on Facebook is a fairly easy process. You choose a budget for however much you want to spend on the ad and set how long you want the ad to run. Your ad will stop running after the entire budget has been used or at the end of the campaign date, whichever comes first. If you notice your advertisement is doing well, you can increase the budget and extend the campaign period. If you see that it’s not doing so well, you can change the budget and stop the ad from running at any time. Although Facebook only requires you to spend a minimum of $1 per day on Facebook advertising, bidding this low will make it hard to attain visibility for your campaign since you’ll use up your budget while only reaching a handful of people. Facebook advertising agencies can help you do this. Facebook wants their users to have an enjoyable experience while on the site, so they limit how many ads people are exposed to. Because of this, you must go through a bidding process for your ad. This process is either done by cost per click (CPC) or cost per 1,000 ad views (CPM). According to an article on FitSmallBusiness.com, “the average click costs advertisers $0.24 and the average CPM cost $0.66.” In other words, spending $24 dollars would get you 100 clicks on the advertisement or get the advertisement shown 36,364 times. Keep in mind that these costs can change drastically depending on: they type of business you have (industry). the size of your business (small local business vs. national corporation). https://youtu.be/8HZSlaU6Zz4 Side Note: While targeting your audience on Facebook as a small local
