Problems with the design, procurement and installation of the gasification plant at a Glasgow waste-to-energy plant have forced Interserve to make £70m of provisions on the contract. Above: CGI of the completed Glasgow Recycling & Renewable Energy Centre In a trading update to shareholders, Interserve said that the problems had
Three months after putting the brakes on the nascent tidal energy industry with the launch of a review, the government has now named a trusted insider to lead it. Above: Former energy minister Charles Hendry will lead a team of civil servants for an ‘independent’ review of tidal lagoons On
The primary concern of MOSL is “not necessarily consumer protection”. The market operator performs an exchange function, and is therefore “removed from customers”, according to consulting firm PwC. In a report commissioned by the Consumer Council for Water, PwC laid out the first seven success criteria of
Barnsley-based PVC fabrication businesses SASH-Fitrite is under new ownership after a management buy-in. Above: A window by Sash UK The £22m turnover SASH-Fitrite group makes doors and windows under the Sash UK brand and Fitrite fencing and decking. The group employs approximately 180 staff at its head office and main
In 2016, many Window and Door System Companies joined the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF). Due to the level, quantity and quality of those Members, the Federation has now fully established a new specific GGF ‘Systems House Group’. The scope of the Group was determined at a preliminary meeting in
Jet Aire has put an investment in to expanding their fleet. The drainage contractor has announced that they have invested in their first recycler. This expansion of the capabilities of Jet Aire’s fleet has come after investing around £400,000 for the recycler. The JHL FlexLine 414 unit is thought to
Cundall has appointed Tim Stidwill as a new Structural Engineering Partner. The international and multidisciplinary engineering company has made the appointment in order to improve and expand their structural engineering branding across the Midlands. Tim Stidwill will be based in Cundall’s Birmingham office, ideally situated to aid Tim with his
Yorkshire Housing, the largest social housing provider in Yorkshire, will be attending a panel discussion for the Housing 2017 conference. The Director of Development and New Business for Yorkshire Housing, Andy Gamble will be joining the panel at the 2017 conference. The Housing conference will take place over three years
An international materials and development and commercialization organization has announced that they are releasing a white paper to be applied to the construction sector. Lucideon has released the white paper which is titled ‘The Use of Digital Image Correlation in Masonry Research’. The white paper has been co-written for Lucideon
Since the launch of its ‘Environmental’ division earlier this year, Mick George Ltd and its contracting provision for all-encompassing Asbestos services has gone from strength to strength. Stringent controls make the Asbestos removal industry one of the most regulated in the UK, second only to the Nuclear industry, and thus
Problems with the design, procurement and installation of the gasification plant at a Glasgow waste-to-energy plant have forced Interserve to make £70m of provisions on the contract. Above: CGI of the completed Glasgow Recycling & Renewable Energy Centre In a trading update to shareholders, Interserve said that the problems had dented its whole outlook on the UK construction market. “Our expectations for the UK construction division as a whole have been significantly adversely impacted by a further deterioration in our Glasgow energy from waste contract.” It continued: “The issues relate to the design, procurement and installation of the gasification plant, together with continuing challenges with the supply chain that will result in further cost overruns and delays. As a result the board anticipates a £70m exceptional contract provision to be taken in the first half of 2016, resulting in a similar level of cash outflow spread across 2016 and 2017. We will be pursuing every opportunity to mitigate this situation.” Interserve signed a £146m contract with Viridor to undertake the engineering, procurement and construction of the Glasgow Recycling & Renewable Energy Centre. Completion was originally scheduled for 2016. On top of all else, the project has also been subject to strike action in recent weeks. This article was published on 6 May 2016 (last updated on 6 May 2016). Source link
Three months after putting the brakes on the nascent tidal energy industry with the launch of a review, the government has now named a trusted insider to lead it. Above: Former energy minister Charles Hendry will lead a team of civil servants for an ‘independent’ review of tidal lagoons On 10th February 2016 the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) announced that it was suspending its support for the proposed £1bn Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project pending the outcome of an ‘independent’ review that it was commissioning into the technology. “Whilst progress has been made to understand this technology, more work needs to be done to determine whether they present value for money,” it said at the time. [See our previous report here.] DECC said that the review would be ‘independent’. Three months later, it has now appointed former Conservative MP Charles Hendry to lead it. Mr Hendry was energy minister from May 2010 until September 2012. He will be supported by a team of civil servants. The review will assess the strategic case for tidal lagoons and whether they could play a cost effective role as part of the UK energy mix. The review will also help establish an evidence base to ensure all decisions made regarding tidal lagoon energy are in the best interest of the UK. Its findings are expected to be announced in the autumn, DECC said. This article was published on 9 May 2016 (last updated on 9 May 2016). Source link
The primary concern of MOSL is “not necessarily consumer protection”. The market operator performs an exchange function, and is therefore “removed from customers”, according to consulting firm PwC. In a report commissioned by the Consumer Council for Water, PwC laid out the first seven success criteria of Market Operator Services Limited (MOSL), which it said were all relevant to the household market as well as non-household. The seventh criterion, it said, is the “only truly customer-focused one”. The report considered lessons the water sector could take from other regulated sectors, such as energy and telecoms, which have already opened their household markets to competition. It also looked at how existing success criteria for water market reform could apply to household competition. What does success look like to MOSL? Source: MOSL PwC warned that consumer detriments may be caused by market failure, regulatory failure and/or behavioural bias, and urged regulators to use specific tools, such as licence conditions and standards of conduct, to target detriments or issues arising in markets. Six key success factors for a household retail market in water, set out by PwC, are: Price competition among retailers with a level playing field Customers receive value for money for the price and services offered by retailers Customers are active and engaged in the market, and switching supplier is easy Retailers are motivated to deliver improved services New suppliers can enter the market freely Customers who need extra protection receive it Ofwat is due to publish the final findings of its cost-benefit review of the household water retail market next month. Tools regulators can use to target consumer detriments Source: PwC Source link
Barnsley-based PVC fabrication businesses SASH-Fitrite is under new ownership after a management buy-in. Above: A window by Sash UK The £22m turnover SASH-Fitrite group makes doors and windows under the Sash UK brand and Fitrite fencing and decking. The group employs approximately 180 staff at its head office and main production facility in South Yorkshire. It has been acquired by John Ross and Nick Lilburn, both of whom were part of the former management team at Bradford-based SafeStyle Group. The transaction is backed by private debt fund Praesidian Capital Europe. SASH-Fitrite is the second Yorkshire doors and windows company to be bought out this month. Halifax-based Polyframe was taken over by its management last week on the retirement of the company’s founder. New SASH-Fitrite managing director John Ross said: “It’s great to be back operating in the industry again and Sash, as a long-established and successful fabricator in Yorkshire, provides Nick and myself with the ideal platform for doing so. Our plan for Sash is simple – to continue where the previous owners left off by focusing firmly on the trade, commercial and housebuilding revenue streams of the business.” This article was published on 13 Jul 2016 (last updated on 13 Jul 2016). Source link
In 2016, many Window and Door System Companies joined the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF). Due to the level, quantity and quality of those Members, the Federation has now fully established a new specific GGF ‘Systems House Group’. The scope of the Group was determined at a preliminary meeting in January 2017 when system house companies met to discuss the potential Group’s scope. It proved to be far reaching and includes; Input into the GGF overall strategy such as the future shape and requirements of Building Regulations, e.g. Approved Document changes in England in 2018 How to tackle the issues caused by restrictive planning conditions (such as Article 4 Directions) that may exclude some framing materials in certain circumstances To assess the potential impact of any regulatory changes and through the GGF’s political lobbying campaigns, influence the shape of those changes to ensure they can be achieved and are not detrimental to any specific framing materials To ensure System Companies are represented and their voice heard in Industry Standards setting forums To work with our partners and develop workable solutions to current or potential issues that may exclude certain companies, in particular small and micro enterprises, from parts of the market, e.g. Small/micro fabricators who cannot justify third party certification to supply SBD compliant works The Group met for its first meeting on 4th May in Birmingham and GGF Members companies such as REHAU, VEKA, Profine UK, Synseal, Deceuninck and ALUK were represented. The meeting was chaired by Gareth Jones, Marketing & Technical Director – Window Solutions REHAU, who commented, “It was good to Chair the first formal meeting of this essential group for the GGF and the industry.” Gareth was elected Chairman of the System House Group by the Group’s Members and the position also means a seat on the GGF Board. On taking on this new responsibility, Gareth added, “It’s an honour to represent the System Houses in the GGF Membership and the sector overall on the GGF Board. I will ensure the Group works to maintain and raise industry standards and that we focus on addressing the key issues affecting the sector.” Some of the concerns involve changes to Building Regulations, reducing the duplication of certification on some projects and making it easier for companies to use and feed into Building Information Modelling (BIM) which is being used more frequently by architects and specifiers. The next meeting is in August 2017 for more information on this meeting and if you would like to attend please email info@ggf.org.uk.
Jet Aire has put an investment in to expanding their fleet. The drainage contractor has announced that they have invested in their first recycler. This expansion of the capabilities of Jet Aire’s fleet has come after investing around £400,000 for the recycler. The JHL FlexLine 414 unit is thought to be one of four units in use in the UK. The recycler that has been purchased by Jet Aire is thought to be the only unit in operation in the North of England. The FlexLine 414 in manufactured in Denmark and delivers an eco-friendly performance. The unit manages to cleanse and reuse the water for jetting while on site. This unit will cut down the water used on tasks such as de-silting. Other tasks that the unit can offer an eco-friendly performance of work such as large diameter pipe cleaning as well as a number of other industrial cleaning and waste removal tasks. Purchase of the FlexLine 414 has come after the Leeds based company has invested in an Ultracoat division in their business. This new division that has been set up by Jet Aire strengthens structures that may be weak or corroded. This strengthening takes place by using an epoxy resin. Another investment that has been made by the drainage contractor is a cutting edge UV lining rig which can be used to repair pipes by inflating liner full of a special resin that is cured by the UV lights and creates a new pipe within the broken one. These new systems are a development on the hot cure and ambient lighting procedure that Jet Aire has been utilising for more than a decade. The recent investments by Jet Aire means that the business is in a dominant position in the market. Jet Aire has been operating for the past thirty years in order to offer their clients in the commercial, industrial and domestic sectors professional drainage solutions. Through making the most of the technological developments, Jet Aire has been able to reduce their environmental impact as well as their carbon footprint.
Cundall has appointed Tim Stidwill as a new Structural Engineering Partner. The international and multidisciplinary engineering company has made the appointment in order to improve and expand their structural engineering branding across the Midlands. Tim Stidwill will be based in Cundall’s Birmingham office, ideally situated to aid Tim with his new responsibilities at Cundall. Cundall has offices in 11 countries around the world and works to offer a range of different engineering services. In the Midlands, where Tim Stidwill will be operating, the business’ building engineering team has become unrivalled. Tim will be able to develop Cundall’s structural engineering sector so that it can reach the same prominence across the Midlands. Tim has a reputation for being a strong structural engineer that is talented and focused. Tim will be a good asset to the Cundall team and will be valuable as they look to develop their structural engineering sector. Tim has moved to join Cundall from Ramboll. In his previous role, Tim was the Director in the Birmingham office and managed the delivery of a number of high-profile projects throughout the Midlands as well as projects that took place across the UK and in Europe. Tim has experience successfully completing complex projects such as the Paradise Development which took place in Birmingham City Centre, Energy from Waste facilities created in London and Gloucester and the New North Zealand Hospital in Denmark. His engineering designs have also proved vital on a number of different projects in the midlands such as the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and a number of projects taken place at the Universities of Birmingham, Birmingham City, Warwick and Leicester. Tim is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Structural Engineers. The new Structural Engineering Partner also focuses on BIM tools and sustainable design in his work. His ability to provide technically excellent projects that are efficient and sustainable will be a big selling point Tim brings to Cundall’s Midlands team.
Yorkshire Housing, the largest social housing provider in Yorkshire, will be attending a panel discussion for the Housing 2017 conference. The Director of Development and New Business for Yorkshire Housing, Andy Gamble will be joining the panel at the 2017 conference. The Housing conference will take place over three years and is expected to attract more than 1,500 delegates. It has also been estimated that the event will be visited by around 8,000 people. The Housing 2017 conference will take place between the 27th and the 29th June at Manchester Central. Other notable people who will be joining Andy Gamble as a part of the panel is the chief operating officer of Willmott Partnership Charlie Scherer and the executive director of regeneration for the Accord Group, Alan Yates. At the Manchester event the panel will join together and discuss the role that is played by Housing Associations when it comes to alleviating the pressures on the construction sector due to skills shortages. Yorkshire Housing has been able to provide 18,000 affordable and social rent homes in the county and has plans to increase this number by building 3,000 more homes by 2020. The Housing Association offers a range of care and support services too across the Yorkshire region. By being such a prominent provider of affordable homes in the North of England, the Association is quite heavily invested in the ways that the skills shortage in the construction industry can be alleviated in order to help with the construction on more new homes. Andy Gamble of Yorkshire Housing has suggested that the deficit of people with construction skills in the industry. As the lack of skilled workers in the sector means the ability to construct more houses in order to meet demand becomes inhibited. The panel focusing on addressing the skills crisis takes place on the 28th June between 3:30pm and 4:30pm.
An international materials and development and commercialization organization has announced that they are releasing a white paper to be applied to the construction sector. Lucideon has released the white paper which is titled ‘The Use of Digital Image Correlation in Masonry Research’. The white paper has been co-written for Lucideon by Dr Geoff Edgell who is the director and principal consultant for construction at the company. Dr Geoff Edgell worked on the white paper with Cliff Fudge, the technical director at H+H UK Limited. Lucideon work on developing and testing materials in order to provide assurance to clients in a range of different sectors. The white paper that has been published looks into how Digital Image Correlation can be used in recent projects with concrete masonry. The paper was first presented at the 13th Canadian Masonry Symposium in Nova Scotia in the 6th of June this year. The digital imaging process has been introduced as a specialised way to monitor the performance and durability of materials and products when exposed to external forces such as forces, weights, strains and stresses. Geoff Edgell of Lucideon has said that this analysis that is offered by Digital Image Correlation will help to use products to their best capacity as well as seeing how tolerant materials are to external stresses. The Correlation system allows real time measurements of the strains to be taken and an observation of the individual components of a material and their durability. These developments that are being made through the Digital Image Correlation can lead to new innovations in the masonry sector as well as other materials that are related. Before this Correlation research discussed in the white paper, the impact of stresses and strains could not be measures. Lucideon have invested in the Digital Image Correlation technology and uses it in their structural testing laboratories as well as on site around the UK and the USA.
Since the launch of its ‘Environmental’ division earlier this year, Mick George Ltd and its contracting provision for all-encompassing Asbestos services has gone from strength to strength. Stringent controls make the Asbestos removal industry one of the most regulated in the UK, second only to the Nuclear industry, and thus only 400 licensed contractors operate in the UK. Reaffirming its commitment and professionalism within the industry, Mick George Ltd has recently received certification of approval for ‘Asbestos Removal Contractors Association’ (ARCA) membership. Formed over 35 years ago, ARCA is the leading trade association in the field of Asbestos management, playing a pivotal role to shape working procedures and legislation, as well as offering support, representation, advice and training to over 350 members. The Association has gained credibility with HSE, Government, local authorities, and all those concerned with safety in the occupational handling and removal of asbestos materials, and as such, all members are perceived as specialists, in a particularly difficult and hazardous industry. The news follows previous accreditation by Health and Safety Executives, for Mick George Ltd to complete all related Asbestos works. Most notably this includes the ability to handle a wider variety of contaminants, including non-licensed, notifiable non-licensed and licensed Asbestos, uniquely placing the business within the market, due to their ability to provide a ‘start-to-finish’ solution. Michael George, Contracts Director at Mick George Ltd commented: ‘’Partnering and associating ourselves with leading bodies from various disciplines, is a strategy that we intentionally employ across the business.’’ George continued: ‘’We feel that it has multiple benefits, none more so than the very tangible advantages of being able to learn from experts who have unrivalled experience in the sector. Part of a wider network, it allows all participating members to have a stronger, more informed role in influencing the way the industry operates.’’
