The South West Construction Summit was hailed as a great success. The attendee profile at the South West Construction Summit included some highly influential professionals, creating a rare opportunity to connect with the hardest to reach decision makers within the South West built environment. The Summit took the form of
The team at B & K Structures are celebrating award-winning success, with their projects picking up no less than two trophies and three highly commended certificates, at the Offsite Awards which were held in London this week. As one of the UK’s leading offsite specialist contractors, involved in the design,
Peace Recruitment Group, expert recruiters for the built environment, has just launched new recruitment technology which will pass control of the recruitment process over to both employers and candidates alike. Peace’s new bespoke website, which will include the first ever ‘Trip Advisor-like service for the recruitment industry’, and the first
A leading North-east builders’ merchant is hosting an open day to unveil a new hard-landscaping feature at its Inverurie premises. GPH Builders Merchants, which also has branches in Westhill and Stonehaven, will showcase the impressive new display at the event taking place on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 June. GPH
The South West Construction Summit was hailed as a great success. The attendee profile at the South West Construction Summit included some highly influential professionals, creating a rare opportunity to connect with the hardest to reach decision makers within the South West built environment. The Summit took the form of a combined Conference and Exhibition with significant opportunity for networking. The Summit brings together key contributors of the regional construction industry and its supply chain to support and underpin the progress already being made. The event explores opportunities, major projects, client commitments and procurement best practice, including; skills, image, sustainability and productivity in construction. The South West Construction Summit opened with introductions from Andrew Carpenter & Emma Osmundsen from event hosts Constructing Excellence South West. This was swiftly followed by: Mike Borkowski – Southern Construction Framework: “The Skills Gap and whether it is just someone else’s problem.” Leif Tarry – CITB: “CITB Projected Skills need and construction as a career of choice.” Rachel Bell – Stride Treglown and Chairman of Women in Property: “Image of Construction and Gender Diversity” Shortly after a Q&A, Refreshments and networking opportunities. Nathan Waller – Natwest Bank: “Development finance and the early collaboration between funders and property developers, optimising supply chain relationships.” John Boughton – Willmott Dixon: “Achieving Value through Efficiencies.” Dominic Thasarathar – Autodesk: “Constructing the Future: Possibilities, probabilities and opportunities.” Shortly after a Q&A, Lunch and networking opportunities. Emma Osmundsen – Exeter Council: “Delivering Sustainable Energy Efficient public buildings.” David Sutton – EDF Energy: “A Case Study on Hinkley Point” Cllr Paul Smith – Bristol City Council: “How to tackle Bristol’s Housing Crisis” Andrew Carpenter then returned back to the stage with a summary of the day. All the speakers raised some very valuable points in their discussions which made the attendees extremely engaged and involved when it got to the Q&A. It was a very busy day for the South West construction sector as the summit was swiftly followed that evening by the South West Built Environment Awards 2017 at the same venue.
The team at B & K Structures are celebrating award-winning success, with their projects picking up no less than two trophies and three highly commended certificates, at the Offsite Awards which were held in London this week. As one of the UK’s leading offsite specialist contractors, involved in the design, manufacture and delivery of some of the UK’s most renowned buildings – B & K Structures have proven experience in understanding complex engineering structures incorporating glulam, cross laminated timber, steel and timber cassettes. Managing Director Andy Goodwin said of the company’s success: “The resurgence of offsite construction has played to our strengths, being innovators in offsite manufactured hybrid structures since 1974. It is gratifying to be recognised for our achievements by such eminent judges as Mark Farmer, the author of the government commissioned report Modernise or Die.” With over 200 outstanding submissions, the Offsite Awards were hotly contested. B & K Structures came out on top of two of the award categories picking up the trophy for Best Hybrid Construction Project for The University Centre Farnborough and Commercial Project of the Year for Nando’s Cambridge. In addition, the Sky Control Centre was Highly Commended by the judges for the Best Use of Timber and another of the company’s projects, Daltons Lane – the world’s largest cross laminated timber building – was Highly Commended in both the Best Use of Timber and the Housing Project of the Year categories. Best Hybrid Construction Project – The University Centre Farnborough Farnborough College of Technology offers a wide range of education programmes accredited by the University of Surrey. Designed to be the College’s flagship building, the University Centre Farnborough, is a major step towards the College reaching its objective of becoming a community university. As the main entrance to the college, the new two-storey hybrid structure incorporates the benefits of cross laminated timber panels, glulam beams & timber cassettes – combined to create a modern teaching & learning facility. Commercial Project of the Year – Nando’s Cambridge Nando’s, Cambridge is the company’s first ‘Next Generation’ restaurant in the country and forms a sustainable construction prototype which will be rolled-out across the wider Nando’s estate. The high-quality design incorporates a number of sustainability measures, which will contribute positively to the commercial future of the restaurant as well as being eco-friendly to the surrounding area. The sustainable structural form, erected in just three weeks, includes timber cassette walls, with glulam roof beams and a visual cross laminated timber soffit. Best Use of Timber – Highly Commended: The Sky Control Centre The Sky Campus, located in Osterley, West London – has been undergoing an extensive redevelopment to consolidate the company’s operations. The second phase of the development, the Sky Control Centre – is a mixed-use scheme with a combined total of circa 41,000m² – encompassing office space, studios and production facilities together with research and development zones. The site is also home to an energy centre, servicing facilities, plant and equipment, as well as bicycle parking. B & K Structures supplied and installed over 7,500 linear metres of glulam beams and just under 16,000m2 of large timber roof cassettes. The Sky Control Centre building is the largest timber roof cassette project in the UK. Best Use of Timber & Housing Project of the Year – Highly Commended: Dalston Lane Standing at 33.3 metres, at the time of construction, Dalston Lane is the tallest timber structure in the world with the largest cross laminated timber panels measuring 12 metres long by 2.8 metres high. Ranging from five to 10 storeys – Dalston Lane incorporates 121 residential units comprising contemporary style one to three bedroom apartments, which are spread across nine floors totalling 10,850m2. The development has been constructed from approximately 4,400m3 of cross laminated timber with only seven tonnes of steel beams. Optimised Offsite Solutions Offering a complete package of structural solutions, across a comprehensive product portfolio including glulam, cross laminated timber, timber cassettes and steel frame, as part of their hybrid structural solutions – B & K Structures has an outstanding, award winning track record across all commercial sectors. Through careful design detailing and value engineering, B & K Structures is able to offer the best possible construction solution, ensuring a smooth integration for follow-on trades – delivering environmentally sustainable projects on time and to budget.
Peace Recruitment Group, expert recruiters for the built environment, has just launched new recruitment technology which will pass control of the recruitment process over to both employers and candidates alike. Peace’s new bespoke website, which will include the first ever ‘Trip Advisor-like service for the recruitment industry’, and the first ever JobCast service, has been specifically designed to ensure that all clients receive gold standard customer service. Peace enlisted the help of its strategic digital partner Bold Identities to design and build this new technology. Bold Identities is a recruitment specific digital agency run by co-founders Richard Evans and Tom Wilde, who combined have more than 20 years of experience in both the recruitment and digital sectors. “From our initial discussions with the Peace Recruitment Group it was agreed that we wanted to come up with something completely bespoke and brand new,” explains Richard Evans. “Having worked closely with Peace to transform its digital brand and online presence it was immediately evident that one of the USPs of the business is its emphasis on customer service. Chris was very keen to build on this value and also incentivise his Consultant’s to deliver the highest possible levels of customer service. To help Chris deliver this goal, we have developed a unique state of the art online platform that works on real-time information, making the feedback process simple, interactive and effective. This allows both clients and candidates alike to record feedback specifically on the Consultant’s performance based on customer service level. “The project also includes various other bespoke technology and systems to help Peace stand out online and deliver a better experience to their customers. Taking into consideration the rise of mobile recruitment and the dominance of smartphones we have worked with Chris to develop “JobCasts” – an audio-based job adverts system. This allows candidates to listen to audio job adverts while on the move and apply directly from their mobile device.” Evans adds: “It’s been a pleasure to work with a recruitment business who are not only forward-thinking, but also put their customers at the core of their digital strategy.” Peace’s unique customer feedback platform, likened to Trip Advisor for recruitment consultants, will see its consultants ranked in real time on their performance. Clients will be asked to provide feedback at key intervals via text message or email, and the results will automatically be loaded up onto Peace’s new website. This technology has been specifically designed to ensure all consultants are prioritising service over sales. Chris Peace, Managing Director of Peace Recruitment, comments: “We believe it is in our best interests to give clients an outstanding service every time, and our new bespoke customer feedback platform will ensure that this happens. We want to achieve our business goals by listening to clients and giving them what they need. I have always said to my team ‘if you get the service right the sales will look after themselves.’ I hope I am proved correct, as if we do not make the grade there will be nowhere to hide at the results are real time and published on our new website automatically. The consultants in the office seem to be up for the challenge.” “Our JobCast service is again something completely bespoke and brand new. Time is money these days, and most of us are constantly on the go. This service will let people keep up-to-date via their smart device with what relevant jobs are available no matter where they are, whether they are on a train, in a car, wherever. Also it’s so much more personal, and less time consuming, hearing about the job directly from the consultant rather than taking the time to read another generic job specification. I know personally, if I was looking for a job, this is a service I would find extremely useful.” The launch of Peace Recruitment’s new bespoke website; alongside its re-branding; the double in staff numbers in trades and labour; and the launch of its London operation and new temp division; are all seen as key developments in the recruiters quest to become the recruitment company of choice for the built environment by 2020. Peace Recruitment is still the only recruitment company in the UK to be a member of the Institute of Customer Service. For more information please visit www.peacerecruitment.co.uk<http://www.peacerecruitment.co.uk/>.
A leading North-east builders’ merchant is hosting an open day to unveil a new hard-landscaping feature at its Inverurie premises. GPH Builders Merchants, which also has branches in Westhill and Stonehaven, will showcase the impressive new display at the event taking place on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 June. GPH has been serving the North-east’s building and DIY markets with a complete range of materials for 35 years, and customers are invited to view its vast range of garden and patio products during the event from 9am to 3pm on Friday 23 and from 9am to 2pm on Saturday 24 June. Each branch has different product offerings, and revamp their hard landscaping displays every four years to demonstrate new supplier ranges. The latest display in Inverurie features a mixture of traditional and modern paving, walling and driveway products from landscape suppliers Marshalls and Stonemarket, along with Grange Fencing in various fashionable shades, and Millboard decking. Eva Connell, GPH Westhill branch manager who is responsible for the design of both the display at GPH Inverurie and the new display currently under construction at GPH Stonehaven said: “Knowing where to start when planning a garden facelift can be difficult, so it is important to plan your new space before setting to work. “Our displays demonstrate the range of styles and colours available to suit all tastes and budgets. They also show how different products wear onsite, and highlight the importance of having them laid properly. “By spending time at our new display, and speaking to staff in our dedicated landscaping team, you will be able to create beautiful, practical, outdoor spaces to enhance your home.” The Inverurie branch, situated in Highclere Business Park, will be running a number of promotions throughout both days, with competitions for young and old, meet the supplier sessions, and refreshments for all.
