The development is Bam’s second project for Richard Care Villages, which is owned by Bupa. It will create 48 flats, 46 suites and a 60-bed care home providing nursing and dementia care. In addition, there will be a wellness spa, lounges, library, terrace café, restaurant and garden bar. Demolition work on the former BBC Residential Training Centre has involved asbestos clearance and removing roof tiles to allow bats to escape. Groundworks are being undertaken on a 26,000 cu m cut excavation for the basement. Construction is expected to be completed in September 2018. Bam Construction regional director in the Midlands Rod Stiles said: “This is a significant high-quality private development in a specialist sector. We are very appreciative that the client has put its trust in us again. “Together with our major office scheme at Three Snowhill, and major education schemes for universities and the EFA in Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull, we have a diverse portfolio based on good partnerships, modern approaches and high-quality workmanship.” Richmond Care Villages managing director Paddy Brice said: “We are pleased to be working with Bam again on this prestigious new retirement village for Worcestershire. “Richmond Wood Norton is an extremely complex development with a main village care centre of 100,000 sq ft, but I am confident that Bam has the expertise to deliver a fantastic building for us to provide the very best in retirement living and care.” Source link

©Flickr Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa, and Atul Gupta, one of the Gupta brothers, at an event in 2012 South Africa’s Gupta family, the controversial business dynasty linked to President Jacob Zuma, will sell their shareholdings in all their businesses in the country by the end of the year, the family said in a statement on Saturday. The move will cut the family’s ties to a multibillion-rand mining-to-media empire which according to critics benefited from a string of politically-connected deals. More On this topic IN Mining “As a family, we now believe that the time is right for us to exit our shareholding of the South African businesses which we believe will benefit our existing employees, and lead to further growth in the businesses,” the Guptas said in the statement. “We believe that this decision is in the best interests of our business, the country and our colleagues,” added the family, which moved to South Africa from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh over two decades ago. The exit will affect the Guptas’ interests in Oakbay Investments, a holding vehicle for their empire, which includes Tegeta, a mining company in which Mr Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma was a major shareholder. Tegeta this year acquired Optimum, the lossmaking coal mine placed into business rescue by Glencore after a dispute with the state power utility, Eskom, over supply contracts. The deal closed in April. The Guptas said that they were “already in discussions with several prospective international buyers” for their shareholdings. The family has been dogged by allegations — which have never been proven — that they used relationships with Mr Zuma and his relatives to obtain valuable state contracts for their businesses and influence the appointments of government ministers. Mr Zuma and the Guptas have always denied the allegations against them. Citing a “sustained political attack” on them, the Guptas withdrew from executive roles at their companies in April, alongside Duduzane Zuma who said he would exit investments. In the same month KPMG, Oakbay’s auditor, and several of South Africa’s banks moved to end relationships with the company. Mcebisi Jonas, South Africa’s deputy finance minister, said in March that members of the family had offered him the Treasury’s top job before a crisis last December when Mr Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister and replaced him with an unknown backbencher, causing turmoil in the rand. This week the Guptas were also linked in South Africa’s media to a political storm surrounding the current finance minister, Pravin Gordhan. Police are investigating an alleged spying operation at South Africa’s tax office when Mr Gordhan was in charge. On Friday South Africa’s News24 reported that Mr Gordhan told his staff that the Guptas were attacking him. Amid a sharp sell-off in the rand this week on news of the investigation, Mr Gordhan did not comply with a police request for him to appear at the headquarters of the Hawks, an investigative agency of the police, to receive a warning statement regarding his rights. In an earlier statement on Saturday the Guptas commented on the reports regarding Mr Gordhan, registering their “deep disappointment” and adding that they had “repeatedly pointed out that our family has been a victim of a political campaign against it.” Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link

1 August 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Servest Group has appointed Jason Etherington as to the role of managing director of its Ministry of Defence (MOD) Division. The role will see Etherington manage and develop contracts as part of Servest’s MOD account; share his experience with the wider Servest team to improve the working relationship; and identify future opportunities.   Etherington has served the British Army for the last 25 years in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. His professional background includes commanding the UK’s Apache helicopter force and working as senior operations officer and East Africa lead for the Joint Force HQ, the MOD’s deployable crisis headquarters.  Etherington has also worked closely with FM teams, particularly in his most recent role as Station Commander at Wattisham.   Servest created the role specifically for Etherington, “to grow the existing contract portfolio with the MOD and create a bigger footprint in the armed forces arena”. Source link

The UK has made a historic decision to leave the European Union, a move that sharply contrasts with the view held by the majority of the country’s property industry before the vote. EG is live blogging on our news site editorial.property.rbi.web.ds/news/brexit The post LIVE: Property reeling from Brexit vote appeared first on Estates Gazette.com. Source link

EDF Energy’s Heysham 2 nuclear plant in Lancashire has ended a record run of non-stop operation at 940 days, after one of its reactors was taken offline for planned maintenance on Friday. The record for continuous operation of a nuclear reactor had been held for 22 years by the Pickering 7 reactor in Ontario in Canada. Heysham 2 began its run on 18 February 2014 and passed the benchmark of 894 days set by Pickering 7 in August this year. The plant features two advanced gas-cooled reactors with a combined generating capacity of 1.23GW. The maintenance programme will see replacement of two large gas circulators used to cool the reactor which has been shut down. The other reactor is scheduled to continue running as normal during the period. The Torness nuclear power station in East Lothian, which is also operated by EDF Energy, is expected to break the record again in February 2017. Provided there are no unplanned shutdowns, it will reach 996 days of continuous operation when it is taken out of service for maintenance in April 2017. In February the firm announced it was extending the life of four of its nuclear plants, including Heysham 2 and Torness. Heysham 1 and Hartlepool had their closure dates pushed back by five years until 2024. Heysham 2 and Torness are set to close in 2030 – seven years earlier than previously planned. Station director John Munro said: “This excellent performance only happens with lots of planning, investment and total commitment from a very professional team of people here at Heysham 2. “The investment in the plant during the planned maintenance shutdown will support the plant’s lifetime extension – supported by 1,000 skilled people.” Source link

Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Fri, Apr 15th 2016 BD Living has selected Paragon’s routing and scheduling software to better manage the delivery and fitting of built-in and freestanding furniture and accessories Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday BD Living, the in-house furniture division of Barratt Developments, has selected Paragon’s routing and scheduling software to better manage the delivery and fitting of built-in and freestanding furniture and accessories. The company will use the route optimisation software to plan up to 60 daily deliveries across 400 new-build property developments, as well as schedule installation requirements by its mobile team of more than 30 skilled fitters, in order to reduce mileage, save planning time and increase productivity. BD Living was previously using a manual process to coordinate its transport and fitting operation, but faced with increasing demand for its services and a growing range of different furniture products and accessories taking from 2 hours to a full day to install, the company needed a fresh approach to planning. Following a thorough evaluation of the software, BD Living teamed up with Paragon to adopt a multi-depot solution that would support effective logistics planning from its main depot in Bardon, Leicestershire. The switch to the route optimisation software is expected to simplify and streamline internal procedures for the management of both delivery and installation teams to ensure the required quality of workmanship and customer service. In addition, BD Living is targeting fuel and time savings for the transport fleet, while increasing available fitting capacity by minimising the amount of driving to and between jobs. Richard Peel, Operations Director at BD Living commented: “We are committed to providing furnishing solutions that will fit in with our customers’ homes perfectly by providing the highest standard of design, construction and customer experience. Delivery and installation is an important aspect of our offering, so we needed to ensure we maintain and improve our quality service levels as the company continues to grow. We have worked in partnership with Paragon to implement an effective routing and scheduling solution that will enhance the performance of our operation moving forward.” William Salter, Managing Director of Paragon said: “We work closely with companies such as BD Living to share our transport planning expertise and configure our routing and scheduling software to their precise requirements. Our proven approach is helping fleet and distribution operators of all sizes, across a wide range of industry sectors, to achieve operational efficiencies, boost service levels and make best use of resources.” Source link

This winter is said to become the coldest since 2010/11 when Britain was battling sub-zero temperatures and severe frost country-wide. Already freezing temperatures are foreshadowing what this “year of the snowstorm” might look like. This is the time to gear up for winter: employers need to be thinking about how they can mitigate risks that come with the season, training workers in health and safety and making sure the company is compliant with legal regulations. These 5 areas can be a good place to start when trying to assess the level of compliance regarding winter-specific hazards in and outside the office. Slipping into high breaching fees Winter is the time of wet and oozy paths, frozen ground, rain, snow, slush… and many other chances to slip and hit the pavement. If workers or even civilians are injured on company ground, the employer is looking at hefty fees, not to forget the public consequences of civil claims, which can damage a company’s image. Companies need to make sure that every potential slippery surface is treated with the right type of grit. That means considering less obvious spaces – like shortcuts or carparks – and applying grit after rainfall/snowfall, as otherwise the grit will wash away. Also, warning signs need to be put up to help civilians to identify risks. Employees need to be trained on how to set up warning signs and shutoffs effectively. To make sure everyone is clear on how to handle certain situations, work distribution sheets need to be created that state who is responsible for doing which task. Freezing temperatures complicate working outside Industries that involve working outside, like construction or engineering, will be highly affected by the change in temperatures. Some work might be possible to reschedule for spring or be done inside instead, but sometimes workers will just have to put up with standing outside in the cold. In this case, it is the employer’s obligation to guarantee access to facilities, where workers can warm up during (frequent) breaks. Being cold is not only uncomfortable, it also compromises one’s ability to judge situations accurately and thus should not be taken lightly: work gets rushed, which leads to sloppy mistakes that can threaten the whole operation and everyone involved in it. As soon as temperatures drop, workers need to be trained on how to arm for the cold. Wearing the right clothing is important – and trickier to get right than one might think. Instead of thick clothing pieces, layering multiple thinner layers is key: that way workers can take off sweaty inner layers during break easily and stay dry and comfortable. Different materials make a difference, for clothes, as well as for gloves, gear and helmets. The danger of icy roads Driving during winter is always more stressful – roads are fuller, people are in a rush to get home, and on top of that weather conditions aggravate the overall situation. There are more accidents, more car break-downs, more deaths. Whilst driving for work cannot be avoided, employers must take measures to mitigate the risk of road accidents by ensuring that every vehicle is using the correct tires and training workers on how to check instruments and engines properly. Frost can cause damage to vehicles that are left outside overnight. Every person operating a machine or vehicle needs to check all functions every morning before usage. This can only be ensured if safety training and schoolings occur frequently. Especially when seasons change, every worker should be updated on all new machinery etc. and be taking HSE coursed to refresh their memory. The season of colds There is no safe way to prevent catching a cold. But there are methods that can decrease the chances, such as washing hands often, cleaning dishes and plates thoroughly, or having a healthy meal for lunch that boosts your immune system with plenty of vitamins. The temperature in the office is an important factor. Staff should know how to heat and ventilate the office properly, as too little fresh air can make you tired, but a draughty office space provokes getting ill. The same goes for ventilation: if the heating is turned on for too long, the air will get dry which causes the throat and eyes to feel itchy. Installing a thermometer in the office might help with checking if the temperature is at the correct level, which should never be lower than 16°C. Providing access to hot drinks and fresh fruit for example, will help workers to feel cosy and energised while it’s storming outside. Winter sadness and its impact at work Feeling down during this time of year is completely normal – shorter days with less sunlight causes the brain to produce less melatonin, which makes us feel tired and even mildly depressed. People already suffering from mental health problems might struggle more than usual with workloads, deadlines, productivity and overall well-being. Talking about mental health at work is important to help workers feel safe by creating an environment in which talking about depression or anxiety is no taboo. Making staff come up with excuses for why they’re being less productive, constantly taking sick leave, etc. only makes it harder to feel understood. Companies need to provide access to helplines and encourage openness about mental illnesses to create a safe and healthy environment at work. Where to start Health and safety risks during this time of year are manifold and hard to grasp. Tackling these mentioned areas though can help employers to get a vague idea of where to start gearing up for this coming winter. Also, online health and safety quizzes can help figuring out a company’s current level of compliance. Nevertheless, an extensive and legitimate assessment can only be carried out by a professional.

Considerate Constructors Scheme’s industry survey reveals more needs to be done to change perceptions and encourage more women in construction.  Whilst 79% of respondents said the construction industry has improved its approach in encouraging women into construction, 52% have witnessed or experienced sexism within the industry.  The survey also reveals the main reasons women do not choose to work in construction cited as being:  working conditions – 22% lack of female role models – 22% negative image of the industry – 20%   The UK and Ireland campaign ‘Spotlight on… women in construction ’ has been launched by the Considerate Constructors Scheme to boost the much-needed industry effort to attract more women into the construction industry. The Scheme, which makes around 15,000 monitoring visits to construction sites, companies and suppliers every year, surveyed over 1000 people to find out why women still only represent a meagre 11% of the construction industry workforce. The Campaign provides a variety of practical steps that can be taken to address this issue in the short, medium and long term. The survey findings also revealed that: 94% of respondents agreed that the industry would benefit from employing more women. 76% said there are no construction jobs which only men can do. 74% said there should not be quotas for hiring women into construction. It is clear from the survey, that although some results appear encouraging, there is still a huge amount to be done, particularly in addressing sexism and changing misguided perceptions of what a career in construction offers to women. ‘Spotlight on…women in construction’ pulls together the latest and greatest examples of best practice, case studies from women working across the construction industry, legal requirements and links to useful organisations encouraging women to work in construction. The Campaign extends the Scheme’s influence in this important area; by complementing the Scheme’s monitoring Checklist which asks several questions about equality and diversity to raise standards across the thousands of Scheme-registered sites, companies and suppliers; and the role of the industry mascot, Honor Goodsite in visiting hundreds of schools across the UK and Ireland every year. The importance of having role models is absolutely critical. As such, ‘Spotlight on…women in construction’ has interviewed a number of women within the industry to examine what opportunities and challenges they have faced and why construction offers a great career for women of all ages, backgrounds and skills. Case study contributions include: Roma Agrawal, (Structural Engineer at AECOM and a Director of the CCS); Stephanie Bennett, (trainee Quantity Surveyor, Morgan Sindall); Victoria Betts, (Senior Site Manager, Higgins Construction), Sally Cave, (first qualified female Gas Membrane Installer in the UK); Margaret Conway, (Project Manager for McAleer & Rushe and winner of CIOB Construction Manager of the Year 2017 Award); Michèle Dix (Managing Director, Crossrail 2); Katie Kelleher (Crane Operator, Laing O’Rourke); Eillish Kwai (Employment and Skills Manager, Ardmore); Kath Moore, (Carpenter and Chief Executive, Women into Construction); and Megan Robinson (Technical Coordinator at Barratt Developments plc). Managing Director for Crossrail 2, Michèle Dix said: “Women are still underrepresented at present but I think we are starting to move in the right direction. We need to recognise the need for more flexible working arrangements, especially if we are to encourage women back after taking time off for children. “I think there are lots of opportunities out there and one message I would give to my fellow women colleagues is “go for them!”. Be confident in your own abilities. The industry has so much to offer.” Site Manager for Higgins Construction, Victoria Betts said: “In the time I have been working in the industry there has definitely been an increase in the amount of females working in it. The Considerate Constructors Scheme has been a big driving force in this as it insists on facilities for females that previously would not have been in place.” Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Edward Hardy said: “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to ‘Spotlight on…women in construction’. The Campaign provides a must-read set of resources for organisations and individuals who would like to improve their standards of considerate construction – with the aim of driving greater equality, diversity and inclusion throughout our industry. “Not only is it imperative that standards must be raised in this area, in order to help encourage more women into the industry, but a more equal and diverse workforce also brings greater collaboration, creative thinking and more inclusive workplaces. This can only be a positive step in helping to improve the image of the UK and Irish construction industries.” The Scheme will continue to update resources available within ‘Spotlight on…women in construction’ and would be very interested to hear more from the industry on this issue, including further examples of best practice and case studies. Email enquiries@ccsbestpractice.org.uk to send in suggestions. Click here to read ‘Spotlight on…women in construction’.