New apprenticeship funding proposals for small employers Published: 13 August, 2016 New apprenticeship funding proposals announced by the government look like a ‘fair settlement for small employers’, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The apprenticeship programme – launched in 2010 – has already given 2.9 million people the
12 October 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Corporate cleaning services provider Peartree Cleaning Services has reported growth in the business in its 2016 figures. After 13 per cent year-on-year growth in 2015, Peartree has continued its growth – releasing 2016 figures closing at £15.8 million.
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Mon, Apr 11th 2016 Invisible Connections Special TSS Connectors used alternative to the specified large stainless steel angle supports for the Olympic Athletes’ ‘Village. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Invisible Connections develop alternative
Former chief scientific advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc), Sir David Mackay, has passed away at the age of 48. Former chief scientific advisor to Decc, David MacKay He had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and was being treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Clugston Construction has secured a contract to build a new £60m Ikea store in Sheffield. The scheme will see construction and fit-out of a 31,500m2 two-storey store for the Swedish home furnishings retailer close to the Meadowhall shopping centre. Construction is due to begin imminently and follows enabling works earlier
Faithful & Gould has been selected as programme and project manager for the 10-year expansion of the University of Glasgow’s Gilmorehill Campus. Above: Image of a redeveloped Gilmorehill campus The £1bn masterplan, for the creation of a new campus for the University of Glasgow on the site of the former
Western Thermal Limited, a leading specialist in heating and ventilation insulation, ductwork, electric heating, fire stopping, and thermal energy auditing, is offering its services to the Wexham Park Hospital Emergency Department. The NHS unit will benefit from thermal insulation, trace heating, and fire stopping on the building’s pipework and ductwork,
Hussain Architectural Design (HAD) are part of the finalists at the British Muslim Awards 2018, running under the ‘Service to creativity and Technology’ category. This year will hold the 6th awards ceremony on the 31st of January at the Bradford Hotel in Bradford. The aim of the British Muslim Awards
The term, ‘disruptive innovation’ was coined by Harvard Business School professor, Clayton M. Christensen in his 1997 bestseller, The Innovators Dilemma. It refers to a new technology that disrupts an established product, shaking up or creating a new industry. Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director at industrial obsolete automation equipment supplier
New apprenticeship funding proposals for small employers Published: 13 August, 2016 New apprenticeship funding proposals announced by the government look like a ‘fair settlement for small employers’, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The apprenticeship programme – launched in 2010 – has already given 2.9 million people the chance to learn new skills so they can go on to access fulfilling careers and help boost UK business. On 12 August, 2016, the government published proposals for a new funding model for apprenticeships and further details on the Apprenticeship Levy. Under the plans for the Levy, the government has proposed that those employers who are too small to pay the levy – around 98% of employers in England – will have 90% of the costs of training paid for by the government. Extra support – worth £2,000 per trainee – will also be available for employers and training providers that take on 16- to 18-year-old apprentices or young care leavers. Employers with fewer than 50 employees will also have 100% of training costs paid for by government if they take on these apprentices. Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Robert Halfon said: “We need to make sure people of all ages and backgrounds have a chance to get on in life. Apprenticeships give young people – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds – a ladder of opportunity. Our businesses can only grow and compete on the world stage if they have the right people, with the right skills. “The Apprenticeship Levy will help create millions of opportunities for individuals and employers. This will give our young people the chance they deserve in life and to build a highly-skilled future workforce that the UK needs.” The proposals also include plans to: Allow employers to use Levy funds to retrain workers in new skills, even if they have prior qualifications, as long as it is significantly different from their previous qualifications Create a new register of training providers from April 2017, to improve the link between training providers and employers, and help employers identify a high-quality provider so they can deliver the skills they need to grow Brian Berry, FMB chief executive, said: “Getting skills and apprenticeships policy right is essential to the UK, and particularly so to the construction industry right now. We face serious skills shortages in our industry at the moment. “The only long-term cure for this is to recruit and train more people, in particular to attract a new generation of talent to take on the skilled jobs the industry creates. Small and medium-sized firms do the majority of training in our industry – micro businesses (those employing fewer than ten people) alone train around half of all construction apprentices. It is therefore crucial that new apprenticeship funding arrangements work for these firms and do not impose higher costs on them.” Mr Berry continued: “The funding arrangements announced today appear to strike a reasonable balance, which takes into account the support that small employers need. Those employers with wage bills of less than £3 million, who will fall beneath the threshold for paying the new Apprenticeship Levy, will be required to pay 10% contributions towards the cost of training and assessment. This means most small employers should not end up paying more towards training costs than they currently do. “Furthermore, FMB members report significantly higher costs and difficulties associated with training apprentices straight out of school. Therefore, it is right that for small employers training 16-18 year olds, this co-investment requirement will be waived and a further £1,000 payment will be paid to employers to help with these costs.” The government is now inviting employers and training providers to have their say on the initial funding proposals, to try to ensure final plans fully meet the needs of all those involved in the apprenticeship programme. Source link
12 October 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Corporate cleaning services provider Peartree Cleaning Services has reported growth in the business in its 2016 figures. After 13 per cent year-on-year growth in 2015, Peartree has continued its growth – releasing 2016 figures closing at £15.8 million. This is a 16 per cent year-on-year growth representing £2.1 million. Peartree has recently been awarded contracts with organisations including Debenhams, Penguin Random House and KKR. It also works with clients such as Facebook, Selfridges, Foster + Partners, Olympus and Schroders. Source link
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Mon, Apr 11th 2016 Invisible Connections Special TSS Connectors used alternative to the specified large stainless steel angle supports for the Olympic Athletes’ ‘Village. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Invisible Connections develop alternative to the specified large stainless steel angle supports for the London 2012 Olympic Athletes’ ‘Village. The Athletes’ Village for The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games comprised a series of 8 and 9 storey accommodation blocks. Connecting these were a series of deck units, forming enclosed/glazed bridges. These deck units had to be installed after the blocks were constructed, and had to allow maximum installation tolerance as well as the ability to allow expansion movement between the blocks. We were called in by the precaster to produce an alternative to the specified support of large stainless steel angles. The problems with these were cost, practicality, appearance, and the need to work outside the building line.In addition, the connection needed to span a considerable distance between the bridge and structure, to accept a thick layer of vertical insulation. The alternative we proposed was a special version of the TSS stair connector, with a higher capacity. The TSS telescopic connectors allowed precasting to continue off-site whilst the blocks were being constructed. Recesses left in the slab edges accepted the sliding connectors. The precast decks were offered up between the adjacent accommodation blocks and fitted perfectly every time. The modified TSS connectors are now a standard part of the Invisible Connections range, and branded as ‘DTS’.
Former chief scientific advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc), Sir David Mackay, has passed away at the age of 48. Former chief scientific advisor to Decc, David MacKay He had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and was being treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Mackay served as chief scientific advisor to Decc between 2009 and 2014, and in 2013 was appointed regius professor of engineering at his alma mater, Cambridge University. He was also widely known for his 2008 book ‘Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air’. Energy secretary Amber Rudd said: “David was the model of a scientist in government; challenging, insightful and with the ability to explain the most complex subjects in a clear way. “His legacy, including the 2050 calculator now emulated across the world and his brilliant book on sustainable energy, was deservedly recognised by a knighthood earlier this year. His ideas and arguments will continue to influence how we deal with climate change.” Former Labour party leader Ed Miliband said he was a “passionate, original, brave” and “a truly good man”. Former energy secretary Ed Davey described his death as a “tragic loss”, saying he was “one of the UK’s most brilliant men” who had “shaped key green policies” through his work with Decc. Environmental campaigner and Labour peer Baroness Worthington said he was a “brilliant man” who “left this world he was having such an impact on far too soon”. RenewableUK chief executive Hugh McNeal said “David Mackay made a huge contribution to our debate on energy, helping increase understanding about what was possible and the different trade-offs. “He worked hard to make the vital debate on our energy future a responsible one and he gave us important tools like the energy calculator to allow everybody to contribute. We all need to continue to push for a sustainable energy future without the hot air”. Source link
Clugston Construction has secured a contract to build a new £60m Ikea store in Sheffield. The scheme will see construction and fit-out of a 31,500m2 two-storey store for the Swedish home furnishings retailer close to the Meadowhall shopping centre. Construction is due to begin imminently and follows enabling works earlier this year to remediate the site. The store is expected to open in summer 2017. Clugston Construction managing director Steve Radcliffe said “This I believe will be the largest retail scheme we have delivered in Yorkshire and will generate significant opportunities in the Sheffield area for our supply chain.” The new store will create 300 jobs during its construction phase. This article was published on 19 Oct 2016 (last updated on 19 Oct 2016). Source link
Faithful & Gould has been selected as programme and project manager for the 10-year expansion of the University of Glasgow’s Gilmorehill Campus. Above: Image of a redeveloped Gilmorehill campus The £1bn masterplan, for the creation of a new campus for the University of Glasgow on the site of the former Western Infirmary, is believed to be the biggest procurement project in Britain currently. Faithful & Gould will oversee the provision of six academic buildings, forming a “smart campus” with integrated technology and the development of a new civic square. These are: Learning & Teaching Hub; Research Hub; Institute of Health & Wellbeing and College of Social Sciences; College of Arts; College of Science & Engineering; and Alliance of Chronic Diseases. The campus will include a new civic square and improved pedestrian and cycle links between Byres Road and Kelvingrove Park. “This is a very exciting project and will be one of the most high profile higher education programmes in Britain over the next decade,” said Faithful & Gould director Paul Sherry. It is anticipated that a delivery partner for the construction will be in place early 2017. This article was published on 1 Apr 2016 (last updated on 1 Apr 2016). Source link
Western Thermal Limited, a leading specialist in heating and ventilation insulation, ductwork, electric heating, fire stopping, and thermal energy auditing, is offering its services to the Wexham Park Hospital Emergency Department. The NHS unit will benefit from thermal insulation, trace heating, and fire stopping on the building’s pipework and ductwork, including fitted fire rated insulation sleeves. The Executive Operations Director of Western Thermal, Michael Slater, said: “We are proud to be a part of such an important NHS project for the country. Wexham Park Hospital also adds to our project count in the Slough Area, which include LDC data centres and Slough Power.” Western Thermal’s Thermal division is one of the leaders in providing heating and ventilation insulation contractors. It is known by its clients for its services meeting the demands for economic and environmental efficiency and also for its groundbreaking insulation jackets that use removable and reusable thermal materials. While the Trace Heating division specialises in supplying the building’s pipes with water at a constant temperature that also protects the pipes from frost, the trace heating systems offer self-limiting, flexible resistant, and metal-sheathed resistant heating cables. The £49 million hospital project will benefit of all these advantages that Western Thermal has up its sleeve. Wexham Park Hospital has a total of 36 individual rooms and a separate children and minor injuries unit. The main contractor for the project is Kier Construction Ltd, a leading property, residential, construction, and services group. The company has previously contributed to other major projects, including Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, Wembley Stadium, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Recently, it had installed thermal insulation at Victoria Station, helped with the redevelopment of Bond Street Underground Station, and together with the University of Leeds it contributed to the Worsley building and the Edward Boyle Library projects.
Hussain Architectural Design (HAD) are part of the finalists at the British Muslim Awards 2018, running under the ‘Service to creativity and Technology’ category. This year will hold the 6th awards ceremony on the 31st of January at the Bradford Hotel in Bradford. The aim of the British Muslim Awards is to give recognition to different aspects of the society, including business, charity, sport, arts, and culture. What the evening wants to highlight is the determination, hard work, and the personal and commercial achievements of Britain’s Muslim individuals, groups, and businesses. Hussain Architectural Design was founded by the Huddersfield University graduate, Saira Hussain, and has expanded its offices in Burnley, Blackburn, London, Huddersfield, and Manchester. HAD is known for its work to inspire females in the construction industry with an all-female management to back its ideas. Saira, the winner of the 2016’s ABA Business Woman of the Year Award, said about their work at HAD that it transforms homes and building sites into masterworks: “Creativity lies at the heart of every design process and technology is what bring everything together, it’s always humbling to be recognised for the work we do.” Nixie Edwards, the Practice Manager, also said that this achievement proves that hard work pays off and it is what encourages them to keep going: “We are really proud to be part of this industry, and love to find architectural solutions to the challenges that our clients may face.” One of HAD’s newest additions is the interior design department that covers high end housing projects and commercial interiors such as retail, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. By the looks of it, the company has started the year with an honourable achievement that will only help the business grow bigger and stronger in the future.
The term, ‘disruptive innovation’ was coined by Harvard Business School professor, Clayton M. Christensen in his 1997 bestseller, The Innovators Dilemma. It refers to a new technology that disrupts an established product, shaking up or creating a new industry. Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director at industrial obsolete automation equipment supplier EU Automation, discusses three sectors that automation and robotics have disrupted. There are examples of disruptive technology across every industry sector. In consumer technology, the personal computer and the smartphone permanently changed the way we do things. Not only can new technologies create new markets, they can also have a huge impact on industry. Industrially, technologies like additive manufacturing are changing the way products can be manufactured. But it is not just manufacturing and consumer technology that have been affected. Here, we look at three industries that have been forever changed by automation. Automotive The automotive industry was quick to adopt automated technology and automotive production lines already feature some of the latest industrial robots. Automation has been a useful technology in automotive manufacturing as it is flexible and able to respond to the dynamic needs of the industry. Of all manufacturing sectors, industrial robots have made some of the biggest waves in automotive manufacturing. As well as automation being used in automotive manufacturing, vehicles are getting smarter. Many already offer partially automated functions, for example predictive emergency braking and parking-related functions. There are a number of technologies in the pipeline to improve the driving experience and fully automated systems are expected to be implemented after 2025. Construction Companies are combining emerging technologies to build complex structures. Robots can now be used to construct beams, lay bricks or drill. In fact, nearly any job in the process can be automated. In future, this means construction could be planned and coordinated remotely, performed on site only by robots. Construction environments are less structured and more unpredictable than most manufacturing facilities, which can make it more difficult to integrate autonomous technologies, particularly if they are mobile. However, vision and inspection systems are proving extremely popular in the industry. Healthcare In the healthcare industry, many of the skills needed in certain roles are impossible to automate, especially those involving human connection. However, there is still a role for robotics in this sector. One area where automated technology is booming is the surgical robot market, which is currently worth approximately $4 billion a year and is expected to grow to $20 billion by 2024. Surgical robots allow doctors to perform complex procedures with improved precision and control than was previously possible. Automation is common across a number of manufacturing sectors, but it has branched out to a range of industries. Companies operating in the construction, automotive and healthcare sectors are certainly being shaken up and there is more innovation to come.