At peak, an army of up to 5,000 construction workers is set to be working on the £18bn Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the architects’ professional indemnity insurance mutual, The Wren Insurance Association Limited (the Wren), have today announced the launch of the 2015 RIBA Wren Insurance Association Scholarships to support talented students during the final year of their RIBA Part 2. This year’s scholarships
Invisible Connections Announce a Trio of New Memberships to concrete trade associations. Invisible Connections, the leading manufacturer and supplier of ‘invisible’ connections for concrete construction, is pleased to confirm its membership of CONSTRUCT, British Precast and the Concrete Society. Invisible Connections has recently confirmed its membership to three leading concrete
The Darlington-based company recorded a profit of £2.5m for the year to 31 December 2015, compared with a loss of £6.7m a year earlier. Turnover grew by 53 per cent to hit £51.5m, up from £33.4m in its previous results. Major contract wins included an extension to the M74 in
Shale gas produced in the UK using hydraulic fracturing should be commercially viable if wells can match the typical flow rates achieved at fields in the US, a senior figure at IGas has told Utility Week. Asked whether shale gas could make a significant contribution to the UK’s energy mix
The Scottish Borders Council has proposed to spend more than £294 million on infrastructure throughout the Borders over the next ten years. This is all part of a draft financial part from the local authority and it will be considered at a council meeting on the 20th of February. The
BAM International, is the International subsidiary of Royal BAM Group and is well known as one of Europe’s largest contracting companies in action in the construction, property, civil engineering, public-private partnerships, mechanical and electrical contracting and engineering sectors. The Dutch contractor BAM International has announced that they have been selected
Metsa Wood, a premium-quality provider of wood products for construction, industrial and distribution customers, calls for collaboration to improve the field of wood construction. Timber is a key element in house building and there is more to be done in terms of sharing knowledge and innovation to further advance the
The deadline for submitting self-assessment tax returns is approaching and Craig Harman, tax specialist at Perrys Chartered Accountants, gives advice on how to make sure that the paperwork is prepared in time. He also mentions the worst excuses for late submissions. The deadline for the submission of paperwork is always
J Tomlinson Ltd, a company that offers services in the building industry, has finalised a new training hub for premium car brand Volvo Car UK. The project costed the company £6 million and it included the creation of 154 extra parking spaces for the vehicle manufacturing company at its site
At peak, an army of up to 5,000 construction workers is set to be working on the £18bn Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the architects’ professional indemnity insurance mutual, The Wren Insurance Association Limited (the Wren), have today announced the launch of the 2015 RIBA Wren Insurance Association Scholarships to support talented students during the final year of their RIBA Part 2. This year’s scholarships will be awarded at the start of the 2015/16 academic session and will comprise five generous awards, each of £5,000. The deadline for applications is Friday 8 May 2015. The RIBA Wren Insurance Association Scholarships were set up in 2013 by the Wren who decided to mark their 25th anniversary as PII mutual with a £125,000 commitment to help educate young architects of the future. The awards will be awarded annually for an initial period of five years to Part 2 students enrolled in RIBA-validated schools of architecture in the UK. Stephen Hodder, RIBA President, said: ‘The applications to the Wren scholarships have always been at such a high standard, showcasing the talent of students from schools around the country. It has been absolutely fantastic to see the final work of the inaugural scholars from 2013 developed with the financial support of this scheme and I have no doubt that the recipients of the 2014 and now the 2015 scholarships will produce some equally provoking and stimulating outcomes. It is credit to the generosity of the Wren that this scheme has been such a success.’ Richard Pullen, Chairman of Wren, said: ‘The impact of the scholarships awarded over the past two years has exceeded our expectations and we are anticipating even greater interest this year as the Wren looks forward to helping a further five Part 2 students with this year’s scholarships. Having helped each other over the last 27 years, the Members of the Wren feel that it is appropriate to assist and encourage the next generation of talented architects who have the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of architecture. We are grateful to the RIBA for their support in the ongoing success of these scholarships.’ Applicants can find more information about last year’s award winners and how to apply for this year’s awards at: www.architecture.com/wrenscholarships ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information contact Callum Reilly in the RIBA Press Office: 020 7307 3757 callum.reilly@riba.org 2. For more information, visit www.architecture.com/wrenscholarships 3. Interested applicants should contact Hayley Russell hayley.russell@riba.org 020 7307 3678 if they require help with their applications. 4. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members www.architecture.com 5. Follow us on Twitter for regular RIBA updates www.twitter.com/RIBA 6. The Wren Insurance Association Limited is an architects’ professional indemnity insurance mutual that was set up in 1987 by a group of architects in order to provide the broadest sustainable cover to its Members. Fifty seven of the UK’s major architectural practices are currently in Membership www.wrenmutual.co.uk 7. Having enjoyed 25 successful years the Wren decided to mark its quarter century by making available a scholarship fund to Part 2 students over the next five years at a time when the cost of qualification can be overwhelming and the opportunity of being mentored by some of the world’s leading architectural firms is particularly welcome. Posted on Friday 20th March 2015 Source link
Invisible Connections Announce a Trio of New Memberships to concrete trade associations. Invisible Connections, the leading manufacturer and supplier of ‘invisible’ connections for concrete construction, is pleased to confirm its membership of CONSTRUCT, British Precast and the Concrete Society. Invisible Connections has recently confirmed its membership to three leading concrete industry trade associations. The Concrete Structures Group (CONSTRUCT) is the trade association for those working in the Concrete Structures industry. CONSTRUCT’S members make up the vast majority of players of all sizes in the UK’s Concrete Structures industry. Indeed, 93% of total spend in the concrete structures sector is completed by its members. The membership is truly national with members operating in all corners of the UK. Invisible Connections has also joined the Concrete Society, an independent membership organisation bringing together all those with an interest in concrete. By joining the Concrete Society, Invisible Connections will further strive to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experience across all disciplines, promote excellence in design, construction, appearance, performance and encourage innovation. To make up the trio of membership announcements, Invisible Connections is pleased to include membership of British Precast. Tracing its roots back to 1918, British Precast is the trade association of precast concrete manufacturers. Its main aims are to promote precast concrete in the construction market and to disseminate information, through a range of industry representation and by shared knowledge, to add value to its member companies.Managing Director of Invisible Connections, Derek Brown, said: “We’re proud to announce our affiliation with all three of these trade associations. At Invisible Connections we’re continuously striving to promote excellence in the construction industry and know that the knowledge shared by these associations will further promote our standards of excellence and encourage further innovation within the company and across the UK.” About Invisible Connections™ Invisible Connections is the registered trademark of Invisible Connections AS, Norwegian developer and manufacturer of the telescopic connectors range for 30 years. In this time, hundreds of thousands of connectors have been used in construction projects around the world. The ETA-approved telescopic connectors solve two key construction applications; ‘invisible’ connections for precast staircase construction and ‘invisible’ connections for precast beam construction. To enhance its offering to the UK market, Invisible Connections Ltd (UK) also supplies the popular FERBOX reinforcement continuity system, which is bespoke-manufactured for in-situ concrete connections. ProductsRVK & TSS Telescopic Connectors http://www.invisibleconnections.co.uk/product/rvk-tss-support-inserts/BSF Telescopic Connectors http://www.invisibleconnections.co.uk/product/bsf-support-inserts/FERBOX Reinforcement Continuity System http://www.invisibleconnections.co.uk/product/ferbox/ Invisible Connections Ltd Unit 6, Thame Forty Jane Morbey Road Thame Oxfordshire, OX9 3RR +44 (0) 1844 266000 sales@invisibleconnections.co.uk www.invisibleconnections.co.uk Source link
The Darlington-based company recorded a profit of £2.5m for the year to 31 December 2015, compared with a loss of £6.7m a year earlier. Turnover grew by 53 per cent to hit £51.5m, up from £33.4m in its previous results. Major contract wins included an extension to the M74 in Scotland, contributions to the redevelopment of London Bridge station, and the A6 Manchester Airport Relief Road. The company said these wins would help support further turnover growth in 2016, which is forecast to hit £55m by the end of the year, while profit is expected to be maintained near current levels. Managing director Chris Droogan said infrastructure investment in the UK “continues to provide long-term opportunities” for the company. In 2013, the firm reported a loss of £2.9m. The last time it turned a profit was in 2012, when it posted a pre-tax profit of £19.8m. Former managing director Brian Rogan stepped down due to ill health last year, and was replaced by former Mabey Bridge director Chris Droogan. Cleveland Bridge is currently working on two major station extensions at Paddington and Bond Street in London, as well as working on the Forth Replacement Crossing and the widening of the A1 in Yorkshire. Source link
Shale gas produced in the UK using hydraulic fracturing should be commercially viable if wells can match the typical flow rates achieved at fields in the US, a senior figure at IGas has told Utility Week. Asked whether shale gas could make a significant contribution to the UK’s energy mix if the geological formations in this country turned out to be as favourable as those being exploited in the states, IGas chief operating officer John Blaymires said: “The short answer is yes”. “We know there’s shale there. There’s plenty evidence of that. We know that shale contains gas. They key issue is can you flow at rates that can be considered commercial and that’s the question that has to be addressed.” “There has only been one well tested to date,” he said, “which was the Cuadrilla one near Blackpool in 2011, and the initial results from that looked encouraging.” He continued: “Our development costs will be higher because one, our supply chain is more expensive, and two, we have much more legislation that does add cost.” But, Blaymires added: “One of the challenges America had was there was no real infrastructure to get the gas to market. …We have infrastructure we can tap into. We have a market on the doorstep so getting it to market is easier and relatively cheaper.” He also noted that the gas price here is higher than in the US, although the gap is closing due to liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into Britain. Blaymires said it was important to remember “it’s not a binary thing” and that “if [the gas] flows really well in one location it doesn’t necessarily mean it will flow like that everywhere else.” However, he concluded: “Our costs will be slightly higher, the gas price is down, but we still see that it will be economic to develop it.” Last month North Yorkshire Council approved an application by Third Energy to conduct fracking tests at an existing exploratory well near the village of Kirby Misperton. It marked the first time a council has approved an application for fracking since a ban was lifted in 2012. Speaking to Utility Week, chief executive of the EUA Mike Foster descibed the decision as “massive for the future of shale”. Source link
The Scottish Borders Council has proposed to spend more than £294 million on infrastructure throughout the Borders over the next ten years. This is all part of a draft financial part from the local authority and it will be considered at a council meeting on the 20th of February. The full budget plans include £2.1 million spent over the course of three years for new and improved outdoor community spaces, £4.8 million going into a specialist dementia residential facility, an over £22 million investment in roads and bridges over three years, with £79 million planned over the next 10 years, £89 million used to improve the school estate over 10 years, an £8.3 million contribution to the £41 million Hawick Flood Protection Scheme, £2 million going towards the reopening of Reston Station, £799k to support the regeneration of Eyemouth, £1 million to assist in delivering town centre regeneration, and £2 million for road safety works at the A72 Dirt Pot Corner in 2018/2019. “We have developed a budget which builds on opportunities and improves the lives of Borderers, whatever their age. It focuses on delivering quality services, opportunities for all in a thriving economy, empowering communities and enabling people to live independently and achieve their goals,” said council leader Shona Haslam. The proposed services will help those vulnerable in society, it will build new schools, it will deliver improvements to the roads, and it will support businesses by stimulating the local economy. “We are proposing a three per cent increase in Council Tax, which will generate around £1.6m for next year’s budget. Council Tax makes up less than a quarter of all the funding we receive, and this increase is only the second in 10 years, during which time the funds we receive from other sources has reduced and demand for services has increased,” concluded Shona.
BAM International, is the International subsidiary of Royal BAM Group and is well known as one of Europe’s largest contracting companies in action in the construction, property, civil engineering, public-private partnerships, mechanical and electrical contracting and engineering sectors. The Dutch contractor BAM International has announced that they have been selected to build the 18,000 seat capacity Yas Arena which will be located in Abu Dhabi. The proposed site for the arena is on Yas Island, and the stadium has been designed by the American architect HOK. Support has also been given by the British firm Pascall + Watson for all of the work that has been carried out on this project so far. The Events company in Abu Dhabi, Flash Entertainment will use the arena when it is complete to host gigs and sports events. These events could range from tennis tournaments to wrestling matches. The inside of 18,000-seat arena will be temperature controlled in order to offer the ideal environment for a wide range of events. Work has already begun to deliver this venue and it is thought that the Yas Arena will be completed by November 2019. Bam International has experience working on similar projects and has projects in their portfolio that have been completed on Yas Island, such as the Crowne Plaza hotel and the Welcome Pavilion which is a shopping and leisure complex. The experience that the company has of working on Yas Island will help them to prepare for the logistics of constructing the arena. The American architectural firm, HOK has also been contracted to design an adjacent arena retail and dining destination which will be located along the boardwalk of the island and will form the basis of a mixed use anchor that will be situated on the east end of the Yas Bay.
Metsa Wood, a premium-quality provider of wood products for construction, industrial and distribution customers, calls for collaboration to improve the field of wood construction. Timber is a key element in house building and there is more to be done in terms of sharing knowledge and innovation to further advance the use of this material. For this purpose to be achieved, Metsa Wood has launched the Open Source Wood initiative at www.opensourcewood.com. The company’s Executive Vice President, Esa Kaikkonen, explains that wood construction is just a niche because of the lack of knowledge shared in the field. The solution that they proposed might change that by bringing more collaboration in the industry. The potential of wood is world-wide known and one study carried out by companies that have applied lean construction methods showed that 84% reported a higher quality in construction and 80% experienced a larger customer satisfaction. The results prove that to wood elements enable a faster, more efficient, and environmentally sound design, without reducing the quality of the final product. Timber prefabrication construction has other advantages too. It reduces the inconvenience of constant uploading the building materials and it reduces the amount of on-site waste and therefore the need to transport it. This could be the solution to achieving the high volume of housing required in the UK. Europe has already seen the potential that timber prefab has and UK is gradually turning towards it with a need to provide more affordable, adaptable and ecological homes. Even though it looks like the wood construction is slowly progressing, there are more that need to be done in terms of making the companies realise its potential. With the launch of Open Source Wood project, it is hoped that timber construction will become the forefront of new house building in the UK.
The deadline for submitting self-assessment tax returns is approaching and Craig Harman, tax specialist at Perrys Chartered Accountants, gives advice on how to make sure that the paperwork is prepared in time. He also mentions the worst excuses for late submissions. The deadline for the submission of paperwork is always on the 31st of January and those that miss it will receive an automatic £100 fine from HMRC. It can also issue additional penalties after three, six, and 12 months if the file still fails to be handed in, such as extra fines and late payment charges. Those with a reasonable excuse to be late are forgiven, but not everyone has a reason behind their tardiness so a lot of people made up their own excuse. The worst ones for 2017 are: ‘My tax return was on my yacht, which caught fire’, ‘My wife helps me with my tax return, but she had a headache for ten days’, ‘My dog ate my tax return and all of the reminders’, ‘The postman doesn’t deliver to my house’, ‘My colleague borrowed my tax return to photocopy it and lost it’. Craig Herman however, gives people a few tips on how to make sure they avoid penalties and meet the deadline. The first step is to understand the numbers and not just estimate. Make sure all the paperwork, including invoices, receipts, payslips, and bank statement, is placed somewhere handy and that you understand the ‘allowable expenses’. If in doubt, seek help on HMRC’s self-assessment page. If you don’t know how to complete a tax return file, contact an accountant that will ensure nothing is missed and will take the burden off your shoulders.The last thing is to make sure you don’t forget to pay what you owe after submitting the tax return. 31st of January is the deadline for any tax owed for the previous year.
J Tomlinson Ltd, a company that offers services in the building industry, has finalised a new training hub for premium car brand Volvo Car UK. The project costed the company £6 million and it included the creation of 154 extra parking spaces for the vehicle manufacturing company at its site in Daventry, Northamptonshire. Before J Tomlinson taking over, Volvo had a 36 years partnership with its original centre, but found it no longer fit to provide training at the level that the car manufacturer required. However, J Tomlinson worked closely with the brand to ensure the best facilities. Some elements in the new building reflect the Volvo Retail Experience identity. Those include large exterior and interior glazing that promote the brand’s transparent and open nature, a cosy cake and refreshments area, and a vibrant Scandinavian-designed lounge for all staff and visitors that seek relaxation. The managing director of J Tomlinson, Martin Gallagher said that it was a pleasure and an honour to start a project with Volvo, “a business with such passion, ambition, and a shared drive to provide the best experience for its staff and customers.” Volvo Car UK’s managing director, Jon Wakefield, is also proud of the new training programme: “The site is a fitting accompaniment to Volvo’s transformation into a true premium car brand that is a technological leader, as well as the big improvements we are introducing to the customer experience.” Volvo Car UK is owned by Volvo Car Corporation and it sells, services, and maintains Volvo cars through a dedicated network of franchised dealers. It has been present in the UK market since 1956 and it seems that it will not disappear any time soon. J Tomlinson is based in Nottingham and it provides the whole package of building solutions, from construction to refurbishment, mechanical services to electrical ones, repairs and maintenance to management facilities.
