©Bloomberg The sharp decline in oil prices weighed on Repsol in the first quarter but the Spanish energy group managed to beat market expectations with a return to profit in its upstream business. Adjusted net earnings fell 38 per cent to €572m, ahead of estimates of €261.2m, although still down
First Utility has reported an 84 per cent drop in pre-tax profits, despite its customer base growing by a quarter. The annual financial report for the supplier revealed that profits fell to £1.7 million in 2015, from £10.8 million in 2014 but the number of customer accounts
Book Course HSL is to run a 2 days course on COMAH – Safety Report Requirements with Emphasis on Technical Aspects of COMAH Safety Reports. 26 – 27 July 2016 This course presents a general overview of the requirements of a Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations (COMAH) Safety Report
Search Consultancy has just opened a new office in London due to the growing demand for trades and labour staff on construction projects in the city region. There will be six new consultant positions that will help recruit more people in the construction and engineering markets, including builds, fit outs,
Scotland’s leading trade association for the electrical contracting industry, SELECT, has appointed a new Managing Director. Darrell Matthews will replace Newell McGuinness after more than 13 years of being in post. He will join SELECT in March and will progressively take over from Newell. “I am genuinely delighted to be
One in four people are affected by mental health, it doesn’t matter what age, gender or what industry you work in. If you’ve recently had to take some time off for reasons including illness or mental health, then taking the step to get back to work can be tough but
Greg Palfrey, the National Head of Restructuring and Recovering at Smith & Williamson, argues that although the collapse of Carillion caused a lot of distress in the construction sector, its effects can reach other sectors as well if businesses don’t take action to protect themselves and deal with the results
The local business Bewley Homes offered two automated external defibrillators (AED) for Reading Football Club, making the Madejski Stadium a safer place for supporters. With major events taking place every year there, the new equipment will help them deal better in case of emergency life threatening incidents. When someone experiences
©Bloomberg The sharp decline in oil prices weighed on Repsol in the first quarter but the Spanish energy group managed to beat market expectations with a return to profit in its upstream business. Adjusted net earnings fell 38 per cent to €572m, ahead of estimates of €261.2m, although still down from €928m a year earlier. More On this topic IN Oil & Gas However, those results were boosted by an exceptional gain of €500m related mostly to funds received for YPF, a former subsidiary that was renationalised by the Argentine government. Like many of its peers, Repsol has been hit hard by the steep decline in oil prices since 2014, forcing the Madrid-based group to slash costs and reduce its annual dividend. Repsol’s problems were compounded by the ill-timed acquisition of Talisman, a relatively high-cost Canadian oil producer, which it bought halfway through the price slump for $8.3bn. The takeover resulted in a significant boost to oil production at Repsol in the first quarter, doubling to 714,200 barrels a day. The integration of Talisman alone was responsible for 330,300 barrels of that increase. “Measures implemented by Repsol to increase efficiency and savings in recent months led the company to achieve positive results despite low oil prices,” the group said. The average Brent price in the first three months of the year stood at $33.90 a barrel, a decline of 37 per cent from the same quarter last year, it added. The cost-cutting campaign showed up in the group’s net capital expenditure, which declined to just €86m in the first quarter, from €133m in the same period last year. Analysts said they were positively surprised by the group’s results, and in particular by Repsol’s ability to generate a profit in its upstream — or exploration and production — business. “They were very strong and above our forecasts . . . driven by better than expected results from their upstream business, while downstream was also strong,” investment bank Mirabaud said in a research note. Repsol reported a €17m adjusted net profit in upstream, a notable improvement from the €190m loss last year. The group’s downstream operations, which include refining and chemicals, produced net adjusted earnings of €556m, a rise of 4 per cent. Net debt was almost unchanged quarter on quarter, at €11.98bn. Repsol’s shares were up 4.6 per cent at €11.30 in early morning trading. 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
First Utility has reported an 84 per cent drop in pre-tax profits, despite its customer base growing by a quarter. The annual financial report for the supplier revealed that profits fell to £1.7 million in 2015, from £10.8 million in 2014 but the number of customer accounts rose to 883,000. The additional energy customers drove a 51 per cent annual revenue growth, the accounts show, however administrative expenses increased during the year by 62 per cent as a result of “continued investment in acquiring and serving the significant growth in customer numbers”. First Utility blamed some of the profit loss on “abnormally warm weather in November and December 2015”. First Utility chief executive Ian McCaig said: “We continued to make strong progress against our strategy in 2015, growing our customer base by 25 per cent to 883,000 and increasing our revenues by 51 per cent to £847 million. “A key focus of 2015 was investing for the next stage in our development. We increased the pace of investment in line with our ambitions to ensure we are well-positioned to capitalise on future growth opportunities and that customers remain at the heart of our proposition.” McCaig said that the acquisition of the company’s billing platform assets from its third party provider marked an “acceleration of our plans to build our next generation billing platforms”. First Utility also grew internationally, launching in Germany in September 2015 in a partnership with Shell Energy Europe. “Having made these major strategic investments and navigated the volatility in markets generated by the warmest winter since records began, First Utility still continued to be the only of the new generation of independents to grow its track record of profitability and showed that low prices can be delivered to UK householders sustainably,” McCaig added. Source link
Book Course HSL is to run a 2 days course on COMAH – Safety Report Requirements with Emphasis on Technical Aspects of COMAH Safety Reports. 26 – 27 July 2016 This course presents a general overview of the requirements of a Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations (COMAH) Safety Report with emphasis being placed on relevant technical aspects of the safety report. The COMAH safety report technical assessment / inspection criteria are explained including the type and level of information required to make the necessary demonstration of the technical measures. Common pitfalls associated with COMAH safety report technical aspects submissions are discussed and ways to avoid them will be identified. This course is delivered by experienced safety report assessors, and from the point of view of the requirements of the regulator. Overview of relevant requirements of the COMAH Regulations General expectations for a COMAH safety report submission The assessment and technical demonstration criteria Proportionality and how this affects technical criteria demonstration Technical measures demonstration requirements The technical specialist topics covered are: Process Safety Control and Instrumentation Human Factors Safety professionals and managers who are involved in the co-ordination, writing or updating of COMAH safety reports. Consultants who provide assistance with safety reports. The course will be run at the HSL laboratory in the spa town of Buxton. Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations and Manchester International Airport. Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitbuxton.co.uk The cost of this course is £875 per person (includes course notes, lunch and refreshments). Book Course Please note the invoice option is not available within 4 weeks of the course date, or for overseas customers. For further dates and additional information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit at HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806. Back to Health & Safety Training Courses Back to the top Source link
Search Consultancy has just opened a new office in London due to the growing demand for trades and labour staff on construction projects in the city region. There will be six new consultant positions that will help recruit more people in the construction and engineering markets, including builds, fit outs, and mechanical and electrical posts. The new team will also target the infrastructure market within the civils and utilities sectors. “Following what was a year of significant growth for Search in 2017, I am delighted to be starting a new year with the expansion of our construction arm to capitalise on the ever-growing opportunities within the capital,” said Patrick O’Reilly, Director at Search Construction. The expansion in London is hoped to help grow the business’ partnerships with the existing client base, while generating new opportunities to work on projects throughout the region. At the moment, they are looking for individuals that can join their construction sector, added Patrick. Search has a strong presence and reputation in the North as well, and it is regarded as the first-tier labour supplier for multiple main contractors. It is already supplying staff to many of the capital’s largest and most prestigious construction and civils projects. The reason why the company has decided to open a new office is the increasing demand for skilled construction labour on the many new development and infrastructure projects in and around the city. Debbie Caswell, COO for Search said: “Construction recruitment was one of Search’s founding specialisms when the business launched in 1987. What makes our recruitment offering unique across the UK is that many of our consultants have had direct experience working on site in construction, meaning that they are true industry specialists who really understand and appreciate specific project demands and requirements.” Established in 1987, Search currently employs 700 people in 13 offices across the UK: Aberdeen, Brighton, Crawley, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield. It provides specialist recruitment services across these three markets: Professional Services, Healthcare, IT, Technical and Engineering, Construction, and General and Commercial Staffing.
Scotland’s leading trade association for the electrical contracting industry, SELECT, has appointed a new Managing Director. Darrell Matthews will replace Newell McGuinness after more than 13 years of being in post. He will join SELECT in March and will progressively take over from Newell. “I am genuinely delighted to be the next MD of SELECT,” said Darrell Matthews. “I know this is a successful, well-resourced and very effective trade association and I look forward to working with Members, staff and the wider industry to take SELECT to the next level. Newell has done a tremendous job and filling his shoes won’t be easy but this is an organisation which is keen to grow and to promote its members and create a safer and better regulated industry,” added him. Darrell’s commercial experience comes from working with different representational organisations in several sectors. His most recent roles include being the director of the Institute of Directors, EEF and the director of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Kevin Griffin, SELECT President, said about Darrell that he was “the outstanding candidate from a long list of applicants. I am sure he will build on the excellent progress made by SELECT under Newell’s guidance and he has the full support of the Central Board to do so. I am sure all of our Members will support Darrell and will provide him with a warm Scottish welcome.” SELECT is the largest trade association in Scotland and its membership carries out more than 90% of all electrical installation work in the country. Its turnover is more than £1 billion and it provides employment for 15,000 people. Its aim is to deliver the highest standards of professionalism and workmanship and it believes that the industry should guarantee high standards of safety and competence. That way, customers can rely on any electrician they decide to employ.
One in four people are affected by mental health, it doesn’t matter what age, gender or what industry you work in. If you’ve recently had to take some time off for reasons including illness or mental health, then taking the step to get back to work can be tough but just remember there is plenty of support out there to help you. The construction industry can be quite tough and demanding, especially if you’ve been working within the industry for a number of years. If you’re considering a return to work, then here are four tips that can help make your return a success. Put together a plan It’s always best to talk your manager or HR team when you return to work, try putting in a plan it will help to make your return a little smoother. You might find that returning to work full time too full on to start, so maybe starting off with part time or flexible hours could be an option that works both for you and your employer. Don’t be afraid to talk Mental health might be something that isn’t openly talked about but it’s more common and something that’s important to discuss. Finding someone you’re comfortable to talk to can really help, if there’s a group of you then why not get together regularly and talk about how you’re feeling about work. There might be someone who can offer some insight into how you can reduce the amount of stress you’re feeling and you never know you might be able to help them too. Get the support you need Don’t feel as though you need to rush back into the role and responsibilities you were doing before your time off. If it was too much before, then you might find it could build up and be too much again. Talk with your manager or employer about having some support at work, it might be from colleagues or your senior team but having a proper network of support around you will help. It might be worth asking to see if there is any support that they can offer you outside of work, does your benefits package include any health support or cover any sessions. There are also charities such as Mind that are always available to offer any support and advice you may need. Change things up If you feel as though the environment you were in before doesn’t suit you or you might think it could be time for a change then there’s no harm in looking for other construction roles that could be a better fit. You might find that another role could offer you the flexibility you’re looking for and something that might be a better fit for helping support you. If you’re looking for advice on returning to work, then Randstad have put together some information and tips which you might find useful.
Greg Palfrey, the National Head of Restructuring and Recovering at Smith & Williamson, argues that although the collapse of Carillion caused a lot of distress in the construction sector, its effects can reach other sectors as well if businesses don’t take action to protect themselves and deal with the results of the situation. “Carillion was too big for the effects not to be far reaching, the very nature of its business means it will impact various and diverse sector groups. The construction sector could be in trouble, we’re already hearing how comments and speculation about other major competitors are seeing share prices to tumble,” added Greg. After its liquidation, thousands of jobs were put at risk and concerns about who would take over the contracts and how it would impact the supply chain arose. While clearly there were not enough funds to continue the business, the question was why directors allowed the company to reach this position. The businesses affected will be the ones that have a direct link to Carillion and will now have to deal with the effects of its collapse and seek help and advice on how they can continue to operate, making sure they look into their own customer base and supply chain. In a few months, even those not contracting with Carillion can be affected by the contagion stemming from the collapse. “Rapid action now could help mitigate losses and identify problems while there is a better chance of finding a more constructive solution,” advised Greg. He also gives a few solutions for these companies, including restructuring of the business, developing a business plan, securing addition cash flow support or investment, and entering a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). “These options are likely to be painful but ultimately it allows a business to be successful. You only have to look at the way that Balfour Beatty reacted to their problems a couple of years ago to see how hard decisions can lay the groundwork for years to come,” said Palfrey.
The local business Bewley Homes offered two automated external defibrillators (AED) for Reading Football Club, making the Madejski Stadium a safer place for supporters. With major events taking place every year there, the new equipment will help them deal better in case of emergency life threatening incidents. When someone experiences a sudden cardiac arrest, a condition which sees the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stop beating, the AED can be used to shock the heart and restore the normal heart rhythm. A heart attack and a cardiac arrest are two different conditions. While a heart attack is caused by the plumbing of the heart, the cardiac arrest happens because of an electric problem within the heart and the only way to restore the rhythm is with the help of an AED. “Sudden cardiac arrest kills approximately 100,000 people in the UK every year…that is more than 270 people per day! In fact, it is responsible for more deaths than lung cancer, breast cancer and AIDS combined,” explains Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder and CEO of Arrhythmia Alliance. “Arrhythmia Alliance wants to make sure our loved ones, colleagues and friends are as safe as possible with an AED nearby.” Many public spaces, including the Madejski Stadium now, have an AED as part of their first aid equipment. It can be found in train stations, airports, offices, and schools, and are easily identified by their noticeable green casing and green sign above each device. It can also be used without training because of the machine’s ability to analyse a person’s heart rhythm and visually and audibly guiding people through each step. Andrew Brooks, Managing Director at Bewley Homes, said that this gift is their way of giving back to the local community that has supported them through the years and making sure that the defibrillators will help save lives.
