In the Spotlight with Brett Sainty We caught up with Brett Sainty, founder of Property Insurance Initiatives. 1. Why did you set up Pii? We recognised a gap in the market for an insurance broker that was a genuine ‘independent property specialist’ across the UK and continental Europe. For some
Following hot on the heels of their widely reported Network E success in Redhill last month when Network Auctions’ partner agent, Power Bespoke, achieved £465,000 against a guide price of £350,000, another fabulous result has been achieved, this time in Watford. The property in Cassiobury, Watford, was placed on the
Book Course HSL is to run a 1 day course on Exposure Science Conference. 20th April 2016 This one-day event brings together those with an interest in the measurement, modelling and assessment of environmental, occupational, ergonomics and nutritional exposures, especially with an application to epidemiology. We are pleased to
WaterSafe backs launch of new guidance for hospitals Published: 25 May, 2016 WaterSafe, the national accreditation scheme for plumbers in the UK, is backing the launch of new technical guidance on how to manage water systems in hospitals. The Health Technical Memorandum HTM 04-01 has been updated by the Department
MIPIM 2016: Croydon Council has set up its own development company with the aim of delivering 9,500 homes on council-owned land by 2018. Brick by Brick is a private company of which the council is the sole shareholder. It will seek development partners for some schemes and deliver others alone.
A NEW multi-million pound Sports Hub at the University of Warwick is one step closer to completion after contractor Willmott Dixon hosted a topping out ceremony today, which traditionally signifies the structure has reached its maximum height. Due to complete in March 2019, the new Sports Hub will create one
Specialist UK supplier, IronmongeryDirect, has announced that an additional four staff are now have their GAI qualification, enabling them to provide enhanced in-depth technical assistance and support to customers. The qualification was undertaken by staff members from across the business: employees Jenna Cottis and Caroline Vaughan from the Contact Centre,
Transformation is happening all around us and whilst other industries have been quick to make the digital leap – the construction industry has been a little slower out of the starting blocks but now the revolution is well underway. Smart technology is changing the face of construction with a range
In the Spotlight with Brett Sainty We caught up with Brett Sainty, founder of Property Insurance Initiatives. 1. Why did you set up Pii? We recognised a gap in the market for an insurance broker that was a genuine ‘independent property specialist’ across the UK and continental Europe. For some time the insurance industry has only provided off-the-shelf solutions. Pii’s mission has been to reverse this and listen to what the property sector actually needs and wants. 2. What does Pii offer commercial property investors and landlords? Pii is an independent and agile broker that can respond quickly to market changes, offering an outstanding and memorable service. We have developed an excellent reputation as property insurance specialists, working closely with some of the leading insurers to provide a wide range of policies relating to the management, procurement or disposal of property assets. Pii’s expertise is not just limited to the UK market. We have a strong local office network across Europe, providing support for clients in local markets. This includes providing advice, reassurance and specific insurance products to clients based all over Europe with assets in a number of foreign markets. Pii conducts a significant amount of business across Europe and is now seen as one of the foremost property insurance specialists in the EU. 3. How is Pii different from competitors? Our expertise in the property sector enables us to provide solutions for difficult risks that often prove problematic. We offer a complete account and claim management service providing an enhanced level of technical expertise and administrative support to our customers. Pii is unique in that it is owned privately by the Directors and staff. We provide a customer service team that has genuine property expertise and we give every customer a relationship, directly with a shareholding main board director. 4. What do you see as the key challenges and opportunities for the commercial property sector over the next 12 months? Obviously, we see Brexit resulting in a short period of uncertainty. However, we will embrace the opportunities that will inevitably emerge. In my opinion, the key challenge is ensuring we maintain the confidence deserved within the UK property and insurance sectors. 5. What do you love and hate about the property industry? I don’t hate anything about the property industry, in fact, I love it! It is without doubt the most exciting sector I have worked in. My biggest irritation is when government bodies and other sectors fail to realise that property is a sector, just the same as retail or manufacturing, and requires the same recognition and investment. I love helping a customer with a complex acquisition and ensuring deals can take place in a secure environment – we are deal junkies at Pii!!! Source link
Following hot on the heels of their widely reported Network E success in Redhill last month when Network Auctions’ partner agent, Power Bespoke, achieved £465,000 against a guide price of £350,000, another fabulous result has been achieved, this time in Watford. The property in Cassiobury, Watford, was placed on the market with Network Auctions partner Elliott Residential with a guide price of £830,000. By the time the online Network E auction finished, a price of £1,035,000 had been achieved. Simon Meager, Sales Director at Elliott Residential said: “We were instructed by Executors and recommended using Network E as the method of sale as we felt it combined the best aspects of a private treaty sale with the transparency, certainty and speed of an auction. We held three open house viewing sessions and showed sixty interested parties around. This interest also generated a number of valuations and a further property instruction that is likely to follow the Network E route. Bidding was fierce with a total of sixty four bids culminating in an excellent price of £1,035,00 being achieved. Crucially a non-refundable deposit was immediately paid and exchange set for twenty eight days. Selling and buying can be a stressful time and where there is multiple interest in a property, the actual process of agreeing a sale can take several days with offers going back and forwards and the stress and frustration of all parties rising. Network E manages this process superbly, swiftly and with transparency.” Network E is a unique service provided by NAVA auction house of the year Network Auctions through their growing network of partner agents. In the last month, five new offices have joined Network Auctions: Redstones in Walsall, Wolverhampton and Telford, Hinton and Downes in Harrow Weald and Eric Clarke estate agents in Farnworth, Bolton. Toby Limbrick, Manging Director of Network Auctions said: “We are enjoying a record year in our traditional auction business and our next sale will take place in London on 19th October. Network E is a fabulous addition to our business and our partner agents are using it to secure new business and successfully sell property that would otherwise be at the mercy of the private treaty marketplace.” Source link
Book Course HSL is to run a 1 day course on Exposure Science Conference. 20th April 2016 This one-day event brings together those with an interest in the measurement, modelling and assessment of environmental, occupational, ergonomics and nutritional exposures, especially with an application to epidemiology. We are pleased to announce our two keynote speakers: Prof David Polya, School of Earth, Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences The University of Manchester and Dr Ovnair Sepai, Principal Toxicologist Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards Public Health England Prof David Polya, School of Earth, Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester Dr Ovnair Sepai, Principal Toxicologist, Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England Please see our Programme Here for more information Abstract submission now closed Cost The cost of the conference is £60 per person. Evening Meal There will be an optional, additionally charged, evening meal at the Old Hall Hotel on 20th April, at £42+vat per person, please register for that separately here. Location Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9JN. See HSL location details here. Accommodation Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitpeakdistrict.com The Evening Meal with be held at the Old Hall Hotel Travel Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations. Trains from London to Macclesfield are approx 1 hour and 40 minutes, taxis from Macclesfield to Buxton or HSL are approx £25. Trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton are approx 1 hour, taxis from Buxton train station to HSL are approx £7. We may offer a minibus to pick up from Macclesfield train station, and also drop off. If you would be interested in this service please email Samantha on ExposureScience2016@hsl.gsi.gov.uk Buxton Taxis Allied Taxis – 01298 72123 Buxton Radio Taxis – 01298 23457 Crescent Cars – 01298 73515 Jam Taxis – 01298 72333 Email: ExposureScience2016@hsl.gsi.gov.uk for queries and further information. In 2016, this conference will be joining up with the 10th UK & Ireland Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology Conference. This will be held the day after Exposure Science. More information will be available on their webpage. Book Course For further information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit at HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806. Back to Health and Safety Seminars Source link
WaterSafe backs launch of new guidance for hospitals Published: 25 May, 2016 WaterSafe, the national accreditation scheme for plumbers in the UK, is backing the launch of new technical guidance on how to manage water systems in hospitals. The Health Technical Memorandum HTM 04-01 has been updated by the Department of Health and sets out new recommendations for how hospital bosses should manage their water supply and storage systems in existing and refurbished buildings and when designing new ones. This includes employing WaterSafe approved plumbers to work on hospital systems, as they have specific qualifications in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, designed to keep drinking water healthy. Hospitals rely on safe, high-quality water for hygiene in clinical and surgical care, and they also need to make sure there is enough drinking water stored to keep taps flowing should there be an interruption in water supplies. Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “Having safe, hot and cold water supply systems is vital for public health, and no more so than in a hospital environment. The good news is that WaterSafe-approved plumbers have the expertise to readily assist hospital Trusts that need help, as they have specific qualifications in working safely with drinking water supplies. “We are delighted the Department of Health recognises this too – WaterSafe is included in the guidance document with NHS Trusts encouraged to use WaterSafe-approved plumbers.” Image courtesy of Shutterstock/ Spotmatik Ltd Source link
MIPIM 2016: Croydon Council has set up its own development company with the aim of delivering 9,500 homes on council-owned land by 2018. Brick by Brick is a private company of which the council is the sole shareholder. It will seek development partners for some schemes and deliver others alone. The financial model is one of self-sufficiency, with all costs relating to the operation of the business intended to be covered by the proceeds of development. The council is likely to provide both debt and equity funding to the company at market rates, with this funding allocated from a “revolving investment fund”. This allows the council to reinvest a return on investment either into wider council services or other further development activity. As a non-contracting authority outside of the EU procurement regime, the council said it will be able to respond more quickly to new opportunities in the market place placing it on an “equal competitive footing” to other private sector developers. The proposed sites have not yet been revealed. However, the first planning applications are likely to be submitted in summer 2016 with a view to starting on site in 2017. Colm Lacey, Croydon Council regeneration director and chief executive of Brick by Brick, said: “This structure allows the council to extract value from the core components of development activity – funding, building, selling – in a very efficient way. “Traditionally such value would leak out of the borough. The Brick by Brick model maximises the return to Croydon residents, and allows the council to reinvest in core services at a time when other budgetary sources are constrained.” Lacey will be responsible for the management and day-to-day running of the company, including securing funding, land acquisition and development management. The board comprises two council-nominated directors, Colm Lacey and Lisa Taylor (Croydon Council’s head of finance) and two independent, non-executive directors with extensive property experience and expertise in property development: Jayne McGivern and Jeremy Titchen. The council, as shareholder, also provides observers to the board. For the smaller sites programme, services will be commissioned from an architectural panel made up of Pitman Tozer, Mikhail Riches, Stitch, Mae, vPPR, Coffey, HTA and Croydon’s in-house practice. Arcadis will deliver multi-disciplinary non-architectural services including: project management and employer’s agent, quantity surveying, sustainability and energy consultancy, landscape and visual impact assessments and transport planning. • To send feedback, e-mail Louisa.Clarence-Smith@estatesgazette.com or tweet @LouisaClarence or @estatesgazette Click here for all the news, views and analysis from MIPIM 2016 Source link
A NEW multi-million pound Sports Hub at the University of Warwick is one step closer to completion after contractor Willmott Dixon hosted a topping out ceremony today, which traditionally signifies the structure has reached its maximum height. Due to complete in March 2019, the new Sports Hub will create one of the best sports facilities at a UK university – including the UK’s largest gym facility in the HE sector – aligning with the University of Warwick’s ambition to be the “most physically active campus community in the UK by 2020”. Once complete, it will be available to all students, staff and the general public. Replacing the current sports centre on the campus, the Hub will feature a sports hall, a swimming pool, fitness suites, climbing and bouldering walls and flexible studio spaces, as well as squash courts, outdoor 3G sports pitches and netball courts. It will also be the official training ground of Coventry’s Wasps Netball super-league team. The afternoon included a tour of the internal areas including the 12-lane swimming pool, as well as speeches on the main roof from key representatives, including Lisa Dodd-Mayne, director of sport and active communities at University of Warwick, and Peter Owen, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the Midlands. Speaking of the facility, Lisa Dodd-Mayne said: “The Hub will mark a major step towards seeing the University of Warwick achieve its ambition to have the most active campus community in the UK. “The building will house top quality facilities, and will give all of its users the opportunity to be active in their own unique way. It will become a destination facility for our students, staff and local community, delivering an outstanding experience for all.” This is the second project that the University has partnered with Willmott Dixon to deliver, following the completion of the Oculus Building, the University’s flagship central teaching facility, in 2016. Peter Owen added: “This is a fantastic project to be a part of, creating cutting edge sporting facilities for the community at University of Warwick, which will really benefit its users. “Our team has an excellent track record of producing leading leisure facilities and we are delighted to be back on campus and working again with University of Warwick as their partner to unlock future growth.” For more information on the centre, visit https://www.willmottdixon.co.uk/projects/university-of-warwick-sports-hub
Specialist UK supplier, IronmongeryDirect, has announced that an additional four staff are now have their GAI qualification, enabling them to provide enhanced in-depth technical assistance and support to customers. The qualification was undertaken by staff members from across the business: employees Jenna Cottis and Caroline Vaughan from the Contact Centre, Tomasz Stasiek from the Purchasing team and Kelly Wing from the Direct Sourcing team all completed the Level 1 course. The qualification provides the staff with professional industry knowledge and skills, including everything they need to know about the range of ironmongery products on the market, from how they are made to how they are used. Contact Centre Team Manager, Jenna Cottis, said: “The GAI qualification makes my job ten times easier. In my role I am asked a lot of technical questions and this course has given me the professional skillset and industry knowledge to provide customers with the best information and support. “This qualification gives our customers confidence in us and reassures them that we are a source of information they can rely on.” Wayne Lysaght-Mason, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “We are incredibly proud of all our employees who have achieved this highly-regarded qualification in architectural hardware. They have all worked extremely hard to complete their studies and are now able to provide the very best service for our customers, supporting our status as ‘masters of our trade’.”
Transformation is happening all around us and whilst other industries have been quick to make the digital leap – the construction industry has been a little slower out of the starting blocks but now the revolution is well underway. Smart technology is changing the face of construction with a range of devices making complicated tasks much easier – from virtual reality and 3D technology to smart helmets and digital software efficiencies. The rate of advancements is accelerating at such a relentless pace – it cannot be ignored. The combination of offsite manufacturing and digital construction technology presents a compelling proposition. Taking place on 28 February 2018 in partnership with BRE, Explore Offsite Outlooks will get to grips with the latest innovations and understand how best to implement this technology into an offsite construction strategy. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been the subject of much debate but the software offers so much more than the creation of 3D models. Virtual Reality (VR) – an artificial, computer-generated simulation of an environment – has transformed the way that architects present their vision. It immerses the user by making them feel like they are experiencing the simulated reality first hand – allowing clients to play an integral part of the design process and ‘virtually’ enter the building and validate the layout. Augmented Reality (AR) on the other hand, provides more freedom for the user because it does not need to be a head-mounted display. Augmented Reality takes the real world and adds something to it – for example a new extension could be digitally superimposed onto an existing building. Kadine James, 3D Tech Lead for Hobs studios – who describes herself as a learner, maker, innovator and 3D technology enthusiast – will be discussing these advancement at Explore Offsite Outlooks. As a 3D tech evangelist – combining over five years of experience in VR, AR, 3D and 3D printing – Kadine is driven by big ideas, a global mindset and empowering the use of 3D technology in construction and architecture. Kadine is an advocate and thought-leader for the UK’s immersive and disruptive tech industry. As an ambassador, mentor, digital inclusion and diversity consultant – she sets out to create a platform for 3DTech learning opportunities for students to get involved with at their 3DTech studios. Autodesk’s primary thought-leader for the global Construction and Natural Resources industries – Dominic Thasarathar, claims: “Technology has always disrupted the construction industry. Think of the impact of reinforced concrete, the mechanical excavator or, more recently, building information modelling (BIM) – each has changed existing practices. But what happens when multiple disruptive technologies arrive simultaneously? That is what is looming for the industry, and the implications could be monumental.” To find the answers to this and many more questions – Dominic Thasarathar will be speaking at Explore Offsite Outlooks. Dominic joined Autodesk in 2011 from a career spanning two decades in international construction and capital projects – he is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Chartered IT Professional. His focus is the strategic role that information and technology can play in helping companies across those ecosystems respond to changing markets and achieve competitive advantage. The sector is changing fast. Advancements in virtual reality, digital fabrication and the internet of things will continue to be major disruptors. This has profound implications for the future design of buildings and those who build them. Tomorrows building engineers and architects will need to master the new software programming skills and learn to co-work with automated technology. Kadine James and Dominic Thasarathar will be joined at Explore Offsite Outlooks by an outstanding speaker line-up that includes: Andrew Orriss, Sales Director – SIG360; Ben Lever, Future Skills Manager – CITB; John Eynon, Engagement Lead – BIM Alliance; Alan Clucas, Director – Explore Manufacturing – Laing O’Rourke… and more. For the full list of speakers go to: http://www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/2018-events/explore-offsite-outlooks/conference-speakers/ This one-day conference and exhibition will create a platform for clients and their professional advisers, contractors and project managers and offsite technology suppliers to network with industry experts to discuss the latest developments in digital construction for the offsite sector. The Explore Offsite Outlooks conference and supporting exhibition is taking place on 28 February 2018. Tickets cost just £125 + vat and includes entry into the conference and exhibition, lunch and refreshments. There will also be an optional guided tour of the BRE Innovation Park. To find out more or to secure your place at Explore Offsite Outlooks go to: www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/book
