Kent Reliance launches new BTL range Kent Reliance, the specialist mortgage lender and part of the OneSavings Bank Group, announces the launch of its new low mainstream LTV product range. With low rates, the new LTV range is available to 65% LTV and on 2 year discount and 2 year
6 May 2016 | Jamie Harris Servest and Atalian are to form a joint venture (JV) partnership, which both organisations say will enable them to provide integrated facilities services across Europe. The JV is to be owned equally, and will operate as Atalian Servest Ltd. Atalian is a facilities services provider
Managing contractors on a construction site can be a difficult process, especially where workplace health and safety is concerned. While they are still not technically your employees, you will still have a responsibility for these people, so you will need to brush up on the rules and regulations regarding contractors.
Towards the end of 2017, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid announced plans to make buying and selling homes ‘cheaper, faster and less stressful’. Amongst his proposals was to clamp down on ‘ gazumping ’ which sees a buyer lose out on a property at the
Trackunit, a leader in the design, development and deployment of fleet management systems, has introduced an advanced version of its Trackunit On smartphone app, enabling equipment rental companies and fleet owners to stay right on top of machine and operator health. The new Trackunit app provides a smart solution to log
Vivalda Group plc, the UK’s largest distributor of architectural facades, has confirmed the relocation of its headquarters from London to Birmingham. The business, which was named as one of the UK’s most inspiring companies by the London Stock Exchange*, has a turnover of more than £30m and employs 30 people
The Met office warns of a February Freeze with 90% of the UK to expect snow and plummeting temperatures. Winter weather has the potential to hit the UK hard, and can cause hazards for construction workers and others working outdoors. Whilst cold stress can have a serious impact on one’s
Drainage and groundwork materials supplier Rudridge, together with paving supplier Marshalls, have announced that they will both be supporting Chris Crane, the national hot rod racer. The one-year sponsorship deal includes company branding appearing on the racing team’s specialist built chassis, which is a 2 litre, 16 valve Vauxhall Tigra.
Kent Reliance launches new BTL range Kent Reliance, the specialist mortgage lender and part of the OneSavings Bank Group, announces the launch of its new low mainstream LTV product range. With low rates, the new LTV range is available to 65% LTV and on 2 year discount and 2 year fixed products across its entire BTL mortgage range available up to loan sizes of £3million. Created in response to demand from its broking partners, the new range is also available for borrowers seeking to purchase or raise funds for HMOs, student lets or those seeking finance arrangements via a limited company or limited liability partnership. Highlights of the new range include a 2-year discount product at 3.59%, and a 2-year fixed rate at 3.79% – both at 65% LTV, with fees of 1.50% and a maximum loan of £3m. Adrian Moloney, Sales Director for OneSavings Bank, comments: “We’ve continued throughout this year to develop and release products that meet the needs of the professional property investors. Our brokers told us that our new, low LTV range must be available for their clients who manage their portfolios through limited companies and for those investing in HMO properties and I’m pleased to say we’ve delivered on that.” Source link
6 May 2016 | Jamie Harris Servest and Atalian are to form a joint venture (JV) partnership, which both organisations say will enable them to provide integrated facilities services across Europe. The JV is to be owned equally, and will operate as Atalian Servest Ltd. Atalian is a facilities services provider based in France. In January this year it expanded into the North American market with its acquisition of Temco Facility Services. Servest is an FM provider operating across 7,000 sites in the UK. While the businesses will continue to operate independently, the JV is to be utilised for contract opportunities where both have an operational presence, including in the UK. A statement explained that the venture has been set up to “capitalise on both organisations strong operational reputations in their respective markets and expand their current offer to existing and new customers across country boundaries”. Rob Legge, Servest Group CEO UK and Europe, said: “The world is becoming a smaller place and we have seen that businesses are now looking for unified solutions that bring their communities together. We wanted to offer our customers a pan-European solution with a partner that operates with the same cultural and business philosophies as adopted by Servest in the UK.” Matthieu de Baynast, president, Atalian International, said: “Both organisations have very like-minded business approaches based on an entrepreneurial strategy where organic and acquisitive growth are of equal importance.” Source link
Managing contractors on a construction site can be a difficult process, especially where workplace health and safety is concerned. While they are still not technically your employees, you will still have a responsibility for these people, so you will need to brush up on the rules and regulations regarding contractors. It is essential that both you and the contractor are working together to make sure that safety is priority. Here are some helpful tips for you to ensure your work with any contractors goes as successfully and smoothly as possible. Properly Explain the Job When you bring the contractor in, the first thing you will need to do is identify exactly what work it is they will have to carry out, including any health and safety protocols that go with it. If you include all this information within your job specification you can let the contractors know early exactly what is it they are signing up for and what is expected of them, so both parties have a better understanding. Find the Right Person for the Job Making sure you properly vet all candidates for the job will ensure you will secure yourself a capable worker. Obviously, the skill level and risk involved for the job required will tailor exactly how strict your vetting process is. It is a good idea to get a sense of their previous experience and also getting written evidence of their health and safety policy, including past risk assessments they may have completed. Complete a Risk Assessment A risk assessment is vital to ensure everybody is aware of the dangers of the job and how to prevent unnecessary danger to anyone within the workforce. Ask yourself three key questions when you carry out the risk assessment: 1) What could possibly endanger people? 2) Who could this endanger and how would they get injured? 3) What can be done to ensure risk is kept to a minimum? Both you and the contractor should complete an assessment independently and then compare the two, so you are both on the same wavelength. Provide Them with Key Information Once the risk assessment has been completed and you are both happy with the agreed upon procedures, provide it to them as information within a form that is easy to read and understand. This will include health and safety information, procedures in place to deal with risks as per your risk assessment and finally the emergency protocol – make sure you let them know where you keep the medical supplies so they are prepared for a first aid emergency. Keep Your Workforce in the Loop It’s not just you who will have to work with the contractors, your entire workforce will as well. Make sure that they have been properly briefed on exactly how bringing the contractors in will affect them and that they are more than welcome to highlight any issues they have about the contractors and the work they are doing. They may raise an important issue that you had not considered. Have Regular Meetings Communication is key to a job successfully completed. Regularly checking back with the contractor is the best way to ensure all is running smoothly as well as the job being completed within the agreed time. It is crucial to pay close attention for any ‘near misses’ that may have occurred, because it’s a clear sign you will need to put additional safety measures in to prevent this happening again.
Towards the end of 2017, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid announced plans to make buying and selling homes ‘cheaper, faster and less stressful’. Amongst his proposals was to clamp down on ‘ gazumping ’ which sees a buyer lose out on a property at the last minute after a higher offer is received. Here, Jonathan Williams, partner specialising in property law at Roythornes Solicitors, explains why putting a stop to gazumping will not prevent bad buyer and seller behaviour. GOVERNMENT proposals aimed at outlawing gazumping – the practice whereby potential purchasers outbid other people who have already made an offer – will not prevent bad behaviour by house sellers and buyers. The real issue when purchasing and selling a home is not the cost of legal fees when sales fall through, but the current shortage of housing and people’s general lack of understanding of how the conveyancing system works. According to latest statistics 200,000 transactions collapse each year, leaving would-be buyers with bills for surveys and legal fees to pay on the dream homes they have lost. Yes, it’s true that people do sometimes lose money during the selling and buying process, but it’s only a small problem when we consider the much bigger picture – in over thirty years as a conveyancing solicitor I have not seen a huge amount of abortive transactions. We need to remember that people move house for all sorts of reasons – some planned, some not. A seller’s first port of call is an estate agent, not a solicitor, so invariably the house will not be ‘oven ready’ when it goes on the market. Anyone can set themselves up as an estate agent. Unless the seller has appointed qualified surveyors or land agents, there is always a chance that the estate agent will not have noticed defects in the title deeds or the absence of essential paperwork needed to make a successful sale. Conveyancing transactions are not just plagued by a lack of preparation, but also by offers taken from people who do not have the means to buy. Until a mortgage offer is issued there is bound to be uncertainty. A chain only moves at the pace of its slowest link. It’s like joining a train heading for one destination; people board at different stations, all to arrive at the same time. But with conveyancing some people might lose patience with the process, get tripped up or be unable to raise a mortgage, so they will get off the train early. It is said that Scotland’s system of sealed bids promotes early commitment but I suspect this also means that any issues are discovered later, with parties then left to look for reasons to back out. At least our system, although not perfect, allows us to address any problems first and then commit. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ handbook runs to many pages, and includes the basic requirements for every mortgage, plus the individual points lawyers must satisfy before a home loan can be completed. Conveyancing has become more onerous and time consuming, with the risk management required for lawyers, buyers, sellers and mortgagees adding further expense. In my view it’s not worth the Government banning gazumping to try and fix a system which although not ideal is not broken either. The fact is that moving home and getting the best price for our properties are highly emotive issues, and will remain so regardless of the rules around one annoying practice. Why not instead educate potential buyers and sellers on better preparation and seeking good and informed counsel.
Trackunit, a leader in the design, development and deployment of fleet management systems, has introduced an advanced version of its Trackunit On smartphone app, enabling equipment rental companies and fleet owners to stay right on top of machine and operator health. The new Trackunit app provides a smart solution to log and track start-up routines together with service and maintenance requirements. Trackunit On provides a smartphone-driven checklist so operators can ensure equipment passes all pre-checks, service requirements are up to date, and submit reports of any visual damage – including providing photographic evidence. For rental companies Trackunit On can be a tool for making pre-checks before rented equipment is handed over and final checks when equipment is returned. On-site safety is a major concern, and Trackunit On will help protect equipment operators by reducing the chance of faulty and unsafe equipment being used. By connecting man and machine in a single app, Trackunit On keeps track of hours worked and equipment operated. Using Trackunit On to highlight faults and damage enables the repair process to be streamlined so service technicians can bring machines to full operational condition quickly and conveniently. In turn, this will cut costs associated with downtime, delayed servicing and repair. An intelligent management dashboard service provides rental companies, fleet supervisors and managers with key equipment metrics and utilization, customisable using dynamic widgets. Used proactively, monitoring the condition and use of machines can have a beneficial effect on lifecycle, cost of ownership and residual value. Trackunit CEO, Joergen Raguse said; “Trackunit On shows how telematics can help the digitization of the construction industry in a convenient and intelligent way, using the smartphones in everyone’s pockets. Our technology links equipment rental companies and fleet owners to operators and equipment to increase safety and productivity while reducing downtime and costs.” Available as a subscription service, Trackunit On provides the machine owner and rental company increased operational control of every piece of equipment, together with an instantly available digital record of use, repair and service. Used together with Trackunit Raw and Trackunit’s industry-leading cloud environment – Iris – Trackunit provides a complete and comprehensive fleet management system for the construction industry. For more details please click here , or visit www.trackunit.com/services/on About Trackunit A/S Trackunit is among the world’s leading companies in the Industrial Internet of Things with a focus on innovative solutions to players within building, construction and industry. Trackunit develops and provides solutions for the entire value chain, from machine manufacturers, machine dealers, machine landlords, contractors for operators. Trackunit services its customers directly from its headquarters in Denmark and through subsidiaries in Sweden, Norway, France, Holland, Germany, England and the United States of America. www.trackunit.com
Vivalda Group plc, the UK’s largest distributor of architectural facades, has confirmed the relocation of its headquarters from London to Birmingham. The business, which was named as one of the UK’s most inspiring companies by the London Stock Exchange*, has a turnover of more than £30m and employs 30 people at its new offices in Nechells. The company acquired the 28,000sq m site last year and has since been busy renovating 6,000sq m of office space as well as the site’s manufacturing facilities. February 2018 marks the official opening of Vivalda’s new operational HQ in Birmingham. Ben Jayes, managing director of Vivalda Group is delighted with the move. He said: “While we founded the business in London back in 1999, we found that high rents, poor road links and a transient workforce were all holding us back. “Having operated a manufacturing centre in Birmingham for some years, we’ve always known that the city boasts a huge pool of talent, which was a major consideration in the relocation of our UK headquarters from London. Our new freehold premises in Nechells also gives us room for expansion into 2018 and beyond. The central position of the new HQ, near to the motorway links also makes life a lot easier from a transport perspective.” Vivalda provides high performance facades to many high profile building projects across the UK. As the UK’s number one supplier of rain screen cladding and facade panels, Vivalda prides itself on offering a genuinely independent service to contractors in support of specifiers and architects. Products supplied by Vivalda include Marley Eternit, Cembrit, Rockpanel, Trespa and Fibre C. Vivalda also owns the PURA Facades brand. VivaIda Group has a turnover of more than of £30m and employs more than 100 people across its eight locations in the UK and Ireland.
The Met office warns of a February Freeze with 90% of the UK to expect snow and plummeting temperatures. Winter weather has the potential to hit the UK hard, and can cause hazards for construction workers and others working outdoors. Whilst cold stress can have a serious impact on one’s health; wind, freezing rain and ice can make construction sites dangerous and cause an increase in site accidents and injuries. Weather warning for construction sites in the UK – February freeze on its way 382 deaths in the last 10 years in construction – 89 of those occurred in winter Freezing weather conditions can make construction sites dangerous 48% of winter construction deaths occurred as a result of falling from height 24% of injuries occurred as a result of slips and trips Coldest temperature ever recorded in the UK – 27.2 C Tips on how to prevent accidents what employers can do to prevent cold stress Because of this, experts at Heat Traders have analysed data to find out how dangerous construction sites can be in the winter months and provide advice of what you can do to prevent injuries or ill health. According to HSE data, construction is the deadliest industry to work in with 382 deaths in the last 10 years and 64,000 non-fatal injuries to workers each year. When breaking this down by seasons 89 of those occurred within the winter months raising concerns for employee safety. Of those that died whilst working in construction in the winter months, a huge 48% (the majority) died as a result of falling from a height and 24% injured themselves as a result of slips and trips. So how can we prevent this from happening and what are the laws regarding working outdoors in the cold? What is the minimum legal temperature for outdoor workers? The Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 and accompanying Approved Code of Practice set out the required temperatures for working. Indoor workplaces must be at least 16C or 13C where rigorous physical effort is required. However, the rules don’t apply “where it would be impractical to maintain those temperatures”. In other words, there is no legal minimum temperature for working outside. The regulations recognise it can be very difficult controlling the environment or separating workers from the cold – cranking up the thermostat is not usually an option outdoors! However, employers do have a duty of care to make sure no one works in unsafe or unhealthy conditions, including cold weather. What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in the UK? Date Location Area Temperature 1 10-Jan-82 Braemar East Scotland -27.2 °C 2 30-Dec-95 Altnaharra No 2 North Scotland -27.2 °C 3 13-Dec-81 Shawbury Midlands -25.2 °C 4 13-Jan-79 Carnwath West Scotland -24.6 °C 5 20-Jan-84 Grantown-On-Spey East Scotland -23.6 °C 6 27-Jan-85 Lagganlia North Scotland -23.4 °C 7 13-Jan-87 Caldecott P Sta Midlands -23.3 °C 8 08-Jan-10 Altnaharra No 2 North Scotland -22.3 °C 9 18-Feb-60 Grantown-On-Spey East Scotland -22.2 °C 10 30-Dec-61 Cannich North Scotland -22.2 °C 11 18-Jan-63 Braemar East Scotland -22.2 °C How can winter weather affect my working conditions in Construction? Cold stress Cold stress occurs when skin temperature plummets, causing heat to leave the body much faster than normal, and eventually reducing the internal body temperature. When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur, and permanent tissue damage and death may result. Trench foot, frostbite and hypothermia are potential hazards if workers are not properly protected from the elements when working outside. Falls Falls are one of the most common construction site accidents and they can happen all year round. However, winter weather increases the risk of falls due to ice and wet, slippery surfaces if not treated correctly. Winter driving accidents Being on a construction site, it is easy to forget that winter driving rules for the road still apply. Construction vehicles aren’t usually as agile as cars because of their size and weight. How to prevent accidents on the construction site? Experts at Heat Traders advise you to follow these measures: Educate your employees about how to work safely when the bad weather hits and what to do to prevent any accidents. Shield any areas that could be worst hit by the weather Treat all surfaces to prevent slips and falls Create warm break areas so construction workers can warm up Schedule outside work to be carried out in shorter durations, ensuring employees do not have to face the elements for long periods of time. Layer up and use the correct gear (provided by the employer). Ensure no skin is exposed and the body is full insulated Check the site regularly for any new hazards that could have been caused by the bad weather. How to prevent cold stress? Despite their being no legal minimum temperature in the UK, employers do have a duty of care to make sure no one works in unsafe or unhealthy conditions. Employers should follow these helpful control measures: Employers should train their workers on how to recognize the environmental and workplace conditions that can lead to cold stress. Train employees on how to spot symptoms of cold stress and how to help those who are affected Train employees on how to select proper clothing for cold, wet, and windy conditions. Employers must monitor workers physical condition. Schedule frequent short breaks in warm dry areas, to allow the body to warm up. Schedule work during the warmest part of the day. Use the buddy system (work in pairs). Provide warm, sweet beverages. Avoid drinks with alcohol. Provide engineering controls such as radiant heaters. Spokesperson at Heat Traders says “Working outside any time of the year can be extremely dangerous. Always make sure employees are safe, helping to reduce onsite injuries or fatalities.”
Drainage and groundwork materials supplier Rudridge, together with paving supplier Marshalls, have announced that they will both be supporting Chris Crane, the national hot rod racer. The one-year sponsorship deal includes company branding appearing on the racing team’s specialist built chassis, which is a 2 litre, 16 valve Vauxhall Tigra. This news is the latest in a series of deals that will get his 2018 season off to a successful start. “The whole team are absolutely delighted Rudridge and Marshalls have chosen to offer their support. 2018 is set to be an exciting and exhilarating year competing in races across the country. It’s support from companies, like Rudridge and Marshalls, which makes all the difference to our success – it’s a real boost,” commented Chris. The civil engineering groundwork material specialist with four branches across the South East in Farnham, Horsham, Brentford, and Gravesend, Rudridge, announced that the company “is pleased to be involved with such a promising prospect in national hot rod racing. We wish Chris and the rest of his team the very best of luck for a successful and positive season.” Chris’ dad, Andy, who runs Andy Crane Transport in Sandhurst and also manages the teams, added: “We always strive for excellence in everything we do, both as a business and a team. We are looking forward to a long and successful partnership with Rudridge and Marshalls.” The National Hot Rod Racing (NHR) will start on the 3rd of March, with races taking place in a number of locations across the UK and Ireland, including Aldershot, Cannock, Lochgelly, Northampton, and Tullyroan. The final will be held in Ipswich in July and those that wish to find more information and the NHR and the dates of the races can visit www.nationalhotrod.com.
