OFTEC launches new commercial assessment course Published: 05 July, 2016 In response to industry requests, the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) has extended its offering with the launch of a new course covering the servicing and commissioning of larger multi-stage burners, as fitted in many light and medium commercial appliances.
In a world where convenience is king and time is increasingly of the essence, we are seeing the beginning of an evolution in property development. With an ageing population and growing economy on one hand and a need to limit urban sprawl whilst maximising sustainability on the other, the age old
Scotland’s largest building preservation company, Richardson and Starling, has won a national trade body’s contractor of the year title for a record third successive year. The Cambuslang-based organisation retained the ‘Contractor of the Year, Damp and Timber Treatment’ title at The Property Care Association’s Best Practice Awards held last month
On June 27th, over 50 guests from the coatings, printing inks and associated industries gathered to celebrate a new chapter in the 106-year history of the British Coatings Federation. The Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor John Blundell, together with BCF president David Beckford and BCF CEO Tom Bowtell, cut the
‘Lock up and leave’ properties in London are in increased demand, according to innovative developer be:here. This finding is backed by data from Statista that shows the average person increased its number of holidays abroad from 1.4 in 2016 to 1.7 in 2017. With London’s airports serving such a wide
Jarvis Contracting’s previous, six-wheeled Mercedes-Benz crane truck provided reliable, cost-effective service for 14 years. No surprise, then, that its highly specified successor also wears a three-pointed star. A long-established construction group based in Hertfordshire, the Jarvis Group acquired its muscular new flagship from Dealer S & B Commercials. The 8×4
Floor strippers, just like beer, must be operated with tool at the right pitch (angle to the floor) for them to be as efficient as possible. Jim Sullivan, territory sales manager at National Flooring Equipment, explains how changing the angle of a stripper blade can improve the efficiency of floor
Network Rail has been reviewing and amending its standards, practices and approach to risk management governing how it works with other organisations wishing to build on or near the railway. When working with Network Rail, third parties can expect to see better working practices, streamlined and consistent processes, and a
OFTEC launches new commercial assessment course Published: 05 July, 2016 In response to industry requests, the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) has extended its offering with the launch of a new course covering the servicing and commissioning of larger multi-stage burners, as fitted in many light and medium commercial appliances. The course, OFT10-201 Servicing & Commissioning of Multi-Stage Burners, offers a mixture of theory and practical-based assessments for two and three stage pressure jet burners connected to space and water heating appliances. Alongside servicing and commissioning, topics covered by the course include health and safety, fire valve installation, regional requirements, safe electrical isolation, OFTEC procedures, knowledge of oil storage and supply as well as appliance installation. OFTEC training manager David Knipe said: “Feedback from technicians who have already attended the course has been extremely positive. Those new to commercial appliances have said it’s equipped them to confidently tackle the servicing and commissioning of light commercial appliances, whilst experienced commercial technicians have found the details on commercial oil storage, risk assessment and procedures very helpful. “By covering commercial as well as domestic applications through our assessment offering, we are able to further support our technicians’ business growth. OFTEC will continue to listen to and respond to the evolving needs of our industry as we strive to provide the best, progressive services and advice going forward.” There are currently nine centres across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland offering the OFT10-201 course, which will be rolled out more extensively over the coming months. Source link
In a world where convenience is king and time is increasingly of the essence, we are seeing the beginning of an evolution in property development. With an ageing population and growing economy on one hand and a need to limit urban sprawl whilst maximising sustainability on the other, the age old story of demand versus supply imbalance continues across the market despite a healthy appetite from developers, occupiers and funders alike. The story continues with brownfield land, in many areas remaining undeveloped due to upfront remediation costs and extended timescales weighing on fragile cashflows regardless of sites being cheap across Scotland comparative to other UK regional counterparts. The support offered through government initiatives such as the City Deal, Enterprise Areas and Business Improvement Districts most certainly aides in regeneration, particularly upfront expenditure and infrastructure costs, the speed of which the capital is deployed is behind the pace of our impatient market. Technology and innovation are driving demand in a particular direction, toward urbanisation and more specifically mixed use development. Occupiers demand an increasingly level of convenience whilst planning policy requires improved infrastructure and greening of streetscapes bringing masterplanning, placemaking and the need for mixed use communities to the forefront of the development industry. This need however for mixed use development is not simply occupier driven. The presence of uncertainty, particularly in Scotland and impatience of equity providers who require shorter term returns on capital is causing a development funding gap. This gap is exaggerated in single use schemes, where developers are battling to find the balance between suitable scale to create development viability without diluting the micro market with an over-supply of a single product. The creation of mixed use 24 hour live-work environments, not only answers the demands of modern living but reduces risk and eases cash flows through diversification and in turn increases funding opportunities. A joined up and longer term approach is require to make a success of prime, large scale development opportunities and encourage inward investment into the regional market. Whilst the next generation of mixed use development is in its infancy across Scotland in many respects, we are witnessing a handful of mixed use schemes leading the way. The Mill Quarter, a landmark £30m project in Perth will establish a mix of restaurants and bars, speciality shops, a cinema, gym, housing, and a multi storey car park. It forms a cornerstone of the City’s wider plans to establish a new cultural quarter in the city centre. The project led by property developers Expresso, is an excellent example of the public and private sectors working together to maximise community benefit. The project was secured by Perth and Kinross Council and helped by collaborative marketing undertaken by the Scottish Cities Alliance, a partnership between Scotland’s seven cities and the Scottish Government. Savills act as Strategic Development advisors to Expresso. The University of Glasgow have recently submitted Planning Permission in Principle for the redevelopment of the 14 acre former Western Infirmary Site. Plans include roughly 800,000sq/ft of academic accommodation including new learning and teaching spaces, research hub and buildings for the arts, social science, the institute of wellbeing as well as science and the institute of infectious diseases. The Masterplan includes supporting commercial uses, strengthening the link between Byers Road with Dumbarton Road opening up the whole area and creating a new central square to encourage both the community and university to move through the campus. Savills mixed use development team specialise in the delivery of regenerative and infrastructure led schemes across the UK working with the education, public and private sectors. Will specialists in acquisition, planning, funding, development, agency and disposal across both the residential and commercial sectors, Savills are the only international business based in Scotland able to offer a full spectrum of expert advise under one roof Source link
Scotland’s largest building preservation company, Richardson and Starling, has won a national trade body’s contractor of the year title for a record third successive year. The Cambuslang-based organisation retained the ‘Contractor of the Year, Damp and Timber Treatment’ title at The Property Care Association’s Best Practice Awards held last month at The Slate, University of Warwick. The firm also walked away with the ‘Innovation’ title as well as two highly commended accolades in the ‘Training and Staff Development’ and ‘Sustainability’ categories. “We are proud to win these prestigious awards and I would like to thank all of our staff who work hard to deliver a quality service.” Commented Richardson and Starling’s managing director, Graham Duncan. “To repeat our success is a fantastic achievement but to also become the first company to achieve UK contractor of the year for three years in a row is testament to our people, process and property care services.” Stephen Hodgson, chief executive of the PCA, added: “It was a record night for Richardson & Starling with their well-deserved victory. “The level of professionalism and organisation throughout the company, at every level, is testimony to the hard work and effort of the management and staff.” Richardson and Starling is the largest company in the Veitchi Group with 12 offices and has been providing property care services since 1935. Earlier this month the Veitchi Group revealed its latest financial results which saw turnover increase by 7% to £41.55m and Group profits after tax rise to £1.26m in the period to November 2017.
On June 27th, over 50 guests from the coatings, printing inks and associated industries gathered to celebrate a new chapter in the 106-year history of the British Coatings Federation. The Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor John Blundell, together with BCF president David Beckford and BCF CEO Tom Bowtell, cut the ribbon on the trade body’s new state of the art building ‘Spectra House’ in Westwood Business Park, Coventry. Coventry was selected due to its central location for member meetings, excellent transport links and good value for money. The stand-alone building spans two floors – the BCF staff situated on the ground floor, with three dedicated meeting rooms, each fitted with state of the art wireless touch screens. Commenting on the move, BCF President and Managing Director of Pronto Paints, David Beckford said: “It is a fantastic milestone in our recent history to be able to afford to invest in our own building, and gives us a long term secure location for our members to meet.” Tom Bowtell, BCF’s CEO added “We’ve put together a great new back office team to support the members from our new home – we look forward to welcoming members and guests to Coventry in the near future.”
‘Lock up and leave’ properties in London are in increased demand, according to innovative developer be:here. This finding is backed by data from Statista that shows the average person increased its number of holidays abroad from 1.4 in 2016 to 1.7 in 2017. With London’s airports serving such a wide range of destinations, those travelling overseas for both work and pleasure are looking to ensure that their homes remain safe while empty. “Today’s housing schemes have to think carefully about the needs of their residents, particularly as the convenience of international travel means that our modern lifestyle often involves trips overseas, whether for business or pleasure. This is even more true for developments that are within reach of international airports, as easy travel abroad is often a key benefit for those living there,” said Hayley Wills, Area Manager at be:here Hayes. For those looking to prioritise security as a result of leaving their property empty regularly, the new purposely-designed Build to Rent development ‘The Gatefold Building’ from be:here and located in Hayes, 4 miles from Heathrow International Airport, presents a unique opportunity. The development is gated and provides an on-site concierge and management team. Knowing there’s always someone on hand to keep an eye on things is immensely reassuring, particularly in an urban environment as vast as London. Flight crew, for example, have to regularly leave their homes unoccupied whilst at work, so security is a particularly important issue. The lock up and leave benefits of Build to Rent accommodation apply equally to those who travel on business regularly. The benefits of living at the award-winning Gatefold Building include tenancies of up to three years in length, low deposits (just one month’s rent), pet-friendly homes, free super-fast 30 mbps broadband, regular social events and Habitat furnishings. Soon, tenants will also be able to take advantage of on-site Laundry Republic lockers, meaning that they can take care of their dry cleaning from home with ease. The prices for an apartment at The Gatefold Building start at £1,195 pcm for one bedroom and from £1,450 for two bedroom. In addition, every home comes with either a garden or a balcony.
Jarvis Contracting’s previous, six-wheeled Mercedes-Benz crane truck provided reliable, cost-effective service for 14 years. No surprise, then, that its highly specified successor also wears a three-pointed star. A long-established construction group based in Hertfordshire, the Jarvis Group acquired its muscular new flagship from Dealer S & B Commercials. The 8×4 Arocs 3235 has a ClassicSpace M-Cab, behind which is installed an Italian-built, 36 tonne-metre Fassi F365A e-dynamic knuckle boom crane. Its beavertail body, meanwhile, is by Sterling Bodies, of Stokesley, North Yorkshire. Purpose-designed for construction-related applications, the Mercedes-Benz Arocs offers a compelling blend of strength, payload capacity and performance. Jarvis Contracting’s truck is powered by a 7.7-litre straight-six engine which transmits its 260 kW (354 hp) output via a 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated gearbox. To reflect the fact that the truck will spend most of its time working on road, the operator has chosen rear air suspension in preference to steel springs. As well as being more comfortable and quieter for the driver, this arrangement means the body can be lowered when required, making it easier to load plant. The Arocs is smartly finished in the Jarvis Group’s red, white and blue corporate scheme, and rides on Alcoa alloy wheels, while its appearance is further enhanced by a sun visor and roof-mounted beacons. From a safety perspective, meanwhile, the truck is equipped with a full complement of cameras and a side-scan system that meet the FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Gold standard. Established more than 100 years ago by Ernest Charles Jarvis, the Jarvis Group comprises four specialist divisions: Jarvis Contracting, E7 Building Services, Jarvis Homes and Jarvis Commercial. Individually and together, they design, build and maintain all types of property for private and public sector clients, delivering new build projects with values of up to £20 million. Jarvis Group Plant & Transport Manager David Meadows recalled: “Our last crane vehicle had been on the road since 2004 and was exceptionally reliable, so we certainly got our money’s worth. “This experience was an important factor, of course, but it was not the only reason we chose another Mercedes-Benz. We did a lot of homework on the specification before we ordered this new truck, and S & B were able to provide us with a 32-tonne chassis that ticked all our boxes.” He continued: “Ride height was crucial. We’d had some issues previously when manoeuvring on rough terrain, particularly with the front end, which was dragging. The Arocs provides plenty of ground clearance, with high approach and departure angles that make it ideally suited to site work.” Jarvis Contracting works primarily in the northern Home Counties, London (north of The Thames) and the south Midlands, with its specialist retail and fit-out team operating nationally. It is now using the new eight-wheeler to transport plant and modular accommodation units from its own plant division. The vehicle has been assigned to dedicated driver Andy Bewley. “He’s a very happy lad, and so he should be, because the Arocs is a beautiful piece of equipment,” continued Mr Meadows. “Image is important, too, and the new truck looks fantastic in our branding.” The subject of an eight-year Mercedes-Benz Complete Service Contract, the truck will be inspected and maintained at S & B Commercials’ headquarters in Welham Green, near Hatfield. The Arocs is also equipped with revolutionary Mercedes-Benz Uptime maintenance technology, which employs an array of sensors that monitor its condition constantly. As a result, S & B will know precisely what is required before the truck reaches the workshop, and can order parts in advance while setting aside sufficient time during a single visit to complete all tasks. Thus, the system ensures Maximised Use – one of the three pillars of Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ all-embracing RoadEfficiency strategy – for the operator. David Meadows added: “S & B’s Key Account Manager Vick Croker went to a lot of time and trouble to ensure that we ordered exactly the right truck. He’s a true gent, very easy to deal with, and made the process a real pleasure.” www.jarvisgroupltd.co.uk
Floor strippers, just like beer, must be operated with tool at the right pitch (angle to the floor) for them to be as efficient as possible. Jim Sullivan, territory sales manager at National Flooring Equipment, explains how changing the angle of a stripper blade can improve the efficiency of floor removal and extend tooling life. It is important to be efficient during surface preparation because it reduces the time and labour needed to remove a floor, which ultimately impacts on a project’s return on investment. If a job’s square footage per hour is down, this could indicate that the machine is not working as it should. A good way to prevent this from happening is to maintain sharp tooling at the correct pitch. The pitch of the blade should be set according to how hard the coating or material is and how it is stuck to the floor. It should also be adjusted to the sweet spot between the material on the floor and the concrete for maximum efficiency. The sweet spot is important, as with too much pitch the machine could dig into the subfloor, causing the blade to wear more quickly. The blade can also snap if the operator hits something, which can result in damage to the machine. A different pitch must be used for a different tooling. The tool choice is determined by the material on the floor, so it is vital that the correct blade is used for the right application. Certain tooling types, like wood or ceramic, may have a recommended pitch. However, with carpet and tile floors, finding the sweet spot can only be done by testing. National Flooring Equipment offers scrapers with a dual lift feature, where the pitch and angle can be changed in two places, which means that the machine is stronger. The operator has multiple adjustments at their fingertips to allow correct blade adjustment, without manually adjusting the front end of the machine. This is more important when removing ceramic and wood, as the specific angle needed can only be achieved with multiple adjustments.
Network Rail has been reviewing and amending its standards, practices and approach to risk management governing how it works with other organisations wishing to build on or near the railway. When working with Network Rail, third parties can expect to see better working practices, streamlined and consistent processes, and a slicker, less bureaucratic structure under a more consistent framework. A national ASPRO framework has been produced and is in the process of being rolled out across the business. This will support in driving a consistent and transparent approach for third parties working with Network Rail, meaning there will be clearly defined processes, working practices, responsibilities and contacts right across the business. Moreover, in order to raise the professional competency, assurance and drive consistency within Network Rail’s route ASPRO teams, a new role has been created. Mona Sihota has been appointed at the new national professional head of ASPRO, bringing nearly 30 years of railway experience spanning design, construction and asset management. This new role has been created at each of their eight geographic routes, with the positions in the process of being recruited. “The path to changing the culture and behaviours of a large organisation such as Network Rail will take time, however we are committed to becoming open for business and the journey has begun. We’ve published our high-level national framework and have begun drafting the processes and procedures to support the variety of external party projects we will engage with. In addition, we’ve produced our national policy around ASPRO so that we maintain line of sight to our national ASPRO objectives,” said Mona Sihota. Network Rail has worked with and consulted AMEY in a special advisory capacity to formulate ASPRO service levels by which other organisations can hold them to account. By having service levels in place, third party promoters of projects on the railway can know what to expect from Network Rail’s service and when to expect it by. The changes being implemented to Network Rail’s ASPRO organisation mark the culmination of a year-long project, being part of a much wider business transformation. A new streamlined approach to ASPRO was proposed, along with a new structure and improved high-level ASPRO framework, all of which the Anglia route volunteered to trial, testing much slicker, less bureaucratic and easier to implement ASPRO processes.
