Pupils and staff at two Warrington primary schools are feeling the benefit of new thermally-efficient PVC-U windows supplied by Total Glass and installed by their long-standing customer Goldseal Tradeline Ltd. Pupils and staff at two Warrington primary schools are feeling the benefit of new thermally-efficient PVC-U windows supplied by Total Glass and installed by their long-standing customer Goldseal Tradeline Ltd. Goldseal installed more than 270 A-rated white tilt-only windows at Oakwood Avenue Community Primary and Beamont Community Primary Schools during the Easter holidays to minimise disruption to the schools’ day-to-day operations. The new windows featured Georgian bars integrated inside the doubled-glazed panels in keeping with the buildings’ Victorian origins. Providing improved security, natural light and ventilation, they replaced end-of-life single-glazed timber sliding sash versions. Commenting on the projects, Goldseal Director Rick Fairclough said: “Both schemes progressed very well and the flexible delivery service to site by Total Glass ensured the windows were there on time when we needed them. We pulled our programmes forward to ensure we finished before the start of the new term.” He added: “The new windows have greatly improved the appearance and thermal efficiency of the schools and feedback has been fantastic. Both schools have invited us to price further refurbishment work, including remaining windows and doors.” Gary Cunningham, head of Oakwood Avenue Community Primary School, commented: “From start to finish Goldseal were extremely professional and we were delighted with the quality of the work done. We were continually informed about when the works would take place and how they were progressing. Disruption was kept to a minimum and because the works finished ahead of schedule school returned to normal in a matter of days. “Rooms were handed back to school in a clean state and as the works were completed to a high standard, there was no need for contractors to return to address any issues. I would strongly recommend Goldseal to anyone thinking of renewing their windows.” For more information, contact Total Glass on 0151 549 2339 or visit the website at www.totalglass.com. Source link

British Water has founded a new focus group focusing on data and analytics, which will outline best practice in this crucial field for the industry. The group is the latest addition to the supply chain organisation’s technical forums, and will bring together experts on data capturing, processing and usage from across the sector. At its first meeting, members of Data & Analytics Focus Group vowed to work towards a code of practice to advise UK utilities and their supply chain. The data and analytics experts also propose to compile a glossary of technical terms to streamline the way language is used across the industry. Over the last year British Water has doubled the number of its technical forums from three to six, with the Innovation Focus Group and the Extractive Industries Focus Group being the other recent additions. The forums allow British Water members to share knowledge, make new connections and to have a say in drawing up common standards and future regulation. British Water Technical Director Marta Perez said: “Focus groups are a fantastic opportunity for British Water members to share their expertise, and develop new contacts across the industry. As well as setting common standards and codes of practice for different areas of the water industry, British Water focus groups help build knowledge of the challenges our members face. “The sort of detailed information provided by British Water focus groups can be tremendously useful when advising governments and regulatory bodies about new standards and legislation.” A version of this article first appeared on wwtonline Source link

A distressed asset crisis in India’s infrastructure sector is slicing a full percentage point from national growth, according to the head of the country’s biggest engineering and construction group, who wants banks to swallow losses in order to get stalled projects moving again. AM Naik, executive chairman of Larsen & Toubro, criticised Indian banks for indulging in “a hugely liberal giveaway” of loans to infrastructure and power developers over much of the past decade, resulting in a ballooning pile of distressed assets as many of his peers have struggled to service their debt. Large capital projects worth Rs11.2tn ($168bn) were on hold as of the end of June, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy think-tank, largely because their developers lack the financial strength to pursue them.  A growing number of Indian and foreign institutions have spotted an opportunity to invest in viable projects at a discount, through buying the distressed loans and extending further support to the borrowers. Troubled Indian oil group Essar on Saturday sealed a deal to sell oil and port assets worth $13bn to investors led by Russia’s Rosneft, in order to pay down debt. But some distressed debt investors have complained that India’s banks are not willing to accept a fair price for the distressed loans, for fear of the resultant hit to their balance sheets. Mr Naik — whose group generated revenue of Rs1.04tn in the last financial year in areas ranging from road construction to power plant development — told the Financial Times that the country’s banks needed to be “more pragmatic” in disposing of the troubled assets at steep discounts. He also called for controlling shareholders of rival infrastructure companies to cede control of their projects where necessary. Related article Funds eye cut-price assets and rivals seize market share as state lenders clean up loan books “There are half-completed projects waiting to be finished, distressed projects to be carved out and sold,” Mr Naik said, adding that the developers in question “cannot draw more money because the banks have put the tap off”. “Had it not been for this situation, the [country’s] growth would not be at 7.5 per cent — it could be at 8.5 per cent,” he said. India’s economy grew 7.6 per cent in 2015 but the rate slowed to 7.1 per cent in the second quarter of this year, held back largely by weak private sector investment. While the distressed debt problem is seen as having played a role by sapping banks’ ability to lend, economists have warned that even their most favoured borrowers — companies with strong balance sheets — are showing weak appetite for investment.  Mr Naik agreed. He said Larsen & Toubro would have no trouble financing investment: its debt to equity ratio stood at 200 per cent at the end of March, much lower than peers such as GVK Power and Infrastructure, at 883 per cent. But he added that Larsen & Toubro would hold back on major capital expenditure while it worked to “clean up” problems with projects it had pursued under the government’s public-private partnership scheme — part of India’s plans for $1.5tn of infrastructure investment over the next decade.  “Solid groups no longer have a need for money: at this point in time, each one wants to put its house in order,” he said. “If I want to put up a project tomorrow, 10 banks will come. But I don’t want to.” Sample the FT’s top stories for a week You select the topic, we deliver the news. Source link

Bsria test house manager, Tom Garrigan, will be a judge for the HVR Awards 2016 with the winners announced at Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London on Thursday  27 October 2016.     Launched in 2010, the annual HVR awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the building sector, providing a wonderful opportunity to meet and network with leading figures from industry.  This year the awards will be presented in eight categories with the introduction of a new award for ‘Customer Service person of the year’.   The categories are:   ·       Industrial/commercial air conditioning product of the year ·       Industrial/commercial ventilation product of the year ·       Industrial/commercial heating product of the year ·       Sustainable product of the year ·       Consultant of the year ·       Contractor of the year ·       Customer Service person of the year   Garrigan said: “I am delighted to have been appointed a judge for these prestigious awards. Awards such as these are a celebration of innovation and excellence, which is essential for improving standards within our industry and for driving energy efficiency.”     Source link

1 July 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal The head of a front of house services firm has told an influential group of MPs that a dress code requiring women to wear tights, make-up and high heels was “industry driven”. Simon Pratt, managing director of Portico, was answering questions at a House of Commons inquiry into high heels and workplace dress codes. Pratt said Portico worked in three core sectors – corporate, prime residential and property – and that the look and appearance of employees’ in those sectors “can be very different, traditionally”.  Helen Jones, chair of the petitions committee, quizzed Pratt on the origin of these traditions. She asked why the dress code was so “particular about tights; you can’t wear fine black tights or grey tights but you can wear black opaque ones. Where has that come from?” Pratt’s answer was that it was currently “industry driven.”  Another committee member, Ian Blackford MP, said: “I am aghast at the rules that you had. Light blusher, lip gloss, lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, light foundation powder… and then you talk about the length of skirts – are you saying this was your industry standard?”  Blackford also asked Pratt what Portico’s board of directors was doing to “take proper account” of the situation.  Pratt answered: “The guidelines were reviewed two years ago and were deemed acceptable… but I want to make it really clear that we got it wrong, it was outdated and we changed it as soon as we could.”  Scarlet Harris, women’s equality officer at the Trades Union Congress, who was also giving evidence, said: “In retail, transport, tourism and hospitality [there are] lots of jobs, particularly front of house, client-facing jobs, where women are expected to wear heels, and not just heels but also make-up and short skirts.” Receptionist Nicola Thorp started a petition in protest after she was sent home by Portico for not wearing high heels. The petition gathered more than 137,067 signatures, which meant Parliament was obliged to consider the issue for debate in parliament.  Thorp was also giving evidence and when asked why the issue was not dealt with by human resources she told the committee: “Unfortunately, agency workers do not have much contact with human resources…I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to HR representatives because of being with an agency.” The committee is to hold more evidence sessions to gather further oral evidence. More on this story will appear in the July 2016 edition of FM World.   Source link