Mabey Property Ltd, represented by international real estate advisor Savills, has sold a retail unit let to Boots in Stratford-upon-Avon to Hawbridge Properties Ltd for £5 million. The deal reflects a net initial yield of 5.25%. Boots is occupying the 16,799 sq ft (1,560 sq m) store on five-year lease
Browser does not support script. Contact us RIBA Council has approved the following appointments: Geoff Alsop has been reappointed Honorary Treasurer for a further two years Roger Shrimplin has been reappointed Honorary Secretary for a further two years Alan Jones has been appointed Vice President Education for two
Wildfires destroyed large portions of residential areas of Fort McMurray The charred remains of a classic Triumph GT6 destroyed by wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta, As flames destroyed forests and houses, production of at least a fifth of the 2.4m barrels per day of oil from Canada’s oil sands was
©Bloomberg Dong Energy delivered a mildly disappointing maiden set of results as a listed company just weeks after the Danish offshore wind group became the world’s largest stock market flotation this year. Sales in the second quarter fell 12 per cent to DKr16.4bn ($2.45bn) compared with a year earlier while
Date of publication: Sept 2016 ISBN: 9780717666539 Series code: L23 (fourth edition) Price: £15.00 Download a free copy Who is this guidance for? This guidance is mainly for employers, managers and safety representatives, but may also be useful for employees. Key messages Employers
Dairy farmers are being urged to act now to take advantage of a newly launched EU support fund. The Milk Production Reduction Scheme is designed to help those who will be producing less milk in the last quarter of this year than the same period in 2015. Successful applicants will
Have you fallen in love with a historic property? Are you curious about how period homes always seem so quirky and unusual? The secret is usually woven into the building itself, thanks to construction techniques that have become unconventional to use today. While strange-looking façades help old buildings stand out
Concrete is just about everywhere in city infrastructure, from the paving slabs at our feet to the skyscrapers that tower above us. The trouble is, this overuse means that concrete is rarely appreciated for its many benefits as a building material. In fact, thanks to its association with certain architectural
There has been a lot of discussion about the STEM skills shortage that is being seen throughout the UK. The Telegraph has reported on research by the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, for instance, which suggests that 43 per cent of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths vacancies were hard
Scotland’s largest flooring contractor, Veitchi Flooring, will supply 28,500 sq m of soft floor finishes to two large scale construction projects taking place in the north of Scotland. The Cambuslang-based firm, part of the Veitchi Group, say they are one of very few flooring contractors in the UK who could
Mabey Property Ltd, represented by international real estate advisor Savills, has sold a retail unit let to Boots in Stratford-upon-Avon to Hawbridge Properties Ltd for £5 million. The deal reflects a net initial yield of 5.25%. Boots is occupying the 16,799 sq ft (1,560 sq m) store on five-year lease until 2021 at a passing rent of £280,000 per annum. It is located in a prime position opposite Marks & Spencer on Bridge Street, the main pedestrian link between the town’s historic attractions, with other national retailers including New Look, Laura Ashley and Jaegar in close proximity. Ned Jones, investment director at Savills, comments: “This prime retail investment combines a strong covenant and re-based rent with a high footfall location and therefore attracted significant interest. We are pleased with the swift result achieved on behalf of our client.” Marc Robson of High Street Investment represented the purchaser. Source link
Browser does not support script. Contact us RIBA Council has approved the following appointments: Geoff Alsop has been reappointed Honorary Treasurer for a further two years Roger Shrimplin has been reappointed Honorary Secretary for a further two years Alan Jones has been appointed Vice President Education for two years Peter Oborn has been reappointed Vice President International for a further two years Edward Williams has been reappointed Honorary Librarian for a further year Caroline Buckingham has been appointed Vice President Practice and Profession for one year Virginia Newman and Pierre Wassenaar have been appointed to the RIBA Board for three years. Anthony Clerici continues in his role as Vice President Membership, Nations and Regions. Ends Notes: For further press information: Melanie Mayfield, RIBA Press Office: melanie.mayfield@riba.org 020 7307 3662 Posted on Friday 25th September 2015 Source link
Wildfires destroyed large portions of residential areas of Fort McMurray The charred remains of a classic Triumph GT6 destroyed by wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta, As flames destroyed forests and houses, production of at least a fifth of the 2.4m barrels per day of oil from Canada’s oil sands was halted. The violent wildfires in Canada’s oil sands region forced the government to declare a state of emergency. Smoke hangs in the air as the fire, fueled by shifting winds, raged out of control after consuming 80 sq km of land and damaging 1,600 buildings. Over the past few days companies including Suncor Energy, Royal Dutch Shell and Connacher Oil and Gas have stopped operations, both as a precaution against approaching fires and to accommodate people fleeing Fort McMurray. A picture by Twitter user @jeromegarot shows the wildfire raging through the town of Fort McMurray, Canada. Violent wildfire in Canada’s oil sands region forced the government to declare a state of emergency and . A picture by Twitter user @TechDeckSafety shows fires and smoke in the dark, as seen from an airplane leaving Fort McMurray. A picture by Twitter user @SlimCat_23 shows smoke clouds moving in the direction of an evacuation centre set up in Anzac, about 50km south of Fort McMurray. A woman picks through donated clothing and goods at a makeshift evacuee centre in Lac la Biche, Alberta, after fleeing the forest fires Marlee Hildebrandt and her daughter Oakley Hildebrandt, 2, clean cots at a makeshift evacuee centre in Lac la Biche A man and his dog sleep on a makeshift bed at a recreational centre in Lac la Biche Previous image Next image Next Thumbnails Previous Thumbnails Wildfires continued to blaze through the heart of Canada’s oil patch, expanding to cover 1,000 square kilometres in what is expected to be one of the costliest natural disasters in the country’s history. The forest fires destroyed large parts of Canada’s oil sands capital, Fort McMurray, this week, forcing the evacuation of about 90,000 residents and shutdowns at plants in the world’s third-largest oil production hub. More On this topic IN Canada “The fire continues to burn out of control,” Rachel Notley, Alberta’s premier, said on Friday. “The wildfire is still unpredictable and the evacuation needs to be co-ordinated and safe,” she added, promising a gift of $1,250 to each adult and $500 to dependants who were evacuated. A convoy of about 1,500 vehicles began taking evacuees from Fort McMurray early Friday morning, leaving in groups of 50 vehicles guided by police and military helicopters. A mass airlift of evacuees was expected to resume on Friday, a day after 8,000 people were flown out of the town, with the hope that 5,500 would be evacuated by the end of the day. So far the blaze has destroyed about 1,600 buildings, although Ms Notley warned that final toll could be ‘much bigger’. The fires reduced crude output from the oil sands, with companies including Royal Dutch Shell, Suncor Energy and Syncrude curtailing operations to evacuate workers or offer shelter for fleeing residents. As much as 1m barrels per day, or 40 per cent of oil sands production, was potentially at risk, according to Platts Analytics. Oil futures briefly jumped on Thursday as the fires spread but ended the week lower amid plentiful global supplies. Economists have cut their outlook for Canada’s economy since the fires erupted. Robert Kavcic, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, now expects no growth in the second quarter, having previously projected a 1.3 per cent annualised gain, with most of the reduction because of the wildfire. The fires could cost insurers as much as C$9bn, according to Bank of Montreal Capital Markets. Analyst Tom MacKinnon said it was more likely that one-quarter to half of assets in the region would be damaged, leading to total insurance industry losses of C$2.6 billion to C$4.7 billion, or as much as four times the costliest Canadian natural disaster to date. Canada’s federal government has promised to match individual donations to Red Cross Canada from May 3 through May 31. Some C$30m in donations have been received so far, the Canadian Press reported. “The city that contributed so much to Canada’s economy over the years needs our help. We’ll be there for Fort McMurray”, prime minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Friday. Syrian refugees in Calgary, a city south of Fort McMurray, donated money to those escaping from the fires after Rita Khanchet, a Syrian who fled her country five months ago, posted an appeal on Facebook, said a report by the Calgary Herald. Additional reporting by Gregory Meyer 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
©Bloomberg Dong Energy delivered a mildly disappointing maiden set of results as a listed company just weeks after the Danish offshore wind group became the world’s largest stock market flotation this year. Sales in the second quarter fell 12 per cent to DKr16.4bn ($2.45bn) compared with a year earlier while its preferred measure of profitability — underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) — fell 2 per cent to DKr4.32bn. Consensus estimates from analysts were for sales of DKr17.3bn and ebitda of Dkr4.44bn, according to figures provided by Dong. More On this topic IN Energy The world’s largest offshore wind developer and operator raised DKr19.7bn from its flotation in June as investors including the Danish government and Goldman Sachs reduced their stakes. The shares, which had risen 20 per cent since their listing in Copenhagen, were down 2.9 per cent at lunchtime on Thursday. Henrik Poulsen, Dong’s chief executive, hailed the results as showing the strategy of pushing aggressively into offshore wind was paying off for what was once purely a Danish utility. Ebitda at its wind power unit almost doubled in the quarter to DKr2.3bn. Mr Poulsen said that “analysts are still getting their arms around how we operate” with a wide range of estimates heading into the results. “We are relatively new to the stock exchange . . . We believe this is a strong set of numbers,” he added. Dong, which unsuccessfully tried three times before to list, pulled off the listing just weeks before the vote to exit the EU in the UK, one of its biggest markets. Mr Poulsen underscored Dong’s commitment to the UK, saying it would stick by its pledge given earlier this year to invest £6bn in the next five years on top of its £6bn of investment in the past decade. “When it comes to the fundamental energy policy in the UK, we don’t expect big changes to the offshore wind market with support to continue. It is important for the security of supply and industrial strategy,” he added. Dong’s chief executive declined to speculate on the fate of the proposed Hinkley Point nuclear power plant after the UK government again delayed its approval of the controversial plan. But Mr Poulsen added that “should there be a need for offshore wind to fill a gap” he had no doubts that Dong and others could deliver that. The costs for offshore wind have been coming down rapidly and Dong won a tender in the Netherlands last month at the lowest cost yet achieved — the same as its 2020 target of €100 per MWh. That compares with US Department of Energy estimates for 2020 of about €85 per MWh for nuclear power and €70 per MWh for natural gas. Dong reiterated its guidance for the full year of ebitda of DKr20bn-23bn. It amounted to DKr12.4bn in the first half. 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
Date of publication: Sept 2016 ISBN: 9780717666539 Series code: L23 (fourth edition) Price: £15.00 Download a free copy Who is this guidance for? This guidance is mainly for employers, managers and safety representatives, but may also be useful for employees. Key messages Employers must comply with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002. The guidance explains how to avoid, assess and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling. Changes since the last edition The publication has been restructured into four parts, with the regulations and brief guidance in Part 1 and more detailed guidance to help carry out risk assessments and control risks in Parts 2-4. Colour coding helps to identify the different parts. The appendix contains risk filters which help identify those tasks that do not require a detailed assessment. It explains how HSE’s assessment tools can be used as part of the risk assessment process. The full risk assessment checklists are now online only and do not appear in the book. It reflects changes introduced for the self-employed by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (General Duties of Self-Employed Persons) (Prescribed Undertakings) Regulations 2015 and the Deregulation Act 2015 (Health and Safety at Work)(General Duties of Self-Employed Persons) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2015. Source link
Dairy farmers are being urged to act now to take advantage of a newly launched EU support fund. The Milk Production Reduction Scheme is designed to help those who will be producing less milk in the last quarter of this year than the same period in 2015. Successful applicants will receive 14 eurocents per litre, which subject to exchange rates equates to approximately 12 pence per litre. So for those whose output will be 100,000 litres down against 2015, they could claim approximately £12,000. Adrian Matthews, of Savills Food & Farming, said: “At this stage the exact application process is unclear but if you suspect your herd performance may make you eligible for support funding then you need to act now. “Your herd performance may have been affected by disease or herd health; or you may have deliberately downsized due to the low milk prices received; in any event it is worth a look.” The first window for application will open shortly and close on September 21st 2016. Adrian adds: “Other application windows will be available but ‘when it’s gone it’s gone’; the money will be paid out on a first come first served basis.” • If you believe your milk deliveries in October, November and December 2016 will be lower than the same months in 2015 then you can claim the support• You will need evidence of deliveries in 2015 (copies of milk statements)• You will need a forecast for 2016• Or, you will have to provide evidence of 2016 milk volumes by mid January 2017 For more information and help with the application process, contact Savills Food & Farming. Source link
Have you fallen in love with a historic property? Are you curious about how period homes always seem so quirky and unusual? The secret is usually woven into the building itself, thanks to construction techniques that have become unconventional to use today. While strange-looking façades help old buildings stand out from the crowd, they often come with a plethora of very specific problems. Wattle and Daub Wattle and daub is one of the most traditional property constructions found around the UK. It’s made up of thin wooden strips that are woven into panels (the wattle) and are then coated with a mixture of soil, clay, sand, straw and animal dung (daub). The low-cost, sustainable nature of wattle and daub has meant that, despite being used for at least 6,000 years, it’s seeing a resurgence in popularity as a construction material. Why can wattle and daub be troublesome? Well, as historic building materials go, it’s actually fairly resilient. The slightly flexible nature means that walls can tolerate considerable structural movement and its sturdiness will even support a failing timber structure where other types of infill would not. However, since it became fashionable to leave both the internal and external sides of these timber frames exposed, the performance of wattle and daub walls has been compromised, letting in draughts and occasionally water. This can cause a wider problem with damp, if left untreated. Ideally, the exposed side of the wall should be coated each year with limewash (killing off bacteria and filling in any small cracks), while the other side should be covered in render or weatherboard. The worst thing you can do with a wattle and daub construction – or any timber-framed building – is to cover the historic fabrics with a modern, impermeable material. These prevent the buildings from “breathing”, causing a build-up of moisture and decay. Bungaroosh Bungaroosh (spelled in various ways, including ‘bungarouche’ and ‘bunglarooge’) is a composite material comprising of building site scraps that would be mixed into hydraulic lime. Broken bricks, flint, pebbles, bits of wood and other miscellaneous pieces would be mixed in with a mortar and poured between shuttering to set. Bungaroosh was used almost exclusively in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, in the 18th and 19th centuries, although some buildings in the nearby towns and villages have bungaroosh features too. If you visit Brighton today, you can see still countless Regency townhouses with an immaculate cream render, many of which are hiding bungaroosh beneath the surface. Although it was a cost-effective way of using up materials, Bungaroosh is not the most reliable building fabric. The mis-mash of textures means that Bungaroosh is generally very porous. This means that it can become brittle when exposed, either becoming too dry crumbling with little resistance, or getting wet and causing solid materials to become loose. Drilling into Bungaroosh is very difficult and can cause serious structural damage. Although many buildings used to feature designated wooden fixing points within bungaroosh walls, these are typically either covered up or in undesirable positions today. Mundic Similar to bungaroosh, mundic (also described as mundic block), is a type of concrete that utilises local waste as an aggregate. In this case, rather than debris from the surrounding building site, mundic is mixed with the leftover materials from nearby mines. Popular between 1900-1950, you will almost exclusively find mundic in Cornwall, although there are areas in West Devon with properties that have been built using mundic materials too. The major problem with mundic is that it’s hard to work out exactly what has been mixed into the wall, and in what quantities. If the aggregate has a high ratio of certain minerals or chemicals from the mine, this can actually degrade the concrete over time and cause serious structural issues. As any surveyor in Devon or Cornwall will explain, this has a huge effect on local property values. All buildings that are suspected to contain mundic will need to be tested, and if the percentage of mundic material is too high, mortgage lenders may refuse to support the purchase. Sometimes it’s just interesting to know about these unusual construction methods from the past. However, if you’re planning to buy a historic home that might be built using wattle and daub, bungaroosh or mundic, exercise caution. These quirky materials can certainly lend charm and character to your home, just make sure a local surveyor inspects their condition before you commit to a purchase – you could end up with a very expensive pile of rubble!
Concrete is just about everywhere in city infrastructure, from the paving slabs at our feet to the skyscrapers that tower above us. The trouble is, this overuse means that concrete is rarely appreciated for its many benefits as a building material. In fact, thanks to its association with certain architectural styles (Brutalism, we’re looking at you), concrete is often downright hated. This is a shame because concrete is cheap, durable, environmentally friendly and readily available – everything you need in a perfect building material. Even when a concrete building gets demolished or a concrete barrier is dismantled, its component parts can easily be reused and recycled into something new. Here are just five ways in which concrete constructions can be given a new, imaginative lease on life. Flexible traffic control Traffic management might seem like one of the most obvious uses for concrete barriers, but have you ever seen it used like this? Thanks to the innovative “Barrier-Transfer” machine, the concrete road-blocks that are typically considered a permanent fixture can be moved between lanes to accommodate for heavier traffic travelling in one direction. Perhaps it’s not the most creative use for the blocks themselves, but it’s certainly a refreshing way to update a very conventional scenario! Cinder blocks as shelving Eponymous with industrial interior design, cinder blocks can be used in a number of DIY furniture projects for a quirky, edgy and practical result. If you’re in need of a new bookcase, try balancing a plank of wood across two blocks, then stacking another two blocks and a plank on top of that. Just be careful about stacking them too high in case they fall – try to keep the top of your shelves below waist-height. Cinder blocks are often used in a similar way for other pieces of furniture, such as bed frames, coffee tables and seating arrangements. A quick online search will give you plenty of ideas. Concrete pipes as micro homes At the beginning of this year, an architecture firm in Hong Kong revealed its prototype design for stackable micro-homes made from giant sections of pipe. These “O Pods” were thought up as a solution to the limited space and high-demand within the city’s housing market, and offer a low-cost, temporary housing option for young people. It might sound extreme, but these cosy little tunnels actually look quite attractive inside and would make an ideal space for commuters, tourists or minimalism enthusiasts! “Lego” blocks for underground bunkers The robust nature of concrete as a construction material hasn’t just been noticed by housebuilders, with concrete blocks also being a popular choice for people creating storm shelters and underground bunkers. These aren’t just survivalists and Doomsday Preppers, but for households that live in high-risk areas for hurricanes and tornados. Pre-fabricated concrete “lego” blocks are extremely durable and lock together to create a secure barrier that can be used as a defence against landslides, flooding and extreme weather. Whether you use them to build a surface-level shelter or lower them into a dug-out hole in the garden is up to you. Jersey blocks as an obstacle course Capable of withstanding extreme force and all-weather conditions, concrete can be used indoors and outdoors to create a challenging terrain for vehicles and people. Jersey blocks are particularly ideal for creating rugged hurdles or flat-topped ledges to skate along, while poured concrete is typically used to form into smooth ramps and bowls. In fact, just about every type of concrete block can be inexpensively re-worked into a sturdy support or obstacle. The durability and versatility of concrete means that, the next time you need something for jumping over, scrambling up or dragging a certain distance, it’s your perfect material. For more information on the typical uses of blocks and barriers see quality barriers suppliers, Maltaward. The fact is, although concrete may be ugly and uninspiring at a first glance, it’s a cheap, environmentally-friendly and robust material that can be used in countless applications. If you’ve got a construction or engineering problem, why not see if you can get creative with concrete blocks to solve it?
There has been a lot of discussion about the STEM skills shortage that is being seen throughout the UK. The Telegraph has reported on research by the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, for instance, which suggests that 43 per cent of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths vacancies were hard to fill as of the latter months of 2016. What’s more, the publication also revealed that just 15,000 students in the UK sat a computing or ICT A-Level in the summer of 2016, which represents less than two per cent of the entire number of exams sat during that period. Further Education establishments across the UK also have a challenge in STEM provision that they must address — providing well-equipped environments that can cater for hands-on teaching methods but with small budgets available to them. One possible solution to overcoming this challenge is intelligent construction. For example, one of the leading construction companies in the North of England, Central and Southern Scotland, Esh Group, uses value engineering to assess the design, materials and systems of a building project to establish where efficiencies can be achieved. This methodology may result in the firm being able to find an alternative wall finishing that can save the project several thousand pounds, or identify specialist glazing materials which can retain heat and thus save energy costs in the long run. Why dedicated STEM centres are proving appealing Another way that Esh Group has attempted to engage the workforce of tomorrow and enhance the skills sets needed to help those looking to get into a career related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects is through the development of a set of Get into STEM kits. The construction company goes beyond just education when looking into factors related to STEM, however. Many colleges have chosen to build dedicated STEM centres to meet the demands of employers, and the Government’s Industrial Strategy, with Esh Group building STEM centres at Middlesbrough College and Northumberland College’s Ashington Campus alone. Taking note that these buildings — like any other site in the educational sector — should be a focal point for communities is a factor Esh Group makes sure to remember when making these structures. Another consideration for the firm is that they are designed in a way that provides a safe, stimulating and sustainable environment for all. As such, they always consult closely with clients, pupils, teachers and the community to shape the vision of the new environment and meet the needs of future generations. Steps to take when designing a STEM centre and then building it Adaptable spaces for teaching facilities and workshops is usually a requirement from education providers when STEM centres are being constructed. For Northumberland College’s STEM centre in Ashington, for example, Esh Group installed a galvanised steel trench in the workshop area. This allows the college to adapt the room layout, move equipment and store power and data cables securely. The also fitted a moveable wall within the building, which can be opened up to create double-height workshop areas. Bear in mind too that a busy college campus will likely be based very close to a STEM centre and within a prominent spot. As such, it’s important not to disrupt the smooth working of the institution. On recent builds, Esh Group considered this point and separated the site using Heras fencing and ensured clear signage is in place. If shared road access will be leading up to the site where the STEM cente is being built, then a traffic flow system should be set up in the early stages of the construction project. Site vehicles should drive fully onto site, with materials being delivered on a ‘just in time’ basis and stored in a dedicated lay down area. Will a STEM centre be built with two storeys or more? If so, working at height must be factored in as well. Fortunately, the Health and Safety Executive has a raft of handy advice about this topic in this guide. Toolbox talks should be provided to every individual on site too, not to mention thorough risk assessments and method statements created to ensure everybody is safe and secure throughout the entire development. Those carrying out the construction work of a STEM centre should also be factoring specialist equipment into their build. After all, the aim of the facility will be to provide world-class sector-based education to pupils once it’s complete and open. A real-life lean manufacturing facility — complete with a robotic-controlled production line — was set up by Esh Group when they were building a STEM centre within Middlesbrough College, for instance. The centre now replicates typical industrial environments and includes fully-functional chemical and oil processes, which are monitored and operated from a high-tech control room. The construction company also installed specialist science and technology workshops, including dedicated ‘fab labs’ where budding product designers and entrepreneurs can access the latest in digital fabrication equipment for prototyping.
Scotland’s largest flooring contractor, Veitchi Flooring, will supply 28,500 sq m of soft floor finishes to two large scale construction projects taking place in the north of Scotland. The Cambuslang-based firm, part of the Veitchi Group, say they are one of very few flooring contractors in the UK who could fund and resource such large scale contracts. They were brought on board by the Major Projects team of Robertson Construction who are the main contractor at both the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) and NHS Orkney Hospital. With a combined contract value in the order of £1.85 million Veitchi will provide 15,500 sq m and 13,000 sq m of flooring respectively to the fitting out which started on site in June. The types of soft flooring involved are wide and varied ranging from carpet tiles, vinyl and matting required around 30 fitters, many sourced from local labour pools, to complete the contracts. “Our ability to take on the big, the difficult is what we believe sets us apart from other companies,” says Veitchi Flooring’s managing director, Gordon Crawford. “These are large scale contracts which require a financial capability from the sub-contractor to resource the materials and labour in advance in order to properly service them.” At a contract value of £333 million the construction project is the largest ever undertaken by the Robertson Group. Spanning three buildings – the AECC, a 200-bed Hilton Hotel and 150-bed Aloft Hotel – it forms part of the 130 acre former Rowett Research Institute south of Aberdeen airport. The new NHS facility near Kirkwall in Orkney, meanwhile, will include a general hospital, primary care and community facilities, dental and clinical support services. “Last year we delivered a similar intergrated flooring solution at the new NHS Dumfries and Galloway hospital,” added Mr Crawford “Geography is really no barrier to us. We have flooring teams active all over Scotland often in remote locations and, indeed, the wider UK.”