15 October 2016 – by Emily Wright “The idea that property never innovates, never adopts and never embraces new tech is entirely false. You want to know the real reason the industry has this reputation? No one has developed technology that really inspires the real estate sector yet. Now that’s
A total of 15 industry-led projects have secured a total of £5m in funding in the latest round of CITB tie-ups. The new list includes four federations made up of a number of firms, from major contractors to small specialist SMEs. In April Construction News revealed the first tranche of
22 July 2016 | Martin Read The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Unite trade union have agreed new hourly rates of pay for operatives working across the sector. The 2 per cent wage increase has been agreed from October this year, and will rise to 2.5 per cent
The number of young people signing up to learn advanced skills on higher apprenticeships have increased, new data has revealed. According to the latest government figures, more than 30,000 youngsters decided to embark on the training schemes between August 2015 and January 2016. Apprenticeships have also seen a rise in
Savills, on behalf of Standard Life Investments, has secured Wallacespace for the entire office space at 15 Artillery Lane, London E1. Wallacespace, the provider of off-site meeting and thinking space, has agreed to a new 15-year lease on 12,000 sq ft (1,114 sq m) situated across the upper floors, paying
R-Alvarez is a company that can transform your apartment into a real home, that suits you and your family. With excellent quality, personalized attention and punctuality as their core values, it is the best option when choosing who you will trust to renovate your home. It is perfectly normal to
Two construction companies are making history by conquering the delicate job of restoring a 600-year-old castle ruin. Seymour Civil Engineering has been brought in by principal contractor William Birch to help carry out the painstaking work of transforming Hylton Castle in Sunderland into a visitor and learning centre. The £4.5
Newby, the North Yorkshire developer, has submitted an outline planning application to Newcastle City Council for a new £250 million sustainable urban village on the former Calders site, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle, following extensive public consultation. The proposal is known as Quayside West and it includes up to 1,500 high-quality residential
Gilbert-Ash, the leading UK construction, refurbishment and fit out contractor, has announced its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2017, which confirm a 50% increase in pre-tax profits, reaching over £2 million, up from £1.4 million in 2016. Additionally, the contractor reported an overall turnover of £165.5 million,
Arvill Plant and Tool Hire, the Airdrie-based family firm which has been servicing building and engineering companies large and small across Scotland since 1985, has taken on two young local men as apprentice mechanics. Euan Wilson, 16 from Greengairs and Andrew Peden, 17, from Plains, both Airdrie, have secured apprentice
15 October 2016 – by Emily Wright “The idea that property never innovates, never adopts and never embraces new tech is entirely false. You want to know the real reason the industry has this reputation? No one has developed technology that really inspires the real estate sector yet. Now that’s finally changing.” Brandon Weber is everything you might expect of an American tech star in London. Fast-talking, razor-sharp and with an insatiable commitment to all things software – we are talking about a man sporting a pair of cloud computing branded socks. But the 35-year-old chief executive of Hightower, a cloud-based leasing portfolio management company, has no intention of expanding his three-year-old business “facelessly” across the globe. “We are not some bodiless vendor selling technology from somewhere in the US,” says Weber, sitting in his WeWork Soho offices following the Hightower UK launch last month. Subscribe to Estates to read great articles like this every week. See options below. Source link
A total of 15 industry-led projects have secured a total of £5m in funding in the latest round of CITB tie-ups. The new list includes four federations made up of a number of firms, from major contractors to small specialist SMEs. In April Construction News revealed the first tranche of specialist industry partnerships as part of the CITB’s shake-up of its approach to skills funding. That first tranche included more than 22 partnerships, totalling £7.6m. Altogether there is £60m available between 2016 and 2018, with around £20m allocated per year. CITB head of economic analysis Geeta Nathan said: “These high-calibre applicants have the potential to transform the industry and change the lives of many individuals, and we are pleased to be supporting them with industry investment. “It’s inspiring to think of the impact these projects may have not only in the near future but also in years to come.” Successful projects Kier This project, led by Kier, working in partnership with Midas Construction, ISG and their supply chains and supported by South Devon College in Plymouth, will develop and deliver a comprehensive programme intended to promote the construction sector to career changers and under-represented groups. Total value: £298,000CITB contribution: £208,000 Mitie Property Services A bespoke training and work experience programme designed, supported and delivered for workers with autism. Total value: £800,000Funds: £482,000 Civil Engineering Contractors Association Design specialist infrastructure training provision, creating a structure framework for core infrastructure skills Total value: £1.6mCITB contribution: £1.1m Roofing Industry Alliance Roofing Industry Alliance is bringing together the main roofing industry stakeholders, 12 regional training groups and 11 major roofing trade association to collectively come up with a skills plan. Total value: £2.6mCITB contribution: £1.8m Neighbourhood Services Company A project to improve the knowledge and capacity of school teachers and post-16 tutors in built environment subjects and building information modelling. Total value: £640,000CITB contribution: £454,000 Matthews & Leigh Civil Engineering Ltd A project to increase the uptake of training at the firm through incentives to help workers engage in an in-house training facility, and to set up an apprenticeship programme for 10 new apprentices. Total value: £50,000CITB contribution: £35,000 Telford Homes A mentor-led trainee scheme at the housebuilder that supports and complements degree education and study in the workplace. Total value: £81,605CITB contribution: £50,000 Utilities Contractors Group This application is for the development of high-quality training resource focusing on working conditions, safety and risk assessment while excavating. Total value: £127,000CITB contribution: £66,000 Willmott Dixon 4 Life Academy A programme to assess and to train more than 900 engineers nationwide. Total value: £102,000CITB contribution: £50,000 Dry Lining & Plastering Training Forum The project will focus on and engage 100 plastering companies to access training grants, more than 25 per cent of which will be hard-to-reach companies that have not received CITB grant funding in the last three years. Total value: £327,000CITB contribution: £180,000 GMG Contractors The project will see the development of a bespoke skills academy at GMG’s base in east Glasgow. Total value: £229,000CITB contribution: £67,000 Source link
22 July 2016 | Martin Read The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Unite trade union have agreed new hourly rates of pay for operatives working across the sector. The 2 per cent wage increase has been agreed from October this year, and will rise to 2.5 per cent from October 2017. Further negotiations are planned to take place later this year to agree wage levels that will apply for the two years from September 2018 under the terms of the BESA National Agreement for operatives in building engineering services trades. Unite had initially requested a four-year agreement from October 2016 as well as significant increases to wages and benefits, but BESA argued that a two-stage agreement and a stepped increase were more appropriate “in the current economic climate”. “We enjoyed our usual robust but constructive negotiations with Unite this year,” said Peter Rimmer, BESA director of employment and skills. “Needless to say, the union argued hard for a considerably higher hourly rate, but accepted that the compromise reached was fair and in the long-term interests of both employers and operatives. “As we enter a period of economic uncertainty following the EU referendum, it is important that businesses can plan for the future safe in the knowledge that labour costs will be maintained at a sustainable level, while also providing operatives with a fair return for the vital skills they provide to the industry and its clients.” Source link
The number of young people signing up to learn advanced skills on higher apprenticeships have increased, new data has revealed. According to the latest government figures, more than 30,000 youngsters decided to embark on the training schemes between August 2015 and January 2016. Apprenticeships have also seen a rise in popularity, the statistics show, with over 84,000 starts by people under the age of 19 over the same period. These findings mean that since May 2010, some 2.7 million apprenticeships of all levels have been started up and down the country, helping workers to boost their careers. In addition, between August 2015 and January 2016, there were 12,400 starts in traineeships, which prepare young people for jobs and further training. Launched in 2015, higher apprenticeships allow participants to learn vital skills on the job at the same time as studying for qualifications such as a Foundation Degree or BTEC. The programmes give learners the opportunity to develop the high-tech expertise that employers in a range of sectors need, including construction. They can also bring a range of benefits to businesses of all sizes, improving productivity and boosting levels of staff retention as loyalty increases. In the building sector, higher apprenticeships can help firms to train up their employees for top-level jobs, such as construction operations managers. They can also prepare workers for positions in architecture, surveying, planning, maintenance, building maintenance and civil engineering, among others. It is hoped the schemes will play a significant role in helping to plug the skills gap currently affecting the construction industry. Figures from the CITB show that 232,000 jobs are set to be created over the next five years on the back of an annual average growth rate of 2.5%. Source link
Savills, on behalf of Standard Life Investments, has secured Wallacespace for the entire office space at 15 Artillery Lane, London E1. Wallacespace, the provider of off-site meeting and thinking space, has agreed to a new 15-year lease on 12,000 sq ft (1,114 sq m) situated across the upper floors, paying £67 per sq ft (£721 per sq m). The ground floor is occupied by restauranter Manicomio Group. James Gillett, director in the Central London team at Savills, comments: “The recently-refurbished 15 Artillery Lane offers new Grade A accommodation in a strong location. The top floor has the benefit of several roof terraces with views across Spitalfields and the City skyline, and the property has excellent transport connections with Liverpool Street Station and Shoreditch High Street Station within a few minutes walk.” The self contained property totals 12,767 sq ft (1,186 sq m) over four floors, with a manned reception and bicycle storage. Wallacespace was advised by Hanlon Bennett. Source link
R-Alvarez is a company that can transform your apartment into a real home, that suits you and your family. With excellent quality, personalized attention and punctuality as their core values, it is the best option when choosing who you will trust to renovate your home. It is perfectly normal to want to improve your home, even though you may already love it, there is always something you will want to change, especially as your needs change. For example, you can redesign your bathroom to add more space, add additional storage or get better use out of the storage you already have. You could add a whirlpool bath, or maybe add a new spacious shower. You can remodel your kitchen to improve the design and functionality. Or perhaps it is just time for modernisation or an overhaul. Whatever work you decide to carry out, you can create the home of your dreams. What is important is that you choose a professional company with many years of experience and highly trained staff. Remodelling your home can be complicated and expensive. It is important to get it right, and important that the team you hire to do this for you works to the highest standards to avoid a poor quality or disappointing finish. If you are thinking of renovating your home, R-Alvarez is the perfect choice. What type of renovation do you want to do? Transforming the ideas you have for home improvement into reality can be tough. You might not know how to articulate it, or the right terminology to use to the contractor you have hired. How can you be sure the work will be carried out how you expected? Having confidence in your chosen company is vital to the success of the renovation project. R-Alvarez has a team of professionals ready to help, with expertise in a wide range of disciplines and skills that will be able to bring your plans to fruition. All parts of the home can be part of your dream project, whether you are converting to an open plan layout, designing an American style kitchen or adding built in furniture such as wardrobes to improve the use of wasted space. R-Alvarez can adapt and modify any room to suit your requirements. Take advantage of the wide range of services available? No matter what room you decide to carry out improvements, or redistribution of space, you will feel more relaxed and confident if you can rely on one company, with specialists all working together to create your vision. With quality finishes and a transparent costing that with be within an agreed budget, you can get that American kitchen you have always dreamed, complete with the best finishes and use of space. They can also source the best accessories and reliable stylish appliances from all around the world to get the look that you want. But without all the stress that comes with having to coordinate this type of work yourself. Imagine trying to install a modern and elegant bathroom in which to relax without professional help. It could easily turn into a nightmare with so many different tasks and skills required. With R-Alvarez they take full responsibility for delivery of your project, so you can have a headache free renovation. They will even ensure full cleaning at the end and legally dispose of any waste resulting from the work. You will be left with a luxurious and gorgeous new space with none of the worries. Why choose R-Alvarez for your apartment renovation? A single floor dwelling renovation is no small feat. Large-scale projects like this can drag on for a long time, disrupting daily life and preventing you from enjoying your home. Even more frustrating is when delivery dates are agreed and then note met. R-Alvarez pride themselves on being a responsible and professional company, always striving to do it’s best for its clients. They are adaptable and experienced and work hard to ensure that you can return to your home as quickly as possible. And they do not compromise on quality to do this, and so making sure that the renovations will stand the test of time. If you are looking for a company with excellent customer care, who will deliver to your needs and provide the highest level of quality in the redesign of your home, the R-Alvarez is who you are looking for.
Two construction companies are making history by conquering the delicate job of restoring a 600-year-old castle ruin. Seymour Civil Engineering has been brought in by principal contractor William Birch to help carry out the painstaking work of transforming Hylton Castle in Sunderland into a visitor and learning centre. The £4.5 million project is a partnership between local community group Castle in the Community and Sunderland City Council and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and the castle itself is a Grade I Listed Building in the guardianship of English Heritage. The project will rejuvenate the site for locals and visitors alike. Once open, it will be managed with and for young people and offer training and internship opportunities. Andy Mountford, Site Manager at Seymour Civil Engineering, said: “Hylton Castle is a magnificent building and we’re really proud to be working alongside William Birch to bring it back to life as both an historic attraction and a hub for the community. “Due to the nature of the project, the work has been far from run-of-the-mill, largely because of the archaeological significance of the site and the effect this has had on our work programme as we carry out all the groundworks. “Working closely with a team of archaeologists has certainly brought with it a fair few challenges, as you don’t know what you’re going to uncover as you go. “However, this has made working on the project really exciting and the team on site has adapted incredibly well to the situation, showing lots of ingenuity and professionalism when overcoming changes in circumstance and planning for what comes next.” Brought in as the civil engineering contractor for the project, Seymour Civil Engineering has completed the groundworks for the restoration, laying the surface trenches in the grounds of the castle for the electricity, water and the ground source heat pumps for the castle’s geothermal energy, as well as the car park and footpaths. Inside the castle Seymour has facilitated the installation of ground beams and will cast the concrete floors for all three levels, as well as the roof and a mezzanine floor. The main contractor for the project, William Birch, is a building and restoration company based in York, specialising in heritage projects. Simon Hills, William Birch’s Site Manager for the project, said: “Transforming the 14th century castle to a living, working building that benefits the local community and visitors has so far been an invigorating experience. “The interest from the local community has been incredible and we have been proud to show many of them the project as it develops. They have waited a long time to see the castle come back to life and we are looking forward to unveiling the completed project in 2019. “Working on buildings that are as nationally significant as Hylton Castle brings an abundance of challenges, challenges that the project team have had to really pull together to overcome. “Seymour has had a tall order with this project, as it has been predominately the groundworks which has been affected by the need for close archaeological monitoring. “The team are real specialists at what they do and they’re great engineers who are brilliant at their job and have acted really professionally throughout the bumps and halts of the project.” Andy added: “Working with William Birch has been a real pleasure and the two teams have gelled incredibly well. “Working hand-in-hand on a difficult job like this is of the upmost importance and having an effective working partnership means we’ve been able to sit down and quickly find solutions to any changes that come about.” As one of the North East’s leading civil engineering contractors, Seymour Civil Engineering is no stranger to projects of this nature. In partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council, Seymour Civil Engineering worked on the strengthening of the historic 14th century Hartlepool Headland Town Wall. The firm worked closely with archaeologists to excavate original wall cladding and developed the craftsmanship to ensure the new wall carefully matched to the original.
Newby, the North Yorkshire developer, has submitted an outline planning application to Newcastle City Council for a new £250 million sustainable urban village on the former Calders site, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle, following extensive public consultation. The proposal is known as Quayside West and it includes up to 1,500 high-quality residential properties, along with a hotel and up to 10,605 sq m of commercial, community and leisure space. Access to the site will be provided by a new east/west spine road for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. Significant new landscaping and public realm, including public open spaces, viewpoints and walkways will also make Quayside West an attractive destination for visitors. Likely to be constructed over a ten-year period, this major regeneration project will create more than 600 construction and supply chain jobs in the process and once fully operational, Quayside West could support up to 575 full-time equivalent permanent jobs. “Our development team has worked hard to devise proposals which will make Quayside West an attractive place to live, work and visit. The site is well-located and our design will ensure that it connects to the city centre, the River Tyne and wider area. As a result, Quayside West could act as the catalyst for the Council’s exciting plans to redevelop the Forth Yards area,” said Nick Moody, Director at Newby. “We are delighted with the response we have had from the community since we announced the proposals in June. Our public exhibition event was well attended and the public consultation feedback has been really positive. It is clear that people want to see this derelict site brought back into use. An outline planning application has now been submitted to Newcastle City Council and we look forward to continuing our dialogue with the local authority,” Nick added. Quayside West has been identified for development within the planning policy and forms a major part of Newcastle City Council’s Forth Yards Opportunity Site, which has been earmarked for regeneration.
Gilbert-Ash, the leading UK construction, refurbishment and fit out contractor, has announced its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2017, which confirm a 50% increase in pre-tax profits, reaching over £2 million, up from £1.4 million in 2016. Additionally, the contractor reported an overall turnover of £165.5 million, an increase from £148 million in the previous year. Having worked on several landmark buildings in the UK across a range of niche sectors, Gilbert-Ash managed to drive financial turnover and growth. Some of the company’s prestigious work includes the £19.5 million Cambridge Mosque project, the £21.5 million build of the AC Marriott Hotel in Belfast, as well as the award-winning City of London Freemen’s School swimming pool and the £20.5 million new build of the renowned Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts with Dame Judi Dench at the helm as President. “Whilst market conditions remain highly competitive, the results emphasise the continued success of our strategy to focus on our strengths and invest in national and international markets to deliver landmark buildings. Gilbert-Ash is an employee owned company which certainly leads to a unique working culture and family environment, and the results are in no small part down to this environment and ‘can do’ attitude of our dedicated team. We have had the privilege of working with excellent clients, partners and suppliers, and we really do work as one to deliver innovative, bespoke buildings across the landscape,” commented Ray Hutchinson, Managing Director, Gilbert-Ash. The company is a trusted partner and strong client relationships have led to significant repeat business, including a relationship with Foreign and Commonwealth Office spanning over 20 years and 43 countries, including work in France, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Hungary in 2017. Another one of Gilbert-Ash’s achievements for the year is being recognised within the industry by winning the coveted ‘Contractor of the Year’ title in the UK Construction News Awards.
Arvill Plant and Tool Hire, the Airdrie-based family firm which has been servicing building and engineering companies large and small across Scotland since 1985, has taken on two young local men as apprentice mechanics. Euan Wilson, 16 from Greengairs and Andrew Peden, 17, from Plains, both Airdrie, have secured apprentice mechanic roles with one of Scotland’s most successful and forward-looking plant and tool hire companies. Amy Monaghan, Administrative Director at Arvill, said: “We are looking to expand our business and hiring apprentices like Euan and Andrew assists that process. By developing their enthusiasm and hard work into highly-regarded skills we secure both their careers and our company’s future success.” Both apprentices left school this summer; Euan approached Arvill through his father, Andrew, who is one of the company’s customers. Having developed his interest in mechanics and motorbikes doing casual work for a local garage, he is now putting those skills to good use in the Arvill workshops. Andrew, the youngest of six siblings, wanted to learn more about the operation of large plant and had been doing volunteer work with a local waste management company. He approached Arvill directly and has been supplementing his operating experience with training in Health and Safety procedures taught by the company. Amy said: “Good apprentices are hard to find, and I’m very impressed with the eagerness to learn both Euan and Andrew are showing. Unlike most teenagers, Andrew was eager to start work earlier than our opening time of 8.00 am.” “Both young men are hard-working, enthusiastic, and diligent. I can see them having a long and successful career within our growing Arvill family. They’ll finish their training programme with qualifications, experience and a good job ahead of them.” Euan and Andrew are participants in a Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) programme and are undergoing a 3-year Modern Apprenticeship course with three 6-week attachments to the National Construction College in Glasgow, with the first due to get under way in October. For further information, contact Hayley Shevill, Arvill Plant & Tool Hire, 48-60 Flowerhill Street, Flowerhill Industrial Estate, Airdrie ML6 6BH. T: 01236 760070. M: 01236 760070. E: hayley.shevill@arvill.co.uk. W: www.arvillplantandtoolhire.co.uk