The 2018 On the Tools Training Excellence Award has been awarded to Dulux Academy. The awards, which celebrate and reward construction workers, subcontractors, tools and equipment manufacturers and construction companies from across the UK, were held at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham. All entries for the awards are independently judged by
Temporary buildings are used by manufacturers for a variety of purposes. They provide a quick solution to short-term needs or a way to create space that is needed fast. They can be attached to a warehouse or installed as stand-alone structures on a manufacturing plant. Modular buildings, which are sectional
Healthcare consultancy, Essentia Trading, has won a place on a national framework making it easier for NHS Trusts and other public sector bodies to procure experts on property and estates strategy. The Framework for the Provision of Property and Estates Consultancy Services (OJEU Reference: 2018/S 106 – 241898) was set
As winter approaches, a national trade body is issuing a timely reminder to property managers to ensure air quality management is on their radar. With the arrival of dark nights and dropping temperatures, moisture levels in buildings start to increase. Air becomes more laden with water, meaning that issues such
Leading property, land and construction company Henry Boot PLC has undertaken a transformation of its HR function in collaboration with MHR, designed to streamline and optimise its processes to enhance the work/life balance of its people. New employee focused services implemented through its iTrent system, including Total Rewards Statements and
ISG has further demonstrated its commitment to maximising technology to drive operational efficiencies by securing a BIM Level 2 accreditation for its collaborative, dynamic delivery of projects using digital construction techniques. The global construction services company was awarded the BSI Kitemark for its BIM Level 2 certification to PAS1192:2-2013 and
The shortlist for this year’s Construction Marketing Awards has been announced by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). The companies will compete for awards in 23 different categories, including best use of content marketing, best low, medium and high budget campaign and marketing team of the year. The awards are
TODD Architects has successfully completed the interior planning and configuration of CNP Santander Insurance’s newly constructed offices at Three Park Place, Hatch Street Upper, Dublin 2. After an in-depth staff consultation process, TODD Architects created a concept which considered and delivered a consciously ergonomic, contemporary workplace which meets the current
Stewart and Shields has been awarded by Riverside Inverclyde (Ri), the organisation charged with delivering the economic redevelopment of Inverclyde in the west of Scotland, the £1.6 million design and build construction contract for its food and drink incubator. Baker Street Food & Drink Enterprises will be built on land
It is fair to say that if you are thinking about renovating your garden you feel like you have a job on your hands. It is not just a question of moving plants from one part of the garden to another. A full-on renovation may see you have trees and
The 2018 On the Tools Training Excellence Award has been awarded to Dulux Academy. The awards, which celebrate and reward construction workers, subcontractors, tools and equipment manufacturers and construction companies from across the UK, were held at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham. All entries for the awards are independently judged by a panel of industry experts – On The Tools is the No1 social site for tradespeople to watch videos, read articles and share content, with more than two million followers on Facebook, Instagram and twitter. “This award coincided with our four year anniversary of starting work on the concept that is now known as Dulux Academy,” said Vickie Mather, Dulux Academy Manager. “In that time, we have welcomed more than 4,500 professional painters on to our courses ranging across every aspect of decoration including spray, wallpaper, colour selection, first aid and social media at our flagship Slough facility and across our network of college partners. We’re proud to be recognised against construction industry peers and establish ourselves as a credible training provider contributing to the upskilling and professionalising of the painting and decorating industry,” added Vickie Mather. The On the Tools awards, hosted by comedian Justin Moorhouse, handed out a total of 25 awards, including recognition of excellence in individual trades. It was therefore great to share the awards stage with Georgie Baker, a Dulux Select Decorator, who was nominated and voted for by the public audience as Painter & Decorator of the Year. Dulux Academy is the home of painting and decorating excellence. Its team of industry leading experts delivers learning experiences that celebrate the brand’s portfolio and proud heritage, showcase products and application innovation and embrace technology. Its courses can deliver increased knowledge and understanding, enabling those who chose Dulux Academy to meet their personal and professional ambitions.
Temporary buildings are used by manufacturers for a variety of purposes. They provide a quick solution to short-term needs or a way to create space that is needed fast. They can be attached to a warehouse or installed as stand-alone structures on a manufacturing plant. Modular buildings, which are sectional prefabricated structures, can be put together elsewhere then delivered to the customer. The delivery may be in one or several complete sections. These buildings are cost-effective and provide a fast solution when one is needed. Smart space buildings are some of the best quality temporary buildings in the market. Advantages over Traditional Construction Temporary buildings have many advantages over traditional ones. Some of these advantages include: Flexibility They are portable, therefore, providing ease of relocation. Whether temporary or permanent, modular buildings are durable and secure. They are appropriate for the applications of any manufacturing plant. They take a shorter time to construct They employ an accelerated production method thereby making it possible for the construction to be completed fast. There are no site-related delays or bottlenecks. Design and constructions time is reduced by up to 50%. They are cost-effective This is due to reduced labor and fewer material costs. When construction is done off-site, there is maximum utilization of labour and fewer material purchases. Waste is also reduced. Additionally, you have the following financial options: Lease your portable structure Opt for a lease-to-own alternative Purchase the building outright Opt for a guaranteed buy-back option Any type of industry will find an alternative that best suits its particular requirements. Their quality is more consistent With modular buildings, for instance, quality is guaranteed every step of the building process. The components are inspected at every phase and approved by third-party inspectors. Compliance with specifications and codes is insisted upon. The facilities that are utilized are state-of-the-art and the constructers integrate the best practices to produce the best designs. Temporary buildings must meet the same specifications of conventional buildings. Therefore, you will get a structure that meets the same standards of quality, longevity and durability that are expected of the traditionally constructed structures. Other benefits include versatility and diminished site disruptions. These benefits make them suitable for a lot of uses in not only the manufacturing industry but also other industries as well. They have therefore risen in popularity over the years as better alternatives to conventional buildings which take a lot of time and money to put up. It is possible to build individual modular building components on site as the site is being prepared for construction, and then have additional architectural details added. The modular project then looks just like the other conventional structures. This saves you time and money. Types of Temporary Structures for Manufacturers Restrooms Training facilities Locker rooms Administrative offices Break rooms Laboratories Healthcare facilities The manufacturing industry players have a deep understanding and appreciation of the value that temporary buildings bring to the sector. This is especially with regard to providing solutions for much-needed space. In addition, there is the quality, safety and speed all of which are highly regarded in manufacturing.
Healthcare consultancy, Essentia Trading, has won a place on a national framework making it easier for NHS Trusts and other public sector bodies to procure experts on property and estates strategy. The Framework for the Provision of Property and Estates Consultancy Services (OJEU Reference: 2018/S 106 – 241898) was set up to help enable NHS organisations deliver the recommendations of the independent review by Sir Robert Naylor on NHS Property and Estates (March 2017). The framework is being run by NHS Commercial Solutions, extends for four years and has an estimated value of £100m. The Naylor review asserted that without investment into the NHS estate, the Government’s Five Year Forward View (5YFV) could not be delivered and the NHS estate would remain unfit for purpose and continue to deteriorate. It called for the NHS to develop robust capital plans that align with clinical strategies, maximise value for money (including land sales) and address backlog maintenance, backed by capital from the Government. The review also identified that £2bn could be realised from selling off surplus land within NHS estates to help fund 26,000 homes. Essentia has won places on Lot 1 (Land and Property Appraisals (Six Facet Surveys1) and Lot 2: General Property and Estates Consultancy) of the framework. Stephen Edgar, Director of Property at Essentia, said: “The NHS estate is large and of varying quality. It comprises over 1,200 sites, 6,500 hectares of land and buildings with a gross internal area of 26 million square metres. Forty-three percent of the estate is over 30 years’ old and whilst some buildings have been upgraded, much of the NHS is operating in inadequate buildings. “There is a significant need to modernise the estate, as well as deal with backlog maintenance. In some cases, out of date or unfit buildings could be sold or used for other purposes such as housing. “At Essentia, our team is highly experienced in managing property for the NHS and other public sector organisations. By enhancing property management, flexible use of space and rationalisation of estate, we are assisting organisations in delivering savings and reinvesting disposal proceeds back into front line services. Our extensive property expertise and knowledge helps our clients develop their estate strategy and business cases to enable service transformation.” Essentia’s property and estates management clients include: Royal Salford NHS Foundation Trust, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, The Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (East Grinstead), Barts Health NHS Trust and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, amongst others. For more information on Essentia’s property expertise visit: https://www.essentia.uk.com/
As winter approaches, a national trade body is issuing a timely reminder to property managers to ensure air quality management is on their radar. With the arrival of dark nights and dropping temperatures, moisture levels in buildings start to increase. Air becomes more laden with water, meaning that issues such as condensation, and even damp and mould, can take hold. As a result, the Property Care Association (PCA) is urging property managers to ensure appropriate servicing, repairs and checks are made to ventilation fans and air management systems, to tackle the issue. Steve Hodgson, chief executive of the PCA, said: “Ventilation fans and air management systems are at the front line in providing a healthier environment for people to live and work in. “They play an invaluable role at this time of year at addressing the heavy, cold air that can circulate in buildings as temperatures drop. “However, despite the contribution they make to air quality, it’s not uncommon for their service and repair to be overlooked. “Without a structured servicing regime, waste can build up in the system. This can become a breeding ground for bacteria and also reduce efficiency. “It is also not uncommon for systems to be installed which are not the correct specification for their particular environment. “This is unfortunate as effective ventilation is the most effective way to tackle excess moisture in buildings.” The PCA’s membership includes professionals with the skills and expertise to undertake the design and installation of ventilation solutions for commercial and residential areas. More details can be found at www.property-care.org/
Leading property, land and construction company Henry Boot PLC has undertaken a transformation of its HR function in collaboration with MHR, designed to streamline and optimise its processes to enhance the work/life balance of its people. New employee focused services implemented through its iTrent system, including Total Rewards Statements and a holiday ‘buy and sell’ scheme, combined with an expansion of its Self Service modules and new levels of automation has resulted in better streamlined systems for holiday, payroll, benefits and pensions, a reduction in manual administration and increased engagement across the organisation. The transformation project was carried out as part of a company-wide initiative called ‘One Henry Boot’, conceived in late 2016 / 17 to better understand what defines its culture – ‘The Henry Boot Way’ – with a focus on its vision, purpose and values. Rachel White, Head of HR at Henry Boot said: “Our people are central to our overall performance and success. At the heart of ‘One Henry Boot’ project was a strong commitment to identify what is important to our employees and put in place efficient processes and systems to improve their work/life balance and experience. “By fostering close links with an experienced and knowledgeable partner in MHR we have been able to customise our software and introduce new tailored processes to meet the needs of the business and the support the wellbeing of our people.” MHR carried out a comprehensive strategic review of Henry Boot’s existing HR and payroll processes to identify areas for improvement, and facilitated a trial of its latest software modules to enable Henry Boot to experience the benefits first-hand. Following the assessment, Henry Boot introduced MHR’s Total Rewards Statement module to increase employee awareness of the value of the benefits they receive as part of their contract, such as Life Assurance or Permanent Health Insurance. Rachel said: “The Total Rewards Statement provides an easy way to visually represent and break down all the different benefits and their associated value as part of our commitment to our people. This can be fully customisable for the specific needs of our employees and so offers the flexibility we desire for our different employee groups.” To further improve employee work/life balance, MHR extended Henry Boot’s Employee Self Service (ESS) module to accommodate additional activities, such as Learning and Development, to increase user engagement while empowering employees to take control of their transactional tasks and personal growth. Meanwhile, a holiday ‘buy and sell’ scheme has been introduced as an additional benefit, giving employees greater ownership of their working time. Rachel said: “We understand how much our people value extra time with family, or a bit of extra income when it’s needed. iTrent offers a solution that is completely flexible for the different needs of our people rather than a one size fits all solution. The fact that this is all available within the ESS module means we can save time on admin, and our people can remain in control of what they need and value.” The transformation project has reduced the amount of queries Henry Boot’s HR team has to answer, freeing up their time for more vital tasks such as recruitment, employee relations and the implementation of ideas from the One Henry Boot project. Rachel said: “We expect to make significant cost savings in 2018 due to the reduction in manual admin time, while we have already reduced the amount of paper produced by the team, and also the number of days taken to produce contracts, deal with administration of new employees, and L&D administration.” Anton Roe, Chief Executive Officer at MHR comments: “We’re delighted to have supported Henry Boot through this transformation journey. “The transformation project at Henry Boot is a perfect example of how working in collaboration with our strategic team, organisations can embrace new ways of working and innovate their HR processes to deliver business improvements while meeting the expectations of their people.”
ISG has further demonstrated its commitment to maximising technology to drive operational efficiencies by securing a BIM Level 2 accreditation for its collaborative, dynamic delivery of projects using digital construction techniques. The global construction services company was awarded the BSI Kitemark for its BIM Level 2 certification to PAS1192:2-2013 and BS1192:4. The accreditation refers specifically to project delivery, where graphical data, non-graphical data and documents, known collectively as the project information model (PIM), are accumulated from design and construction activities. Mark Norton, ISG’s head of BIM, said: “In the last few years, we have seen a seismic shift in our clients’ understanding of BIM and the processes involved with using digital construction techniques. “This BSI Kitemark shows our commitment to implementing the technology in all our design, build and fit-out contracts and recognises that we have the robust processes and protocols to manage and utilise data in the correct way. “BIM is flexible enough to be used across multiple applications and enhances our construction and fit-out expertise to deliver better, smarter and more innovative buildings. Gaining the BIM Level 2 certification also means we can provide assurances to our supply chain that we are fully equipped to deliver a comprehensive range and value of public sector and private sector contracts with maximum efficiency.” The use of BIM has grown exponentially in the UK construction sector and Level 2 accreditation became a recommended requirement for companies wishing to tender for centrally-procured UK government contracts, in April 2016. Since then, the industry has adopted the technology to provide better collaboration on projects and meet the demands of technology-driven buildings. BIM Level 2 accreditation was issued to ISG by BSI following an assessment of process and project delivery which includes client satisfaction, collaborative engagement with the supply chain and a progressive training regime.
The shortlist for this year’s Construction Marketing Awards has been announced by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). The companies will compete for awards in 23 different categories, including best use of content marketing, best low, medium and high budget campaign and marketing team of the year. The awards are organised by CIM’s Construction Group, celebrating creativity, innovation and effectiveness in marketing across the construction industry. “The construction sector is renowned for its innovation and creativity and when it comes to marketing, the awards confirm that the industry recognises and celebrates the insight, creativity and impact of marketers in construction. This year we’ve received the highest level of entries which reflect the very best in construction marketing talent and are a fantastic way to raise awareness of the originality across the industry,” said Mike Lomax, chair of the CIM Construction Group. “Judged by some of the leading figures from brands such as Tarmac Cement, BMI group, MRA marketing from across construction and marketing, the Construction Marketing Awards set the benchmark for marketing success in the construction sector. We look forward to celebrating with guests at the annual awards ceremony and honouring marketing excellence across the built environment,” Mike added. Nominees include Senior Architectural Systems, BMI Redland, Fibo and many more. The Construction Marketing Awards Gala Dinner takes place on Thursday, the 29th of November at Hilton London Bankside, 2-8 Great Suffolk Street, London. Tickets can be booked individually or in tables of 10 and 12. Dress code is black tie and evening wear and the ticket price includes drinks reception, three course dinner, half a bottle of wine per person, and entertainment!
TODD Architects has successfully completed the interior planning and configuration of CNP Santander Insurance’s newly constructed offices at Three Park Place, Hatch Street Upper, Dublin 2. After an in-depth staff consultation process, TODD Architects created a concept which considered and delivered a consciously ergonomic, contemporary workplace which meets the current needs of the staff, while also allowing for future expansion with the addition of a purpose-built sublet area. “This new space presented a fantastic opportunity to highlight structural in-situ features, such as the pristine cast concrete shell, which forms a strong component of the overall design. Given the large floor plate, the main conceptual objective was to ensure that the office felt unified with a single democratic design in mind, whilst providing a range of spaces adaptable for various activities,” said Nilfa Burke, Project Designer at TODD Architects. Meeting rooms are located to the periphery of the plan with workstations positioned centrally, promoting multidisciplinary interaction between teams, while informal breakout and meeting spaces, including glazed pods, are interspersed for formal and informal meetings and interactions. The plan for the second floor fit-out uses the overhead finishes and varying ceiling heights to define space, while maintaining a unified free flowing open-plan office layout. Acoustic considerations are addressed using suspended acoustic ceiling panels clad in perforated oak veneer acoustic timber panelling. These also create a clean, aesthetic finish in concealing the large overhead ventilation ducts as well as providing a mount for other ceiling services such as the fire detectors, voice evacuation speakers and sprinkler heads. The material palette and specified furniture were key components in the workspace design. All task chairs were pre-tested by employees to find the right fit for each specific need, with all workstations also offering the flexibility of electronic sit-stand. The kitchenette and canteen offer employees essential facilities and an open plan social dining space which can also be used for formal and informal meetings. It is currently facilitating townhall forums. “Feedback provided throughout the various stages, helped direct us and overcome challenges which contributed to a more tailored design. The client embraced our ideas, which positively impacted on the delivery. We are incredibly proud of the resulting bespoke and progressive fit out, it is a true reflection of the success of our consultation process,” Nilfa added. Completed in June 2018, the scheme has already received an overwhelmingly positive response and was shortlisted in 2018 Fit Out Awards.
Stewart and Shields has been awarded by Riverside Inverclyde (Ri), the organisation charged with delivering the economic redevelopment of Inverclyde in the west of Scotland, the £1.6 million design and build construction contract for its food and drink incubator. Baker Street Food & Drink Enterprises will be built on land recently cleared at the corner of Greenock’s Baker Street and Drumfrochar Road. It is the second phase of a £2.5 million road realignment project currently being delivered by Riverside Inverclyde for Inverclyde Council. The Baker Street project will see the development of six manufacturing units ranging from 30 to 70 square metres. Aimed at enticing the growth of small and medium-sized food and drink businesses, the building will also include shared office space, storage unit and boardroom facilities for its tenants as well as shower and change areas. Ri will also provide a business growth programme to support the tenants, as well as seeking match-funding support for machinery and equipment. By assisting with the transition into Baker Street, the aim is to provide support towards achieving Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) standard accreditation for the units. “Ri has targeted the food and drink sector as a fantastic growth opportunity for Inverclyde,” said Andrew Bowman, Head of Business Investment at Ri. “We have started to promote this pioneering facility nationally and are already seeing interest in the Baker Street hub and all of the available support for the eventual tenants. The incubator offers Inverclyde some exciting opportunities, not least the ability to grow the number of food and drink producers in the area alongside the associated jobs. We hope to see some of the early participants grow to become great success stories in their own right.” The Baker Street incubator and its other areas of support will be the first of its kind in Scotland, assisting Inverclyde’s growth in the food and drink sector as Scotland aims to double its turnover to £30 billion by 2030. The development started in October 2018 and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2019. The development is due to begin this autumn with a completion date of spring 2019. The Baker Street incubator is being supported by £900,000 from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF).
It is fair to say that if you are thinking about renovating your garden you feel like you have a job on your hands. It is not just a question of moving plants from one part of the garden to another. A full-on renovation may see you have trees and bushes to remove. You may want to get rid of or reposition paving slabs or pathways. You may be considering laying new paving. Garden renovation is difficult work but it can be made easy with the right tools. If you are an avid DIY enthusiast or you own a small home improvement business, using tool hire will save you money and do the lion’s share of the work. A true win–win scenario. Before you start Renovating your Garden Before you start renovating your garden, make a plan. This will give you ideas and help you pinpoint exactly what you want to do in your garden renovation. From here you can prioritise the list of jobs. If you are working for a client and not undertaking a DIY project you may have your client’s plan to work to. If you do not, It is essential that you and your client agree exactly what you are going to do before you unleash a mini digger on their favourite flower bed. Once you have your plan play around with ideas. You probably have a broad idea at how you want things to look, but you will probably find that your project takes a new life as new ideas bed down into your plan. Decide how much maintenance you are prepared to do when deciding what plants to use in your garden, and take a few visits to garden centres so you can see what’s possible. Make a List of Priorities Once you have a plan decide what to do in order of when you need to do it. This will help you schedule when to arrange tool hire and this gives you a broad idea of how long your project will take. It is good practise to build in a little extra time as problems always arise. Excavation Unless your project is small in scope, you will probably need to clear away a large part of your garden if not all of it. You have big DIY ideas and this needs to be done. This is where mini digger hire saves you money and allows you to excavate your garden effectively giving you a blank canvass to work with. Mini diggers are an invaluable tool when renovating your garden. If you are a home improvement business they not only provide a cost effective way of taking on bigger work, they also avoid a range of headaches such as planned maintenance and servicing, and paying for repairs should your mini digger develop a fault. Once you have the digger you should be able to clear away as much of the garden as you need to quickly. This is just the beginning, however, as the next phase may involve laying pathways and patios, planting, building and possibly plumbing and electrical work. As an enthusiastic DIY person or home improvement business owner, you have your work cut out! Garden Renovation Equipment Tool Hire Other tools you may need to hire to handle the heavy loads include: Skip – You need to put the rubbish somewhere and skips are the best option. This makes rubbish removal easy and you don’t have to keep doing dump runs to get rid of your rubbish, delaying the project and adding on costs. Cement Mixers – If you’re laying patios or paths you want to be able to mix large volumes of concrete. Cement mixers are perfect for this task and speed up the laying process considerably. Rollers – Rollers compact soil, asphalt, and gravel and as such give the perfect foundation to make your garden renovation come to life. Some you push by hand. For bigger projects ride on rollers are available. Chainsaw – If you want to fell a tree you will need a chainsaw to do this job. Unless you’ll need a chainsaw for a considerable amount of work, it makes sense to hire one from a good tool hire shop. Wood Cutting Equipment – If you are planning to build wooden structures in your garden, being able to cut wood accurately and easily is necessary. There are plenty of options to choose from so finding the right saw for what you need to accomplish should be straightforward and help you complete your tasks faster and more accurately. Once the heavy work is out the way you can start developing your garden renovation. For this, a different set of tools is needed. As a minimum you will need: Wheelbarrow Garden Trowels Garden Gloves Hand Pruners And Loppers Plant Dividing Tools Garden Hose Reel Cart Garden Forks Shovel Wide Brimmed Hat On a final note, many hands make light work. If you are doing a DIY project recruit as many friends and family to help.
