A contract in Salford, Manchester, to design, manufacture and install almost 9,000 square meters of high-quality façade for Two New Bailey Square, Slaford’s latest sustainable office development, has landed in the hands of a European façade contractor – Staticus. Across an area of 8,700 square meters, Staticus will install a combination of
A new industrial quarter is set to arrive in Redcar with the transformation of a South Tees Development Corporation site. In order to bring the work forward in the first quarter of 2019, the government made an investment of £14 million. “Our investment of £14 million in the South Tees
Jane Embury, marketing director at Wrightstyle, the advanced steel and aluminium glazing company, looks at accidental fires in the workplace …and how to avoid them. In 2017, fire crews in England attended over 560,000 incidents, 34% fewer than ten years ago. Of those, only about 170,000 were fires, and over
The covers give access to vital below ground services such as drainage while blending the floor’s paving with the overall surface. They are typically used in retail parks and public areas that demand a prestige finish. FAB PAVE products can also be found at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, The Amex which is home
The Department for Transport has extended Govia’s Southeastern franchise by 12 weeks from April 1 to June 22. The franchise was directly awarded in 2014, and is due to be replaced by a new competitively awarded franchise which is now expected to commence on June 23. On December 21 Stagecoach announced
Grown in Britain’s latest pricing data for UK grown hardwood is showing across the board value increases for 2018. News of the price growth has been welcomed by Forestry Commission chairman Sir Harry Studholme as “fantastic news” for woodland owners. “Higher prices justify and encourage woodland management, and this management
Leading online trade supplier, IronmongeryDirect are celebrating the success of their graduate management scheme. The UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery have recruited two new graduates following the continued progression of the organisation’s previous intake of newly qualified students. One of the stand out performers is Dimitra Koutsochera. Dimitra joined IronmongeryDirect
A contract in Salford, Manchester, to design, manufacture and install almost 9,000 square meters of high-quality façade for Two New Bailey Square, Slaford’s latest sustainable office development, has landed in the hands of a European façade contractor – Staticus. Across an area of 8,700 square meters, Staticus will install a combination of unitised timber and aluminium stick façades, with panels being manufactured in its Lithuania-based factory before being delivered to the site. “An interesting aspect of this project is the external structural steel frame with its visible connections and splices left exposed and protruding from the façade. Whilst this is unique and looks extremely striking, it means that we will need to use special sealing and prefabrication techniques to build the cladding units and overlay the façade panels. It is an extremely complicated installation,” explained Staticus’ UK MD Paulius Gurksnys. Apart from the external structural steel frame, there is another interesting element of the development included in its timber features on the ground and first floor. Staticus will install aluminium façade onto the timber profiles, milling connection joints into the profiles to create an aesthetic, natural view of the timber framing. “Two New Bailey Square is a fantastic project and winning it marks a fitting end to 2018. We have grown our presence in the UK exponentially this year, opening a new office in London and taking on lucrative contracts in the City, Manchester and Liverpool. This positions Staticus strategically for further expansion in the first quarter of 2019, so we are looking forward to what we anticipate will be a very successful year,” added Paulius. Part of the masterplan for Salford Central, the Two New Bailey Square development will deliver 9,500 new jobs and 180,000 square metres of commercial space.
A new industrial quarter is set to arrive in Redcar with the transformation of a South Tees Development Corporation site. In order to bring the work forward in the first quarter of 2019, the government made an investment of £14 million. “Our investment of £14 million in the South Tees Development Corporation demonstrates this government’s commitment to building a stronger more resilient economy in the Tees Valley and across the Northern Powerhouse,” commented Jake Berry MP, Northern Powerhouse Minister. “This government is firmly behind the Tees Valley, and I’m determined to ensure its people get the most out of the exciting growth opportunities available on their doorstep. It’s a further demonstration of how we’re helping to build a new golden era for the North East as part of our Industrial Strategy, and ensuring the Tees Valley is truly open for business as we are set to leave the European Union,” Mr Berry added. Work to establish construction access and utilities, as well as a new spine road and a roundabout will begin shortly, with new commercial tenants expected on site from 2021. Once completed, the quarter will help create 500 new jobs and ttract over half a billion pounds of private sector investment. “Government has committed £137 million to the Development Corporation over the last year, and this latest £14 million funding is vital to kick-start immediate work to redevelop land to help spearhead the transformation of the area. These huge schemes will deliver hundreds of quality jobs for local people, drive growth for the Tees Valley economy and continue our history of manufacturing excellence,” said Tees Valley Mayor and Chairman of the South Tees Development Corporation, Ben Houchen. “This £14 million shows government is continuing to listen to us and this is another step closer to the Development Corporation becoming a massive success story for not just the North East but for the UK,” Mr Houchen concluded.
Jane Embury, marketing director at Wrightstyle, the advanced steel and aluminium glazing company, looks at accidental fires in the workplace …and how to avoid them. In 2017, fire crews in England attended over 560,000 incidents, 34% fewer than ten years ago. Of those, only about 170,000 were fires, and over 220,000 were false alarms. Every year in the UK more than 20,000 non-residential fires are reported, with many of those happening in our workplaces. While there are a large number of reasons why fires start, many incidents could be avoided if people better understood and managed the most common causes of fire. While the overall incidence of workplace fires continues to fall, they do tend to be larger and more complex, not only potentially posing a risk to life but to the continuity and survival of the company affected. Preventing workplace fire loss requires knowledge of both the underlying ignition risks and, if fire does break out, the reasons why the fire might spread. The main element that then determines the severity of a fire is the availability of a fuel load – the combustible materials that a fire needs to develop and grow. Faulty electrics are the biggest cause of workplace fires and workplaces are legally obliged to properly maintain all electrical equipment and to conduct Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) at least annually. These tests ensure that electrical goods are fit for purpose and remain in good working order. Failure to test annually is therefore not only a fire risk in itself, but could result in legal penalty. What’s also needed is a comprehensive fire safety risk assessment, particularly vital if combustible and flammable materials are used in the workplace. That assessment will then guide a fire safety plan to ensure the most appropriate storage, handling and disposal of flammable materials. Again, failure to comply with the fire and safety regulations is a fire risk in itself and, again, could result in prosecution. But it’s not just complacency that’s the main fire risk, because accidents can happen – for example, an employee spilling liquid onto electrical equipment. What’s then crucial is that the workplace has sufficient and appropriate fire safety equipment, and that staff are fully trained in their use. But while accidents can and do happen, a bigger threat is negligence because, in the event of serious incident, the company concerned may lose any right to insurance recompense, leading inevitably to financial difficulty and possible closure. While every company must have a named person responsible for fire safety, everyone in an organisation also has personal responsibility, because everyone must be aware of fire risk, proper procedures, and what to do in the event of fire. As we also constantly point out, one of the main lessons for building designers and owners is not simply to incorporate passive and active fire systems, but to look at the whole building’s capacity to withstand a fire. That’s why advanced glazing systems are so important, either for the exterior envelope of a building or for internal screens and fire doors, providing up to 120 minutes of protection against the spread of fire, smoke or toxic gases. Advanced glazing systems also do one additional thing. By containing the fire, they minimise damage to that company’s workplace and better provide continuity of operations. It is, if you like, an investment in peace of mind.
The covers give access to vital below ground services such as drainage while blending the floor’s paving with the overall surface. They are typically used in retail parks and public areas that demand a prestige finish. FAB PAVE products can also be found at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, The Amex which is home to Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham’s London stadium, Old Trafford, St James’ Park in Newcastle and Leicester’s King Power ground. Champions League finalists Liverpool also have a number of FAB PAVE access covers outside its club shop at Anfield FSP also has Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club onside after providing its FAB TRAY™ recessed cover during a recent Molineux Stadium upgrade while FAB TRAYs can be found at the reigning Eithad Stadium, home to Premiership League Champions Manchester City. The firm developed and supplied bespoke circular solid top access covers for a project to the Bearwood training ground where Reading FC plays and the home of British tennis at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in Wimbledon commissioned stainless steel drainage channels from FSP during improvements to its entrance. Its access covers can also be found at the nation’s footballing mecca Wembley and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in Stratford, London, and FSP has also supplied products to Chelsea and Manchester City’s training complexes. Richard Hilton, Managing Director of the firm, which is based in Telford, Shropshire, said: “Our ranges are ideal for paved environments, particularly where a high quality finish is important, such as these world class sporting venues. “It is a testament to the versatility of our ranges that we have been able to make such in-roads to this sector. The ability to order off the shelf or have a bespoke design to suit specific engineering function or aesthetic design means FSP products are fast becoming the product of choice for contractors and clients.” FAB PAVE access covers have also featured in other high profile locations including the refurbishment of Eleftheria Square in Nicosia, Cyprus, the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès Cannes in France where the world famous film festival takes place, and Terminal 2a, known as the Queen’s Terminal, at Heathrow Airport.
The Department for Transport has extended Govia’s Southeastern franchise by 12 weeks from April 1 to June 22. The franchise was directly awarded in 2014, and is due to be replaced by a new competitively awarded franchise which is now expected to commence on June 23. On December 21 Stagecoach announced that the Department for Transport had exercised an option to extend Virgin Trains‘ West Coast franchise by up to one year, meaning it can now continue to March 2020. Network Rail completed 330 projects worth a total of £148m over the Christmas and New Year period, with 25 000 people working more than 380 000 h. Major projects included electrification renewals at Forest Gate on the Great Eastern Main Line, track renewals on the approaches to London Victoria, new turnouts and track remodelling between Bedford and Kettering and signalling upgrades as part of the Weaver to Wavertree resignalling project in Merseyside. Control of signalling around Allerton, Speke and Garston has transferred to the Manchester Rail Operating Centre. The National Rail 26-30 Railcard went on sale on January 2. It costs £30 and offers eligible users 1/3 off most Off-Peak and Advance rail fares in Great Britain, subject to time restrictions and minimum fares. Network Rail has awarded multi-disciplinary framework contracts for renewals and enhancements in its Southern region during Control Period 6 (2019-24) to J Murphy & Sons (Anglia), BAM Nuttall (South East) and Geoffrey Osborne Ltd (Wessex). The scope includes station, buildings and civils, electrification, power, signalling, telecommunications and track works. The framework contracts run for five years with the option of three one-year extensions. Story Contracting and AmcoGiffen were previously awarded similar contracts covering the Scotland & North East region. Last month Great Western Railway took delivery of the last of its 36 five-car and 21 nine-car Hitachi Class 800 Intercity Express trainsets; a further 13 nine-car and two five-car Class 802 trainsets are due to arrive this year. On December 24 Transport Scotland issued ScotRail with a remedial plan notice relating to the Suburban East Sector (Edinburgh to Bathgate, Dunblane, Fife Circle, Tweedbank and North Berwick) where cancellations exceeded the Breach Performance Level during Period 9 from November 11 to December 8. The notice also applies pre-emptively in relation to the overall Public Performance Measure which Scottish Ministers expect to fall below the Breach Performance Level in Period 10. ScotRail has eight weeks to submit a remedial plan. London Overground concessionaire Arriva Rail London has appointed Kate Marjoribanks as engineering director. Her previous roles have included head of engineering at South Western Railway, engineering director at Abellio Greater Anglia and engineering director at Chiltern. Network Rail transferred control of signalling on various routes in Yorkshire from the York Integrated Electronic Control Centre to the Rail Operating Centre between the evening of December 24 and the start of services on December 27. Opened in 1989, the IECC controlled the East Coast Main Line from Doncaster to Northallerton, the trans-Pennine route from York to Morley and Pudsey and the lines to Skipton and Ilkley. ‘The beauty of moving the IECC to the ROC is that it brings all the signallers together as well as giving them a more modern system to work with‘, said Senior Project Engineer, Graham Foster. ‘We rehearsed the move several times before the big switch-over, so we were confident that everything would go to plan.‘ Great Western Railway has expanded its electric services to Newbury and Bristol Parkway after Network Rail completed the installation of 25 kV 50 Hz overhead line equipment. Network Rail has awarded Keltbray Rail, Lundy Projects and SPL Powerlines UK nil commitment framework agreements for the provision of contract labour, plant and road and rail access equipment for overhead line engineering works throughout its London North Western Route. This month Chiltern, Grand Central, LNER and parts of Northern and ScotRail are to begin using a GPS-based train location system to drive information systems, providing more accurate data than existing systems based on passing fixed points which can vary from 200 m to more than 8 km apart. The whole network is expected to be covered by 2024. ScotRail has begun rolling out ‘Grace’s Sign’ at accessible station toilets. The sign including both a wheelchair use and a standing person with a heart symbolising people with invisible conditions was devised by 13-year-old Grace Warnock, after facing criticism from strangers when she used accessible toilets. ‘We’re proud to support her campaign to raise awareness that not all disabilities can be seen’, said ScotRail Access & Inclusion Manager Andrew Marshall-Roberts. Greater Anglia’s cleaning contractor Carlisle Cleaning Services is using six ‘gum buster’ machines to remove dried-up chewing gum from platforms and concourses. The machines can eliminate lumps of chewing gum in 3 sec using a mixture of water and detergent heated to become steam which dissolves the gum on contact. Network Rail has applied for powers under the Transport & Works Act which would enable the compulsory purchase from Bellamile of land at the Ashford Chart Leacon depot site which was formerly operated by Bombardier Transportation. This would enable the development of a light maintenance depot for Southeastern rolling stock which is be displaced from the existing Hitachi depot in order to accommodate Thameslink EMUs. The estimated cost of the project is £30m.
Grown in Britain’s latest pricing data for UK grown hardwood is showing across the board value increases for 2018. News of the price growth has been welcomed by Forestry Commission chairman Sir Harry Studholme as “fantastic news” for woodland owners. “Higher prices justify and encourage woodland management, and this management supports future production of this beautiful raw material,” he said. “More than this, well-managed woodlands help plants and wildlife to flourish and store carbon to help tackle climate change. Grown in Britain are doing an exceptional job to develop the market for hardwood timber and realise these benefits.” The pricing data shows UK grown oak sawn timber rose 30% in price in 2018, with strong demand being experienced. Sawn oak is in strong demand due to the weak pound, China buying up French oak and weaker import availability. Prices for millable round oak are also high. Oak reached record prices at the November hardwood auction in Cirencester. Meanwhile, sweet chestnut log prices are up 15-20% and beech logs up by 5-10%, the latter partly due to export business. Ash and oak firewood prices are up around 20-30% and 10-15% respectively. Harvesting rates are rising on an average of 10%. “Buyers may wince at steadily rising prices such as these we have recorded in our latest pricing tables but demand across the world is set to steadily rise and rise and so increases should be passed up the supply chain as it is an amazing substance and should be valued accordingly,” said Dougal Driver, chief executive of Grown in Britain. Mr Driver said by continuing to encourage woodland owners to relook at their woodlands and forests to see the value of the timber they are growing, this will continue to drive up the supply and demand for British hardwood timber. For more on GiB’s pricing data visit here
Leading online trade supplier, IronmongeryDirect are celebrating the success of their graduate management scheme. The UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery have recruited two new graduates following the continued progression of the organisation’s previous intake of newly qualified students. One of the stand out performers is Dimitra Koutsochera. Dimitra joined IronmongeryDirect in 2013 after completing an MSc in Business Management and since starting as a graduate management trainee, has gone on to be promoted to Supply Chain and Inventory Planning Manager. Dimitra identified the diversity on offer in her role and the opportunities she was provided with to realise her best strengths as the major contributing factors for excelling in the scheme. Talking about the scheme, she said: “My university course gave me the tools and introduced me to the best frameworks for me to know what it takes to perform a job well. However, you are only going to learn if someone gives you the opportunity to apply this into practice, make mistakes, and learn from them. “This is the advantage of the IronmongeryDirect graduate scheme as you have the opportunity to work in various departments, build business acumen, earn further qualifications, and at the end of it all, identify what you really enjoy doing and start a career. You understand how each department links to each other and the impact that your decisions may have. Graduate schemes give you the flexibility to choose what is best for you and your future career, compared to going down another route.” IronmongeryDirect’s latest crop of graduates include Oliver Bull and Luke Scott. Oliver graduated from the University of Warwick having completed a Masters in MSc Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management and is already immersing himself in the new role: “I have just started my first three-month project, aimed at further enhancing customer experience. I have been welcomed and already feel valued and part of the team. “IronmongeryDirect offered the perfect opportunity for me to further expand my knowledge and experience in the field. It was clear the company invests time and effort into its employees, and despite its size, has maintained a family-like business environment, which in turn, has created a thriving workplace. A wide range of personal development opportunities are also available.” Luke, who graduated with a degree in Mathematics from Loughborough University also praised the wide-ranging nature of the graduate scheme: “The most attractive feature of the scheme was the fact that I would be working in lots of different departments throughout the programme, which meant I would be getting a full scope of how the business works. “There is a great work culture here; the whole team is friendly and always ready to lend a helping hand, with everyone, including the directors, available if you need a chat! I would definitely recommend IronmongeryDirect to somebody else.” Dimitra concluded with some final advice to any aspiring graduates: “Ask questions, loads of questions as this is your opportunity to learn. Also, take any feedback on board and do not hesitate to suggest ideas or solutions. Be proactive and take your own initiative to investigate and change things for the good of the department. It’s your time to shine and give your career strong foundations so make the most of it!” IronmongeryDirect is the UK’s largest specialist ironmongery supplier, with over 16,500 products in stock, available for next day delivery.
