The use of contractors across the construction industry is commonplace as they are hired to complete specialist tasks or seasonal work. However as part of hiring contractors it is important to consider the safety measures and responsibilities across the workplace. By involving someone who is a temporary part of your
FIS, representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK, announced the winners of the 2019 Fit-Out Futures Awards which were celebrated at the FIS President’s Lunch in London. Iain Mcilwee, FIS CEO said “the Fit-Out Futures Awards recognise the outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals,
Nestled in one of the North East’s most exclusive suburbs is a luxurious property that is stealing the attention of affluent house hunters. Poppy Cottage, the new property by Developments by Joseph Homes, is located on one of Wynyard Park’s most sought-after plots and is worth a cool £1.2million. Constructed of the highest quality textured brick
A project milestone has been achieved by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on its new Marshall Building. After the demolition of the existing structure at 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Mace commenced construction work on the redevelopment project. In order to improve the impact, effectiveness and appeal
A 16th century Grade II Listed former farmhouse in East Suffolk has been restored and it includes subsequent 17th and 19th re-modelling. With a primarily oak timber frame, the construction features a double jettied gable at the first floor with brick noggin exposed in Flemish bond. A ground floor oriel window
The planning stages of a construction project require attention to a whole lot of details, and the type of concrete being used is one that should be near the top of every list of priorities. But what type of concrete is best for your project? iMix Concrete will run through
The use of contractors across the construction industry is commonplace as they are hired to complete specialist tasks or seasonal work. However as part of hiring contractors it is important to consider the safety measures and responsibilities across the workplace. By involving someone who is a temporary part of your team, without the correct training and safety awareness there is greater risk of accidents. What is a Contractor A contractor is someone who has been hired for a specific job and does not work regularly for an employer. They may be brought in to undertake tasks which are highly specific or simply when more staff are required. Contractors are commonly used across the construction industry to complete bigger tasks where a variety of skills are needed. The Law Under health and safety law both the contractor and the business have obligations and duties. To ensure the safety of any personnel carrying out work, full risk assessments must be undertaken, and adequate training provided. All parties should be in full cooperation and be aware of any health and safety information for the site such as correctly identifying safety signs or understanding set procedures such as lock out tag out or one man one lock. There are a number of health and safety and construction regulations which must be adhered to, ensure you fully understand the law before bringing a contractor on site. Safety Procedures and Managing Contractors As part of hiring contractors, you should have pre-defined steps in place to ensure their safety when working on site. Here are some of the steps which should be undertaken: Plan Ahead Prior to employing a contractor, you should plan ahead for any training or health and safety measures that need to be in place. You should create a checklist to assess your health and safety management and if it is suitable to employ contractors under your current guidelines. As part of this planning process you should also clearly define the job at hand and assess any risks associated with it. Hiring When hiring a contractor, you should ensure this is the correct person for the job. Make sure to check credentials and ask for evidence of work. When you have successfully chosen your contractor ensure you show them around the site and make them aware of any health and safety procedures. Working When working on site it is important that the contractor adheres to safety measures such as signing in and out and wearing the correct safety equipment. Review Both during and after the work, reviews should be undertaken to ensure the work is of high standard and the contractor is correctly adhering to safety guidelines. Working with contractors is inevitable in some industries and it is important that considerations have been made for their safety in the workplace. Ensure you know the law and have health and safety procedures in place prior to hiring a contractor and any relevant training is provided before work is undertaken.
FIS, representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK, announced the winners of the 2019 Fit-Out Futures Awards which were celebrated at the FIS President’s Lunch in London. Iain Mcilwee, FIS CEO said “the Fit-Out Futures Awards recognise the outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals, who have demonstrated excellence, dedication and commitment to their personal development, organisation and the finishes and interiors community. All the nominees were outstanding candidates and it was an honour to meet, host and award them” The event saw 300 FIS members and their guests come together to see the winners revealed in the delightful surroundings of Plaisterers’ Hall. Congratulations to all the winners and the shortlisted entrants. Apprentice of the Year Award WINNER: John Taylor – Stortford Interiors The judges commented that John was clearly a talented tradesman and that he was also changing attitudes internally about the positive benefits that an apprentice can bring to his company. John was also praised for his understanding of the importance of his work and the need to follow guidelines. He continues to develop as a fantastic example of why the modern apprenticeship system will shape our industry for the future. The award was presented by Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB and Iain Mcilwee CEO of FIS. RUNNER UP: Danny Beadle – Pexhurst Services Danny was recognised for his commitment to all aspects of the day-to-day site role, as well as his dedication to learning and improving his skill-set. Future Leader Award – sponsored by CCF WINNER: Simon Broggio – Meronden Simon is an exemplar of how someone can enter the construction sector as a labourer and with the right attitude and work ethic work their way up to take on a Level 6 Construction Site Managers course. He is already a natural leader and an asset to the finishes and interiors sector. The award was presented by Dean Pinner, Managing Director of CCF Ltd and Iain Mcilwee CEO of FIS. Olton Bridge, 245 Warwick Road Solihull, West Midlands B92 7AH Telephone 0121 707 0077 Email info@thefis.org Website www.thefis.org RUNNER UP: Richard Austen – Stortford Interiors Richard was awarded runner-up due to his enthusiasm to adopt new ways of working and new technologies. He was also recognised for his ability to manage both his peers and his superiors. Outstanding Employee Award WINNER: Matt Taylor – Astins With more than 18 years’ experience in the industry, Matt was recognised for his never-ending energy and professionalism for design and to the sector. The award was presented by Nathan Garnett, Event Director at Media 10 Limited and Iain Mcilwee CEO of FIS. RUNNER UP: Ed Kelly – ETAG Fixings Ed was commended for his exceptional reliability, quality of work, initiative and professionalism, as well as his commitment to Etag’s work values. Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by CCF Ray Deeks – G Cook & Sons Ray was chosen as the recipient of this award for demonstrating a lifetime’s dedication to his trade. In particular, he was applauded for the amount of his own time he has committed to sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with the wider industry. The judges said: “We all owe Ray a vote of thanks for the legacy that he continues to leave.” The award was presented by Dean Pinner, Managing Director of CCF Ltd and Iain Mcilwee CEO of FIS.
Nestled in one of the North East’s most exclusive suburbs is a luxurious property that is stealing the attention of affluent house hunters. Poppy Cottage, the new property by Developments by Joseph Homes, is located on one of Wynyard Park’s most sought-after plots and is worth a cool £1.2million. Constructed of the highest quality textured brick and natural roof slate, the detached executive-style bungalow is situated on a 3,638 sq ft plot in Musgrave Garden Lane, in the heart of the luxury housing development in the Tees Valley. This beautiful four-bedroom home, which boasts a sleek interior design scheme with an array of modern touches, oozes luxury living. Chris Musgrave, CEO of Wynyard Park, explains how the new show home is set to revolutionise the way customers look at self-build projects. He said: “Joseph Homes caters to house buyers who want the luxury of a self-build property but don’t necessarily have the time or resources to independently manage such a project. “Joseph Homes offers a selection of six designs for customers to choose from, with the opportunity to make individual changes to match their particular requirements, while it project manages the custom build on behalf of the customer. “One of the difficulties for anyone embarking on a house build project is that it is difficult to get an initial feel for the property. It’s hard to get excited about an empty plot of land, which is why we introduced this stunning new show home. “Poppy Cottage is the perfect insight into a Joseph Homes property. It gives an overview of the style and quality of the build and helps get the customer inspired for their dream home. “What sets our homes apart is that we go the extra mile in every way possible. We compromise on nothing; from the architectural design to the handmade bespoke kitchens and bathrooms. Poppy Cottage radiates elegance and quality craftsmanship, something that is hard to get across through images alone.” Since the launch of Poppy Cottage Joseph Homes has secured the sale of two bespoke properties, each with the sale price of over of £1m. Wynyard Park is home to some of the most exclusive and sought-after plots in the North East, with local footballers and millionaires alike calling it home. It has sold more than 70 self-build plots in the last two years alone. Chris added: “Every person who has come through the doors of Poppy Cottage has been impressed. Our aim is to show house buyers that there is no need to fear the idea of taking a custom build route, as Joseph Homes provides its customers with both freedom and convenience.” To book an appointment to view Poppy Cottage or to find out more information about a custom build project with Joseph Homes, contact 01740 667 000 or email info@josephhomes.life
A project milestone has been achieved by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on its new Marshall Building. After the demolition of the existing structure at 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Mace commenced construction work on the redevelopment project. In order to improve the impact, effectiveness and appeal of private contributions to the public good, the new building will contain The Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship, founded by Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett and Sir Paul Marshall. The new building will also house the academic departments of Accounting, Finance and Management, teaching facilities, as well as sports and arts rehearsal facilities including a Sports England standard multi-purpose sports hall for use by staff and students. “This is a real milestone for the project, and we look forward to working with Mace over the next two years to turn our plans for the Marshall Building into reality. The demolition of the existing buildings has gone very well, and our success to date is a reflection of all of the hard work put into the project so far by the entire team,” said Kenneth Kinsella, Director of Capital Development for LSE. This is the second collaboration between Mace and LSE, which have previously worked on the Centre Buildings Redevelopment, due to be completed this year. “Over the last four years we have built a fantastic working relationship with LSE, first with the redevelopment of the Centre Buildings and now with the Marshall Building. They are a fantastic client, always pushing us to be more ambitious; and we are extremely pleased that they have chosen Mace to deliver the second phase of this very important project. The Marshall Building will be an iconic addition to the LSE’s campus, and we have been working closely with the architects, Grafton, to bring this ground-breaking design to life,” added Terry Spraggett, Managing Director of Public Sector Construction for Mace. The Marshall Building project is expected to be completed in 2021.
A 16th century Grade II Listed former farmhouse in East Suffolk has been restored and it includes subsequent 17th and 19th re-modelling. With a primarily oak timber frame, the construction features a double jettied gable at the first floor with brick noggin exposed in Flemish bond. A ground floor oriel window is flanked by pargeted render panels and the outshot was rendered with partial parge work to the gable still visible. Exposed timbers and brickwork to the gable had been re-pointed in recent years and painted with heavy modern paint, which led to the areas showing sign of distress and a sorry appearance. Render to the gable, return wall and outshot had been patch repaired over the 20th century with heavy impervious cement render and various forms of filler, along with modern paint which was leading to the degradation of the structure. During exposure extensive decay to supporting laths and de-lamination of render coats, some resultant from water penetration and previous repairs resulted in render being removed. To fix the defect, careful measure and recording of the remaining detail and dimensions of parge work was undertaken so that templates and tools could be manufactured by a local engineer to replicate previous design and layout. The heavy paint to the exposed timber gable was removed with a chemical stripper, which was manufactured and supplied by Strippers Paint Removers, and cement pointing to brick noggins was carefully removed and re-pointing undertaken with one of Anglia Lime Company’s readymixed lime mortar mixes along with localised brick repairs with reclaimed Tudor reds. External cement render was removed and period render was found to be in a friable condition with supporting laths rot affected and fixing nails corroded. The previous rendered walls were then re-lathed and applied with ALC’s Fibrechalk and laid to a smooth finish. The gable end wall to outshot was re-dressed with parge work consisting of a continuous rope in borders, whilst panels to either side of the ground floor oriel window of the main gable was stamped with a pricked indent with beaded surround to match existing profile. To finish, and preserve it was all then painted with ALC’s Original Limewash. The restoration was completed by Rickards Period Plastering Ltd.
The planning stages of a construction project require attention to a whole lot of details, and the type of concrete being used is one that should be near the top of every list of priorities. But what type of concrete is best for your project? iMix Concrete will run through various types of concrete and the applications they’re best suited for. Small wall footings, sheds and floors – C15 C15 is ideal for these kinds of projects. This particular type of concrete allows for non-permanent finishes to be placed on top, such as tiles, which means it is perfect for flooring. It is worth noting that it is only suitable for flooring without any embedded metal, such as steel rebar. Foundations and floor slabs – C20 For foundations for single storey buildings, internal floor slabs and oversites, you need C20 concrete. With a 28-day strength of 20 Newtons, it is strong enough to withstand the loads expected in these environments, without possessing the strength of other, heavy duty concretes. Footings, foundations, groundwork and trench fill – C25 For this variety of applications, a versatile type of concrete is needed, and C25 fits that bill. Used in domestic and commercial applications alike, most commonly in foundations for houses and extensions, it is strong and durable, with a 25 Newton 28-day strength. Driveways – PAV 1 Driveways are expected to withstand a high amount of wear and tear, as well as heavy loads on a regular basis. PAV 1 concrete is ideal for a driveway as it contains air-entrainment additives that create small bubbles, protecting the concrete from freeze-thaw damage. Paths, patios and pavements – C30 With a 30 Newton 28-day strength, C30 is the recommended concrete for those looking to lay a patio or path in their garden , or for the laying of pavements. It can be used for garage bases, too – ‘external light use applications’ also fall into the category of suitable uses for C30 concrete. Reinforced floors, walls and workshop bases – C35 Floors in certain environments are going to have to endure greater impacts than your average domestic flooring. Think of warehouses and other industrial environments – vehicles, machinery and materials make for a very heavy load, and as such the floor needs to be made of a heavy-duty concrete, such as C35.
