Amid recent news that apprenticeship figures are still falling, the UK construction firm nmcn is driving demand for apprentices nationwide. More than 10% of employees at nmcn are currently participating in an apprenticeship, a figure that is expected to rise to 12% when the company’s graduate scheme is brought into
A range of timber materials has been donated by Södra Wood to support an award-winning timber workshop at London Metropolitan University. The annual award-winning workshop for the School of Architecture takes place in February each year, with Södra serving as a 2019 sponsor. “We’re really pleased to be able to
These days, people who don’t have a concrete real estate investing experience turn to rental properties to diversify investments and get good cash flow for the future. After all, a rental property can be one of the best investments you can make. If you handle it right, you can surely
Hale Construction, part of JG Hale Group, is celebrating having won Best Small New Housing Development award at the respected LABC Neath Port Talbot Building Excellence Awards 2019. The Neath-based company won the award for their development of seven properties in Waunsterw, Pontardawe, with a total value of £1.1 million.
National Apprenticeship Week runs from 4 to 8 March and this year the theme will be Blaze a trail – Fire It Up, showcasing how apprentices bring new energy and passion into any businesses. Yorkshire Housing will celebrate the success of their apprenticeship programme by showcasing apprenticeships as a pathway to a
Within the UK, the construction sector loses £400 million per year on average due to theft of site equipment and other crimes. According to research into construction site crime held by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), around 92% of site managers report facing issues with theft on a weekly,
Eco-friendly homes are all the rage right now, with many consumers attempting to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle long-term. Helping the planet is about more than just recycling and refusing to buy single-use plastics, and those taking it seriously have already started incorporating environmentally conscious practices into their home design
Amid recent news that apprenticeship figures are still falling, the UK construction firm nmcn is driving demand for apprentices nationwide. More than 10% of employees at nmcn are currently participating in an apprenticeship, a figure that is expected to rise to 12% when the company’s graduate scheme is brought into the apprenticeship levy. “We’re training tomorrow’s talent to be our future. Apprenticeships aren’t a tick box exercise, we truly believe they are creating a legacy for the business. Over the last five years more than 270 of our people have been enrolled in an apprenticeship scheme and in that time we have seen a noticeable shift in the attitudes towards apprentices within the business. There’s been a pull to push shift, previously, managers needed to be persuaded to take on apprentices, now those managers are driving the demand. They see the value and momentum that apprentices can bring,” commented Karen Morris, nmcn’s group HR director. The latest statistics from the government show apprenticeships falling 15% behind pre-levy figures. “The apprenticeship levy has enabled us to open up training opportunities across the business in areas that can directly impact on our business growth right now. So while we’re developing the talent of the future we’re also investing in the business today,” added Karen.
A range of timber materials has been donated by Södra Wood to support an award-winning timber workshop at London Metropolitan University. The annual award-winning workshop for the School of Architecture takes place in February each year, with Södra serving as a 2019 sponsor. “We’re really pleased to be able to help with this workshop. Timber is something we are passionate about – it is fast becoming the construction material of choice, enabling quick, versatile, efficient and sustainable construction. It’s brilliant to see the future generation of architects working with wood and getting first-hand experience of the many benefits that it has to offer the construction environment,” said Jeremy English, Sales Director at Södra Wood. As part of the workshop, second year undergraduate architecture students travel offsite to Mudchute Park and Farm, where they get to learn more about working with natural construction materials. “Thank you to Södra Wood for sponsoring our workshop this year, it is something the students really enjoy every year. It is a great way for the students to learn how to work with the materials and gain valuable skills needed for their future careers, and it also allows them to fully immerse themselves in working with natural materials. We are pleased to know that our materials this year have come from a really sustainable timber source,” commented George Fereday, Senior Lecturer at The Cass, London Metropolitan University.
These days, people who don’t have a concrete real estate investing experience turn to rental properties to diversify investments and get good cash flow for the future. After all, a rental property can be one of the best investments you can make. If you handle it right, you can surely earn more profit and allow yourself to have reserves when an emergency arises. If you’re looking to invest in rental property in San Diego, here are the essential tips to consider from the get-go: 1. Sit down and do some research Whether you’re buying rental properties or not, it’s important to do your own research before calculating how much returns you can make from your investment. Here’s how you can do your research: -Look into the neighborhoods where you can purchase properties and gather information as to how much the rent is. -Consider some factors such as the location, nightlife, and accessibility to restaurants, schools, hospitals, and many more that may affect your income. -Find out the usual rental fee in San Diego per night, week, month, and for long-term. -Educate yourself about San Diego’s mortgage rates and how these rates can significantly impact your real estate purchases. 2. Pay debts first In some cases, real estate investors carry debt as part of their investments. However, if you have outstanding loans, medical bills, or children who will go to college, investing in a rental property in San Diego may not be the right option. You should make sure that the cost of your debt is lesser than the return from your property. From there, it’s then necessary to pay down debt to avoid putting yourself in a situation where you don’t have money to make payments. 3. Look for the right rental properties When all your goals and finances are in order, it’s time to shop for rental properties. This is usually the most enjoyable part of investing in real estate. For instance, you don’t have to walk around San Diego and search for a property. Instead, you can check many websites that provide a virtual tour for all potential properties available in the area. These sites also provide better insights to help you decide what kind of property you’re eyeing to buy. Should you choose to invest in rental properties in San Diego, you can get information from a real estate directory to make sure your buying experience is worth it. 4. Prepare the down payment and beware of high-interest rates We know that investment properties typically require you to pay a large down payment, which means more stringent approval requirements to comply with. You need to set aside a higher percentage rate than the one you put down on the home you’re currently residing. On the other hand, investing in rental properties may also require you to borrow money from lending institutions. However, you should be aware that the cost of borrowing money entails higher interest rates than your usual mortgage interest rates. Keep in mind that you should have a low mortgage payment to ensure it’ll not consume your monthly profits. 5. Make negotiations on the property After searching for a rental property, you need to make an offer. At this point, you should start negotiating your offer to potential sellers. However, you should bear in mind that negotiating takes a lot of work and calculation to make sure you get the right numbers before you purchase. -During the negotiation, don’t forget to listen to what your seller may say as the information will be necessary along the way. -When making a counteroffer, you should consider factors such as the closing date, inspection contingency, the seller’s potential financial concessions, and many more. -If you find it difficult to negotiate, ask for the assistance of a real estate agent to help you win the negotiation. -By that time, hopefully, you and the seller have come into the same terms to get the property sold in your favor. 6. Rent out the property After you’ve got the property inspected and have the keys in your possession, you should begin renting out the property in San Diego to potential tenants. Below are ways to get some tenants for your rental property: -Advertise it by showing the house to those who are interested. -Pre-screen possible tenants by looking at their proof of income and some references. -Allow them to walk through the house so they’ll know if they really want it or not. -If they show interest, give out the forms and ask them to fill in some vital information, such as names, social security numbers, employee information, previous addresses, phone numbers, and many more. -Determine whether they can sustain the rental costs and fees of the property. -If they can, prepare the lease agreements and get the payments settled out. Conclusion As with rental property investment in San Diego, you should still keep your expectations realistic. If you pick the wrong property, the result can be catastrophic. Follow these tips to make sure you get the perfect property that will secure a good cash flow from start to finish. Once you master the right practices, you’ll be able to ensure a better future for you and your family.
Hale Construction, part of JG Hale Group, is celebrating having won Best Small New Housing Development award at the respected LABC Neath Port Talbot Building Excellence Awards 2019. The Neath-based company won the award for their development of seven properties in Waunsterw, Pontardawe, with a total value of £1.1 million. The LABC awards are the largest business to business awards within the building control sector. The recent ceremony at The Towers Hotel recognised achievements from the area of Neath Port Talbot ahead of the South Wales regional awards, which will be held on 12 April 2019 at the Vale Resort, Hensol. The winners of the regional awards are automatically shortlisted for the UK final in London later this year. Johnathan Hale, chairman of JG Hale Group – the umbrella company that Hale Construction and also Hale Homes is a part of – commented: “It is a great honour for Hale Construction to win the Best Small New Housing Development award. This award is a testament to how hard our teams work – across JG Hale Group, and more specifically in this case, Hale Construction. “I am extremely grateful to all of our employees for making this happen – as without them, we would not be able to deliver on this scale. I look forward to the year ahead for JG Hale Group– our goal is to continue growing and developing and keep doing what we do best.” The winners will now go on to be entered into the Welsh regional Local Authority Building Control (LABC) awards which will be held in the Spring.
National Apprenticeship Week runs from 4 to 8 March and this year the theme will be Blaze a trail – Fire It Up, showcasing how apprentices bring new energy and passion into any businesses. Yorkshire Housing will celebrate the success of their apprenticeship programme by showcasing apprenticeships as a pathway to a great career. A great example of the passion apprentices can bring to a business is Hannah Harrison who works the reception at Yorkshire Housing, she made a short film about her experiences for National Apprentice Week. Hannah started as an apprentice in 2016 with Yorkshire Housing. By her own admission was quite shy, so her team suggested that working on reception could boost her confidence and help with her personal development. With help and support Hannah started on reception and quickly began dealing with a wide range of people in person, which really helped her to develop her confidence. After Hannah’s apprenticeship ended, she got the receptionists job at Yorkshire Housing permanently. Hannah Harrison said: “I was really glad to start my apprenticeship at Yorkshire Housing, it really helped my personal development I love working with Yorkshire Housing, it’s such a family environment and I’d recommend anyone to get an apprenticeship with Yorkshire Housing.” As part of the National Apprentice Week Yorkshire Housing apprentices will be taking part in a wide range of activities. Our apprentices will be going back to their old schools to talk about their experiences and recruit potential apprentices of the future. Muhammad Uddin will also be representing Yorkshire Housing at Parliament at a specially organised National Apprentice event. Our apprentices will also be taking part at the Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair in the First Direct Arena on Monday 4 March. Since opening its doors to its first apprentice in 2007, Yorkshire Housing has seen over 100 apprentices working with us, with over 70 percent securing fulltime positions. This year, a variety of opportunities including construction-based roles in building services, gas and electric as well as office-based jobs, will be available. Apprentices can gain a fully funded nationally recognised qualification as well as real work experience in teams across Yorkshire. Senior people development coordinator Kiran Olak said: “Yorkshire Housing’s apprenticeship programme has seen apprentices develop, grow and progress within their chosen career, providing a pipeline of skills and talent to meet current and future business needs. As a top 100 apprenticeship employer our apprentices are proud to work for us and we’re passionate in supporting the success of our apprentices.” If you or someone you know is looking for an opportunity to shine, point them in the direction of Yorkshire Housing’s apprenticeship scheme where they can grow their skills, gain a professional qualification, earn above the national minimum wage and build a firm foundation for the start of a new and exciting career. Applications will be accepted between 18 March and 29 April. You can find out more on our apprenticeship pages.
Within the UK, the construction sector loses £400 million per year on average due to theft of site equipment and other crimes. According to research into construction site crime held by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), around 92% of site managers report facing issues with theft on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis. Theft within construction is, therefore, a continuing problem, and smart site managers should be trying their best to address the issues and put the correct preventative measures in place to protect high-value plant and equipment. More often than not, theft is an opportunistic crime, which is why it is frequently carried out by onsite staff. Here, Millennium Security discusses several ways in which employee theft on construction sites can be minimised. Check certifications thoroughly Certified staff should be the only people able to work on a construction site, both for health and safety and security purposes. Carrying out frequent, full background checks will help ensure that every member of staff, contractor and supplier entering the premises has the correct accreditations to do so. Issuing smart CSCS cards guarantees that access is granted only to certified employees, and is an industry-recognised certification scheme within the construction sector. For added security purposes, many site managers choose to hire manned guards to watch over the site 24/7. If doing so, it is important to ensure they are correctly certified by the industry-known Security Industry Authority (SIA), which means they have been through proper training and can guard a site to the necessary standard. Report crimes promptly If a theft has taken place, it must be reported to the authorities as soon as possible, since the likelihood of finding stolen goods is higher when reported quickly. Moreover, reporting a theft is usually an obligatory step in the insurance claims process. Mark high-value plant and equipment Unsurprisingly, the recovery stats for stolen equipment are particularly low, and this is especially true where equipment is not easily identifiable. Characteristic values, therefore, enable police to better identify stolen goods. Marking equipment, noting down serial numbers and creating an on-site inventory, are all sensible ways to help identify and account for valuable tools and machinery. Moreover, there is now a central database which is run by the Construction Equipment and Registration Scheme (CESAR) and encourages site managers to tag all equipment and add it to the database, allowing for easier recovery when goods are stolen. By having identifiable features on all high-value equipment, you may also dissuade light-fingered employees from attempting to steal goods, as they may fear being caught. Restrict and monitor access Monitoring who is physically entering a construction site at all hours of the day is important, as it safeguards against unauthorised people gaining access. Manual checks can be time consuming and are often inefficient, particularly on large sites with a significant number of people coming in and out. As such, many site owners have now started investing in modern access control systems, which ensure that only the people who have authority to enter a site can do so. These systems are very advanced and also log how long a member of staff has remained on site, as well as whether a person is using an expired or fake CSCS card to try to enter. Other security systems which can be used to monitor staff access are CCTV and wireless video detection, both of which help maximise security and can assist in identifying crimes rapidly.
Eco-friendly homes are all the rage right now, with many consumers attempting to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle long-term. Helping the planet is about more than just recycling and refusing to buy single-use plastics, and those taking it seriously have already started incorporating environmentally conscious practices into their home design and buying choices. Here, we discuss several ways in which to make a kitchen more eco-friendly. Responsible shopping habits Purchasing kitchenware and furniture in materials such as wood and stone can prove to be a far more eco-friendly alternative over plastic, and is actually just as robust and long-lasting. Natural materials make a home have a lovely, rustic feel and can work perfectly for flooring, kitchen countertops and furniture. When designing a new kitchen or renovating an existing one, it is important to keep sustainability in mind. Purchasing from a local retailer not only allows you to support the small high street stores, but also means you will be reducing your carbon footprint. There are plenty of independent UK and London kitchens specialists out there, many of which focus on maximising eco-friendliness. Durable furniture Kitting out the home certainly does not come cheap, and many of us will actively purchase low-priced furniture, knowing full well it is not likely to stand the test of time. Unfortunately, this is what is known as a “false economy”, and the cost spent replacing poor quality items throughout the years tends to offset the initial expenditure we could have used to purchase durable, high-quality pieces that last for many years, if not decades. Replacing furniture every few years is simply not sustainable or cost-effective, so be sure to think carefully about the materials, brand and quality you are choosing when buying furniture. Alternatively, there are plenty of second-hand auction sites and car boot sales in which people are selling their unwanted furniture for a small fee (and sometimes completely free!), many of which are still in excellent condition. This helps keep the pieces in rotation for as long as they are fit, preventing them from ending up in a landfill. Energy efficient appliances Appliances with energy efficiency built-in are becoming more and more prevalent, as savvy consumers seek to lower their energy bills and go greener at the same time. There are plenty of models on the market that meet this growing demand, such as cookers with low-heat settings, ECO kettles and energy efficient washing machines. Before making any purchase, simply take a look at the appliance’s energy star rating, which indicates how environmentally-friendly it is. The Energy Saving Trust notes that around £30 per year on average is wasted by households leaving their appliances on standby mode. As such, turning off appliances when not in use helps both the planet and your wallet! Changing our habits Making small, positive changes to the way we live can steadily impact the earth around us. Beyond buying choices, there are several things we can all do to make the home more eco-friendly: Bulk cook and plan ahead to save on food and packaging waste, as well as reducing carbon footprint from travelling to and from the supermarket via car. Use glass containers over plastic, which is much harder to recycle. Purchase from local, independent shops or food markets. Have a separate recycling bin and educate other people living with you on which materials belong in which bins.
