July 2, 2019

GMI announces completion of luxury waterfront development project.

Canal-side Burlington House scheme comprises 91 luxury waterfront apartments within the much-acclaimed Piccadilly Basin development in Manchester. GMI Construction Group, has confirmed the completion and handover of 91 luxury waterfront apartments delivered on time and on budget for Leeds based property investor and car park operator, Town Centre Securities PLC

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Ex-Gazeley logistics veteran joins Glencar.

Further expansion signalled with appointment of well-known name Pat McGillycuddy. Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the industrial, logistics and distribution sectors has today announced the appointment of Pat McGillycuddy as Chairman. Pat McGillycuddy, a well-known name in the UK/European logistics real estate industry joins at the start of

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Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

July 2, 2019

Gilbert-Ash Unveils Unique ‘As One’ Exhibition – Celebrating Collaboration in the Making of Landmark Buildings

Last week, leading UK construction, refurbishment and fit out contractor, Gilbert-Ash marked its recent growth by unveiling a collaborative As One exhibition at an event at The IET, London. Attended by over 100 high profile guests from the across the design and construction industry, the considered collection celebrates twenty three iconic projects. The exhibition has been designed to represent how Gilbert-Ash has grown significantly in this time as a result of its unique collaborative approach working with its team, partners and clients to create landmark buildings around the world. Selected and interpreted by Hugh Mulholland, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading visual art curators and currently Senior Curator of The MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) in Belfast, the imagery includes recent, high-profile projects.   These include the Cambridge Mosque, stand-out Royal College of Pathologists headquarters, the award-winning City of London Freemen’s School swimming pool and the stunning new build of the renowned Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Curator Hugh Mulholland commented: “As One” is a considered collection that brings together imagery from Gilbert-Ash’s most recent, highest profile projects.  In totality, the exhibition symbolises the company’s ‘as one’ approach. But take a closer look and you’ll discover that each photograph does too. Wood, glass, stone and the environment in which each building exists work together to create a unity much greater than the sum of the parts. Ray Hutchinson, Managing Director, Gilbert-Ash commented: “As we recognise the recent success of many projects and our continued growth as company, we felt it was the perfect time to step back and take a moment to understand why we have reached  this point; and this exhibition is the result  – a celebration of collaboration and our signature can-do style. “We have had the privilege of working with visionary clients, partners and suppliers, and we really do work as one to pursue excellence, delivering innovative, bespoke buildings all over the world. Gilbert-Ash is an employee owned company which certainly leads to a unique working culture. Our success is in no small part down to this environment and the hands-on attitude of our dedicated team – often going above and beyond to deliver stunning buildings while confidently facing and overcoming challenges that can often be encountered.” The venue selected for the unveiling of the ‘As One’ exhibition – the headquarters of the Institution of Engineering &Technology (IET) on Savoy Place – is also an award-winning Gilbert-Ash project preserving a heritage building while providing a contemporary home for the IET and its 150,000 members in 127 countries around the world and one of London’s most technologically advanced conferencing facilities. Aside from projects highlighted in the As One exhibition, Gilbert-Ash’s current work on prestigious Royal College of Music in London was represented this evening by a talented quartet which accompanied the unveiling. Gilbert-Ash projects have been shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Stirling Prize with its work on the Everyman Theatre recognised in the winning of the coveted award in 2014.  The contractor employs over 180 staff at offices in London and Belfast and is currently UK Contractor of the Year in the coveted Construction News Awards.   Gilbert-Ash’s latest financial results reveal significant year-on-year growth with an increase in overall turnover to £179.4m in 2018, up from £165.5m in the previous year.  The company also confirmed a more than three-fold increase in pre-tax profits to £7.6m in 2018, an increase from £2m in 2017.  Gilbert-Ash attributes its continued strong performance to its ‘As One’ approach and its unique working culture and family environment as an employee-owned company.   It also highlighted the completion this year of a broad portfolio of successful construction projects across sectors including arts and culture, workplace, hotels and leisure, science and technology, retail and residential.  Speaking tonight at the event, Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson also revealed plans to invest in new £5m headquarters in Belfast with work already underway on the prestigious new facilities close to its current offices in Boucher Road in the city. The As One Exhibition will be moving tomorrow to The MAC, an award-winning venue in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter and home to iconic exhibitions, theatre performances, and contemporary experimental works.  Employees, partners and industry stakeholders from across Northern Ireland will join Gilbert-Ash in the Belfast unveiling.

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GMI announces completion of luxury waterfront development project.

Canal-side Burlington House scheme comprises 91 luxury waterfront apartments within the much-acclaimed Piccadilly Basin development in Manchester. GMI Construction Group, has confirmed the completion and handover of 91 luxury waterfront apartments delivered on time and on budget for Leeds based property investor and car park operator, Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS). The canal-side Burlington House scheme, which was delivered in partnership with Highgrove Group, represents the first Private Rental Scheme (PRS) development to be undertaken by TCS and has been designed by internationally acclaimed Architects SimpsonHaugh. The development comprises 91 apartments of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms set over 11 floors, and boasts a flamboyant design sitting within the 13-acre award- winning Piccadilly Basin development in Manchester City Centre. Piccadilly Basin is one of TCS’s most significant development opportunities with a mix of residential, commercial and car parking with a total estimated GDV of over £300m. The delivery of Burlington House forms part of the wider regeneration aspirations for the strategic site, which include the redevelopment of existing and recently acquired office buildings and the next residential development, Eider House, which will be the second PRS scheme for TCS. Speaking about the project GMI Divisional Managing Director Marc Banks said: “The Burlington House development is the second major, high profile project that GMI has been trusted to deliver within the Piccadilly Basin regeneration project. We are proud to play such a key role in that renaissance and especially so when it is for one of GMI’s longest standing and most important customers – Town Centre Securities.” Edward Ziff, Chairman and Chief Executive of TCS, commented; “To be delivering our first ever PRS scheme represents an exciting time for TCS. Piccadilly Basin is a unique regeneration scheme with far-reaching development opportunities and is the natural home for a luxury apartment development of this nature. We will diversify our portfolio in response to market demand where we recognise opportunities and are anticipating strong interest in this new venture”. The project team on Burlington House alongside GMI included SimpsonHaugh, Civic Engineers, Max Fordham, Scott Ripley Associates and RLB. For further information visit http://burlingtonmcr.co.uk/

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Ex-Gazeley logistics veteran joins Glencar.

Further expansion signalled with appointment of well-known name Pat McGillycuddy. Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the industrial, logistics and distribution sectors has today announced the appointment of Pat McGillycuddy as Chairman. Pat McGillycuddy, a well-known name in the UK/European logistics real estate industry joins at the start of July following over 30 years at the helm of leading European Logistics developer Gazeley.  At Glencar, Pat will work together closely with co-founders Edward McGillycuddy and Chris Gleave to spearhead the company’s further expansion and reinforce the customer service ethos that was the basis of many successful programmatic partnerships in his previous roles. Speaking about his appointment, Pat McGillycuddy said: “Glencar has traded successfully for three years and is growing at a steady rate.  Eddie and Chris have an outstanding pedigree in the management and delivery of large-scale industrial developments throughout the past twelve years.   Over the past three years they have grown Glencar’s capability steadily on several industrial projects. We are very firmly committed to a strong customer service ethos as the basis for building strong partnerships with our customers and supply chains.  We believe that this enables better service and ensures the same consistent level of quality and service is delivered right across our operations.  I look forward to developing upon that further and supporting Glencar’s continuing expansion”. Glencar Managing Director, Eddie McGillycuddy also went on to say “From years of construction industry experience, we knew there was a better way to do things and that’s what we have set out to achieve with Glencar.  Our clients, partners and suppliers tell us they are feeling the benefits of our proactive and diligent approach and we will work hard to continue to build and improve on the excellent standards which we have already set ourselves.   We look forward to welcoming Pat into the business and benefitting from his years of knowledge and abundant experience.”

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GRAHAM teams up with SECTA to launch construction training hub at Port of Tilbury

GRAHAM is pleased to announce the official opening of a new construction training hub at its Tilbury2 site at the Port of Tilbury. The Thurrock Hub has been created in partnership with the South Essex Construction Training Academy (SECTA) for the CITB Construction Skills Fund project, led by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The official opening ceremony of the new hub was held at the Tilbury2 site on Tuesday 25th June. Representatives were in attendance from Port of Tilbury, Essex County Council, Thurrock and Tilbury Council, while GRAHAM also welcomed the Mayor of Thurrock, Terry Piccolo. Hyla Grimwade, SECTA Project Manager commented: “SECTA is pleased to be working in partnership with leading UK contractor GRAHAM. GRAHAM has kindly agreed to host the Thurrock hub for this CITB Construction Skills Fund project. The hub allows people to have first-hand experience of visiting a live construction site and will host training as part of the SECTA project. Clients using the hub have already felt the difference from a normal classroom compared to this hub as it allows them to relate their learning to a real-world experience.”  Tilbury2, situated on the north bank of the River Thames, is a nationally significant infrastructure project involving the delivery of a new multi-million pound port terminal. The site will host and facilitate training as part of SECTA, which has been developed to support 650 people from the south Essex region into the construction industry. Students at the Thurrock Hub will receive ongoing training on a live constitution site, with support from qualified construction professionals to provide an improved learning experience that brings the subject to life. The CITB Construction Skills Fund supports the development of onsite training hubs. It has been set up to help train people who are looking to make a career change into the construction industry as well as others not currently in employment. The fund’s objective is to increase the number of people trained in construction skills to create a workforce to meet the needs of the sector. Thomas Craven, GRAHAM’s Tilbury2 Contracts Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be playing host to this new construction training hub at Tilbury2 and look forward to working with the new trainees over the duration of the project. “At GRAHAM we understand the importance of skills development in our industry and the need to provide high quality training to fill the growing demand for workers in construction and bridge the employment skills gap. “By providing hands-on teaching and exposing trainees to this huge, live port construction site, we will offer the best environment possible for them to learn the trade and gain the skills needed to make them employment and site ready at the end of their training.” Peter Ward, Commercial Director, Port of Tilbury said: “It’s great to partner with SECTA and GRAHAM on this construction academy. Training and skills development is a key part of our business and it is only fitting that as part of the construction of our new port, Tilbury2, that this plays a major role in the project. The Construction Academy will ensure that people are skilled for not only the T2 project but for future work opportunities which help our local and wider economies. Tilbury2 is a significant project for our business, our customers and the local communities and we look forward to it being operational next year.” When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, the country’s biggest construction processing hub and will see the creation of a new significantly larger rail head which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m. GRAHAM is delivering both the Terrestrial and Marine packages of work and is currently underway with works including Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo), highway works, the relocation of the existing railhead, and a fixed structural steel bridge to the linkspan.   SECTA is supporting businesses and residents across south Essex, with hubs in Southend and Basildon as well as Thurrock.  For details about SECTA visit www.sectatraining.co.uk or call 01702 212856.

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Programme for the 19th International Water Mist Conference out now

This year’s International Water Mist Conference will take place in Berlin, Germany, on 23rd and 24th October. The venue will be the Ameron Hotel Abion Spreebogen Waterside.   As of today, the programme, which features a manifoldness of topics, is online. Part of the event, as has become kind of a tradition, will be a panel discussion entitled: “Grenfell, Notre Dame – How can Water Mist Systems prevent loss of lives, property and jobs?” Organizer of the event is as always the International Water Mist Association (IWMA). The first day of the conference will be all about systems in practice and will include the discussion. The second day of the conference will mainly be dedicated to research and testing. The flyer containing the agenda can be downloaded from the IWMA webpage and also from the conference webpage which is accessible directly via www.iwma.net. Please note that the early bird period will end on 15th July. The registration period will end on 18th October.

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