Bureau Veritas has launched Circular+, a new approach to sustainability, built on a comprehensive suite of services to help companies transition to a circular business model. The launch comes at a time where sustainability is at a turning point, with governments and businesses around the world seeking ways to meet
Housing developer Story Homes is delighted to announce that it has been recognised by the prestigious UK Property Awards, winning three accolades for ‘Best Residential Development’. Aspen Grange in Carlisle, Chancel Place in Longhoughton and Willows Edge in Wrea Green have all beaten strong competition to win an award for
The second stage of demolition works has commenced at HS2’s Euston station site in London. The HS2 project will see capacity doubled at Euston station with eleven new high speed platforms. New images released of the site show progress on the two 1970s towers at the front of the station.
Kite Packaging’s Midlands based Regional Distribution Centre has chosen Macmillan Cancer Support as their nominated charity for the year, a charity that provides an incredible support service for all those with a cancer diagnosis. Managing Partner for Kite’s Midlands RDC, Justin Filby, visited Macmillan Cancer Support team last month
UK Plumbing Industry Background In the UK, research has suggested that the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning installation industry generates approximately £16 billion in revenue and employs 149,098 individuals among 36,800 businesses. This year the industry is said to grow at a compound annual rate of 0.8%. It’s safe to
Conservatory and Glass Industry The conservatory and glass industry is on the rise in the UK. Many consumers opt for conservatories in their homes because It gives them additional space, and it helps them with personalising their homes. Their functionality is vast as they are used as a home office,
Bureau Veritas has launched Circular+, a new approach to sustainability, built on a comprehensive suite of services to help companies transition to a circular business model. The launch comes at a time where sustainability is at a turning point, with governments and businesses around the world seeking ways to meet commitments to preserve scarce resources, combat climate change, and reduce pollution. Earlier this year, the UK government continued to lead the march on climate change, becoming the first major economy to set out new legislation designed to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. Meanwhile, for years, businesses have focused on managing environmental impacts: today, they are looking to go beyond that to meet future regulatory requirements and exceed customer expectations. For many, this means evolving towards a circular economy model – a regenerative business model in which resources are continuously reused and recycled. “Public awareness of the threats posed by climate change has grown dramatically in recent years, and governments and companies are increasingly focusing on reducing energy use, resource consumption and waste generation along the product or service life-cycle”, said Sébastien Fox, Vice-President Certification at Bureau Veritas. Many are turning towards a more circular business model to understand and optimise their use of energy, as well as natural resources such as wood, metals and minerals. However, the circular economy is disruptive: it requires businesses to rethink their existing linear business models which generate waste at each stage of production and consumption, and demands new skills for product and process design. It can be challenging to adopt, particularly for large companies in traditional industries. As a global leader in environmental and sustainability certification, Bureau Veritas is now supporting organisations of all sizes with its suite of sustainability advisory, training, auditing and certification services. Ours is a powerful, customisable, standards-based approach that works for all businesses and achieves buy-in from employees and clients alike. Bureau Veritas’ Circular+ services provide organisations worldwide with a practical framework to rethink their processes step-by-step. “Circular+ is a holistic approach that offers process audit and management system services to help organisations manage both their environmental and social impacts,” explained Sébastien Fox. “A range of advisory, training, independent verification and certification products enable businesses to tackle both individual processes and entire business models at a customised speed, revealing supply chain issues and improving transparency. Audits provide a way to identify issues, report on the effectiveness of controls, and track the achievement of objectives over time.” The ISO 14001:2015 standard for environmental management systems is central to the Circular+ approach; it encourages a lifecycle view of products and services, and provides a framework for addressing impacts. Bureau Veritas is also supporting clients on energy management via training, audits and certification to ISO 50001. Risks relating to raw materials are addressed through dedicated schemes, for example FSC and PEFC for wood-based products, or ASI for aluminium. Companies today also face a number of social concerns: two of the most important being health and safety and ensuring the use of ethical labour practices throughout the supply chain. To accompany clients in these areas, Bureau Veritas offers accredited certification the new ISO 45001:2018 standard for health and safety management, can conduct ethical trade audits (SMETA), and delivers social accountability (SA8000®) certification. For more information on Circular+, to download a copy of the whitepaper, please click here: https://www.bureauveritas.co.uk/sustainability-services/circular-economy Alternatively, please call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
Housing developer Story Homes is delighted to announce that it has been recognised by the prestigious UK Property Awards, winning three accolades for ‘Best Residential Development’. Aspen Grange in Carlisle, Chancel Place in Longhoughton and Willows Edge in Wrea Green have all beaten strong competition to win an award for the Best Residential Development in the Cumbria, Northumberland and Lancashire categories, respectively. Now in its 26th year, the UK Property Awards are the most demanding and rigorous in the property sector. The awards are judged by an independent panel of over 80 industry experts, focussing on design, quality, service, innovation, originality and commitment to sustainability. The level of the awards that Story Homes has won will be revealed at the awards ceremony which will take place on 25 October 2019 at The Royal Lancaster hotel, London. The highest-scoring winners from each region will be entered into the overall International Awards, which ultimately determine the world’s finest property companies. Colin Wood, Chief Operating Officer at Story Homes said: “We are very proud that three of our developments have won UK Property Awards – it is fantastic to be recognised by the industry for our hard work. We take great pride in achieving the highest standards, from the overall design of a development through to the individual finishing on each property, and these wins really demonstrate the care and attention to detail that goes into the homes that we build.” Founded in 1987 by current CEO Fred Story, Story Homes is a housing developer building more than 900 new homes in 2019/20 across Cumbria, North West and North East England and Southern Scotland. The housebuilder’s mission is to design and build quality homes that people aspire to live in. As a family-owned business, Story Homes goes to great lengths to craft houses that are not only strong in build, but in character too. It is proud to challenge the conventions of mass produced new-builds and stand apart from the crowd. For more information please contact Katie Brown, Communications Partner on 01228 891528 or email katie.brown@storyhomes.co.uk.
The second stage of demolition works has commenced at HS2’s Euston station site in London. The HS2 project will see capacity doubled at Euston station with eleven new high speed platforms. New images released of the site show progress on the two 1970s towers at the front of the station. Four floors have already been removed from the office blocks. HS2’s early works contractor, a Costain and Skanska joint venture (CSjv), working with demolition sub-contractor McGee have wrapped the towers in an acoustic wrap designed to limit dust and noise. They have also stripped out the interiors leaving just the shell of the buildings. This progress has been reached over the last seven months. “HS2 has the potential to transform Euston, more than doubling the number of seats out of the station during peak hours, freeing up more space for commuter services and improving links to the London Underground. The complex demolition of these two towers will be a turning point for Euston – the first major change to the skyline for almost fifty years,” said Euston Programme Director Rob Carr. This next stage sees the team carefully lifting excavators equipped with pneumatic breakers and hydraulic munchers to the top of the towers, where, 60m up in the air, they have begun gradually breaking up the structure of the building. Material from the building is then lowered by crane, or dropped down the former lift shafts in the centre of the building to limit disturbance caused by dust and noise. The work has been made more complex by the discovery of a huge 2.8m thick heavily reinforced concrete pedestal supporting the weight of One Euston Square. Over the next year, the two towers are set to be reduced to just over 28,000 tonnes of crushed concrete, with the material stored on site ready to be reused during the construction of HS2’s London terminus. In total, 98% of the structure is expected to recycled. The 40m and 60m towers are expected to get down to first floor level by January 2020.
Kite Packaging’s Midlands based Regional Distribution Centre has chosen Macmillan Cancer Support as their nominated charity for the year, a charity that provides an incredible support service for all those with a cancer diagnosis. Managing Partner for Kite’s Midlands RDC, Justin Filby, visited Macmillan Cancer Support team last month with a Kite colleague, where they met with Pauline Lewis a Senior Fundraiser for the charity, The Kite team were proud to pledge their support and hand over a cheque for £1,000. The donation will help provide the funding for a Macmillan nurse for almost one week in support of care for people living with cancer, as well as ensuring their families receive essential, medical, practical and emotional support. A member of Kite’s Midlands team has experienced the incredible support from Macmillan first hand with a loved one being given emotional and practical support throughout a very difficult time. Donating to Macmillan Cancer Support is a very fitting cause for Kite Midlands team. If you would like to make a donation towards Macmillan Cancer Support or to find out more about the charity, visit https://www.macmillan.org.uk/
UK Plumbing Industry Background In the UK, research has suggested that the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning installation industry generates approximately £16 billion in revenue and employs 149,098 individuals among 36,800 businesses. This year the industry is said to grow at a compound annual rate of 0.8%. It’s safe to say that this multibillion-pound sector is a big deal. The APHC and BREC Partnership In 2018, it was reported that the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) and British Plumbing Employers Council (BPEC) would join forces to establish a partnership. The purpose of this merger involves developing qualifications, courses, learning materials, and overall raising the standards across the industry. Both the APHC and BPEC are leading entities in the expanding plumber industry, so one year on we’re looking at what innovations this parthership has inspired. Once partnered, one of the first action items both the now joint companies implemented was training programs which included one-day courses on Water Regulations, Legionella Cold Water Risk Assessment & Disinfection, Sanitary & Above Ground Drainage and Wet Room Design & Installation. These subjects are taught by experienced trainers who are considered experts in their field. It seems the partnership has improved the way tuitors are selected for the programs. The reasoning behind this training stems from the fact that the corporate leadership of this collaboration recognizes that the plumbing and heating industry is continually evolving and to keep up one has to be consistently investing. Specifically, investing in the knowledge and abilities of the employees associated with the company. Improvement to teaching standards has benefited both niche courses such as Unvented Cylinder Installation basics and more general training programs like Gas Appliances basics which is an obvious step in the right direction for those who are looking to achieve their Gas Safe card. Furthermore, in addition to technical skills, the executives have made it a point to personally and on a company-wide perspective, keep up with new technology and legislation. This updated pervasive technique of instructing and informing plumbers is set to revolutionize the industry in different ways. To provide incentive, the APHC has offered 100 rewards aimed at companies that apply for and complete the course. Plumbers are no longer discrete entities that are immune to the growing pace of the world. Now, they are integrated service workers that must be consciously aware of their intercontinental surroundings. How does the APHC and BREC partnership change the training scene of the plumbing industry in the UK The partnership between APHC and BREC is set to positively impact the training scene of the plumbing industry. Together they set to increase industry standards primarily through development qualifications. They want to start from the ground up, slowly building the confidence, expertise, and intellectual stamina of plumbers destined to serve the next generation. In support of their initial mission, the integrated companies established a week called the “Quality Plumber Week” to discuss the pros and cons of introducing a single mandatory plumbing license. The idea that one must have a license to practice is a hot topic amongst industry leaders, and executives understand that. Both companies understand, but they also know that to progress in a forward direction, you must lead the way by first opening a conversation. Conversations allow ideas to flow and dialogue to be expressed between persons who have different perspectives in the future. While the “Quality Plumber Week” is a novice idea that has recently been executed, its importance still reigns as if it was already a trademark event. Training Scene of the Future The future of plumbing has many different facets. On one end, it is more involved with plumbers having to obtain a license, and large companies streamlining the training of these individuals. On the other hand, the future of training also pays homage to the change in times. With information as abundant as ever, plumbers are not exempt from having both casual and textual knowledge. The training offered, since the merger of the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors and British Plumbing Employers Council, has catalyzed change in this concrete facility motivated industry.
Conservatory and Glass Industry The conservatory and glass industry is on the rise in the UK. Many consumers opt for conservatories in their homes because It gives them additional space, and it helps them with personalising their homes. Their functionality is vast as they are used as a home office, entertaining area and even a greenhouse. Research has indicated that conservatories can be viewed as a cost-effective method of cultivating new space for your friends and family as well as for increasing the value of your property. Despite the uncertainties that the current political situation adds to the mix, construction is not struggling as much as we expected the ongoing demand for construction of personal homes and business continuously growing, the glazing industry has skyrocketed to unforeseen levels. To provide context, “glaziers” are often requested to both add artistic flair and constructional components to a variety of construction projects. Both the conservatory and glass industry are on a steady uphill path in the UK, and by the looks of it, their progress doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The Expanding Conservatory and Glass industry When building a conservatory, several factors from foundations, cost, and permits have to come in place. Typically, if an individual or business wants to invest in a conservatory, at least a few thousand pounds must be set aside. The pricing scale relating to the conservatory industry is dependent on several factors. Some of these factors include building foundations, materials used in construction, height and width, and unique or seasonal offers. In general conservatories prices may start from around £4,000 to £6,500 for a “small standard” room up to £25,000 to £50,000 (or more) for rooms such as bespoke orangeries. Examples of different types of conservatories include standard conservatories, Victorian conservatories, P, T, L shaped conservatories, and orangery rooms. Consumers have many options to choose from. Partly, the progress in the UK conservatory industry is driven by innovation. More people are gaining confidence in installing conservatories thanks to improvements in conservatory roofing and temperature regulation. New materials are also being introduced. Instead of just the traditional wooden and plastic structures, metal frame conservatories are coming into fashion. Nevertheless, before diving into the conservatory world, it is essential to only deal with accredited or adequately certified installers. One of the most notable companies in the conservatory industry is the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF). Recently, it has been reported that GGF gained approximately 67 new members during 2018 and its members had achieved a record number of assignments with over 200,000 UK homeowners. Specifically, as it relates to conservatories, research has implied that the number of units installed during 2018 has jumped by 9% – the highest level since 2009. Overall, in-depth investigation has suggested that the market has seen £1.4 billion in revenue and now is responsible for the employment of 9,616 individuals. In tandem with the growing conservatory industry, the glass industry has too seen a steady growth. GGF not only manages certifications relating to conservatories but it also oversees ragulations relating to the production and installation of glazing products. Within the glazing industry, contractors are typically expected to install glass and glass products in locations ranging from new buildings, commercial, and public sector markets. With the ever-growing architectural demands of today’s society, the glazier industry is more relevant than ever before. Given that industry performance is procyclical, or related to economic fluctuations, over the next five years it is expected to grow at a compound rate of 8%. What’s Next for the Conservatory and Glass Industry? As the conservatory and glass industry begin to reach new heights, new threats and breaks must be recognized. Residential construction is expected to request new glazing for houses, but opportunities in office development have been stalled due to the situation with Brexit. Furthermore, the growing environmental concerns of consumers will demand more eco-friendly installations that companies must be prepared to meet. Nevertheless, despite these heightened concerns and challenges, the expansion of the industry must be celebrated. An expanding industry means new jobs, new jobs means economic growth, and economic growth leads to prosperity for everyone involved.
