Construction work has officially begun on a new distribution centre based at Optimus Point in Leicestershire for laboratory and medical equipment supplier, Sarstedt Limited The facility was granted planning permission in the summer following the appointment of construction consultancy Gleeds by Wilson Bowden Developments. Gleeds is acting as the employer’s
Leeds College of Building is now offering the Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship, focusing specifically on the drylining pathway. This is a Level 2 qualification and typically takes two years to complete. Working in partnership with British Gypsum to deliver the course, it includes the supply of materials, training and keeping
The development of a £30 million phased project at Croesyceilliog School in Cwmbran, South Wales, has reached an important milestone. Contractor Kier Regional Building Wales has completed the first phase of the scheme, which saw the construction of a new 1,200 pupil school to replace the original building that dated
ISG is set to continue its successful working partnership with Manchester City Council after securing a further two projects. The firm has signed on to transform an outdated 1970s office block in Hulme into a modern working space for council staff. Another scheme will also see ISG improve a well-used
Construction work has officially begun on a new distribution centre based at Optimus Point in Leicestershire for laboratory and medical equipment supplier, Sarstedt Limited The facility was granted planning permission in the summer following the appointment of construction consultancy Gleeds by Wilson Bowden Developments. Gleeds is acting as the employer’s agent and project manager. The new distribution centre will be located on 5.3 acres of land at Plot 10 Optimus Point, Glenfield and requires the construction of a 61,640 square foot unit. It will include two-storey offices and core facilities. Other requirements of the site include associated external parking, a service yard, and landscaped areas. The facility is the latest addition to Optimus Point, a 65-acre development scheme that sits next to Junction 21a of the M1, featuring a range of local and national industrial warehouse operators. Construction is already underway and is expected to take 36-weeks, with an anticipated completion date of 1 May 2020. Cat Hartley, group manager for planning and economic development, Blaby District Council, said: “Sarstedt’s move to Optimus Point will deliver significant and permanent economic benefits to the District of Blaby. Up to 60 jobs will be retained locally.” Anthony Cork, director, Gleeds, commented: “There is no doubt that this new base will help Sarstedt improve its storage, logistics, and distribution with enhanced and modernised facilities, and it’s great to be starting on site. “Through our appointment as Employers Agent, we will look to use our significant skills in this sector to deliver a successful project for all parties.” Henry Henson, development manager at Wilson Bowden, added: “We are pleased that another local Leicestershire based company has decided to relocate to our Optimus Point development site, following in the footsteps of DPD, Boden, Everards, James Latham and Geary’s Bakeries. “These deals demonstrate that there has been extensive pent up demand by local occupiers, looking for high quality industrial/ warehouse accommodation within the local area and Optimus Point offers them this ideal opportunity.”
Leeds College of Building is now offering the Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship, focusing specifically on the drylining pathway. This is a Level 2 qualification and typically takes two years to complete. Working in partnership with British Gypsum to deliver the course, it includes the supply of materials, training and keeping apprentices up-to-date with product development. If you are interested, get in touch with the Apprenticeship Team on 0113 222 6041 or email wbl@lcb.ac.uk For full details click here. Key facts Where will the apprentice study? Leeds College of Building Funding band: £1400, non-levy employer contribution £700 Apprentices start: Sept 2020, however early demand could bring the first wave forward to February 2020. Apprenticeship Training Costs: If you are an apprenticeship levy-payer you could fund this course through your levy payments, and for non-levy payers you will be required to contribute 5% of the course cost. If you are a non-levy payer and have less than 50 employees and take on a 16-18 year old apprentice the course will be free. Regardless of whether you are a levy/non-levy paying company, you can claim a one-off incentive of £1,000 for taking on a 16-18 year old apprentice. The college will also support apprentices from out of the area by accommodating them free of charge in a city centre hotel whilst they are in college and also help with the travel costs. With around 60,000 Dryliners active in the UK, Drylining must, as a trade be one of the UK’s best kept secrets. Everybody knows what a plasterer or a carpenter is, but you often get blank looks when you talk about drylining. The fact is that drylining is now emerging as one of the key trades in construction. It is encouraging to see leading colleges like Leeds evidencing this by getting behind it. We now have a new Apprenticeship Standard, new providers and the new funding allows real flexibility about age of apprentices. We are also seeing significant increases in the CITB funding available for companies who take on apprentices – this is over and above the funding that you can get to cover the training. This is a huge opportunity to make 2020 the year of the apprentice, for the sector to embrace this standard as a catalyst for change, to revisit how we invest in training and work with colleges and providers to put drylining firmly on the careers map. Iain McIlwee, FIS chief executive
The development of a £30 million phased project at Croesyceilliog School in Cwmbran, South Wales, has reached an important milestone. Contractor Kier Regional Building Wales has completed the first phase of the scheme, which saw the construction of a new 1,200 pupil school to replace the original building that dated back to the 1950s. At three storeys high, the new building offers around 10,800m2 of teaching space creates an inspirational and collaborative environment for pupils which also includes a double-height assembly hall, dining area as well as a drama and learning resource centre. Other facilities include a two-story main hall and outdoor pitches and gym and activity studio. Pupils moved into the new facility earlier this month. Jason Taylor, Kier Operations Director, Wales said: “We have been working on the Croesyceiliog School project for the last 91 weeks and it is a great achievement to have handed this over three weeks early. ”Thank you and well done to all the team involved in this state-of-the-art school, it’s been a fantastic project to work on and the client is absolutely delighted with the end result. I’m really proud of how closely we have worked with the school and local community to leave a lasting legacy, including providing apprenticeships, hosting work experience opportunities and inviting school ambassadors on to site to see the school progressing first hand.” John Lewis, Group Leader Property Construction, Torfaen County Borough Council added: “The Kier team, from inception of the project, has worked in a fully collaborative manner with Torfaen’s in-house consultant team in order to produce a first-class facility for the pupils, staff and community of Torfaen. “There were many challenges throughout the first phase of the project, including constructing the new facility within a live school environment, and these were overcome by proactive, integrated, collaborative project management. All who worked on the project should be proud of their achievements.” With the new building now complete, work will move to demolish the old buildings and replace them with a new multi-use games area.
ISG is set to continue its successful working partnership with Manchester City Council after securing a further two projects. The firm has signed on to transform an outdated 1970s office block in Hulme into a modern working space for council staff. Another scheme will also see ISG improve a well-used public car park for customers of the Council. The £10.2 million transformation at Alexandra House on Southcombe Walk will see the complete strip out of the old office block creating new working areas, improving the energy efficiency, reducing the carbon footprint of the building and replacing the windows. The eight floors will boast open plan working spaces, breakout areas and two new lifts, plus a brand-new entrance on Moss Lane East with the project set to complete by December 2020. Repairs will then be delivered to the two-storey car park, to control the ingress of water, and the lift will be replaced to enable better access and use by council staff and visitors to the leisure centre situated above the car park. Improved lighting and security will also be provided. These works are the latest rocured through the North West Construction Hub’s medium value framework for Manchester City Council, a partnership that has seen ISG deliver projects across various sectors throughout the North West over the last 10 years. ISG Framework director Neil Walker said: “Our work with the North West Construction Hub and Manchester City Council has seen us deliver stand out, award winning projects and we’re delighted to now be on site at Alexandra House transforming the working space of some of Manchester City Council’s staff. By also improving the car park we’re able to have a wider impact in the ongoing regeneration of Hulme High Street. “Not only that but our commitment to making a real difference to those who live and work in the surrounding area is clear – we’re working with people at every step of the project to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have a say and that we’re sharing our expertise with people in the area through placements and job opportunities. We’re also supporting Manchester City Council in their work since announcing a climate emergency by continuing to improve the energy efficiency of the council estate and lowering their carbon footprint. All of this helps us leave a lasting legacy long after we’ve completed the project.” ISG secured the new contracts after success refurbishing Hulme District Office earlier this year and the library and leisure centre in 2018.
