A new district energy centre has been opened in Newcastle as part of a commitment to tackle climate change in the area by saving more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon over 40 years. The energy centre is being officially launched by ENGIE UK, in partnership with Newcastle City Council. The
Turner & Townsend has been appointed by Bradford Live to project manage the redevelopment of the city’s historic former Odeon building. The scheme which will reinstate the main auditorium, creating the biggest ‘mid-sized’ performance area in the country, will be seen through to completion by the global professional services consultancy.
Estate and Letting Agents in the UK are being urged to check that they are signed up with an approved redress scheme that covers the full remit of their work. The warning follows a recent tribunal that penalised a business that was signed up to a redress scheme for its
A deal has been agreed to bring forward the development of a new 331-room hotel in Leeds. Property management business Marrico has appointed GMI Construction Group to deliver the 14-storey project within the high profile Sovereign Square scheme. Situated on the last remaining plot at Sovereign Square, the hotel will
Leading energy and services specialist, ENGIE, is playing a key role in developing the new £475 million Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick in the West Midlands. Work will now re-commence following two years of delays due to the collapse of Carillion, with the project now set to be completed by
Society has come a long way in the last 35 years, especially when it comes to diversity and equality. In a study released by Sky News in 2019, back in 1984, 42 per cent of people felt men should be the breadwinner of a family. The same respondents agreed that
A new district energy centre has been opened in Newcastle as part of a commitment to tackle climate change in the area by saving more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon over 40 years. The energy centre is being officially launched by ENGIE UK, in partnership with Newcastle City Council. The official launch event, which took place on Wednesday, January 15, saw the district energy centre – which forms part of a wider £20m low carbon scheme within the City – further boosting Newcastle’s commitment to tackling climate change by saving more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon over 40 years. The facility on the flagship Newcastle Helix site, will use a 5km network of underground pipes to supply heating and cooling to 10 buildings and up to 450 homes on site. Using heat and power created through the use of low carbon and cost-effective energy solutions, including natural gas fired CHP (Combined Heat and Power), the centre also generates chilled water and cooling facilities and electricity to neighbouring buildings. It’s hoped the new centre will be the first of many innovative energy projects resulting from the Regenerate Newcastle Partnership; a joint venture between ENGIE and Newcastle City Council, to develop and operate district energy schemes within the City over a 40-year term. Nicola Lovett, Chief Executive of ENGIE UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be marking the completion of the new Helix Energy Centre, the first of what we hope will be many innovative low carbon energy projects delivered by our long-term partnership with Newcastle City Council. “With local authorities playing an increasingly key role in the drive to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, ENGIE is committed to using its expertise to support Newcastle with its climate goals and on its journey to becoming a zero carbon city by 2030.” The centre has been made possible with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Government’s Local Growth Deal through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership. Leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Nick Forbes, said: “Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet so it’s incumbent on all of us to do what we can to reduce our carbon emissions. “Last year we declared a climate change emergency and since then have set up a Climate Change Convention and are putting in place a range of measures to make the city carbon zero by 2030. “The opening of the District Energy Centre is a significant boost to our climate change credentials and will provide affordable and sustainable heating to residents and cutting-edge businesses which are bringing high quality jobs to the city,” added Cllr Forbes, who also chairs the council’s Climate Change Committee. Helix District Energy Centre is the first innovative scheme in a venture to develop District Energy in the Newcastle city boundaries as part of the Regenerate Newcastle Partnership.
Turner & Townsend has been appointed by Bradford Live to project manage the redevelopment of the city’s historic former Odeon building. The scheme which will reinstate the main auditorium, creating the biggest ‘mid-sized’ performance area in the country, will be seen through to completion by the global professional services consultancy. The appointment compliments Turner & Townsend’s existing cost management role on the project. The company will provide project management services to Bradford Live from its head office in Horsforth in Yorkshire. Bradford Live supports the rebirth of the city and the former Odeon building is a central component of this. With a seated capacity of 3,500 and a standing capacity of 4,000, it is expected to attract national and international performers. The venue’s flexibility will also allow sporting events, corporate product launches exhibitions and conferences. It will be run by NEC when it opens in autumn 2021. About Turner & Townsend Turner & Townsend is an independent professional services company specialising in programme management, project management, cost and commercial management and advisory across the real estate, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. With 110 offices in 45 countries, we draw on our extensive global and industry experience to manage risk while maximising value and performance during the construction and operation of our clients’ assets. www.turnerandtownsend.com
Estate and Letting Agents in the UK are being urged to check that they are signed up with an approved redress scheme that covers the full remit of their work. The warning follows a recent tribunal that penalised a business that was signed up to a redress scheme for its letting agency work but not for its property management work. In one of the first decisions of its kind, the Upper Tribunal* upheld a fine of £3000 against the business for its failure to belong to an approved redress scheme for property management. Its membership of the Property Ombudsman Scheme covered it for residential sales and lettings, commercial sales and lettings and some property management, but not for residential leasehold management. The decision has prompted National Trading Standards to issue guidance to Estate and Letting Agents across the country, focusing on agents ensuring their redress scheme covers all areas of their work, whether it’s sales, lettings or property management work. James Munro, Head of National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team, said: “We’re urging all estate and letting agents to double-check their redress scheme to ensure it covers the full breadth of their work. If you’re already signed up to a redress scheme, you may think your business is covered, but you should check that this covers the full breadth of your company’s activities. The recent tribunal decision shows businesses that are signed up to redress schemes for one area of their work but not for others may face hefty penalties in the courts.” Failure to be a member of a redress scheme, when legally required to do so, could result in a penalty notice being issued against the business. The two approved redress schemes are: Property Redress Scheme www.theprs.co.uk The Property Ombudsman www.tpos.co.uk Sean Hooker, Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme, said: “Whilst PRS membership covers most agents for all the work they do, they must tell us from the outset the areas they undertake work in so we can record this under their membership. Agents must also ensure that all their branches and offices are registered separately and the appropriate fee paid. If you are in any doubt whether you are fully compliant please contact us immediately” Katrine Sporle, Property Ombudsman, said: “TPO’s online membership and website provides detailed information about the categories of work TPO provides redress for, the options available, and clarity around the need to be registered for each category. Our membership team is on hand to give support and advice for new and existing members alike, so do please contact us if there is anything you are unsure about or need guidance on.” GUIDANCE FOR ESTATE AND LETTING AGENTS Make sure that your business is signed up with an approved redress scheme for the correct line of work (Sales, Lettings or Property Management Work). Review your existing terms of agreement/membership to ensure your redress scheme covers the full activities of the business. Check the terms of agreement/membership to confirm if your business is required to pay membership for individual branches. As of 1st April 2019, Letting and Property Management Agents in the private rented sector are required to belong to a Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme if holding client money. If you’re an Agent who is required to belong to a CMP scheme, you should be displaying a certificate of your membership at your premises and online. CMP schemes should all be providing certificates. If you’re having difficulty in obtaining a certificate, please contact CMPschemes@communities.gov.uk
A deal has been agreed to bring forward the development of a new 331-room hotel in Leeds. Property management business Marrico has appointed GMI Construction Group to deliver the 14-storey project within the high profile Sovereign Square scheme. Situated on the last remaining plot at Sovereign Square, the hotel will offer short and long stay accommodation catering for both business and leisure guests as well as an on-site gym, meeting facilities, bar, restaurant and coffee shop fronting the square. It has been designed by Leeds-based architectural practice DLA Design, with the façade taking inspiration from the surrounding architecture and Leeds merchandising and textile history. The project will support around 190 construction jobs over the life of the project with the hotel creating 80 full-time jobs upon completion. Discussing more about the project, GMI Divisional Managing Director Lee Powell said: “Sovereign Square is one of the most sought-after destinations within Leeds and an extremely high-profile development. GMI are delighted to have been appointed by Marrico to deliver the final phase of this development and bring forward another high-quality hotel development. “This project serves as the 12th hotel project that GMI has been entrusted to deliver including 5 in the past 3 years and testament to the strength of our credentials in this growing sector.” Mark Barnes, partner at Marrico, added: “We are pleased to be able to share plans for a new hotel within the final remaining development site at Sovereign Square. The site is superbly located for hotel use from both business and visitors to the city being adjacent to the station, business core and the vibrant retail and leisure offer Leeds provides.”
Leading energy and services specialist, ENGIE, is playing a key role in developing the new £475 million Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick in the West Midlands. Work will now re-commence following two years of delays due to the collapse of Carillion, with the project now set to be completed by Balfour Beatty. Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which will run Midland Met, said that securing the services of ENGIE, which aims to embrace a lower carbon and more efficient way of working, was a big step towards opening the hospital. Mark Harris, divisional managing director for ENGIE UK & Ireland, said: “We are very pleased to be working alongside the trust to bring their new flagship site online over the next two years, before becoming a strategic partner at the hospital. “ENGIE has long-term experience in successfully providing facilities management services to a wide range of healthcare establishments across the UK, including primary care facilities and major acute hospitals. We look forward to working closely with the trust and serving the local community.” Trust chairman Richard Samuda said: “This is a key long-term relationship for us, with a shared commitment to local procurement, local employment and the living wage.” Trust chief executive Toby Lewis said: “ENGIE is a major energy provider with a focus on sustainability. We know that our future will move towards a zero carbon position and we want to be at the forefront of that movement. “ENGIE provide facility management services in over 30 hospitals across the NHS and we look forward to working successfully together.”
Society has come a long way in the last 35 years, especially when it comes to diversity and equality. In a study released by Sky News in 2019, back in 1984, 42 per cent of people felt men should be the breadwinner of a family. The same respondents agreed that women ought to take the role of homemaker. But, just 35 years later, only eight per cent of people believed that men should be breadwinners and women should be homemakers. But gender is only a small part of equality and diversity. Everything from age to race, religion to disability can factor into this topic. This is particularly relevant in terms of the workplace, as no one should be left out of a workplace. Luckily, we’re seeing some fantastic stories coming from trade jobs lately, showcasing not only diversity at work, but success from it. Managing quarries at 22 The BBC reported on the success of Emily Burridge in 2019. Burridge had entered into the world of construction via an apprenticeship scheme. But this isn’t just an example of a woman getting her foot in the door to a stereotypically male-orientated industry. Burridge hasn’t just gotten into the sector — she’s excelled, making her a brilliant example of why the industry must recognise the importance of equality and diversity. Her success is certainly inspiring. At 22 years old, Burridge is a technical production manager, having worked on 25 quarries. Not only is she representing the women in a male-dominated sector, she’s also championing the case for age equality and diversity too. Though she is only in her early twenties, Burridge replaced a man who was of retirement age. Even though her staff are mostly older men, Burridge has had no problem in integrating with and leading her staff. 2019’s Apprentice of the Year In the latter half of 2019, On The Tools awarded the prestigious “UK’s Best Apprentice” award to Todd Scanlon. Thirty-year-old Scanlon has Down’s Syndrome, but this has proven to be no obstacle for him on his journey to forge a career. Scanlon has always wanted to work in scaffolding, and after talking to a local company and showing his determination, Scanlon has not only become a permanent worker on their team but has been voted the UK’s best apprentice 2019. Scanlon is a valued member of the team, according to his boss. He’s hard-working, enthusiastic, polite, and the customers love him. Taking Scanlon on as a member of the team wasn’t any cause for concern for Coles Scaffolding, and the apprentice has more than proven his skill and willingness to learn over and over again. What more could an employer ask for from his workforce? “I think it’s mainly because it is thought people with a disability shouldn’t be in our industry,” Martyn Coles, Scanlon’s employer, said of the win. “He’s just shown that you can do it with the right guidance. He’s just a likeable guy.” An industry improvement Going into 2020, more and more diversity is expected in trade roles. And this, says Richard Walker from rubbish removal experts Skip Hire, is exactly what these industries need: “For too many years the industry has suffered with a negative perception and reputation creating a stigma that has acted as a barrier to entry to a more diverse talent pool of workers. As innovation and technology play its part in modernising ways of working in the sector, together with schemes such as apprenticeships, we’re not only seeing a more diverse workplace, but a more talented, skilled, and varied workforce.” The stories above are just a brief snapshot, of course. No doubt we’ll see even more throughout 2020! Sources:
