GLP, investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces that it has leased a 90,000 SQ FT unit at its G-Park Northampton site. The 90,000 SQ FT warehouse has been let to SF Express, a global customer of GLP. The leasing of Unit 2 marks SF Express’
Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been appointed to take over the management of Metis Apartments in Scotland Street, Sheffield. The block of 122 apartments and five commercial units contains ACM (Aluminium Composite Material) cladding similar to the Grenfell Tower, which is due to be replaced under the Government
With plaster being all around us, this groundbreaking mixture of cement, gypsum, sand, and water is massively used for building, construction, art, and even medicine. As there are numerous different types of plaster each of them with a different set of applications and mixing techniques, being able to recognize which
Assisting with a multitude of developmental aspects both professionally and personally, leadership coaching is designed to encourage employees to transform themselves into being the best they can possibly be. It also assists management teams and higher level executives in seeing which aspects of the business an employee really excels in
GLP, investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces that it has leased a 90,000 SQ FT unit at its G-Park Northampton site. The 90,000 SQ FT warehouse has been let to SF Express, a global customer of GLP. The leasing of Unit 2 marks SF Express’ first UK Distribution Centre and will form part of its expanding Supply Chain overseas strategy. GLP has delivered over 5.4 million SQ FT of logistics space for SF Express in China, making them one of GLP’s largest customers in China. G-Park Northampton is in a prime location benefiting from its proximity to the M1 and M40 and is within easy reach of the M6/A14. This puts 90% of the population of England and Wales within a four-hour HGV drive time. G-Park Northampton is located within Moulton Park and comprises three units and one build-to-suit logistics warehouse from 50,000 to 155,000 SQ FT. Grade ‘A’ rated, the highly specified buildings have achieved BREEAM scoring Very Good and are suitable for a range of occupiers including last mile logistics, 3PLs, retail/FMCG and manufacturers. Moulton Park is one of the most successful industrial estates in Northamptonshire and is already home to a wide range of regional and national businesses. Occupiers continue to be attracted by the areas’ exceptional transport links, access to national markets and suitably skilled workforce. Simon Truss, General Manager for Western Europe at SF Express, said: “We are very excited to open 90,000 SQFT of warehousing capacity in Northampton. Following an extensive review we selected Moulton Park because of its optimal location and build quality. The facility will focus on National Distribution for our high value products, and as such will be fitted out to a very high standard.” Joe Garwood, Development Director at GLP Europe, said: “As a long-standing global customer of GLP, we are thrilled to expand our relationship with SF Express and support their expansion into the UK. We look forward to continued collaboration in the UK and beyond”.
Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been appointed to take over the management of Metis Apartments in Scotland Street, Sheffield. The block of 122 apartments and five commercial units contains ACM (Aluminium Composite Material) cladding similar to the Grenfell Tower, which is due to be replaced under the Government funding. Rendall & Rittner was selected by the First Tier Tribunal to oversee the reinstatement work and the ongoing management of the building because of the company’s expertise, experience and scale that will enable it to deal with the cladding issues at the property. Rendall & Rittner was instrumental in bringing together the group of property managers, building owners and professional bodies that appealed to the government to step up, take action and introduce the Building Safety Fund. Matt Kirk, Northern Divisional Director at Rendall & Rittner comments: “We are delighted to be appointed to manage the recladding of Metis Apartments and work closely with its residents to make their homes safe for the future. We recognise that by appointing us, the First Tier Tribunal is placing responsibility on us to carry out the works promptly and professionally. It will be a huge relief for everyone that lives in the building when this issue is resolved.” “As a business we wholeheartedly welcome the Government’s Building Safety Fund and will be actively pursuing funding on behalf of residents and leaseholders at buildings that we manage that meet the criteria.” Rendall & Rittner is one of the UK’s largest residential property managers with a portfolio of over 70,000 units under management. Founded 30 years ago, the business manages some of the country’s largest and most prominent residential developments, with seven offices across England including its northern division in Manchester. For further information on Rendall & Rittner please visit www.rendallandrittner.co.uk.
With plaster being all around us, this groundbreaking mixture of cement, gypsum, sand, and water is massively used for building, construction, art, and even medicine. As there are numerous different types of plaster each of them with a different set of applications and mixing techniques, being able to recognize which type you need for your home project and learning how to plaster a wall can be considered an advanced do-it-yourself project. Photo by La Miko from Pexels Still, even if most people prefer to leave it to the experts if you are handy when it comes to reasonable DIY home tasks and understand how to work in a slow, systematic and neat fashion, you are at the right place. This step by step guide to plastering will take you through everything you need to know, and hopefully, the finished plastered wall will look as if an expert completed it. First things first, you need to obtain adequate tools and materials for the job. Needed Tools And Materials It’s always a good idea to be prepared for wall plastering well in advance, so you won’t have to hunt down tools and leave the job halfway through to stock up. The tools and materials you will need to complete the job include a trowel and bucket trowel, plasterers float, corner trowel, hawk board, two buckets, mixing stick or a paddle, adequate plaster, PVA, dustsheets, clean water, sandpaper, stepladder or stilts, and a dust mask. Step 1: Preparation Before you begin working on the wall or walls, make sure to lay down a dustsheet to protect your floors and gather any potential debris or spillage of plaster. Ensure that the wall you want to plaster is dust-free and get rid of the debris, as this is particularly important if you are plastering an older and worn-out wall. Cover any holes and cracks you may find in the wall using screen tape. In case you are plastering over newly erected plasterboards, use the screen tape to mask all the joints in between the boards. Photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels Step 2: Apply PVA To The Wall(s) Being a latex-base product similar to the glue that seals the pores of the drywall, applying PVA to the walls you’re about to plaster will ensure that the layer you will use will dry out equally. First, you need to dilute the PVA in a 1:4 ratio – one part PVA and four parts water. Roll the PVA mixture onto a brush, apply it onto the wall, and check that the entire surface is covered. Once you go over the wall with the PVA glue, the first plaster layer can be applied. Step 3: Mix The Plaster Depending on what type of plaster you will use for the project, read the manufacturer’s manual, and mix it accordingly. Wear a dust mask as you open up the bags of the material. Pour it into a bucket of cold water and whisk briefly until it has the consistency of thick custard with no lumps. Continuously mix the plaster into the water and never the other way around. Step 4: Apply Plaster Onto The Walls Once you got the wall(s) cleaned, and the plaster mixture ready, you can start applying the first coat of plaster using the hawk board, the trowels, and a floating tool. Practice the application on separate plasterboard before you begin to master the technique. Photo from Pixabay Place the plaster on the hawk board using the trowel and use the float to push the material from the hawk onto the walls. Spread the plaster firmly upwards and flatten the float at the end of each sweep. You should always apply the plaster from the bottom left-hand corner and upwards, filling a whole section from bottom to top before moving on to the next section. Always use small amounts of plaster combined with firm pressure on the float, so you ensure a smooth look and avoid excess plaster coming off the wall. Replicate this movement until the entire surface is covered with plaster. Step 5: Skim And Smooth Right after the first coat of plaster is applied, wait for 20 minutes to let plaster dry. Afterward, get rid of bumps and lumps by smoothing the wall over with a trowel. Smooth out the corners with the corner trowel and the bottom and top of the wall too. These are the trickiest areas to plaster correctly, so use adequate tools to even the edges out. Step 6: Scrape Scraping is optional, but most experts prefer to scrape the wall before adding the second coat of plaster for the second coat to adhere properly. The simplest way to scrape the wall is by using a devilling float, a tool specifically designed for this. In case you don’t have one near you, you can also scrape the walls using an old kitchen fork. If you opt not to use this step, make sure that the first coat is still wet before applying the second one. Step 7: Second Coat Apply the second and final coat of plaster to the wall(s). This one should be of a thinner consistency than the first one, so dilute the plaster mixture with some more water. Plaster a thin 2 mm layer on the wall and leave the material to slightly dry. Step 8: Finishing Touches Once the plaster is slightly dried, polish your work. Add some water to the walls using a spray gun. Make sure to spray the edges of the plaster and use the trowel to smoothen out the surface with inward strokes. Finish it off by running a clean float over the entire wall to flatten out any curves and bumps. When the plaster is completely dried, use some sanding paper to remove any excess material. Step 9: Painting And Wallpapering Your wall(s) is now ready to be painted over or wallpapered if that’s what you prefer. Use undercoat to prime the surface before you apply paint. The same goes
Assisting with a multitude of developmental aspects both professionally and personally, leadership coaching is designed to encourage employees to transform themselves into being the best they can possibly be. It also assists management teams and higher level executives in seeing which aspects of the business an employee really excels in and which blind spots could be improved upon. A recent study by FMI about the impact of leadership coaching in the built environment revealed some interesting findings for the construction sector. Flexible in its approach to business management, coaching is designed to be specifically tailored to the needs to the individual receiving the coaching. Construction firms often create their business model around the ideology of the economy being able to grow and shrink at the drop of a proverbial hat. Leadership coaching is often required in order to sustain this adaptive approach to business, as it allows leaders to be best prepared for a range of challenges the future may hold. The sector has always been volatile, with construction leaders regularly handling levels of complexity and ambiguity that would be considered extreme by the measure of many other industries. This rapid change of pace within the industry has rendered more traditional leadership techniques old-fashioned at best, requiring leaders and executives to better equip themselves to deal with an ever-changing global landscape. Strategic thinking is the name of the new game, aiming to minimise ineffective or knee-jerk responses to the business environment which can cripple an organisation with remarkable rapidity. Introducing coaching into the equation provides numerous benefits to the industry’s leadership by helping to manage transitions and develop essential skills, as well as turning those skills into positive habits for lasting change. Unlike conventional training, a coaching-led approach to development allows for maximum flexibility and agility while still providing the essential, tailored individual support that leaders need. FMI’s study notes four particular areas where access to coaching can provide critical support to leaders within the construction sector. A Sounding Board Executives often feel isolated at the top of their organisations, so access to a coach provides a much-needed “thought partner” who can be reliably confided in, especially as entering senior positions dramatically shifts the working dynamic with former organisational peers. The main workforce is often also critical of the leadership team, both at an individual and collective level, which can result in feelings of isolation and self-doubt, affecting wellbeing and ultimately business performance. Coaches again can step in here to act as valuable neutral parties so that leaders can still give voice to sensitive or complex issues which others below them in the organisation may struggle to empathise with. This leads to improved self-awareness in executives, with many saying that working with a coach as an external advisor has helped them to better understand and process feedback they receive as leaders, in turn producing healthier and more effective leadership approaches and an improvement in their organisations. More Effective Leadership Transitions The idea of “loneliness at the top” only becomes more notable when leaders transition into new roles as part of succession planning. Ambiguous expectations and complexities in taking over leadership from another introduce a “perfect storm” of isolation and self-doubt for many, especially when combined with a significant shift in previous internal relationships. Having a coach on hand to help shift thinking and adapt to a new role proves invaluable, with 91% of FMI’s study participants saying that engagement with a coach made them feel increased readiness for a new role. This development of new active skills and assistance in navigating changing relationship dynamics leads to more capable, confident, self-aware and stable leadership teams. Boosting Role Engagement Employee engagement is a hot topic at the moment given its power in so many aspects of the business world. Interestingly leaders tend not to seek out coaching specifically for the purpose of improving engagement, but nearly 88% of FMI’s surveyed participants said that access to coaching improved their engagement with their roles. Boosting job satisfaction and confidence, as well as helping to reduce the learning curve for new roles and improving relationships in the workplace all contribute to positive engagement. This gives increased likelihood of retention, effectively boosting leadership development ROI in the long term, and almost always produces performance boosts which enhance overall business profitability; a powerful combination. Driving Commitment & ROI As well as boosting “secondary” ROI drivers such as engagement and retention, using coaching as a way to develop specific leadership competencies to drive success will almost inevitably lead to both individual and organisational growth. In the highly volatile E&C environment, covering required skillsets can be time consuming and expensive, but coaching offers a highly engaging way to empower leaders to self-develop while at the same time directly boosting their in-role efficacy. “Multiple research approaches confirm the idea that coaching offers an ROI that verges on the extraordinary,” says Nick Goldberg, founder and CEO at leadership development solution Ezra Coaching. “Investing in leadership throughout an organisation produces enormous benefits, not least of which is maximising engagement and retention potential for employees. By working to make coaching more accessible to all leaders, a business is investing not just in its workforce and culture but in its whole growth trajectory.” While a great deal of focus is often placed on the benefits of coaching for soft skill development, in fact many leaders decided that access to a coach also improved the strategy, culture and even financial health of their organisations. In a challenging sector where the right leaders are a very scarce commodity, investing in people with coaching not only ticks valuable HR boxes but will significantly elevate the potential of the business in its entirety.
