January 12, 2021

Construction Seasons Starts at UK’s Largest Antarctic Research Hub

Ramboll, BAM and Sweco arrive in Antarctic to start BAS Construction season following strict Covid-19 measures The next stage of building a scientific support facility in Antarctica begins this week [11 January 2020]. To avoid the risk of introducing COVID-19 to British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station, the construction

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Mount Property Group and Barton Top Out Latest Liverpool Scheme

Liverpool’s latest student accommodation development, Natex, has achieved a key construction milestone as it reaches its highest point, nine months before it opens to students. Mount Property Group’s £45million, 574-unit development, with its unrivalled views across Liverpool’s historic St George’s Quarter and the city beyond from its upper floors, has

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CITRUS SUBMITS PLANNING FOR DURHAM SPEC’ INDUSTRIAL SCHEME

Citrus Durham has submitted a reserved matters application to Durham County Council for the delivery of the next phase of industrial development, to be known as Evolution@Integra61, within its £300m mixed-use development at J61 of the A1(M). Evolution@Integra61 will comprise of 24 new industrial units totalling 50,921 sq ft and

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PICK EVERARD ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS CONSORTIUM FOR DEVELOPER FRAMEWORK WIN

COMMUNITY Development Partnerships is a brand-new consortium – led by national independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard – that has gained supplier status on Pagabo’s new national developer-led framework, worth an estimated £47 billion. The Pick Everard-led consortium comprises Watkin Jones PLC, Charles Street Buildings (Leicester) Ltd, Trebor

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Checkatrade offers guidance for homeowners to ensure maintenance & home improvements during national lockdown

CEO of Checkatrade, Mike Fairman, said, “Our tradespeople have shown great resilience over this challenging period and are committed to safely carrying out home improvement and repair jobs following Government guidelines. Checkatrade has worked directly with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to share additional guidance for trade

Read More »

Kirklees’ Cabinet to consider £58M investment plan

Kirklees’ Cabinet to consider £58M investment plan that could secure funding to support their Dewsbury Blueprint Ambitions. At their Cabinet meeting on the 19 January, councillors will consider a report on the proposed application for 25M funding from the Government’s Towns Deal Fund. The Dewsbury Town Board and Kirklees Council

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Liverpool’s housing retrofit event opens next week

Next week, Tuesday 19th January, the online retrofit conference Low Carbon Homes Liverpool, supported by MCS, goes live for three days of knowledge-sharing to consider how Liverpool can rapidly scale up the retrofitting of housing across the city to meet its net-zero target.  Liverpool City Council plans to make the

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Return to work programme creates new opportunities to work on HS2

Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture, HS2’s main works construction partner for the Northolt to London Euston section of Britain’s new high speed railway, is today launching two new careers-focused initiatives designed to support those who have taken a career break to re-enter employment. In line with HS2’s drive to create

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CEMEX Prepares Major Investment to Packing Line

CEMEX Prepares Major Investment to Packing Line

Global building materials solutions supplier CEMEX has confirmed an investment of over £5 million into two new plastic packing lines for packed cement at its Rugby Cement Plant. This important development will significantly increase its capacity for producing packed cement and allow the business to provide long term surety of

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

January 12, 2021

Total value of construction contracts awarded to the top 50 in December was £5.5 billion

ISG took this month’s top spot in the contractor league tables after being appointed the contractor for seven major projects totalling just under £2.7 billion. Almost all this amount is due to work on a new £2.6 billion electric battery plant in Blyth, Northumberland. In second position this month with just one project is Future Valleys, who are working on a £513 million dualling project on the A465 in Wales. Up 16 places from last month, Wilmott Dixon round off the top three with seven projects totalling £170 million including extension works to a community hospital and construction of a 318-flat building in Bristol. The latest edition of the Top 50 League Tables published by industry analysts  Barbour ABI, highlights the number and value of construction contracts awarded during December. This month shows that the combined value of contracts awarded to the Top 50 was just over £5.5 billion with a total of 128 projects. For December, Kier Construction were the busiest contractor with a total of eight contract awards at a combined value of £116 million. ISG sit at the top of the rolling 12-month league table with 59 projects at a total value of £3.3 billion. Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI & AMA Research said, “2020 ended with a strong December value of £5.5bn. However, £2.6bn was the Gigavolt EV battery plant in Northumberland; underlying activity remains somewhat weaker than average. Over the beginning of 2021, uncertainty remains as the UK suffers under another Covid-19 wave and concerns arise over the newly erected EU trade barriers. Positively, construction activity should be relatively unaffected by the third national lockdown.” Download the full report here:  https://www.barbour-abi.com/market-intelligence/top-50-league-tables/

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Construction Seasons Starts at UK’s Largest Antarctic Research Hub

Ramboll, BAM and Sweco arrive in Antarctic to start BAS Construction season following strict Covid-19 measures The next stage of building a scientific support facility in Antarctica begins this week [11 January 2020]. To avoid the risk of introducing COVID-19 to British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station, the construction team spent two weeks in quarantine and had three Covid-19 tests prior to making the almost 11,000 kilometre voyage by ship.  A 20 person-plus team from BAS construction partners BAM, Ramboll and Sweco is working on the second season of building the cutting-edge science and operations building. Construction can only take place during a short window during the Antarctic summer months, avoiding the harsh, dark winter. This season the team aims to complete the pre-cast concrete foundations, ground floor slab, rock anchors and stub columns, as well as drainage and the perimeter wall, before returning in December to complete the outer structure. The new scientific support facility, named the Discovery Building, commemorates the discovery of Antarctica just over 200 years ago. The project is part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). Facilities in the new two-storey 4,500m2 building include preparation areas for field expeditions, offices, a medical centre, recreational spaces (music room and climbing wall) and science workshops. The Discovery Building has a unique design, such as a thermally-efficient envelope to minimise energy use, along with heat recovery generators and photovoltaic solar panels. It also has a snow and wind deflector – the largest of its kind in Antarctica – to minimise time spent removing snow accumulation from around the building. Bright, open-plan offices foster collaboration and improve health and wellbeing of staff living in remote locations. Roof lights increase natural light and reduce the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The project is delivered by the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation partnership, which includes construction partner BAM and their team, design consultants Sweco, Hugh Broughton Architects, with Ramboll acting as BAS’s Technical Advisers, with their team NORR architects and Turner & Townsend. Maurice Siemensma, Project Manager at BAM said: “We’re delighted to return for another construction season to Rothera, to undertake the installation of the foundations, the concrete perimeter walls, the underground drainage and completing the earthworks for the Discovery Building. Although this year’s construction season has been shortened, we have put together a programme to ensure we can continue progress on this crucial piece of infrastructure, which will support the construction works in the coming season substantially”. David Brand, Senior Project Manager at British Antarctic Survey said: “By working in collaboration with our construction partners and colleagues at BAS, we have planned this year’s construction season and overcome a number of challenges, including logistics and maintaining safety for our staff. This short season will see the completion of a vital stage of construction for this new facility at Rothera, which will help generations of scientists understand the future challenges of climate change.” The Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation (AIM) programme is commissioned by UKRI-NERC (Natural Environment Research Council.  It aims to keep the UK at the forefront of climate, biodiversity and ocean research and will last between 7-10 years and is worth an estimated £100m. Find out more information on the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme on the British Antarctic Survey website: https://www.bas.ac.uk/polar-operations/antarctic-infrastructure-projects/

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Mount Property Group and Barton Top Out Latest Liverpool Scheme

Liverpool’s latest student accommodation development, Natex, has achieved a key construction milestone as it reaches its highest point, nine months before it opens to students. Mount Property Group’s £45million, 574-unit development, with its unrivalled views across Liverpool’s historic St George’s Quarter and the city beyond from its upper floors, has reached full height with a topping out ceremony marking the occasion. International property investment firm, Mount Property Group, acquired the landmark site of the former National Express bus station in 2018, and appointed Barton PM as management contractor for the Falconer Chester Hall designed scheme. Providing a home-from-home for the students of Liverpool, Natex features two towers of 16 and 10-storeys, containing 574 student beds split between 493 cluster units and 81 studios. The development will offer not only offer superior, high-end living spaces for its customers, but the communal facilities a modern student expects, including private study rooms, impressive social spaces, a fully kitted out gym, laundry rooms and landscaped gardens for students to enjoy. Michael Chrysokhou, managing director of Mount, said “Whilst a challenge, the past year has proven how resilient both the construction and student market is, so I’m delighted to start the new year with such positive news and we look forward to entering the final stages of completion and opening the doors to our student customers for the next academic year.” The construction milestone also coincides with Barton’s two-year trading anniversary, during which time the fledgling business has made its mark in the north west, working for Mount on Natex and also Innovo House; the 124-unit scheme in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter. Matt Fawcett, managing director at Barton Group Services and Barton PM, commented “Natex has become a striking addition to the Liverpool cityscape and topping out not only marks a key programme milestone, but gives us a chance to celebrate the hard work and collaboration of the entire project team to reach this stage. “We’ve been fortunate to continue works on site during the majority of 2020, with Covid-safe procedures in place for our operatives and sub-contractors. With the internal fit-out on Block A well underway there is a huge amount of activity currently on site and the momentum will continue early this year with the fit-out commencing on Block B.” Natex is scheduled for completion in July 2021, in anticipation of students starting the new academic year in September.

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CITRUS SUBMITS PLANNING FOR DURHAM SPEC’ INDUSTRIAL SCHEME

Citrus Durham has submitted a reserved matters application to Durham County Council for the delivery of the next phase of industrial development, to be known as Evolution@Integra61, within its £300m mixed-use development at J61 of the A1(M). Evolution@Integra61 will comprise of 24 new industrial units totalling 50,921 sq ft and ranging in size from 1,205 sq ft up to 4,625 sq ft. The units, which will be available to purchase or lease, have been designed to address the regional shortage of modern small units to satisfy strong demand from local and regional occupiers seeking high quality industrial/warehouse units in a prime location immediately adjacent to the A1(M) in the centre of the County. The units within each terrace can be occupied individually or combined to satisfy larger requirements. Those occupiers seeking space from 15,000 sq ft upwards have additional options at Integra 61 where design and build packages are available for units up to 600,000 sq ft. Integra 61 agents Avison Young and Colliers International are now taking reservations on the units which, subject to planning consent, will be ready for occupation by Q4 2021.  Already home to Amazon’s new 2m sq ft Fulfilment Centre, the pioneering development will also house circa 300 new homes and significant roadside opportunities including drive-thru’s, a 70-bed hotel, family pub/restaurant, nursery, car showrooms and trade counter/retail units.   Fronting onto the newly upgraded A688 and Durham Services, Integra 61 is just 4 miles away from the City of Durham and has the potential to deliver some 4,000 jobs in total. Recent research by Avison Young demonstrates the critical lack of new build space in the North East where there has been an average provision of under 150,000 sq ft per annum of speculative new build space over the last five years, which is well below what is needed to satisfy demand. Avison Young’s research shows that all the small unit schemes recently built in the region are fully occupied and are achieving record rents. All of these schemes have been available on a leasehold basis only, whereas the units at Evolution@Integra61 will be available for companies to lease or purchase, giving occupiers much needed flexibility. Danny Cramman, Director at Avison Young, commented; “Our research clearly demonstrates the regional need for these new units. They are ideally suited to local and regional businesses and crucially offer companies the opportunity to own their own premises which is very rare in this size range. Occupiers can also take advantage of the wider benefits of being part of one of the region’s most dynamic new employment hubs which, together with the roadside elements and new homes now being delivered, will provide an exceptional offering for employees, residents and visitors alike.” David Cullingford, Project Lead for Integra 61 and Citrus Durham, said; “The creation of the smaller units makes Integra 61 a truly inclusive scheme, with wide ranging opportunities for businesses of all sizes. This further significant investment  will generate yet more jobs and we are pleased to be able to support regional occupiers with their growth ambitions and be part of this unique project in County Durham.” For enquiries please contact Avison Young or Colliers International; Robert Rae 07860 398 744robert.rae@avisonyoung.com /Danny Cramman 07796 993 750 danny.cramman@avisonyoung.com Robert Whatmuff07703 393 145robert.whatmuff@colliers.com / 07736 480 041simon.hill@colliers.com

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PICK EVERARD ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS CONSORTIUM FOR DEVELOPER FRAMEWORK WIN

COMMUNITY Development Partnerships is a brand-new consortium – led by national independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard – that has gained supplier status on Pagabo’s new national developer-led framework, worth an estimated £47 billion. The Pick Everard-led consortium comprises Watkin Jones PLC, Charles Street Buildings (Leicester) Ltd, Trebor Developments LLP, APB (Leicester) LLP, Sowden Group Ltd, and Venture Properties Group Ltd. Acting on behalf of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, the Pagabo framework will cover a range of developer-led schemes within the construction industry and is open to all public sector bodies including schools, universities, local authorities, police and emergency services, NHS organisations, health and social care providers and housing associations, as well as central government departments and the Ministry of Defence. Pagabo’s framework – which will run for five and a half years – features nine lots covering three contract structures: Property Development via Joint Venture and Special Purpose Vehicle, Long Income Lease and Lease Back, and Property Development Single Site by Development Agreement. The awards will see Community Development Partnerships working with public sector organisations to offer developer management services – providing them with expertise, creative and viable development solutions, private sector investment and development delivery. Appointments cover single site development agreements valued up to £40m across the North East, North West, East Midlands, West Midlands and South West, as well as agreements valued at more than £40m in these regions, and London, the East of England and the South West. As well as this, the Pick Everard-led consortium has been selected on a direct award basis to cover projects valued between £20m and £40m across the Midlands, delivered through either special purpose vehicles or joint ventures; to cover long lease income and lease back schemes valued up to £40m in the South West, and between £40m and £100m in the Midlands, London and the South and the South West. Alastair Hamilton, partner at Pick Everard and executive lead for Community Development Partnerships, said: “Use of frameworks is central to a lot of our work at Pick Everard, so with this in mind we are really thrilled to be announcing the appointment of Community Development Partnerships to a number of lots and regions on Pagabo’s newest framework. “Procuring and delivering value for the public sector in particular is set to be incredibly important as we look to the future, and both this framework and our consortium are ideally placed to support the public sector in realising its aspirations for regeneration and inward investment. Together, they will be pivotal in helping public sector bodies unlock and realise the enhanced asset value across their property and land portfolios. “Our combined track record of working together to deliver success on projects in a range of sectors, and in creating social value and a sustainable built environment, the group of partners will maximise Community Development Partnerships’ ability to services the requirements of clients via this unique framework – bringing together the best in the market to deliver the best for clients.” Jason Stapley, managing director at Pagabo, said: “With all our frameworks we aim to simplify the whole procurement process, ensure flexibility and provider greater choice for clients, all packaged up with OJEU compliance – our developer-led framework is no different in that respect. It will allow developers the ability to procure works through a compliant and simple to use framework and help the public sector with vital expansion plans, creating an overall more robust sector. “We’ve been absolutely blown away by the response we’ve had in this tender process and are really pleased to be bringing a unique procurement offering to market with such a strong set of companies.” The consortium secured a place on the framework following a rigorous OJEU compliant tender process, covering relevant experience and financial suitability, as well as dedication to delivering social value and implementing the use of technology. Pick Everard employs more than 500 staff across its 13 offices, providing a range of project, cost, and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.

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Checkatrade offers guidance for homeowners to ensure maintenance & home improvements during national lockdown

CEO of Checkatrade, Mike Fairman, said, “Our tradespeople have shown great resilience over this challenging period and are committed to safely carrying out home improvement and repair jobs following Government guidelines. Checkatrade has worked directly with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to share additional guidance for trade members and homeowners to help everyone stay as safe as possible. For example, we encourage our tradespeople to use video calls for advice and quotes, and recommend you keep in touch with your tradesperson to talk through the work in advance and agree how to reduce risks. “As we continue to spend more time at home, homeowners will be wanting to also invest time and money into making them as comfortable as they can be and as a result, we’re seeing uplifts in searches for tradespeople to carry out home improvements in the winter months bucking the trend of previous years.” The measures that homeowners are encouraged to undertake when carrying out home improvements and maintenance work include: ·        Keep in touch: Regular contact with your tradesperson in advance of any home visit is important – to talk through details of the work and to agree how risks can be reduced ·        Keep it digital: Checkatrade is encouraging tradespeople to embrace video calling for advice and quotes, whenever that is possible ·        Keep it clean: Clean surfaces around the working area and in ‘high traffic’ areas such as door handles with disinfectant before, during and after work is carried out ·        Keep a distance: Avoid too much face-to-face contact with those working in your home and keep children or pets in other rooms whenever possible

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Kirklees’ Cabinet to consider £58M investment plan

Kirklees’ Cabinet to consider £58M investment plan that could secure funding to support their Dewsbury Blueprint Ambitions. At their Cabinet meeting on the 19 January, councillors will consider a report on the proposed application for 25M funding from the Government’s Towns Deal Fund. The Dewsbury Town Board and Kirklees Council have compiled a Town Investment Plan as part of their bid, following consultation with local people at end of 2020. The investment plan proposes nine projects that the board feels would best benefit from the funding and deliver on what is important to local people. Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader of the Council and Interim Chair of Dewsbury Town Board said: “The council and the town board are working together to make our ambitions for Dewsbury come true.  In February 2020 we set out a ten-year vision for the town, many of the schemes that the board has selected to support with this plan were included in that vision.  With this funding from the government, and match funding from the council we could see many of our plans come to fruition and demonstrate that Dewsbury really is a town of distinction. With a new town centre park, the regeneration of the arcade and the market, and high quality residential accommodation attracting commuters from nearby cities, local people could see significant changes in the town over the coming years. Dewsbury is a proud town and it deserves to be brought back to life as a family friendly place to live, work, shop and play.” Should the bid be successful, in order to make sure they can successfully complete the projects, the council will also be looking to allocate £33.6M of match funding from a variety of sources including council capital, Arts Council grants, private sector contributions, and the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund and Getting Building Fund. If Cabinet approves the report, officers will finalise the Town Improvement Plan and submit it to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government by 29 January 2021. Once agreed Kirklees Council and the Town Board will enter into a Town Deal with government, before drawing up more detailed plans for the proposed schemes. The full list of projects included in the Town Improvement Plan are: £1.3M for the redevelopment of The Arcade as a multiuse space. £6.6M for an improved market offer in the town. £3.15M to build on the success of the Townscape Heritage Initiative with a new Building Revival Scheme. £250,000 investment in digital connectivity for town centre properties. 6.25M to create a town park and improve the public realm throughout the town. £1.5M investment in construction skills for local people. £2.195M investment in the Union Arts Centre as part of the town’s creative town ambitions. £3m to develop a living town at Daisy Hill in Dewsbury, and finally £2M to improve the roads and make it safer and easier to travel by bike or on foot. This latest funding opportunity will build on the council’s earlier investments of over £8M in the town, including the recent redevelopment of Pioneer House as the Pioneers Higher skills Centre, and the purchase of The Arcade. 

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Liverpool’s housing retrofit event opens next week

Next week, Tuesday 19th January, the online retrofit conference Low Carbon Homes Liverpool, supported by MCS, goes live for three days of knowledge-sharing to consider how Liverpool can rapidly scale up the retrofitting of housing across the city to meet its net-zero target.  Liverpool City Council plans to make the city carbon neutral by 2030, creating more energy-efficient housing stock, increasing the amount of green space in the city area, and improving air quality. The Council’s vision includes: incentives for the private sector to build more energy-efficient housing; retrofitting 6,000 homes with energy-saving features such as triple glazing, heat pumps and solar panels; and financial incentives for homeowners, including discounted green mortgages. The Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), host partner of the event, plays a unique role in fusing industry and academia together. It leads and delivers a range of business innovation programmes, including the Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory.   Three mornings of presentations and debate have been specifically curated with the assistance of LJMU, Liverpool City Council and an Advisory Board of local stakeholders: Day 1 (Tuesday 19th January) – What have we got to do and how are we doing? Prof. Mike Riley, Pro-vice Chancellor, LJMU Cllr. Barry Kushner, Cabinet Member, Housing & Regeneration (opening the event) Ian Rippin – CEO & Alex Hughes – Operations Analyst, MCS Richard Partington, MD, AceOn James Hill, Property Strategy Director, Onward Housing Day 2 (Wednesday  20th January) – What else could we be doing? Charlie Baker, Director, Red Coop David Lewis, MD, ista Marianne Heaslip, Associate, Urbed Day 3 (Thursday 21st January) – What’s holding us back? Dave Woods, Director of Operations, Cobalt Housing Dr Lisa Newson, Programme Leader MSc Health Psychology, LJMU  Prof. Andy Ross, Professor of Construction Economics & Management, LMJU Louise Davies, Head of Housing Delivery, Liverpool City Council Lucy Pedler, Director, Futureproof Wendy Osborn, Partnerships Manager, CITB Low Carbon Homes Founder, Graham Lock comments:“We’ve been working with LJMU for over a year now to deliver this event. Originally planned to be a conventional in-person conference, we’ve now successfully transitioned to online, making the event freely accessible to all those concerned with the challenge of scaling up retrofit in Liverpool and the city region. The role of the Advisory Group has been vital in developing a programme that truly reflects the challenges facing Liverpool.  We’re taking a close look at the viability of retrofit in an area of the UK with relatively low property values and high levels of poverty and look forward to achieving positive outcomes that will enable the city to take bigger steps towards their bold net-zero vision.” Low Carbon Homes on 19-21 January, hosted by Liverpool John Moores University, is a free-to-attend online event bringing professionals from inter-related sectors together to collaborate and consider the scale of the challenge, the solutions available and the barriers to overcome. After Liverpool, Low Carbon Homes will be staging further events across the UK.  Next is Kent (26-28 January), followed by Oxfordshire, Manchester and Portsmouth.

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Return to work programme creates new opportunities to work on HS2

Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture, HS2’s main works construction partner for the Northolt to London Euston section of Britain’s new high speed railway, is today launching two new careers-focused initiatives designed to support those who have taken a career break to re-enter employment. In line with HS2’s drive to create employment opportunities for local people and those from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, the Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture is working in partnership with London-based organisations Women Returners and STEM Returners to actively engage the local community and support individuals who have taken a career break back into work. The Women Returners initiative is aimed at experienced professionals from a variety of backgrounds who took a career break of two years or more. The programme will offer six months’ paid work placements to six candidates, with a high likelihood of ongoing employment on the HS2 project. Participants will receive comprehensive support, including a Career Returners Coaching Programme from Women Returners. In 2020, the joint venture recruited six high-calibre employees through the Women Returners programme, with a 100% conversion into permanent employment. It hopes this year’s programme will encourage more people to join the sector and secure long-term employment in line with their career aspirations. Ambrose Quashie, HS2 Ltd’s Skills Manager for Greater London said: “We have set robust employment and skills targets for all our contractors to ensure that local people benefit from opportunities to work on this once in a lifetime project. “This is a fantastic example of how we are ensuring that those in need of additional support to boost their career can really benefit”. The programme particularly welcomes applications from female returners, as this supports HS2’s aim to address the gender imbalance commonplace in the construction and rail sectors. However, recognising that career breaks for parental care or personal reasons are not exclusive to women, the joint venture also encourages male applicants for the programme.  Fabiana, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Administrator and 2020 Return to Work programme graduate said: “Joining the project through the Return to Work programme really helped me with my confidence to be ready and prepared to come back to work. When you are out of work, it can be hard, and you worry about lots of little things. The support provided is essential”. Alice Jennison, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture explains: “We have already hired six people through our Return to Work programme and we are excited to expand the programme in 2021. We offer tailored support to individuals who are returning to work through coaching, training, mentoring and a dedicated buddy. There are many talented people wanting to return to work and we welcome applications from people with or without infrastructure industry experience.” The joint venture’s second recruitment initiative is an innovative STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) focused programme. Six places will be available on the 12-week programme which is designed for individuals with a STEM-focused career background, such as engineering, or those who have worked in the STEM sector. Mentoring and coaching will be provided to ensure that those returning to work, following a lengthy period of absence, are fully supported.  Following completion of the 12-week programme, successful candidates may be offered full-time positions. The STEM Returners programme has already supported almost 200 candidates and 96% have been offered full-time roles at the end of their placement. For more information about the two back to work programmes, visit womenreturners.com/ for details of the Women Returners programme and stemreturners.com/ for the STEM Returners programme. The joint venture expects to recruit over 4,000 jobs, including employment for around 550 previously unemployed people and 400 apprenticeships to deliver its programme of work on the HS2 project. Details of current opportunities can be found at scsrailways.co.uk/careers/.

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CEMEX Prepares Major Investment to Packing Line

CEMEX Prepares Major Investment to Packing Line

Global building materials solutions supplier CEMEX has confirmed an investment of over £5 million into two new plastic packing lines for packed cement at its Rugby Cement Plant. This important development will significantly increase its capacity for producing packed cement and allow the business to provide long term surety of supply to its customers. Since CEMEX entered the plastic packed cement market in 2011, it has seen demand grow greatly year on year, and this investment will enable the company to meet existing and future customer requirements. Additionally, this investment will improve the design of the packed product so it can be better transported and stored. “We are very pleased to confirm plans to significantly enhance the plastic packing line at our Rugby Cement Plant. Packed cement is an important part of our UK business and this will greatly increase our capacity. This work will ensure we can continue to provide customers with the quality packed cement they need for their construction projects, while also offering further benefits during supply and storage of the product,” said Craig Williamson, Commercial Director of UK Cement for CEMEX. Work will begin at Rugby Cement Plant early 2021 and is expected to be completed by the start of the second half of the year. The development will run alongside the existing operation so there will be no disruption to production.

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