SO Resi, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), has joined forces with Cambridge University to release the first annual report into the status of shared ownership in England. The findings of the report, by Dr Gemma Burgess, Acting Director of the Cambridge Centre
UK Power Networks has announced a major programme to kick start the ‘Green Recovery,’ by cutting the cost of green energy projects. The energy network, which keeps the lights on for more than 18 million people across London, the East and South East of England, is investing up to £80m
CONSTRUCTION at a brand-new purpose-built residential care home for children has now started on site in Warwickshire, with principal contractor Stepnell putting the first spade in the ground. The award-winning construction firm has been appointed to help bring the £5.1 million high-quality development to life, which will include four stand-alone residential care
GRAHAM has welcomed the “next generation of talent” to its Civil Engineering Graduate Programme. An official launch day, hosted virtually at the end of last year, signalled the start of the structured two-year programme for 22 new recruits who recently graduated from a variety of leading universities spread across the
HS2 Ltd, Highways England, Network Rail and Transport for London have joined forces in encouraging small and medium sized businesses to register for free training courses, designed to improve their prospects of meeting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) supply chain requirements and help them secure future contract opportunities. Working in
Property demand in the UK has been rising in recent years for both residential and commercial properties. Higher demand means good news for property developers but correlates to lower yields for investors, particularly when combined with new and unfavourable tax regimes in the UK. Investors looking at the property market
Leading hospitality and retail design agency UXUS announce the details of Luna, a new interior concept for McDonald’s designed to bring people together in a welcoming, playful and shareable environment. UXUS have developed a unique design language for McDonald’s inspired by the circle as a symbol of inclusivity, unity and
Family-run Seddon, which knows first-hand the importance of cancer treatment, is pledging to raise £175,000 toward a new state-of-the-art cancer centre. The Bolton-based construction firm has once again teamed up with The Christie charity to help raise funds – this time for the new Christie at Macclesfield cancer centre. Seddon
Multi award-winning student accommodation brand true student has been confirmed to operate and manage a landmark £100 million student accommodation development opening for guests this September. Occupying a prime 1.14-acre site on Erskine Street, the 999-bed development, within walking distance of both the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores
There’s nothing new about flickering lights, electrical wiring, and device installation in the home. Electrical projects are among the most common issues homeowners have to deal with on a daily basis. And because we all know how easy these situations could go south, the first instinct is to fix them.
SO Resi, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), has joined forces with Cambridge University to release the first annual report into the status of shared ownership in England. The findings of the report, by Dr Gemma Burgess, Acting Director of the Cambridge Centre for Housing & Planning Research and a professor at the prestigious university, were released at an industry roundtable on Wednesday 3rd February. The event, chaired by property writer and editor Stacey Meadwell, brought together a panel of experts from the property world – Kush Rawal, Director of Residential Investment at MTVH; Jon Lord, Managing Director at Metro Finance; and Ben Fry, Head of Housing Investment at Gresham House – to discuss the findings with Dr Burgess. The panel heard from Dr Burgess’ report: “Shared ownership providers, lenders and wider industry stakeholders interviewed for this research were all very positive about what shared ownership offers to customers. In many parts of the country, interviewees felt that shared ownership is the only realistic route into home ownership for households with relatively low deposits. The product offers flexibility as it opens home ownership at a range of possible price points to households with modest deposits.” The research, which surveyed 24 housing providers and interviewed industry and user groups, revealed important details about the average shared ownership transaction: Most shared ownership purchasers are aged between 20 and 40 (72%), with the late 20s being the most common time to purchase. Only 5% are over 65. The largest group of shared ownership purchasers are single adults without children (50%) followed by childless couples (35%) 94% are in employment The average value of shared ownership properties purchased in 2018/19 was £265,000, with the average initial share being 42% and a deposit of £24,600 Interest in shared ownership is booming. According to the report: “All interviewees were asked about the impact of the pandemic on the shared ownership sector. The most immediate impact had been an increase in demand for shared ownership lending and in enquiries about buying a shared ownership home. Since 2015/16, the number of shared ownership completions per year has increased from 4,084 to 17,021.” -MORE- 2/…In fact, demand for shared ownership properties is now considerably greater than supply – with up to 10 people enquiring about every home in some areas. The report found that nearly half of the shared ownership homes completed in the last five years were built in London (27%) and the South East (22%), with two-bedroom homes being the most popular size of home sold (58%). The report did voice some concerns, mainly around the Government’s plans to amend the standard shared ownership scheme. At present, the minimum share that can be purchased is 25%, and shared ownership purchasers are responsible for repairs and maintenance. Under the new scheme, the minimum share will be 10%, and housing providers will be responsible for repairs for 10 years, which could affect viability. “Most survey respondents thought that the option of purchasing a 10% share and lack of responsibility for repairs and maintenance for the first ten years in particular will make the new model more attractive to buyers and will increase demand. However, most survey respondents believed that the proposed changes will reduce the supply of shared ownership properties that they are able to build.” With the difficulties around maintenance meaning that providers might be able to provide fewer homes as a result, the report urges the Government: “The unintended consequences of these changes to the product should be carefully considered before changes are implemented.” Another area of concern was public lack of understanding of the scheme, which has existed for more than 50 years, especially with regards to leasehold. Submissions from The Law Commission noted: “Members of the public do not always understand exactly how shared ownership schemes operate, or the precise nature of the legal arrangement which the purchaser of a shared ownership property is entering into.” Kush Rawal, Director of Residential Investment at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, comments: “We are pleased that this report – the first of many that we plan to commission – proves the valuable role that shared ownership has in helping people take their first steps on the property ladder. It’s also confirmed what we at SO Resi already knew; that people are often confused and uncertain about what it all involves. For this reason, we are determined to guide people every step of the way, with simple, clear and transparent language that ensures that there are no surprises down the line.” Dr Gemma Burgess, Acting Director Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research at Cambridge University, concludes: “There is consensus that the UK has a housing crisis and that greater effort needs to be made to increase housing supply. Shared ownership has an important role to play in delivering new build housing supply and in meeting the need for affordable homes. The Government should do all it can to make it as easy and simple for providers to increase their pipeline of shared ownership homes, to reduce cost and complexity from the system, and to ensure that grant levels are sufficient to ensure a strong supply of shared ownership going forward.” To find out more about SO Resi call 0208 607 0550 or visit www.soresi.co.uk.
UK Power Networks has announced a major programme to kick start the ‘Green Recovery,’ by cutting the cost of green energy projects. The energy network, which keeps the lights on for more than 18 million people across London, the East and South East of England, is investing up to £80m to supercharge projects that contribute towards the UK’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050. The programme follows the Government’s announcement in November 2020 of a Ten Point Plan to kickstart the ‘Green Recovery’ and enable the country to reach its target of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. Now the network company is inviting bids from shovel-ready low carbon energy projects that require a high or low voltage electricity connection to its networks in the next two years. The programme will support successful bidders who can demonstrate their project helps enable the low carbon transition. This could include installing rapid electric vehicle charging stations in local communities, energy generators looking to connect more renewable energy to the electricity network, local heat networks or community energy projects. To be successful, projects will need to demonstrate how they meet both the Government’s Net Zero objective and the Ten Point Plan. They will also be assessed to understand their contribution towards improving air quality, creating jobs and alleviating fuel poverty. The programme will focus on funded projects that can be delivered in 2021 or 2022 to make sure it has immediate impact. The programme will enable UK Power Networks to increase power capacity in areas identified, to significantly reduce the cost of connection. Successful applicants will still need to apply for an electricity connection in order to use this increased capacity. To support this work, UK Power Networks is also exploring a range of innovative solutions, including a new compact substation design, to enable new connections to be delivered more quickly and at a lower cost. It hopes this new solution can be delivered by any authorised body. Sul Alli, director of Strategy and Customer Service at UK Power Networks said: “Electricity networks are the front line of enabling Net Zero. That’s why we’ve taken this decision to make a significant investment to kickstart the Green Recovery and help get projects that are going to make a real, tangible difference to people’s lives off the drawing board and into development. “The clock is ticking – in less than a decade there will be 36 times as many electric vehicles connected to our network as there is now, and that’s why we have to take action now. Electricity networks have a vital public role to play in enabling the Net Zero revolution, and it’s a role we are 100% committed to.” To find out more email Green.Recovery@UKPowerNetworks.co.uk or see https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/green-recovery
CONSTRUCTION at a brand-new purpose-built residential care home for children has now started on site in Warwickshire, with principal contractor Stepnell putting the first spade in the ground. The award-winning construction firm has been appointed to help bring the £5.1 million high-quality development to life, which will include four stand-alone residential care buildings as well as associated community facilities and external landscaping works, built around the existing community building and large pond on site. The state-of-the-art build, named The Forge, has been designed to provide a safe, secure and encouraging place for up to 20 children who are experiencing emotional and behavioural disorders or recovering from early childhood trauma. Located off Plough Hill Road in Nuneaton, the therapeutic community is being developed by children’s home provider Forge Care and has been designed by architects IDP. The ground-breaking scheme will become a flagship scheme for Forge Care, offering the highest level of care with a strong focus on quality spaces, materials and design principals. Gavin Miller, director at Forge Care, said: “We are excited to have this flagship project underway, The Forge is a trauma-informed service that evolves as a whole system underpinned by the Sanctuary Model. Within our Therapeutic Community environment the social relationships, structure of the day and activities are all deliberately designed to facilitate learning, and develop people’s personal, social health and wellbeing. “It has been a pleasure working with our various suppliers, and keeping those suppliers local was an important factor in selecting our team, from our designers and architects to our building contractors, working with companies based in Warwickshire was important for us and we are proud of what we have achieved as a team.” Stepnell – a family-owned construction firm that has been operating for more than 150 years – has a wealth of experience in residential and educational facilities, and The Forge will be a welcome addition to its large portfolio of both public and private sector clients. Adrian Barnes, regional director at Stepnell, said: “We’re delighted to be starting on site at The Forge and we are incredibly proud to be involved in a project that will have such a big impact on the local community, particularly vulnerable children looking for a safe and secure place to call home. The scheme is ground-breaking in a number of ways and we are confident that it will have the ‘wow factor’ once finished. “We are really excited to be on site and get started on this fantastic scheme, and we will be adhering to strict COVID-19 and Public Health England Guidelines throughout the build to ensure that we are keeping everyone safe.” Each of the four individual buildings at The Forge will incorporate a welcome space, main lounge, kitchen, quiet space, games, and an activity space as well as five en-suite bedrooms on the first floor, to replicate the traditional family home layout. The development has a strong focus on sustainability, using carefully selected materials like timber cladding and zinc, and will provide a variety of green space to promote physical activity and wellbeing. The communal amenity space will include a games area and a stand-alone art room. Outside, children will have access to large play areas that support mental and physical health – such as yoga and meditation amenities – as well as external dining and BBQ’s for the warmer months. The external spaces will also feature sensory and nature spaces, to encourage residents to grow plants or food and encourage wildlife, while utilising the existing pond to provide a tranquil setting for residents. Jenny Bachelor, associate architect at IDP, said: “IDP is incredibly proud to have been involved with The Forge since early concept sketches and development of the brief. As a multi-disciplinary practice experienced in quality healthcare design our involvement has embodied architectural design and services, interior design, landscaping, technical delivery and cost consultancy, and we are very much excited to see the homes built as they were intended to be. “It is such a unique and forward-thinking project in its care model and design and it is a real credit to Forge Care and the wider team that this has been made possible. “The design encompasses a collection of four truly bespoke homes nestled within intimate gardens and individually designed to orientate outlook and maximise connectivity to the beautiful site, all in the interest of aiding recovery. Each en-suite bedroom also has its own window seat towards the main garden and a soft natural and monochrome finish has been used to offer a calming backdrop to the colourful interior design. “The Forge seeks to provide a safe and nurturing environment very much in tune with the high level of care that will be provided there, yet its playfulness encourages a sense of adventure and intrigue.” As well as the four care homes, there will be 21 car parking spaces, including two disabled spaces and cycle parking for staff. The existing community building is to remain on site. The development received planning approval from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in 2018 with funding finalised last year from Assetz Capital. The residential development is expected to be completed by Christmas 2021. To find out more about The Forge visit www.forgecare.co.uk. To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk. Join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
GRAHAM has welcomed the “next generation of talent” to its Civil Engineering Graduate Programme. An official launch day, hosted virtually at the end of last year, signalled the start of the structured two-year programme for 22 new recruits who recently graduated from a variety of leading universities spread across the UK. They were selected from a strong pool of over 300 applicants. Due to the lockdown restrictions, this year’s event was hosted online, with the interactive session providing the graduates with an insight into how they can fast track their careers with one of the UK’s leading civil engineering contractors. The graduate scheme is a mix of technical, personal, and management style development. Each of the participants will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from their degree courses on a range of GRAHAM’s most high-profile civil engineering projects, including Crossrail station upgrades for Network Rail, Northern Ireland Water, the Port of Dundee, and major improvement works for Highways England. GRAHAM Managing Director – Civil Engineering, Leo Martin, believes nurturing talent has been key to GRAHAM’s strong growth. He said: “Every year, it is a privilege for me to introduce the next generation of talent to our civil engineering division and to equip them with the tools to grow and become future leaders at GRAHAM. “Of course, we have faced considerable challenges presented by the pandemic over the past year, but I was more determined than ever to recruit a similar number of graduates as we normally do. And Covid-19 has not knocked us off course in this regard. That also goes for the content and delivery of the programme, which will be as engaging, practically-based, and interactive as always. “As one of the first companies in the UK to be accredited Platinum by Investors in People, we believe that nurturing and investing in the next generation of talent is crucial for the long-term success and sustainability of GRAHAM. That is why I am committed to giving young people opportunities, especially when so many avenues to employment are being closed to them. I am looking forward to working with, and learning from, this talented batch of graduates now and into the future.” The Civil Engineering Graduate Programme is part of the GRAHAM Academy, which is an in-house world-class training and development centre. It offers a range of graduate programmes, industrial and undergraduate placements, part-time university study, apprenticeships, work experience, and trainee opportunities. Since 2015, the GRAHAM Academy has seen more than 120 graduates successfully through its programme. GRAHAM are proud members of the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme, an industry –wide initiative that aims to make workplaces better for everyone. For more information, please visit: www.graham.co.uk/careers
HS2 Ltd, Highways England, Network Rail and Transport for London have joined forces in encouraging small and medium sized businesses to register for free training courses, designed to improve their prospects of meeting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) supply chain requirements and help them secure future contract opportunities. Working in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School, the four transport bodies want to make it easier for companies to demonstrate their commitment to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) agenda. The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme has been developed for the construction industry to provide an industry context to the EDI agenda. The Supply Chain Sustainability School is recognised as a leading training provider and has supported SMEs with accessing free training since 2012. Through the FIR programme they have supported over 2,000 businesses, helping them to improve their understanding of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect, and its importance in the workplace. All four organisations outline good practice standards and requirements expected from suppliers to win work. Collectively, the four bodies are now supporting UK businesses to get ‘contract ready’ by providing access to a consistent source of training. This removes the requirement for businesses to complete numerous training and assessment programmes to satisfy multiple clients. The CITB have funded the FIR Programme for five years, but with the economic impact of COVID they had to reduce funding for this financial year, which meant the FIR programme faced challenges in sustaining its full offer of training. HS2 Ltd, Highways England, Network Rail and Transport for London stepped in to support the FIR programme, to ensure SMEs can continue to access courses free of charge to support their long-term growth prospects and maintain consistency in the UK’s pipeline of infrastructure programmes. Mark Lomas, Head of EDI at HS2 Ltd said; “We’re passionate about improving EDI and FIRs outcomes right across our supply chain. A project the size, scale and longevity of HS2 offers a unique opportunity to deliver measured improvements that can improve people’s working lives and career prospects. We’re proud to be supporting this initiative and hope to see many SMEs registering to take part.” Malcolm Dare, Executive Director of Commercial and Procurement at Highways England, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with HS2, Network Rail and TfL and the Supply Chain Sustainability School to grow our supply chains’ EDI capability and resilience. We are committed to this agenda and are looking to bring positive and lasting change by delivering meaningful social impact and value through this work.” Loraine Martins, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail said: “The opportunity to collaborate with Highways England, HS2 and TfL to support our respective and often shared supply chains, so that we are building diversity and inclusion confidence and practices within our sector, was too important to miss. The more that we can spread best practice and raise standards together, the more beneficial to our collective workforces. We’re pleased to be able to support the Supply Chain Sustainability School in this way and to further our shared ambition to have a more diverse and inclusive working environment.” Staynton Brown, Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Talent at Transport for London, said: “Creating a truly diverse and inclusive culture within our sector brings many benefits in delivering a transport network that reflects the communities it serves. This starts with educating and influencing the biases and behaviours of those who work within our industry. “We are proud to working with the transport industry to continue our support for these free courses that the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect programme provides. This training will help our critical UK-wide supply chain partners improve upon the great work many are already doing. This will help to continue to drive down barriers and ensure working in transport infrastructure projects is truly accessible to all.” Businesses can access free online EDI/FIR training pathways at www.supplychainschool.co.uk/fir which cover the following topics: FIR e-learning: Recruiting People, Fairly and Inclusively FIR e-learning: Managing Challenging Conversations The Business Case for Fairness, Inclusion & Respect Monitoring & Reporting Workplace Diversity FIR in Procurement and Supply Chain Management Understanding Unconscious bias Mental wellbeing in Construction Completion of online courses allows participants to gain CPD points and access bespoke action plans which promote the implementation of good practice workplace standards. Ian Heptonstall, Director of the Supply Chain Sustainability School said: “I’m delighted that we have four leading infrastructure clients providing a clear and consistent “ask” of their supply chain. The funding provided by these clients enables suppliers to access construction specific training that will help them develop their knowledge of equality and diversity good practice and in turn foster a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect within their teams – making our industry better for all.” For more information and to register for the free online learning sessions, visit supplychainschool.co.uk
Property demand in the UK has been rising in recent years for both residential and commercial properties. Higher demand means good news for property developers but correlates to lower yields for investors, particularly when combined with new and unfavourable tax regimes in the UK. Investors looking at the property market are therefore facing new challenges. Marlborough Securities has developed a fully asset-backed Bond that has been designed specifically to help investors not only overcome these challenges, but also take advantage of new market opportunities post-COVID-19. As the issuer, Marlborough Securities will be issuing Secured Notes up to a maximum value of GBP 50,000,000. Each note will have a nominal value of £1,000, $1,000 or €1,000. Marlborough Securities aims its products at self-certified high-net-worth individuals and sophisticated investors. The minimum investment for this Bond will be set at £100,000. There is no maximum investment threshold beyond the maximum number of notes. The investment offers fixed returns in GBP of 9.25%, equating to 46.25% in Interest Distribution over the five years of the investment term. For euros, the fixed-rate return will be 8% and for US dollars 8.5%. The investment has 100% allocation and no initial charges, with interest paid on a 12-monthly basis, following the first payment 15 months after the initial investment. At the end of the five years, the original invested amount becomes repayable, along with any accrued interest. The investment monies raised will generate short-term bridging loans for property developers and small and medium-sized enterprises in the south-east of England, which is typically one of the most lucrative property markets. The nature of the loans, which will provide seed financing, will be high-interest and over-collateralised with a short timescale. This over-collateralisation helps protect investors and all loans are secured against company and/or shareholder/principal assets. The portfolio may also be adapted throughout the lifecycle of the investment should new opportunities arise, overseen by a team of expert advisors. The Advisory Team includes Andrew Green, founder of Grosvenor Bridging Loans Limited, a bridging finance specialist based in London that focuses on high quality short-dated loans. Mr Green has executed and redeemed over £300 million of loans with no defaults to date, with a 25-year track record of success. As well doing £15 million of lending in the last six months, Marlborough Securities has another £10 million pending on deals, most of which are only out for 18 months before being renewed. Marlborough Securities is exploring a comprehensive portfolio of assets that will include residential properties and commercial opportunities. LTV has risen in the bridging market from between 65% and 70% to 75% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates dropping to around 0.55% PM. This facilitates Marlborough Securities offering a blended rate that is more attractive to the borrower. Some locations in the target area have seen a rise of over 7% in the past few months. Portfolio investments include luxury housing, hotel development and buy-to-let properties.
Leading hospitality and retail design agency UXUS announce the details of Luna, a new interior concept for McDonald’s designed to bring people together in a welcoming, playful and shareable environment. UXUS have developed a unique design language for McDonald’s inspired by the circle as a symbol of inclusivity, unity and togetherness. Initially developed for the Chinese market, the Luna concept will now be rolled out globally. The hospitality experience developed by UXUS breaks expectations of traditional décor by incorporating new circular and semi-circular seating typologies symbolising inclusivity and connectivity, which allow people to come together in the round. Stools and free-seating encourage diners to shape their own experience, while layers of partitions and inviting ‘full-moon’ windows create transparency throughout the space, revealing the communal environment and connecting adjacent groups of diners. “Connecting is more important today than ever before. We continuously share moments of our lives with friends and family and search to connect with the world around us in meaningful ways. Luna embodies a sense of connectivity and togetherness, without compromising efficiency, durability or cost-effectiveness. The way the concept brings these together with new interior architecture, graphic elements and materiality using iconic circular shapes is a refreshed, contemporary expression of the brand that still feels very much grounded in McDonald’s familiar and much-loved brand language,” said George Gottl, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of UXUS. UXUS have applied a new approach to materiality, colour and texture to amplify a sense of discovery. Wooden finishes, textured vinyl upholstery, perforated steel and concrete-look laminate create an immersive environment that engages the senses. In addition, lighting incorporating curved shapes and circles as well as illuminated surfaces and down-lit walls create depth and a warm, welcoming environment. The interior also features a playful take on McDonald’s iconic Golden Arches, with arch-inspired stools, bold graphics and lighting which reimagine iconic branded elements in surprising and unexpected ways. “We continually have our customers top of mind when we design spaces for them to come together to dine. Enjoying a meal with friends, family or colleagues is perhaps the most social of events and creating environments that can make that experience easy, convenient, safe and rewarding is what we constantly strive to achieve. Luna, as developed with UXUS, ticks those boxes and it is a concept we are starting to scale around the world. And when dine-in restrictions resulting from COVID become increasingly eased, we look forward to welcoming even more guests back to our dining areas to enjoy the McDonald’s experience and for some, the delights of Luna,“ commented Stephen Douglas, Senior Director, Global Development at McDonald’s.
Family-run Seddon, which knows first-hand the importance of cancer treatment, is pledging to raise £175,000 toward a new state-of-the-art cancer centre. The Bolton-based construction firm has once again teamed up with The Christie charity to help raise funds – this time for the new Christie at Macclesfield cancer centre. Seddon – which has been supporting The Christie charity for nearly 25 years – has pledged to donate £250 for every new house it sells nationwide under its Seddon Homes brand. The fundraising drive will run until the end of 2022,raising vital donations for the new £26m cancer centre, which is due to open at the end of the year. Seddon is aiming to sell nearly 700 homes nationwide to raise the incredible sum for the charity. The company hopes its fundraising model will inspire other local construction businesses to support The Christie in the same way. The Seddon family know all too well how important the work of The Christie is, with two family members receiving treatment at the specialist cancer hospital. Seddon began supporting The Christie charity in 1997 when, as part of Seddon’s centenary celebrations, staff raised many thousands of pounds that helped to fund two operating theatres. The partnership developed further in 2009/2010 when Seddon became a Christie charity corporate partner and raised more than £400k towards a revolutionary treatment called radioimmunotherapy or ‘Magic Bullet’ – a treatment that blasts tumours with radioactive material. During these two years, Seddon staff ran, cycled, swam and walked hundreds of miles in teambuilding and fundraising events. In 2017, Seddon committed to a further two-year fundraising partnership by making The Christie its Charity of Choice, with all national fundraising initiatives supporting the charity. Over the years the company has raised an incredible £875,000 and helped fund a wide variety of projects and contributed to the development of a range of pioneering treatments and valuable cancer research, including proton beam therapy research. “We are thrilled at this latest pledge of support from Seddon which is a much respected and longstanding supporter of our charity. It is through partnerships like this that we can bring the vision of a new cancer centre in Macclesfield to reality. It is an extremely generous pledge from Seddon which is very much appreciated and will directly improve services for a huge number of patients for many years to come,” said Marie Toller, head of major relationships at The Christie charity. The Christie at Macclesfield will transform cancer care in Cheshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire and parts of North Staffordshire, providing care closer to home for more than 1,500 existing Christie patients a year. It will bring together essential cancer services into one purpose-built centre delivering local specialist access to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, holistic support and information services, outpatient care, palliative care and a wider range of clinical trials. Around 40,000 appointments per year will take place at the new centre. The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust was the first specialist trust to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ twice (in 2016 and 2018) by the health regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It referred to The Christie as ‘a leader in cancer care’ and ‘a pioneer in developing innovative solutions to cancer care.’ The CQC praised the Trust’s staff which it said ‘go the extra mile to meet the needs of patients and their families’ and that they were ‘exceptionally kind and caring.’ In 2017, the CQC rated The Christie as the best specialist trust in the country, and one of the top three trusts overall in England.
Multi award-winning student accommodation brand true student has been confirmed to operate and manage a landmark £100 million student accommodation development opening for guests this September. Occupying a prime 1.14-acre site on Erskine Street, the 999-bed development, within walking distance of both the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, will bring a unique offering to Liverpool’s vibrant student market. Liverpool remains one of the UK’s most popular locations for both UK and international students, creating a high demand for accommodation in the heart of the city, and yet the supply of high-quality purpose-built student accommodation within the city still remains relatively low. Fittingly situated within the Knowledge Quarter, true Liverpool will typify the brand’s core pillars of health, community and experience in order to become firmly established as the first choice for all-inclusive luxury student accommodation within the city. “We’re excited to be bringing our award-winning offering to Liverpool. The expansion into Liverpool’s thriving domestic and international student market marks another step in establishing the brand as a major player in the PBSA management arena. true Liverpool will exemplify the trueLife experience, working hard to not only provide world-class student accommodation but to support and encourage our student guests through a market-leading programme of opportunities focused on wellbeing and personal development,” said Ben Morley, Managing Director of true student. Guests will benefit from high-quality shared apartments and individual suites, enjoying a wide range of amenities which include a state-of-the-art gym, study rooms, a festival zone and cinema room, as well as a unique top floor sky lounge and terrace, offering stunning 360° panoramic views across the City. Wellbeing and mental health support are key aspects of the brand’s offering, along with free cleaning, all-inclusive bills and much more, and guests will also enjoy the amazing trueLifeevents calendar, packed full of compelling opportunities to learn, discover and explore. Owned by The Bricks Group, who currently operate across student, co-living and hotel sectors, the experience-led true student brand already operates more than 3,500 beds across the UK. Historically developer-operators, true Liverpool will mark the brand’s first engagement as property managers mid-construction, allowing the team to put the ‘true student’ stamp on a part-built development and optimise the rooms and spaces, creating the unique true student experience.
There’s nothing new about flickering lights, electrical wiring, and device installation in the home. Electrical projects are among the most common issues homeowners have to deal with on a daily basis. And because we all know how easy these situations could go south, the first instinct is to fix them. Hiring a technician to fix the problem is something some people deem financially unnecessary. Why spend money when you can do it yourself? However, what most of them fail to acknowledge is that not everyone can handle an electrical project. Going DIY on an electrical project could go south real fast, which could only end up costing you more. Before getting your tool box and going to work, determine whether this is a situation that requires the expert skills of a technician or not. If the project is beyond your skill set, you should call up an electrician for assistance. What are some of the situations you may need to hire a professional to tackle an electrical project in the home? Let’s dive into the article and find out. Rewiring the house Choosing to rewire your house may seem like a great idea until you find other systems such as electrical switches and circuits you never would have known existed. Before you get ahead of yourself, you should know that the house’s wiring is connected to a broader interdependent network. On the surface, it may look simple, but it is more complicated than that. It takes a professional to find their way around the system and rewire the house with no problem. 2. Replacing control panels Flickering lights are a common sign that your control panel has a problem. What you might assume is a minor inconvenience could be part of a bigger problem. Looking up a few guidelines on the internet will not cut it. Your control panel may need servicing or replacement; either way, you need to know the NEC code regulations to do this. The best solution is to call up your local electrician in Surrey and have them look into the problem. 3. Relocating the power grid You may think, ‘Who needs an electrician when you can YouTube your way around relocating a power grid?’ Trust us; it’s not that simple. If you do not want to end up with a blackout or an accident, get a professional electrician to do it. It will save you both time and money to trust your electrical contractor with the project when you think of it. 4. Installing additional light Adding a new light where there was no sign of one requires one to get into the wiring and figure out how to run it to where it is needed. If you have no understanding of outlets and how an electrical circuit works, do not risk it. Call a professional electrician with knowledge, experience, and tools to install an outlet for your light. 5. Tripping circuit breakers Overcoming this kind of problem is straightforward once you determine which appliance is causing your circuit breaker to trip. However, if you’re still unable to determine what’s causing it, then you may need a commercial electrical contractor to step in and help. 6. Power outlets or switches are warm to the touch This can sometimes indicate that an electrical system is overloaded, which can usually lead to electric shocks, and worse, cause fire. Although there are many videos you can find online teaching you how to replace your electrical outlets, replacing or installing an electrical outlet of light switch is a project that needs a licensed and trained electrician. 7. Installing a security system Technology is a gift that keeps on giving and security systems in the 21st century are a testament. As the security systems have upgraded to ensure more safety, the more complicated they have become. The manual instructions that once guided homeowners through the installation are no longer the all-you-need guide. It is best to seek the help of an experienced Surrey electrician to do the installation. While this minimizes your frustration, it also ensures installation is done correctly. Why hire an electrician? Here are some of the reasons you shouldn’t risk solving the above-mentioned electrical problems yourself. Reduce the risk of short circuit and fires: Incorrect wiring installation at home increases the likelihood of causing a short circuit, which can usually lead to heat build-up, melting your wiring and cause electrical fire. Conforming to building codes: A licensed electrician is required to handle wiring work and conform with building codes. These codes are complicated and detailed and failure to follow it can be dangerous and even make your property difficult to sell. Final Thoughts Recommending that you hire a professional electrical contractor in these cases does not mean you will no longer change your bulb. As long as you leave the technical stuff to the experts, you can change as many bulbs as you want. What we simply mean is if you do not know your way around an electrical system, it is both safe and convenient to have an expert do it for you. Do some digging on professional electricians in your area and hire one best for your electrical needs.
