Goodman has broken ground on 250,000 sq ft of prime distribution and logistics space at Bedford Commercial Park. Work commences on a further 250,000 sq ft of prime distribution and logistics space at Bedford Commercial Park Phase two of development follows leasing of 407,143 sq ft distribution warehouse and completion
An innovative modular North East housebuilder is expanding the business by recruiting a team of people with a diverse skillset. CoreHaus, which recently set up a manufacturing facility in a 20,000 sq ft unit on Jade Business Park, Murton, near Seaham in County Durham recently assembled its senior team and
HS2 today began the search for a specialist contractor to build the high speed rail project’s central control centre and maintenance depot, which will create around 500 long-term jobs in Birmingham’s Washwood Heath. The contract – worth an estimated £275m – will see the winning bidder work with HS2 Ltd
The UK’s leading student accommodation platform, UniHomes, has called on letting agents and landlords within the student rental sector to act with greater vigilance, as changes to the model tenancy agreement could lead to an increase in the number of students opting to have a pet while at university. Lockdown
Construction businesses are more likely to win bids if they can guarantee high-quality work, while sticking to a budget and a deadline. Meeting all three criteria can be a challenge, but could technology make it simple? Here Peter Brooks, Regional Sales Manager at SITECH, the UK & Ireland’s exclusive distributor
Aptus Utilities, a leading multi utility connections provider is reporting an impressive start to 2021 despite the ongoing challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. The Bolton headquartered business secured 42 contracts with over 2900 plots in the month of January alone. This represents work with 25 clients across all 5
The UK’s largest privately owned drainage contractors has over 80 roles up for grabs at its depots across the country. Employing over 2200 staff across 25 depots throughout the UK, Lanes Group is recruiting for a wide variety of positions within the drainage industry, including drivers, engineers and groundworkers. While
Lipton Plant Architects have transformed an apartment overlooking Regent’s Park in central London, part of the palatial, Grade I listed, Nash designed terrace, York Terrace. The practice was engaged by an existing client to ‘rethink’ their home and to enhance the connection between the interiors, architecture and stunning park surroundings.
Matt Mccall is one of the latest stock traders to turn their hand to an online trading platform. Mccall joins the growing trend of traders leaving Wall Street to help ‘the average man’ make money by investing in stocks. Mccall has very little online presence and isn’t even the first
Goodman has broken ground on 250,000 sq ft of prime distribution and logistics space at Bedford Commercial Park. Work commences on a further 250,000 sq ft of prime distribution and logistics space at Bedford Commercial Park Phase two of development follows leasing of 407,143 sq ft distribution warehouse and completion of i-Worx innovation units Strategic location at heart of Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor to provide customers with access to 32 million consumers within a two-hour drivetime* The high-specification units consisting of 130,000 sq ft, 50,000 sq ft, 40,000 sq ft and 30,000 sq ft respectively, will see Goodman deliver prime industrial and warehousing space available for occupation from Autumn 2021. Adjacent to the A421 – just seven miles from the M1 and 12 miles from the A1 Black Cat Roundabout – the mixed-use development boasts excellent connectivity and access to a population of 15,400 seeking work within a 30-mile catchment area.* Work on the latest units follows Goodman’s completion and leasing of Bedford 405, a 407,143 sq ft cross-docked warehouse at Bedford Commercial Park. Delivered as a joint venture with Bedford Borough Council, the wider development includes bespoke design and build opportunities and 12 advanced technology and engineering units, forming part of the Council’s i-Brand initiative. Nigel Dolan, Development Director at Goodman, said: “We’re pleased to begin work on the next phase of development at Bedford Commercial Park. These latest units form part of our ongoing commitment to invest in high-specification, efficient and sustainable spaces in strategically-placed locations, providing customers with access to a large consumer-base and potential workforce. “Combining quality and location, customers will be able to strengthen their presence at the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor and benefit from close proximity to London, Cambridge and Milton Keynes, as well as links to key roads, airports and ports.” Located within a landscaped park environment complete with cycle links, extensive woodland planting and a community orchard, Bedford 130, 50, 40 and 30 reflect Goodman’s focus on sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. The buildings will feature solar photovoltaic technology, electric car charging points, smart metering and a carbon neutral cladding system – all designed to a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘Excellent’ standard. Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough Council, added: “Goodman’s ongoing commitment to Bedford Commercial Park, and delivering quality space for businesses to thrive, is testament to the confidence they – and their customers – have in the area. The fact that through this next phase of development, Goodman will deliver a mix of units while all being built to its well-known high standards, will help to attract a range of customers from industries such as logistics, engineering, aviation and manufacturing. “Bedford Borough Council has proactively brought its land interest forward, in conjunction with developer partners, to deliver high quality commercial space which has successfully attracted business inward investment and created new job opportunities for local people. “We look forward to seeing Goodman’s latest investment support the continued growth of the Borough as more look to benefit from its strategic location, offering new opportunities to people in the area.” The contractor delivering this latest phase for Goodman at Bedford Commercial Park is Readie Construction. Agents marketing the scheme are JLL and Adroit Real Estate Advisors. For further information and to enquire about the Phase 2 opportunities, please visit the property page for more details.
An innovative modular North East housebuilder is expanding the business by recruiting a team of people with a diverse skillset. CoreHaus, which recently set up a manufacturing facility in a 20,000 sq ft unit on Jade Business Park, Murton, near Seaham in County Durham recently assembled its senior team and is now steadily recruiting the workforce. But the team are not only the usual workforce with brickies and skills that many housebuilders turn to – rather, they often have technical and engineering backgrounds too. Joining the management team are Robin Gill as technical manager, along with Dan Selby, as production manager. Robin has operated as a principle engineer with more than 42 years’ experience in multiple sectors ranging from power generation to high-performance aerospace manufacturing and process development. Dan Selby is a senior operations manager with a strong technical background in construction. He has around 17 years’ experience in modern methods of construction. Scott Bibby, MD of CoreHaus, said: “Both Robin and Dan bring a wealth of different experience to their roles. Dan’s background is more directly related to the modular construction environment whereas Robin brings a technical engineering, product quality and process control to the team. “We’re doing something different in the modular housebuilding sector and need people who think and work differently. Our production and designs draw on modern, technical skills and innovation. We have a real opportunity to break the current mould, bring about change in housebuilding and construction.” Due to the nature of its steel-frame build, CoreHaus will adopt a different production methodology to most housebuilding. Technicians will be needed in the new factory who have engineering qualifications and are agile at problem solving in a technical environment. Scott added: “We are recruiting people from different industries to create a diverse workforce with a growth mindset. We need engineering skills and construction experience combined with a creative way of thinking.” This philosophy has been applied to the recruitment of the first five technicians – Chris Archer, Adam Willis, Kenny Walker, Peter Rowe and Paul Seager. For instance, Paul Seager joins CoreHaus as a fully qualified domestic gas and plumbing engineer having also worked in the rail manufacturing industry. Peter Rowe has a varied background predominantly within high level engineering companies such as Maclaren Racing and Hitachi. Kenny has construction experience combined with military aviation and manufacturing. Adam joins fresh from a lightweight steel manufacturer with experience in timber-frame modular construction too. Chris brings a wealth of experience from a variety of roles within construction and engineering. Scott is liaising with Derwentside College to discuss the kind of multi-skilled young people he would like to recruit, train, and develop going forwards. “We’re looking for a new breed of technicians as well as apprentices with a different mindset. We want people to love the job, to really want to come to work and get a buzz from the work they will be doing,” he explained. CoreHaus is a joint-venture company between Carlton & Co Group, the parent company behind North East based Homes by Carlton, and national social enterprise Fusion21, specialists in public procurement for the built environment. The five-year plan will see CoreHaus producing around 1,000 modular homes a year, which will result in more than 100 people working across the business. These homes will be built using modern methods of construction (MMC) which will result in high quality homes, built faster, with engineered precision and expected lower energy bills. More details at www.corehaus.co.uk
HS2 today began the search for a specialist contractor to build the high speed rail project’s central control centre and maintenance depot, which will create around 500 long-term jobs in Birmingham’s Washwood Heath. The contract – worth an estimated £275m – will see the winning bidder work with HS2 Ltd to transform the 30 hectare brown field site into the nerve centre of the HS2 network. From this point, next to the main line into Birmingham Curzon Street, HS2’s fleet of state-of-the-art high-speed trains will be serviced and maintained, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – ready to provide an unparalleled level of frequency and reliability for passengers across the UK. The depot will include a 40,000 m2 Rolling Stock Maintenance Building, Carriage Wash, Automatic Vehicle Inspection Building and 14 sidings where trains can be stored overnight. Also on the same site will be the Network Integrated Control Centre, the centre of the network’s state-of-the-art signalling and control systems as well as office buildings for cleaners and drivers. HS2 Ltd’s Commercial Director, David Poole said: “The start of the search for a contractor to build Washwood Heath is a real milestone for the HS2 project and a huge long-term opportunity for the area. With main works civils construction now well underway, we are putting the specialist team in place to support operation of the new railway. “Washwood Heath will be at the heart of the operation – and around 500 high skilled jobs based at the depot will be a major boost for the community.” The Washwood Heath site was formerly home to the disused Metro-Cammell railway works which closed in 2004. A team from HS2’s early works contractor LM, completed the demolition of the buildings on the site last year, ready for the start of construction. Once operational, Phase One and 2a will have a fleet of at least 54 trains which will be based at Washwood Heath. These 200m long units can be doubled up to create 400m long trains and will serve destinations beyond the HS2 network – like Liverpool, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow – via a connection to the existing West Coast Main Line at Crewe. Bidders are expected to be shortlisted for the single-stage design and build contract in the summer with contract award in 2023.
The UK’s leading student accommodation platform, UniHomes, has called on letting agents and landlords within the student rental sector to act with greater vigilance, as changes to the model tenancy agreement could lead to an increase in the number of students opting to have a pet while at university. Lockdown has caused a spike in pet ownership as many look to fill the boredom of days spent inside, as well as finding a new reason to venture out for some fresh air. Research by the PFMA has found that so far 2.1m people have added a pet to their family while in lockdown, with a further 1.8m planning to join them soon. However, the downside to this surge in knee-jerk pet ownership has inevitably been an increase in pets being abandoned, with the RSPCA revealing that 4,600 animals were dumped on them last winter alone; including horses, rabbits, cats and dogs to name but a few. UniHomes fears that this is a trend that could soon start to sweep the student rental sector due to recent changes to the model tenancy agreement now allowing well-behaved pets in rental properties. Research by UniHomes found that just 6% of all student accommodation currently listed on the market is pet friendly. However, UniHomes also found that while just 10% of students currently choose to have their pet live with them, 48% would have a pet at uni if ‘pet friendly’ accommodation was more widely available. Under the new laws now in place, a blanket ban on pets within the rental sector is no longer allowed. Instead, landlords must object in writing within 28 days of a pet request from a tenant. Rejections should only be made for a good reason such as the property being unpractical for the pet in question. Tenants will also remain legally responsible for any damages and the cost incurred. With no distinction made between regular and student rental properties, an easing of pet rental restrictions coupled with ongoing lockdown restrictions could cause an uplift in pet ownership amongst students. The unfortunate consequence of which could be an increase in pets being abandoned come the end of term time. Co-Founder of UniHomes, Phil Greaves commented: “Recent amendments to the model tenancy agreement mean that more landlords could be about to open up their homes to well-behaved pet roommates for students studying at university. However, we would urge both landlords and letting agents to be vigilant when it comes to student pet rental requests and consider the welfare of the animal as much as the potential impact on their property. We’ve seen numerous cases where students have left pets for the landlord or agent to deal with once they’ve finished their studies and we wouldn’t advise it for students who are keen to live the party lifestyle.” Survey of 1,068 UK students carried out by Find Out Now (11th February 2021). Do you have a pet in your student accommodation? Answer Respondents No 90% Yes 10% Would you have brought a pet to university if pet-friendly student accommodation was more widely available? Answer Respondents No 52% Yes 48% Location Pet-friendly rentals as a % of all student-specific rental stock Newport 20% London 15% Aberdeen 12% Edinburgh 11% Glasgow 11% Cambridge 6% Plymouth 3% Liverpool 3% Manchester 3% Sunderland 3% Southampton 2% Bradford 2% Birmingham 2% Portsmouth 2% Bournemouth 2% Oxford 2% Bristol 1% Swansea 1% Nottingham 1% Sheffield 1% Leeds 1% Newcastle 0% Leicester 0% Cardiff 0% Belfast 0% All 6% Pet-friendly stock based on the proportion of all student-specific rental stock that allows pets. Data sourced from Zoopla.
Construction businesses are more likely to win bids if they can guarantee high-quality work, while sticking to a budget and a deadline. Meeting all three criteria can be a challenge, but could technology make it simple? Here Peter Brooks, Regional Sales Manager at SITECH, the UK & Ireland’s exclusive distributor of Trimble® machine control technology, explores the answer. According to the UK Government, there were around 343,000 registered construction businesses operating in 2019 — new orders to the industry in 2018 were worth around £61.7 billion. In a competitive marketplace, construction businesses cain gain a competitive edge by proving that they can offer a better service at a better price. Investing in tools to improve productivity could be the answer, as they can reduce the need for reworking, reduce material costs and therefore help meet a customer’s expectations in term of budget and time frame. On the same page Communication between all parties is vital to a successful construction project. Designers, architects, surveyors, engineers and machine operators must coordinate to ensure that every process is completed accurately and to deadline. Parties often exchange paper plans across teams, so any changes are slow to reach operators completing the physical work. Working from a paper plan also means that surveyors need to regularly check that every member of the team is working to the latest revision of the design. Moving to digital communication can speed up the distribution of 3D Models to reduce the risk of errors. For example, machine control technology can be fitted to machines cabs so that operators can directly receive the 3D computer aided design (CAD) model from the surveyors or designers. Two-way data flow between equipment operators and the office means any changes can be communicated immediately and everyone is on the same page. In addition, surveyors and designers can send design changes straight to the machine and operators have the ability to record as built data manually or automatically to enable surveyors and the project team to see volumes and progress to keep everyone updated on the status of the work. An added bonus is that if urgent assistance is needed on the machine, the machine control provider (SITECH) or the surveyors can also offer immediate remote advice and assistance by communicating directly with the system on the machine over a GSM link. No second guessing When removing material from a site in preparation for new infrastructure, operators have to consider a variety of factors to ensure they dig efficiently, safely, accurately and within tolerance. Adding material is more expensive than removing existing material, so operators are often cautious at this stage of a project. An operator inside the cab and an engineer outside will work together to ensure machinery is ready to dig at the correct level and will slowly remove or fill material in layers. Fitting machinery with Trimble® Earthworks technology means that the operator has all the information they need inside the cab. Operators can simply input data from the 3D Models into the machine and excavate materials precisely, improving the accuracy of the work completed and reducing the time taken to excavate. In a study by Trimble® and Caterpillar that compared conventional equipment to digitised construction equipment, the same work was completed in almost half the time with less than half the passes and twice the accuracy. As construction companies see the accuracy of their work increase, while reducing the time taken to complete work, they will also see a reduction in costs. For example, more accurate excavation and movement of material will lead to reductions in fuel consumption and material costs. Once contractors see these savings, they can price up potential bids more efficiently and ensure that clients get the best service possible, meeting both their expectations and their budget. A gradual process Technology isn’t a quick fix that businesses should hurry to invest in to compete with the hundreds of other businesses operating the UK. Taking the time to find the right solution will help construction businesses see the most return on investment. Our consultants work with contractors to review a project and a customer’s existing fleet before suggesting any technology. Then, construction businesses can trial the right machine control system for them, key is making sure at an early stage that the system is a flexible as possible. Fitting several machines with install kits, and then having a flexible machine control system which is easily transferable across their fleet of varying machine types, is usually the most cost effective way forward. Are you interested in discovering if technology is the answer to you becoming more competitive? Visit www.sitechukandireland.com to speak to our experts.
Aptus Utilities, a leading multi utility connections provider is reporting an impressive start to 2021 despite the ongoing challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. The Bolton headquartered business secured 42 contracts with over 2900 plots in the month of January alone. This represents work with 25 clients across all 5 regions that they operate it. The month was also further bolstered by 5 new client wins. To support this continued success the company continues to grow and has recruited 14 additional members to the team during January. The Aptus Utilities operations team also delivered 100% of the months 700+ plot connections within the 10 day call off period. The stellar start to 2021 follows a solid performance in 2020 which saw the company secure 279 contracts, 89 new clients and delivering more than 9000 plot connections across the year. Lisa Kerford, Managing Director, from Aptus Utilities says “2020 was a challenging year but thanks to the hard work and commitment of all of our colleagues we continued to grow. Our advanced multi utility capability and exceptional customer service sets us apart from competitors and has been pivotal to the company’s success, helping to cement Aptus Utilities’ position as a leading multi utility provider within the UK housebuilding industry.” During a decade in the industry Aptus has built strong working relationships with local highway authorities and existing utility network owners, enabling them to consistently provide clients with a first-rate streamlined service. By providing excellent customer service and ensuring that all tenders are issued with a fully inclusive scope of works, clients can be assured of an end-to-end fully-managed project. For more information on Aptus Utilities visit www.aptusutilities.co.uk.
The UK’s largest privately owned drainage contractors has over 80 roles up for grabs at its depots across the country. Employing over 2200 staff across 25 depots throughout the UK, Lanes Group is recruiting for a wide variety of positions within the drainage industry, including drivers, engineers and groundworkers. While previous drainage experience is beneficial, it is not essential with extensive on the job training provided. “We are always looking for new talent to join our team and want to hear from people who are genuinely interested in building a career in the UK drainage industry. It might be messy at times, but it is a hugely rewarding industry in which to work. Our team has joined us after hugely varied careers, working in everything from hospitality and accountancy to car sales, you’d be amazed at the variety of past roles our team have held,” said about the roles on offer, Debi Bell, Head of HR Services and Lanes Group. Lanes Group are willing to consider candidates with a broad range of past experience and recognise the value of transferable skills. Some skills the team look for when recruiting, include being polite, respectful and willing to observe all health and safety procedures. The nature of onsite work means that hopefuls must be comfortable working outside, willing to deal with drainage issues and happy to work shifts. Roles are available everywhere from Plymouth and Slough to Manchester and Sheffield, and jobseekers across the UK are encouraged to apply. With a turnover of more than £200 million, Lanes Group provides long-term employment and career development opportunities for employees at every stage of their career.
Lipton Plant Architects have transformed an apartment overlooking Regent’s Park in central London, part of the palatial, Grade I listed, Nash designed terrace, York Terrace. The practice was engaged by an existing client to ‘rethink’ their home and to enhance the connection between the interiors, architecture and stunning park surroundings. They drew inspiration from John Nash’s original vision for York Terrace and the landscape beyond, which was designed to interact like an auditorium and a stage. With carefully framed views and staged settings, this ‘metropolitan picturesque theatre’ was intended to be enjoyed looking to and from, between the interiors and the park. Modernising and expanding on Nash’s intended arrangement, Lipton Plant Architects has reimagined and recreated a sense of theatre. Internally, the huge 60ft central room is now framed by multiple ‘opened’ rooms, each with new views, through the columns, across the interiors and beyond across the park. The design also celebrates the terrace’s layers of history. Concrete columns created to remedy extensive WWII bomb damage have been revealed, cast and multiplied to dramatic effect. Spaces with distinctively different characters cleverly connect through new views, through staggered levels and grand double and triple height spaces. Lipton Plant Architects commissioned bespoke, hand-crafted furniture for the scheme which delicately balances both Georgian and contemporary sensibilities. Along with reinstated period features such as new shutters and cornicing, more contemporary elements have been introduced such as the bronze handrail and gaboon timber walls and eye-catching blue linen lines the walls of the living space, providing visual warmth, elegance and opulence. The view from each room and of each room is created to be both a backdrop and a dramatic setting, for the unfolding scenes of the occupant’s life. By transforming the entire interior outlook of this expansive apartment, Lipton Plant Architects has staged a completely immersive experience of landscape and architecture. “Working on this project has been a real pleasure for us. We were able to capitalise on the relative freedom from stringent rules that normally govern the refurbishment of a period-building whilst also creating beautifully crafted, elegant interior spaces and finishes that would no doubt satisfy the original designer and occupants,” said Jonathan Plant, Managing Director at Lipton Plant Architects. “We also enjoyed embracing the theatrical analogy, the wider, historical story behind the original design – we wanted to play with this idea of a performance space overlooking the park, with the two half levels above and below the central living space as ‘backstage’ spaces. It was our intention from the outset to celebrate this important story, reconnecting the apartment, as intended, with the park surroundings and creating a new home for our clients which offers both drama and tranquillity.”
Matt Mccall is one of the latest stock traders to turn their hand to an online trading platform. Mccall joins the growing trend of traders leaving Wall Street to help ‘the average man’ make money by investing in stocks. Mccall has very little online presence and isn’t even the first Matt Mccall that comes up during a Google search. For this reason, many people are more vary about purchasing his program, more so than the programs of well-established names like Paul Mampilly and Paul Scolardi. In this article, we’ll be looking at who Matt Mccall is, what his platform has to offer, and how his platform compares to some of the other market leaders. Who is Matt Mccall? Matt Mccall is a former stock trader with a Masters Degree in Science, specializing in Finance. Mccall has over 18 years of experience in finance and investment. He began his time on Wall Street at one of its biggest firms, Charles Shwab. Eventually, Mccall retired from Wall Street and became the lead technical analyst for the radio show and podcast, Winning Wall Street. Since leaving Wall Street Mccall has started many enterprises including Point B publishing house and CrowdVest.Co. He has also written multiple books in an attempt to demystify the world of stock trading for the general public. Since leaving Wall Street he claims to have made over 1000 television appearances. Mccall has also traded Investment Opportunities, a subscription service. His research team shares tips with his subscribers about where they should be investing their money. Mccall has a particular focus on investing in new technology. What does his service offer? ‘Wall Street won’t tell you this, but by the time the general public hears about a major investment trend, the big money has already been made… by those who got there FIRST.’ -Mccall This article will very briefly cover what Mccall’s service can offer its subscribers, if you’re looking for more reviews on Matt Mccall, check out this article. So what do Investment Opportunities subscriptions include, and how much does it cost? Investment Opportunities only comes with one level of subscription that costs $99 for the year. The following things are included in this subscription: Monthly investment reports – Investment Opportunities owner’s manual – This is Mccall’s equivalent to Stocks 101. This manual talks you through the best ways to buy and sell stock; how to research stock before purchasing it; as well as talking you through how Mccall approaches the marker. Urgent Updates – If there is any major news in the market, or a major change in one of Mccall’s focus companies then Investment Opportunities will send out immediate updates to subscribers. Subscriber Only Reports – As part of your subscription, you will also get Mccall’s 12-36 page reports on businesses and parts of the market that he feels are worth watching. If you look into what some of the other trading platforms are offering this does seem very spartan. This is why his prices may be low, Mccall also does not have as big a reputation as some of the other market leaders. How does his service compare to other leading trade platforms? Mccall has a good reputation, solid product, and great pricing – but how does Investment Opportunities compare to the other trading platforms on the market? Investment Opportunities vs Profit Unlimited vs Super Trades Let’s end by comparing Investment Opportunities to its most similar competitors Profit Unlimited and Super Trades. The Prices By looking at the prices of these subscriptions we notice the first major differences between the three big players. Investment Opportunities offers only one level of subscription that costs $99 for the year. A whole year of Investment Opportunities costs less than one month of Super Trades. Super Trades offers two levels of subscription – one for $149 a month, and one for $249 a month. Profit Unlimited offers three different subscription offers ranging from $49 a year, to $479 a year. What they offer Whilst all three companies are run by ex-stock traders the level of advice offered varies wildly. Despite being the second most expensive Investment Opportunities offers the least to its subscribers. See above for more details on what it offers. Profit Unlimited not only offers its subscribers monthly trading advice and emergency updates, but Mampilly also offers a range of daily tips and weekly video calls. Super Trades seems to charge an extraordinary price. However, when you consider that you are sent roughly the same amount daily as Investment Opportunities sends once a month the price starts to make more sense. The subscription also includes weekly videos, a chance to talk to the Superman himself in the chat room, and access to his own investment records.
