Blinds are essential in your household as they provide privacy for everyone who’s inside. You don’t want other people to take a peep inside your home and see what’s happening. Not only can they invade your privacy, but they might even see the inside of your house and watch where
A consideration that you will have to think about when you order your blinds for bifold doors is the particular type of control operation system that you want to opt for. There are five control systems available that are slim and can be used on bifold doors ranging from electric
Today, Monday 8 March, Leeds College of Building is joining others globally in supporting the International Women’s Day campaign ‘Choose To Challenge.’The College has made great strides in pushing gender parity in construction. Female apprentices at Leeds College of Building have also grown from 33 in 2014 to 190 by
ACCORDING to statistics published by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), a mere 12.37% of all engineers in the UK are female. While it’s no secret that engineering has historically been a male-dominated industry, leading multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Dice is challenging the stereotype and providing opportunities to encourage more women to
Despite the government’s promise to wage war on fuel poverty across the housing market in England via the implementation of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) initiative back in January 2013, research by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has found just 7% of properties are in receipt of ECO measures. GetAgent.co.uk
Record numbers of people have been booking places on a CPD created by insulation specialist Actis since it became a RIBA-approved training course at the end of 2020. The much-praised and already very popular session on Addressing the performance gap with reflective insulation looks at how to combat thermal bridging
WOMEN working on construction sites marking International Women’s Day say they are seeing more female faces alongside them than ever before – but more needs to be done to encourage others. Stonewood Partnerships, based in Tormarton and Castle Combe, now has women in almost half its roles, many of whom
Blinds are essential in your household as they provide privacy for everyone who’s inside. You don’t want other people to take a peep inside your home and see what’s happening. Not only can they invade your privacy, but they might even see the inside of your house and watch where you keep your valuables. Apart from privacy, blinds also help to provide elegance and sophistication inside the room. These also provide excellent credibility in controlling the light that passes inside the room as the slats are equally distributed. With that, you need to look for the best blinds you could install in your home. There are plenty of stores like makemyblinds.co.uk where you can find blinds. Just ensure that these are reputable companies. Listed below are the different types of blinds you could choose from: 1. Venetian Blinds Venetian blinds are among the most popular and common types as they provide a classic look for anyone’s home. A Venetian blind has horizontal slats that use aluminum, wood, or plastic as its primary material. You can adjust how the slats go by twisting the wand, and the slats can face upwards or downwards, depending on how you decide to operate it. The way the slats move will determine the direction of the sunlight that goes through inside your home. You can also control how much or how little you’d like your room to lighten up. If you’d like the full light to come inside your homes, you can adjust the height of the Venetian blind by pulling the lift strings downwards, and the full slats should lift upwards, folding into one another. 2. Vertical Blinds A vertical blind works similarly to a Venetian blind, but it moves from side to side rather than going in an up and down motion. A vertical blind has thicker slats that are usually the preferred choice of blinds for office or patio use as they provide a classic and conventional look that’ll look best at any formal setting. They’re also perfect for floor-to-ceiling windows as they can help promote and highlight the windows’ height, allowing the room to look taller and more spacious. 3. Mini blinds A mini blind works just like a Venetian blind, except that they have smaller slats. Each slat of a mini blind is usually one-inch thick. It’s typically perfect for small windows. You can place it in the bathroom or kitchen where the windows aren’t too big. 4. Roman Shades If you’d like to lean towards having a traditional and classic look for your window treatment, you can never go wrong with having Roman shades. A Roman shade uses fabric as its primary material rather than the usual plastic, aluminum, and wood. You can compare a roman shade to a curtain due to the same materials, but it lays more flatly on your windows. A Roman shade is raised and folds itself once you decide to pull them to allow more light to come inside the room. It can be similar to a vertical blind, only that it doesn’t have slats, but rather a whole fabric that folds up. There is no gap in between, which disallows you to control the light’s direction coming inside the room. With a Roman shade, it can stand as a perfect window treatment if you have a traditional or Victorian-themed home. 5. Roller Shades One of the most basic yet popular shades of all time is a roller shade. A roller shade usually uses the material of either synthetic or natural fabrics that roll up and down. Unlike Venetian and vertical blinds, a roller shade doesn’t have any slats, but rather a whole piece of large fabric. When you want to lift the shade, the fabric can move upwards to allow more light to enter the room. Depending on the fabric that your roller blind has, it can act as thermal or blackout blinds that can benefit the entire household highly. With a thermal fabric, you can block the heat from coming inside and keep it on the other side without letting it pass through the room. For a blackout fabric, you can expect no light to come inside your homes, especially during the night when you’re highly sensitive to light as you go to sleep. 6. Cellular Shades If you’re looking for a cheaper yet effective way to promote proper insulation inside your home, the cellular shade would be the perfect window treatment for you. While the cellular shades may not be everyone’s favourite look for their shade, they’re unique for a reason. A cellular shade has a honeycomb shape on each bar that’s responsible for insulation. The honeycomb can hold the heated air, not allowing it to enter your home. A cellular shade uses thin fabric as its primary material. Hence, it’s one of the cheapest types of blinds available for your household. Not only is it cheap, but it can also help you save money on heating or cooling the room as you don’t have a constant battle with the outside temperature coming inside your homes. 7. Panel Blinds Panel blinds may be similar to a vertical blind as each slat comes in an upright shape. However, with a panel blind, the blinds only have four wide sections compared with vertical blinds which have many thin slats. In most cases, panel blinds are used for vast and floor-to-ceiling windows to provide full coverage. They’re perfect for any type of room as long as it has a broad set of windows. With a panel blind, you can’t expect it to tilt to control the amount of light inside the room, but you can, instead, slide it across the room to allow maximum light to come inside. A panel blind uses soft fabrics and can be a cheaper alternative to other options. Conclusion While there are different types of blinds available, ensure that you purchase one that fits
A consideration that you will have to think about when you order your blinds for bifold doors is the particular type of control operation system that you want to opt for. There are five control systems available that are slim and can be used on bifold doors ranging from electric or motorised to manually operated. Therefore, there is a wide choice of different options available that will suit all tastes and aesthetic preferences. This article shall discuss these options and the individual benefits that each control system brings. SV System Cordless Slider The SV System from Morley Glass and Glazing offers a cordless slider which is a manually operated Venetian blind that comes with a designed magnetic slider allowing the blinds to be effortlessly lowered and tilted. Cordless control is an excellent safe choice for families with small children. The SV system does not detract from the aesthetic look of your blinds for bi-folding doors as it is placed discreetly on the side of the blinds. W Smart Solar Control System The W Smart system offers a solar control system that occurs via a battery operated, motorised blind system. This type of control system boasts long-life rechargeable batteries and an eco-friendly option to users as it removes the need to frequently manually open blinds or spend time replacing batteries. A further benefit of the W Smart solar control system is that the modern stylish remote is easy to use and can be placed in either a horizontal or vertical position on the sliding doors. S System Slider Moray and Glass offer a manual blind operation system specifically for pleated integral blinds in the form of the S System Slider. This is a magnetic handle that you can attach onto your bifold doors when you want the blind to be moved up or down. The advantage of this operation system is that the handle can be removed when not in use, therefore, it does not affect the aesthetic look of your bi-folding doors. Each door can also be operated with the same handle which makes the S System slider simple to use on bifold doors. MB System Motorised Brushless A motorised blind system for Venetian or Pleated blinds, the MB System by Morley Glass offers a significant improvement on previous electrical systems thanks to the brushless motor. The MB system offers users control at their fingertips in the form of a unique control box that allows blinds of bi-folding doors to be simultaneously opened or shut as well as the accurate tilting of slats. SV + Symmetrical Slider Morley and Glass have perfected a SV+ Symmetrical slider which allows users to achieve aesthetically symmetrical blinds making it a great option for bi-folding doors. The control system works through a magnetic slider which is placed on either the right or left hand side of the glass, while the narrow adhesive transport profile is responsible for maintaining the linear movement of the slider. The cordless control mechanism coupled with the antibacterial finish makes it a safe and hygienic option for your home.
Today, Monday 8 March, Leeds College of Building is joining others globally in supporting the International Women’s Day campaign ‘Choose To Challenge.’The College has made great strides in pushing gender parity in construction. Female apprentices at Leeds College of Building have also grown from 33 in 2014 to 190 by 2020, an incredible 475% increase over 6 years. However, more work is needed to address the diversity of the construction industry. In 2019, GMB (the union for construction workers) revealed that just one in eight construction workers are women. By analysing official statistics, it was predicted that it would take almost 200 years to achieve gender equality in the construction industry. As a result, the College will be hosting a free female-only virtual open event, designed for any women who would like to know more about a career in the construction industry (8 March, 5-7pm). Videos by staff and students will showcase being a female in the construction industry today and the varied opportunities available. The College Team are also available on live chat via the website. Marked annually, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. Activity takes place worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s rights. Ruth Watson, a former Leeds College of Building Civil Engineering Apprentice, said: “Engineers help shape the future, so it’s critical that we inspire and encourage the younger generation to consider engineering. When I enrolled, I was one of only two girls in my class of 25. By the end of my programme, the number of female students at College had increased discernibly, which was fantastic to see. “I hope I can help to break down stereotypes and be part of the huge change that is taking place in this sector. I’d encourage other women to follow their passion and pursue a meaningful career. I’m very optimistic about the future and excited about the years to come in this diverse and rewarding industry.” Today, the Faculty of Higher Education, Construction Design & Management at Leeds College of Building employs 30% female staff (out of a total of 56 staff). Female lecturers come from a wide range careers including architecture, civil engineering, quantity surveying, and transport planning. Nikki Davison, Degree Apprenticeship Development Curriculum Manager and Quantity Surveyor, said: “The construction industry is constantly developing, with continual reviews of legislation, innovative technology, and ground-breaking construction methods. All of this makes it a very exciting industry to work in. “I started my career as a trainee Quantity Surveyor some 20 years ago. Today, thankfully, women are not only accepted, but we are encouraged in the industry. This is evident in the quantity and experiences of female students at the College who display a passion for construction, be that in a trade like painting or joinery, or in a role like engineering, surveying, or architecture.”
ACCORDING to statistics published by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), a mere 12.37% of all engineers in the UK are female. While it’s no secret that engineering has historically been a male-dominated industry, leading multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Dice is challenging the stereotype and providing opportunities to encourage more women to enter the profession. The East Midlands-based business prides itself on having a multicultural and diverse workforce, with 50% of staff being women. Having recently announced a raft of female hires and promotions, Dice has also invested in its apprenticeship scheme, which provides an ‘earn while you learn’ incentive during a time when traditional university pathways have been made difficult as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Iva Dimitrov, who recently joined Dice as a senior civil engineer, has more than five years of experience working on a variety of national schemes. She specialises in commercial developments and sustainable drainage design and has joined as the leader of the civil engineering team. Iva said: “I have always known that I want to be in a profession where technical skills and problem solving are integral parts. I grew up in a small town in Bulgaria and my closest role models were my mother, who is a mathematician, and my father, who is an engineer, so naturally engineering was my first and desired career choice.” Iva achieved her degree in civil engineering while studying in Bulgaria, after which she came to the UK and studied a master’s course in the subject at the University of Nottingham. Iva added: “Shortly after graduating, I started my first job as a civil engineer and was fortunate to work for a manager who was not only a fantastic engineer, but also a great teacher. I had the opportunity to work on a variety of commercial projects in a busy, fast-paced environment, which helped me to learn a lot more about the industry. “I feel incredibly proud to be part of such a thriving, client-focused and reputable consultancy like Dice, which is encouraging women from a multitude of backgrounds to pursue a career in engineering.” Husna Gul – one of the apprentices at Dice – is another young woman who is carving out a successful career in engineering. Having initially applied to university after completing A-Levels in maths, physics and chemistry, Husna discovered the benefits of the apprenticeship route and withdrew her UCAS application. Husna said: “Being the eldest child in the family, my parents were worried when I told them that I didn’t want to take the ‘traditional’ university route. However, after they looked into degree apprenticeships, they soon realised this was the right path for me and have been incredibly supportive of my decision. “Engineering is such an exciting and fulfilling industry where no two days are the same. I have picked up a huge amount of knowledge in such a short space of time. When I first started, I could never have imagined I’d be able to do the kind of jobs I’m doing now, and that’s testament to both Dice and Nottingham Trent University (NTU) for creating a new pathway into the industry.” Raj Somal, director of Dice, said: “For us, it’s imperative to have a diverse team – whether that be in relation to gender, ethnicity, race or religion. In past roles, I have experienced that non-diverse teams do not provide the best working environment, so we aim to buck the trend. The most important thing when starting the business was to create a positive place to work that is inclusive for everyone.” Dice has recently been nominated for an award at this year’s Nottingham Trent University Apprenticeship Awards, which celebrates the hard work, success and achievements of the university’s apprentices and the employers who are engaged with NTU’s apprenticeship programmes. To find out more about Dice, please visit diceconsult.co.uk
Despite the government’s promise to wage war on fuel poverty across the housing market in England via the implementation of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) initiative back in January 2013, research by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has found just 7% of properties are in receipt of ECO measures. GetAgent.co.uk analysed data on households in receipt of ECO measures since the scheme launched and what this equates to as a percentage of total dwellings across each area of England. The ECO was a government initiative introduced in January 2013 to help improve energy efficiency and support those at the sharp end of fuel poverty in England. The ECO set obligations for the big energy providers to install insulation and heating measures and to help reduce heating costs and energy usage. The research by GetAgent.co.uk shows that 1,794,601 households across England are in receipt of ECO measures, just 7.4% of the total 24,413,501 dwellings. The North West has seen the biggest benefit from the scheme, with 11.5% of all homes in receipt of ECO measures, with the North East (10.1%) and West Midlands (10%) also seeing a double-digit percentage of dwellings benefit. London has seen the lowest level of homes in receipt of ECO measures at just 4.5%, followed by the South East (5%). At local authority level, Blackpool has seen the highest impact with 21.2% of all homes benefitting from the ECO initiative. Other areas to see in excess of 20% of properties benefit include Bradford (21.1%) and Blackburn with Darwen (20.8%). Oldham (19.5%) and Burnley (18.6%) have also seen some of the biggest impact from the scheme. In contrast, London accounts for the top five areas with the lowest receipts of ECO measures, with Wandsworth seeing the least with just 1.2% of homes in the borough benefitting from the scheme. Outside of London, Mole Valley (2.4%), South Lakeland, Cambridge and Vale of White Horse have seen the lowest receipts of ECO measures since launch in 2013. Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “We could all benefit from making our homes as energy efficient as possible, but it’s important to remember that the ECO initiative is very much focussed on eradicating fuel poverty, rather than knocking a few quid off the average homeowner’s energy bills. So it’s only natural that there has been a greater focus on areas of the market where this help is needed most and so there is always going to be a regional disparity in terms of the number of households in receipt of these measures. In the same context, not every home will require this help and the near 1.8m households to have benefitted are no doubt very grateful for this helping hand from the government. However, while 7% of all households is a strong start, let’s hope the government continues to build on these foundations and use this initiative to further remedy the issue of fuel poverty from those suffering across the nation.” Table shows the total number of households in receipt of ECO measures between Jan 2013 and Dec 2020 as a percentage of total dwellings stock Location Households in receipt of ECO measures (to Dec 2020) Total dwellings 2019 Households in receipt of ECO measures as % of total dwellings North West 379,849 3,300,088 11.5% North East 125,419 1,236,808 10.1% West Midlands region 250,357 2,512,503 10.0% Yorkshire and the Humber 236,633 2,440,528 9.7% East Midlands 156,443 2,103,080 7.4% South West 149,779 2,603,367 5.8% East of England 140,188 2,705,425 5.2% South East 186,470 3,717,756 5.0% London 160,147 3,592,322 4.5% England 1,794,601 24,413,501 7.4% Source Gov.uk – Household Energy Effeciency Statistics Gov.uk – Live tables of dwellings stock Table shows the areas with the highest percentage of households in receipt of ECO measures as a percentage of total dwellings stock Location Households in receipt of ECO measures (to Dec 2020) Total dwellings 2019 Households in receipt of ECO measures as % of total dwellings Blackpool 14,879 70,187 21.2% Bradford 45,674 216,360 21.1% Blackburn with Darwen 12,728 61,287 20.8% Oldham 18,587 95,505 19.5% Burnley 7,655 41,080 18.6% Pendle 7,337 40,368 18.2% Hyndburn 5,895 36,891 16.0% Walsall 18,514 116,248 15.9% Tameside 16,393 102,993 15.9% Birmingham 67,815 441,536 15.4% Hartlepool 6,764 44,250 15.3% Manchester 34,640 226,995 15.3% Middlesbrough 9,550 63,261 15.1% Leicester 20,515 137,116 15.0% Rochdale 13,161 93,703 14.0% Sefton 17,630 126,962 13.9% Sandwell 17,944 132,618 13.5% Knowsley 8,977 66,519 13.5% Bolton 16,005 124,444 12.9% Luton 10,251 80,024 12.8% Source Gov.uk – Household Energy Effeciency Statistics Gov.uk – Live tables of dwellings stock Table shows the areas with the lowest percentage of households in receipt of ECO measures as a percentage of total dwellings stock Location Households in receipt of ECO measures (to Dec 2020) Total dwellings 2019 Households in receipt of ECO measures as % of total dwellings Wandsworth 1,772 148,075 1.2% Richmond upon Thames 1,203 85,564 1.4% Kensington and Chelsea 1,555 87,726 1.8% Hammersmith and Fulham 1,617 89,186 1.8% Westminster 2,382 125,312 1.9% Mole Valley 939 38,772 2.4% South Lakeland 1,551 55,820 2.8% Cambridge 1,536 55,207 2.8% Vale of White Horse 1,647 58,669 2.8% Merton 2,388 84,570 2.8% Winchester 1,530 52,740 2.9% Epsom and Ewell 962 32,566 3.0% Waverley 1,632 53,752 3.0% Uttlesford 1,168 38,008 3.1% North Hertfordshire 1,887 57,471 3.3% East Hertfordshire 2,069 63,011 3.3% Tunbridge Wells 1,694 51,339 3.3% Reigate and Banstead 2,022 60,966 3.3% St Albans 2,027 61,047 3.3% Cotswold 1,501 44,938 3.3% Source Gov.uk – Household Energy Effeciency Statistics Gov.uk – Live tables of dwellings stock
Record numbers of people have been booking places on a CPD created by insulation specialist Actis since it became a RIBA-approved training course at the end of 2020. The much-praised and already very popular session on Addressing the performance gap with reflective insulation looks at how to combat thermal bridging and achieve optimal energy efficiency. Attendance figures for the free online sessions in January and February have been at their highest level since the sessions went online when the pandemic first hit – up around 20% on 2020 levels. As well as being available directly via Actis to building control officers, architects, specifiers and builders, it is also promoted via RIBA’s website, and the Institute’s monthly newsletter. It is being offered to RIBA chartered architects, who, along with their non-RIBA affiliated counterparts, must complete 35 hours of CPD every year. RIBA approved CPDs are worth double the points of a standard CPD and are therefore much prized by members, with 76% of them choosing training which has been specifically approved by the professional body. All RIBA approved CPDs must meet strict criteria, be educational, innovative and balanced, address relevant statutory issues and have a clear learning outcome. They are designed to provide solutions to design problems and are likely to address sustainability issues, correct product application and legislative information. Actis national specification manager Dan Anson-Hart said: “The two sessions we’ve run since RIBA approved the module for its members have seen a very strong take up. The module looks at why the performance gap exists, the effects of external factors on the fabric efficiency of a building, the impact of thermal bridging and how reflective insulation can address it.” Register here to join the CPD on the second Thursday of every month at 1pm.
WOMEN working on construction sites marking International Women’s Day say they are seeing more female faces alongside them than ever before – but more needs to be done to encourage others. Stonewood Partnerships, based in Tormarton and Castle Combe, now has women in almost half its roles, many of whom are members of Women in Property, which promotes female progression in the industry. Planning Manager Holly Simkiss, who has been visiting sites for 15 years, says the complexion is gradually changing, but not quickly enough. Before joining Stonewood last year she was a planning officer at Stroud District Council. “Before I started at Stroud it was predominantly all male but there has definitely been a shift in the tide and there are far more women in planning in local government now,” she said. She said being a woman on site 15 years ago was far more challenging than it is today. “I have been on site in the past and I definitely have felt like I have had to have explanations dumbed down for me because they think I won’t get it. Now I think it is a given that I understand, it’s a very level playing field.” She said her early experiences on site were probably shaped more by her lack of experience than any prejudice. “There is a massive anxiety when you are going on to a site and it is all men, particularly as a planning officer when you are a decision maker,” she said. “It was like pack mentality, all blokes together and ‘we’ll show the woman’ but that has changed massively, it just doesn’t happen anymore. “Interestingly, now when I meet consultants for things like highways and transport, ecology or landscaping on site, most of them are other women and that’s not a conscious decision on my part to instruct other women, that’s just the way it is now.” She feels still more must be done to encourage younger girls to consider construction as a career. “I think there’s a place for it because there is a perception that girls will shy away from jobs in construction and you need women like me saying ‘no you could do it, you should do it’. Those who are working in this environment should be telling girls that it is a good place to be, an equal place to be.” When assistant site manager Maisie Lapham first wanted to enter the sector as a painting and decorating apprentice at 19, everyone she knew discouraged her. “My family and friends tried to talk me out of it, they said it was a man’s job and said I wouldn’t like it,” she recalled. “I stuck to my guns and I was proved right. I am so pleased I chose construction because I love the hands-on nature of it, I like problem-solving and I’m out on site and not in an office all day.” She said although the male-dominated environment was daunting at first she soon earned the respect of her older colleagues. “I was 19 when I first went on site and I was really nervous but the blokes I worked with were absolutely fine with me. Everyone stares at you when you are first on a new site but as the years have gone on I don’t get as many looks so I think the men are getting used to it,” she said. “Since I’ve been a site manager I’ve found that often the men prefer to deal with a woman because I can be calmer, so it does work in my favour. I’ve also grown in confidence and I won’t tolerate being spoken back to. I’m strong enough to stand up for what I know is right.” Fear was also an emotion Assistant Quantity Surveyor Lily Elder first experienced on site when she started working at Stonewood two years ago. “I was terrified, I think it was because it was male dominated and at that time I was the only female on the construction side,” she said. “But I’ve grown in confidence now and I really don’t think being a woman makes the job harder. But you still need to have a little bit of strength to stand your ground when you are in dispute with someone. There’s no obvious sexism but sometimes there is a tone when you are telling someone they haven’t won a contract.” Sales and Marketing Manager Jasmine Endersby attends Women in Property events and feels there is a need for bodies like it. “I think it has a role to play in breaking down barriers even more,” she said. “As a mum of three girls I am all for empowering women to believe they can be anything they want to be. The only way you can break down stereotypes is through education and having role models to inspire people at a young age.” Stonewood is planning to run workshops with local schools to highlight the opportunities in construction. “We’ll have people from different departments to do talks so young people can see who is in roles like builders and architects, so having female faces there will be important,” said Jasmine. The high percentage of women in key roles at Stonewood is encouraging, she said. “Generally in construction the male-female diversity is quite low but at Stonewood Partnerships it is 43 per cent female and the roles are spread right across all the disciplines, in construction, technical and commercial, which is great,” she added. “I am proud to work at a company where women are treated with respect – not just as females but as equals who are good at our job. Everyone’s viewpoint is respected no matter who you are.”
