Savills Appointed To Seek Developer For Prime Site Citrus Durham has appointed Savills to market a prime residential site for up to 120 homes at its flagship, £300m mixed-use Integra 61 development at J61 of the A1(M). Savills has been instructed to seek an interested party to bring forward a
Bricklayers (73%) are the most likely tradespeople to experience work-related stress Finances are the most common cause of stress IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Mind, to raise awareness of the issue Nearly half (49%) of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study1 has
Adapting a Grade ll listed building for the needs of modern business Forme UK Design and Architecture Ltd recently completed the extension and redevelopment of 25 Berkeley Square, a Grade II listed building in the Mayfair conservation area of London. 25 Berkeley Square is a large office building in the
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) Group is pleased to announce strategic changes to its management structure, to focus on improving services and further development of the GGF and its subsidiary commercial companies, FENSA, BFRC, Installsure and RISA. The following changes have been made with full approval of the GGF
Next-generation property and finance services consultancy adds specialist risk and insurance advice to its offering Cape Insurance launches as part of ARMCo group ARMCo, the specialist finance and property consultancy offering lending, corporate support, land procurement and property development, has announced a new addition to its offering with the launch
Earlier this month, Mecalac Construction Equipment UK launched a suite of new site dumper models at an exclusive event at its Warwickshire demo ground. The eagerly-anticipated 3.5MDX cabbed site dumper made its global debut, alongside all-new hydrostatic versions of the highly popular 6MDX and 9MDX. Alongside providing VIP guests with
A new Proptech engine, which transforms viability for SME housebuilders and their lenders, has issued more than £600m worth of instant Sales Guarantee proposals in its first three months. LDS has reported that its online engine, which launched in January, supplied a total of £603,200,000 worth of Sales Guarantee proposals
AES Engineering Ltd has announced the launch of the AES Engineering Reliability Group (AES Reliability). The new group brings Rotherham-based AES Engineering’s range of asset management and plant reliability companies under one banner, offering one of the most comprehensive services on the market. The launch of the new group follows
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is working on an exciting project to create a new healthcare campus as part of the government’s Health Infrastructure Plan. When opened, the campus will transform how care is delivered across the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System; to enable this transformation the
Few materials commands fear and trepidation as asbestos. Just about everyone, even if they’re not in the construction industry, understands that asbestos is a bad thing. But it wasn’t actually banned in the UK until 1999, and thus you might find it lurking in a whole range of different buildings.
Savills Appointed To Seek Developer For Prime Site Citrus Durham has appointed Savills to market a prime residential site for up to 120 homes at its flagship, £300m mixed-use Integra 61 development at J61 of the A1(M). Savills has been instructed to seek an interested party to bring forward a high quality development on the 8 acre site within the Integra 61 development which already has planning approval for circa 300 homes, over 3 million sq ft of sustainable employment space, a 70-bed hotel, a family pub/restaurant, a nursery, car showrooms and a number of trade counter/retail units all adding to the diverse offering. Phase 1 of residential development at Integra 61 is currently being delivered by Persimmon, with the £18M Millbeck Grange scheme well underway and the first residents of the total 170 homes moving in last year. Phase 2 is on the northern part of the site which is surrounded by Bowburn Beck, existing and new build housing and is connected to the centre of Bowburn Village by a newly constructed footpath. Savills is inviting offers by noon on Friday 28th May 2021. Located at J61 of the A1(M) Integra 61 is just 4 miles away from the City of Durham and as such is well connected for future residents in addition to having a range of amenities and job opportunities on the site itself, making it a highly sustainable location. The sale of the residential plot follows on from the recent announcement that Citrus Durham was awarded planning consent to deliver a new business hub, Evolution@Integra61, which will be delivered speculatively and add up to a further 23 flexible units available to purchase or lease making the development truly inclusive for occupiers of all sizes. David Cullingford, Project Lead for Integra 61 and Citrus Durham, said; “The residential element of Integra 61 makes an important contribution to the wider project and to meeting the housing requirements in County Durham. We are creating a new community with a wide range of amenities in a safe and attractive environment that’s well connected and of a high quality. We are looking forward to engaging with the successful party to bring forward this next phase of development.” David Craig, Associate Director at Savills, continued; “The site provides developers with a shovel-ready opportunity to deliver a high quality residential development which benefits from excellent connectivity and its proximity to one of the largest mixed use developments in the region. Integra 61 has proven to be a highly attractive location from a housing and commercial perspective and the continuation of its progression will further add to its vibrancy and appeal.” Interested parties to contact David Craig (0191 323 3145) or Ray Minto (0191 323 3142) at Savills Newcastle.
Bricklayers (73%) are the most likely tradespeople to experience work-related stress Finances are the most common cause of stress IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Mind, to raise awareness of the issue Nearly half (49%) of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study1 has found. The research, commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10th-16th) by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, found that nearly three in five (58%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, at least once a week. Money worries cause the most stress, with 38% of tradespeople blaming financial situations for giving them anxiety. Other issues, such as tensions with customers (31%) and suppliers (29%), are also major causes of concern for tradespeople. The 10 issues which cause the most stress for tradespeople: Finances (38%) Tensions with customers (31%) Tensions with suppliers (29%) High workload (26%) Tensions with business partners (26%) Job security (21%) Doing the best job for customers (12%) Making mistakes (11%) Abuse from customers (6%) Lack of work (5%) Female tradespeople (57%) are significantly more likely to experience work-related mental health problems than their male counterparts (41%). Additionally, the main causes of stress and anxiety differ between the genders, with women more likely to feel stressed due to finances (39%) and tensions with business partners (29%), whilst men are more affected by high workloads (39%) and tensions with suppliers (37%). When it comes to age, middle-aged tradespeople experience the most work-related related mental health issues. Nearly three in five (57%) tradies aged between 45-54 report stress and anxiety due to work. Bricklayers are the most likely tradespeople to experience mental health problems, with a shocking 73% admitting to dealing with issues such as stress and anxiety. In contrast, surveyors (18%) are the trade least likely to have poor mental health. The trades which are most and least likely to have mental health issues are: Bricklayer (73% say they have them) Joiner (62%) Builder (57%) Electrician (51%) Plumber (50%) Carpenter (49%) Landscaper (42%) Painter/decorator (36%) Plasterer (22%) Surveyor (18%) When dealing with mental health problems, nearly half (48%) of tradespeople said they choose to talk to friends and families about their issues. Less than a third (32%) choose to seek counselling, while more than a quarter (28%) take medication. The research also found that a similar number (29%) do not feel comfortable talking to people close to them about their mental health. Furthermore, more than a third (34%) do not know how to access support services. As part of the attempt to raise awareness of mental health amongst tradespeople, IronmongeryDirect is partnering with Mind, and will also donate £5,000 to the charity for its vital services. Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “We know that issues like stress, anxiety and depression are common in all workplaces, but that there are some sectors where poor mental health is even more prevalent, including construction. “Because men generally find it more difficult to talk about how they’re feeling, in male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal. “We’re pleased to be working with IronmongeryDirect during Mental Health Awareness Week to launch our ‘Mental Health in the Trades’ report highlighting the scale of poor mental health across the sector, and urging employers within construction to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.” Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “It’s shocking and saddening to see that mental health problems are so widespread in the industry. “We feel that it’s vital for the stigma of mental health to be removed from the industry, and whilst we understand it can be difficult to open up, we encourage all tradespeople to talk about their problems. Whether this is with friends and family, your employer, or professional counsellors, speaking about your problems can often be the first step to addressing them.” For the 2021 report of mental health in the trades industry, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/
Adapting a Grade ll listed building for the needs of modern business Forme UK Design and Architecture Ltd recently completed the extension and redevelopment of 25 Berkeley Square, a Grade II listed building in the Mayfair conservation area of London. 25 Berkeley Square is a large office building in the north-east corner of Berkeley Square, one of the most prestigious addresses in Mayfair, with a mix of office, retail and entertainment uses. Originally constructed in 1906 as a building of luxury mansion apartments, it was converted to office use in 1954. Over the years there have been several changes to the use of the building and in 1989 the rear of the building was substantially rebuilt behind the retained facade and the front range of rooms to Berkeley Square. The main facade of the building faces south onto Berkeley Square, now part of the Grosvenor Estate. Forme UK was appointed to provide several enhancements to the building, including creating a new roof extension with attic storeys, remodelling the interiors and designing flexible open plan office space, upgrading to comply with current building regulations, ensuring maximum natural daylight where possible and providing an interior that is fully ambulant disabled and wheelchair accessible. Mark Twigg, Managing Director at Forme UK, says, “Our approach to this project has been to re-develop the property to create modern office spaces while respecting and preserving the aspects of the buildings that are of architectural and historic significance. We wanted to greatly enhance and improve the existing interior design of the building, creating an inspiring open plan office environment offering dramatic views over London that is sensitive to the original form of the building and the surrounding architecture.” Externally and internally, alterations have only been made to the non-historic elements and all historic elements of the 1906 Verity building have been retained. The refurbishment features a new mansard roof of Westmorland green slate tile with ornate leadwork detailing, typical of the Beaux Arts architectural style, Portland stone cladding, molding and cornicing to match the building’s historic architectural character. Floors 1 – 6 now provide fully-flexible modern open plan office spaces which are adjacent to a series of grand ‘Heritage’ rooms overlooking Berkeley Square where all the original features have been enhanced. The reception area has also been redesigned, bringing together the original detailing of fine plasterwork and the grand volume of space with classic and contemporary elements. Features include a geometric patterned marble floor, dark timber joinery with striking bespoke brass detailing, a neutral toned, leather clad desk and statement lighting that changes the ambience depending on the time of day. The existing grand staircase has been restored and at the very top of the stairwell, a large existing coloured glass lantern has been refurbished and back lit to enhance the grey and ochre tones of the space. There are bespoke bronze wall lights on the walls and floating bronze hoops which are subtly lit and appear to float. Class glass lift doors set between the existing porticos reveal views through to pale marble clad walls beyond, combining the classical ambience of the staircase with the contemporary aesthetic of the office areas. The existing timber windows to the heritage facades have been restored to their former elegance and new wrought iron balustrades have been introduced to the new elements on the South and West elevations, complimenting the heritage architectural metalwork on the principal façade facing the square. A retail presence has been introduced on the ground floor on Jones Street, a narrow pedestrian walkway that separates the building from 27 Berkeley Square. Three new Portland stone-framed bays with full-height slim-line glazing offer new retail entrances and an accessible entrance to the building. This is further enhanced by an additional glazed shopfront in similar detailing on the corner of Jones Street and Bourdon Street. The renovated building has an excellent BREEAM rating and now offers 55224 sq feet of beautifully refurbished office space. Lazari Investments Limited in association with The Grosvenor Estate commissioned the project.
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) Group is pleased to announce strategic changes to its management structure, to focus on improving services and further development of the GGF and its subsidiary commercial companies, FENSA, BFRC, Installsure and RISA. The following changes have been made with full approval of the GGF Board and the Senior Management Team of the GGF Group. With immediate effect, GGF Managing Director John Agnew will assume overall responsibility for the operational activity of GGF (trade federation), GGF’s central internal services (HR, Finance and IT), and all subsidiary commercial companies. All GGF trade federation management, heads of central cervices & subsidiary commercial company heads will report to John Agnew in their day-to-day roles. Also with immediate effect, Anda Gregory will assume the new role of Chief Development Officer and take full responsibility for the business development activity of the GGF Group, including the trade federation, the central internal services and subsidiary commercial companies. All employees of GGF, the trade federation, central internal services and subsidiary commercial companies will report to Anda on all matters relating to the development of the business processes and systems and more importantly Anda Gregory will lead the development of the GGF Group’s products and services to all GGF Group shareholders, stakeholders and customers. Both John and Anda will continue to report to the GGF President, Tony Smith, acting on behalf of the GGF Main Board. On the new structure, GGF President Tony Smith stated, “This is an exciting time for the GGF Group of businesses, and these changes will enable us to drive the businesses forward creating excellent opportunities for our employees, customers, and shareholders.” On her new role, Anda Gregory commented, “I’m really excited by my new role as it will free up time to work on developing the business in a positive way, which is hard to do effectively around business as usual. And it’s great knowing that the commercial businesses will continue to be well looked after with John Agnew at the helm.” John Agnew concurred, “The changes that we have made in roles and responsibilities, will position the GGF Group of businesses to really focus on operational activities, whilst also developing the opportunities for business growth. This a very positive change for the whole organisation and I look forward to working with my colleagues as we embed the new structure for the benefit of all parts of the GGF Group.” Anda added, “The pandemic has given us the opportunity to reflect on what will work best for the businesses and the group as a whole. Standing still isn’t an option if we are to retain our leading positions in the glass, glazing and fenestration sectors. I’m very much looking forward to the new challenges and working on exciting initiatives for our industry.” Companies who are part of the GGF and its subsidiary commercial companies, should benefit significantly from these changes, with the new and sharper focus to take advantage of the raft of opportunities emerging as the industry recovers from unprecedented times. The new structure, will enable the GGF Group to grow quicker and improve all aspects of the business, from revenues, profits and investment, through to better processes, systems and a sustainable business that can enable a secure long term future for many in the industry. Tony Smith concluded by sharing his thoughts from a strategic perspective, “For many years, the GGF and its commercial companies have operated well but often independently. These changes will see the GGF Group make better use of its specialist skills across the organisation to improve the delivery of existing services and be more effective in the joint promotion of the GGF and its subsidiary commercial companies. I am sure all connected to the GGF Group will join me in extending our best wishes to John and Anda in their new roles.” The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is the primary trade association for companies that make, supply or fit flat glass and related products representing more than 60% of the industry’s turnover. As such the GGF is the recognised leading authority for employers and companies within the flat glass, glazing, window, home improvement, plastics and window film industries. This includes double glazing, Energy Efficient Windows, replacement windows, doors, conservatories, applied film, hardware, safety glazing, sealants, fire resistant glass, emergency glazing, decorative glass, secondary glazing, solar control and plastics. The GGF provides information for homeowners, professional specifiers and anyone seeking professional and unbiased information on any aspect of glass and glazing in the UK. GGF members supply replacement windows, doors, conservatories and Energy Efficient Windows in all framing materials including Aluminium, PVC-U, Steel and Timber. The GGF is a great promoter of energy efficient glazing and the GGF’s Carbon Calculator enables homeowners and others to see how much money and carbon can be saved by installing new Energy Efficient Windows. Architects and Specifiers are well supported with a range of literature and professional advisors to assist with all aspects of specification and related issues. GGF Members sign up to the Federation’s Code of Good Practice and are vetted before being accepted. A free conciliation service is provided for mediation between customers and supplying member companies when required. For further information go to: http://www.ggf.org.uk or for consumer information generated by the GGF please visit www.MyGlazing.com
Next-generation property and finance services consultancy adds specialist risk and insurance advice to its offering Cape Insurance launches as part of ARMCo group ARMCo, the specialist finance and property consultancy offering lending, corporate support, land procurement and property development, has announced a new addition to its offering with the launch of Cape Insurance – a niche risk and insurance adviser for property investors, developers and the construction sector. Cape is headed up by managing director Henry Gallacher, who brings with him a wealth of experience gained working for large global insurance brokers Willis Towers Watson, JLT and latterly Marsh for over 10 years, where he advised large corporate firms on risk and insurance before choosing to specialise in property, development and construction. Henry explained: “The property sector is vast with a variety of risks and challenges to success. Cape’s aim is to help property investors, developers, owners and managers find the opportunity in these challenges, with insurance solutions that help manage, mitigate or transfer risks, and optimise profitability. Cape has been founded at a time when many of the independent brokers in the insurance market are being acquired by larger players – creating a consolidated landscape with fewer firms and less real choice. This means we are well positioned to offer a unique service with a human touch, offering a customer-focused approach underpinned by vast knowledge and experience in these sectors. We work closely with clients to define their risk profile, and then find the optimal solution to ensure every project, transaction and deal progresses smoothly and profitably. “The pandemic has changed the way we live and will begin to change the built environment significantly. As property is likely to be re-purposed in line with this evolution – such as office space, retail property and changing residential demands – the opportunity for players in the property and construction markets is enormous. Cape is perfectly placed to enable these opportunities to be capitalised on. From financing and planning development projects through to construction, along with key landlord and investor risk considerations, we offer a broad spectrum of advice outside of the normal,” he added David Totney joins Henry at Cape as co-director, bringing with him more than 30 years’ experience gained in finance industries. Additionally, Cape has joined with the Willis Towers Watson network, giving it access to world-leading resources, knowledge and the market leverage of WTW, while maintaining the service proposition of a specialist, independent broker delivering a unique proposition for clients. Cape is part of the ARMCo group, which is head-quartered in the heart of Birmingham’s finance district, from where the firm delivers its local, regional and national offering. ARMCo founder Russell Martin commented: “We are delighted to launch Cape within our group, which significantly enhances our overall offering of synergistic property and finance services. Henry’s vast and specialist expertise is a real asset to the group, and will aid businesses coming to ARMCo for help in overcoming challenges they face today, such as access to finance, navigation of land procurement and development, and sourcing risk solutions. Our expertise across the group helps them maximise growth opportunities and have an exceptional experience, thanks to our central services approach that encompasses a human touch, passion and commitment of strong leaders and highly collaborative partnerships.” The ARMCo group comprises Finance 4 Business, Liquidity Club, Innovation 4 Business and Walker Doble – as well as new firms Atlas Land & Planning, Midshore Partners, Chordis Capital and Cape Insurance. These are operated by industry experts Russell Martin, David Pinnington, David Totney, Philip Moore, Rebecca Doble, Marc Walker, James England and Rob Lankey and Henry Gallacher. The group offers expertise on financial solutions including asset, bridging and development finance, tax solutions and MBOs – helping SMEs in a range of sectors, property developers (including allied trades and professionals) and investors.
Earlier this month, Mecalac Construction Equipment UK launched a suite of new site dumper models at an exclusive event at its Warwickshire demo ground. The eagerly-anticipated 3.5MDX cabbed site dumper made its global debut, alongside all-new hydrostatic versions of the highly popular 6MDX and 9MDX. Alongside providing VIP guests with the opportunity to get behind the wheel of each new model, the event comprised a number of informative presentations and a technology showcase. For the first time ever, Mecalac’s AX1000 articulated wheel loader was also showcased on UK soil. 6MDX and 9MDX (hydrostatic) An evolution of Mecalac’s renowned MDX site dumper range, the six- and nine-tonne hydrostatic 6MDX and 9MDX bring smooth, uninterrupted power and the addition of dynamic braking. The all-new models offer improved performance and traction – particularly on inclines where gear changes can often result in loss of drive. Removing the gear stick allows for a more spacious operator environment, increasing comfort and minimising fatigue. With fewer parts, the hydrostatic models ensure lower running costs, thanks to lower maintenance requirements and fewer wear items. 3.5MDX Durable, dependable, versatile and highly capable, the 3.5MDX site dumper is the latest addition to Mecalac’s world-acclaimed cabbed portfolio. The efficient, low-emission engine works through a four-wheel-drive system that features low-range in both forward and reverse, giving operators peace of mind on challenging terrain. Available with either swivel tip or forward tip, the new model guarantees class-leading power, performance and durability and includes Mecalac’s Shield safety pack as standard. AX1000 With outstanding power and stability, Mecalac’s AX1000 articulated wheel loader is a true market leader. Its sleek but rigid monoboom combines high tear-out forces with protected hydraulics, delivering maximum safety and impressive cycle times. The model’s self-stabilising system uses an articulated pendulum joint to make carrying heavy loads across uneven terrain significantly easier and safer. Visibility and operator comfort are excellent thanks to a panoramic cab and intuitive control layout. Available with a range of attachments, from buckets to pallet forks, the AX1000 is an incredibly versatile on-site asset. Paul Macpherson, Commercial Director at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, commented: “With lockdown restrictions slowly easing, we thought hosting a secret VIP event was the perfect opportunity to officially launch a number of exciting new additions to our MDX site dumper portfolio. The event was a huge success – and the glowing feedback on our new models was a really positive outcome. “Alongside the new dumpers, attendees had the first opportunity on UK soil to get behind the wheel of our versatile AX1000. The articulated loader is an excellent product and we’re experiencing ever-increasing demand for the range.” To learn more about Mecalac’s range of industry-leading equipment, visit www.mecalac.com/en.
A new Proptech engine, which transforms viability for SME housebuilders and their lenders, has issued more than £600m worth of instant Sales Guarantee proposals in its first three months. LDS has reported that its online engine, which launched in January, supplied a total of £603,200,000 worth of Sales Guarantee proposals for new housing developments in the first quarter of 2021. LDS’ target for the year is to issue £4billion of proposals. Enabling SME housebuilders to construct more homes is seen as key to help solve Britain’s housing crisis as larger developers are reaching capacity. In April the Housing Minister Christopher Pincher said: “A successful SME sector is crucial in our shared objectives of planning reform and increased housebuilding.” In March the Chair of Homes England Peter Freeman said one of his top 10 priorities is “ensuring SMEs play a greater role in housing delivery.” Access to finance has been a growing problem for SME housebuilders, with the Federation of Master Builders reporting that 42% of SME housebuilders were involved in sites that stalled for financial reasons in 2019. In 1988, SME housebuilders were responsible for 40% of new build homes, compared to around 10% today. This equates to a drop of 75% in the number of homes built by SME housebuilders in just over three decades. The unique LDS Sales Guarantee removes all speculative and exit risk for housebuilders and their lenders by underwriting the financing of sites, guaranteeing that housebuilders can call on LDS to complete on any unsold units. This catalyst opens up increased access to finance and the ability for increased output. LDS can also release 10% of the guarantee value to the housebuilder unsecured and at zero interest. The combined effect of increased leverage and the LDS cash release reduces housebuilder cash contributions by an average of 77%. This in turn enables housebuilders to bring forward up to four times more new housing from the same cash base. The response to the new Proptech engine since its launch shows the strength in demand from the sector, with SME housebuilders keen to bring forward new sites – if they can unlock financing. A recent SME housebuilder to bring forward a site through LDS was D T Joseph Developments Ltd. A Sales Guarantee and a £424,656 cash injection were provided by LDS enabling the development of 16 new homes with a GDV of £6m. In Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, a local developer and construction company was able to acquire a site after LDS provided a Sales Guarantee and a £720,000 cash injection which was used towards the site purchase. Plugging the financing shortfall has enabled the developer to bring forward 44 new homes, including 9 affordable units, with a GDV of £10.6m. For this transaction, the Sales Guarantee is estimated to have increased the developer’s return on investment by 137%. The £603m of proposals requested between January and March 2021 spanned 67 sites, consisting of 1,551 new homes across England and Wales. The sites range in size from 10-59 units, with GDVs of between £3m-£38m per site, with the average at around £9m. Lenders, brokers and housebuilders can create a free, no obligation Sales Guarantee proposal in around two minutes using the LDS online Proptech engine. A Sales Guarantee allows them to remove speculative risks, increase access to finance on improved terms, release cash, and completely transform viability. Mark Hawthorn, CEO of LDS, said: “We are pleased, although not surprised, to see interest in Sales Guarantees growing rapidly. “The response in the first quarter since the Proptech engine was launched gives me huge confidence we will meet our goal of £4bn in Sales Guarantee proposals for 2021. “The adoption of Sales Guarantees by the market is driven by simple facts – they remove risk, reduce cash requirements, and increase returns. The compelling duo of higher returns and lower risks completely transform the viability of sites for both housebuilders and lenders, allowing much-needed new housing to be brought forward. “SME housebuilders tend to build on smaller brownfield and infill sites in already-established areas, which hold huge potential for additional homes across the country. By helping them to unlock development finance and boost their output, we are driving the revival of the SME housebuilding market and helping the Government meet its target to build 300,000 new homes each year. Daniel Lloyd, Founder and Owner at D T Joseph Developments Ltd, said: “LDS transformed the financing of our Spring Meadow development in Ramsbottom, enabling us to move forward and provide 16 high-quality and energy efficient family homes for the people of Ramsbottom and surrounding areas. “As an SME, receiving a guarantee that someone will buy the new homes you’re building is a weight off your shoulders as it significantly reduces the risk from our development and enabled us to secure better rates of lending. “The Sales Guarantee and the initial cash injection completely transformed the viability of the development and increased our capacity for future developments. LDS gives us the potential to build more much-needed homes – we are already looking at other sites long before we would previously have been able to.” LDS is part of Landmark Group, a national investment company founded in 2000.
AES Engineering Ltd has announced the launch of the AES Engineering Reliability Group (AES Reliability). The new group brings Rotherham-based AES Engineering’s range of asset management and plant reliability companies under one banner, offering one of the most comprehensive services on the market. The launch of the new group follows a two-year period of expansion and acquisition and includes: AVT Reliability Ltd, which has bases in Cheshire, UK, and County Cork, the Republic of Ireland; Van Geffen Reliability, based in the Netherlands; and AVT Reliability Inc, based in Tennessee, USA. The companies offer more than 45 years of expertise, delivering plant asset management and reliability improvement services and solutions, with in-depth knowledge of the most advanced condition monitoring technology. “Every company in the group shares one key attribute – it has reliability in its DNA. Very few, if any, companies can deliver the comprehensive, 360° service that the AES Reliability group offers. In addition to on-site services, our Remote Diagnostics Centres are staffed by certified engineers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing on-demand support to clients requiring instant or routine problem diagnosis,” said Technical Director of AES Reliability, Lee McFarlane. “Our aim now is to continue to expand the AES Reliability group, with the simple goal of improving the reliability of our customers’ assets and operations, to save them time and money,” he added. The company’s consultancy and on-site services encompass troubleshooting support, condition monitoring, structural monitoring, pipework vibration compliance, rotor dynamics/reciprocating services, energy assessment and pump reliability.
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is working on an exciting project to create a new healthcare campus as part of the government’s Health Infrastructure Plan. When opened, the campus will transform how care is delivered across the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System; to enable this transformation the trust’s board has stated that ‘it wants to be the most digitally advanced hospital in the UK’. To help form a business case to achieve its ambitions, the trust has been working with Gemserv Health. The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust serves a population of 350,000 people living around the M11 corridor just north of London. It provides general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services from three sites, including its main hospital in Harlow. Princess Alexandra Hospital is a classic ‘hospital building programme’ facility opened in phases from 1958 to 1966. In August last year, the trust confirmed exciting plans to create a new healthcare campus, supported by the government’s Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP) to build or refurbish 40 hospitals. The Department of Health and Social Care’s outline for the HIP makes it clear that “it is not just about bricks and mortar” but about making sure that the “digital technologies and data sharing capabilities” are in place to provide better care to the public. Digital agency NHSX has developed a blueprint for what these might mean; and it is very ambitious. So, as Helen Davis, the deputy programme director for the new Princess Alexandra Hospital explains, it will use elements of the blueprint to make sure it is one of the most digitally enabled in the country. “We have the advantage of being one of the few hospitals in the programme to be working on a complete new build,” she says. “So, we are able to plan to transform all elements of the patient journey using digital. “That means everything from the moment people arrive at the hospital to the way they move through the building, to how their treatment is provided, to the way in which the building itself is managed. All of this will be supported by new technology and digital solutions.” Significant work has been undertaken by the trust in developing its business case and roadmap for achieving its ambitious goal, and this has been shared with the HIP’s New Hospital Programme executives, NHSE/I and NHSX, with positive feedback. As such a project is vast and complex, the trust has engaged specialist expertise from Gemserv Health to create a commercial case for the digital elements. The Gemserv team helped the trust to think through how it wanted to deliver the technology, taking account of the resources available to support different delivery options. Then, it helped the trust to work out how best to procure the preferred delivery options. One of a number of ideas that was explored in some detail was whether the trust could collaborate with national digital and procurement bodies and other HIP hospital trusts to create a specific set of framework arrangements for any of the 40 organisations in the HIP to use. Although carefully considered, the timing and a limited capacity within the organisations to bring this all together meant it was not viable for the trust to pursue this option. In the end the key issue became whether the trust should look to work with many suppliers on the different elements of the blueprint, or whether it should look to work with one or two lead contractors to secure them. “A lot of what is in the blueprint is very new technology,” Entwistle says. “Most of it is in use somewhere in the world, but no organisation is using all of it anywhere. That means the trusts in the HIP are going to need to find the right suppliers; the people who don’t just deliver the component parts but make it all work together in an integrated way. “In the end, we produced a commercial case that took account of the trust’s capacity to manage its suppliers and its appetite for risk.”
Few materials commands fear and trepidation as asbestos. Just about everyone, even if they’re not in the construction industry, understands that asbestos is a bad thing. But it wasn’t actually banned in the UK until 1999, and thus you might find it lurking in a whole range of different buildings. What is Asbestos? Asbestos is a group of six different types of naturally occurring fibres. These fibres are exceptionally resistant to heat and corrosion, which made them useful when it comes to making buildings where they are often found in insulation. Why was it banned? Unfortunately, the very same properties which make asbestos so good at creating permanent structures also make it very dangerous if it enters the human body. The body simply doesn’t have a way to break it down, which means that those inhaled fibres can cause inflammation and scarring inside the body. It is responsible for the vast majority of cases of mesothelioma, a type of cancer that wasn’t seen in the UK until asbestos entered the scene. Asbestos-related claims provide a way for effected workers to extract compensation, but they can’t reverse the damage. Is there a risk of asbestos exposure in construction? Unfortunately, the dangers of asbestos only came to light after it was rolled out into buildings across the UK. According to recent research, there are 6 million tonnes of asbestos distributed across 1.5 million public buildings. The material can be found in 94% of hospitals and 80% of public schools. In most cases, this asbestos is trapped behind walls and ceilings where it can’t inflict any damage. However, this changes when construction work is involved. If part of a building is destroyed, then those fibres might be released into the air. In some cases, this event isn’t even noticed. Moreover, many construction workers aren’t aware of exactly what to do in the event that they discover asbestos. How prepared are construction workers? According to polling from Opinium, commissioned by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, some 15% of workers have never been informed of the risks, and 18% of workers claimed that, if they found asbestos, they wouldn’t be sure of what to do. 15% of workers did not know about the asbestos register. This minority of uninformed workers pose a disproportionate risk, especially if they’re put in situations where they’re the only people working on a particular site. What can I do? Employers and workers have a duty to inform themselves on the dangers of asbestos, in order to limit the risk to everyone. If you’re in this position, then you can find plenty of resources available on the Health and Safety Executive’s website.
