More than 3.32 million m3 of timber and panel imports were imported in Q3 2021, as the market achieves greater balance between supply and demand after nearly a year of record imports. Analysis of these statistics by the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) statistics show these import levels are more than
Travis Perkins plc, which is a leading partner to the construction industry and the UK’s largest supplier of building materials, today announced that it has joined the Disability Confident scheme run by The Department for Work & Pensions which encourages companies to improve how they recruit, retain and develop employees
Two construction firms have been ‘highly commended’ at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2021. Essex based Higgins Partnerships, and McCarrick Construction from County Durham received the award in the SME Employer of the Year category, sponsored by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and RITTech. The overall winner was Birmingham based Lander Automotive, which manufactures products mainly
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has welcomed new guidance from the Cabinet Office aimed at decarbonising the UK’s largest property estate. In its ‘Net Zero Estate Playbook’, the government has set out advice for public sector organisations and procurers about how they can substantially lower their carbon footprint in
British Association of Landscape Industries’ Accredited Contractor Graduate Gardeners has swept the 45th National Landscape Awards, taking home the prestigious Grand Award, the Principal Award in their category, and a Special Award for Best Design and Build for their breathtaking scheme, Private Garden, Cheltenham. The annual National Landscape Awards, held
Leeds College of Building is launching a unique ‘Methods of Land & Civil Surveying’ course to help boost careers in the construction industry and in response to growing sector demands. Commencing in January 2022, the new surveying programme was created by a specialist team at the College in conjunction with
Rotpunkt, award winning designer and manufacturer of carbon neutral German Kitchen furniture leads the way in eco-luxe interior design on account of its market-leading furniture solution BioBoard Gen2, which has been in production for nearly two years and is available to UK customers. Made from up to 90% recycled wood, this versatile
Construction is nearing the final stages at a development in Kings Norton which has paved the way for a new style of new-build homes across the country. Bellway is providing 171 new homes at The Oaks, off Parsons Hill, where the housebuilder launched its flagship Artisan Collection back in September
If you notice any cracks on your wall, bulging on your floor, or experience difficulties closing your doors, you may be facing a serious foundation leakage problem. You shouldn’t wait till the signs erupt into a disaster, or you will end up spending too much money doing the repairs or
More than 3.32 million m3 of timber and panel imports were imported in Q3 2021, as the market achieves greater balance between supply and demand after nearly a year of record imports. Analysis of these statistics by the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) statistics show these import levels are more than 23% over Q3 2020 and, significantly, more than 10% higher than the last time Q3 volumes exceeded three million m3 – in 2007. Softwood is being imported in larger amounts from a more diverse range of countries over the past quarter, with Latvia, Finland, and Germany growing to account for 61% (1.1 million m3)of the 1.8 million m3 of softwood imported in Q3 2021. Other timber products, including hardwood, plywood, particleboard, OSB and MDF, have also seen clear increases in Q3 2021 as compared with the previous year. While some goods continue to be under pressure amidst buoyant demand, and logistics issues, the timber supply chain overall has proven resilient, with the timber industry in a strong position to meet demand in 2022. Nick Boulton, TTF head of technical and trade policy, said: “These latest statistics continue to reflect the incredible demand for timber products seen over the past year which have kept the UK on track to surpass previous import records. “After this record period the stock levels have returned back towards their pre-pandemic levels and the logistics supply chain is struggling to find sufficient space for further volume – so much so that in Sweden we are seeing some sawmills reduce their overall production volumes. “However, while we can see stock levels returning, the UK market is clearly in a different place compared to where it was two years ago, with the likes of HGV driver shortages, port delays and Brexit changes likely to continue to impact the market in the coming months. “Despite these challenges, these past 21 months have proven that the timber supply chain is resilient. We are in a strong position to meet growing demand for sustainable, low-carbon construction materials – both now and in the future. “As a low-carbon, low-energy construction material, timber is likely to grow as the material of choice among climate conscious architects, engineers, developers and planners in the UK. “With the tightest period of tension between supply and demand likely behind us, we can expect a return to more ‘regular’ activity in 2022.” Members can read the full report on the TTF website:
Travis Perkins plc, which is a leading partner to the construction industry and the UK’s largest supplier of building materials, today announced that it has joined the Disability Confident scheme run by The Department for Work & Pensions which encourages companies to improve how they recruit, retain and develop employees with disabilities and long term conditions. As part of its Disability Confident Level 1 membership, Travis Perkins has committed to ensure its recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, that adjustments are made to accommodate colleagues with disabilities and long term health conditions, and to provide employment, workplace and training opportunities. We acknowledge that creating a more inclusive environment which celebrates and nurtures diversity will be crucial to our future success as a business and as an industry. Whilst we have started to put disability on our leadership agenda, joining the Disability Confident scheme will help us accelerate change by making new connections, gaining access to information, support and guidance and other activities that will help us improve. “This is about eliminating stigma and removing the barriers that might be preventing our colleagues from realising their aspirations, so we create a workplace that is fully accessible and where everyone can thrive,” said James Mackenzie, Managing Director of Toolstation and Group Leadership Team Sponsor for the Travis Perkins Group’s Ability Network. Membership of the Disability Confident scheme follows Travis Perkins’ announcement earlier this year of its commitment to disability inclusion after joining The Valuable 500 in 2020, to make the business fully accessible to colleagues, as well as customers and suppliers, with disabilities and long term health conditions; both seen and unseen, over time.
Two construction firms have been ‘highly commended’ at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2021. Essex based Higgins Partnerships, and McCarrick Construction from County Durham received the award in the SME Employer of the Year category, sponsored by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and RITTech. The overall winner was Birmingham based Lander Automotive, which manufactures products mainly for the automotive sector. Lucy Ireland, Managing Director at BCS Learning and Development, presented the awards and said: ‘Congratulations to all who underwent the rigorous judging process for this category. The finalists are fantastic examples of firms that run exemplary apprenticeship schemes for their staff.’ Strictly Come Dancing and BBC star Dan Walker returned to host the Awards for a second year. For the first time ever, the event was both in person and live streamed. Finalists, sponsors, the Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi and Minister for Skills Alex Burghart attended the event at a central London venue. It was also available online with family, friends and supporters from across the apprenticeship community able to join in the celebrations from home. Apprenticeships ‘leading the way’ The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP gave the keynote speech and said: ‘Apprenticeships are the living proof about what’s best in our education system. We are entering a new era of the skills economy, which is something that this government regards as an absolute priority. ‘I want to congratulate everyone for being the best of the best. These awards fill me with confidence and optimism for the future. There is even more to come, and apprenticeships are leading the way.’ The award sponsor, BCS, carries out the final check – called the end-point assessment – where a digital apprentice demonstrates they are thoroughly trained and competent. Around 13,000 digital apprentices have completed this process through BCS so far. Annette Allmark, Head of Apprenticeships at BCS, said: ‘These awards are a fantastic way to celebrate apprenticeships and promote the opportunities they present to both individuals and employers. With recognised skills shortages in many areas, including IT and digital skills, no matter how big or small an organisation is, they can all benefit from talented apprentices.’ The judging panels chose the regional finalists for nine different categories during November, including Apprentice of the Year. Other sponsors of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2021 include the Army and the Royal Navy, Lloyds Banking Group and BT.
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has welcomed new guidance from the Cabinet Office aimed at decarbonising the UK’s largest property estate. In its ‘Net Zero Estate Playbook’, the government has set out advice for public sector organisations and procurers about how they can substantially lower their carbon footprint in line with its policy to deliver a 78% reduction in emissions from government buildings by 2035. The public sector accounts for 9% of the country’s total building-related carbon emissions and, as the largest built environment client, steps taken by the government can also have a profound knock-on effect throughout the sector. Its guidance for improving the performance of schools, hospitals, prisons, offices, and other public buildings, including listed and historic structures, provides advice on how to update energy and emissions audits, monitor in use performance and how to secure the necessary funding for building upgrades. The Playbook takes a technology neutral approach because it notes that different buildings need different solutions. Therefore, it provides advice on a wide range of building engineering options including heat pumps, solar, low carbon heating, energy efficiency, LED lighting etc. It also urges developers to carry out detailed assessments to ensure they use the right solution for the building in question, including whether they can be connected to heat networks and the potential for alternative energy sources like renewables, hydrogen, and biofuels. Crucial Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay said decarbonising public buildings was “absolutely crucial if we’re going to meet our environmental targets”. “Property professionals should use the Playbook to turn best practice into standard practice. It will put the public estate in a stronger position to deliver a 78% reduction in emissions by 2035, and be fully net zero by 2050,” added Barclay, who is the Cabinet Office Minister overseeing the net zero strategy. The Playbook also outlines how project teams can meet the Future Buildings Standard for new developments, which will come into effect from 2025. The guidance will be updated at regular intervals as information and knowledge improves, the Minister added. “The clarity of purpose set out in this new Playbook is extremely helpful,” said BESA’s head of technical Graeme Fox. “Setting down some of the technical detail needed to deliver the government’s net zero ambitions is the best way to focus effort in the right direction and drive practical action.” At the recent BESA National Conference, architect and TV personality George Clarke called for a “global retrofit revolution” for buildings to help rapidly decarbonise the built environment and make it more resilient to the impact of climate change. He urged the government abolish VAT on building restorations and renovations to speed up the decarbonisation of existing buildings – pointing out that 80% of the buildings we will be using in 2050 have already been built. “Hopefully, the new Playbook with its detailed plan for upgrading and retrofitting the UK’s largest property estate will provide welcome impetus for a truly nationwide programme of building upgrades that put energy efficiency, low carbon heating and cooling, and improved building fabric at its heart,” said Fox. He added that a “technology agnostic approach” was sensible to discourage people from ‘championing’ particular solutions when many, including most of the technologies the building engineering sector is already using, still have their place. “The difficult bit is working out which solution is the right one for the task in hand so updating assessments and audits is the crucial first step. Flexibility is key and engineers need to be given the freedom to engineer,” said Fox. “For example, there is more than one type of heat pump, which means it is a technology that can be widely applied, but equally it is not always the right choice. The contents of the Playbook suggest that the Cabinet Office, at least, is starting to understand some of the nuances of built environment engineering.” The BESA Academy has developed a Heat Pump Installer course in collaboration with the Home Builders Federation and Worcester Bosch. It is designed to upskill qualified plumbing, heating and RAC engineers to correctly specify, install and maintain domestic heat pumps. You can find out more about the course here.www.theBESA.com
British Association of Landscape Industries’ Accredited Contractor Graduate Gardeners has swept the 45th National Landscape Awards, taking home the prestigious Grand Award, the Principal Award in their category, and a Special Award for Best Design and Build for their breathtaking scheme, Private Garden, Cheltenham. The annual National Landscape Awards, held at the iconic JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London celebrates the skills, hard work, quality, commitment, and successes of Association members and are the largest awards of their kind in Europe. They recognise excellence in landscape design, construction, and maintenance both in the UK and overseas, as well as Supplier exceptional service and employer excellence. Cotswold garden design specialists Graduate Gardeners are a multi award-winning design, construction, and landscaping company with nearly 50 years’ experience in creating exquisite contemporary and traditional gardens throughout Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties. The Grand award-winning project, ‘Private Garden, Cheltenham’ was a challenging under-taking. The client’s grounds were on a steeply sloping site and the brief was to maximise the view, provide better parking, enhance the entrance and create a more useable space within the garden. This required the skillful implementation of a design comprising a significant amount of groundworks to restructure the site. Italianate styling was used to create a truly beautiful private landscape for the owners to enjoy. This year’s National Landscape Awards’ Judges, led by Chair of the Judging Panel John Melmoe, jointly commented that by far the most impressive structural element of this design was the traditional dry stone retaining wall. Over 600 tons of material was excavated with over 300 tons of walling stone used, each piece placed by hand to create a wall 1.5m deep at the base – 500mm below ground level and 600mm at the top, with the finished height an average of 1.8m. It was a testament to the skill of the landscaping team, not least because the site is notorious for movement; there would be no foundation for the wall, other than the stone beneath the ground. It was only one element of a delightful in-house design that had transformed the space and created the most beautiful setting for the house. The Judges commented that Graduate Gardeners had raised the bar, showing the heights their peers must reach to be in the running for the Grand Award. This large house, with far reaching views across Cheltenham to the Welsh Hills was undergoing a total renovation when Graduate Gardeners were approached. Both upper and lower gardens were steeply sloping and there were a number of significant areas of construction, most notably, constructing the traditional dry stone retaining wall. Due to the challenging environment, a structural engineer was brought in to ensure a secure wall would remain for years to come. The in-house design included a beautiful contemporary Italianate courtyard and wildflower meadows above the retaining walls. Porcelain was used throughout for all the paved surfaces aside from the steps. Finally, a sophisticated planting scheme completed the design. Chair of the Judging Panel John Melmoe concluded: “Graduate Gardeners have combined a bold and intuitive design with construction perfection. A well-oiled machine, the designer and build team have worked seamlessly together and in partnership with the client, to create a setting for this beautiful home that embraces and optimises the surrounding landscape and views.” 79 National Landscape Awards bestowed on 53 members Awards entries were judged over the summer with 79 National Landscape Awards bestowed on 53 members of the Association in September and 29 Principal, 4 Special and the coveted Grand Award announced live on stage at the prestigious ceremony. Other notable wins announced at the Awards ceremony came from Accredited Contractor Nurture Landscapes who won 2 Principal Awards, 1 for the UK Trade Desk and one for Milton Park – Oxfordshire and Bluestone Landscapes, recipients of a Principal award in the Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations – Residential Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping – Under £250,000 category and also winners of a Special Award for Best Newcomer to BALI, sponsored by CED Stone Group. Best First Time Entrant, sponsored by Makita UK, went to Bespoke Stone Walling for their work at a Private Residence in Gloucestershire. Best Use of Technology, sponsored by Overtec, went to a project by Carrier Landscapes who entered the Regeneration Scheme under £500,000 category, sponsored by AHS. Carrier Landscapes won the award for the work they did at Kelham Hall, Nesfield Parterre de Broderie. There have only ever been two parterre restorations at Kelham Hall, one back in the 1950s and this second one by Carrier Landscapes. This was the fourth year the Awards were successfully delivered in-house by the British Association of Landscape Industries and the first at JW Marriott, Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London following last year’s necessary, virtual ceremony. Events Project Manager, Emily Feeney said: “It has been fantastic to have so many members come together in person once again to celebrate the culmination of so much of their hard work. The passion and dedication to quality I see in this role continues to astound me and after what has been one of the most trying years for so many it has been even more humbling to bear witness to such resilience and excellence.” Host for the ceremony BBC Radio Five Live’s Colin Murray brought a light-hearted feel to the afternoon and shared stories about his aspirations as a young man to pursue a career in landscaping prior to being lured into the world of journalism to the delight of close to 1,000 VIPs, members and guests and for the first year a virtual audience viewing the ceremony via a livestream. British Association of Landscape Industries Chief Executive, Wayne Grills commented: “I am thrilled to welcome back our members and guests to the 45th National Landscape Awards. A huge congratulations goes to our 2021 Grand Award winner Graduate Gardeners for their outstanding project that wowed the Judges with its brave and intuitive design and construction perfection that epitomised the exemplary work of Association members. Congratulations go to all
Leeds College of Building is launching a unique ‘Methods of Land & Civil Surveying’ course to help boost careers in the construction industry and in response to growing sector demands. Commencing in January 2022, the new surveying programme was created by a specialist team at the College in conjunction with the national awarding body, Pearson. Students will gain a BTEC certificate for surveying practice units (Levels 4 and 5) and a certificate of achievement awarded by the College. The programme is ideally suited to anyone already working in a technical role or who has a requirement to carry out surveying duties but no formal training. It is also a suitable entry point for those seeking a career change, engineering apprentices and technical assistants, or school leavers with a strong interest in site surveying or engineering careers. “This is an exciting new area for the College. Over the years, we have noticed a real need for a formal qualification for those who already carry out surveying or technical roles but who have ‘learnt on the job.’ Many of the students I see fit in this category, and so their only option is usually an HNC/HND qualification route. Instead, the content of this programme is based on two BTEC Level 4 and 5 surveying units, giving them an alternative learning route,” said David Riby, Lecturer in Surveying at Leeds College of Building. Applications are now open for the Methods of Land & Civil Surveying course at Leeds College of Building. Students will attend for one day per week for a total of 20 weeks, and ideally applicants should possess a minimum GCSE grade C in mathematics and English. “The course will begin with an introduction to the field of surveying and the service it provides throughout the construction life cycle. Surveying requires confident use of equipment, and so the course delivery is focused on practical surveying activity and instrument training. Students will be introduced to industry-standard software packages and trained on specific aspects of workflow – introduction to AutoCad, GNSS processing and transformations, and point cloud registration and uses of data. “Surveyors work in technologically advanced, specialist roles, playing a vital part in a range of civil engineering and construction projects. We’re really excited to offer this much-needed qualification to formalise practical experience and enthusiasm, and help boost the careers of more sought-after construction specialists,” David added.
Rotpunkt, award winning designer and manufacturer of carbon neutral German Kitchen furniture leads the way in eco-luxe interior design on account of its market-leading furniture solution BioBoard Gen2, which has been in production for nearly two years and is available to UK customers. Made from up to 90% recycled wood, this versatile eco-luxe material is one of the most environmentally-friendly chipboards ever used in the global kitchen industry, becoming a key pillar of the company’s integrated social-environmental policy up to 2030. Not only does BioBoard Gen2 reduce the use of virgin wood in the supply chain, but it also benefits indoor climates by ensuring the amount of formaldehyde released is half that of new chipboard. “As sustainability meets luxury design in the 2022 kitchen, we are proud to lead the way with an eco-friendly alternative that does not compromise on quality or design. All KBB professionals know that ‘change is an inside job’ and developing a brand is ever-evolving, which is why we are excited to report huge retail uptake and market support in our mission to become sustainable in every aspect of our business. To paraphrase Henry Ford, ‘Any customer can have any kitchen in any colour, as long as it’s green!’ As a German manufacturer, we have long been aware of the importance of recycling and protecting the environment and in 2017 our founders decided to take action in line with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals – known as the Agenda 2030 – and so this has always been a fundamental part of our corporate responsibility,” said Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt, Matt Phillips. Rotpunkt is laser-focused on seeing green solutions throughout its supply chain from the factory floor to the end users’ experience in the showroom. The company’s senior management team is continuously working on rethinking processes and questioning consumer habits – to pursue its zero carbon target by using an “avoid-reduce-compensate” approach. Emissions that cannot be avoided or reduced have been offset through sustainability projects since 2019 in partnership with myclimate. “It is a credit to the imagination and commitment of our global Rotpunkt family that our vision is on track despite challenges in the wake of the pandemic. In 2020, we ensured that all our materials for kitchen production were fully FSC-certified and this year we converted our heating system so that it uses wood waste, having made a complete switch to green energy to promote climate-friendly production across our Bünde and Getmold sites. Our next goals are to ensure that not only are our kitchens manufactured in a carbon-neutral way, but that all our raw eco-luxe materials are zero carbon too. We are investing in our production facility at our Bünde site with state-of-the-art robotics and a photovoltaic system to harness solar power as well as installing of charging stations for electric vehicles,” added Matt. As the journey to zero carbon emissions gathers pace, so do technical innovations at Rotpunkt. For instance, a new batch production process size at the Getmold site is significantly reducing wastage and the order-shipping team now have the option of using a passive robotic exoskeleton that reduces the physical strain of performing heavy repetitive or overhead tasks. All staff can explore extensive wellness options as part of the company’s employee benefits package –proof that sustainability starts from within.
Construction is nearing the final stages at a development in Kings Norton which has paved the way for a new style of new-build homes across the country. Bellway is providing 171 new homes at The Oaks, off Parsons Hill, where the housebuilder launched its flagship Artisan Collection back in September 2019. Homes within the Artisan Collection, which have since been rolled out to Bellway sites across the country, combine traditional craftsmanship with modern construction techniques and their design was based on decades of customer feedback. All the Artisan Collection homes at The Oaks have now been sold, with just four of the remaining homes within the development now available to reserve. All 17 of the affordable homes within the scheme have also been completed and handed over, with work set to finish at the Kings Norton development as a whole early next year. “We’re very proud that the new designs which were pioneered at The Oaks have gone on to provide homes for people across the country. With a mix of Artisan Collection and traditional Bellway house types at The Oaks, it’s been clear that the success of the development has been a combination of high-quality construction across all our homes and their great location. The range of property styles and sizes provided means we’ve seen a good mix of buyers here, including first-time buyers and growing families,” said Sales Director for Bellway West Midlands, Marie Richards. “New homeowners at The Oaks appreciate the development’s attractive setting nestled between the Worcester and Birmingham Canal to the west and dense woodland to the east, while it’s just seven miles south of central Birmingham and within walking distance of Kings Norton railway station for trains into the city centre. With just four homes remaining for sale and construction work now nearing the final stages, we’re looking forward to finishing on site early next year.” The final homes remaining for sale at The Oaks include a choice of two-bedroom Atherstone houses, priced from £257,500, as well as the four-bedroom detached Bascote, priced from £415,000.
If you notice any cracks on your wall, bulging on your floor, or experience difficulties closing your doors, you may be facing a serious foundation leakage problem. You shouldn’t wait till the signs erupt into a disaster, or you will end up spending too much money doing the repairs or lose your home altogether. When you notice the tell-tale signs, contact foundation repair contractors immediately and explain to them your situation. They will send experts to examine your house and propose the most plausible solutions at an affordable cost. Even then, here are some of the reasons you should not wait till these leakages need fixing. The Longer You Wait, the More the Damage Just like any other damage that occurs around your home, the longer you postpone repairing those damages, the bigger the issue will be. If you notice these foundation risks early enough, it becomes easier and cheaper to repair them. However, if you ignore them, you will spend a great deal of what would have been otherwise a small fix. Increased Water Damage Water damage is the last thing you would want to occur in your home. The more you put off repairing foundational leakages, the more you put yourself at risk of having such damages. If these leaks grow larger, then you will end up with a situation where you have water leaking into your house, and especially your basement. This water can cause massive damage to your floors, carpets, and other items in your house. It will also cause mold and mildew to grow leading to a foul smell within your home. It could easily drive you out of your house if you do not take measures early enough. Spending More Money It is rather obvious that you will end up spending more money if you are forced to repair major damages. If you notice foundational leakages and ignore them, you will certainly be forced to repair them at one point or another. The earlier you do so, the less you will spend. However, if you continue waiting you will have a serious problem on your hands. You could even end up tearing down the entire floor and rebuilding again. This type of repair could set you back a couple of years in terms of your finances. You Open Your Home to Pests Cracks and gaps in your walls and floors are avenues or gateways for pests such as rats and mice to invade your home. These pests take advantage of such leaks to find better shelter and food. You will even start having dangerous animals such as snakes. The pests can cause serious sanitary problems in your house that can cause serious ailments. Furthermore, they can also cause further damage by urination, chewing, and nesting within your home. Getting the services of an exterminator to get rid of such rodents is just wasting time and money. You can avoid all that by simply repairing minor damages when you notice them.
