A Greater Manchester waste management business that works with the construction industry has unveiled a major rebrand as it expands to build on its net-zero mission. Newtral, formerly known as Wastesure, is revolutionising the waste management industry using technology to help customers save money, time and carbon. The business, based
GMI Construction Group PLC has announced the key appointment of Andrew Hurcomb as Divisional Managing Director (DMD) for Yorkshire. He succeeds Lee Powell, recently promoted to the newly created position of Chief Executive Officer, who is tasked with delivering sustained growth across its four core regions of Yorkshire, the North
Office Principles North has reinvigorated the Doncaster headquarters of furniture retailer, DFS into a flexible and collaborative workspace inspired by its Yorkshire roots. The leading interior design consultancy has modernised the interior of the traditional three-storey office building on Adwick le Street following a 16 week refurbishment. The project has
Chameleon Business Interiors – a Yorkshire-based interior design, fit-out and furnishing business, specialising in commercial buildings – has been operating internationally for over 20 years. The interior design and fit-out industry has experienced a lot of challenges during this time, but none more so than in the last two years.
Chestnut Homes has released the first homes at its latest development in Wyberton onto the market. The houses at The Farmstead are part of a wider neighbourhood of up to 200 homes, called Heron Park, being built off Wyberton Low Road. Heron Park will include public open space covering almost
Exclusive opinion poll finds key political background seats backing hydrogen heating as a means of hitting Net Zero targets, avoiding unaffordable, upfront costs of the alternatives, saving the UK £35 billion. The YouGov poll was commissioned by not-for-profit trade body Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), to examine a range of
Gripple is delighted to be exhibiting alongside colleagues from the construction industry at Futurebuild 2022 where it will showcase its unique prefabricated suspension system, Fast Trak which reduces installation times, reduces waste, and supports Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Taking place at ExCeL London between 1st and 3rd March 2022,
Trimble announced today an innovative mixed-reality solution for construction layout with the introduction of the FieldLink MR app. Built on the powerful Trimble Connect® collaboration platform, Trimble FieldLink MR offers a completely new way to perform construction layout, enabling professionals to quickly navigate to tasks on the jobsite—getting more done in less
The comprehensive redevelopment of Montagu Industrial Estate in Edmonton is continuing apace, with the completion of the first phase of its transformation into modern, sustainable industrial and logistics scheme, Workstown. The £150 million joint venture is replacing dilapidated, out-of-date buildings with modern, more energy efficient spaces for local small to medium
LEADING national house builder, Lovell, has set roots in the region with the opening of its dedicated East Midlands office. Located in Derby’s Pride Park, the property giant’s new office cements its commitment to a successful future working with the region to meet housing needs. Following the success in securing
A Greater Manchester waste management business that works with the construction industry has unveiled a major rebrand as it expands to build on its net-zero mission. Newtral, formerly known as Wastesure, is revolutionising the waste management industry using technology to help customers save money, time and carbon. The business, based in Bury, has restructured to build on the success of its work in helping customers achieve net-zero targets when it comes to their waste. Newtral, founded in 2018, began as a hire business with just one skip and now operates nationwide, offering waste management services to a variety of customers including construction companies and the water industry. Its innovative approach helps customers achieve a 99 per cent recycling rate before using its technology to calculate and offset the remaining carbon emissions. The rebrand, which includes a brand-new website, comes a year after the business increased staff and invested £1m in new offices to accommodate its swift growth. Director Mark Dunne, who founded the business, said Newtral’s sustainable approach guarantees compliance and helps customers meet and exceed their corporate social responsibility targets. He said: “Wastesure began as a skip-hire business but we have grown to offer much more than waste removal. The Newtral name aims to shake-up a waste management industry that has, until now, failed to evolve and reflects our continued focus on helping customers achieve sustainability. “Businesses today must drive down their carbon emissions in every part of their organisation and Newtral assists them in doing this. Our unique technology, combined with a workforce dedicated to problem solving, means we surpass expectations every time. “We work tirelessly to offset carbon emissions on behalf of our customers, planning shorter routes and reducing the amount of trips their waste travels to vastly reduce its impact on the environment. We then go further to offset emissions by planting trees to result in waste that has zero impact on the environment. “We are excited to reveal our rebrand with our customers and look forward to sharing the benefits of our transformational approach to waste management.”
GMI Construction Group PLC has announced the key appointment of Andrew Hurcomb as Divisional Managing Director (DMD) for Yorkshire. He succeeds Lee Powell, recently promoted to the newly created position of Chief Executive Officer, who is tasked with delivering sustained growth across its four core regions of Yorkshire, the North West, Midlands and North East. Hurcomb’s arrival represents a real coup for GMI, given his outstanding track record at Willmott Dixon where he spent five years as Operations Director. There he oversaw the company’s growth across Yorkshire and the North and was responsible for delivering several high-profile projects. With more than 30 years’ experience within the construction industry, he has gained skills and practical experience at every level. Originally from Dewsbury, he studied at Huddersfield Technical College, Leeds College of Building, and Leeds Becket University. He began his career in 1984 with M.Harrison & Co before moving to Miller Construction in Yorkshire in 1989, gaining experience in a variety of roles from Site Engineer to Senior Project Manager before progressing to Regional Technical Director for the North of England. When Galliford Try acquired Miller in 2014 Andrew took up the position of Operations Director for Yorkshire, before moving to Willmott Dixon in 2017. Lee Powell, CEO of GMI Construction Group PLC, said: “Following my appointment as CEO, we required someone with the right skills, dedication and drive to fulfil this key role within the business. “His knowledge and experience of the Yorkshire construction market is second to none. He is highly respected in the region, making him an exceptional appointment and someone who can build upon GMI’s first rate reputation and its success in delivering major developments across three decades. “He has GMI values at heart and the business acumen to make a real impact by taking our Yorkshire business portfolio to an even greater level. I’m delighted to welcome him onboard.” Andrew Hurcomb, Divisional Managing Director – Yorkshire, said: “I’m extremely proud to join a forward-thinking company like GMI, which is a business that is going places. It’s my intention to continue the excellent work Lee has already achieved as DMD in the region. “I will spearhead GMI Construction Group’s ongoing expansion in Yorkshire as part of its UK strategy to levelling up in key regions. This follows several high-profile projects wins this year and next. “We are onsite currently with a workbook of 11 live projects across Yorkshire, with a further 4 projects due to commence in Q1 2022 with a combined total value of more than £250M, and we’re looking to expand that significantly in the coming 12 months. I’m relishing the opportunity and the hard work starts now.” One of the UK’s largest independent construction companies in the North of England and The Midlands, with offices in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, and Teesside, GMI Construction Group PLC is forecasting an annual turnover in excess of £350m for 2022 and has already secured £300m worth of opportunities.
Office Principles North has reinvigorated the Doncaster headquarters of furniture retailer, DFS into a flexible and collaborative workspace inspired by its Yorkshire roots. The leading interior design consultancy has modernised the interior of the traditional three-storey office building on Adwick le Street following a 16 week refurbishment. The project has created a comfortable, socially-oriented environment, with a fully inclusive design that reflects and celebrates the retailer’s heritage and craftsmanship. It features a new accessible, open plan layout that promotes employee collaboration through a series of purpose-built office, catering, event and activity-based spaces. Its centrepiece is a new coworking cafe bar and deli that delivers a ‘grab and go’ style food and beverage offering, with seating arrangements to encourage small informal meetings and larger ‘family-style’ gatherings. A new welcoming reception area flows into a ground floor virtual store and touchdown space that can be reconfigured for events, launches or town hall gatherings, with seating for more than 80 people. A wide range of furniture options increases the choice of places to meet and work, with high tables, a giant extendable sofa, couple seats, family gathering table, cosy club bench seats, wheelchair accessible meeting booths and a collection of DFS breakout furniture. Wellness is at the heart of the design and is promoted through the addition of a new landscaped community garden. The space connects employees to the outdoors, with decked seating and house frame structures for meetings and social events, as well as an outdoor chef station. The first, second and third floors all benefit from a workspace refresh, including a new Group Ops hub and reconfigured furniture, as well as breakout, meeting and additional activity-based workspaces. A new platform lift has been installed to improve connectivity from the ground floor to the first floor. Office Principles has deconstructed and reimagined DFS’s product range, applying a naturally-derived colour palette, tactile surfaces, patterns and comfort throughout the space. They include warm fabrics and timber flooring, a handcrafted slatted feature wall and large scale wall and window branding, with lighting and materials selected according to their sustainability credentials. Tina Batham, joint managing director of Office Principles North, said that the new workplace had created a ‘work life’ experience for DFS employees. She said: “DFS is a brand based on great people, which is why this workplace refurbishment promotes collaboration and fosters a real sense of wellbeing and togetherness. We have placed a large emphasis on delivering well balanced floor plates that contain several distinct spaces, each with a deliberate function. They are unified by a design that reinforces the quality of craftsmanship that is a hallmark of DFS and allows employees to immerse themselves in the materials that underpin its product range. It’s an inviting and inclusive coworking space that will positively shape the way that the company’s employees eat, meet and work together for years to come.” Office Principles North was chosen to deliver the refurbishment of DFS in Doncaster, following a competitive tendering process.
Chameleon Business Interiors – a Yorkshire-based interior design, fit-out and furnishing business, specialising in commercial buildings – has been operating internationally for over 20 years. The interior design and fit-out industry has experienced a lot of challenges during this time, but none more so than in the last two years. As the sector continues to negotiate supply chain delays, inflated material costs and a national labour shortage, Shaun Watts – chairman of Chameleon – shares his reflections from the last 12 months, makes his predictions for the year ahead, and offers insight into the plans to secure continued growth. It has certainly been a challenging time for our industry, and it’s incredibly sad to see firms in our sector close their doors recently. No one knew what to expect as we entered 2021. If you believed everything you heard at the time, you’d think that the office working model was dead and that we’d all be working from home permanently. Indeed, 2021 saw a slow-down in our Canadian business, despite delivering several projects successfully due to our strong management based in Toronto. But, overall, I’m very grateful and humbled that we have bucked the trend, starting 2021 on the back of the growth and success of 2020. We secured a number of large and complex contracts early on, with clients that took a long-term view to workspaces: they wanted to think creatively, design spaces their employees wanted to return to, and prioritise collaborative and safe working. As a result, we doubled our turnover and we have our innovative and hard-working team to thank for that. I also saw clients’ confidence in us grow because we’ve continued to invest and recruit. But I do recognise that we represent a small proportion of companies that emerged from 2021 in a strong position. 2022: industry predictions As we look ahead to 2022, I believe that: Sustainability will continue to influence everything we do. Carbon neutral buildings will become more important to occupiers and we’re even seeing projects that are aiming to be carbon negative. It’s a phenomenal purchasing mindset shift. Employee wellbeing is absolutely front-of-mind; the pandemic has focused everyone on this and they’re now investing significantly in their workspaces. It should be about putting people first and really considering how existing spaces can be maximised for the people that use it. Safe yet sociable hubs that enable collaborative working is essential for the return to office-based working. The workplace has changed forever and we have seen this new model work well in 2021. Reducing the office footprint is not the right approach – you can’t expect employees to live their whole career in their bedroom. There’s limited personal development opportunities with this model and it’s short-termism, in my view. British manufacturing has an opportunity to really thrive – with all of the delays and inflated costs we’re experiencing importing materials and furniture into the UK, now is the time for British manufacturing to make its mark. 2022: industry challenges In terms of challenges this year, I predict we’ll be looking at: The skills gap presenting us with ongoing difficulties – recruitment across the sector has been very difficult and there isn’t a large talent pool out there. To combat this, we need to be offering more opportunities to those entering the industry and enabling them to develop long-lasting and fulfilling careers not just ‘jobs’. Cost continuing to impact our sustainability goals – unfortunately, doing the right thing comes at a price. If we’re ever going to move the needle, we need to find some way to appease both clients’ budgets and the sustainability agenda. Motivating staff after a very busy few years becoming a bigger challenge – this is a challenge faced by businesses all over the world. The last two years have been stressful and we’ve all been working very hard. So this year will be the ‘Year of Fun’ for the team at Chameleon to give the team the opportunity to bond and have fun together again. It’s been well overdue! Chameleon’s 2022 The year has begun well, with a number prestigious projects already on site across country that we’re all very excited about and new projects in design stage. With the addition of new talent and expertise to the business, we anticipate the size and complexity of our projects continuing to grow. Acquisition will be part of our growth strategy in 2022, and I am actively looking for the right opportunity. We have some ambitious targets to meet that will stretch us all but we are up for the challenge. The infrastructure and talent we now have in place gives us the strength in depth to support our growth ambitions over the coming year.
Chestnut Homes has released the first homes at its latest development in Wyberton onto the market. The houses at The Farmstead are part of a wider neighbourhood of up to 200 homes, called Heron Park, being built off Wyberton Low Road. Heron Park will include public open space covering almost a third of the 19-acre site. Helene Key, Sales Manager for Chestnut Homes, said: “Four of the nine spacious, detached homes at The Farmstead have now been released for sale. “This development includes an exclusive range of large four-bedroom homes, all of which feature garages and spacious rear gardens offering plenty of outdoor space. “Chestnut Homes has a proud track record of delivering new housing in Lincolnshire for more than three decades, and these nine homes at The Farmstead are a continuation of that commitment. The homes will be built in a traditional style that complements the character of the local area and the rural setting. “Construction work is progressing well at the site, with the first homes due to be completed and ready for buyers to move in by August. “The Farmstead is ideally located in a peaceful village location, just three miles from Boston town centre and its wide range of shops and other amenities. Given the exclusive nature of the development, there has been a great deal of interest in these new homes, and I would encourage anyone interested to get in touch with us as soon as they can.” Four homes are currently available to purchase at The Farmstead, with prices from £289,950. For more information about the homes available, visit chestnuthomes.co.uk.
Exclusive opinion poll finds key political background seats backing hydrogen heating as a means of hitting Net Zero targets, avoiding unaffordable, upfront costs of the alternatives, saving the UK £35 billion. The YouGov poll was commissioned by not-for-profit trade body Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), to examine a range of questions about the UK’s energy future. Excluding ‘Don’t Knows’, 85 per cent of the 1600 residents across 18 Red Wall seats in the north of England back Government plans to allow hydrogen to be blended with natural gas to reduce carbon emissions in the home, from 2023. This figure rises to 92 per cent of Labour voters. These findings support the recent publication by the Energy Networks Association of their “Hydrogen Blending Delivery Plan” launched last week. Hydrogen can be safely blended into the natural gas network at levels up to 20 per cent without any changes required to gas boilers, cookers or fires, meaning consumers can reduce their carbon footprint automatically. Across the UK, this offers the potential of a 6 million tonnes a year carbon saving. Commenting on these findings, Mike Foster, CEO of EUA said: “We have always believed the great British public want to do their bit on reducing carbon but are worried about the costs and don’t trust some new technologies. Blending hydrogen into the gas network has been given a huge thumbs up from voters.” “They can continue to use their gas boilers, cookers and fires as they do now, and their carbon emissions will be cut, with them doing nothing. It’s a real win-win situation that is recognised by voters, already struggling with energy bills and having no spare cash for expensive alternatives to gas boilers.” “And the impact is huge. Across the UK’s 23 million homes, it amounts to 6 million tonnes a year saved – the same as taking 2.5 million cars off our roads. Instead of switching 3.5[1] million homes from gas to heat pumps, to save the same amount of carbon, at a cost of £35 billion[2], consumers can simply keep warm knowing that the switch to hydrogen is helping to save the planet.” For more information, visit www.eua.org.uk [1] A gas boiler typically emits 1.58 tonnes of carbon dioxide more than an Air Source Heat Pump. [2] The Prime Minister and BEIS calculate the cost of buying and installing a heat pump is £10,000 per household.
Gripple is delighted to be exhibiting alongside colleagues from the construction industry at Futurebuild 2022 where it will showcase its unique prefabricated suspension system, Fast Trak which reduces installation times, reduces waste, and supports Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Taking place at ExCeL London between 1st and 3rd March 2022, the Gripple team will be on Stand H32 and will be able to demonstrate the sustainable qualities of the system that make it ideal for installations where economies of time and money are a priority. “The new Fast Trak system launched in 2021 and has been enhanced to support our customers’ needs which has resulted in a product that is so easy to install and negates the need for hot works permits on-site.” said Alex Smith, Marketing Manager – UK & Ireland at Gripple. “Sales of the Fast Trak system have increased globally thanks to the unique end cap that allows for easy and tool-free adjustment when working at height, bringing greater flexibility and speed to installations without compromising performance and strength – Fast Trak is proving to be a real hit in the M&E sector.” Futurebuild has sustainability at the heart of the event and is pioneering the drive to net zero in the construction sector, something which Gripple is firmly committed to. Gripple will aim to reach a carbon neutral position across its UK operations in 2022 and achieve carbon neutrality across the global business in 2023. Furthermore, its Fast Trak range supports other businesses to reduce their own carbon footprint too. “We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to our stand and it’s an ideal opportunity to meet our team who deliver expert support at every stage of a project,” said Alex. “This includes installation design services, on-site technical consultations and after sales support to allow customers and installers to truly reap the benefits of a suspension system that is fit for 21st century construction projects.” Click here to register for your free ticket. Click here to discover more about the Gripple Fast Trak range online. Click here to learn about Gripple’s journey to climate positive. Fast Trak has applications in construction and renovation projects such as high-rise residential, data centres, industrial, retail, office space, healthcare settings, and educational facilities. To find out more visit https://www.gripple.com.
Trimble announced today an innovative mixed-reality solution for construction layout with the introduction of the FieldLink MR app. Built on the powerful Trimble Connect® collaboration platform, Trimble FieldLink MR offers a completely new way to perform construction layout, enabling professionals to quickly navigate to tasks on the jobsite—getting more done in less time. The app runs on the Trimble® XR10 with HoloLens 2, a hardhat-integrated mixed-reality device. With Trimble FieldLink MR, field crews can easily visualize construction data without relying on a handheld controller for step-by-step navigation to locate each point. Visual cues presented through the mixed-reality hardhat naturally lead workers directly to each point for them to physically lay out pertinent information on the construction site. Attracting and retaining skilled workers remains a key challenge for many contractors, reducing the complexity of layout in the field will be essential to enable less experienced staff to deliver quality work the first time. “Trimble’s FieldLink solution enables users to precisely position digital construction information in the physical world. FieldLink MR is an extension of this application, which seamlessly integrates cutting edge mixed-reality technology to help construction professionals be more effective on site. This integration offers more efficient and intuitive workflows by making the layout process more natural and contextual,” said Martin Holmgren, general manager for Trimble’s Building Construction Field Solutions Division. Trimble’s layout and mixed-reality solutions are part of the Trimble Connected Construction ecosystem, leveraging the Trimble Connect collaboration platform. Contractors from different trades and in all phases of the construction lifecycle can work together to enable more automated layout and fabrication. Field productivity solutions are driven directly by constructible data, reducing the need for data conversions and the potential for error. Using constructible data and real-time collaboration, project stakeholders can work together seamlessly, optimizing the design, build and operate lifecycle. AvailabilityTrimble FieldLink MR is expected to be available in the first half of 2022 from Trimble and BuildingPoint™ distribution partners and will be downloadable through the Microsoft Store. For more information, visit: fieldtech.trimble.com/en/products/layout. The Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 is available through Trimble and BuildingPoint distribution partners.
The comprehensive redevelopment of Montagu Industrial Estate in Edmonton is continuing apace, with the completion of the first phase of its transformation into modern, sustainable industrial and logistics scheme, Workstown. The £150 million joint venture is replacing dilapidated, out-of-date buildings with modern, more energy efficient spaces for local small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Enfield Council’s Leader, Cllr Nesil Caliskan and the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources, Cllr Mary Maguire, met council officers who have worked on the project and a team from property developer HBD, the council’s joint-venture partner. They joined a tour of the scheme on Monday 24 January to view the completed first phase, which comprises nine industrial units totalling 60,000 sq. ft. of new space. Two thirds of the completed phase is already let or under offer. One of the new tenants, Hived, (pictured) is the first mass-market, zero emission parcel delivery provider, offering greener and cheaper solutions from warehouses directly to customers. Cllr Maguire said: “Montagu Industrial Estate is transforming into a modern, fit-for-purpose and accessible site welcoming businesses that are at the forefront of manufacturing and logistics. The development will also have a significant impact on the local community, helping with the creation of a variety of high-quality jobs within the borough and new opportunities for innovative businesses. I am also extremely happy to see that as well as providing new homes for existing and expanding local companies, we are also welcoming new businesses such as Hived to the area.” Adrian Schofield, Senior Director and Head of Region at HBD, said: “We have seen strong interest in Workstown from a wide-range of businesses, from start-ups through to larger companies – 70 per cent of the scheme was under offer before completion, which reflects the quality of the development. It is a fantastic regeneration project and we look forward to bringing forward the further phases of the redevelopment.” Located just north of the A406, the 29-acre scheme is being redeveloped in phases to create more than 350,000 sq. ft. of employment space. The transformation is part of the Council’s ongoing and wider regeneration of the Edmonton area to create new opportunities, support employment and establish a new business community. The revamp of the estate is expected to create hundreds of new jobs, a significant boost for Edmonton. The estate, which housed some units from the 1950s has suffered from anti-social behaviour and unauthorised activities on the site, which has had a detrimental impact on surrounding residential areas. The next phases and compulsory purchase order are scheduled to be discussed at March’s Cabinet meeting. An overall masterplan will show how the remaining phases will be delivered.
LEADING national house builder, Lovell, has set roots in the region with the opening of its dedicated East Midlands office. Located in Derby’s Pride Park, the property giant’s new office cements its commitment to a successful future working with the region to meet housing needs. Following the success in securing opportunities in the East Midlands, Lovell has positioned itself with a strong pipeline of projects and a brand-new office that will accommodate a dedicated regional team. Chris Timmins, East Midlands area director for Lovell, said: “Our new Derby office has been a long time in the making and we are thrilled to be able to open it. I’m excited to be building on the success that we have seen in creating high-quality housing provision across the East Midlands over the past 18 months. We recognise the need for long-term partnerships in the region, in collaboration with local authorities and organisations to ensure housing demands are met. “With the opening of this office, we are demonstrating our commitment to the area and in creating the all-important long-lasting relationships that will make a meaningful impact to the communities in which we work, as opposed to being a hands-off developer.” The new East Midlands team will be headed up by Chris Timmins, which is strengthened further under the leadership of regional managing director, Stuart Penn. Chris will also be supported by regional partnership director Simon Wingate, Beth Bundonis, commercial manager, Tim Mansell, Operation manager, Gareth Bevan, pre-contract manager and Lewis Charity, technical manager. Chris said: “We are proud to have built such a strong team to provide our services at the new regional office. We are the only developer in the country to offer full spectrum housing capabilities, from refurbishment projects through to multi-tenure, partnership schemes, which is why it was essential to create a team that can deliver this full scope to the East Midlands.” The office has been designed as a sustainable business unit, with employee and client wellbeing at the forefront. Lovell’s sister company, Overbury, led the interior fit out to create a bright and modern space to work. Lovell operates as a company under the leading UK construction brand, Morgan Sindall, whose national presence will support Lovell’s ambitious goals for the region. Chris concluded: “Looking to the future, we’re energised by the current and potential opportunities available. We are confident in our capabilities to make a real impact, working alongside the right regional and national companies to support the East Midlands in achieving its housing goals.” Lovell instructed property consultants, Harris Lamb, to identify a suitable property to site a head office in the region as part of its continuing expansion, and thanks to the relocation of its previous tenant, the team was able to secure one of the most prestigious office buildings in the city’s business district. David Walton, head of retail for Harris Lamb, said 5 Riverside Court is one of the most prestigious stand-alone office buildings of its kind on Pride Park and makes a fitting regional base for the business. The building is fitted out to a high specification, and has 18 on-site parking spaces for employees, as well as being located at the heart of the region to enable convenient access to the business’ development sites within the East Midlands and to its other UK offices.” For more information, please visit https://www.lovell.co.uk/
