A leading contractor and developer in the East of England is once again inviting applications to its construction apprenticeship for the 18th time in its history. Anderson has been at the forefront of training and developing construction talent for almost 35 years and will relaunch its Groundwork Apprenticeship Scheme for
2021 Planet Passionate report published today Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions reduced 4.3% versus 2020 29% reduction in carbon intensity achieved Insulation systems sold in 2021 will save an estimated 193 million tonnes of carbon in their lifetime Kingspan Group, the global leader in advanced insulation and building solutions,
The HG Construction Group has launched HG Living Ltd, a new property development company specialising in Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), Build to Rent (BtR) and Affordable Housing schemes. The company has made two key appointments in line with its strategic growth plans. Craig McPhail joins HG Living as Director
One of the major announcements in 2019 was that electric car pioneer Tesla was to build its next Gigafactory in Berlin, Germany. Playing an unheralded, yet vital part in the productive, efficient and safe construction of the factory was an array of National Pile Cropper’s solutions. The Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg
Regular office cleaning is critical to ensuring a healthy work environment. It makes the workplace more enjoyable for personnel and visitors while minimizing the danger of spreading sickness. Whether you own a restaurant, a big office, or any other kind of workplace, keeping up with the clutter is a significant
Organised by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Women in Construction (WIC) Week highlights the increasing role women are playing in the building sector, whilst emphasising the need for a levelling-up of the gender imbalance that still exists. Despite signs that more women are considering a career in
With the world stability being in great difficulty today, raw materials are being looked at, closely. Some may become difficult to acquire, as war rages on, in Europe. Zamak is a non-ferrous alloy that is somewhat lesser known and possess many advantages. Below you will find information on the product,
A leading contractor and developer in the East of England is once again inviting applications to its construction apprenticeship for the 18th time in its history. Anderson has been at the forefront of training and developing construction talent for almost 35 years and will relaunch its Groundwork Apprenticeship Scheme for 2022 seeking 10 new recruits aged 16 and over for a two-year Level 2 Diploma in Construction Operations. News of the continuation of the scheme comes after the success of last year’s intake, which the firm said was crucial to help bring new blood into the industry. It came at a time when apprenticeship schemes were on the decline nationally due to the pandemic and the construction industry was facing a stark skills gap. Six out of 10 employers stopped all new apprenticeships when the coronavirus pandemic hit and Anderson has been determined to ensure the shortfall in new talent is filled as quickly as possible. Steve Hammond, Training Manager at Anderson, said: “The construction industry continues to face a skills gap, so it remains vitally important to highlight the benefits of a construction-based career to young people and for Anderson to continue its long-standing record of recruiting talented new apprentices. “It was a delight to be able to welcome a brand-new intake last year as the industry continued to be impacted by the pandemic and we are very much looking forward to receiving fresh applications for the 2022 cohort. “A career with Anderson is a fantastic opportunity to undertake practical and theory-based training, leading to a secure role with job satisfaction and the opportunity for career progression through the company.” Apprentices are given hands-on training on sites across the East and South of England, learning from professionals with decades of experience in the industry as well as recently qualified apprentices who understand the demands of the two-year course and can help mentor the new recruits. Riley Giles was the youngest of the apprentices that joined Anderson at the end of September, and he is now working with Anderson on the Hopkins Homes site at River Reach, Mistley. He said: “I love every minute of it. The lads on site have been great. “I was worried about getting up early every day but actually I can’t wait to get started – I even get up early on weekends now so I don’t waste the day.” Riley has ambitions to work his way up within the company to become a Site Manager. “I like the idea of progressing with Anderson – it’s a really great company,” he said. “But I have to admit I also I have my sights set on wearing one of those red hats one day!” The Anderson apprentice selection course starts in August 2022 for four weeks, with the successful candidates being accepted on to the full apprenticeship in September. The apprenticeship consists of practical and theory-based training sessions learning a variety of groundwork subjects. The closing date for application is May 15 and CVs should be sent to apprentices@andersongroup.co.uk
2021 Planet Passionate report published today Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions reduced 4.3% versus 2020 29% reduction in carbon intensity achieved Insulation systems sold in 2021 will save an estimated 193 million tonnes of carbon in their lifetime Kingspan Group, the global leader in advanced insulation and building solutions, has released its second annual report for its 10-year sustainability programme, Planet Passionate. Highlights include a 4.3% reduction (1) in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and a 29% reduction in carbon intensity (2) year-on-year, against a background of 42% total revenue growth for the period. For the second year running, the Group has made absolute reductions towards its 2030 net zero carbon manufacturing goal. This is underpinned by a verified SBTi (3) target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90% by 2030, from a 2020 base year. Achieving this will require the decarbonisation of Kingspan’s energy sources and processes across its existing 198 manufacturing sites (up from 166 in 2020), while supporting newly acquired businesses to decarbonise as quickly as possible. To accelerate the Group’s decarbonisation strategy, the report has announced the introduction of an internal carbon charge of €70 per tonne of CO2e, which will be implemented throughout the business in 2023. The 2021 Planet Passionate report illustrates the positive progress made to date against the majority of the programme’s 12 measurable targets in carbon, energy, water, and circularity. Notable achievements include: Energy: An increase in the direct use of renewable energy from 19.5% to 26.1%, and an increase in the percentage of wholly-owned facilities with solar PV from 21.7% to 28.4%. The Group also achieved a 15% reduction in energy intensity (4) year-on-year. Carbon: An increase in the percentage of zero emissions company funded cars from 11% to 29%. Circularity: A reduction in company waste to landfill of 13%, as well as 843 million PET bottles recycled into our processes. Water: The Group announced its second ocean cleanup project: a partnership with cleantech startup SeabinTM, to deploy their unique technology first in Sydney Harbour followed by LA later in 2022. This follows a three-year partnership with the ECOALF Foundation which works with a network of 2,000 artisan fishermen to remove around 150 tonnes of marine debris each year from the Mediterranean. In addition, Kingspan’s science-based targets were updated in 2021 and are now in line with a 1.5°C future. Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C means that the world must achieve a 45% reduction in global CO2 emissions versus 2010 levels by 2030 (5). While Kingspan did not make progress in 2021 against its target to halve the product CO2e intensity from its primary supply partners by 2030, the report highlights ongoing collaboration with suppliers to this end. Moreover, during the year Kingspan invested in H2 Green Steel, a company pioneering new production methods for lower-impact steel manufacturing using green hydrogen. Use of lower-emissions steel could help Kingspan reduce the embodied carbon of its insulated panel products by up to 45%. The report also presents the impact of Kingspan products sold during 2021. The built environment is responsible for roughly 39% of global carbon emissions (6), and high-performance insulation is one of the most important ways to increase energy-efficiency in buildings. The insulation systems Kingspan sold during 2021 are projected to save 193 million tCO2e (7) during their lifetime. That’s equivalent to the emissions from 42 million passenger vehicles in a year (8). In addition, Kingspan announced a new initiative called Planet Passionate Communities, a programme that will support people and communities around the world. The report unveils the programme’s flagship project: a five-year partnership with GOAL, the international humanitarian response agency, to support them in their transformative work in areas of most need. Gene Murtagh, CEO of Kingspan Group, said: “The climate crisis, the pandemic, and now recent global events all serve to concentrate the mind on the need to build a more resilient and equitable world while ensuring energy security. Planet Passionate is our contribution to a future that uses resources efficiently, protects the natural world and delivers high-performance, energy-efficient products and solutions to our customers and global communities.” Bianca Wong, Head of Sustainability of Kingspan Group, said: “Delivering a programme of this scale against a background of rapid business growth takes huge effort and determination and I would like to thank and commend the incredible efforts of our people across the world to achieve positive progress against the majority of our targets for the second year in a row.”
The HG Construction Group has launched HG Living Ltd, a new property development company specialising in Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), Build to Rent (BtR) and Affordable Housing schemes. The company has made two key appointments in line with its strategic growth plans. Craig McPhail joins HG Living as Director and Board member at the start of April, following a move from Montagu Evans where he was a Partner and Head of Alternative Living. James Young joins the team as Executive Director from The Collective. Through its previous development business HG Developments, the HG Group has a proven track record of securing prime sites for the residential rental and student housing markets, delivering development projects with a combined value of over £250m for its institutional partners to date. One of HG Living’s first schemes is an £80m Build-to-Rent scheme for Pension Insurance Corporation in central Milton Keynes. HG Construction will be the main contractor on the scheme, which comprises 306 residential apartments along with associated amenity space. Craig McPhail is a recognised specialist in the field of residential development, student accommodation and investment. He has overseen acquisitions and sales with a GDV in excess of £1billion over the last five years. At HG Living Craig will work alongside Director Rob Greaves to oversee the day-to-day management of the business and will be based at the company’s London offices. Craig will assume responsibility for the sourcing and identifying of appropriate sites across the UK, the appraisal and acquisition of these opportunities, and the sale of developments in line with the Board’s objectives. Christopher Benham, CEO, HG Construction Group commented: “We are delighted to be launching HG Living after several years’ work behind the scenes to grow the development arm of the HG Group under HG Developments. We have established a solid track record in managing the construction and development risk for our funding partners, providing a seamless end-to-end service and delivering quality residential schemes with certainty. “Craig and James bring a wealth of development experience to our team and we are confident that these new appointments will enable us to expand our presence in the residential rental and affordable homes sectors, as well as continuing to deliver high quality student housing schemes. I would like to formally welcome Craig and James to the team as we enter a new chapter for HG Living and look forward to working collaboratively to bring much needed homes to the market at scale and at speed.” Craig commented on his new role, saying: “I am delighted to join the team as the business moves ahead with significant expansion plans. As a valued client of Montagu Evans, I have worked with HG for the past six years, developing strong relationships in the process. HG Living is well placed to maximise opportunities in the PBSA, BtR and affordable homes sectors for our institutional funding partners, offering an enviable combination of construction and development expertise. With several new projects in the pipeline, this is an exciting time for the business, and I look forward to forging more productive client relationships and adding value to HG Living’s offering in my new role.”
One of the major announcements in 2019 was that electric car pioneer Tesla was to build its next Gigafactory in Berlin, Germany. Playing an unheralded, yet vital part in the productive, efficient and safe construction of the factory was an array of National Pile Cropper’s solutions. The Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg (also known as Gigafactory Berlin, Gigafactory 4 or Gigafactory Europe) is a state of the art European manufacturing plant for Tesla, Inc. which has been constructed in Grünheide, Germany. The campus is located some35 kilometres south east of central Berlin on the Berlin–Wrocław railway, which forms the north border of the site between Erkner station and Fangschleuse railway station and the A10 autobahn, which forms the west border. The facility and its Berlin location were announced by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in November 2019 at the Das Goldene Lenkrad award show. The factory is planned to produce batteries, battery packs and powertrains for use in Tesla vehicles and also assemble the Tesla Model Y. Construction began early in 2020, with site preparation and foundation work immediately commencing including the essential foundation and site clearing work. The initial work saw the placing of the first four construction cranes and the arrival of trainloads of building materials including pillars, beams and literally thousands of concrete piles of all shapes and sizes. Tesla was keen that the work would be undertaken quickly, efficiently and environmentally friendly as equipment and systems would allow. Prefabricated concrete construction Prefabricated construction was used to produce concrete walls, beams and piles, being chosen as an efficient method for building structures. Large portions of the Gigafactory structure were assembled at a manufacturing site and then transported to the construction job site and installed where required. Reinforced concrete beams and walls that became a part of some of the main structures of the facility were installed into the ground. In order to crop the thousands of concrete piles as efficiently, productively and safely as possible, and with Tesla’s avowed aim to have the factory completed as soon as possible, the main contractor, Arikon, turned to midlands based UK manufacturer and supplier of state of the art pile cropping solutions, National Pile Cropper. Its pile cropping solutions are mounted on a 360O excavator via quick release fittings, which when lowered onto the pile or beams, the hydraulic system operates the jaw(s) which allows the pile cropper to cut a de-bonded pile and cause the concrete to break away leaving a horizontal finish as a result. In doing this, the chisels penetrate in a precise direction up to the rebar to make the fracture. On bonded piles, the chisels will penetrate further, and due to the shape of the chisels and the reaction forces of the rebar, the concrete will break in pieces and can easily be lifted off the pile enabling recycling of the cut away concrete. Different types and sizes The piles that required cropping in Berlin came in a variety of sizes, diameters and construction techniques, all designed and developed to have the factory completed and functional as quickly as possible. The all-encompassing National Pile Cropper range aided the construction, proving to be invaluable on the Tesla development and many other projects. Amongst the solutions provided included National Pile Croppers largest Quad cropper, ‘Quadzilla’. This beast of a machine can handle the largest of piles and beams, delivering high rates of productivity and efficiency – just as Tesla required. The current Quad range (including ‘Quadzilla’) is not the end of the NPC’s investment in pile cropping solutions however. “Although our range covers virtually all applications and requirements, we continuously invest in R&D to develop and refine our solutions,” explains company director Paul Emberton. “We work with our customers to find out what they want and how we can help make them more productive and profitable. To this end, this year will see the launch of new solutions that are currently undergoing field testing and refinement.” The National Pile Croppers that worked on the Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin proved their worth and have contributed to the efficiency of the project. “We are proud to work with a company of Arikon’s standing on behalf of global trendsetter Tesla, to help them with this strategically vital project. The pile croppers we have supplied have helped ensure that the cropping part of the project was done to deadline, as efficiently, safely and productively as possible. We look forward to working with Arikon again on other projects as the need arises,” concludes National Pile Cropper’s Paul Emberton.
Regular office cleaning is critical to ensuring a healthy work environment. It makes the workplace more enjoyable for personnel and visitors while minimizing the danger of spreading sickness. Whether you own a restaurant, a big office, or any other kind of workplace, keeping up with the clutter is a significant undertaking! However, how often should you clean, and may you profit from the services of a professional janitorial services company? When designing a strategy for adequately cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces in your company or institution, several variables have to be addressed. It is critical to examine the room’s surfaces to identify the most efficient technique for keeping bacteria, germs, and viruses from spreading. Find Out All The Factors That Contribute To Needing Cleaning How often are surfaces touched? Frequently touched surfaces, such as light switches and doorknobs, will need more care. Clean all of the high-touch surfaces at least once a day; more regular cleaning may be required in some instances. Who is the most frequent occupant of the space? Suppose the surfaces are regularly used and handled by individuals who may be more susceptible to infections, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. In that case, your cleaning regimen may need to be more frequent or strict and may necessitate disinfection methods. How many people are currently working at your company on a daily basis, including visitors, clients, and any other individuals who may come and depart? If you own a small company with a few employees, you may be able to get away with a weekly clean. Bathrooms and the kitchen or food preparation facilities should be cleaned at the end of each workday, even if your crew is small. A medium-sized workplace with about 20 employees may need two or three cleanings every week. Large enterprises with a large workforce may require daily or perhaps multiple daily cleanings, particularly in the restroom and kitchen areas. Similarly, if the site is frequented by small children who may not always wash their hands correctly or mask their coughs or sneezes, it may be required to clean more regularly or implement disinfection measures. What Surfaces Are You Working With? Each business or institution will have a variety of surfaces and equipment that employees or several individuals regularly handle. It will be critical to disinfect these surfaces and items regularly. In public bathrooms, surfaces such as door handles, desks, light switches, phones, and faucets will need to be cleaned and disinfected at least two times daily, and maybe more often, depending on the degree of usage. Other items that need thorough washing and disinfection in public settings include shopping cards and keypads at self-checkout facilities. Between each use, these things should be cleaned and disinfected. To thoroughly clean and disinfect hard and non-porous surfaces such as glass, metal, or plastic, unique materials and procedures are required. Soft and porous materials and surfaces, like your carpets, rugs, seats, and cushions, are often more challenging to disinfect than hard and impervious surfaces. Cleaning and disinfecting products for these things will need to be thoroughly examined to ensure their safety. What Should You Do? Clean surfaces and items that are often touched by employees or consumers at least once a day. It will be critical to keep a schedule for cleaning these surfaces and record when they are cleaned daily to adhere to established guidelines. Suppose you have the resources to commit part-time or full-time workers to cleaning. In that case, you may be able to hire janitorial services or custodial staff to perform all of the essential cleaning activities on a roster basis. Reviewing the EPA’s authorized list of cleansers and disinfectants is vital. Achieve that you follow all manufacturer’s label directions to ensure the maximum degree of efficacy, concentration, dilution, application techniques, contact time, and any other specific application instructions. Why Use Professional Janitorial Services? When determining the most successful method of disinfecting the surfaces in your business, it is prudent to consult with professionals in disinfection and sanitation. Why do it yourself and worry about doing all possible to safeguard your employees and customers when specialists are appropriately educated to create and maintain correct procedures and have access to the latest supplies, equipment, application techniques, and know-how? Concentrate on your main business and leave the heavy lifting to a professional janitorial services company that can help you keep your office clean and safe.
Organised by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Women in Construction (WIC) Week highlights the increasing role women are playing in the building sector, whilst emphasising the need for a levelling-up of the gender imbalance that still exists. Despite signs that more women are considering a career in the construction industry, the figures tell a different story. According to website Go Construct women account for just 14% of the sector’s professional workforce, an underwhelming number particularly with the industry in urgent need of new recruits in order to address the current skills shortage. The building trade has long stood accused of being reluctant to change, which might be why it’s been slow to embrace the idea that it should no longer be considered a ‘male-only’ career. But the barriers to women playing a significant part in this fantastic industry are gradually being removed – and not before time. The sense that times are a changing might explain why one-third (37%) of new entrants into the UK construction industry from higher education are women. Diversity is a mainstay of Recticel’s culture. We thrive on employing a workforce that is dependent on the collaborative skills and experience of our personnel, rather than their race or gender. This inclusive policy is borne out by the number of women who hold senior roles at Recticel and our tapered insulation division, Gradient. This year, for example, four women have taken-up leadership roles in key areas of the business in address gender imbalance: Jen Shepherd, Naomi Lucas and Sally Wright. How women can benefit construction Given the opportunity, women have shown themselves as capable as men in terms of performance throughout all levels of the building trade. They’ve also given the industry a fresh outlook, bringing new ideas and creating a more pleasant, less misogynistic environment. Studies show women tend to be more risk-averse than men. Therefore, as females take-up more site-based roles, there’s reason to think health and safety in these areas might improve accordingly. Women are more than equal to their male colleagues in terms of workplace communicators. This has certainly helped level things up in the sales aspect of the construction industry, with female sales representatives having far greater access to key suppliers than they were previously afforded. It’s now understood that these women really know what they’re talking about, and that their product knowledge is crucial to improving sales. But whether in an engineering capacity on construction’s frontline, or putting their skills to use in a customer service role, women are starting to find their place in the construction sector. If this trend is to continue then the industry must do more to present itself as an equal opportunities career – particularly in terms of pay – if it’s to become a more attractive proposition for women. Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that across the building industry in 2020, women earned 11.4% less than men. Wide-ranging opportunities Improved training and work placement opportunities is also key in recruiting women to fulfil traditional roles within construction, as well as positions less associated with the industry to address gender imbalance. For a number of years Recticel and Gradient have run a programme for post-graduates and interns to gain a year’s valuable work experience. Not only has each of our trainees thoroughly enjoyed their time with us, they’ve spoken about having their eyes opened in relation to the opportunities a construction-based career present. This is particularly true of sectors such as marketing, which some people might think is more relevant to retail or the food and drink industry, but can actually play a huge part in promoting the building trade as a desirable profession. In this respect, perhaps the construction industry should take a leaf out of Recticel’s book and partner-up with local colleges and universities to form a relationship that is beneficial to both parties. Sending the right message Ultimately, the construction industry needs to send a message to women of all ages that the sector is in a different place to the one it occupied in the previous century. It needs to highlight that the building process itself is a relatively small part of the industry, which requires a plethora of expertise to function effectively in the form of designers, planners, surveyors and engineers. Construction needs problem-solvers, people who like a challenge and enjoy meeting other people because in the building trade, employees do not exist within the confines of their own organisation. A tradesperson’s network will involve many building-based organisations and even competitors, who will be committed to achieving the goal that inspired us to join the industry in the first place i.e; we wanted to make the world a better place. For women who have the same aim, then a career in construction is definitely for them. By Paul Simpson, Commercial Director at Recticel Insulation
With the world stability being in great difficulty today, raw materials are being looked at, closely. Some may become difficult to acquire, as war rages on, in Europe. Zamak is a non-ferrous alloy that is somewhat lesser known and possess many advantages. Below you will find information on the product, as well as what it is currently used for. An Ideal Solution for Various Applications If you are looking for the meaning of the word, look no further that the letter it is composed of. It contains the initials of the four components that take part into creating the alloy. Z stands for zinc, A for aluminium, MA for magnesium and K for copper. This said, it is important to know that the non-ferrous alloy contains a greater part of zinc. It is used in construction, mostly for its resistance and how hard it is. Zamak is also known to be great in terms of ductility and is a much cheaper solution in production processes than other comparable, such as brass and aluminum. It is, therefore, no surprise that it has found its way into various industries, including costume jewelry, modelling, furnishing decoration, leather goods as well as for some mechanical uses (mainly for holding parts together). Offers Many Advantages ECO-FRIENDLY AND ENERGY EFFICIENT The world of construction, as well as most industry sector, has been asked to become cleaner. Zamak is an eco-friendly material, which is one of the reasons why many builders choose to make the switch to it, whenever they can. That is because Zamak does not produce large amounts of emission in the air or water. But there is more. Those who produce it, can recycle the waste, and the energy consumption to manufacture it is considered low. That characteristic, in itself, is a major advantage as well. Since its melting point is reached at 400° Celsius, it is much easier to process than other similar materials. It reduces the cost of energy, which makes the price much more stable. As we are now seeing, the price of energy can fluctuate greatly, creating variations in productions cost, that become a serious issue for producers, but also for buyers who never know if the prices will rise suddenly. GREAT THERMAL DISSIPATION, HIGH FLUIDITY AND CASTABILITY Time is money. With Zamak, the time it takes for it to solidify is extremely short, if compared to aluminium die casting or plastic injection molding. In fact, thanks to its thermal dissipation quality, it solidifies almost immediately when it is injected into the mold. Zamak offers the possibility of developing various shapes that can also be quite complex. In fact, it is often used to create areas with undercuts, inclined holes and external threads, to give a few examples of the possibilities offered to the designer of the pieces. Engineering new components becomes easier with Zamak, when starting from its liquid shape. HIGH-VALUE OF ZINC ALLOYS In the industry, zinc alloys have the highest value for all mechanical characteristics. Whether you compare it to aluminium or magnesium, it comes first in terms of yield strength, breaking strength and hardness. It is no wonder that it is growing in popularity.
