LEADING national framework provider Pagabo has today, (5 October 2022), issued a prior information notice (PIN) for its latest construction framework – the second generation of its Refit and Refurbishment framework. The new generation of the framework will run for four years from April 2023, taking place of the current
IG Masonry Support has become the UK’s first masonry support supplier to issue Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) on its products according to the GreenBook Live EPD system. This is a significant achievement for the offsite masonry support manufacturer, demonstrating its commitment to fact-based sustainability reporting and reduced carbon emissions across
Over the past 15 years, Prologis UK has achieved a reduction in carbon emissions of 476,819 tonnes (tCO2e) across a total of 74 projects. This represents an average reduction in whole-life carbon emissions of 25 percent, benefiting many Prologis UK customers seeking to reduce their emissions impacts The company has
Bouygues UK has celebrated reaching the highest point of the development build at Peckham Flaxyard, a mixed-use, residential-led scheme in the heart of Peckham. The Bouygues UK team, along with Southwark Council, who are delivering the project, marked this milestone on 21st September with a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony. The
About two months ago, we shared the good news that Quelfire had been shortlisted in two categories of the London Construction Awards. On Friday 23 September, when the awards ceremony took place, we asked you to keep your fingers and toes crossed for us. Over 350 guests from all sectors
The hub for sustainable design and building materials EDGE has announced its 1st year anniversary, which will be celebrated with a short talks programme and cocktail reception in collaboration with Futurebuild. The evening will feature a number of practitioners providing insight into why they have put sustainability and regenerative thinking
Keepmoat Homes has launched its Park View development, the latest in its ambitious plans for a thriving community in the Gedling area. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Gedling, together with the Rosie May Foundation, a charity carrying out incredible work within the community.
Family-run property developer and contractor Muir Group PLC has just announced its financial results for the year 2021/2022, ahead of its 50th anniversary. The results showed an increase in turnover on the previous financial year by nearly £22 million. Despite a challenging time for the whole sector, including margins being
We often don’t realize the importance of safety shoes, until we hurt ourself. There are so many dangers lurking around in the workplace. On a construction site, various objects left on the ground can end-up puncturing one of your feet, and in some food preparation manufacturing site, slippery floors can
LEADING national framework provider Pagabo has today, (5 October 2022), issued a prior information notice (PIN) for its latest construction framework – the second generation of its Refit and Refurbishment framework. The new generation of the framework will run for four years from April 2023, taking place of the current iteration, which expires in February. It will provide a compliant and collaborative route to market for public sector clients to procure refurbishment works valued at £50,000 and above. With a total value of £1 billion and to meet the demand for Pagabo’s ever-growing base of national clients across all major business sectors, the framework will be split into five value-based lots as follows: Lot 1 – £50k to £500k Lot 2 – £500k to £1m Lot 3 – £1m to £5m Lot 4 – £5m to £15m Lot 5 – £15m+ Under these lots, up to nine contractors will be allocated to regional sub lots, comprising six core and three reserve suppliers. A number of these places are reserved for SMEs to ensure fair access for organisations of any size, to provide ample choice for clients, and to ensure the generation of maximum positive social impact for communities. Jason Stapley, managing director at Pagabo, said: “The performance of the original Refit and Refurbishment Framework shows that there is a definite requirement for this type of procurement solution, and after lots of work we are now pleased to be inviting suppliers to submit tenders. “As this is a second-generation framework, we have liaised with the contracting authority, existing client organisations and potential suppliers to gain feedback on the current version. This has allowed us to examine what has worked well, and where through changes more organisations can benefit from use of the framework – along with any changes to keep our processes at the forefront of the procurement golden standard and adherence to the Construction Playbook. “As always, social value remains at the centre of our actions. Both client organisations that use this – and our other frameworks – and the appointed contractors will have access to a free version of Loop’s social value software for all Pagabo procured projects. This access will allow them to report on and demonstrate the social value being generated by the project and their actions.” Client organisations will be able to both direct award and further compete their requirements. Suppliers on the core list will be eligible for direct appointments and further competitions, and those on the reserve list will only be eligible for direct appointments. However, they will be included in further competitions should not enough from the core list respond to a further competition expression of interest. Red Kite Learning Trust (RKLT) will be the contracting authority for the new agreement, continuing its role from the current iteration of the framework. A pre-market engagement webinar will be held on 10 October, with interested parties able to register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zKWywFVJQGWdKGFiqMs5WQ For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
IG Masonry Support has become the UK’s first masonry support supplier to issue Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) on its products according to the GreenBook Live EPD system. This is a significant achievement for the offsite masonry support manufacturer, demonstrating its commitment to fact-based sustainability reporting and reduced carbon emissions across its business and product range. Jemma Ison, Sustainability Manager at Keystone Group, of which IG Masonry Support is a division, said: “By declaring the environmental impact of our products through EPDs we provide transparency of our systems to deliver responsible solutions to our customers as we support the decarbonisation of our sector. This also demonstrates our commitment to sustainability, as well as the social responsibility we have as a business. We aim to supply trustworthy, high-quality products at a low expense to our environment.” IG Masonry Support is committed to becoming a net-zero carbon business in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative. It is also in the process of submitting its targets for verification and public declaration to reach the global net-zero goal. The company’s securing of EPD provides full clarity of the sustainable credentials of its product range that includes advanced brick slip soffits and stainless-steel masonry support systems. A Type III environmental label, an EPD is generated using data obtained through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This is performed via a peer reviewed Product Category Rules document (PCR) in line with EN 15804 (the European Standard for the generation of EPD for construction products), ISO 14025, and other related international standards. IG Masonry Support is already ISO 14001 certified for Environmental Management. As a carbon neutral business, it is continuously improving its sustainable working practices. The company’s next target is to utilise the results from the EPDs to minimise the environmental impact of its full product range. IG Masonry Support remains on track to reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 76% by 2025, and is ambitiously taking strides in tackling Scope 3 emissions. All IG Masonry Support’s EPDs have been launched in collaboration with the Building Research Establishment (BRE), which is internationally recognised for its expertise in construction-based LCA. To discover more about IG Masonry Support’s sustainability journey, visit: https://igmasonrysupport.com/ig-masonry-support-about-us/sustainability/
Over the past 15 years, Prologis UK has achieved a reduction in carbon emissions of 476,819 tonnes (tCO2e) across a total of 74 projects. This represents an average reduction in whole-life carbon emissions of 25 percent, benefiting many Prologis UK customers seeking to reduce their emissions impacts The company has also recently submitted its goals to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 to the Science Based Targets initiative for validation Prologis UK has mitigated remaining embodied carbon emissions of 879,158 tCO2e by supporting the charity, Cool Earth, in its work to protect at risk rainforest. A new report about the 15-year partnership sets out a model for emissions reduction and mitigation, for others in the logistics property and construction industry, based on a programme of measurement, stakeholder engagement and communication Prologis UK, a leading owner and developer of logistics property, is celebrating a successful 15-year partnership with Planet Mark, a sustainability certification body serving organisations across industry sectors, which has seen the company significantly reduce its carbon impact. In 2022, Prologis announced a goal, which will be submitted to the Science Based Targets Initiative for validation, to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. This is consistent with the company’s longstanding focus on ESG. Over the past 15 years, Prologis UK, with Planet Mark, has put sustainability firmly at the forefront of its development activities; embedding it into the design and construction process from start to finish. An example of such initiatives is the work Planet Mark undertake with Prologis UK to engage the full construction supply chain, including all contractors, to ensure end-to-end visibility of carbon emissions, thereby identifying opportunities for reductions. To mark the 15-year partnership, Prologis UK and Planet Mark have published a joint report about Prologis UK’s industry-leading approach ton reducing and mitigating carbon emissions, along with some facts and figures about its sustainability achievements. A key finding of the report is that based on 74 projects, spanning more than 19 million sq. ft. of development over a 15 year time period, Prologis UK has achieved a reduction in carbon emissions of 476,819 tCO2e. This represents an average reduction in whole-life carbon emissions of 25 percent. Simon Cox, Head of Development Management at Prologis UK said: “This has been a ground-breaking programme, implemented at a time when the measurement, reduction and mitigation of carbon emissions was new to the real estate sector. Through our work with Planet Mark, we have gained invaluable experience and expertise, which will enable us to better serve our customers as we pursue of our newly published 2040 net zero goals.” Steve Malkin, CEO Planet Mark said: “Over the past 15 years our work with Prologis UK has put sustainability firmly at the forefront of their developments. By striving to reduce embodied carbon in every building, engaging with communities and their supply chain, and mitigating unavoidable emissions by protecting endangered rainforest, they have stretched way beyond compliance to set a new standard for best practice. We recognise that net zero is imperative and definitions are rapidly evolving alongside innovation, and we look forward to embracing this evolution together.” The whole-life carbon emissions of each project are measured using a Lifecycle Carbon Assessment (LCA), which follows recognised standards (BS EN 15978:2011) and methodologies, including the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ Whole Life Carbon Method, 2017. As it is impossible to eliminate all embodied carbon emissions when constructing new buildings, Prologis UK and Planet Mark also created a bespoke carbon mitigation scheme. While it was put in place several years earlier, the approach to carbon emissions reduction, elimination and mitigation employed by Prologis UK and Planet Mark aligns closely with the UK Green Building Council’s recently published framework definition for net-zero buildings. Prologis UK’s innovative carbon mitigation scheme has proved particularly successful in mitigating unavoidable carbon emissions through investment in large-scale rainforest protection programmes to avoid deforestation and lock-in carbon. These activities have been implemented in partnership with the global climate change charity, Cool Earth. The report quantifies the positive impact this scheme has had over the past 15 years; mitigating total embodied carbon emissions of 879,158 tCO2e through the protection of 17,683 acres of ‘at risk’ rainforest. This has prevented the loss of 4.1 million trees to deforestation, which would have resulted in potential emissions impact of 4.8 million tCO2e. The whole-life carbon emissions of a typical distribution centre are typically 30 per cent operational and 70 per cent embodied. Operational emissions can be reduced through energy efficient design and onsite renewables. Although embodied carbon can be reduced through careful material selection and detailing it can never be entirely eliminated. The sustainability model put in place by Prologis UK and Planet Mark has been successful in mitigating – 100 percent of the unavoidable, embodied carbon emissions for all 74 projects assessed. The report highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement and quantifies the social impact of the 74 projects surveyed. There is a community engagement programme in place for each of the projects assessed. This has included sustainability workshops through which for 63 local primary schools and 68 schools and colleges have achieved Planet Mark certification. To view the report jointly produced by Prologis UK and Planet Mark visit here.
Bouygues UK has celebrated reaching the highest point of the development build at Peckham Flaxyard, a mixed-use, residential-led scheme in the heart of Peckham. The Bouygues UK team, along with Southwark Council, who are delivering the project, marked this milestone on 21st September with a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony. The event was opened by the joyous sound of the brass band from local primary school, St. James the Great. Once complete in late 2023, the £46.8m scheme will deliver 120 new, affordable homes. This will include 96 council homes for social rent as part of Southwark Council’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis locally by building thousands of new council homes across the borough, and 24 shared ownership homes. The scheme will also include disabled car parking, cycle storage for residents and commercial space on the ground floor together with landscaping of the surrounding areas. The scheme is bordered by the library, leisure centre, high street, a number of primary and secondary schools and existing homes. It involves close collaboration with the local community and key stakeholders. Bouygues UK has already delivered over £3m in social value including: 158 hours volunteering in the local area; over £29,000 donated to local charities; and 21 training and employment sessions given to local unemployed residents. In order to keep carbon emissions on site to a minimum, Bouygues UK has partnered with Gaia to identify, monitor and reduce the power consumption, using AI and motion sensor software. In August this year alone, this has reduced CO2 emissions by 1,497kg. Rob Bradley, CEO of Bouygues UK, said: “I’m so pleased to be here to celebrate the progress we have made on this important scheme which will make such a positive difference to the local area and increase the availability of affordable housing. It’s fantastic to be helping Southwark Council with their goal of building thousands of new council homes across the borough.” Cllr Darren Merrill, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Homelessness, said, “I’m delighted to see the building works progressing so well here on such an important council homes site in the heart of Peckham. This site will provide 120 desperately-needed new homes for local people, all of which will be genuinely affordable. With such enormous demand for housing in Peckham, I know that these new homes will represent hope, stability and security for so many in our community.”
About two months ago, we shared the good news that Quelfire had been shortlisted in two categories of the London Construction Awards. On Friday 23 September, when the awards ceremony took place, we asked you to keep your fingers and toes crossed for us. Over 350 guests from all sectors in the industry came together including suppliers, contractors, architects, civil engineers, developers, housebuilders, local authorities and more. The event was a celebration of the achievements, development and innovations of companies and individuals, and their contribution to moving the construction industry forward, over the course of the year. Winners from twenty categories were announced by award-winning comedian Simon Brodkin and it was said that “the range of companies that entered were incredibly diverse and reflected the strength of the London construction industry.” We are delighted to announce that we won in both of our categories: Supplier of the Year and Fire Safety Solution of the Year 2022! Supplier of the Year category: This award category was aimed at any supplier in the built environment that has demonstrated success, innovation, or notable achievement in the past 12 months. This is what the judges had to say about why they selected Quelfire as the winner: “We were impressed with this submission as they weren’t just shouting about good customer service (surely every supplier should be doing this?). They also spoke about putting profit back into research and development, the tech support they offer and how they educate the industry. The latter is significantly needed. Quelfire is operating successfully in one of the most contentious ends of the industry. Where many have shied away from fire-related matters and insurers exclude many companies from operating in this sphere, Quelfire is providing a solution with not only their products but also with training, thereby raising the competency of the industry.” Fire Safety Solution of the Year category: This award category recognises excellence and innovation in solutions for fire safety. The judges notes for this category read: “Quelfire provided a great submission for their QuelStop Firestopping system. Their submission talked about their solution, what it does and what makes them different from their competitors. This is really important when submitting something like this as there were lots that didn’t stand out from the crowd. The QuelStop System is different as it offers a wide range of tested details; it has value-added services; and an early engagement approach to help clients design and install the system in a compliant way.” We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all the judges, who recognised how passionate we are about contributing to a positive cultural change and safer buildings by providing primary test data for real life scenarios; providing support for compliant design and installation of our firestopping solutions; educating the industry and, as we are known to say, ‘doing it right, the first time around!’ And, a huge well done to all other winners and deserving nominees. The whole team at Quelfire, from management to production, are equally passionate about what we do, which is Protecting People and Property. We could not be any prouder of this fantastic team and achievement!
The hub for sustainable design and building materials EDGE has announced its 1st year anniversary, which will be celebrated with a short talks programme and cocktail reception in collaboration with Futurebuild. The evening will feature a number of practitioners providing insight into why they have put sustainability and regenerative thinking at the heart of their professional lives. The short talks programme, delivered in the PechaKucha storytelling format, will include presentations, such as A legacy Reborn: 242 Marylebone Road project by Phillip Turner; Biophilic Design: Inspiring Happier, Healthier and More Productive Places to Live and Work by Kenneth Freeman; and Getting it right from Business /ESG for the future workplace by Ana Rita Barrera Martins. “It has been a tremendous year for EDGE in which we have grown from a handful of initial partners to over 60 brands with a rapidly expanding network of specifiers, sustainability enthusiasts and industry partners. The staging of events allowing for networking, discussions, and solutions for turnkey project solutions has been instrumental to our success and we look forward to the many projects the brands have been specified for coming to fruition,” commented Robynne Hammer, COO at EDGE. “Following the recent announcement setting out economic growth through investment in green energy and technology projects, we anticipate that there will also be more green schemes available supporting further sustainable build and design – EDGE being the perfect place to find solutions.” EDGE, an acronym for Eco Design Green Environment, was created in response to the tremendous impact the construction industry has on the environment, both in the building of structures and in their lifelong footprint. Its mission is to create a space, both on the high street and online, to connect sustainably-conscious material suppliers and specifiers while welcoming the general public and anyone dedicated to building and designing with the environment in mind. EDGE brings together many innovative, sustainable brands such as paint, heat recovery, wall finishes, flooring, carbon-neutral furniture and much more, all into one place where people can be given a clear vision of what the future of living and working environments looks like. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Keepmoat Homes has launched its Park View development, the latest in its ambitious plans for a thriving community in the Gedling area. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Gedling, together with the Rosie May Foundation, a charity carrying out incredible work within the community. During the visit, the Mayor and Mayoress were given an in-depth tour of Phase 2 of the development located on Arnold Lane, which once complete, will provide an additional 400 much-needed modern and energy-efficient homes to families and homebuyers in the area. Ideal for first-time buyers, growing families, and those seeking more space and flexibility, Park View is a vibrant and modern community which borders the 240-acre Gedling Country Park. “We’d like to thank our notable guests and partners for helping us celebrate the opening of our sales centre and showhome at Park View, and bear witness to the beginnings of the next phase of our ambitious housing scheme in Gedling. We’re immensely grateful for the Council’s support of this project to deliver much-needed new homes to the area,” commented Shaun Fielding, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes. “Park View is more than a housing development, it’s a community in which our residents can enjoy a relaxing and active lifestyle, whilst aiming to benefit and provide additional support to the wider area. We look forward to welcoming those who are looking to get on the housing ladder and experience for themselves the standout features that Park View has to offer.” As part of Keepmoat Homes’ ongoing commitment to building great places for people to live, work and play, the homebuilder will be engaging with global charity, the Rosie May Foundation, in a partnership that will host various events and fundraisers to help provide care and support for vulnerable groups within the community. “The Rosie May foundation is a Nottingham based international charity supporting women and children in Sri Lanka and Nepal giving them the chance of a better future,” said Nicola Brien, Corporate Partnerships Manager at the Rosie May Foundation. “As a result of our response to the pandemic, our work supporting the local community here in Nottinghamshire has expanded supporting the most vulnerable and socially isolated in our local communities, and following the launch of Park View, we’re thrilled to be partnering with Keepmoat Homes on supporting the community in Gedling and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact that our partnership will have on people a little closer to home,” she concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Family-run property developer and contractor Muir Group PLC has just announced its financial results for the year 2021/2022, ahead of its 50th anniversary. The results showed an increase in turnover on the previous financial year by nearly £22 million. Despite a challenging time for the whole sector, including margins being squeezed and chronic skills and labour shortages, the group reported a pre-tax loss of £4.3 million as it restructured the revenue profile at Muir Homes. On the other hand, Muir Construction reported a turnover increase of £7 million, compared to last year’s. Main contributors to the positive news was the prompt completion of business facilities in Glasgow, as well as the M8 central belt. “We have a dedicated team working hard in very difficult and challenging times. The pandemic is over, but its legacy continues with price increases in raw materials, delays in the supply chain and a significant lack of skilled labour to support the construction sector,” said John Muir, Chairman of Muir Group. “Despite all these challenges and more likely in the coming years, Muir Group is well positioned for the future. We have made difficult decisions, particularly in rebuilding our revenue profile within Muir Homes and positive it will show healthy profit for future years.” Indeed, Muir Homes reported a loss for the financial year, because of issues such as expected margins on current sales and a more challenging property market in the North East. However, Muir Timber Systems had a busy year, turnover increasing by £3 million, reflecting the return to normal production following removal of restrictions post-COVID and increase in external sales. After a thorough review of the business, Muir Group will be focusing on diversifying and balancing its portfolio of housing developments throughout Scotland. Muir Homes is currently active on seven sites across the country with the aim of creating several hundred new homes, assisted by new sites opening in the coming year. “Looking ahead, to our 50th year in business next year, we see opportunities for the Group with Construction, Homes and Property Development working on major new projects alongside our Amazon business park continuing to provide revenues,” added John. “The construction industry in Scotland is flat out trying to regain lost ground and we are having to overcome these difficult conditions. Our increase in turnover, healthy cash balances, property and land assets put us in a good place to compete and contribute positively to Scotland’s economic recovery,” he concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
We often don’t realize the importance of safety shoes, until we hurt ourself. There are so many dangers lurking around in the workplace. On a construction site, various objects left on the ground can end-up puncturing one of your feet, and in some food preparation manufacturing site, slippery floors can cause you to fall down. These are but two situations in which you will want to wear the right pair of shoes, at work. Here is more on the subject. Why wear Safety Shoes? The main reason why anyone should wear safety shoes is for their protection. Accidents happen quickly, and hurting your foot can be a real issue for your future. It will also unable you to continue working, which will cause you salary loss. Protective safety shoes from retailer like Engelbert Strauss will save you from all these troubles and most importantly will keep you from harm. You need to choose a pair of safety shoes that will be adapted to your work environment. But whatever it is, you cannot compromise on them being comfortable. Walking around, all day, in shoes that don’t fit right, that are too heavy, or that cause you pain in certain parts of your feet, is to be avoided, at all costs. That in itself can be the cause of health issues, in the short and mid-term. Often, there are rules relating to what you need to wear in the workplace. However, even if there isn’t, you shouldn’t thread lightly when it comes to the security of your feet, anyway. Which safety shoes should you choose? Before, when you mentioned safety shoes, you immediately thought of the big strong work boots, with a metal cap on them, to protect your toes. Today, there are almost as many styles of safety shoes than in the regular fashion world. It makes a lot of sense as well, as they are meant for different situations, that will call for various looks. For example, you may want to choose lace up safety boots, if you need your safety shoes to be well adjusted. It can be very important in some situations, to make you more secure on your feet. That would be the case, if you work at high altitude. If you cook in a kitchen, where humidity can accumulate everywhere, even on the floor and where you have to move fast, you will need to look at safety shoes with a bottom that will ensure that you do not slip. It can literally save your skin, when you are carrying a pan full of boiling water, as it will protect you from an accident that is just waiting to happen. In extreme conditions, you will certainly need shoes that can keep you warm and dry. That will be the case, if you work outdoors, throughout winter time, with your feet in the snow constantly. But it would also be true, if you have to work under rainy conditions. Safety shoes are a must to protect your feet, from your toes to your heels. It is certainly not worth saving a few dollars, leaving them without safety.
