Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has started construction of it’s 710,000 sq ft speculative logistics development in Rotherham. Panattoni Park Rotherham comprises of two facilities adjacent to junction 1 of the M18 at Rotherham, one of 630,000 sq ft, which will be one
First of two 2,000 tonne TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines) starts 5-mile journey towards Greenford from West Ruislip in West London First machine named ‘Sushila’, after pupils nominated local teacher Sushila Hirani. Second machine named after ‘first professional’ female astronomer Caroline Herschel. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston: “The launch of the
With the HSE set to undertake a thousand inspections during October and November in an effort to drive down the rates of muscular skeletal disorders (MSD’s) in the construction industry, Alex Minett, Head of Products & Markets at CHAS, looks at the steps workers and employers can take to prevent
ONE of the UK’s leading architectural practices, CPMG Architects, has been appointed to the latest stage of work at a major leisure resort scheme located two hours to the west of Shanghai, China. The award-winning architecture practice – which is headquartered in Nottingham – has an international base in Hangzhou,
The Momentum Group has been awarded the property management contract for Aviation House, Estuary Business Park, Speke, Liverpool. The Grade A office accommodation close to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport, adds 18,000 sq ft of space under management to The Momentum Group’s growing portfolio of property management instructions and fits with
Construction materials supplier Aggregate Industries, a member of the Holcim Group, has announced the acquisition of Wiltshire Heavy Building Materials Ltd, a regional leader in ready-mix concrete, primary and recycled aggregates, concrete products and waste management solutions. The strategic acquisition will see Aggregate Industries strengthen its operations in the South
East Midlands-based design and building contractor, Grace Construction, is set to commence work on the transformation of the iconic Derbyshire building, Victoria Ironworks. The former foundry, which currently serves as the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre, will be converted into as classic vehicle restoration workshop and showroom, becoming the new home
Hortons’ Estate Ltd has delivered the new UK headquarters of international hydraulic and pneumatic specialist Brennan Industries Inc. – one of two new developments at an established industrial park in the West Midlands. The independent property company has completed construction of 35,000 sq ft of new industrial/logistics accommodation at Anchor
When you are running a business, you need to make sure that you have everything running smoothly. One of the worst things to happen to a business is slow or low productivity. That’s not just in your people, but in your systems, your software and in the way your business
Bluechain plans to reach 100,000 new customers in their first year, focusing on large businesses and SMEs with digital payment needs Bluechain, the fast-growing fintech startup that transforms the traditional payments and receivables process, has officially launched in the UK with their first customer, leading construction materials supplier, Aggregate Industries.
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has started construction of it’s 710,000 sq ft speculative logistics development in Rotherham. Panattoni Park Rotherham comprises of two facilities adjacent to junction 1 of the M18 at Rotherham, one of 630,000 sq ft, which will be one of the largest-ever speculative logistics buildings in the north of England, and a smaller 80,000 sq ft facility. The 40-acre site, named Panattoni Park Rotherham occupies a prime position within the in-demand M1-M18 triangle, close to the important east-west axis of the M62, the large markets of Leeds and Manchester, plus the ports of Liverpool, Hull and Immingham. Buckingham’s have been appointed main contractor and are now on-site starting earthworks for the development. Over the next few weeks the contractor will be starting cut and fill operation and forming the main entrance to the site to make sure it’s fully operational. The two speculative developments are expected to complete in Q3 2023. The buildings benefit from a range of sustainable credentials such as EV van and car chagrining points, 15% roof lights, PV ready frame, BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ and an EPC rating of ‘A’.Dan Burn, Head of Development; North West & Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: ‘We are glad to be on-site starting construction of such significant scale in the North of England. The development has already seen substantial interest from occupiers, especially with the lack of supply of Grade-A space in the region. Panattoni’s speculative development programme keeps providing these opportunities that are missing in the market.”Letting agents are M1 Agency, Legat Owen and Knight Frank.
First of two 2,000 tonne TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines) starts 5-mile journey towards Greenford from West Ruislip in West London First machine named ‘Sushila’, after pupils nominated local teacher Sushila Hirani. Second machine named after ‘first professional’ female astronomer Caroline Herschel. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston: “The launch of the TBMs on the largest section of tunnels through London is a major moment for HS2, and one that demonstrates the brilliant momentum that has built behind Britain’s flagship levelling-up project.” Broadcast quality B-Roll of the switch on available here: Northolt Tunnel TBM launched (6 October 2022) Broadcast quality drone footage of the event available here: Northolt Tunnel TBMs launched (drone) HS2 Ltd yesterday celebrated the start of the next phase of tunnelling on the enormous infrastructure project, launching the first of six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig over 26 miles of tunnels under the capital. HS2 Ltd’s CEO, Mark Thurston was joined by local teacher, Sushila Hirani, after whom one of the tunnel boring machines at the West London site is named, as it begins on its five mile journey. “Sushila” is the fourth of 10 HS2 tunnel boring machines to be launched. The milestone highlights the progress being made on building Britain’s new high speed rail network, creating jobs and providing contracts for businesses now. Later this year a second TBM, named after 18th century astronomer Caroline Herschel, will also be launched from the West London site to build the second of HS2’s twin-bore tunnels towards central London. Speaking about the launch, the HS2 Minister, Kevin Foster MP, said: “This launch is a landmark moment in the delivery of HS2, helping link London to Birmingham and unlock better connections, quicker journeys and create thousands of skilled jobs across the North and Midlands. “Already well underway, HS2 is set to revolutionise journeys for communities throughout the country, boost local economies and, at its peak, support more than 34,000 jobs across the UK.” Each weighing over 2,000 tonnes and measuring 140 metres in length, both TBMs will bore five miles non-stop for 22 months, except Christmas Day and bank holidays, to Greenpark Way in Greenford, where they will be dismantled and lifted from the ground. Separately, two other equally massive tunnel boring machines will set off towards Greenpark Way from HS2’s Victoria Road site in 2023 to build a further 3.4mile twin-bore tunnel. Together the quartet of TBMs will build 8.4miles of twin bored tunnels between West Ruislip and the new high speed rail super hub station at Old Oak Common. Another 4.5 mile twin-bore tunnel extending from Old Oak Common to Euston will complete HS2’s journey to its London terminus. Each TBM is operated by 15 people, working in shifts. A team of around 40 people assembled the TBMs, with 56 companies involved in getting the site ready and machines launched. In total the 10 TBMs will create 64 miles of tunnels on HS2 between London and the West Midlands. Launching the TBM, HS2 CEO Mark Thurston said: “The launch of the Tunnel Boring Machines on the longest section of tunnels through London is a significant moment for HS2, and one that demonstrates the momentum that has built behind Britain’s flagship levelling-up project. “The construction of 170 miles of new high speed railway between London and Crewe is now in full swing, supporting 27,000 jobs, nearly 1,000 apprenticeships and contracts for over 2,500 businesses.” Local school children from Dairy Meadow Primary School in Southall and Brentside Primary Academy helped name the TBMs after participating in workshops about the tunnelling work. The TBM launched today is called Sushila after local schoolteacher Sushila Hirani, Head of Department and Lead for STEM at Greenford High School. The Willow class at Dairy Meadow Primary School in Southall suggested the name due to her inspiring work and passion for getting more women and young people from BAME backgrounds into STEM subjects. With a background in product design, Sushila has been a teacher for nearly 30 years. Her involvement in local infrastructure and development projects, including the Waterside housing development in Southall, and drive to attract girls into STEM subjects as a path towards Engineering at A Level, apprenticeships, and degrees, has inspired many in the local area. Speaking about having HS2’s first London tunnel boring machine named after her, Sushila said: “I was very surprised that the Willow class pupils at Dairy Meadow chose to put my name forward for this honour. When I met the pupils, I was very impressed by how much work they had already engaged in relating to design and technology and STEM, led by their teacher Prabhjot Uppal, who is the design technology lead at the school. I have always had a passion for industrial design and engineering, and if this event helps young people connect with engineering and inspire them to pursue this path, then my small contribution here has been worthwhile.” The second TBM to be launched has been named Caroline after the German-born British astronomer Caroline Herschel. Considered the first professional female astronomer, discovering three new nebulae (hazy clouds where stars form) in 1783, Herschel went on to be first woman to ever discover a comet in 1786. She made significant contributions to the work of her astronomer brother Sir William, executing many of the calculations connected with his studies. She compiled a catalogue of 2500 nebulae and, in 1828, the Royal Astronomical Society awarded her its gold medal for this work. Her name was put forward for the TBM by pupils at Brentside Primary Academy in Ealing, who were inspired by her contribution to astronomy whilst learning about earth and space in their science lessons. Sushila and Caroline will be operated by Skanska Costain STRABAG JV (SCS JV). The machines are manufactured by worldwide TBM specialist Herrenknecht in Germany. Further facts about the TBMS: Each machine is 140 metres in length, one and a quarter times the length of a football pitch Each has a cutter head that is 9.84m in diameter, slightly smaller than the machines boring through
With the HSE set to undertake a thousand inspections during October and November in an effort to drive down the rates of muscular skeletal disorders (MSD’s) in the construction industry, Alex Minett, Head of Products & Markets at CHAS, looks at the steps workers and employers can take to prevent these injuries on site. Construction work is a physical job, meaning lifting and moving heavy objects on site is to be expected. Nevertheless, the law requires employers to prevent the ill health of their workers, which includes injuries to muscles, bones, joints and nerves. The good news is that when work is properly planned and the correct training, aids and equipment are in place to prevent injuries, many moving and handling risks can be effectively mitigated. How can back problems occur? Generally, back issues will develop over time and become a chronic or episodic problem causing mild to severe pain. Sometimes they will occur after a work-related accident. According to the HSE, tasks that can cause back pain or make existing issues worse include: Lifting heavy or bulky loads Carrying loads awkwardly, possibly one-handed Pushing, pulling or dragging heavy loads Manual handling in awkward places, such as during delivery work Repetitive tasks, such as packing products Bending, crouching or stooping Stretching, twisting and reaching Being in one position for a long time Working beyond your capability or when physically overtired Working with display screen equipment (with poor posture) Driving long distances or over rough ground, especially if the seat is not, or cannot be, properly adjusted or operating heavy equipment (for example, excavators) While rarely life-threatening, back problems can cause life-limiting conditions and chronic pain for sufferers. Legal obligations and managing the risk Under theThe Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 employers have a duty to protect workers from harm by providing adequate training in health and safety as well as information, instruction and supervision. They must also maintain a secure working environment where tasks can be undertaken safely. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 relate specifically to work that involves ‘the moving of items either by lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing or pulling’, any of which could present a potential risk of injury. It’s easier to prevent back injuries than cure them, and the steps an employer must take under the regulations begin with looking at whether the need for manual handling can be avoided altogether. Where this is not possible employers then have a duty to make a suitable assessment of the risk of injury from any manual handling operations that cannot be avoided while looking to reduce the risk of harm to as low as is reasonably practical, such as by using machinery or other equipment to carry out the task. Risk assessments and safety procedures should be reviewed regularly. Lastly, the regulations state that where possible, employees who are undertaking manual handling should be provided with precise information on the weight of each load and the heaviest side of any load whose centre of gravity is not positioned centrally. Training is a crucial aspect of managing any health and safety risk. For example, employees should be educated on the dangers of back and spine injuries and how to recognise and avoid the causes. Training should also include techniques on moving and handling heavy loads and equipment either through demonstrations or videos. Employee input when it comes to managing the risk of back injury is valuable. Often back pain occurs following a previous episode, so employees are best placed to provide information on their back health histories as well as their capabilities and they should always be encouraged to report problems early so the proper treatment can be sought. People are far more likely to recover from back pain when recognised early and treated appropriately. Where an employee may be reluctant to admit to their limitations, look for signs they may be struggling with back pain. Reluctance to do particular tasks could be a red flag that they are harbouring an injury. Return to work discussions are an essential part of an employees recovery. It may be possible that they can come back before all their symptoms have completely disappeared depending on medical advice and consider whether an adjustment to work practices to accommodate their return will be necessary. It might be prudent to consult an occupational health professional for advice on back pain. Larger companies may have in-house occupational health departments; however there are plenty of external contractors who provide occupational health services. Back pain and mental health It is worth noting that sufferers of any chronic pain could go on to develop issues with their mental health, such as depression. Unrelenting back pain can lead to poor sleeping and eating habits, interrupt physical activity and all of the other activities that contribute to positive emotional wellbeing. Stress from suffering with pain can often exacerbate the physical symptoms, and so it becomes a vicious circle. GPs will often suggest psychological therapy in addition to other treatments for back pain. Conclusion Injuries to muscles, bones and joints are commonplace, particularly in the construction industry. Although they can improve within weeks, the disruption to businesses and workforces can be significant, even more so when there is a high risk the problems can return. Not to mention the detrimental impact MSD’s have on employees themselves. With the HSE inspection campaign set to shine a light on these conditions over the next few months, now is a good time to review current health and safety policies and ensure robust management strategies are in place when it comes to preventing these all-too-common workplace injuries. To find out more about how CHAS can help ensure high standards of health and safety throughout your supply chain, call 0345 521 9111 or visit chas.co.uk
ONE of the UK’s leading architectural practices, CPMG Architects, has been appointed to the latest stage of work at a major leisure resort scheme located two hours to the west of Shanghai, China. The award-winning architecture practice – which is headquartered in Nottingham – has an international base in Hangzhou, China and has been working on the INLONG NARADA Resort scheme since the masterplan stage in April 2022, having been brought in by the site’s hotel operator Narada. The masterplan will see the redevelopment of a large, former quarry site, which spans 530 acres. The development brings together a wide range of elements, with the construction of a hotel, reception building, hilltop villas, and clifftop bar, all centred around a blue water lake, alrady well underway. The latest appointment will see CPMG design and deliver the resort’s spa complex, which will include the longest infinity pool in China, as well as 37 luxury lakeside villas. Managing director Ricard Flisher said: “We’re incredibly pleased to see work progressing so quickly on this resort scheme and to be formally appointed to this latest stage of work, which focuses on the impressive spa centre. In the Chinese language, Inlong translates as ‘Dragon Valley’, which reflects the setting – and also some of the design inspiration too. “This is truly a one-of-a-kind development for China especially due to the use of the existing land formation and its aim of being an eco-regenerative project that brings more life and business to the area. Sustainability is central to every design we work on, and this large-scale project is no different – especially with the whole site being larger than the Bluewater shopping centre in London. “With this in mind, sustainability is embedded in the heart of the design and incorporated into measures across the entirety of the project. This includes borrowing from Passivhaus design strategy for the clifftop bar to create a space that is not only beautiful but functional to its purpose while providing an enjoyable and comfortable environment from which to take in stunning views across the lake.” The overall design of the resort makes use of the unique landform left from the former quarry and seeks to protect the existing land during development while re-using materials from the area to reduce waste and the impact of the supply chain. The spa centre villas and spa centre itself utilise the natural stone found in the immediate vicinity, creating a design that is completely cohesive with the setting – enhanced by timber elements to introduce warmth into the space. Many elements of the resort also take inspiration from flying dragons when it comes to building design, creating striking silhouettes – particularly the clifftop bar overlooking the lake. The bar is situated beside a waterfall running down the cliffside, which will be served by a pump to make use of and to protect the water ecosystem. The building will also have its own waste treatment functionality to ensure the lake water is not polluted. With its international presence, CPMG has built an extensive portfolio of work overseas, including a recently delivered healthcare scheme in Tbilisi, Georgia, as well as projects in Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, and Abu Dhabi. Progress on the INLONG NARADA Resort scheme is expected to progress at pace, with a view to opening in May 2023. For more information, please visit https://www.cpmg-architects.com/.
The Momentum Group has been awarded the property management contract for Aviation House, Estuary Business Park, Speke, Liverpool. The Grade A office accommodation close to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport, adds 18,000 sq ft of space under management to The Momentum Group’s growing portfolio of property management instructions and fits with the Group’s aspirations for continued growth. The appointment adds to the Momentum Group’s growing property management instructions including those in the city centre – 18-20 Church Street, and Princes Building and One Temple Square on Dale Street. A spokesperson for the landlord said “The Momentum Group’s credentials and commitment to continued high level service delivery is what mattered to us. Having heard about their service delivery and the difference they have made to the buildings they manage, it made perfect sense for us to award the property management contract to this growing and agile team.” “The Momentum Group truly meets our desire to manage and maintain high-quality buildings to help our tenants’ businesses thrive and we are delighted to be working with them.” Chris Bliss, Director, and Co-Founder of The Momentum Group commented “It’s a privilege to be invited to deliver the property management services for Aviation House. To be able to continue the momentum with the team, proves our commitment to high service delivery for our clients and their tenants. It is testament to our approach that treating client investment as our own to realise the property potential does make a difference.” “This adds to our growing portfolio of property management instructions and our commitment to continued growth in the region. We are now managing more than 140,000 sqft of retail, commercial, and residential space through our property management team.” The Momentum Group were appointed by Redevco earlier this year to manage the 80,000sqft Church Street site, now the home to Decathlon and Storeaway.
Construction materials supplier Aggregate Industries, a member of the Holcim Group, has announced the acquisition of Wiltshire Heavy Building Materials Ltd, a regional leader in ready-mix concrete, primary and recycled aggregates, concrete products and waste management solutions. The strategic acquisition will see Aggregate Industries strengthen its operations in the South and South-West of England with new sites in Devizes, Theale, Faringdon and Fairford, as well as providing future growth opportunities. It will also enable the company to introduce the ECOPact+ range in the regional market with a supply of Construction and Demolition Waste. Driving circular construction, Wiltshire recycles 150,000 tons of construction & demolition waste each year into aggregates and concrete with its state-of-the art material recovery system. This transaction represents the first acquisition of a recycling business in the UK, helping Aggregate Industries to deliver on its circular economy ambitions at scale and strengthening its position in innovative and sustainable building solutions in the UK. Wiltshire Heavy Building Materials, through its Wiltshire Concrete and Berkshire Concrete brands, is a good tactical fit for Aggregate Industries expanding the company’s footprint along the M4 corridor, which links London to Southwest England. Wiltshire recorded net sales of GBP 17m in 2021. Dragan Maksimovic, CEO of Aggregate Industries UK, said: “Wiltshire Building Materials is a well-established business with a history spanning more than three decades, with a team of highly talented and passionate people. It has a strong customer base in what will be new areas of operation for Aggregate Industries. Its focus on recycled aggregates also provides us with specialist expertise as we promote a circular economy and strive to become the UK’s leading supplier of sustainable construction materials.” Kevin McQuaid, Wiltshire Heavy Building Materials Ltd, added: “Our whole team is incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a business and has a real passion for the service we provide our customers. We are excited to begin the next phase of our journey as part of Aggregate Industries and are confident that, with our new owners’ backing, we can continue to build on our excellent reputation based on trust and customer service.”
East Midlands-based design and building contractor, Grace Construction, is set to commence work on the transformation of the iconic Derbyshire building, Victoria Ironworks. The former foundry, which currently serves as the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre, will be converted into as classic vehicle restoration workshop and showroom, becoming the new home of heritage vehicle initiative, Great Northern Classics. Led by Grace Construction, the extensive renovation project has begun following years of planning and design. With a dedicated team of 40 contractors on site, it is expected to take approximately one year to complete. The vast site encompasses four conjoined factory buildings, which will enable Great Northern Classics to house a fully equipped training school, workshops, a vehicle storage area, exhibition and entertainment space. As part of the plans for the project, Grace Constructions will install a full glass frontage leading to a feature staircase and mezzanine floor. As well as restoring the building’s existing character features. Stuart Bennett, owner of Grace Constructions, commented: “It’s a real honour and privilege to be leading this important conservation project. The site holds so much history and heritage to Derby and indeed to the whole country, having witnessed and contributed to some of the most significant industrial developments throughout the twentieth century. “When working on the designs and plans, the real challenge was to balance preserving the building’s rich past and full character, while adding new elements to enable the building to become a fully functional and secure. “We hope that the project will enable future generations of vehicle enthusiasts to fulfil their passion and hone their skills, as well as creating a destination for Derbyshire and adding to the legacy of this iconic building. We’re looking forward to getting construction work and the next chapter of Victoria Ironworks underway,” he added. Shaun Matthews, the Driving Force behind Great Northern Classics, added: “Stuart and I have been working closely on this project since our first meeting in 2018, whilst many things have changed since then our shared passion for classic vehicles and delivering something spectacular for Derby has remained constant.” “Now we have the ownership of the site and its rich history we are very excited to begin the job of converting it into Great Northern Classics, a truly unique project and opportunity for the East Midlands.” The transformation of Victoria Ironworks is one of the latest high-profile projects undertaken by Grace Construction, having previously completed construction of Derby’s Kings Crescent residential development, Nottingham-based Whyburn Business Park and We Are Padel Derby, to name but a few. For more information about Grace Construction, visit https://graceconstruction.co.uk/ Find out more about Great Northern Classics at https://www.greatnorthernclassics.co.uk/
Hortons’ Estate Ltd has delivered the new UK headquarters of international hydraulic and pneumatic specialist Brennan Industries Inc. – one of two new developments at an established industrial park in the West Midlands. The independent property company has completed construction of 35,000 sq ft of new industrial/logistics accommodation at Anchor Brook Industrial Park near Aldridge town centre. The new building has been divided into two separate units of 17,500 sq ft, one of which will be occupied by Brennan Industries Inc. as a distribution hub with integral office space, and the other will be let. US-based Brennan Industries Inc. has purchased the land and both new units on a long lease from Hortons and will relocate its UK team from an existing facility in Walsall. It is the largest of two new developments to have been delivered by Hortons at the business park, following completion of a new retail unit on an adjacent plot that will be occupied by Greggs. Matt M. Stahr, vice president of operations at Brennan Industries Inc., said that the company’s new distribution hub would support its recent and anticipated growth, and could create new employment opportunities. He said: “We are incredibly excited about our new facility at Wharf Approach. This new distribution hub will allow us to more easily service the UK market, return value to our customers, and make for an enjoyable place for our employees to work. Thank you to the Hortons team for their world-class expertise, communication, and efficiency.” James Slater, head of building surveying and development at Hortons said: “It’s very pleasing to have completed this nine month development programme at Anchor Brook Industrial Park. “We’ve worked closely with Brennan to deliver a facility that meets its needs, both now and in the future. We’re confident that the quality of the building, and the park’s convenient location near the national motorway network, will provide an ideal platform for business growth. “We have a good relationship with Greggs having worked together to develop a similar facility in Cannock and its new retail unit will undoubtedly enhance the offering for existing occupiers of the business park and surrounding area.”
When you are running a business, you need to make sure that you have everything running smoothly. One of the worst things to happen to a business is slow or low productivity. That’s not just in your people, but in your systems, your software and in the way your business is run. If things aren’t running correctly or smoothly, you will find yourself finding it much harder to get your business going. You might also find that business interruption is something that cannot be avoided and it’s these interruptions that are going to cause your business to fail. Instead of worrying about your business failing, you can assure you implement IT support along the way. They will have to be the ones to tell you when your IT needs an upgrade, and I don’t just mean your hardware or your computer systems, but your software, too. With this in mind we have great reasons to upgrade your IT now. Your warranties are about to expire. It’s nice to hang onto computers until they fall apart but when you do this you can end up voiding your insurance. Having very old systems and hardware in your business can mean that you have let your warranties run out a long time ago so when they break down you have to pay for them out of pocket to be repaired. Old systems often mean you have a lack of vendor support who are still around that makes the type of computer that you have. Whilst an outsourced IT team may have some knowledge of your specific hardware that doesn’t mean to be able to help. That’s the functionality. There is a reason that people will queue up for hours looking for the new Apple software or Samsung phone. If the functionality that has been approved. If you want to have new, and expanded functionality then you need to be able to upgrade your IT systems. Technology advances so much faster than you think and there’s so many new and innovative functions that can help you to deliver added business to your customers. You could start accepting payments online compared to what you did before the pandemic, and that can allow people to work from home. It’s the little things that can improve. Security becomes easier. When you upgrade your IT security is much more controlled and ensures that you are able to keep your business and data safe. The rate of cyber attacks is going up right now, and you can avoid this by ensuring that your equipment is secure. Upgrades can help you to do this. You can increase the efficiency. If you want your business picked to be something that people see is productive then you need to work on efficiency. That means looking at ways that you can improve the way that your business is running and a good IT upgrade will help you to do that with ease. Don’t be afraid to get started
Bluechain plans to reach 100,000 new customers in their first year, focusing on large businesses and SMEs with digital payment needs Bluechain, the fast-growing fintech startup that transforms the traditional payments and receivables process, has officially launched in the UK with their first customer, leading construction materials supplier, Aggregate Industries. The objective is to allow Aggregate Industries to digitise the billing, collections and reconciliation process with their SME customers. Bluechain sees the UK as a strategic marketplace for its current growth objectives and they plan to expand aggressively into the marketplace, aiming to reach 100,000 new customers by the end of their first year. With further global expansions already in the works, including Europe and Africa, Bluechain has their sights set on landing large businesses and SME customers across a range of sectors including utilities, wholesale, construction and professional services. The UK expansion follows a very successful Australian launch in the summer of 2020 focused on supporting SMEs. Bluechain has a growing number of customers and partners, including NRS Couriers, Rabbithole Café, Madcrew Wealth and Tuber. The Request to Pay (RtP) experts offer their platform to connect businesses and their customers in real-time, transforming the biller and payer experience and taking the reactive “black hole” of invoicing into an insightful and connected mutually beneficial relationship. As the global economy navigates rising inflation, energy prices and the cost of living, financial management and budgeting are more important than ever. Bluechain’s platform puts the control in the hands of the payee. Customers can schedule bills at a date that aligns with their payday and split payments into smaller amounts, pay in full or query their bill. With Bluechain’s network, businesses receive complete transparency on invoice status with live data to know when they will get paid. It also eliminates security risks as payment data is never in transit and verified billers no longer need to share risky text payment links. With 54% of banks and Payment Service Providers citing technology limitations and existing systems as their biggest obstacle, Bluechain provides a fully featured capability that can seamlessly plug into existing core platforms like ERPs, accounting platforms and CRMs. Tim Annis, UK Managing Director at Bluechain, said: “Businesses, such as Aggregate Industries and their customers are the backbone of the UK economy and this launch into the UK market is a great opportunity for Bluechain to help transform the payments experience particularly for SMEs. Bluechain’s platform takes businesses one step closer to their customers, and we are thrilled at the opportunities that this is bringing for UK customers. It’s great to be able to work with a partner like Aggregate Industries as we thrive together in delivering the best in class customer experience for billing and collections.” Phil Rice, Head of Credit at Aggregate Industries said: “Aggregate Industries and the broader Holcim Group are always looking for new ways to support and improve the customer experience. Through our open innovation platform, Holcim MAQER, we identify and partner with startups delivering the most impactful solutions that solve challenges for our customers and our own teams. Bluechain presents an opportunity to create a closer level of customer engagement. The focus on how we can help them become more digitally enabled whilst at the same time supporting the cost-to-service receivables makes it a win-win. Bluechain’s end-to-end approach presents just such a solution.” Stephen Bedggood, Vice President of Product at Bluechain added: “Bluechain’s launch in Australia has been very successful, with a significant number of small businesses and enterprises making or receiving payment via our platform. The expansion into the UK is a testament to the global success and impact we have had to date empowering businesses and customers in their payments journeys and I am excited to see this replicated in the UK market.” Philip King, Ex Small Business Commissioner and Advisor at Bluechain said: “One of the most challenging things for people to do in a cost of living crisis is pay, which is why it’s important to give customers the ability to do so efficiently. Bluechain’s technology takes payments and billing to the next level in a way that transforms how companies connect with their customers. Managing finances is at the front of people’s minds, and it is easy to lose sight of the person behind the invoice when focusing on the end goal of getting paid. Bluechain’s platform is customer-centric and gives the biller the visibility to meet their customer’s needs.” Bluechain is available now in the UK. For more information, please visit bluechain.com. Media inquiries, please contact: bluechain@hardnumbers.co.uk
