Every April 22nd, stakeholders of all backgrounds come together to advance sustainability and climate action in commemoration of Earth Day. The construction sector is unfortunately one of the largest contributors to waste and is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, making sustainability a high priority for the industry.
Cruden Building, part of the Cruden Group, has secured a position on a £500 million construction framework for the next four years. The Wheatley Group has appointed Cruden Building, together with seven other contractors to deliver the provision of housing construction work. The framework covers the central belt and Dumfries
The award-winning architects and interior designers at Marchini Curran Associates, have led on design services for the expansion of the independent Phoenix cinema and art centre in Leicester. The pivotal scheme, funded by Arts Council England, Leicester City Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), alongside independent funding organisations,
A Sales and Marketing Manager is now part of the St Arthur Homes team – a shared ownership provider with developments currently located across Hampshire and Kent. Michelle Robins from Southsea has brought 34 years’ experience working within the property industry to the company, which she joined in November last
LEADING social value experts at Loop are today launching a survey for the construction market, which aims to identify where the wider industry sits on social value, and where things can be improved. When analysed, the results will reveal how much organisations are focusing on social value, how they are
A programme of testing being carried out by one of the country’s leading research universities is expected to verify the team’s early findings around the WikiHouse offsite building system – indicating that West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero panels offer superior performance benefits for the production of their large format blocks, beams
SOCOTEC UK’s Asbestos team has secured three major contracts with three of the UK’s largest supermarket and retail chains. These contracts, worth over £2.5million in annual revenue, will cover more than 6,000 properties across the UK and will include the delivery of a full suite of asbestos management, consultancy, and
Werner, the leading manufacturer of height access solutions, has announced the launch of its PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower. This new mobile tower, which boasts an ergonomic lightweight modular system, is designed to reach up to 5.4m, providing a safe and stable platform for industry professionals working at height. The PROPLUS
Build-To-Rent (BTR) provider Placefirst is set to invest in the delivery of 220 homes in Sunderland. Placefirst has been appointed as Preferred Development Partner by Sunderland City Council to deliver 140 new homes at Farringdon Row, the second residential neighbourhood within the transformative Riverside Sunderland masterplan. The sustainable new community
A digital workspace centralizes all the assets, applications, and data of a company around a technology framework, which also enables employees to work remotely. The world is going digital, and everyone has to evolve with it. Businesses, specifically, have to adapt faster to stay relevant; otherwise, their competition will throw
Every April 22nd, stakeholders of all backgrounds come together to advance sustainability and climate action in commemoration of Earth Day. The construction sector is unfortunately one of the largest contributors to waste and is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, making sustainability a high priority for the industry. Fit-out and refurbishment contractor Pexhurst reflects on the importance of proactive sustainability across the built environment and discusses the benefits of being Planet Mark certified with Steve Malkin, CEO and Founder of Planet Mark and Giuseppe Lo Bue, Buyer at Pexhurst. As a provider of professional fit-out and refurbishment services to the industrial, commercial and specialist sectors, Pexhurst is dedicated to minimising the environmental impact of its business operations, reducing waste and investing in green technologies. One way Pexhurst does this is through its association with sustainability certification Planet Mark. CEO and Founder Steve Malkin began Planet Mark as a truly effective people-driven sustainability certification for any organisation of any size in any sector, anywhere in the world. As of March 2023, Planet Mark works with circa 700 different organisations across a broad spectrum of industries. Planet Mark is an internationally recognised sustainability certification which recognises continuous progress, encourages action, and builds an empowered community of like-minded individuals who make a world of difference. In 2023, Planet Mark is proud to be celebrating its 10-year anniversary of helping organisations cut carbon year-on-year and have a positive impact on society for current and future generations. Commenting, Steve Malkin said, “The next 7 years, as we edge towards the Paris Agreement’s checkpoint of 2030, are pivotal to the success of a more sustainable future. Organisations like Planet Mark, who certify not just on measurement but on continuous improvement, are integral in the drive towards a net zero society. At Planet Mark, we often say – ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure.’” The theme for Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest in our Planet’. Planet Mark encourages businesses to begin assessing their carbon footprints as a first step to investing in the planet. Holders of Planet Mark Certification deliver results that go beyond data compliance, reaching new levels of sustainability and engaging their people in the process. Steve Malkin reflected, “We’ve seen that smart, forward-planning companies are discovering that it is no longer a choice between going green and growing long-term profits. They are inextricably linked. Collectively, organisations like Pexhurst are helping to shape a brighter future for our planet and society. Regardless of size or sector, businesses are at the heart of our transition to a more sustainable future. Transformational change, however, won’t happen until we all work together to invest in our planet.” He continued, “This Earth Day we are calling on every organisation to do one thing: cut your carbon emissions so you can invest in both the planet and your business. Not only will you be saving money, your people will also enjoy the challenge and you’ll be joining millions around the world who are tackling climate change.” How Pexhurst are going the extra mile for the planet After compiling all their data for the specific reporting period, Pexhurst proudly received their certification in October 2022, and continues to report their social and carbon data. Giuseppe Lo Bue, Buyer at Pexhurst, discusses the significance of his role as Planet Mark champion at Pexhurst. What does your role as Planet Mark Champion entail? “My role as Pexhurst’s Planet Mark Champion is to report our carbon and social data. This is vital as it gives us a starting point every year on how we can further reduce our carbon footprint. With help and suggestions from Planet Mark, we are achieving this. I collate Pexhurst’s data every year using documentation such as utility bills, fleet, and waste and submit this to Planet Mark. Planet Mark then assesses this information and certifies us for another year if we have achieved the standards. Another part of this role is continually finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint.” Why was Pexhurst inspired to gain its Planet Mark certification? “When you see a company with this certification it shows that they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint. Pexhurst is a sustainable and forward-thinking business, making this an important accreditation for us to achieve. We want to demonstrate to all of our existing and potential clients that we are committed to the betterment of our planet.” What initiatives does Pexhurst practise to create a more sustainable and equitable world? “As well as environmental impact, the social value side of sustainability is important to Pexhurst. Therefore, we believe measuring our positive influence on the economy, communities and society is imperative. We have apprenticeship schemes here at Pexhurst to encourage future generations to join the industry, where they can gain great experience and develop professionally and personally. Along with the apprenticeship schemes, we fundraised in excess of £16,000 for various charities last year which was a great achievement to all those involved!” In summary, why does sustainability matter to Pexhurst? “From energy usage to emissions, the construction industry is having a big impact on the environment. This is why it’s important, as a company, to do our bit to improve the quality of our lives, our children’s lives and the lives of future generations. By doing what we can, we will be contributing to a better world. Our ambition is to reduce our carbon footprint by 5% this year, and to be Net Zero by 2030.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cruden Building, part of the Cruden Group, has secured a position on a £500 million construction framework for the next four years. The Wheatley Group has appointed Cruden Building, together with seven other contractors to deliver the provision of housing construction work. The framework covers the central belt and Dumfries and Galloway, and the contract will deliver a range of new build homes at affordable lease terms for the housing provider. It is expected that up to 1,000 units per year could be delivered under the new agreement, with a firm focus on providing low-carbon housing solutions. Steven Simpson, Managing Director of the Cruden Group said: “We are pleased to be appointed to this major housing framework which could deliver a number of opportunities over the next four years. We work very successfully with The Wheatley Group, and this framework will allow us to continue our positive relationship and supports our combined ambitions to delivering more sustainable and zero carbon homes throughout Scotland.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The award-winning architects and interior designers at Marchini Curran Associates, have led on design services for the expansion of the independent Phoenix cinema and art centre in Leicester. The pivotal scheme, funded by Arts Council England, Leicester City Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), alongside independent funding organisations, has transformed the city centre venue with an extension of the Midland Street site, which has been the cinema’s purpose-built home since its relocation to Leicester’s Cultural Quarter in 2009. The project, which started in September 2021 under the Scape National Construction Framework has involved adding two new cinema screens, a large digital art gallery, extended café bar, a multi-purpose events space and rooftop terrace bar, to accommodate more visitors and expand the programme of this much-loved independent cinema and arts venue which has been part of Leicester’s cultural scene for 60 years. The client design brief was a fully inclusive environment catering for the diverse spectrum of user groups, staff, and visitors – to create a multi-functional space that changes its personality from the day into the evenings. The integration of spaces was key and the concept of the building was designed to counterbalance the enhanced box office within the existing building with a new café bar space, forming a bookend within the new extension, to create a seamless harmonisation between old and new. To achieve this Marchini Curran introduced a new two storey spine wall that runs from the two existing cinema screens through the building to link the gallery, café bars and new screens together. A feature staircase runs up the side of the spine wall giving visual access to the upper floor roof terrace, allowing natural light to penetrate the centre of the ground floor dining area. Andrew Bull, Director at Marchini Curran Associates, said: “Phoenix is an integral part of the city, offering invaluable space for the independent film and arts scene to thrive and we’ve treasured delivering architectural and interior design works for such a renowned cultural arts space in the city of Leicester.” John Rance, Phoenix Chief Executive, said: “People love the new spaces. The reactions of our diverse customer groups and stakeholders has been very positive.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A Sales and Marketing Manager is now part of the St Arthur Homes team – a shared ownership provider with developments currently located across Hampshire and Kent. Michelle Robins from Southsea has brought 34 years’ experience working within the property industry to the company, which she joined in November last year. After a spell working as a Business Development Manager in various conveyancing companies, Michelle decided it was time to get back to her first love – finding people their ideal homes. With time spent within Linden Homes, Bovis and Churchill Retirement, as well as working for an estate agent, Michelle has seen and understands many facets of the housing industry. Michelle said: “I first began my career in the property industry when I was 18 years old, and I’ve never left. There’s something very special about helping someone through one of the biggest purchases of their life – which can be happy or sad, stressful or exciting. For me, I genuinely view it as a privilege. Supporting purchasers, helping them find their perfect property and settle into it, making it a home – once you feel that kind of excitement and responsibility, it’s a hard thing to walk away from. “Coming to St Arthur Homes is my first time with a shared ownership provider, but in many ways we apply the same principles as any housebuilder. We strive to provide the best quality, the best service and the best aftercare. It’s always all about the people – and I’ve found that, often, the harder the journey to home ownership, the greater the reward.” Michelle works remotely most of the time from her home, which is a ten-minute walk from the seaside and just a short drive from St Arthur Homes’ Whiteley Meadows development in Whiteley and spends much of the rest of her working time visiting St Arthur’s other developments. She said: “It’s been very interesting to join St Arthur at this time, when we have so many happy buyers at Whiteley Meadows and I’ve seen a real community form. It’s also been great to get to know the team onsite – as well as in the office. “It feels very much that everyone here has the same goal and ethos. My manager Louise is brilliant to work with and we also have Trin and Mandy in our sales team, we all have the same passion for our individual roles and together as a team and although we all work really hard, there’s time to chat and get to know each other too.” For more information, visit starthurhomes.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING social value experts at Loop are today launching a survey for the construction market, which aims to identify where the wider industry sits on social value, and where things can be improved. When analysed, the results will reveal how much organisations are focusing on social value, how they are approaching it now, and how it integrates with procurement and tender processes. The survey will also delve into individual mindset, gaining an insight into how social value impacts people’s day-to-day job roles – and how knowledgeable and prepared they feel for working in this realm. A crucial question will also examine the figures attached to social value measurement, and whether monetised values are important – and crucially if they are at risk of overinflation. Angus Townsend, director of social value at Loop, said: “The construction industry is certainly one of the most progressive when it comes to social value and understanding its importance. However, there’s still a long way to go to even the playing field for organisations of all sizes and kinds, and make sure that we’re taking the right approach to social value. “The sheer scale of the built environment means there are people at every stage of the social value journey. What we want to do is see what this looks like on an industry-wide scale and get a picture of understanding and drive for social value, as well as where things can be done better. “Since the Social Value Act was introduced ten years ago, there have been growing developments with numerous pieces of legislation, government procurement policy notes and a big focus on social value in the Construction Playbook. “Momentum is growing significantly, especially as we continue to adapt to a post-pandemic world while tackling the climate crisis. This can even be seen in the volume of Google searches for ‘social value’ for example, which have more than doubled in the past five years. “Our mission is to help organisations understand social value, measure the impacts they have, continually improve and make a real difference to real people. We look forward to seeing the results of this survey – we know they will be incredibly eye opening for us all.” The survey will be open to responses until Friday 26 May, and attendees at the UKREiiF conference in Leeds will be able to submit responses at Loop’s ‘The Future of Social Value’ Pavilion at the Royal Armouries. For more information, please visit https://www.loop.org.uk/ or fill out the survey here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A programme of testing being carried out by one of the country’s leading research universities is expected to verify the team’s early findings around the WikiHouse offsite building system – indicating that West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero panels offer superior performance benefits for the production of their large format blocks, beams and other components. The material’s compressive and shear strength have proved key to the successful outcomes. WikiHouse has been developed to provide an economic and sustainable means of constructing low-rise housing and other accommodation which is straightforward to manufacture and erect. A switch from imported plywood to UK-produced SterlingOSB Zero, which uses only renewable energy and has no added formaldehyde, is seen as increasing the successful housebuilding system’s environmental credentials. Originally prototyped in 2011, WikiHouse is a zero-carbon building system, maintained in the UK by Open System Lab, and offers a comprehensive selection of key components which can be shared as code and produced in small local workshops, rather than a large factory. Crucially, the WikiHouse blocks are produced to an accuracy of 0.1mm and can be rapidly assembled by a small site team, requiring none of the traditional trade skills. WikiHouse’s Engineering Lead, Gabriele Granello, explains: “The main idea of the system is that we are proposing these blocks – fabricated for beams, columns and other elements – that, when you join them, characterise the structural system of your house. Up until now, we have been working with plywood but there is no UK-produced plywood, so the question for us was, could we switch and still span six or seven metres as we are now? “We suspect it can as the way the system works is that it relies much more on the compressive and shear strength of the material, rather than its tensile strength. We have done analytical modelling for the SterlingOSB Zero and because it is made up of myriad of non-directional strands, instead of alternately orientated plys, at a microscopic level, there is no single shear plane along which the OSB will fail. We have already carried out some preliminary testing of the joints in isolation, where the OSB actually performed better than plywood, so now we are engaging with Imperial College in London for one of their final year Masters students to conduct a programme of full-scale experiments.” The work at Imperial College’s laboratories is expected to continue for three months, with London-based Hub Workshop being the supply chain partner responsible for supplying the actual WikiBlocks. The Founder of Hub Workshop, Drew Munden, added: “As a specialist sub-contractor in CNC machining, we serve various client sectors including garden rooms, bespoke furniture and architectural structures, and are one of half a dozen fabricators for the WikiHouse system in the UK. Buying from merchants, the SterlingOSB Zero is half the price of spruce plywood and it machines perfectly well. For the WikiHouse Blocks, we are using a variety of tooling including various drills, an ‘engraving router’ and a compression cutters router which leaves a very clean-cut face on the 18 mm OSB.” Mel Esquerre at Open System Labs, commented: “We already have a single-storey structure using SterlingOSB Zero – a cabin, that has been completed by a private client to use as a rental property – but our road map for the system very much involves the housing associations and other affordable housing providers, to scale up the operations, and SterlingOSB Zero will very much be part of those conversations.” Available in thicknesses of 18 and 22mm, the 2400mm length boards come in widths of 590 and 1200mm, while being manufactured using UK grown timber and with Zero added formaldehyde, SterlingOSB Zero has outstanding environmental credentials. Both the 18- and 22-mm thick panels are strong enough to meet most load-bearing applications, are BBA Approved and recognized under the NHBC Technical Standard for housing applications. SterlingOSB Zero T&G also bears the coveted UKTFA Q-mark, a quality certification which provides a benchmark for manufacturers, and offers confidence to designers and end-users across the UK. For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SOCOTEC UK’s Asbestos team has secured three major contracts with three of the UK’s largest supermarket and retail chains. These contracts, worth over £2.5million in annual revenue, will cover more than 6,000 properties across the UK and will include the delivery of a full suite of asbestos management, consultancy, and training services. The new contracts will support SOCOTEC in being the largest provider of asbestos management services to the UK retail sector. In addition, the contracts include a five-year extension, which will extend SOCOTEC’s partnership with one of the retailers to 16 years. “We are thrilled to have secured these contracts with some of the UK’s largest supermarket and retail chains” said James Dodgson, commercial director, Asbestos, SOCOTEC UK. “As the largest provider of asbestos management services to the UK retail sector, we have a wealth of experience and expertise in managing asbestos in high-traffic environments. We look forward to working with our clients to ensure the safety of their employee and customers.” The delivery of these services will involve a team of highly experienced asbestos consultants and surveyors who will work closely with the retailers to identify and manage any asbestos risks. SOCOTEC UK’s asbestos team will also provide comprehensive training to ensure that all staff are aware of the risks associated with asbestos and how to work safely in environments where asbestos may be present. With these new contracts, SOCOTEC UK’s asbestos team continues to cement its position as a leading provider of asbestos management services in the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Werner, the leading manufacturer of height access solutions, has announced the launch of its PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower. This new mobile tower, which boasts an ergonomic lightweight modular system, is designed to reach up to 5.4m, providing a safe and stable platform for industry professionals working at height. The PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower is easy to erect, with the stackable system allowing users to build up to three working heights. Designed with a sturdy platform at the top of the tower featuring a trapdoor for easy access, it also has toe boards around the platform to prevent tools from falling. Certified to the latest EN 1004-1:2020 safety standard, this new tower features swivel castors which enable it to be moved easily, as well as a folding base frame single unit for quick and simple assembly. The compact base unit can also fit in the boot of most cars or vans, perfect for those using it on the move. Carolina Marino, Regional Product Manager UK, Tower & Platform Laddersat Werner, said: “The new PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower has been designed with trade professionals in mind, offering them a stackable, safe and secure platform for working at height. Workers can quickly and easily assemble the tower according to their needs thanks to the three different working heights of 2.65m, 3.65m and 5.40m, each of which contains a variety of components.” This sturdy platform has a load capacity of 184kg, as well as 250mm rung spacing up the side of the frame, enabling easy climbing to the top platform. Offering a lightweight, adjustable and sturdy solution, the tower also features stabilisers on each corner of the frame, providing improved stability and designed to bring height safety to any job. The Werner PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower is now available nationally. To find out more visitwernerco.co.uk To find out more about Werner’s range of products, please visit wernerco.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Build-To-Rent (BTR) provider Placefirst is set to invest in the delivery of 220 homes in Sunderland. Placefirst has been appointed as Preferred Development Partner by Sunderland City Council to deliver 140 new homes at Farringdon Row, the second residential neighbourhood within the transformative Riverside Sunderland masterplan. The sustainable new community will benefit from views across the Wear and the regenerated Riverside Park and support the diversification of the housing offer and repopulation of the city centre. Placefirst will deliver an exemplar BTR neighbourhood of high-quality energy efficient homes specially designed for long term rent. It will also feature a network of communal and public open spaces that will enhance connectivity throughout the new Riverside Sunderland community. The project team will include locally based architects IDP, development consultants Identity Consult and landscape architects Southern Green. A planning application is anticipated later in the year, with development planned to start in spring 2024. “We are excited to be working in partnership with Sunderland City Council on these projects and building on our existing track record of creating high-quality neighbourhoods in this region. The Riverside Sunderland masterplan is one of the most ambitious residential regeneration projects in the UK and Farringdon Row and Nile Villiers will play a big part in setting the standard for BTR developments throughout the North East. We look forward to progressing with the plans and bringing both these schemes to life, bringing much needed quality new rental homes to the area,” said David Mawson, chief executive officer at Placefirst. Placefirst manage every aspect of their neighbourhoods, from the first rental enquiry through to fully maintaining each home with an on-site presence once complete. Residents at Farringdon Row would benefit from skilled, friendly in-house teams, and dedicated resident services managers. Placefirst will also support Sunderland City Council and its partners in the funding and delivery of up to 80 homes at Nile and Villiers in Sunniside, which Placefirst will then own and manage. The scheme forms part of the Council’s City Centre Housing Ecosystem which received support from Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A digital workspace centralizes all the assets, applications, and data of a company around a technology framework, which also enables employees to work remotely. The world is going digital, and everyone has to evolve with it. Businesses, specifically, have to adapt faster to stay relevant; otherwise, their competition will throw them out of the industry. You don’t necessarily need to build a large entire resource planning system to digitize your workspace. A simple time tracking software can do almost all of the important tasks with much more efficiency. Before we get to how time tracking software can help digitize your business processes, let’s discuss why digitization altogether is important. Why is Digitization Crucial? Digitization is not a trend; it’s a need. It was introduced and adapted because of its irreplaceable benefits. The change might be a bit expensive at first, but it saves you a lot of money in the long run by reducing operational costs. It improves productivity and efficiency and increases flexibility in your work. Communication becomes much faster, transparent, and secure when you digitize your workspace. This communication is different from chat applications that have no accountability. You will notice that the job has become much easier for each employee, and all the redundant processes have been removed. Implementing tools like project management software or HR management software can transform how your team operates. These systems streamline task management and human resources processes, allowing for more organized and efficient workflows. With everything centralized, it’s easier to track projects and deadlines, manage staff details, and keep everyone on the same page—reducing miscommunication and overlap in tasks. This level of organization not only makes each job easier but also cuts down on time wasted, helping the whole company move forward more smoothly. This increases the performance of each team member, improves their satisfaction and experience, and gets you a higher return on investment. How Time Tracking Software Promotes Digitization? Now, to continue our point, you should know that a single time tracking software can help build a digital workspace. Although it’s just one tool, it will still eliminate several redundant processes and make sure that all employees are able to work productively. It is particularly very helpful when you have employees working remotely. No More Paperwork or Excel Sheets There is usually no need left for writing documents and managing Excel sheets when you have installed time tracking software. With a digital employee timesheet, you can track hours and analyze the performance of everyone on your team. As the timesheets are automatically saved in a central location and easily accessible, it saves you time and reduces the risk of human error. Automated Management and Notification System Only employees authorized with a login ID and password will be able to access your system. You will also be able to see which employees started working on time and who were late. You can set different alert systems that automatically notify your employees when they are not doing something according to standard operating procedure. Furthermore, employees can request time off that you can approve and reject with just a few clicks. Get More Transparency in Processes Time tracking software makes processes more transparent for the employees and the employer. The employee would know if they haven’t completed their productive hours, and the employer can also generate detailed HR reports. Whether the employee was on vacation or working extra hours, everything will be recorded. The employee will also be able to see his transparent payroll process that is calculated automatically according to their hours and work days. To Conclude this Discussion It’s important for every business to digitize its workspace if it wants to stay relevant. You can create a digital workspace with just proper time tracking. If you use the right time tracking software, you will be able to keep the processes transparent, automate several redundancies, and save many hours of work every week. As all the data is automatically stored in a centralized location, it’s much safer from outside threats and from human errors.
