Keepmoat and His Majesty’s Prison Service are tackling reoffending crime rates across Yorkshire with a new bricklaying academy, designed to enable prisoners to unlock employment opportunities on their release. One of the first of its kind in Britain, the academy at HMP Moorland near Doncaster will train, re-equip and provide
Leading manufacturer of life safety products Hochiki Europe, have today demonstrated their commitment to training for life for fire engineers and apprentices with a sizeable donation of life safety equipment to Banham Academy’s new training facility in Derby. Banham Academy are the leading specialist training provider in England delivering the
240,000 sq. ft warehouse to be situated at Alexandra Dock in Bootle within Peel Ports Port of Liverpool development. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by leading UK Port Operator Peel Ports to
Signify, the world leader in lighting, has equipped Dublin Port Tunnel in Ireland, an iconic infrastructure spanning 9km, with energy-efficient LED lighting for all its 1800 light points in the tunnel. The upgraded lighting has achieved up to 60% reduction in electricity use (based on 2022 rates), or the equivalent
The £40 million ONE BioHub is the iconic new location for life sciences in Aberdeen. Inspiring ambition, giving scientists and innovators skills and knowledge to turn research and innovation into businesses, and supporting them on the entrepreneurial journey. ONE BioHub will provide start-up, spinout and scaling life sciences businesses, tackling
Quintain and FORE Partnership among the first to trial new Healthy Homes tool in residential development Ekkist, specialist wellbeing consultancy for the built environment, has today launched the Healthy Homes Checklist, a comprehensive tool which supports developers and designers in examining every aspect of home design. The Checklist compiles science-backed
Leeds City Council, Lloyds Banking Group and Arup have been successful in their Green Homes Finance Accelerator Bid, to test and develop financial products for homeowners which enables building retrofit, and improve energy efficiency and comfort for residents. The new funding awarded through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) by
Balfour Beatty today announces Jacobs as the new partner for its Strategic Design Partnership. The leading design, engineering and project management consultant joins Atkins and Mott MacDonald as one of Balfour Beatty’s three pre-appointed design consultants, bringing together the best design and engineering capabilities in the industry. Formed in 2017,
Nationwide refurbishment contractor, Fortis Vision, has announced that it has been recertified with its three ISO accreditations following a five-day audit. The accreditations are for ISO 9001:2015 quality management system (QMS) – a recognised world leading standard, ISO 14001:2015 – the international standard for environmental management systems (EMS) and the
Keepmoat and His Majesty’s Prison Service are tackling reoffending crime rates across Yorkshire with a new bricklaying academy, designed to enable prisoners to unlock employment opportunities on their release. One of the first of its kind in Britain, the academy at HMP Moorland near Doncaster will train, re-equip and provide skills to prisoners due to be released within the next six to 12 months. The two organisations have worked in partnership with the National House Building Council, (NHBC), to deliver bespoke training that enables those preparing to integrate back into society with up-to-date skills and experience in bricklaying. According to a recent analysis from the Ministry of Justice, those leaving prison were significantly less likely to reoffend when engaging with a full time job, compared to those who did not. More than 300 prisoners are due to be released in Yorkshire over the next six months. The bricklaying academy will not only develop their skills in construction; teaching them how to use tools and equipment, mix cement and build various types of walls, but also give prisoners the confidence and belief that they can secure a job once released. The academy will also help to address the construction skills shortage. The industry needs almost 30,000 extra construction workers by 2026 to meet growing demand in the industry – a daunting challenge after the construction workforce dropped by five per cent in 2021. Tim Beale, Chief Executive at Keepmoat, said: “Of the hundreds of prisoners due to be released in the coming six months, a good number of them have previous experience working in trades. This presented an opportunity to help develop a programme to support those who wish to create a future career for themselves and ultimately, have a second chance at life. “This academy also forms part of our ongoing commitment to providing opportunities to people across the country, including in traditionally ‘left-behind’ communities. At Keepmoat, we are passionate about equipping the future workforce with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to build high-quality, affordable homes, as well as to help boost Britain’s regional and national productivity.” Paul Cole, Head of Reducing Reoffending at His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, added: “At HMP Moorland we prioritise the development of prisoners to enable them to gain meaningful employment opportunities upon their release. We’re proud to provide them with relevant skills and training, with an aim to help them find work and live law-abiding lives.” Geoff Mann, Qualifications Manager at NHBC, also commented: “The training will provide an achievable and realistic pathway into a rewarding and well-paid career in the house building industry and we’re delighted to see these prisoners and others from diverse backgrounds taking up this opportunity. “It’s vital we attract more people into house building to help address skills shortages and the challenge of an ageing workforce. It’s hoped the academy will help to support the next generation of house builders, equipping them with the skills to build high quality new homes for the future.” To find out more about Keepmoat and its work in local communities across the UK, please visit www.keepmoat.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading manufacturer of life safety products Hochiki Europe, have today demonstrated their commitment to training for life for fire engineers and apprentices with a sizeable donation of life safety equipment to Banham Academy’s new training facility in Derby. Banham Academy are the leading specialist training provider in England delivering the Level 3 Fire Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) apprenticeship to apprentices across the country. Graduates leave the Academy with vital skills and accreditations, enabling them to embark on fruitful careers within the fire and security industries. Apprentices are released from their employer to train at Banham Academy’s educational training centre for 15 weeks, over a three-year period, undertaking a combination of coursework and practical training. Successful completion of the course sees an apprentice awarded with qualifications and invaluable credentials for their careers ahead. Furthermore, as Banham is the first IET-approved centre, employers gain a competitive edge as graduates are officially recognised and accredited by the IET as engineering technicians. Hochiki Europe have donated a range of life safety devices to Banham Academy’s newly opened Derby training centre including addressable panels, smoke and heat detectors, sounder bases and beacons, relay units, call points and remote indicators. Kevin Faulkner, Operations Director, Banham Academy, explained “We are grateful to Hochiki Europe for their donation of life saving equipment to our second training site in Derby. Banham Academy are reliant on donations from manufacturers within our industry to allow our apprentices to continue their training on industry-leading products that are trusted and are of the highest quality. Competency of installing, commissioning, and maintaining leading security and fire systems is an important part of the learning that we provide at the Academy. This vital hands-on learning allows our graduates to leave being proficient in handling lifesaving products and systems with the utmost of knowledge and care.” The Derby facility is Banham’s second Academy, allowing them to deliver their apprenticeships to even more young people across the UK from both their London and Derby sites. Not only is the training centre bigger, but crucially the location will make it more accessible for students based in the North. Nathan Hudson, Sales and Marketing Director at Hochiki Europe said “We were delighted to help Banham Academy because we know how important it is to encourage and support career development as well as helping the next generation of life safety engineers across the country. Compliance is crucial in our world, we design and manufacture products which are trusted to not only save lives and property, but also reduce false alarms, but this is only possible when the installation is compliant. Our aim with this donation is to enable Banham Academy to deliver hands on, compliant training using the latest life safety technology”. To date Banham Academy Derby has 125 students currently enrolled, but by the end of the year they are expecting that number to rise to 200. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
240,000 sq. ft warehouse to be situated at Alexandra Dock in Bootle within Peel Ports Port of Liverpool development. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by leading UK Port Operator Peel Ports to construct a new 240,000 sq. ft warehouse facility at Alexandra Docks within Peel Ports Port of Liverpool development located in Bootle. The new £28M facility, which constitutes the biggest single investment in warehousing at the Port of Liverpool over the last six years will be the length of up to five football pitches (400 metres) and used for the handling and storage of cargo at the port. It will be able to store a variety of commodities, both unitised and non-unitised requiring indoor storage.. The facility will also have a dedicated quay and cranes to optimise vessel discharge as part of the new development. The scope of works includes for the design and construction of a 240,000 sq. ft warehouse referred to as Alexandra Dock Multi User Warehouse (MUW). Works include piling, foundations, push walls, a single span warehouse frame, cladding and roof lights. Externally surfacing and road construction for HGV access and crane loading. External Barriers, bollards, fencing and gates. External vehicle wash bay. Office and welfare facilities. Weighbridges and marshalling cabin along with a separate office block. Works commenced on site in April 2023 with completion in March 2024 Commenting on the project, Peter Goodman, Managing Director – Midlands & North, said: “Working with some of the UK’s leading asset managers, developers and occupiers, Glencar has developed a market leading reputation in the delivery of industrial and logistics facilities. We understand the commercial imperative to produce sustainable and high-quality structures, often at speed, creating lasting value for asset owners and are delighted to be working for leading UK Port Operator Peel Ports to construct this multi-user warehouse development. Ports serve as a critical part of the UK Supply Chain and multi-users facilities of this type contribute towards the continuation of the import and export of vital goods. We look forward to working with the full project team progressing the project to a successful end product. Also commenting David Huck, Chief Operating Officer at Peel Ports Group, said: “We’re very pleased to be announcing plans for this major purpose-built space at the Port of Liverpool. We’ve seen a significant increase in demand for warehousing, and this huge new facility provides an opportunity for companies looking for a new base to grow their business, as well as allowing existing customers the chance to expand their operations at the port. This also represents a very important milestone for Peel Ports, enhancing both our warehousing and distribution offerings while enabling more sustainable, port-centric solutions which reduce road miles. We’ve long argued the benefits of the Port of Liverpool’s central location, and this new facility will also provide real cost and supply chain benefits. The new state-of-the-art, dynamic storage facility has been maximised for storage volumes, discharge performance and low lorry delivery times. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Signify, the world leader in lighting, has equipped Dublin Port Tunnel in Ireland, an iconic infrastructure spanning 9km, with energy-efficient LED lighting for all its 1800 light points in the tunnel. The upgraded lighting has achieved up to 60% reduction in electricity use (based on 2022 rates), or the equivalent of the electricity consumed by up to 300 Irish households1.The upgrade hasenabled the tunnel to operate with reduced costs, lower emissions, and a reduced impact on grid congestion. The project is expected to save upwards of €4 million (£3.3 million) in electricity costs including VAT over the coming five years. The installation includes reusing the existing fittings for all light points. So, the project contributes to a more circular economy, saving an estimated €3 million (£2.6 million) as opposed to opting for a new LED infrastructural installation. Since the end of 2006, Dublin Port Tunnel has provided a link to the wider motorway network between Dublin Port and the M50, routing heavy goods transport quickly, quietly, and safely away from city and residential areas. Tunnel maintenance operator ERTO was instructed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to find a solution that would reduce energy costs and improve the quality of light in the tunnel. Signify’s LED retrofit solution was selected for its ease of replacement and impressive cost savings, which are especially significant in the context of the current energy crisis. Also, given that the tunnel is a dedicated route for Heavy Goods Vehicles between the Port, located in the heart of the city and the greater road network via the Coolock Lane Interchange (M50), the LED lighting project also aims to improve visibility in the tunnel. The project is part of the Irish government’s energy efficiency plans and was partially funded through the European Green Deal. Replacing the existing over 17 year installed Philips WRTL SON-T lighting with LED lights from Signify dramatically reduces the energy needed to keep the lights on, as well as providing a clear, high-quality light source that offers drivers and CCTV operators excellent visibility of road conditions. Installers made use of the existing high-quality housings, which were all retested, and CE marked to current standards and fitted with Philips METIS 2816 LED insert trays. By reusing the existing fittings, the project was achieved with minimal material waste, contributing to a more circular economy. As the new lights were made to perfectly fit the existing fittings, installation could be completed with minimal disruption to road users. Installers worked during late night and early morning hours over five weeks, with each lantern taking just five minutes to strip out and replace. Reusing materials also kept the project’s capital expense to a minimum, saving an estimated €3 million (£2.6 million) compared to a new installation. Patrick O’Hanlon, Senior Engineer at TII, said “We are delighted to have worked with Signify on this project. The replacement of the original SON lamps with LED inserts is a huge step towards reducing the carbon emissions, energy consumption and future maintenance of the Dublin Port Tunnel, while also improving overall lighting and power quality.” Sean Campbell, Key Account Manager – Road Lighting, Signify Ireland, “Dublin Port Tunnel is unique in Ireland and high traffic flows from the port of Dublin. Working with the customer and assessing the balance of maintenance costing along with energy prices on the rise, our R&D team successfully developed and tested a product that was cost effective and energy efficient. Collaborating with the customer who trusts Signify to deliver on a circular economy project that reduces energy consumption while increasing the power factor has been a real pleasure.’’ Dermot Deely, Managing Director, Signify Ireland, said “With public lighting accounting for 24% of Dublin Council’s energy expenditure, energy efficiency projects like this one can make an enormous positive impact. Through a relatively simple upgrade, we’ve been able to improve light quality, cost, maintenance, and sustainability for Dublin Port Tunnel. We are particularly proud to have supported these environmental goals while giving a second life to many of the materials that were already in place.”Learn more about the impact of switching to LED on Signify’s website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The £40 million ONE BioHub is the iconic new location for life sciences in Aberdeen. Inspiring ambition, giving scientists and innovators skills and knowledge to turn research and innovation into businesses, and supporting them on the entrepreneurial journey. ONE BioHub will provide start-up, spinout and scaling life sciences businesses, tackling modern health challenges with incubator laboratories and offices, fully customisable grow-on space, commercialisation and growth programmes, and access to mentors, expert networks and investors. The new-build industry innovation hub is a focal point for action and investment to diversify the economy and maximise the impact of science and technology from within life sciences companies, the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and NHS Grampian. It will accommodate up to 400 bio-entrepreneurs at full occupancy. An Aberdeen City Region Deal innovation project, ONE BioHub is led and co-funded by Opportunity North East (ONE) with funding from the UK Government, Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. The University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian are strategic partners and have provided the site for ONE BioHub, in the heart of Aberdeen’s Foresterhill Health Campus. Sir Ian Wood KT GBE, chair of ONE, said: “ONE BioHub will be the transformational place in the North East of Scotland for the entrepreneurial life sciences community and growth sector to meet, share, learn, start up, innovate and grow. It will be a new game-changing technology and business cluster in Aberdeen, accelerating life sciences commercialisation, translating research into solutions in the market, improving health and wellbeing, creating high-growth businesses and high-value jobs, and harnessing the potential of science, technology and innovation to diversify the economy. This adds an exciting new business dimension to our economy.” Deborah O’Neil, OBE FRSE, chairs the life sciences board at ONE and ONE BioHub and is CEO of Aberdeen biotech company NovaBiotics said: “North east Scotland is serious about its life sciences opportunity. The region is home to world-class research and innovation in the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and NHs Grampian, a thriving community of 2,500 life scientists and a cluster of dynamic biotech, medtech and healthtech businesses. ONE BioHub will make more of all these strengths, assets and talented people. It will inspire the next generation of bio-entrepreneurs to commercialise innovation in the city, solve health challenges and create lasting economic value.” Formally launching ONE BioHub to the life sciences community, partners and stakeholders this morning, Scottish Government Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead said: “ONE BioHub will be a tremendous asset for the North East and the whole of Scotland. It will allow the already thriving life sciences cluster in the region to continue growing, innovating and succeeding. This includes important work in developing innovative treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer.” “This reflects the key role that life sciences have in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation and forthcoming National Innovation Strategy. And the partnership working that has made ONE BioHub possible exemplifies what is needed for the successful transformation of our economy.” “That is why the Scottish Government has invested £10 million in BioHub through the Aberdeen City Region Deal.” UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, said: “This fantastic ONE BioHub facility is an important new platform for the region’s life sciences industries, and I have no doubt that it will rapidly forge an international reputation for excellence.” “The products developed here will improve lives, and reduce pain and suffering worldwide, while the companies based here will bring high quality jobs and investment to the local community.” “The UK Government has invested £10 million in the BioHub, part of our £2.3 billion support for levelling up right across Scotland.” Neil Francis is Scottish Enterprise’s Managing Director for Major Projects said: “I visited ONE BioHub during its construction phase to announce the £2 million contribution from Scottish Enterprise and it is a real honour to be here now and see the iconic building it has become. “Projects such as the ONE BioHub, bringing together our innovators, entrepreneurs and big thinkers in one place, are crucial to the success of Scotland’s future economy. “As Aberdeen transitions to the growth sectors of the future, ONE BioHub will be at the heart of its ambitions to become a leading life sciences destination.” Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, said: “ONE Biohub recognises the leading life sciences research expertise we have here at the University of Aberdeen and across the region and will help nurture that expertise and take it closer to market which in turn will contribute to health, wellbeing and prosperity. The University of Aberdeen is enhancing its support for commercialisation of research and we are excited by the role that ONE Biohub can play in accelerating our impact on the life sciences sector.” Alison Evison, Chair of NHS Grampian, said: “We are delighted that our partners in innovation will be here on the Foresterhill Campus. This cements our commitment to exploring new and innovative ideas with industry and life sciences within our healthcare systems.” Robertson Construction was the main contractor for ONE BioHub and the building was designed by BDP. Elliot Robertson , Chief Executive Officer, Robertson Group, said: “ONE BioHub is one of many projects being delivered by Opportunity North East (ONE) that not only lead to economic diversification in the region, but put it firmly on the global stage through its commitment to assisting the life sciences through innovation and commercialisation. As the delivery partner of choice for ONE BioHub, we have been working with the local community throughout the build, supporting construction apprenticeships and careers and skills sessions with school pupils. ONE BioHub has been used to inspire and expand knowledge since its inception and will continue to be a place of collaboration with the potential to address global health challenges, whilst creating employment and opportunity.” Christoph Ackermann, Principal, BDP (Building Design Partnership Ltd) commented: “The Opportunities North East (ONE) team is very visionary in its leadership, particularly around economic development and innovation and this is a great example of their commitment
Quintain and FORE Partnership among the first to trial new Healthy Homes tool in residential development Ekkist, specialist wellbeing consultancy for the built environment, has today launched the Healthy Homes Checklist, a comprehensive tool which supports developers and designers in examining every aspect of home design. The Checklist compiles science-backed best practice to measure the health credentials of new homes and identify areas for improvement in design and construction. Leading developers Quintain and FORE Partnership are among the industry’s first to commit to using the newly launched tool, which will be adopted with Ekkist’s guidance to measure and improve the health and well-being potential of their new residential projects. The Healthy Homes Checklist comprises more than 130 practical steps across 12 categories that architects, developers and housebuilders can integrate from design stage to construction and through to post-occupancy, to ensure that homes genuinely support the physical and mental health of those living in them. Improving the quality of homes in the UK has never been more important. Latest figures show that 6.5 million people are living in damp, draughty and cramped homes that are harming their physical and mental health. Studies have also shown that indoor air quality is often a great deal poorer than outdoor air quality, which poses a particular risk to those with respiratory conditions (5.4 million people in the UK live with asthma, one in five will have a lung condition in their lifetime) but is a driver of health issues in all individuals. Air quality is just one of many indoor environmental factors that are contributing to chronic health conditions. Tackling the quality of our homes is a crucial aspect of a preventative approach to health that will reduce the burden on the National Health Service in the years to come. The comprehensive category list ranges from external and internal layouts, to design details (architecture and landscaping), through to toxicity of materials, furnishings and air quality; and feelings of community, comfort and happiness. In creating the checklist, the Ekkist team reviewed major health-focussed building standards, frameworks, guidance documents and scientific research papers relating to health and housing design. After pooling this research, it was reviewed with key industry experts and stakeholders, including Michael Chang from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Spire Building Services, Chapman BDSP, GIA and Sandy Brown. This is believed to be the first time such a breadth of categorisation has been brought together in a readily applicable format, that enables developers to assess the cumulative impact that housing design will have on long-term physical and mental health. Current British minimum standards fall far short of ensuring optimal healthy homes, while most voluntary commercial accreditations have broader remits. The Healthy Homes Checklist may be used as a precursor to building certifications such as WELL or the HQM, or to form the basis of design briefs and ESG strategies, or to identify health-focused USPs for new developments. Ekkist co-founder Olga Turner Baker believes that the Checklist will be popular among developers looking to add value: “Not only do healthier homes have the potential to improve the lives of the public and reduce burdens on the NHS, but we are also seeing them be more popular with buyers. We see healthy homes as a ‘triple win’ – a win for consumers, a win for housing providers, and ultimately a win for society as a whole.” Ekkist Director Ben Channon – an experienced architect of residential buildings and specialist in healthy design – co-created the Checklist, and believes that it could have a huge impact on the quality of both existing and future British housing stock: “The sad truth is that lots of homes across the UK still negatively affect the physical and mental health of the people who live in them. This Checklist will make it easier to design new healthy homes and retrofit existing houses to improve health outcomes for all – so that we can provide new homes in both the quantity and quality at which they are required.” Aurélien Collignon of B-Corp FORE Partnership, who will be adopting the Healthy Homes Checklist, feels that there is a strong alignment with their company ethos and business aims. “A number of intersecting societal shifts are dramatically transforming what the buildings of tomorrow will look like: an increasing focus on well-being, the blurring of personal and professional lives, an aging population and an epidemic of loneliness – all combined with the urgency to move to a low carbon economy. We are committed to creating places that produce positive outcomes for residents in terms of health, well-being, and quality of life, while also being good for their local community and the planet. We share Ekkist’s passion for health in the built environment, and we firmly believe that buildings that prioritise the well-being of people and the environment will also be assets that generate healthy returns too.” Clare Masters, Head of Sustainability at Quintain, who will be trialling the checklist across more than 1,000 homes at Wembley Park, adds: “It’s really important to us to ensure we continue building positive, healthy homes for our residents. We believe that the Healthy Homes Checklist will be a useful tool in helping us achieve this, which is why we’re trialling it across more than 1,000 apartments for rent at Wembley Park, using it to assess the health and well-being credentials of the newly launched Repton Gardens building as well as two further plots that are currently under construction. We believe that building healthy homes is vital to creating places to live that are fit for the future and we are pleased to be partnering with Ekkist to do so.” If you are interested in applying the Ekkist Healthy Homes Checklist in your development, or simply finding out more, get it touch at ask@ekkist.co. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leeds City Council, Lloyds Banking Group and Arup have been successful in their Green Homes Finance Accelerator Bid, to test and develop financial products for homeowners which enables building retrofit, and improve energy efficiency and comfort for residents. The new funding awarded through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) by The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, will support the delivery of the council’s commitments in the Net Zero Homes Plan, which includes establishing a simple one-stop-shop with trusted advice and available finance as a key commitment. Retrofitting homes, the process of making changes to existing buildings so that energy consumption and emissions are reduced, is a key solution in simultaneously tackling climate change and the cost-of-living crisis. Devising a solution that makes the process more straightforward and cost-effective will help homeowners and tenants reap the financial and environmental benefits of a more energy efficient home. Leeds City Council, Lloyds Bank Group and Arup, along with a number of local West Yorkshire organisations, are collaborating to lead the way in how building and energy efficiency improvements and retrofit can be delivered to homes across Leeds. With their Green Home Finance Accelerator (GHFA) grant, the consortium is actively exploring how to make retrofit more straightforward and financially attractive to homeowners. The project is initially looking to support around 1,000 households become more energy efficient and help residents save money through innovative, scalable and replicable energy efficiency, retrofit and finance products. The purpose of this scheme is to create a prototype One-Stop Shop (OSS) solution that can be replicated and scaled to allow rapid adoption across the UK. The OSS aims to provide a seamless journey for customers to find the best solutions for their home, options for installation and provide finance. Current challenges for homeowners include high cost, complexity and difficulty finding suppliers. To respond to these challenges, the consortium has identified a set of priorities which underpin the concept. These include improving the customer process; offering a targeted range of retrofit options; and financial options to pay for retrofit solutions. GHFA funding will be used to design and test a potential Property Linked Finance offer and a smart tariff technology package as part of the wider OSS retrofit project. The OSS concept aims to support customers on a whole house retrofit journey, tailored to the requirements of the property and the customer’s timescale and budget. This can be individual upgrades or whole packages. Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate, said: “Helping homeowners to access and afford energy-saving green upgrades for their own properties is a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to ending Leeds’ contribution to climate change. “That’s why developing innovative solutions which make that possible was a key commitment of the Net Zero Homes Plan that we announced earlier this year. “I am therefore delighted that the council, in collaboration with our private sector partners, has now been awarded additional funding to turn even more of our ambitious plans into reality”. Stephen Cook, Urban Energy Leader and Director from Arup, said: “We have worked closely with our partners to conduct in-depth user research which identifies what the priorities are for a project of this type. Retrofitting homes is critical at the moment as we tackle both climate change and the cost of living. “By devising a solution that makes the process more straightforward, adaptable and cost-effective, it will help encourage more homeowners and tenants reap the multiple benefits of a more efficient home”. About Department for Energy Security and Net Zero The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero provides dedicated leadership focused on delivering security of energy supply, ensuring properly functioning markets, greater energy efficiency and seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries. The funding from the Green Home Finance Accelerator comes from the department’s £1billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio which provides funding for low-carbon technologies and systems and aims to decrease the costs of decarbonisation helping enable the UK to end its contribution to climate change. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty today announces Jacobs as the new partner for its Strategic Design Partnership. The leading design, engineering and project management consultant joins Atkins and Mott MacDonald as one of Balfour Beatty’s three pre-appointed design consultants, bringing together the best design and engineering capabilities in the industry. Formed in 2017, the Strategic Design Partnership aims to re-frame the designer-contractor relationship, providing Balfour Beatty’s customers with earlier access to a co-ordinated and collaborative design and construction team with a shared vision on delivering best value solutions. The strategic partnership aims to do this through collaboration, designing solutions for complex construction and infrastructure projects in key areas such as health and safety, sustainability, social value, and Modern Methods of Construction. The announcement today builds on the success of the Strategic Design Partnership which secured the IS044001 accreditation for collaboration in 2018. Stephen Tarr, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive Officer for Major Projects Transport, Energy and Power at Balfour Beatty, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jacobs to our Strategic Design Partnership, joining together with Atkins and Mott MacDonald as we continue to re-frame the designer-contractor relationship and drive enhanced collaboration and innovation across the construction and infrastructure industry. “At Balfour Beatty, we truly believe that collaborative partnerships such as the Strategic Design Partnership have the opportunity to revolutionise our industry and must be considered as the vehicle of choice to ensure that projects are procured, designed and delivered safer, faster, better and greener.” Bruce Chalmers, Jacobs People & Places Solutions Vice President and Executive Sponsor said: “The Strategic Design Partnership enables closer integration of our collective expertise to drive efficiencies and co-create value-focused solutions for long-term transformation. “This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of UK infrastructure delivery, putting sustainability and different ways of working at the heart to build better outcomes for society and the environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nationwide refurbishment contractor, Fortis Vision, has announced that it has been recertified with its three ISO accreditations following a five-day audit. The accreditations are for ISO 9001:2015 quality management system (QMS) – a recognised world leading standard, ISO 14001:2015 – the international standard for environmental management systems (EMS) and the most widely used EMS in the world, and ISO 45001:2018 – an international standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. Obtaining these recertifications involved significant effort from the Fortis Vision team and included a – a site audit, a remote audit and three days at the office and warehouse. The team worked collaboratively to ensure management systems conformed to the requirements of the audit standard, providing procedure and policy documentations, as well as statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements. Organisation was also key to the effective implementation of the planned management system and making sure the system was meeting its specified objectives. The recertifications are every three years and verify the quality of work as well as the financial, administrative, operational and health and safety practices carried out by the company. David Borthwick, managing director at Fortis Vision, said: “This a huge achievement for Fortis Vision and our three ISO Certifications place us in a very select group of companies that prioritise best practice. “Quality and assurance have always played a vital part in the delivery of our work, which is all about continual improvement and driving innovation. Not only do these awards showcase the hard work of our team and our quality and sound practices, but they can inspire confidence in our existing and new clients as we continue to grow.” To find out more about Fortis Vision and its projects, please visit: www.fortisvision.com.
