November 20, 2023
New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor,

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Architects feel less upbeat about future workloads: RIBA Future Trends October 2023

Architects feel less upbeat about future workloads: RIBA Future Trends October 2023

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings from its latest Future Trends Survey, a monthly report of business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession.   The findings show that architects felt less upbeat about future workloads and staffing levels in October, following September’s partial recovery.  Over the next three months, practices expect workloads – across all

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Topping out ceremony marks major milestone in the development of Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge - the group’s seventh hotel in Bristol

Topping out ceremony marks major milestone in the development of Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge – the group’s seventh hotel in Bristol

Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge is located at Abbey Wood Retail Park and will create 25 new jobs  Travelodge also announces its Bristol expansion programme and is actively looking for a further four hotel sites   Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland

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YardLink ranked 41st fastest growing technology company in the UK in the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 50

YardLink ranked 41st fastest growing technology company in the UK in the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 50

The leading construction procurement platform attributes its 753% revenue growth to a fantastic team, valued customers, engaged suppliers and supportive investors YardLink, the UK’s leading construction procurement platform, today announced that it ranked 41st in the 2023 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, a ranking of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in

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Atlas Copco puts its portable air compressors through the ultimate four-stage toughness test (4 of 4)

Atlas Copco puts its portable air compressors through the ultimate four-stage toughness test (4 of 4) – watch the video!

Over the last month, Atlas Copco’s portable air compressors have survived a rock avalanche, emerged unscathed from Poseidon’s salty deluge, and survived the dusty embrace of the Sandman himself… What else could these brave units possibly be faced with?! Well, the most bone-chilling challenge has been saved ‘til last.  As

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

November 20, 2023

New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, works involved a significant extension to the existing Radiotherapy department in Leicester Royal’s Osborne Building to deliver a secure treatment facility as part of the improved health care provision for local people in the region. The £3.5m scheme commenced in the summer of 2022 and completed in August this year, with construction comprising two blocks – a radiotherapy bunker, control room and plant room, and an ancillary accommodation block, both of which connect to the existing Osborne Building via link corridors. The treatment area incorporates high security controls to prevent unauthorised access and provide a safe environment. A specialist force protection engineering consultant was appointed to review the structural design of the room and the building was also reviewed by the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA), to ensure compliance. As part of the new building’s green credentials, 32 PV panels were installed on the roof to provide power to the facility, alongside air source heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling through the building, generating fewer carbon emissions. To safely deliver construction works within the fully operational hospital site, a site-specific traffic management plan was implemented to minimise disruption and provide safe access and egress to local residents, hospital visitors and staff. A full-time logistics manager was appointed onsite to assist with the running of the car park, deliveries and to maintain a safe environment. A web-based system was utilised to plan and monitor materials deliveries in order to avoid congestion on the surrounding road networks of the busy hospital site. Social value was incorporated into the project with the site team instigating several initiatives including over 20 hours of litter picking which took place in the surrounding area to improve the environment and help make for a better experience for hospital visitors. A local supply chain was utilised on site which resulted in 77% of local labour being sourced within a 40-mile radius and 94% of all construction waste was recycled locally. As part of G F Tomlinson’s other social value commitments, the contractor provided work experience for a local student studying at a nearby college to provide them with practical experience on site.  Six apprentices were also allocated to the site for a combined total of 113 weeks. During their time at the radiotherapy facility, they had the opportunity to monitor the programme and plan works on site, manage quality assurance, supervise health and safety, and assist with the traffic management within the car park, as well as attending colleges and universities on day release programmes. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It was an honour to be part of the extension and improvement of the current [..] facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, to ensure that patients are getting the very best treatment and care possible. “We have extensive experience working in a live hospital environment and we implemented special measures during construction to ensure that the site always remained safe and accessible to patients and staff, working closely with the hospital team in achieving this. “We are very pleased that the client is happy with the quality of the build and that the enhanced, secure facility is in operation and open to the public.” Dr. Jenny Marsden, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facility which meets the requirements of various external agencies to allow us to perform our work. It provides a lovely environment for patients and staff alike. The team are looking forward to welcoming patients and giving cancer care in a bespoke environment which meets their needs. We are also very keen to develop our service in the future, which is now possible as we have space for clinical development and improvement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Architects feel less upbeat about future workloads: RIBA Future Trends October 2023

Architects feel less upbeat about future workloads: RIBA Future Trends October 2023

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the findings from its latest Future Trends Survey, a monthly report of business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession.   The findings show that architects felt less upbeat about future workloads and staffing levels in October, following September’s partial recovery.  Over the next three months, practices expect workloads – across all sectors – to fall overall, reflecting high levels of pessimism in the housing sector.  The ‘optimism gap’ between small and larger practices has also shrunk as confidence wavers among larger practices, and staffing levels are expected to drop.   Uptick in workload optimism proves short-lived  In October, the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index fell by 7 points to -8.  Over the next three months, 21% of practices expect workloads to increase, 28% expect them to decrease, and 51% expect them to stay the same.   Small practices (1-10 staff) returned a confidence figure of -9, dropping by five points, while medium (11+ staff) and large (50+ staff) practices returned a combined figure of +2 – a positive number, but a 5-point drop from last month.  All four monitored work sectors provided a negative, deteriorated outlook on future work. The outlook for the Private Housing sector fell by 15 points to -22; the Commercial sector fell by 4 points to -4; the Public sector fell by 5 points to -10; and the Community sector fell by 6 points to -7.  Regionally, only the North of England maintained a positive outlook.  Return to pessimism on staffing hits larger practices hardest  In October, the RIBA Future Trends Permanent Staffing Index fell by 5 points to -4, showing that overall, practices expect to employ fewer permanent staff.  RIBA Head of Economic Research and Analysis Adrian Malleson said:   “After last month’s partial recovery, this month’s survey results reflect a more downbeat profession.   While we can assume that the sharp downturn in potential Private Housing sector work is impacting smaller practices, larger practices are also moderating their workload expectations.   Across the board, workloads continue to feel the squeeze of planning delays, a weak UK economy, client payment delays, financing uncertainty, and increased interest rates.   Practices also report project delays caused by clients and the industry adapting to regulatory changes, such as the requirement for a second staircase for buildings over 18 metres, and the implementation of the Building Safety Act.   Nevertheless, some practices continue to report demand for their services outstripping their capacity, with full pipelines of work, and healthy levels of new enquiries. Several practices report more new enquiries after a quiet spring and summer.   We will continue to report our findings to the Government and work with other built environment bodies to monitor these trends.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Topping out ceremony marks major milestone in the development of Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge - the group’s seventh hotel in Bristol

Topping out ceremony marks major milestone in the development of Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge – the group’s seventh hotel in Bristol

Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge is located at Abbey Wood Retail Park and will create 25 new jobs  Travelodge also announces its Bristol expansion programme and is actively looking for a further four hotel sites   Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain announces it has ‘topped out’ at its new hotel development at Abbey Wood Retail Park. This is the group’s seventh hotel in Bristol. The 85-room Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge is being developed and funded by Invesco Real Estate and the scheme is being constructed by Marshalls Construction. The hotel is scheduled to open for summer trading in 2024.  The hotel is located close to the Bristol Ministry of Defence offices – which is the largest MoD office in the UK and within easy access to the M4, M5 and Bristol city centre.  Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge is being developed to the group’s new premium look and feel design – which includes all the low cost efficiencies you would expect from Travelodge but with the added benefit of thoughtful, stylish design and homely touches throughout its interiors. The hotel will also feature the group’s on-site restaurant called The Bar Cafe offering a breakfast, dinner and bar menu.  Bristol is a key growth area for Travelodge, as the group is currently searching for a further four hotel sites across the city.  This expansion programme could represent a multi-million pound investment for third party investors and create over a hundred new jobs.      Steve Bennett, Chief Property and Development Officer, Travelodge, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone in the construction of our seventh hotel in Bristol. The topping out ceremony was a great opportunity to celebrate the great work Marshall Construction is doing and to thank everyone who has supported us so far.   “We are on schedule to open our Bristol Abbey Wood Travelodge in time for summer trading in 2024. “This development is just the start of our expansion plans in Bristol. The city is growing from strength to strength and attracting record visitor numbers however there remains a shortage for good quality and low cost accommodation in Bristol. To help fill this gap, we are actively looking for a further four hotel sites across the city. This expansion programme could represent a multi-million investment for third party investors, create over a hundred new jobs and offer our customers more choice of locations to stay in Bristol.”        Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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YardLink ranked 41st fastest growing technology company in the UK in the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 50

YardLink ranked 41st fastest growing technology company in the UK in the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 50

The leading construction procurement platform attributes its 753% revenue growth to a fantastic team, valued customers, engaged suppliers and supportive investors YardLink, the UK’s leading construction procurement platform, today announced that it ranked 41st in the 2023 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, a ranking of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in the UK. Rankings are based on percentage revenue growth over the last four years. YardLink grew 753% during this period. YardLink’s CEO, Neeral Shah, said: “Back in 2018, we launched YardLink because we knew supply chain inefficiencies were an outsized cost to construction businesses. The industry had been slower to adopt digital tools, with many businesses using manual and time-consuming processes. For us, that lack of digitisation represented an opportunity for innovation.  “I’m proud to see how our team has been at the forefront of the tech revolution in the industry. Our digitisation of the supply chain has already made a huge difference to the bottom line of thousands of construction firms. I’m confident that being recognised as one of the UK’s Fast50 will pave the way for YardLink to have an even more transformational effect on the industry next year.” Kiren Asad, lead partner for the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 programme, said: “The impressive growth amongst this year’s Fast 50 companies demonstrates the continued tenacity of the UK’s technology industry, despite ongoing economic headwinds, as it cements itself amongst the top locations for venture capital investment globally. “The Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 awards acknowledge and showcase the talent and innovation of tech businesses across the country. The 50 fastest-growing UK technology companies, as ranked by Deloitte, generated £808mn in total annual revenues in the year 2022/23 and employed almost 15,000 people. The Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 recorded an average four-year growth rate of 5,473 per cent.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Atlas Copco puts its portable air compressors through the ultimate four-stage toughness test (4 of 4)

Atlas Copco puts its portable air compressors through the ultimate four-stage toughness test (4 of 4) – watch the video!

Over the last month, Atlas Copco’s portable air compressors have survived a rock avalanche, emerged unscathed from Poseidon’s salty deluge, and survived the dusty embrace of the Sandman himself… What else could these brave units possibly be faced with?! Well, the most bone-chilling challenge has been saved ‘til last.  As this series comes to a close, tune in to see a portable air compressor’s notoriously robust design and top-quality materials tested against the deep freeze of the great outdoors; after being buried in 250kg of snow, and where temperatures drop to a bone-chilling -25°C. Will it be snowed under, or will it prove itself – once and for all – the toughest of the tough?  Watch the final video of our four-part series below… Winter is coming! Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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