The largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, Panattoni, has broken ground on one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK, which will initiate the flow of a £900m investment into the economy over the next decade. Panattoni Park Swindon will comprise of 11 net zero carbon buildings totalling
Recognising Excellence in Employee Satisfaction and Engagement Employees from top Construction, Engineering & Real Estate companies such as Strata, McCarthy & Stone and Cameron Homes are amongst the 250,000 UK personnel who surveyed with Great Place to Work® UK. Using the data gathered from the research-backed and anonymous employee experience
Costain, the UK infrastructure business, has been selected by Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT Power) and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) as one of nine specialist partners for a landmark carbon capture scheme with a combined value of around £4bn. NZT Power and NEP are joint ventures involving the global
Balfour Beatty today announces that, alongside Technip Energies and GE Vernova, it has received a Letter of Intent from bp, on behalf of NZT Power Limited, to progress with the next phase of the Net Zero Teesside Power project. Net Zero Teesside Power, a joint venture between bp and Equinor,
Hartwell Plc, the automotive and property development company, has unveiled emerging designs to deliver new carbon efficient lab and workspace buildings for small and medium sized science and technology companies and amenities at Wootton Science Park to the south-west of Oxford. Hartwell has owned the park since 1975 and built
Commercial lighting manufacturer and supplier, Whitecroft Lighting, has completed a major project to install innovative LED lighting systems in almost 80 stores across the UK for electrical retailer Currys, including branches in Manchester, Birmingham and Dundee. But rather than completely replacing the outdated lights, Whitecroft used its pioneering Relight system
Export Finance Norway (Eksfin) is providing loan financing of EUR 525 mn to Ørsted of Denmark, one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers. The financing is based on the purchase of two transformer platforms from Norway’s Aibel for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm project in the UK. The
As part of its major investment project at its Burton on Trent tile plant Russell Roof Tiles is installing state-of-the-art equipment which will support the firm’s Net Zero ambitions. Russell Roof Tiles (RRT), is the leading independent manufacturer of concrete roof tiles and last year it announced a milestone £18.5m
WJ Scotland is continuing its longstanding partnership with BEAR Scotland to manage, maintain and improve the safety and sustainability of 1,928km of trunk roads in the South East and North-West. The new and enhanced South East and North West Trunk Road Network Management Contracts started in Aug 2020 and Aug
City College Plymouth has won its bid to become part of a pioneering initiative to equip people with the skills to enter the nuclear industry. The College has gained approval to join the National College for Nuclear (NCfN) network, positioning itself as one of just two providers in the South West. Alongside Bridgwater &
The largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, Panattoni, has broken ground on one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK, which will initiate the flow of a £900m investment into the economy over the next decade. Panattoni Park Swindon will comprise of 11 net zero carbon buildings totalling 7.2 million sq ft, of brand new advanced real estate space, fit for logistics, manufacturing and data centre uses. The formal ground breaking ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, Swindon’s Members of Parliament, Rt Hon Robert Buckland MP and Justin Tomlinson MP, and Panattoni CEO for Europe and India and Co-Founder, Robert Dobrzycki, Managing Director for UK, Matthew Byrom, and Head of Development, Southern England & London, James Watson. Speaking at the event, Mr Sunak said: “What we are able to celebrate today is one of the largest investments in the south, one of the largest development sites in the south, that is going to create thousands and thousands of jobs and that is fantastic for the local area. A huge vote of confidence, not just in the UK economy but in the local area in particular. I don’t think this would have happened without the efforts of everyone involved including our two MPs here and what it means is that everyone here can look forward to a brighter future. The economy has been through, of course, a tough couple of years but I believe we have turned a corner and announcements like this show that our plan is working.” Panattoni Park Swindon is committed to its environmental responsibility, achieving net zero carbon in construction, BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification, EPC A+ and 10% net gain biodiversity. The site benefits from detailed planning consent for a single unit of 1.25 million sq ft and outline planning permission for the whole park. The proposals will generate thousands of new employment opportunities, including up to 7,000 new jobs on site and 9,000 indirect jobs in the supply chain over the next 10 years. Speaking on behalf of Panattoni, Matthew Byrom, Managing Director, said: “It was great to welcome the Prime Minister today to unveil the ground breaking of Panattoni Park Swindon. What our commitment today of $1.15bn (£900m) into this project demonstrates, is that the UK post-Brexit remains a highly attractive place to invest; with its stable economy and political backdrop, it gives our capital certainty that our investment is secure. We are confident that this significant level of inward investment will lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs and have a substantive ‘ripple out’ effect to both the local and regional economy. Panattoni Park Swindon will deliver around 7,500 new jobs which is twice the number afforded by the site when it was closed by Honda in July 2021. There are also likely to be many additional opportunities for primary and secondary suppliers. By any measure, this project is a huge vote of confidence for the region and the fundamentals that underpin the UK economy.” Infrastructure and demolition works have commenced and the construction for the speculative phase of development will begin later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Recognising Excellence in Employee Satisfaction and Engagement Employees from top Construction, Engineering & Real Estate companies such as Strata, McCarthy & Stone and Cameron Homes are amongst the 250,000 UK personnel who surveyed with Great Place to Work® UK. Using the data gathered from the research-backed and anonymous employee experience surveys, Great Place To Work has announced its annual UK’s Best Workplaces™ list. Construction, Engineering & Real Estate companies featured in this year’s list include: Each entered business is studied against a thorough and rigorous criteria, to rank and reveal which workplaces earn a place on the 2024 list revealed last night at Grovesnor House by comedian Katherine Ryan. Taking into account both culture audits and employees’ perspectives from a whole variety of industries and company sizes, respondents covered all levels of the workforce – from frontline workers to CEOs. Each person shared confidential feedback with Great Place To Work UK about what it’s really like to work for their organisation, their leaders, and with their colleagues – and what exactly makes these employers the best of the best. The Construction, Engineering & Real Estate companies included in the survey scored 88% overall against the survey statement ‘Our executives fully embody the best characteristics of our company’, this is 35% higher than the UK average reported in a 2023 UK population study by Great Place to Work UK. McCarthy & Stone (who rank 41 out of 50 companies in the Super Large category) saw 89% of employees agree with the statement ‘Taking everything into account, I would say this is a great place to work’, beating the typical UK construction, engineering & real estate company by 16%. Overall, the survey data told Great Place To Work® UK that employers shouldn’t underestimate the power of fun at work! Fun along with great management are key factors to them when rating their workplace. Analysis of employee survey responses overall highlights the key conditions that, according to staff, set the best workplaces apart: Fun is more than fluff: Employees are warning organisations not to underestimate the power of fun and its impact on their job satisfaction, advocacy, loyalty and retention. Best Workplaces don’t just hire a good culture fit and hope for the best – they actively work to advance social connections and a solid sense of fellowship amongst colleagues across all teams and levels of seniority. At Best Workplaces, 86% of employees agree theirs “is a fun place to work” (vs. the UK average of only 65%). Great management is key to employees’ wellbeing and intent to stay: Employees who believe management shows a genuine interest in them as people, and not just employees, are 7X more likely to recommend the organisation to family and friends as ‘a great place to work’ than those whose managers fail to do so. They’re also 7X more likely to feel the organisation is a psychologically and emotionally healthy place to work, which significantly impacts their wellbeing and intent to stay with the company – and, in turn, the business’ overall performance. Culture is a key predictor of financial success: E.g. DHL Express – ranked third in the Super Large size category on this year’s List; was the No. 2 World’s Best Workplace™; and ranked 20 on the Fortune 500 Europe. The logistics giant is proof that great culture can be achieved even in a massive corporation within an industry widely perceived to be high-stress and low-fun for its frontline workers. “Every company says that people are at the centre of everything they do,” says John Pearson, Global CEO of DHL Express. “But only if you live that out authentically, and can point to dozens of proof points that demonstrate it, then they’re not just words.” Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director, Great Place To Work UK, said: “Merging purpose and profit in a people-centric culture will become even more critical to organisational success in 2024. Increasingly, UK employees are demanding more flexibility, more fun, and more opportunities for growth at the places they work. This is more than just a trend: our year-long evaluation of over 250,000 anonymous employee surveys, and countless business trends, proves it is a powerful shift towards more organisations adopting this holistic approach to business. Market leaders are recognising that success can no longer be measured merely in financial terms – the wellbeing, engagement, and trust of every individual is what truly drives an organisation forward. “In Best Workplaces, employees agree that every individual is seen not only as an asset, but also as a valued contributor. Their voice is not just heard, it’s actively sought. Feedback is assessed, addressed, and promises are delivered. These are not just great workplaces for some, they’re for all.” These companies also have the chance of being celebrated in the upcoming UK’s Best Workplaces in Construction, Engineering & Real Estate™ list this September, for more information of how to apply visit: https://www.greatplacetowork.co.uk/best-workplaces/construction To see best practices, insider interviews and the full list of the Best Workplaces™ 2024 please visit: www.greatplacetowork.co.uk/uks-best-workplaces Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costain, the UK infrastructure business, has been selected by Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT Power) and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) as one of nine specialist partners for a landmark carbon capture scheme with a combined value of around £4bn. NZT Power and NEP are joint ventures involving the global energy leader, bp. Costain’s involvement with NZT Power, NEP and their partners is to oversee and manage the engineering procurement and construction of the onshore CO2 gathering system and associated utilities serving the East Coast Cluster. Costain is a recognised leader in energy infrastructure and in shaping energy transition solutions through its leading process design and programme management expertise. It has been involved in carbon capture projects since the 1960s and recently completed the front-end engineering design (FEED) for important elements of the landmark Teesside decarbonisation project. Sam White, managing director for natural resources at Costain, added: “This award is a testament to Costain’s position as a leading infrastructure solutions provider for the UK’s energy transition goals. Having completed delivery of the FEED stage, we continue to support bp as it progresses the wider decarbonisation of the local energy supply and pursues innovative carbon capture and storage solutions. “We are committed to improving critical infrastructure in the North-East of England and we are creating jobs and developing skills across the region. This includes delivering major upgrades to the region’s highways, as well as our recent AMP8 award with Northumbrian Water Group to upgrade both its wastewater and water treatment infrastructure that will improve people’s lives while safeguarding the environment.” NZT Power, a joint venture between bp and Equinor, could generate up to 860 megawatts of flexible, low-carbon power equivalent to the average electricity requirements of around 1.3m UK homes. Up to 2m tonnes of CO2 per year would be captured at the plant, and then transported and securely stored by the NEP in subsea storage sites beneath the North Sea. NEP, a joint venture between bp, Equinor, and TotalEnergies, is the CO2 transportation and storage provider for the East Coast Cluster (ECC). The Teesside onshore NEP infrastructure would serve the Teesside-based carbon capture projects – NZT Power, H2Teesside and Teesside Hydrogen CO2 Capture – that were selected for first connection to the ECC by DESNZ in March 2023 as part of the UK’s cluster sequencing process for carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS). It is anticipated that around 4m tonnes of CO2 per year from these projects would be transported and stored from 2027. Laura Hughes, energy sector director at Costain, commented: “This is a transformational project that will have an enormously positive impact on the region. The successful delivery of the project will require a tremendous team effort, and we are looking forward to contributing our unique expertise in engineering and delivery. Teesside will gain an outstanding, integrated decarbonisation system, with the East Coast Cluster set to be the pioneer as schemes are rolled out across the UK.” Ian Hunter, managing director Net Zero Teesside Power, said: “The selection of contractors is a major step forward for Net Zero Teesside Power. We have selected world-class partners who have the experience and capability needed to deliver. We aim to take final investment decision in September 2024 or before, after which we’d look forward to working with our EPC partners through the construction phase.” Chris Daykin, general manager, Northern Endurance Partnership, said: “The selection of contractors is a clear signal of momentum within the East Coast Cluster. The Northern Endurance Partnership’s CO2 pipelines are essential to connect carbon intensive projects to offshore storage and would play an important role in helping the region pursue its net zero plan.” The contracts are all subject to the receipt of regulatory clearances and final investment decisions (FID) being taken in September 2024 or earlier. Following FID, the projects would be aiming for commercial operations from 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty today announces that, alongside Technip Energies and GE Vernova, it has received a Letter of Intent from bp, on behalf of NZT Power Limited, to progress with the next phase of the Net Zero Teesside Power project. Net Zero Teesside Power, a joint venture between bp and Equinor, is poised to become one of the world’s first commercial scale gas-fired power stations with carbon capture, expected to capture up to 2 million tonnes of CO2 per year. The project is set to provide flexible, dispatchable low-carbon power equivalent to the average electricity requirements of around 1.3 million UK homes. In partnership with Technip Energies and GE Vernova, Balfour Beatty will construct a highly efficient combined-cycle plant, integrated with a state-of-the-art carbon capture plant using Technip Energies’ Canopy by T.ENTM solution powered by the Shell CANSOLV® CO2 capture technology. Balfour Beatty will bring its deep domain knowledge and unique, end-to-end multidisciplinary capabilities to deliver this landmark project, including the company’s industrial mechanical and electrical (M&E) heritage, utilising modular construction techniques to build the M&E equipment and plant rooms off-site, in a controlled factory setting. Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, said: “Today’s announcement takes us a step closer to realising one of the world’s first commercial scale gas-fired power stations with carbon capture. It’s a significant milestone in delivering the critical infrastructure needed to transition the UK to Net Zero. “Balfour Beatty’s market leading capabilities, underpinned by our unrivalled experience and proven track record in delivering complex infrastructure projects, means we are perfectly positioned to support the delivery of this critical project alongside Technip Energies and GE Vernova – proving on the world-stage that the UK is primed and ready to lead the way in decarbonising our industrial footprint.” Arnaud Pieton, CEO of Technip Energies, commented, “Our selection for the Net Zero Teesside Power project is a testament to Technip Energies growing leadership position as an integrated state-of-the-art CCUS solutions provider. By capturing up to 2 million tonnes of CO2 at a large power plant, we collectively rise to the challenge of scale by providing sustainable and available energy at a large scale. With our partners GE Vernova and Balfour Beatty, we are honoured to contribute to this flagship project that supports bp and the UK in their goal of developing one of the first decarbonised industrial clusters in the world.” Maví Zingoni, CEO, Power at GE Vernova commented: “The development of Net Zero Teesside Power, one of the world’s first commercial scale gas-fired power stations with carbon capture, marks a huge step towards supporting the UK government’s commitment to fully decarbonise its power system by 2035. GE Vernova will help bring proven expertise in natural gas combined cycle plant engineering, operability, and full-scale integration to support carbon abatement for this project. We believe post-combustion carbon capture can play a crucial role in reducing emissions and ensuring dispatchable power in the future.” Balfour Beatty’s selection follows the recent granting of the Development Consent Order by the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with the project shortlisted for UK Government funding. Final contract award will be subject to receipt of regulatory clearances and final investment decisions (FID) being taken in September 2024 or earlier. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hartwell Plc, the automotive and property development company, has unveiled emerging designs to deliver new carbon efficient lab and workspace buildings for small and medium sized science and technology companies and amenities at Wootton Science Park to the south-west of Oxford. Hartwell has owned the park since 1975 and built the first office building in 2005. It has recently practically completed Origin, a two-storey CL2 laboratory building. The proposed £35 million Scott Brownrigg-designed masterplan will deliver circa 106,233 sq ft (9,869 sq m) across five new commercial buildings along with connected amenities and facilities for future employees and the surrounding community, which will include high quality landscaped areas, secure bike storage, a bistro and gym. The landscape architecture and ecology designs have included carefully planned green spaces, sustainable features, and intentional coexistence with the surrounding natural environment. Cycle storage and car parking will be provided in accordance with the highway’s authority. James Hilton, property director, Hartwell Plc said: “With an unprecedented increase in the University of Oxford’s spinout companies involved in life sciences, quantum, AI, sustainability and more, we believe that the park’s future lies in answering the demand for high-quality grow-on lab and workspace and providing amenities to not only support those working here in their innovation and discovery, but also the wider community. “Our masterplanning work has focused on creating a well-rounded environment that caters to both physical and social needs, enhancing the working environment, and promoting wellbeing for all those who work here and visit. “The masterplan in both the construction and occupation phases will deliver jobs while fostering innovation and creating a new place for the whole community. We encourage the community to find out more about our plans and to have their say.” The public consultation opens online on Monday 18 March 2024 until Thursday 18 April 2024. An in-person public consultation event is to be held on Thursday 21 March 2024 from 4pm to 8pm in Origin at Wootton Science Park. Wootton Science Park is accessed by the A420 or A34 and is well located for Oxford, the county’s many science and business parks. The consultant team is Scott Brownrigg, Gerald Eve, IMA, Macfarlane and Associates, Aspect Ecology and Hoare Lea. View the exhibition boards and have your say: www.wootton.science/haveyoursay Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commercial lighting manufacturer and supplier, Whitecroft Lighting, has completed a major project to install innovative LED lighting systems in almost 80 stores across the UK for electrical retailer Currys, including branches in Manchester, Birmingham and Dundee. But rather than completely replacing the outdated lights, Whitecroft used its pioneering Relight system to reuse as much of each store’s existing lighting infrastructure as possible. This reduces the huge amounts of waste normally generated by major electrical refits, an important requirement for Currys as part of its 2040 Roadmap to Net-Zero strategy, which sets out how the company is reducing the carbon it produces. Whitecroft’s Relight low-energy LED lights have been installed in customer showrooms, office areas and even car parks, enabling Currys to reduce its energy consumption, helping to further cut its carbon emissions and shrink its electricity bills. Tom Gardener, Senior Facilities Manager for Currys, explains the rationale for the project: “Due to the sharp rise in energy costs in recent years, our business cases for lighting energy efficiency were flying through, particularly as the quickening returns on investment were suddenly very attractive. “Change was also driven by forthcoming legislation banning certain fluorescent lighting which sharpened our focus on how we can remove and replace some types of lighting from our estate. “Working with Whitecroft Lighting and learning about its approach to circularity – reusing and recycling materials – has been a very positive experience. We were impressed with the short and longer-term material and labour cost benefits of Relight, but we didn’t fully appreciate the carbon saving value until we worked on the product. “Our new lighting not only improved our energy efficiency but also our approach to circularity and reusing existing infrastructure. This helped to increase energy efficiency and reduce wasted carbon.” In total 77 Currys stores, mostly bigger out-of-town branches, were refitted across the UK by Whitecroft in a project that took just six months to complete. Richard Williams, Commercial Manager at Whitecroft Lighting, says the retailer’s approach to sustainability made Relight the perfect solution for the project. He says: “Currys had a clear approach to embedding circularity in its retail operation and was already a big recycler of consumer electrical goods. However, we saw an opportunity to extend this ethos beyond retail to its lighting by reducing waste in its facilities management. “While the latest LEDs would reduce operational carbon by around 40% through increasing energy efficiency, the circular approach to reusing materials, such as ceiling suspension materials and cabling, would also lower the embodied carbon, which are the emissions generated from the sourcing, manufacturing, installation and eventual disposal of products and materials.” This approach to creating a more sustainable approach by reusing and recycling material, often referred to as the Circular Economy, is being embraced more and more by businesses, builders and suppliers as the UK aims to meet stretching Net-Zero targets. In fact, the success of the Whitecroft Lighting project has helped shape Currys view of circularity. Tom Gardener continues: “Whitecroft’s Relight approach to circularity has certainly influenced facilities management at Currys, and we now expect suppliers to be clearer on type 1 and 2 emissions, and our larger T1 suppliers must report data on their own waste and travel. “Our facilities managers now increasingly factor sustainability into supplier questioning, as well as the overall performance review of all our suppliers for a project: do they fit with our direction of travel as a business, do they buy into it, or are they just paying lip-service to it?” Whitecroft Lighting is part of the Fagerhult Group, has 370 employees and turns over £55m. The company undertakes all R&D, product design and manufacturing in its UK HQ and neighbouring 10,000 sqm manufacturing facility. To find out more about Whitecroft Lighting Ltd visit www.whitecroftlighting.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Export Finance Norway (Eksfin) is providing loan financing of EUR 525 mn to Ørsted of Denmark, one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers. The financing is based on the purchase of two transformer platforms from Norway’s Aibel for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm project in the UK. The transaction increases Eksfin’s total offshore wind financing to nearly EUR 3.5 bn. Hornsea 3, situated off the Norfolk/South Yorkshire coast, will be the world’s single largest wind farm. It is expected to generate a minimum of 2.9 GW of electricity when in operation in 2027, enough to supply around three million homes with clean energy. It will be Ørsted’s third gigawatt-scale project in the Hornsea zone following Hornsea 1 (1.2 GW) and Hornsea 2 (1.3 GW), which are already in operation. Promoting Norwegian exports Building large offshore wind farms is capital intensive. Partnering with banks, Eksfin offers state-backed loans and guarantees directly to developers based on the purchase of equipment and services from Norway. The financing for Ørsted, together with last year’s EUR 45mn financing for Spanish energy companyt Iberdrola, falls into this category. Offshore wind is currently the main driver for the Norwegian supply industry’s strong growth in renewables. Norwegian companies specialise in platform construction, cable laying and maritime installations and have secured major export contracts. In 2022, the Norwegian offshore wind industry had an international market share of 7.5 per cent. The Norwegian government’s target for the Norwegian offshore wind industry is a world-wide market share of 10 per cent by 2030. Increased focus in the UK Ørsted currently manages 12 wind farms in the UK, which is one of the world’s most mature offshore wind markets backed by broad political support and the provision of Contracts for Difference (CfDs) that lock in a minimum price for green electricity. Ørsted secured attractive CfDs for Hornsea 3 with a duration of 15 years. The UK government’s ambition is to have 50 GW of offshore wind in operation by 2030 and to be net zero by 2050, requiring a total of between 65 and 125 GW of installed renewable power. This makes it a key market for Norwegian offshore wind suppliers going forward, and by default for Eksfin. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As part of its major investment project at its Burton on Trent tile plant Russell Roof Tiles is installing state-of-the-art equipment which will support the firm’s Net Zero ambitions. Russell Roof Tiles (RRT), is the leading independent manufacturer of concrete roof tiles and last year it announced a milestone £18.5m investment programme, which should be complete by later in 2024. Part of the project includes the installation of new state of the art Skako Concrete ‘High Silo’ batching plant, complete with AM2250 planetary mixer to facilitate increased concrete roof tile production. Installation should be complete by Easter. This whole project is the largest single investment since Russell Roof Tiles was acquired (from Cemex) in 2011 by Crown Global Equity, which manufactures concrete roof tiles in the US and Mexico. Since then, the UK company has seen £17.3m invested in its three sites, continuing to increase efficiencies and capacity to meet demand. Not only is the new batching plant being installed whilst the tile plant continues to manufacture but it will have increased efficiencies as well as sustainable benefits such as a water reclamation and refiltering system, that allows for recycling of all wash water, including using wash water from the factory. This will reduce the firm’s use of fresh water, and significantly reduce waste. Russell Roof Tiles has been actively seeking ways to reduce its environmental impact, including investing in more energy-efficient equipment, optimising its production processes, and sourcing more sustainable materials as part of its Net Zero pledge, to ensure the company becomes carbon neutral by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Government’s timeline. The new Skako Concrete batching plant replaces Russell Roof Tiles old and inefficient 1990’s batching plant and concrete mixer and was designed to meet increased production demand as well as allow for further capacity increases in the future. The much larger volume system will be able to handle the sand, cement, and pigment needed to feed a new mixing plant and in-turn roof tile production line. The challenge for the company was to ensure that installation of the new batching plant did not interfere with currently tile production on site in Burton on Trent. Bruce Laidlaw, Operations Director at Russell Roof Tiles said: “It is important that we continue to focus on efficiencies and sustainability across this major project, looking at market leading environmental options throughout the new facility. For example, this type of mixer is up to 20 per cent more energy efficient than alternatives available. He added “Other energy efficiencies include using gravity to feed sand into the mixer below. Over time this saves a huge amount of energy moving sand. The Skako Concrete solution of holding such amount of sand above the mixer has allowed for the footprint to be compressed and thus install the full equipment within a much smaller area.” Further benefits of the new equipment will include 2 x 100T cement silo’s allowing for more flexibility in receiving cement deliveries, allowing RRT to take volume cement deliveries around the clock and avoiding peak traffic times. Utilising the latest technology, the system also provides remote operating from the factory floor, as well as remote diagnostics to minimise down time. The project installation has been managed by Skako Concrete, fully utilising their UK and European team. The project has been complex due to the continued operation of the production facility and site throughout the works. In addition, much of the work has been completed during the winter months, which has added to its complexity. Gareth Hulcup, SKAKO Concrete Sales Manager for the UK and Irish markets said: “The installation of the new batching plant has been the culmination of many months of meticulous planning by all stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of the new plant on site. We would like to thank Andrew Hayward, Bruce and all at Russell Roof Tiles for the opportunity to provide our solutions for the redevelopment of the site at Burton and contribute to their Net Zero pledge”. Russell Roof Tiles is a leading independent pitched roof tile manufacturer supplying products for the top housebuilders and high-profile social housing and commercial projects. The company produces thousands of tiles every week that are used on roofs across the UK, for all of the UK’s premier housebuilders, social housing projects, architects and developers. www.russellrooftiles.com @russellrooftile www.skako.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
WJ Scotland is continuing its longstanding partnership with BEAR Scotland to manage, maintain and improve the safety and sustainability of 1,928km of trunk roads in the South East and North-West. The new and enhanced South East and North West Trunk Road Network Management Contracts started in Aug 2020 and Aug 2022 respectively and run for 8 years, with the possibility of further extensions up to 4 years. WJ will continue to collaborate with BEAR on road improvement projects to promote the safety of all road users. This follows a successful working relationship spanning more than five years on previous contracts, which has seen 827 tonnes of Weatherline Plus laid on roads stretching across Scotland. As a result, this has significantly helped improve visibility and safety on the network, where notable examples include the A96 (Keith to Inverness), the A95 (Aviemore to Keith), and the M90 from Junction 6 to Broxden from when BEAR Scotland managed and maintained the North East Unit. During the five-year partnership, WJ Group have also supported BEAR Scotland with a ground-breaking initiative called PRIME (Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment) aimed at improving road safety for motorcyclists. Over a three-year trial period, 22 sites on the A83, A84 and A85 received new road markings known as ‘gates’ to encourage riders to drive through them, leading to safer lane positioning around bends. Analysing 32,000 motorcyclists, the markings lead to a significant reduction in user speed with no bike collisions occurring at any of the sites, resulting in the project winning the Road Safety Scheme of the Year and Judges Special Merit Award at the Highways Awards 2023, the 20 year anniversary. The partnership has also delivered community benefit projects – a key emphasis for BEAR Scotland moving forward – through WJ’s Thinking Community initiative, which makes a positive impact on local people, clients and the supply chain. “It’s a pleasure to continue working with WJ” said Iain Murray, Managing Director of BEAR Scotland. “They meet programme expectations and deliver a quality service. Not only that, but they also go above and beyond to balance increasing road safety needs with our social value and sustainability objectives. The team is dependable, and we are confident they will continue to be a valuable partner in the delivery of high-level services that focus on people and the environment.” The partnership extension coincides with BEAR Scotland’s recently launched plans to create a new approach to delivering road safety improvements. This will be done by incorporating public protection goals into every project, to help reduce the number of people killed or injured on roads. It’s likely this will involve the continued implementation of WJ’s award-winning high-performance road marking, Weatherline Plus, which is manufactured using biogenic resin, rather than the traditionally used hydrocarbon resin. This will help BEAR Scotland meet its net zero target, as Weatherline Plus delivers verifiable carbon savings of approximately 80%. Brian Smith, General Manager at WJ Scotland, said: “We have built a fantastic relationship with BEAR Scotland and are delighted to continue to develop this over the eight-year Network Management Contracts. Safety remains vitally important and we’re proud to deliver products and collaborate on projects that focus on this. On top of that, sustainability is front of mind, and we’re committed to innovation in this area. “It was also fantastic to collaborate with BEAR on their first Knowledge Exchange Day earlier this year, demonstrating our ThermoPrint and shot blasting machines. It was a very insightful day including presentations from our Group Sustainability Advisor on WJ’s net zero strategy, our National Specification Manager on retexturing and its benefits, and our partners at Clearview Intelligence on solar road studs.” Iain Murray added: “Delivering sustainable road design is extremely important to us so partnering with an organisation that so clearly cares about this too is incredible. We look forward to the future of this partnership and seeing projects come to fruition.” For more information, please visit www.wj.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City College Plymouth has won its bid to become part of a pioneering initiative to equip people with the skills to enter the nuclear industry. The College has gained approval to join the National College for Nuclear (NCfN) network, positioning itself as one of just two providers in the South West. Alongside Bridgwater & Taunton College, it will play a crucial role in equipping individuals with the essential skills required to contribute to the growth of the evolving nuclear sector. The NCfN is a cornerstone of the Government’s response to nuclear skills provision, and the College will help meet the capacity and capability employers in the sector need. The College had to go through a rigorous process to win the right to be part of the network. It means that by September the College will deliver a nuclear skills suite of programmes that meet the needs of our local, regional and national organisations across both the defence and power generation (civil) nuclear sectors. The UK’s nuclear sector is growing rapidly, with numbers in the civil and defence workforce estimated to double over the next 20 years, bringing around 80,000 additional jobs across the UK. The Government has recognised an urgent need to ramp up recruitment activity in the sector, but also that developing people’s skills in a wide range of disciplines which feed into the nuclear sector is needed if demand is to be met. Jackie Grubb, Chief Executive of City College Plymouth, said the programmes would focus on the careers and jobs within the nuclear sector, providing students with access to world-class learning opportunities that enhance their skills relevant to the industry. She added: “City College Plymouth actively collaborates with the defence sector, equipping this essential workforce with the necessary skills for safeguarding our nation’s at-sea security. Recognising the critical role played by our nuclear submarine fleet, the College is committed to providing comprehensive training covering all aspects of this highly sophisticated machinery, including its intricate nuclear power system. “As a proud member of the National College for Nuclear network, we will gain valuable insights into the specific requirements for delivering both nuclear-related skills and comprehensive expertise to meet the demands of our defence sector. We will be able to exchange best practices through working closely with Bridgewater & Taunton College to ensure that our workforce is thoroughly prepared and capable of addressing the challenges posed by the evolving needs of our national defence.” Andy Berry, Principal & CEO of Bridgwater & Taunton College said: “It is an incredibly exciting time for the nuclear sector in the South West. City College Plymouth joining the National College for Nuclear significantly strengthens the response to the civil and nuclear defence projects. Working together, FE can respond to the growing need for high-skilled people in the nuclear sector. We have a long-established close working relationship with City College Plymouth, and we are delighted they have become a member of NCfN, which will take it to the next level as we continue to collaborate on exciting skills challenges.” Jenny Ashworth, Managing Director at the National College for Nuclear said: “We are delighted to welcome City College Plymouth to the NCfN family. At such an exciting and vital time for the nuclear and zero carbon sectors, we are thrilled to build upon the NCfN network with such a pioneering and dynamic institution such as City College Plymouth. We look forward to working closely with the team there to further build upon our ability to build a competent and agile workforce for the sector”. The Government has also launched a campaign called Destination Nuclear, working with partners to fill critical skills gaps in the nuclear industry. The ambition is for nuclear power to generate a quarter of the UK’s electricity by 2050. Plus, the Government has recently announced that one of the UK’s ballistic submarines, HMS Victorious, will be modernised in Plymouth by Babcock International under a new £560m contract. The move – announced by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps – will create around 1,000 jobs in the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
