FOLLOWING the announcement that the Prime Minister has pledged £60m of funding for next year to boost apprenticeships, Lee Parkinson, chief executive at Efficiency North, the holding group for flexi-job apprenticeship service EN:Able Futures, shares his thoughts on what this means for the construction sector. Lee said: “We welcome the
Development on America Street, SE1 will see the renovation and redevelopment of four railway arches into new repurposed spaces suitable for a range of uses. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has confirmed that it has been appointed by new customer
THE 55 Group – a market-leading built environment software and services business – will now be known as Pagabo Group, with a new group identity taking the lead from the group’s most widely-recognised service, Pagabo. The move comes as the company celebrates its biggest year to date, reporting growth across
Oldham Council is inviting businesses to tender for a £1.2 million contract to deliver a major new solar farm in the borough. The site at Wrigley Head, Failsworth, is the council’s first solar farm and is a key project in our Green New Deal – our strategy to make Oldham
Responding to the publication of National Grid ESO’s investment plan, detailed in the report ‘Beyond 2030’, Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive, Energy Networks Association, said; “This plan is an important step in upgrading our grid, which is vital if we are to support greater electrification, the use of more low carbon
Deal with Knight Property Group is one of Scotland’s largest industrial transactions in the past year Wincanton, a leading supply chain partner for UK business, today announces that it is expanding its Scottish operations, with establishment of a new distribution centre, strategically located in the heart of Scotland’s ‘golden triangle’.
Costain, the UK infrastructure business, has reached an important milestone in its gas distribution network upgrade programme with Cadent. Costain is replacing approximately 340km of gas main line each year in Cadent’s East of England network, the largest of Cadent’s five gas networks across the UK. Through working collaboratively with
SLR CONSULTING is opening doors at a new office located in Holborn, London, as the environmental and sustainability consultancy expands its footprint to accommodate ongoing organic growth and further recent business acquisitions. Following the strategic acquisitions of Carnstone, IBIS Consulting, ITPEnergised and RCS Global, the consultancy’s regional headcount now stands at
Building DC4 at Prologis Park Wrocław III is the largest speculative facility in Prologis’ history in Poland, covering an area of 50,000 square meters. Its modern warehouse and production spaces respond to the growing needs and expectations of customers in the region. Meanwhile, a location close to the airport and
Mace has been appointed by Norfolk County Council (NCC) as Principal Contractor to deliver improvements on over one hundred properties across the region under the Future Ready (FR) Property Enhancement Initiative. The initiative will focus on modernising the Council’s property portfolio through a comprehensive program to ensure long-term cost savings,
FOLLOWING the announcement that the Prime Minister has pledged £60m of funding for next year to boost apprenticeships, Lee Parkinson, chief executive at Efficiency North, the holding group for flexi-job apprenticeship service EN:Able Futures, shares his thoughts on what this means for the construction sector. Lee said: “We welcome the announcement that apprenticeships are getting not only the financial boost they need, but the attention in the media and wider government. As a flexi-job apprenticeship provider, we are passionate about supporting the construction skills gap. “The latest government data shows that 24,530 new apprentices were taken on in the construction sector between 2022-23, down from the 26,060 recorded the previous year (2021-22). This decrease could be attributed to the sheer amount of red tape businesses need to navigate in order to take on an apprentice, which is even harder, if not impossible for SMEs, coupled with the expense. “From April 1, the government will fully fund apprenticeships in small businesses, compared to organisations previously being required to fund the training aspect, a move which is expected to see an increase of 20,000 apprenticeships across all industries. Having supported many construction SMEs in hosting an apprentice, cost is a huge factor, particularly in the current challenging economic climate, so we hope to see this make a big impact. “Making a variety of routes to the industry viable and attractive to people is essential to tackling the skills gap, in addition to showcasing the range of options available to employers looking to future-proof their workforce. “However, the news today is only impacting those up to 21 years old. While many apprentices fall into this age category, there are a lot of others we don’t want to discourage from a career in construction by introducing upper age limits of 21. At any age you can train or retain to become an asset to the industry, so we’d like to see more inclusive opportunities go a step further. “Furthermore, the government might consider simplifying Digital Apprenticeship Service accounts to aid the uptake of apprenticeships by SME and bolder steps are needed to fund in part or in full some apprenticeships for SMEs, which would certainly catalyze their uptake. “That being said, this is a fantastic start that includes other benefits such as those who are paying the apprenticeship levy being able to share up to 50% of their funds, an increase of 25%. Equally important is the requirement for reporting to be simplified, supporting SMEs in removing those barriers. Overall, it’s a positive move and one that will further our work as a flexi-job apprenticeship provider helping more host businesses and apprentices. We’re looking forward to seeing the impact.” To find out more about EN:Able Futures, please visit: https://www.efficiencynorth.org/futures/find-an-apprenticeship Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Development on America Street, SE1 will see the renovation and redevelopment of four railway arches into new repurposed spaces suitable for a range of uses. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has confirmed that it has been appointed by new customer The Arch Company –to redevelop four railway arches situated on America Street, SE1. The project will see the renovation and revitalisation of the existing arches into space designed for businesses to thrive. The scope of works encompasses demolition, groundworks, fire rated façade installation, waterproofing, a new substation and extensive sustainable fit-out. The investment will breathe new life into neglected spaces and provide a blank canvas for restaurants, cafes, bars, and other leisure businesses looking to contribute to the local community and economy. The redevelopment is part of The Arch Company’s £200m development plan, Project 1000, which aims to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. Works onsite commenced during February and are expected to be completed by the summer. Commenting on the appointment, Glencar CEO Eddie McGillycuddy said: “We are very happy to be working for The Arch Company for the first time and to be working on the revitalisation of these historic viaduct structures into repurposed spaces for business to develop and thrive. In restoring these arches, a key priority set out in the project scope was to deliver a development that meets today’s ever increasing high sustainability standards. Energy efficient elements of the restoration will also include the re-lining of all arch spaces, new insulated floor slabs suitable for restaurant use and the installation of new LED lighting and glazed front infills” We look forward to working closely with the full project team and once again seeing our special projects team at work”. Craig McWilliam, CEO at The Arch Company, said: “We’re investing £2.5m into these spaces to provide much needed additional commercial space suitable for leisure use. Repurposing these arches is part of our ongoing programme to create fit for purpose spaces in which businesses can thrive. Glencar’s special project division comes with a significant pedigree and we look forward to seeing them in action”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
THE 55 Group – a market-leading built environment software and services business – will now be known as Pagabo Group, with a new group identity taking the lead from the group’s most widely-recognised service, Pagabo. The move comes as the company celebrates its biggest year to date, reporting growth across its four key brands – Pagabo, Sypro, Loop, and Tequ. Pagabo Group has enjoyed a fantastic 12 months with key metrics like project value and volume, and employee numbers increasing, the second of which actually doubled in size since March 2020. Recruitment is only set to continue for the group too, with a number of roles currently live and more due later this year. Procurement framework provider Pagabo also enjoyed increased framework output and throughput, thanks to several significant framework offerings hitting key milestones. This includes introducing a dedicated mechanical and electrical solutions framework, as well as announcing the renewal of its biggest framework covering professional services providers and a brand-new offering specifically for decarbonisation schemes – both of which are set to announce successful suppliers in the next month. Simon Toplass, group CEO for Pagabo Group, said: “While our name is changing, the way in which we work and the service we provide will continue to adapt to the needs of our clients and customers. We are immensely proud of our industry-leading reputation, whether that be procuring construction works, managing contracts and asset risks, evaluating social impact or improving learning processes, we are focused on creating simplicity and efficiency for our clients – and on giving back. “What we do with Pagabo’s frameworks is a prime example of this. As that business grows, so does the amount of money returned to the contracting authorities of our frameworks – allowing them to put the money from those rebates into key causes like funding dedicated mental health resources or free school meals in schools to creating life-changing opportunities to disadvantaged pupils. “The success of the past year is testimony to the hard work and dedication of our growing staff base, as well as the quality of the services we offer. It has allowed us to put more staff benefits in place, looking after those that really drive forward our success. This includes private pension and healthcare schemes as we continue to move with the times and ensure supporting those who drive our success is central to our culture.” Pivotal changes in the past year have resulted in the best revenue year to date for Sypro’s Contract Manager, with an increasing number of organisations utilising the product and multi-million-pound revenue growth, which is forecasted to skyrocket in the next year. Elsewhere Sypro’s Risk Manager has enjoyed significant growth in its customer base with the newer product offering seeing continued uptake from key new clients across multiple sectors, including numerous educational facilities and household names like Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club. Social value software and consultancy provider Loop also expanding its client base significantly across new sectors. Its economists played a key part in the development of the National Social Value Standard measurement framework, developing more than 800 metrics for the accurate reporting of social impact for businesses. Success was further driven through a bespoke version of its software tool specifically for the rail industry – developed in collaboration with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), with funding from Network Rail. Simon added: “The growth seen particularly across Sypro and Loop’s products shows the appetite across multiple markets for a digital-first approach to streamline and simplify what are complex activities – all aiming to make clients lives easier. Our platforms are designed to coordinate with each other, creating a truly end-to-end journey and providing clients with an industry-leading service that we continue to constantly review and improve to bring added value to everyone we work with and beyond.” For more information about Pagabo Group and its brands, please visit pagabogroup.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Oldham Council is inviting businesses to tender for a £1.2 million contract to deliver a major new solar farm in the borough. The site at Wrigley Head, Failsworth, is the council’s first solar farm and is a key project in our Green New Deal – our strategy to make Oldham Council buildings carbon neutral by 2025, followed by the whole borough by 2030. We’ve now launched a tender process, inviting interested businesses to design, build, operate and maintain the 1MW site for 20 years. Cllr Abdul Jabbar MBE, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for green technology businesses to get involved in a pioneering project in Greater Manchester. “The solar farm will create green energy which is capable of creating enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 750 homes at one time. “It will transform the land, which was previously a derelict site, giving it a new sustainable purpose which will boost the environment and biodiversity. It will also reduce our reliance on fossil fuels giving the council cheaper energy bills that stay low – unlike gas prices, meaning we have more money to spend on front-line services. “We were the first council in the UK to adopt a Green New Deal and we are aiming to be the greenest borough in Greater Manchester. “This new solar farm is just one of many green projects we have planned, and an added plus is that it will be the first subsidy-free local authority owned solar farm in Greater Manchester. “This is your chance to play a key role in this exciting programme.” With construction planned to start in September, the council requires a contractor who can review the outline design for the ground-mounted solar PV array and improve upon it, taking into account developments in new technology and any other factors. The new design will need to be agreed with the council, planning authority and any other key stakeholders. Following this, the contractor will then construct, operate and maintain the installation for up to 20 years. The net value of the contract is £1.2m. Interested parties can view the tender documents on the council’s procurement portal The Chest at www.the-chest.org.uk The solar farm opportunity comes as Oldham Council secured £8.7 million in grant funding to support our plans to create a low carbon district heat network for Oldham Town Centre. These unique systems use local sources of eco-friendly heat which would otherwise go to waste. In Oldham, we could use air, wastewater, minewater and biomass. Heat networks distribute heat from a central source and deliver it to different buildings including shops, offices and homes. By supplying multiple places, they avoid the need for individual boilers or electric heaters in every building. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Responding to the publication of National Grid ESO’s investment plan, detailed in the report ‘Beyond 2030’, Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive, Energy Networks Association, said; “This plan is an important step in upgrading our grid, which is vital if we are to support greater electrification, the use of more low carbon technologies and increase energy security. To reach our net zero goals we need to maximise the use of existing power infrastructure, operate this infrastructure flexibly and innovatively and build new infrastructure. Alongside this plan, electricity networks are spending and investing around £30bn over this price control period and undertaking the biggest programme of reforms in the history of the grid.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Deal with Knight Property Group is one of Scotland’s largest industrial transactions in the past year Wincanton, a leading supply chain partner for UK business, today announces that it is expanding its Scottish operations, with establishment of a new distribution centre, strategically located in the heart of Scotland’s ‘golden triangle’. The company has secured a 15-year lease for the brand new 126,960 sq ft unit at the award-winning Belgrave Logistics Park, in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire. This significant transaction, agreed with developer and landlord, Knight Property Group, marks one of the largest industrial deals completed in Scotland this year and the largest letting of a speculative new build since 2018 for the Greater Glasgow market. This deal signifies Wincanton’s continued growth and commitment to Scotland. It follows the successful launch of their Scottish Gateway hub in Motherwell just last April, spanning an impressive 153,000 sq ft. The new distribution centre in Bellshill is strategically positioned, only six miles away from the Motherwell hub. It will cater to the demands of an expanding client base, underlining Wincanton’s dedication to enhancing operational efficiencies and service capabilities nationwide. Derek Stirling, Country Manager for Scotland at Wincanton, said: “This new distribution centre, our second in Scotland within two years, reinforces our long-term commitment to Scotland and promises enhanced services and efficiencies for our customers and partners across the country. “We are delighted with the high-quality space and accessibility of our new facility at Belgrave, conveniently located in close proximity to our existing hub in Motherwell.” James Barrack, Chairman and Founder of Knight Property Group added: “Securing Wincanton for the largest unit at Belgrave underpins and reinforces our strategy of committing to the speculative development of the best units in the best locations across Scotland. With lettings already secured with Likewise Group and RES at the park, the last two units are seeing high levels of interest and we hope to be able to place them under offer very soon.” Belgrave Logistics Park, a £55m brand new speculative development by Knight Property boasts a total area of 261,193 sq ft across five buildings. Wincanton’s unit is designed to a high specification, featuring high-performance composite wall and roof cladding, an internal height of 12 meters, four level access doors, and 16 dock levellers. Additionally, it includes a 2,870 sq ft office space, 63 car parking spaces, and an expansive 55-metre deep yard. It stands out as one of the greenest industrial/logistics parks in Scotland, boasting ‘all-electric’ buildings with impressive environmental credentials such as an EPC rating of ‘A+’ and a BREEAM ‘excellent rating’. The park also features electric car charging points, solar photovoltaic panels, energy-efficient LED lighting, heat recovery air conditioning, and water management systems for conservation. Alan Gilkison, Managing Partner of Ryden said: “This deal represents one of the largest industrial transactions to be concluded in Scotland over the past year, showcasing Knight Property Group’s commitment to delivering quality speculative developments in key geographical areas. With three out of the five units already let at Belgrave Logistics Park, strong occupier interest is noted for the remaining space.” Ross Sinclair, Director of Savills added: “It was a pleasure to see Wincanton and Knight act transparently and expediently throughout this transaction as this was critical in achieving the eventual successful outcome to meet the objectives of Landlord and Tenant alike.” Ryden and JLL are agents for Knight Property Group, whilst Savills represented Wincanton. The project architect was SPACE Solutions, the engineer was Fairhurst, QS/ CA was Axiom, Wallace Whittle were M&E, with the main contractor Clark Contracts. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costain, the UK infrastructure business, has reached an important milestone in its gas distribution network upgrade programme with Cadent. Costain is replacing approximately 340km of gas main line each year in Cadent’s East of England network, the largest of Cadent’s five gas networks across the UK. Through working collaboratively with Cadent and supply chain partners during the design, procurement and delivery stages, the scheme is on track to see 380km replaced by the end of the financial year, 31 March 2024. Costain passed its 340km-per-year target more than a month ahead of schedule, aided by the application of agile operational processes around planning, programme management, reporting and control that have delivered to targets and have led to efficiency gains. Reaching the milestone means that around 33,000 homes have had new gas mains fitted. The upgraded pipeline will reduce the risk of supply disruption to households and businesses while also helping end-users benefit from the safety and environmental improvements being made. The project has seen more than half a million excavations to date. The programme is in the third year of a five-year contract, with the option to extend by a further five years. Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network managing more than 80,000 miles of pipes and transporting gas to 11 million customers. Laura Hughes, energy director at Costain, commented: “This is a hugely fulfilling programme for our team and the whole of the supply chain. We’ve passed an important milestone and are on track to exceed our target by an additional 40km of new gas pipeline. “The UK’s gas distribution network needs to undergo significant improvements to allow us to decarbonise our energy system, comply with environmental legislation and upgrade ageing assets. Collectively with Cadent, we are improving the lives of thousands of people in the East of England by upgrading pipelines to ensure homes remain heated. I’m particularly impressed with our strong performance on safety and efficiency.” Mark Briggs, head of investment planning at Cadent, added: “We’ve been working alongside Costain for a number of years now and we are very pleased to see these sorts of results being achieved. “The work carried out by Costain is part of a big investment programme across the East of England to modernise the gas network – keeping people warm in their homes now and getting the network ready for lower-carbon gases in the future. “Of course, we won’t be resting on our laurels and as one financial year comes to an end, we’ll continue to work collaboratively with Costain to make sure that we push on with this fantastic work; looking forward to driving further efficiencies ensuring a safe, more customer focused plan.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SLR CONSULTING is opening doors at a new office located in Holborn, London, as the environmental and sustainability consultancy expands its footprint to accommodate ongoing organic growth and further recent business acquisitions. Following the strategic acquisitions of Carnstone, IBIS Consulting, ITPEnergised and RCS Global, the consultancy’s regional headcount now stands at over 1,000 consultants, with more than 200 of those now based in London. SLR’s new office sits within the Grade II-listed Summit House in central Holborn. Originally built in 1925, the office provides a flexible working environment, accommodating the growing team, with room for further expansion. Richard Johnson, European shared services director at SLR Consulting, said: “Relocating to a larger office in central London enables us to effectively combine the skills and expertise of our existing staff, our new hires and the recent strategic acquisitions. “The collaborative nature of the space enhances our renowned offering and helps to cement our credentials as trusted advisors in the delivery of sustainability expertise and technical project delivery across all sectors.” The Holborn office marks a new chapter for SLR to service its clients both in the capital and globally, supporting the continued expansion of the business. Harry Hussey, global compliance and operation manager at RCS Global, said: “Working in a joint space has helped our team in responsible sourcing to collaborate across many of the SLR disciplines. Expanding the London office for the growth and addition of new teams and providing a new collaborative hub, will help us to provide full-stack solutions for our customers with input across SLR’s ESG services.” Jonny Clark, managing director of ITPEnergised, said: ‘’In the short time since joining, we have been warmly welcomed into SLR’s One Team culture. We’re really looking forward to moving into the new London office with our colleagues and to the further collaboration opportunities that will bring. Undoubtedly, bringing everyone together under one roof will help in our goal of Making Sustainability Happen.’’ SLR is a global leader in sustainability solutions. Initially starting out as a UK business 30 years ago, it now operates worldwide with more than 3,000 people delivering client solutions across six regions. For more information about SLR, visit www.slrconsulting.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building DC4 at Prologis Park Wrocław III is the largest speculative facility in Prologis’ history in Poland, covering an area of 50,000 square meters. Its modern warehouse and production spaces respond to the growing needs and expectations of customers in the region. Meanwhile, a location close to the airport and the city ring road, together with excellent transport connections, are important advantages appreciated by current and potential customers. DC4 also stands out for its functionality and wide range of services designed with employee comfort in mind, implemented in line with sustainable principles. The unique attractiveness of the building is confirmed by the fact that it was almost fully rented just 6 months after becoming operational. The last available space in DC4 covers an area of 7,700 square meters, including the possibility to add an office to any lease arrangement. DC4’s innovative solutions have now led to it receiving BREEAM environmental certification at the “Excellent” level. The building meets over 70% of BREEAM requirements set out within a complex, multi-criteria system for assessing buildings’ environmental performance. This provides significant competitive advantage, given that an increasing number of market leaders pay close attention to the environmental certification of their spaces. “BREEAM certification at the “Excellent” level for DC4 in Prologis Park Wrocław III is the result of our continuous commitment to developing properties in line with the highest standards of sustainable construction. We are very proud to create spaces that not only meet the needs of today’s business, but also help protect the environment,” says Marcin Kruszewski, Leasing & Customer Experience Manager at Prologis. A place with a future Building DC4 offers modern, energy-saving solutions that ensure high operational efficiency. The warehouse space has a clear height of 12 m, a reinforced floor load-bearing capacity of up to 10 t/m2, and enhanced wall and roof insulation. For greater safety and to protect the well-being of employees, the warehouse and office areas are illuminated with a high-quality LED lighting system. Intelligent lighting systems are implemented, with motion sensors programed to meet all customer needs while cutting electricity costs. An employee-friendly place Prologis Park Wrocław III is carefully designed to meet the needs of customers’ employees. The space offers numerous parking spaces for cars and trucks, while for those who prefer other means of transport, there are bicycle shelters and repair points, as well as electric vehicle charging stations. The park is also served by great access to public transport. Within PARKLife™ program, Prologis Park Wrocław III provides numerous amenities for employees, including rest areas and innovative outdoor BookBox libraries. A place with the environment in mind Prologis consistently strives to create sustainable logistics properties. As such, building DC4 is equipped with skylights and window panels on the façade which provide up to 12.5% natural daylight indoors. The building also features photovoltaic panels and solar collectors. Whether it’s about taking care to help a customer’s business or building warehouses in accordance with sustainable development principles, kept promises are… Made in Prologis. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mace has been appointed by Norfolk County Council (NCC) as Principal Contractor to deliver improvements on over one hundred properties across the region under the Future Ready (FR) Property Enhancement Initiative. The initiative will focus on modernising the Council’s property portfolio through a comprehensive program to ensure long-term cost savings, longevity, and functionality, supporting an ever-evolving, dynamic and diverse workforce. The FR Initiative aims to improve energy efficiency and thermal integrity, eliminate the use of fossil fuel across multiple assets and prioritise structural integrity as well as address wear and tear issues. Solutions will include ASHP, PV panels and in some cases new facilities being added to meet the demands of an evolving workforce and community. Included in the initiative are community hubs, offices, children’s homes, fire and rescue service facilities, libraries and the museums portfolio. In line with the NCC’s commitment to achieving net zero across all operations by 2030, Mace’s appointment will be fully compliant with the PAS2030 retrofit accreditation, contributing to overall energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Mace has ensured the correct designer appointments within the professional team with an appointment which commences at RIBA stage 2, under an NEC 4 contract to support the rigorous PAS design process. With no two properties alike, each building will bring its challenges, for example, those which are listed and of historical importance. Mace will build upon its reputation of delivering a lasting legacy for the community with a dedicated social value team, providing local employment opportunities, training and apprenticeships, supply chain events and a commitment to bolstering green skills through educational services across Norfolk. Stewart Ward, Managing Director for Mace Fitout and Retrofit, said: “We are honoured to be working with Norfolk County Council once again, harnessing our industry-leading expertise in delivering complex transformational net zero programmes. “The Future Ready Initiative is a step in the right direction for the decarbonisation of public sector estates across the UK. By making these buildings fit for the future, we are ensuring they can be used by local communities for generations to come while creating a blueprint of what can be achieved nationwide.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
