Sisk has been selected by Moderna as its preferred bidder for the fit-out of its new UK drug substance and manufacturing facility at the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC), located on the Harwell Science Campus in Oxfordshire. The MITC development will encompass a research, development and manufacturing facility, providing
Popeyes UK, the beloved chicken brand originating from New Orleans, recently unveiled its newest delivery kitchen in Leeds on Monday this week. The launch marks an exciting milestone for chicken enthusiasts in the city, as they can now indulge in the famed Chicken Sandwich that has taken the internet by
Sustainable technology firm, Recycl8, has completed its first commercial project with Port of Aberdeen. The Aberdeenshire-based company in conjunction with Inverurie Pre-cast was responsible for manufacturing concrete blocks for defence at the South Breakwater of the North Harbour as well as slipway repairs for the port. The Aberdeenshire- headquartered firm
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects has been awarded a contract to design and construct the first industrial facility at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton for end user Yusen Logistics. Winvic, SEGRO and
Barnet Council has announced the appointment of Russell Curtis as chair of the borough’s first-ever Quality Review Panel. The Quality Review Panel will test the fundamental design principles of planning proposals, playing a major role in the council’s commitment to exemplary, high-quality developments. Comprising 28 experts drawn from across the
Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd, a subsidiary of the global aluminium and renewable energy company Norsk Hydro, has demonstrated its commitment to elevating health and safety standards by entering the UK’s leading health and safety awards scheme and scooping two accolades from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
Yorkshire headquartered Caddick Group has significantly increased its annual turnover to over half a billion pounds, following the publication of its latest financial results. Turnover across the Group, which is one of the UK’s leading integrated property businesses, has jumped by 17% despite a challenging economic market, with pre-tax profits
Chubb, proudly announces the successful accreditation of its signal receiving centre, operated by Chubb Fire & Security Canada Corporation, located at Crocus Street, The Meadows, NG2 3EJ, Nottingham, United Kingdom. This significant milestone follows the formal approval from the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), enhancing Chubb’s monitoring standards and compliance
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) yesterday announced that a nuclear site licence has been granted to install and operate a nuclear power station at Sizewell C in Suffolk. The decision was made following an assessment of the nuclear site licence application made by Sizewell C Ltd, with our review
He looks after the best man cave in the world where people can choose the music! Introduction Keller Kitchens offers the widest range of colours (2,050 NCS) and finishes in the European kitchen furniture market today, along with a huge variety of cabinetry options and accessories; all produced by the
Sisk has been selected by Moderna as its preferred bidder for the fit-out of its new UK drug substance and manufacturing facility at the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC), located on the Harwell Science Campus in Oxfordshire. The MITC development will encompass a research, development and manufacturing facility, providing the UK public with access to mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 and potentially other emerging respiratory health threats. When complete the facility will have capacity to produce up to 250 million vaccines per year in the event of a pandemic, bolstering the UK’s future pandemic resilience strategy. Construction on site has already begun with the facility expected to become operational in 2025, subject to planning and regulatory approvals. This win cements Sisk’s Life Sciences & Technology team in the heart of the UK’s biopharma-rich ‘golden triangle’ between London, Oxford and Cambridge. Harwell is the UK’s leading science and innovation campus, where government, academia and industry work together to solve the critical problems facing our planet. The campus is home to £3bn national facilities and 6,000 colleagues committed to scientific discovery and understanding. Donal McCarthy, COO, Life Sciences, Data & Tech, Sisk said: “Sisk is pleased to announce that we have won our first major life sciences project in the UK. We have a demonstrable track record of working with key US blue chip clients in Ireland and across Europe. After some key appointments internally, we now have the capability to bring this skillset to the UK. We look forward to delivering a world class facility for Moderna and growing our Life Sciences offering across the UK.” Nicolas Chornet, Senior Vice President for Resilience Operations and MITC Site Head at Moderna, said: “Construction of the MITC is well underway and we are delighted to collaborate with Sisk on this vital phase of the project. Upon completion, the facility will leverage cutting-edge mRNA technology to develop innovative vaccines for the UK public and we look forward to contributing to the UK’s dynamic life science sector through the onshoring of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Popeyes UK, the beloved chicken brand originating from New Orleans, recently unveiled its newest delivery kitchen in Leeds on Monday this week. The launch marks an exciting milestone for chicken enthusiasts in the city, as they can now indulge in the famed Chicken Sandwich that has taken the internet by storm. Located on Wortley Moor Road, the new Popeyes® UK delivery kitchen is the brand’s latest addition, marking its fourth opening in 2024 and the 48th location since its UK inception in November 2021. Leeds residents can now savour a delectable array of New Orleans-style offerings, including the iconic Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich, renowned for its succulent 12-hour marinated chicken and accompanied by the original Southern biscuits and gravy. This expansion comes on the heels of Popeyes’ strategic plans to fortify its presence across the UK. Earlier this year, the US chicken chain announced its intention to open 30 new stores nationwide, nearly doubling its current footprint. The forthcoming locations, spanning various regions in Scotland, England, and Wales, underscore Popeyes’ commitment to catering to diverse communities and meeting growing consumer demand. Behind Popeyes UK’s ambitious growth trajectory is private equity firm TDR Capital, which recently acquired a controlling stake in the company. With a £50 million investment last year and increased shareholding, TDR Capital has positioned itself as a key player in driving Popeyes UK’s expansion efforts. Tom Mitchell, managing partner at TDR Capital, expressed confidence in the brand’s performance and growth potential, aligning with the firm’s broader strategic objectives in the sector. Popeyes UK’s success story extends beyond its financial backing, with innovative ventures like a UK-wide wedding catering service and the launch of its first drive-through restaurant in Rotherham. These initiatives, coupled with the brand’s signature menu offerings, have solidified its position as a leading player in the UK’s fast-food landscape. As Popeyes UK continues to make strides in its expansion journey, supported by TDR Capital’s backing and a dedicated team, the brand remains committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences and spreading the joy of authentic New Orleans flavours to communities nationwide. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sustainable technology firm, Recycl8, has completed its first commercial project with Port of Aberdeen. The Aberdeenshire-based company in conjunction with Inverurie Pre-cast was responsible for manufacturing concrete blocks for defence at the South Breakwater of the North Harbour as well as slipway repairs for the port. The Aberdeenshire- headquartered firm was chosen for the project due to its strong commitment to environmental sustainability – a key priority for Port of Aberdeen as they strive to be the UK’s first net zero port by 2040. Recycl8 partnered with construction materials specialists, Breedon Group, to supply their patented solution of sustainable, lower carbon R8 Mix concrete for the project which is the latest in a series of successful pours carried out this year by Recycl8 across a number of sectors including industrial and housing, as well as their first marine project with the Port of Ardersier earlier this month. Working with Port of Aberdeen marks another significant achievement for Recycl8; gaining a new client affirms the growing recognition within the marketplace of the necessity for sustainable concrete solutions. Mark Gillespie, CEO of Recycl8, said: “We are thrilled to have carried out our first small-scale marine project with Port of Aberdeen and to be able to offer a solution which contributes to their environmental sustainability goals. We believe that our R8 Mix is the future of sustainable construction. “It is fantastic for Recycl8 to be involved in such an infrastructure development in Aberdeen and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Port of Aberdeen and supporting them in future marine projects.” Head of Engineering at Port of Aberdeen, John Wilson, added: “Our vision is to become the UK’s first net zero port by 2040 and that requires new and innovative ways of working. We are investing heavily in becoming a leading exemplar in environmental stewardship and sustainability, and Recycl8’s work slipway repair work supports that ambition.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects has been awarded a contract to design and construct the first industrial facility at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton for end user Yusen Logistics. Winvic, SEGRO and Yusen Logistics celebrated the start of the 1.2 million sq ft project with a Japanese Kagami Biraki ceremony. The Kagami Biraki ceremony – or saki barrel breaking ceremony – is to bestow wishes for success and prosperity upon the new development; representatives from SEGRO and Yusen Logistics each hit the lid of a sake barrel with mallets and ladled out the sake into sake cups for the guests to enjoy. The ground was then officially broken, and attendees were given a guided tour of SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton. The unit comprises 1,144,000 sq ft ground floor warehouse space and a 333,251 sq ft mezzanine; Winvic will also construct and fit out the 35,810 sq ft three-storey main office, which also has a roof terrace, and a single-storey hub office. It is designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating which will reduce carbon to net zero during the construction. An array of PV panels will be installed across the entire roof space of the warehouse and EV charging units will also be made available onsite to power Yusen Logistics UK’s all electric company car fleet. At almost 1.2 million sq ft, the single storey warehouse will be Yusen Logistics’ largest global facility when completed in March 2025. The facility sits immediately adjacent to the 35-acre Strategic Rail Freight Terminal constructed by Winvic, enabling Yusen Logistics to provide their customers with rail freight solutions providing CO2 savings on inbound transport. The facility has a haunch of 18 metres, 85 HGV docks and 10 HGV level access doors. Externally, Winvic will undertake all hardstandings and landscaping for the scheme including parking for 924 cars, 163 HGVs, 230 cycles and 34 motorcycles; of these, 185 will be for electric vehicles. The warehouse will also have its own security gatehouse, fuel island and lorry wash, a pallet storage area and waste/recycling area. Winvic has been on site at the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) in Northampton since January 2021 undertaking enabling earthworks, creating the infrastructure to prepare the site for the 5 million sq ft of warehousing and logistics space and constructing the 35-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI). Winvic has also delivered major upgrades to Junctions 15 and 15a on the M1, the construction of a bypass around Roade village and a new bridge over the West Coast Mainline, and improvements to the A45 and safer junctions along the A508. Danny Nelson, Winvic’s Head of Industrial, Distribution and Logistics, commented: “We are delighted to have been selected by SEGRO to construct the first industrial facility at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton. When it’s completed, we’ll have worked on the site for a total of four years, so I’d like to thank the SEGRO team for continuing to put their trust in us, as they did when creating SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway. “Winvic previously constructed a facility in nearby Wellingborough for Yusen Logistics as the tenant, so we’re looking forward to working with them again and to illustrating our high standards. I have the utmost confidence in our experienced team to deliver the project safely and on time.” Dan Holford, Head of National Markets at SEGRO, said: “We are incredibly proud to have attracted a world class warehouse and distribution operator like Yusen Logistics to SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton as the development’s first pre-let customer, where we will be working together to deliver 1.2 million sq ft of highly sustainable space. “What makes this development truly special is how it will support customers to achieve their sustainability goals and net-zero ambitions, particularly through the delivery of sustainable buildings, a country park and the strategic rail freight terminal. Yusen Logistics’ decision to locate here is testament to this and we look forward to continuing our partnership with this exciting project.” David Goldsborough, Managing Director from Yusen Logistics, added: “This new facility, sets a new logistics industry benchmark and emphasizes Yusen Logistics’ commitment to providing sustainable logistics services by 2030. We are proud to share our organisations Japanese heritage at the recent groundbreaking event and are excited to be a part of this project, which will help us to achieve our sustainability goals.” Cllr Adam Brown, Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and Leisure, said: “It’s fantastic to see this high-quality development break ground, as it will be an incredible asset to the area creating highly skilled and well-paid jobs for local people. The robotics, engineering and automotive skills needed are the epitome of the logistics strengths we boast in this area as the connected heart of the UK. “It’s great to see the development coming to life, utilising local contractor Winvic and the impressive Rail Freight Terminal from Maritime. Even more so because of the sustainability measures implemented to ensure this development aligns with our local net zero ambitions. We are dedicated to doing all we can to support the revolution of the logistics industry which will continue to create quality opportunities for our local residents.” SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton will deliver up to 5 million sq ft of modern distribution space and is adjacent to Junction 15 of the M1, close to Northampton. The site includes a 235-acre community park, footpaths, cycle routes new woodlands and wetlands, 20km of hedgerows and the planting of 60,000 new trees. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (formerly Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barnet Council has announced the appointment of Russell Curtis as chair of the borough’s first-ever Quality Review Panel. The Quality Review Panel will test the fundamental design principles of planning proposals, playing a major role in the council’s commitment to exemplary, high-quality developments. Comprising 28 experts drawn from across the planning and design sectors, the independent panel will ensure design issues can be discussed at the early stages of the planning process. Its formation fulfils a key commitment of the council’s corporate plan. Russell Curtis is a well-known local architect and founding director of London-based firm RCKa, which specialises in innovative residential, community and commercial projects. Vice-chair Selina Mason, another local resident, is director of masterplanning and strategic design at Lendlease, focusing on urban regeneration masterplans. The chair and vice-chair will work with a talented team of independent experts tasked with ensuring new developments in the borough are built to high standards, with sustainable credentials. Cllr Ross Houston, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes & Regeneration, said: “I’m delighted that Barnet’s first-ever Quality Review Panel has now been formed, fulfilling a key pledge of the council’s plan for Barnet. The team of experts will help to deliver our commitment to high-quality development that complements the existing townscapes of our borough. “At the same time, we’re strengthening our planning policies to focus on building communities, not just homes, to ensure that developments integrate well with surrounding areas, and to align with our ambitious environmental goals.” Barnet Council aims to concentrate development in the borough’s town centres and around transport links, to consolidate growth and help build sustainable communities. It is committed to high-quality design that responds to its context and improves the lives of residents. With these aims in mind, the council’s Cabinet has approved a series of changes to its Local Plan – the fundamental planning framework that shapes development in the borough. These modifications include strengthening policies to encourage high-quality design, improve street safety and amenity, and promote active travel. The updated policies aim to ensure that the public realm forms an integral part of the design process, and to enhance the connection between publicly accessible space and the built environment. They also encourage developers to address crime prevention and fire safety in pre-application discussions. Revisions have been also made to environmental policies, in line with the council’s commitments on combating climate change and enhancing green and open spaces. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd, a subsidiary of the global aluminium and renewable energy company Norsk Hydro, has demonstrated its commitment to elevating health and safety standards by entering the UK’s leading health and safety awards scheme and scooping two accolades from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd was awarded both a Gold Achievement Award and a Best New Entry Award (UK) at this year’s RoSPA Awards for its strong commitment to health and safety. It was awarded the accolade after it took a thorough approach to clearly explaining and demonstrating its health and safety management system in action during the past year. The organisation also ran a series of initiatives such as a family fun day, safety stand down days and extracurricular first aid training, and installed a series of defibrillators for general public use. Erika Curnow, an apprentice interim manager at Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd, was also announced as the winner of RoSPA’s Inspiring Women in Safety Award, for her own personal inspirational impact within health and safety at the organisation. Sponsored by EcoOnline, a leading provider of EHSQ software solutions, RoSPA’s Best New Entry Award recognises outstanding submissions made by organisations entering the RoSPA Awards for the very first time. The RoSPA Health and Safety Awards is one of the largest occupational health and safety awards programme in the world. Now in its 68th year, the Awards have almost 2,000 entries annually, covering nearly 60 countries and reaching millions of employees. The programme recognises an organisation’s commitment to continuous improvement in the prevention of accidents and ill health at work by looking at entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement. RoSPA Award judges include a wealth of highly experienced senior occupational health and safety professionals and consultants, and a main award judging panel chaired by Dee Arp, Chief Operations Officer at NEBOSH, and other in-house experts and selection panels. Ian Bould from Hydro Aluminium UK, said: “We’re thrilled to win RoSPA’s Best New Entry Award (UK) and a Gold Achievement Award during our first year in the scheme. Safety is paramount at Hydro Aluminium UK, and this award reflects our team’s dedication and determination to make health and safety an absolute priority.” Matt Cryer, Head of the RoSPA Awards said: “As a newcomer to the RoSPA Awards, Hydro Aluminium UK has made a remarkable impression with their approach and commitment to health and safety. Their comprehensive approach to workplace safety sets a high standard for other organisations to follow. “Hydro Aluminium UK’s recognition with the Best New Entry Award (UK) highlights their proactive efforts in promoting a safe working environment for their employees, aligning with RoSPA’s mission to prevent accidents and save lives.” Matt Rouse, SVP Customer Success, Europe at EcoOnline, the organisation that sponsored the Best New Entry Award, said: “We are proud to sponsor RoSPA’s Best New Entry Award and are excited to see the determination organisations have to ensure their employees get home safely at the end of the working day. We extend a huge congratulations to Hydro Aluminium UK and look forward to seeing how they progress within the RoSPA Awards Scheme.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yorkshire headquartered Caddick Group has significantly increased its annual turnover to over half a billion pounds, following the publication of its latest financial results. Turnover across the Group, which is one of the UK’s leading integrated property businesses, has jumped by 17% despite a challenging economic market, with pre-tax profits of £35.5m achieved. A number of milestones were achieved across the Group businesses – Caddick Developments, Caddick Construction and Moda Living – throughout this period, including over 4,000 homes being on site across the period, as well as over 4 million sq ft of industrial and employment space being delivered. Significant investment has also been made into securing a robust development pipeline, with key sites being brought forward, the expansion of Caddick Construction into new regions across the UK, and record occupancy levels achieved across Moda’s five operational build-to-rent neighbourhoods. Across the Group, the focus has remained on investing in people and processes, enabling strong future growth and helping to deliver its ambitious sustainability and social impact agenda. Key milestones for 2022 / 23 include: Johnny Caddick, Caddick Group and Chief Executive of Moda Living, commented: “It’s been another strong year for Caddick Group, and we’re particularly proud to have hit a milestone turnover of over half a billion pounds, as well as securing a robust development pipeline to secure the future success of the business. “Moda has also delivered strong turnover and profit, underpinned by the strength of its performance across its operational portfolio and a number of key deals secured in a challenging market. This year saw Moda make significant reinvestment in the business with the launch of new residential platforms, exciting strategic partnerships and securing a pipeline of high-quality and accessible living products across the UK.” Paul Dodsworth, Caddick Construction Group MD, commented: “We’ve had a very strong year across all businesses under the Construction Group, demonstrating our resilience, adaptability and commitment to excellence. It’s been an exciting year of change with the launch of our new office in Birmingham, and our expansion into the North East market, enabling us to increase the geographical reach of our excellent reputation for high quality projects. We maintain a focus on ensuring our growth is steady and sustainable thanks to the skill, knowledge and dedication of our amazing regional teams. “As part of this, we are making great progress in balancing our portfolio of public and private sector projects through a range of framework appointments. We are forecasting a turnover for 23/24 of £400m with a forward order book of £704m, which is a testament to our financial strength and our strategy to do business with like-minded customers, delivering exceptional projects and always treating our supply chain fairly.” Myles Hartley, MD of Caddick Developments, said: “This year, we have prioritised developing and diversifying our pipeline across both the residential and the industrial and logistics sectors, bolstering our operations as we enter into our next phase of growth. With a number of key promotions recently made across the business, our priority has also been to invest within our people to continue driving forward the fantastic progress that we have seen over the last year. “Looking ahead, we have a number of exciting projects coming forward, including our £1bn South Village scheme, the completion of the SOYO regeneration project, and the beginning of phase two of Farington Park. Each of these key developments, alongside our wider portfolio, acts as a key example of our commitment to creating high-quality spaces that make a long-term positive impact on people, place and planet.” Caddick Group has more than £9.8bn worth of assets in the development pipeline, including more than 18 million sq ft in logistics and distribution space and more than 34,000 homes. To find out more about Caddick Group, visit: https://caddick.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Chubb, proudly announces the successful accreditation of its signal receiving centre, operated by Chubb Fire & Security Canada Corporation, located at Crocus Street, The Meadows, NG2 3EJ, Nottingham, United Kingdom. This significant milestone follows the formal approval from the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), enhancing Chubb’s monitoring standards and compliance across international borders. This accreditation encompasses three critical standards under the ULC’s Certificate Service Procedures: Commercial Type Full Service Receiving Centres (CPVXC), Financial Type Full Service Signal Receiving Centres (CRXXC), and Fire Protective Signalling Type Full Service Fire Signal Receiving Centres (DAYIC). Each certification marks Chubb’s commitment to providing superior security monitoring services that meet rigorous international safety and security requirements. Chubb encourages all stakeholders to review the detailed standards and procedures outlined by the ULC for its accredited services, available online at http://www.ulc.ca under the Fire and Security Alarm Certificate Programs section. ULC Certificates for Chubb’s UK signal-receiving centre have been issued through the innovative online portal, CertsView, confirming its adherence to the highest standards set forth by the ULC. Colin Walters, Global Monitoring Transformation Director at Chubb Fire & Security, commented on this exciting development: “We at Chubb are thrilled to embark on this new chapter with our ULC accreditation, reinforcing our unwavering dedication to excellence in security and safety standards across all operational territories. Our commitment to continuous improvement is a testament to the trust that our clients place in our services, ensuring a confident future for our potential clients.” For more information on the range of monitoring services provided by Chubb, visit www.chubb.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) yesterday announced that a nuclear site licence has been granted to install and operate a nuclear power station at Sizewell C in Suffolk. The decision was made following an assessment of the nuclear site licence application made by Sizewell C Ltd, with our review concluding that the application has met all the requirements set out in regulatory guidance. In our initial assessment of their application we identified two outstanding matters that required resolution before a licence could be granted. At that stage, it was determined that we would carry out a proportionate reassessment of the application, focusing on these areas. The two topics that prevented granting of a licence in 2022, related to the shareholders’ agreement and ownership of land at the site, have now been resolved to ONR’s satisfaction. In addition, the regulator has concluded that progress made since 2022, relating to both Sizewell C Ltd’s organisation and the suitability of the proposed site, do not undermine ONR’s other findings from the earlier nuclear site licence assessment. Although the granting of a site licence is a significant step, it does not permit the start of nuclear-related construction on the site. ONR’s regulatory responsibility starts at the point of granting of a nuclear site licence. Now granted, it is able to use the powers within that licence to require Sizewell C Ltd to request our permission for starting nuclear-related construction. Similarly, the licensee is required to seek our regulatory permission to proceed to subsequent key construction and commissioning stages up to the start of commercial operation and beyond. Mark Foy, ONR’s Chief Nuclear Inspector and Chief Executive said: “I am pleased to confirm that following extensive engagement and review by the ONR team, our assessment of the Sizewell C application is complete and a nuclear site has been licence granted. “The licensing process is fundamental in confirming that operators of a nuclear site are ready and able to meet their obligations under the nuclear site licence, to protect their workforce and the public. “The granting of this licence is one step in ONR’s process, allowing us to provide greater regulatory oversight, advice and challenge to the licensee as they progress their plans. “We will continue working with Sizewell C to ensure that the highest levels of quality, safety and security are met.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
He looks after the best man cave in the world where people can choose the music! Introduction Keller Kitchens offers the widest range of colours (2,050 NCS) and finishes in the European kitchen furniture market today, along with a huge variety of cabinetry options and accessories; all produced by the most sustainable means possible. The parent company, DKG, was the first carbon neutral kitchen manufacturer in 2017 and has reached Level 5 on the CO2 Performance Ladder. The highest level possible. Based in Bergen op Zoom, Holland, DKG boasts one of the largest kitchen factories in Europe; the surface area for the factory is 65,000m2 while the entire premises totals 100,000m2. 450 people are employed and around 2,500 kitchens are manufactured each week. Recently, several major investments have been made in the production facility in order that the Group optimises today’s technology, raises productivity, and remains at the forefront of the industry in terms of sustainability initiatives. Pictured is the headquarters in Bergen Op Zoom. Here, we talk to Jeffrey Carol, 45, Keller’s Factory Director, to discover more about how this remarkable operation functions; and his unusual path to the top of his game. How long have you worked for Keller and how has your career progressed here? My career path at Keller started in April 2007 and has comprised a diverse mix of roles which has been unusual, and useful! I started as a team leader responsible for the distribution centre and the people within it. After three years, I became Planning & Logistics Manager which tested all my skills! The machines must be running correctly, the people in the right place at the right time, the stock accessible and controlled; the list goes on. It is the department and team that ensures the factory is running at optimal levels and it was in this role that I first visited the UK to meet and chat with our dealers. I then dipped my toe in the Keller Customer Service division before moving on to be Sales Manager for Belgium. In 2020, I became Operations Manager and 2022 saw me reach the Factory Director position. The span of roles is wide and it means that, having started as a “boot on the floor” in so many roles, I can now manage with a great deal of background knowledge and am, in essence, customer-centric. How do you communicate with your teams? This is one of the most interesting parts of my job. We communicate in various ways as it is hard to reach everyone in just one way! Practically, my door is always open and we TALK! Because I have worked in the factory before, I know the teams and vice versa. I am not the new boy! Every day, we have a daily “stand-up” where all the team coaches and leaders speak and outline the day’s plans. The ten large TV screens in the factory are used to keep people updated with birthdays, projects, opening hours, charity news, company news, success in sales – everything goes up there! Part of my communications is focused on energy and a company catchphrase is “If what you are doing doesn’t give or deliver energy, then stop doing it! We want to perform with pleasure not pain”. We have a team of people whose job it is to identify the areas where energy is lacking. This very special team creates solutions so that everyone stays on track. We also use comics to allow for feedback and open conversations. It’s much easier to make a point using humour.The music playlists and radio stations played in the factory was a recent “discussion” point where everyone wanted a voice. We now change the music every day – so everyone gets their fix of rock and roll, jazz and classical, for example! Where in the world do your kitchens go? In order to assure quality, accuracy of build and to ensure kitchens are put together as sustainably as possible we only supply rigid kitchens to our partners. The main focus is on the countries around us – Belgium, UK and, of course, The Netherlands. We also sell kitchens in other countries such as Dubai and Morocco. What does your role entail? What do you do on a daily, weekly, monthly basis? Each day is, as we all say, never the same as another! Overall, I am always building on the company’s long-term business strategy and we are already thinking about 2030. Buying a new piece of plant is expensive and lead times are long. But back to the day job! The first thing I do every day is to look at a report on what items we did not fulfil with a description as to why; this keeps me focused and in control. I also need to look at overtime as this may highlight where we need extra help from outside contractors at particularly busy times. I also work a lot with the sales team to convert their wishes – or their customers’ wishes – into production possibilities. We, as a team, focus on operational excellence, growth, delivery, and performance, and studying reports is what I do on a daily basis! I do not get involved in the minutiae of the factory running; we have teams and I empower them as it makes their jobs much more fun! The DKG group is known for continual investment; what is the next development? We are in the middle of the installation phase of two considerable investment projects. One is a new multi-edging machine which will increase production from 7,500 edged units a day to 11,500. By coincidence, we are also installing a new assembly line at the same time. This line is devoted to both tall and special dimension cabinets. The old line produced 400 items per day while the new one does 800! Can you tell me about the Cobots investment? We now have our first Cobot! It is so effective at doing those jobs no one else
