Bellrock Group has been awarded a significant five-year hard FM (Facilities Management) contract with West Sussex County Council, valued at up to £10 million per annum. The contract, which spans over 200 corporate sites across nine property categories, will see the Bellrock team delivering planned preventative maintenance, reactive maintenance, and
Balfour Beatty has scooped a £185 million contract by Transport Scotland to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy in the Scottish Highlands, approximately 21 kilometres (13 miles) south of Inverness. As part of the contract, Balfour Beatty will upgrade 9.6 kilometres of single carriageway to dual carriageway, construct four
honey will build 54 two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in Waverley, Rotherham, after being granted planning permission for a £15.5m development. Called Homes by honey at Waverley, the development is located on the former Orgreave Colliery & Coking site off Rivelin Way. Homes by honey at Waverley will
Contractor trains up STEM ‘Careers Champions’ to roll out North East Ambition Programme in region’s schools. Esh Construction has partnered with the North East Combined Authority to enhance STEM provision in schools across the region. Working collaboratively through the Combined Authority’s North East Ambition Programme, which aims to champion the
A challenge to a telecommunications infrastructure provider’s proposal to renew a lease at a much reduced rent under the Electronic Communications Code has resulted in a key ruling by the Scottish Lands Tribunal which will have ramifications across the industry. In order to renew a lease under the Code, an
GAP Hire Solutions based in Glasgow, has fought off global competition to win a prestigious RoSPA Award, demonstrating its commitment to health and safety excellence. GAP has retained the Gold Award, for the seventh year, in the Health & Safety Performance category and obtained Gold for Fleet Safety, demonstrating its
CTS, the leading provider of construction materials testing, and surveying and monitoring services across the UK, has appointed Matthew Johanson as Managing Director. He will work alongside Phenna Groups, Divisional Managing Director Stuart Abbs, and the CTS management team to lead the business. With an impressive background across a diverse
National construction products manufacturer and building envelope specialist, CA Group, have renewed their membership with Secured by Design (SBD). Founded in 1983, independently owned, an Employee Benefit Trust and home to some of the most experienced construction personnel in the industry, CA Group is one of the largest manufacturers and
Navigating the construction industry can be challenging, but with the right strategies and insights, you can ensure sustained growth and success. Here’s a comprehensive guide blending business advice and DIY tips to elevate your construction, building, and property ventures. For more comprehensive business advice and tools, explore resources at https://boostsuite.com/.
Bellrock Group has been awarded a significant five-year hard FM (Facilities Management) contract with West Sussex County Council, valued at up to £10 million per annum. The contract, which spans over 200 corporate sites across nine property categories, will see the Bellrock team delivering planned preventative maintenance, reactive maintenance, and project support services. This partnership underscores Bellrock’s commitment to maintaining a diverse and complex portfolio of properties with precision and care. West Sussex County Council selected Bellrock for this contract due to the company’s emphasis on long-term maintenance strategies and its commitment to reducing the council’s reactive maintenance expenditure. The mobilisation phase began on 1st July, with full-service delivery set to commence in October 2024. Paul Bean, CEO of Bellrock, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership, stating, “This is a significant achievement and a pivotal new client for us. Safeguarding such a varied range of properties is a considerable responsibility, but one we are proud to undertake. We have strategically grown our business and enhanced our capabilities to deliver top-tier services where they are most needed.” In addition to its core FM services, Bellrock has pledged to collaborate closely with West Sussex County Council to develop social value initiatives aligned with the council’s Social Value Framework. These initiatives are designed to generate positive impacts for the local community and environment. Jeremy Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property at West Sussex County Council, commented, “We are delighted to award this contract to Bellrock, whose tender was both highly competitive and comprehensive. This represents a significant shift in how West Sussex County Council will approach the delivery of hard FM in the future. I particularly welcome Bellrock’s commitment to working with us on our shared social value objectives. I anticipate a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”
Balfour Beatty has scooped a £185 million contract by Transport Scotland to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy in the Scottish Highlands, approximately 21 kilometres (13 miles) south of Inverness. As part of the contract, Balfour Beatty will upgrade 9.6 kilometres of single carriageway to dual carriageway, construct four major bridges along the route as well as deliver new side roads together with various junction upgrades. Balfour Beatty will also provide over 10 kilometres of improved active travel routes to promote and encourage cycling and walking in the local area. The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project is expected to improve road safety, journey times and reliability for all road users including pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers. This major investment in the local area will generate economic growth, supporting businesses, communities, and tourism throughout Scotland by strengthening the link between Scotland’s central belt and the Highlands and Islands. As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting positive legacy for the communities in which it operates, Balfour Beatty will reduce its carbon emissions during the construction phase by sourcing local materials wherever possible, helping to minimise the number of heavy goods vehicle movements and deliveries to and from the site. Balfour Beatty will also harness industry-leading digital delivery techniques such as 4D planning to digitally plan and rehearse the construction sequence of the Moy Rail Bridge and Dalmagarry Bridge to optimise the phasing of works, identify any potential construction sequencing challenges and put in place solutions to drive efficiencies and productivity. The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project forms part of Transport Scotland’s multi-billion pound A9 Dualling Programme, for which a delivery plan was announced in December 2023. It marks the third section of the programme to begin construction following the successful completion of the Kincraig to Dalraddy and the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam sections, which opened in 2017 and 2021 respectively, with the latter also being constructed by Balfour Beatty. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
honey will build 54 two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in Waverley, Rotherham, after being granted planning permission for a £15.5m development. Called Homes by honey at Waverley, the development is located on the former Orgreave Colliery & Coking site off Rivelin Way. Homes by honey at Waverley will comprise a mix of semi-detached and detached properties. It will form part of the local council’s larger redevelopment plans to transform the 740-acre Orgreave Colliery & Coking site into a new, sustainable community. Work at the development is due to commence in August with the first residents expected to move into their new homes in spring next year. Of the 54 homes, 17 have been designated to affordable housing. Mark Mitchell, honey chief executive officer, commented: “Our Homes by honey at Waverley development has created a great deal of interest from prospective buyers since we announced plans had been submitted. “Our development will provide high quality, high specification new homes to meet the significant demand that exists in the area from first-time buyers, second steppers, families and downsizers. “Waverley is an excellent regeneration project, so we are very pleased that our development will become part of it. “Now planning has been granted, we look forward to works starting to deliver homes that combine style, substance and sustainability for the benefit of our buyers and the communities in which we build.” For further information on Homes by honey at Waverley, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor trains up STEM ‘Careers Champions’ to roll out North East Ambition Programme in region’s schools. Esh Construction has partnered with the North East Combined Authority to enhance STEM provision in schools across the region. Working collaboratively through the Combined Authority’s North East Ambition Programme, which aims to champion the full potential of the region by connecting communities and giving people the skills to succeed, Esh has provided six bespoke kits to support a wider understanding of STEM-related construction careers. Through the programme, Esh is currently training up six Careers Champions, who will then host a ‘Get into STEM’ session in participating schools, with the kits available for schools to book out and use for extra-curricular sessions that will promote STEM careers. Already, 55 primary schools have expressed interest in getting involved. Esh’s award winning ‘Get into STEM’ programme is designed to positively shape career aspirations whilst developing skill sets essential for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Since 2015, Esh has delivered the programme to more than 16,900 primary school students across the North East, Tees Valley and Yorkshire. Kate Marshall, Social Value Manager for the North East at Esh Construction said: “Our team has been working closely with the Careers Champions to demonstrate programme delivery of the STEM kits, so that they can train up teachers and classroom assistants to use the kits within their own schools. The initiative to enhance STEM understanding to more students across our region will ultimately raise awareness of a range of career options in the construction and built environment sector. “At a time when our industry is dealing with a skills shortage, engaging with students from a young age will provide opportunities as we move into the 2030s and beyond. Our relationship with the North East Combined Authority continues to prosper to bring through the next generation of STEM workers, and we’re excited to watch as this programme develops over the coming months.” Two Careers Champions are based in Northumberland, as well as one covering Newcastle and North Tyneside, one for Sunderland and South Tyneside, one for Gateshead and one for County Durham schools. Each STEM kit contains bright and vibrant resources such as foam bricks, measuring equipment, literature and personal protective equipment, with a vision to raise student awareness of the world around them, consider STEM topics and reinforce important construction health and safety messages. Through its North East Ambition programme, the Combined Authority is supporting schools to broaden horizons, raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes and help children connect their learning to the world around them. Experience of real-world careers such as those demonstrated through the use of the STEM kits and Careers Champions is a key part of meeting these aims. Councillor Tracey Dixon, North East Combined Authority Cabinet member for Education, Inclusion and Skills, said: “This STEM kit rollout will support our work delivering careers related learning for primary schools in the region, by providing an opportunity for meaningful employer engagement within a key sector. The kit will help challenge gender stereotyping, support numeracy and literacy, and give the children a chance to learn about different progression pathways that will be available for them in the future, including apprenticeships and T Levels.” The school rollout will commence in autumn, with a system being set up for schools to contact the Career Champions to book the kit out through a booking and collection point. Schools may then deliver their own sessions as per the lesson plan outlined, or may choose to use the kit alongside other STEM-related lessons. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A challenge to a telecommunications infrastructure provider’s proposal to renew a lease at a much reduced rent under the Electronic Communications Code has resulted in a key ruling by the Scottish Lands Tribunal which will have ramifications across the industry. In order to renew a lease under the Code, an operator must be a party to a Code agreement with the other party. In the case of On Tower UK Limited (“OTUK”) v the Church of Scotland General Trustees, the tenant of the radio mast installation in Kay Park Parish Church in Kilmarnock was Orange Personal Communications Services Limited (“Orange”). The lease was later assigned by Orange to EE Limited and Hutchison 3G UK Limited (“EE & H3G”) whose equipment is understood to be on site. The lease was then assigned to Arqiva Limited, then to OTUK (at the time called Arqiva Services Limited). The lease placed certain restrictions on any assignation and the landlord was not told of the assignation. OTUK served notice to renew the lease on its standard terms at a rent of £3,000, considerably lower than the contracted amount. The Scottish Lands Tribunal found OTUK was not a party to a Code agreement when it served the paragraph 33(1) notice to change the agreement, meaning the notice was invalid; thus the ensuing application was similarly invalid. It is understood some 700 agreements were assigned from operators to Arqiva around 2015. In 2019 the Arqiva group sold its telecoms infrastructure and related assets at an enterprise value of £2 billion to Cellnex, which later became OTUK. The transaction comprised some 7,400 of Arqiva’s cellular sites, including masts and towers as well as urban rooftop sites, and the right to market a further 900 sites across the UK retained by Arqiva. The sites retained by Arqiva incorporated its broadcast infrastructure and its interests in machine-to-machine data services, which provide smart meter networks for the utilities sector. Ian Thornton-Kemsley, a telecoms expert at Galbraith, said: “Over the years operators have transferred sites between themselves apparently without properly considering the lease requirements; the case illustrates this. Despite the wording of the Code, operators are not prepared to justify the changes sought to the existing lease; and they readily apply to the Tribunals to impose agreements if landowners do not agree to their terms, which are often heavily weighted in their favour. This appears to have been the case at Kay Park. “It is important to check that the renewal notices are valid and to adhere to the requirements of the Code. By successfully challenging the basis of the notice, the landowner has protected its income for the time being – important to a charity such as the Church.” Mike Reid, Head of Utilities and a telecoms specialist at Galbraith, added: “Operators tend to weaponise their rights under the Code, using the threat of costs in legal proceedings to obtain settlements in their favour. The Kay Park decision, together with the Vache Farm case, is a welcome redressing of the balance, ensuring landowner’s rights are properly protected.” The Kay Park Scottish Lands Tribunal decision can be found at – http://www.lands-tribunal-scotland.org.uk/decisions/LTS.ECC.2023.57.html The Vache Farm case can be found at be found at – LC-2020-55 final_.pdf (tribunals.gov.uk). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GAP Hire Solutions based in Glasgow, has fought off global competition to win a prestigious RoSPA Award, demonstrating its commitment to health and safety excellence. GAP has retained the Gold Award, for the seventh year, in the Health & Safety Performance category and obtained Gold for Fleet Safety, demonstrating its dedication to ensuring its staff get home safely at the end of every working day. The esteemed RoSPA Awards program now celebrates its 68th year as the UK’s largest and most impactful health and safety programme. With almost 2,000 entries annually from over 50 countries, impacting over seven million employees, they offer a platform to spotlight an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in health and safety. Whether entrants seek non-competitive excellence recognition or vie for competitive awards across 32 industry sectors, the RoSPA Awards provide an unparalleled opportunity to stand among leaders shaping safer, healthier workplaces. As of this year, the RoSPA award entry process can be used as reflective practise to contribute to continuing professional development (CPD). Malcolm Campbell, Performance and Improvement Specialist at GAP Hire Solutions commented: “We are thrilled that GAP has once again earned these prestigious RoSPA Gold Awards for 2024. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards in Health & Safety and Occupational Road Risk. It’s a testament to the dedication of all our operational teams in ensuring safety is at the heart of everything we do.” Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said: “Workplace accidents don’t just pose financial risks and operational disruptions; they significantly impact the quality of life for individuals. This is why acknowledging and rewarding excellent safety performance is vital. “We congratulate GAP Hire Solutions for winning a prestigious RoSPA Award and showing an unwavering commitment to keeping employees, clients and customers safe from accidental harm and injury.” Sponsored by Croner-i, the RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, and receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for the health and safety industry. Ben Chaplain, Managing Director at Croner-i, said: “We are proud to sponsor the RoSPA Awards for a second year, which emphasises our dedication to prioritising health and safety—an essential foundation for lasting success and wellbeing at work.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CTS, the leading provider of construction materials testing, and surveying and monitoring services across the UK, has appointed Matthew Johanson as Managing Director. He will work alongside Phenna Groups, Divisional Managing Director Stuart Abbs, and the CTS management team to lead the business. With an impressive background across a diverse range of industry sectors, Matt has served 20+years in the Heavy Building Materials sector, working at a senior level with multi-product experience across Asphalt, Ready-Mix Concrete, Quarrying and Recycling, notably for Aggregate Industries Brett Group and GRS Group. Additionally, he has a vast amount of senior level experience for multiple Blue-chip companies, in sectors like international Supply Chain & Logistics, Automotive, Manufacturing and TIC, working for companies such as XPO Logistics, KONE and Element. Stuart Abbs commented: “It’s fantastic to have Matt join as the Managing Director for CTS. His strong operational background, business acumen, and customer-centric approach will bring great strength to CTS. Matt will oversee CTS’s overarching business strategy and work alongside me to drive business growth.” Matt said of his appointment: “I am delighted to be joining a company with such a great reputation in its field of expertise. What I am particularly excited about is the drive and initiative to embed a high performance culture, underpinned by the fundamentals of operational excellence. This will place the customer right at the heart of everything we do and allow us to innovate and develop the best services and solutions for our customers.” Stuart added: “Matt’s appointment supports our aspirational growth strategies in the Infrastructure Division. He appreciates what we are trying to achieve within the Phenna Group, and I’m confident that he will be a fantastic asset as we continue to develop and grow our businesses.” With a proven track record of driving business top-line and bottom-line growth through effective operational excellence, robust commercial and entrepreneurial strategies. Matt has strong experience in delivering business transformation, through formulating and implementing initiatives to improve organisational performance, raise operating efficiencies and increase shareholder value. Matt holds a Masters in Management Studies from Kingston University and is a strong advocate of professional and personal development, having also undertaken advanced development programs at both Cranfield Business School and London Business School. He is married with three children and has a passion for personal fitness and cooking. With headquarters in Leicester and a nationwide network of laboratories and offices offering a wide range of Construction Materials Testing, and Surveying and Monitoring services, CTS is the go-to partner of choice. It supports all sectors of the construction market, including residential, commercial, rail, road, airports, tunnelling, mining, utilities, and brownfield regeneration. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National construction products manufacturer and building envelope specialist, CA Group, have renewed their membership with Secured by Design (SBD). Founded in 1983, independently owned, an Employee Benefit Trust and home to some of the most experienced construction personnel in the industry, CA Group is one of the largest manufacturers and installer of metal built-up building envelope systems in the UK. Working closely with their supply chains, the company pioneer in the manufacture, supply and install of technically advanced metal roofing and cladding solutions – primarily for the warehousing, distribution and logistics sectors, though also including retail, leisure, residential and the public sector. CA Group works with some of Europe’s largest and most innovative property developers to create state-of-the-art, technically advanced buildings in some of the UK’s most prominent and emerging business centres. They provide workspaces that meet both the stringent demands of today’s commercial organisations, whilst enabling future build adaptation to flex with changing marketplace conditions – with a focus on sustainability, energy performance and asset return. CA Group’s range includes, built-up roof and wall systems, renewable energy solutions, rainscreen, rainwater and cladding systems, insulation, louvres, accessories and detailing, to provide a fully engineered building envelope solution – all supported by expert product development and technical consultancy. Find out more about CA Group and their extensive range of SBD accredited building shells and walling systems here. Andrew Brewster, Head of Technical for CA Group, said: “Security, Fire and Sustainability are three fundamental performance characteristics of any building envelope solution. Through continuous product development and system evolution CA Group deliver market leading specifications and our independent SBD accreditation and LPS 1175 certification are of significant importance, providing our clients and developers with essential peace of mind, backed by insurance recognition”. Alfie Hosker, Secured by Design, said: “I am delighted that the CA Group have renewed with us once again and I look forward to another successful association going forward. They offer a range of roofing and walling systems which meet the requirements for Police Preferred Specification and have been incorporated into several developments across the UK”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Navigating the construction industry can be challenging, but with the right strategies and insights, you can ensure sustained growth and success. Here’s a comprehensive guide blending business advice and DIY tips to elevate your construction, building, and property ventures. For more comprehensive business advice and tools, explore resources at https://boostsuite.com/. Understanding Market Trends Stay ahead by analyzing current market trends. Recognize the demand for sustainable and eco-friendly construction, which can set your business apart. Incorporate green building practices to attract environmentally conscious clients and comply with increasing regulatory standards. Strategic Planning Project Management Leveraging Technology Client Relationship Management DIY Projects and Home Improvement Conclusion By integrating strategic business practices with innovative construction techniques, you can drive growth and success in the construction industry. Stay informed about market trends, leverage technology, and prioritize client satisfaction to build a thriving construction business.
