June 3, 2025
Winvic Appointed by IM Properties at £200m Towcester Park

Winvic Appointed by IM Properties at £200m Towcester Park

Winvic Construction Ltd has been appointed by IM Properties (IMP) to commence construction work at a major new employment park, Towcester Park. Expected to create 1,500 jobs when fully occupied, Towcester Park will provide skills and training opportunities for local people and fund projects through a dedicated £100,000 community fund.

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Confidence boost in UK Construction projects following US/UK Trade Deal but concerns persist, survey reveals

Confidence boost in UK Construction projects following US/UK Trade Deal but concerns persist, survey reveals

A new survey has revealed a boost in optimism amongst professionals delivering Construction projects following the announcement of a US/UK trade deal, though some concerns remain about the deal’s longer-term implications. The vast majority (85%) of respondents are confident in their organisation’s ability to carry out projects following the deal.

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Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland Makes Investment in Sustainable Solutions

Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland Makes Investment in Sustainable Solutions

In response to growing demand for high-performance infrastructure, Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has made a significant investment to expand its offering and meet the evolving needs of the industry. As part of its Sunbelt 4.0 strategy, designed to improve customer experience and sustainability, the company has expanded its fleet

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Qflow Wins King’s Award for Innovation, Recognised as a Leader in Construction Tech

Qflow Wins King’s Award for Innovation, Recognised as a Leader in Construction Tech

Qflow (Qualis Flow) – the award-winning construction technology company whose instant on-site data capture delivers transformative industry insight – has been honoured with the King’s Award for Innovation, the UK’s most prestigious recognition for pioneering excellence in business. Founded in 2018 to solve one of construction’s most pressing blind spots; real-time visibility into

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It’s the right answer. Teams at the Dougall Baillie Associates 40th Anniversary Quiz (and the Marathon runners) raise £4300 for charity

It’s the right answer. Teams at the Dougall Baillie Associates 40th Anniversary Quiz (and the Marathon runners) raise £4300 for charity

Civil engineers dig deep into their pockets to raisecash for Scotland’s worthiest causes The big-hearted teams from East Kilbride-based civil engineers Dougall Baillie Associates not only know how to dig into their pockets for Scotland’s worthiest causes, some of them also know how to dig deep into their physical and

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Latest Issue
Issue 329 : Jun 2025

June 3, 2025

Willmott Dixon Interiors delivers 139,000 sq ft net zero office refurbishment in Birmingham

Willmott Dixon Interiors delivers 139,000 sq ft net zero office refurbishment in Birmingham

Fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors, has completed the back-to-frame redevelopment of 19 Cornwall Street in Birmingham city centre, on behalf of their client, Kier Property.  The CAT A refurbishment has delivered 139,000 sq ft of flexible, SMART-enabled office space to net zero carbon standards across seven floors – making it one of the city’s most environmentally sustainable office buildings. The project features a striking new glass entrance with revolving doors, leading to a double height reception/welcome space. There are two ground floor units with dedicated entrances off Cornwall Street, new interactive breakout areas, and a planted communal roof terrace located on the fifth floor.  A central atrium, which extends through the building, has been reduced in size to increase office floorplates and is constructed using sustainable materials from top to bottom. New tenant amenities are located at the ground floor and are designed to promote both employee wellbeing and sustainable travel. They include a multi-functional studio space, showers and changing rooms, cycle storage and 24 electric vehicle charging stations. Willmott Dixon Interiors carried out a full replacement of all MEP services as part of an all-electric strategy to enhance the building’s energy efficiency, which included the installation of 400 sq m of PV panels. Occupiers will also benefit from VRF comfort cooling and heating, and individual floor digital controls. 19 Cornwall Street is BREEAM Excellent, EPC A rated, WiredScore enabled, and is officially registered to achieve a NABERS Target Rating of 5 stars, reflecting the highest standards of environmental office design. The building is also targeting WELL Gold certification.  Social value has been an integral part of the refurbishment, with around £9.5 million of spend directed to local suppliers.  Willmott Dixon Interiors provided jobs for 12 local people and created multiple training, mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities. This included the delivery of mock interviews and careers advice in partnership with local schools and colleges, promoting construction as a sector of choice. The site team also raised hundreds of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support through community fundraising.  Adam Worrall, deputy managing director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “We are passionate about creating sustainable, future-proofed workspaces, and 19 Cornwall Street is a great example of that. Kier Property shares our vision for energy efficient office design, and together we’ve transformed an existing building into a modern, high-quality space that meets the highest environmental sustainability standards.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Winvic Appointed by IM Properties at £200m Towcester Park

Winvic Appointed by IM Properties at £200m Towcester Park

Winvic Construction Ltd has been appointed by IM Properties (IMP) to commence construction work at a major new employment park, Towcester Park. Expected to create 1,500 jobs when fully occupied, Towcester Park will provide skills and training opportunities for local people and fund projects through a dedicated £100,000 community fund. Northampton-based Winvic, is a leading main contractor specialising in the design and construction of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects. Commenting on starting the initial phase of the 1.1 million sq ft development, Danny Nelson, Managing Director – Industrial, Distribution & Logistics at Winvic, said: “We’re proud to continue our long-standing partnership with IM Properties and work together to deliver the first stages of this high-quality employment space with industry-leading sustainability credentials.” A mix of high quality, sustainable employment space on a Design & Build basis which will target EPC A and BREEAM Excellent ratings, will be available at Towcester Park across a range of sectors. The site will also include 15 acres of green space, amenity land and retained and enhanced landscaping. For businesses looking to scale up, IMP is offering its ‘Kick Start’ scheme, with reserved matters submitted for a range of units to accommodate space requirements from 13,500 to 22,000 sq ft. To retain larger operators in the region or attract businesses looking to relocate, Towcester Park already has reserved matters for warehouse space of up to 470,000 sq ft. Buildings will feature HQ style office space, roof terraces on outboard offices, contemporary reception areas and high quality, modern working environments. Electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities will help promote green travel and the scheme overall will aim for Net Zero Ready status, to help occupiers transition to Net Zero in their own operations. Richard Sykes, Development Director at IM Properties, said: “Winvic is a trusted and valued member of our supply chain who understands our ambitions to deliver legacy projects and work in partnership with the community. They have successfully delivered several of our previous schemes and will work closely with our team to help shape the first stages of this strategically important development.” Working closely with local educational institutions and training providers, IMP aims to introduce apprenticeship schemes, vocational training programmes and career pathways within the logistics and industrial sectors. 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 (Formally Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Major boost to Council housing company as new funding backer announced to accelerate home building in Manchester

Major boost to Council housing company as new funding backer announced to accelerate home building in Manchester

Manchester City Council is set to enter into a landmark partnership with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) to deliver hundreds of genuinely affordable homes as part of plans to build 1,600 more homes in the coming years.  GMPF has been selected, through a competitive process, as the investment partner for the next phase of development by This City, the Council’s housing company. The Council’s Executive is being asked to endorse the creation of a new joint venture with GMPF to deliver the second phase of This City development when it meets on 4 June.   This City’s first flagship project, No.1 Ancoats Green, is nearing completion – with 129 low carbon homes created next to the brilliant new green space and park at Ancoats Green. 30% of these will be available at the Manchester Living Rent, capped at the rent level which can be covered by housing benefit to make sure they are affordable to as many people as possible.   The initial pipeline for phase two consists of 1,583 homes on Council-owned brownfield sites across the city. At least 20% of these new homes will be affordable homes to rent. This City also has a strong emphasis on sustainability through low carbon homes, and on community.   Postal Street in the Northen Quarter, Piccadilly is the most advanced of the phase two sites with a planning application expected to be submitted in the coming weeks for 126 new homes – 20% of them affordable and to be let at the Manchester Living Rent.   Engagement with local communities in Monsall and Longsight started earlier this year, beginning a conversation with local people about proposals for sites in their areas. While formal consultation will be undertaken later this year with local people in the Grey Mare Lane estate in east Manchester around proposals for new housing as part of the major estate regeneration that will deliver 100s of new affordable homes in this part of Beswick  Future This City sites include:  Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “This City is about accelerating home building on Council-owned land so that we can build the homes that Manchester needs on our own terms. These homes will contribute to our housing strategy target to deliver at least 36,000 new homes up to 2032 – and at least 10,000 of these homes will be social, Council or genuinely affordable.  “These are ambitious numbers and we are on track to meet them. For example, last year we built more council and social homes than any year for more than a decade, but we want to go even further. We plan to build new council and social housing in every part of the city and being creative, using our land and building the homes ourselves, we will do just that. And having the Greater Manchester Pension Fund on board gives us the financial boost to go further and build much needed low cost, low carbon homes for Manchester residents.”  Cllr Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “Having Greater Manchester Pension Fund on board with This City as an institutional investor will help us deliver at scale the new housing, including significant amounts of affordable housing, which Manchester needs.   “We’re seeing a step change and acceleration in the delivery of affordable housing, with more being built now than at any point in the last 12 years and with even more in the pipeline.”  Cllr Eleanor Wills, Chair of GMPF, said:“We are acutely aware of the severe housing crisis both nationally and in the North-West region. This is why we are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Manchester City Council investing in the “This City” vehicle that supports the Government’s plan to provide much-needed affordable homes for hardworking families while ensuring strong, low-risk returns to secure the pensions of our members. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Two new business units at former contaminated Shawfield site now complete

Two new business units at former contaminated Shawfield site now complete

Two High Value Manufacturing industrial units have been built on formerly contaminated land which had been described as one of the most polluted inner-city sites in the UK. The units were completed ‘on time and on budget’ after a funding boost from the Scottish Government. Named Innovation Shawfield, the South Lanarkshire development was visited by the Scottish Government Investment Minister, Tom Arthur on 27th May, to inspect the newly finished commercial spaces that form the first phase of a new £500 million regeneration programme called ‘Clyde Gateway Innovation’. Innovation Shawfield has been jointly funded by the UK Government, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Clyde Gateway, with additional funding for further infrastructure works also being provided by South Lanarkshire Council. The works are spearheaded by Clyde Gateway, Scotland’s largest regeneration project, which in addition to the construction of the two new units, also includes further site acquisition and remediation works as well as the treatment of contaminants from the old chemical works near the Polmadie Burn. The site has been remediated over a number of years, transforming derelict land that had otherwise lain empty for decades, into an area of investment, growth, opportunity and job creation. Built on the former J&J Whites Chemical plant, also known as Shawfield Chemical Works, which operated from 1820 to 1967 and at one point produced up to 70% of the UK’s chromate products. This activity generated significant volumes of hazardous chromium waste, which continues to be remediated by Clyde Gateway.  Remediation works initially commenced in Shawfield in 2013, which led to the construction of ‘Red Tree Magenta’, a 40,000sq. ft managed office building, which opened in December 2018 and now supports 21 companies and over 180 jobs. This latest £8.75m project is part of a £25m investment programme currently underway on site, which includes a £14.6m contribution in November 2023 from the UK Government (formerly Levelling Up Funding Round 3), £1.2m from Scottish Enterprise and £7.5m from The Scottish Government, with Clyde Gateway and South Lanarkshire Council contributing the remainder. The two industrial units, totalling 2,700m2 (29,000sq. ft), received planning permission in March 2024 and have been constructed by Heron Bros. Designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ status in addition to exemplary ESG credentials, they are designed for High Value Manufacturing (HVM) use. Investment Minister in the Scottish Government, Tom Arthur, said: “Our significant investment in this project has helped to remove toxic chemicals from the former Shawfield Chemical Works site and transform it into a thriving hub for businesses. “The completion of these works is welcome news for Glasgow and Rutherglen, creating up to 90 permanent jobs and ultimately reducing pollution in the River Clyde. “To benefit people throughout Scotland, we are providing £62.15 million for regeneration projects in 2025/26. This will revitalise green spaces, town centres and derelict sites across the country.” Martin McKay, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway said: “Remediating this land not only removes an eyesore from the local community, it will also bring jobs and economic activity well into the future. Clyde Gateway has remediated the equivalent of over 400 football pitches since our inception and this work has transformed the areas of Rutherglen, Dalmarnock and Bridgeton, with new housing, green spaces and businesses now filling what was dead space. “With the help of funding from our partners, including the Scottish and UK Governments, we have been able to create these new spaces on time and on budget. This development forms part of our £500m vision for Clyde Gateway that will establish the area as a hub for innovation, green jobs and advanced manufacturing, bringing new homes, hotels and employment opportunities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Prominent 2.75 acre development site at edge of Manchester City Centre hits market

Prominent 2.75 acre development site at edge of Manchester City Centre hits market

Manchester City Council has appointed CBRE to market a 2.75 acre development site on the edge of Manchester City Centre.  CBRE’s UK Development and Residential team is seeking proposals for the delivery of a highly sustainable development that complements and enhances the local area. The opportunity is within the urban area of Hulme, which has seen substantial inward investment since the 1980s. Sitting adjacent to the A5103 Princess Road, the site has direct access to Manchester City Centre and M60 motorway.  It also benefits from public transport connectivity, with Cornbrook Metrolink stop, Manchester Oxford Road and Deansgate railway stations all approximately 1 mile from the site with several bus stops in the immediate vicinity. The surrounding area comprises a mix of uses including mid- and low- rise residential properties, education facilities, offices and retail amenity. Furthermore, there are 15 primary and secondary schools within a 1-mile radius, including the renowned Loreto College.  Kieran McLaughlin, Senior Director in CBRE’s UK Development & Residential team, said:  “CBRE is delighted to be acting on behalf of Manchester City Council to bring forward this exciting development opportunity at the edge of Manchester City Centre. We are anticipating strong market interest from developers looking to capitalise on the ongoing regeneration of Hulme, an area home to many of the city’s families and young professionals. This opportunity is available on a long-leasehold basis and subject to planning offers are invited for 13:00 Wednesday 30th July.” Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:  “This is a great opportunity to bring forward a quality residential-led regeneration programme – including a range of social and genuinely affordable housing – in a popular part of Manchester, close to the city centre. The development of the site should have community at its heart, so alongside residential accommodation we want to see great public space and commercial opportunities as well. We look forward to seeing ambitious proposals to bring the potential of this site to reality, creating a highly sustainable development of renown that will complement and enhance the Hulme neighbourhood.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Confidence boost in UK Construction projects following US/UK Trade Deal but concerns persist, survey reveals

Confidence boost in UK Construction projects following US/UK Trade Deal but concerns persist, survey reveals

A new survey has revealed a boost in optimism amongst professionals delivering Construction projects following the announcement of a US/UK trade deal, though some concerns remain about the deal’s longer-term implications. The vast majority (85%) of respondents are confident in their organisation’s ability to carry out projects following the deal. The survey revealed this was consistent across key sectors in the UK economy, including Construction (83%), Manufacturing (92%), and Automotive (81%). This renewed confidence is largely driven by two key factors: improved market access and greater regulatory alignment. Over half (51%) of respondents said the deal opened up greater opportunities for trading and enhanced access to suppliers, customers and partners as a key benefit, noting this would significantly improve project feasibility and scalability. A further 48% pointed to reduced compliance burdens as a result of closer regulatory cooperation, which is expected to streamline project execution and reduce delays. The findings were revealed in a survey of 250 project professionals, conducted by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, in partnership with Censuswide. Projects and project management are a key driver of economic growth in the UK. APM research shows the profession adds £4.73bn to the transport sector, £8.44bn to the manufacturing sector and £33.19bn to the construction sector when measured by Gross Value Added (GVA). However, not all professionals are convinced. A small minority of just under 5% reported a decline in confidence, citing lingering challenges that could affect delivery outcomes. Of those who are optimistic, some concerns still remain. Nearly half (48%) of those surveyed expressed worry that the trade deal could disrupt existing relationships with non-US/UK partners, potentially leading to contract renegotiations and supply chain complications. Another 44% highlighted uncertainty around how the deal will be implemented, suggesting that evolving terms may complicate planning and risk assessments. When asked about the expected impact on project delivery over the next 12 to 18 months, responses painted a mixed picture. While a third (33%) anticipate improved project delivery, many foresee challenges ahead. These include: The shift away from environmental priorities is notable and suggest project professionals are concerned that net-zero targets may take a back seat in light of evolving trade agendas. Commenting on the findings, Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive of APM, said: “This survey highlights both renewed optimism and ongoing complexities for the projects that drive the UK economy following the UK/US trade deal. Confidence is clearly growing across key sectors, fuelled by better market access and improved regulatory alignment, which is positive to see. “At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge the concerns that remain. Particularly around the stability of global partnerships, evolving implementation details, and the potential sidelining of sustainability goals. These factors will demand agile leadership and careful planning from those delivering projects on the ground. “As the project landscape grow more complex and becomes more globally connected, the ability to manage short term uncertainty and maintain a focus on long term outcomes is more crucial than ever. These insights reflect a profession that is alert to both opportunity and risk.” APM offers a wide range of professional development resources, qualifications and networking opportunities to support both individuals and organisations in enhancing project delivery capability. Visit apm.org.uk for more information. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland Makes Investment in Sustainable Solutions

Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland Makes Investment in Sustainable Solutions

In response to growing demand for high-performance infrastructure, Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has made a significant investment to expand its offering and meet the evolving needs of the industry. As part of its Sunbelt 4.0 strategy, designed to improve customer experience and sustainability, the company has expanded its fleet with 20,000 recyclable aluminium panels, along with 28 Trakway installation vehicles. This expansion of their fleet supports the company with the increasing demand for safe, scalable and environmentally responsible infrastructure across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. An important aspect of the investment is their focus on the sustainability aspects of the equipment to allow customers to easily make the switch to greener solutions. The recyclable aluminium panels are aligned to the company’s sustainability strategy, Our Planet, designed to reduce waste and increase circular economy practices. Once used, these panels will be melted down, repurposed and returned into the industry. Ann Marie Brindle, Commercial Director – Trakway at Sunbelt Rentals said “This investment reflects our commitment to providing our customers with a world class rental experience. The addition of the Lion panels and expanded fleet of electric solutions means we can consistently deliver on time and align with our customers’ focus on sustainable solutions.” Lee Robinson, Managing Director of Trakway at Sunbelt Rentals, expanded on how this will benefit their customers: “This investment goes beyond the equipment – it’s about setting a standard for excellent customer experience and social sustainability.” In addition to its investment in equipment, Sunbelt Rentals is equally focused on investing in its people. Recognising the importance of expertise and safety, the company is committed to prioritising the development of its teams through targeted training programmes. Every teammate involved in site operations is required to complete mandatory certifications, including CSCS, ALMI, BESC, and lift supervision. These qualifications ensure that every team member meets the highest standards of safety and technical proficiency, guaranteeing that customers receive a consistently high level of service backed by knowledgeable and skilled teams. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Qflow Wins King’s Award for Innovation, Recognised as a Leader in Construction Tech

Qflow Wins King’s Award for Innovation, Recognised as a Leader in Construction Tech

Qflow (Qualis Flow) – the award-winning construction technology company whose instant on-site data capture delivers transformative industry insight – has been honoured with the King’s Award for Innovation, the UK’s most prestigious recognition for pioneering excellence in business. Founded in 2018 to solve one of construction’s most pressing blind spots; real-time visibility into materials and waste on live projects, Qflow has grown into a critical data platform now deployed on £15 billion of construction value across the UK and US, including major infrastructure projects such as HS2. The platform has quickly become essential to some of the world’s largest contractors, delivering a new level of accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency across project portfolios. “Winning the King’s Award for Enterprise is an incredible honour. The construction industry has a critical role in shaping a sustainable future, and it’s great for this award to recognise that. Construction is one of the oldest and most foundational industries in the world, and it must now become one of the most progressive. At Qflow, we are proud to be driving that transformation by equipping project teams with the tools they need to make more sustainable, data-led decisions every day. This award is a powerful reminder that sustainable change is not only possible, but profitable — and we’re just getting started.” Brittany Harris, CEO, Qflow. Qflow’s innovation lies in its ability to automate data capture and analysis directly from the construction site. With just a quick photo from a mobile phone, the platform digitises and verifies critical information on materials and waste, providing real-time insights into their quality, cost and carbon footprint that help teams make faster, smarter decisions. This tracking and unprecedented visibility provided has helped project teams avoid over ¼ million tonnes in embodied carbon emissions and 100,000 tonnes of waste. The historically complex, time-consuming tasks of capturing, digitising, auditing and analysing thousands of delivery slips have been simplified into a simple, transparent workflow. By giving teams instant access to accurate site data, Qflow helps prevent costly rework, delays and potentially life-threatening mistakes. Qflow customers have reported savings of over £220,000 per project per year, through avoided fines, rework, time spent chasing records and by removing waste, both material and process, from their operations. The platform supports all types of construction projects from residential developments and commercial high-rises to major infrastructure works and data centres for clients like Vinci, Bouygues, Berkeley Homes, Morgan Sindall and Galliford Try, to name a few. “It’s humbling to be recognised for this award. This industry is one which is close to our hearts, and we’ve only scratched the surface in terms of the level of positive impact we want to see in the built environment. I’d like to use the opportunity to thank our customers, the organisations we work with and the team who are delivering this vision. Without this collaboration, none of this impact could be delivered, and there’s a lot more to come.” Jade Cohen, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Building on this strong track record in the UK, Qflow are now making waves in the US with customers like Suffolk Construction and Graycor already on board. The announcement of the King’s Award comes as Qflow reaches a major milestone in its journey — the platform has now helped the construction industry avoid over a quarter of a million tonnes of CO₂e. This prestigious recognition highlights the level of excellence within Qflow, solidifying its position as an industry leader. As the company continues to grow and expand into new markets, this award opens exciting new opportunities, further fuelling its future success and solidifying its reputation in the global construction technology space. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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It’s the right answer. Teams at the Dougall Baillie Associates 40th Anniversary Quiz (and the Marathon runners) raise £4300 for charity

It’s the right answer. Teams at the Dougall Baillie Associates 40th Anniversary Quiz (and the Marathon runners) raise £4300 for charity

Civil engineers dig deep into their pockets to raisecash for Scotland’s worthiest causes The big-hearted teams from East Kilbride-based civil engineers Dougall Baillie Associates not only know how to dig into their pockets for Scotland’s worthiest causes, some of them also know how to dig deep into their physical and psychological reserves. They turned out in their droves for a challenging and hugely successful 40th Anniversary Quiz Night at the Revolution night spot in Glasgow and raised £2,300 for the Beatson Cancer Charity, which delivers a unique, patient-focused approach to change the lives of those affected. In the same week, DBA’s Sean McBride and Daniel Cooke pushed themselves to the limit to complete the Adidas Manchester Marathon, the 2nd largest in the UK and the 4th largest in Europe, raising over £2,000 for Alzheimer’s charities. The quiz, which was hosted by legendary “Lord of Quiz” Sir James, saw 22 teams fighting it out for the title, which was once again taken by a strong cohort from engineering service company Stantec. Sean and Daniel ran the gruelling 26-mile 385-yard course through the vibrant streets of Greater Manchester along with a record 36,000 other participants from all over the world and in front of more than 140,000 supporters. Fergus Adams, Managing Director of Dougall Baillie Associates, said: “We feel very proud of our great team at Dougall Baillie Associates, who work very hard and very professionally in their day jobs, but still find time to raise much-needed cash for those less fortunate than themselves. “The quiz night marked our 40th year of operations in a highly competitive field and we were delighted that so many of our colleagues, friends, customers and suppliers supported us in raising this splendid sum for the Beatson. “Congratulations to Sean and Daniel, who trained hard for what must be one of the toughest challenges in sport, and did themselves and DBA proud. These achievements will inspire the whole team to continue their fundraising efforts.” The DBA teams raised a similar sum for charity last year with a combination of events, including walking, cycling and running. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Nottingham college opens new dedicated training centre to address regional green skills shortages

Nottingham college opens new dedicated training centre to address regional green skills shortages

A new £250,000 centre for green skills training and education has been officially opened at Nottingham College, to address skills shortages in both construction and renewable energy in the region.   The Green Skills Centre, based within the Nottingham Sustainability Enterprise Centre at Basford campus, is kitted out with nine state-of-the-art, interactive demonstration and training bays, comprising solar PV, air source heat pumps, battery storage, electric vehicle charging and solar thermal technologies.  In each area, students will have access to a live working bay, an installation / maintenance bay, and a fault-finding bay, giving them practical application of learning across core low carbon technologies in live real-world scenarios.   The launch of the Green Skills Centre is hot on the heels of significant adjacent investment at Nottingham College’s Basford campus, including the £6million Construction Skills Centre which opened in November 2024.  Funded by the Local Skills Improvement Fund and delivered in partnership with Quantum Training, the Green Skills Centre will respond directly to the region’s local skills needs and set the standard for upskilling in green sustainability-focused careers, both for students in further education and adults who may already be working in industry.   Bolstering the sustainability offer at the college, the Green Skills Centre enhances Nottingham College’s ability to play a pivotal role in supporting the construction sector, as it gears up to deliver the government’s 1.5 million homes mission – many of which will need to hit significant sustainability benchmarks.  The new facility also complements the existing green skills provision offering through the Gas Centre at Basford and the electric vehicle and related technologies courses offered at Ruddington campus.  In addition, the Green Skills Centre supports Nottingham College’s commitment to achieving carbon net zero through its comprehensive suite of sustainability initiatives, including decarbonisation of heritage buildings, rewilding projects in city centre locations and other retrofit initiatives to reduce energy consumption.   Carl Ara, Assistant Principal at Basford, acknowledged the impact that the new facility will have on teaching. He said:   “The Green Skills Centre provides a unique learning environment for students to develop their practical skills and understanding of green skills required in industry. Qualifications in green skills courses opens up a number of career options for students, whether that is in robotics, renewable technologies, business, construction and the built environment, agriculture, hospitality and retail, science and the public sector – so it is an education pathway which provides students with a great number of choices for further study and employment.  “Our mission at Nottingham College is to unlock potential through learning and this is exactly the sort of future-ready facility that will support delivery of a high standard of education for our students and adult learners in industry.”   James Swift, Director of Strategic Development and Projects at Nottingham College, was part of the bids team instrumental in accessing funding for the centre. He said:   “Success in allocation of funding for the Green Skills Centre is in part thanks to the increased demand for jobs and careers in green skills, exacerbated by a growing emphasis on tackling the climate emergency. As our understanding of environmental pressures increases, it is becoming more important to respond to these challenges in our society – and so green skills will help us address them across multiple industry sectors here in Nottingham and beyond.”   Maria Gonella, Managing Partner at Quantum Training, said:  “At Quantum, we’ve been delivering practical, hands-on renewable and retrofit training facilities across the country, as part of our mission to help drive the UK’s transition to net zero. One of the biggest challenges in achieving this goal is the shortage of a workforce equipped with green skills. That’s why we’re committed to supporting colleges, like Nottingham, in delivering green skills training and preparing learners with the expertise needed to drive the UK’s green transition.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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