September 15, 2025
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Issue 332 : Sept 2025

September 15, 2025

Pilbeam Construction wins Sussex Heritage Trust award for Newhaven Fort restoration

Pilbeam Construction wins Sussex Heritage Trust award for Newhaven Fort restoration

Sussex contractor Pilbeam Construction has been honoured with a prestigious Sussex Heritage Trust Award for its outstanding work on the £7.5 million restoration of Newhaven Fort, funded by UK Government. Pilbeam marked the occasion by presenting a commemorative plaque to Newhaven Fort, which is now proudly displayed on site for visitors to see. The 12-month project, delivered in close collaboration with Historic England, transformed the Scheduled Monument into a vibrant visitor destination to attract wider audiences.  Andrew Arrow, director of Pilbeam Construction, said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive this award in the Public and Community category recognising the restoration of Newhaven Fort, which was a complex and rewarding project. “It required careful liaison with Historic England and with multiple specialist contractors. “Since the Fort reopened this year, we hear it is now so popular at weekends and during the holidays that visitors are being advised to book in advance.”  Pilbeam’s specialist team, which has extensive experience in restoring heritage buildings, tackled serious damp issues, restored 18 casemates (vaults), and upgraded facilities to create welcoming exhibition and event spaces. The project involved more than 30 different elements, including removing 300 cubic metres of soil to install drainage and prevent water ingress, repointing and masonry repairs to casemate frontages, recladding the Romney Hut to create a flexible event space and repairing WWII gun emplacements and canopies. Accessibility improvements and upgrades to handrails and edge protection were also completed, along with specialist concrete and steelwork repairs using hydro demolition and sprayed concrete techniques. Pilbeam’s site manager Simon Hepworth, a Newhaven resident, brought local insight and personal passion to the project. Two of the restored casemates are now available for venue hire, helping the site expand its appeal beyond military history enthusiasts. Duncan Kerr, chief executive at Wave Active, which operates Newhaven Fort, on behalf of Lewes District Council said: “This award is a testament to the incredible work carried out by Pilbeam and the wider team. Their efforts have safeguarded a vital community asset and helped put Newhaven on the map as a heritage destination.” Project partners included Pritchard Architecture, HOP Consulting, IWA M&E Consulting Engineers, MEA and many others, who worked together to preserve and enhance the fort for future generations. Ryan Stock from heritage specialists Pritchard Architecture added: “We’re so proud our work has secured this prestigious award. “The project broke new ground in the preservation of fortifications, setting a precedent that has since inspired similar efforts by other organisations and our radical interventions will secure the future of the fort for future generations.” The Sussex Heritage Trust Awards have been running for nearly 30 years and are designed to recognise and reward the highest quality conservation, restoration and design of newly built projects, while encouraging the use of traditional skills and crafts. Councillor Johnny Denis, cabinet member for arts, culture and tourism and leisure at Lewes District Council said: “With its rich history, Newhaven Fort is a unique local landmark and through this extensive preservation work, many of its key features have been safeguarded for the future. I am delighted that the project has been recognised with this award, which is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.” For further information visit: www.pilbeamconstruction.co.uk  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Savills boosts BPC London project management team with data centre sector specialist

Savills boosts BPC London project management team with data centre sector specialist

Savills has continued to grow its London project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with the appointment of data centre specialist Alex Thomas who joins as an associate director at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London. Alex has over 15 years’ experience across the construction industry, delivering complex data centre projects throughout EMEA for clients including AWS and Microsoft. He joins from Rider Levett Bucknall,  having previously worked at CBRE Global Workplace Solutions after starting his career as a structural engineer. At Savills, Alex will join the data centre project management team working alongside Marc Edmondson who joined the firm earlier this year. Together, they will work with the company’s wider data centre experts in the UK and EMEA, ranging from planning to capital advisory. Alex Thomas comments: “I am delighted to join Savills data centre project management team, strengthening the firm’s capability to help satisfy increasing demand from both cloud providers and AI businesses. This remains an exciting area of expansion and I look forward to working with Savills strong existing network of data centre experts across the UK and EMEA.” Simon Collett, Executive Director and head of BPC at Savills adds: “We are very pleased to welcome Alex to Savills. This is a significant growth area for the business and his experience and expertise will no doubt bolster our ability to offer our clients a first-class service.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Business Environments: The Unbelievable Costs of Poor Cleaning Practices

Business Environments: The Unbelievable Costs of Poor Cleaning Practices

For some businesses, cleaning is another item on the list to cross out. They don’t consider the long-term effects that poor practices may have on their operations. And in most cases, the cost is devastating and even unbelievable. Good cleaning shouldn’t be something you put off or do half-heartedly. Leaving behind dirt and debris can compromise your entire workspace. That’s why trusted companies like Georgia Facility Services come so highly recommended. They go beyond surface-level cleaning, delivering real results that protect your space, your staff, and your reputation. Want to know what sets them apart? Learn more about Georgia Facility Services and why they’re a top choice for smart, long-term cleaning solutions. Your customers, employees, and even building inspectors will notice the difference. In this article, we’ll dig into the real costs of neglecting proper cleaning and why it’s worth getting it right. Customer Dissatisfaction Whether returning or potential, customers are always watching. They see your products and hear your pitches. But other senses are at play because they can smell and see your premises. Do you have a reception with a handful of dust and mold stifling out? Or do your restrooms give off more than their fair share of stink? You might think doing enough compensates for everything, but you’re wrong. These spots and others deserve the ultimate cleaning attention. Remember, first impressions are lasting ones. A poorly cleaned business area says more than you imagine. Letting your staff and customers know you don’t care about cleanliness. Real Health and Safety Violations Most businesses are subject to regular health and safety inspections. When you fall foul of the rules, the cost could be too steep to handle. Things like poor hygiene and improper waste disposal can lead to significant fines. There are agencies that watch out for hygiene and safety standards, especially in public industries. Instead of facing risks like steep fines and shutdown, ensure improved cleaning standards. Poor Staff Morale If you thought only your customers would have issues, you’re wrong. Your staff or employees would likely frown at working in a dirty, poorly maintained environment. Their attitude can change to low motivation, poor attention to services, and more. Some of the employees even leave the job, citing poor treatment and consideration. What do your staff really want? They want to be proud of the place they work for. Feeling safe on the job starts with having the right tools and a comfortable, clean environment. That means spotless restrooms, high safety standards, and a space that shows you care. You’ll get fewer sick days, better productivity, and smooth operations. Damaged Reputation It’s a social media world, which means word spreads faster. Most times, it takes a single bad review, viral post, or video to get tongues wagging. The sad part? It could be a dent in your reputation or business credibility. With dirt, you can recover with proper cleaning practices. But it takes more effort to wipe stains off your business’s reputation. Before it gets to that state where your loyal customers leave, get busy. A team with experience can help to brush up on your business environment and spaces. Doing so will mean avoiding extra costs for PR fixes to your reputation. Open Invite to Pests and Extensive Damage It takes a little while before unclean spaces become open invitations to pests. Before you realize it, you’ve got more than dirty floors to deal with. Why not prevent such occurrences with cleaners that maintain a pristine environment? Roaches, termites, rats, and other pests will have a field day in a dirty space. If you have issues with waste, mold, and other dirt, get rid of them fast before you encounter issues that cost more to fix and handle. If you can, employ all necessary measures to maintain a spotless environment. That includes hiring experts who can perform various tasks, depending on the arrangement. Poorly Executed DIY In-house employees or DIY mechanisms may extend potential cleaning problems. This is the case with many small business owners. They imagine that they have people who could come in and mop. But that’s rarely enough. The truth is that professional cleaning is different from casual sweeping or mopping. Professionals come prepared to handle all kinds of cleaning needs. They will deal competently with high-touch surfaces that spread germs. Professionals apply industrial-strength disinfectants and follow strict schedules. They do this without causing a break in your team’s workflow and other processes. And this means you’ll save money and manpower as your team focuses on vital tasks. Conclusion Cleaning attracts some costs, but poor practices create new problems. You may end up spending too much to run your business. Faced with rent and other running costs, a dirty environment has huge financial implications. If you’re starting a new business, it’s a major pitfall to avoid. Some of the repercussions are discussed here. They include damage to your business’s reputation, low staff morale, and regulatory violations. Your best bet? Invest in a professional cleaning company for your business or commercial space. You’d be protecting people, property, inventories, profits, and your reputation. Georgia Facility Services is the best company to work with.

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