Just over 12 months after the senior team at specialist commercial interior design business, Ben Johnson, completed a management buyout, the company has gone from strength to strength, expanding into new sectors, as well as opening a new London office. In December 2022, Emma Dodsley, Lee Fleming and Matthew Day
The Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) is working with the British Standards Institute (BSI) and UKRI’s Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, to develop an AI-powered tool to help electromechanical repair specialists ensure they repair hazardous area motors to the correct standard. The tool, which
In response to the Rightmove statistic finding a 273% jump in sellers coming to the market on Boxing Day, Nathan Emerson CEO Propertymark comments: “Positivity is clearly resonating on the property market even though Christmas is normally a quiet period for the property sector. Rightly so, sellers are clearly not
A mixed-use development in Molesey, Surrey, has been rejuvenated by Odyssey Developments thanks to a seven-figure property development loan from Secure Trust Bank (STB) Real Estate Finance. The property, located within Greater London, is a commercial-residential hybrid with a florist on the ground floor and two, two-bedroom flats above. Molesey,
BLOCWORK, the partnership between Network Rail and property developer bloc Group has completed its first build-to-rent scheme for Grainger plc in Nottingham. The Barnum – a 348-home scheme situated adjacent to the city’s railway station – was delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, and marks the regeneration of a significant area of
PERMAGROUP, the parent company of PermaRoof UK LTD, PermaRoof Commercial, and other leading solutions-based brands, is celebrating another successful year, achieving a record 16.4% growth in revenue. Despite challenging industry conditions, the company has gone from strength to strength, and in 2023 launched its latest innovation in rubber technology, Elevate
Works have now completed for Units 2 and 3, Omega West, Omega Business Park in Warrington delivered by McLaren Construction Midlands and North. Unit 2, developed by Omega St Helens Limited and managed by Miller Developments with Barings as Funder, is currently being marketed to potential end users and comprises
Veriforce CHAS, the supply chain risk management expert, is encouraging employers to make a habit of addressing mental health in 2024 as new figures indicate that stress, depression or anxiety now account for almost half (49%) of all cases of work-related ill health. According to the latest data from the HSE,
Ellis Osborn, Ecommerce Manager at IronmongeryDirect, said: “As we begin a new year, it’s always useful to look back to reflect on our industry’s challenges and successes, and the latest government data suggests we’re in a positive place moving into 2024. “While the value of construction output fell slightly (0.5%)
Leading UK powered access provider Nationwide Platforms has seen the second cohort of trainers graduate from its new IPAF trainee programme. Currently holding a 100% pass rate, the programme is designed to close the trainer skills gap and encourage younger people to become certified instructors. Jessica Taylor, Jennifer Roddis, Paulina
Just over 12 months after the senior team at specialist commercial interior design business, Ben Johnson, completed a management buyout, the company has gone from strength to strength, expanding into new sectors, as well as opening a new London office. In December 2022, Emma Dodsley, Lee Fleming and Matthew Day led the buyout of Ben Johnson following the retirement of managing director, Adrian Rumble. They were advised on the deal by Susan Clark, partner in LCF Law’s corporate team. Following the MBO, Ben Johnson, which is headquartered in York with another office in Newcastle, has won a string of prestigious contracts both locally and nationally. This has resulted in the company opening a third office in Fitzrovia, close to both Regent’s Park and the landmark BT Tower. Over the past 12 months, Ben Johnson has also diversified the sectors it works in, with major contract wins seeing the company completing fit outs spanning more than 40,000 sq ft on behalf of financial and professional services clients, as well as a further 40,000 sq ft for gaming and technology businesses. The company has also completed projects for engineering businesses, mixed use schemes and fit outs in medical and laboratory environments that cover approximately 30,000 sq ft in each sector. Another high-profile recently completed project includes a 25,000 sq ft fit out of office and laboratory space within London’s iconic Battersea Power Station development. Finance director, Lee Fleming, who has worked at Ben Johnson since 2005, explained: “The MBO followed two years of careful succession planning with Adrian’s support to ensure everyone had clearly defined roles and that each stage of the process was prepared. It’s paid dividends and although businesses often lose people during takeovers, we haven’t lost a single employee from our team, which is ultimately the most important part of our business. “Crucially, Susan also played a vital role in simplifying the whole takeover process and explaining onerous points in plain English, as well as working with us to plan dates and get the details right, to ensure everything ran smoothly. “Strengthening our presence on both the M1 and A1 corridors, spanning the north of south of England, by opening a London office, also stands us in good stead as we grow our national footprint.” Director Emma Dodsley, who oversees sales and marketing, added: “I joined Ben Johnson 13 years ago with the promise of being part of a future MBO team. Since we took over it’s been a privilege to build on what Adrian had created. “Office transformations will always be a big part of our work and especially now with businesses recognising that modern offices must provide a sense of community and not just desks, in order to encourage employees to enjoy being back in the office. As a result, we’ve completed projects for the likes of Reward Finance and Equifax during 2023. “Essentially though, we had ambitions to expand into more sectors, which has been a key focus over the past 12 months. We’re now working with manufacturers that aspire to offer first-class staff breakout areas to aid recruitment and gaming companies that want a genuine wow factor as soon as you walk into their premises, as well as several private hospitals and clinics where patients want to feel indulged. We’re now looking forward to building on this throughout 2024.” LCF Law’s Susan Clark said: “The success of Ben Johnson’s MBO is down to very careful succession planning, and the importance of this can never be underestimated. Adrian had a carefully prepared exit strategy which he implemented over a long period of time and selected and appointed the right people to lead the MBO. “He also recognised the strengths in Emma, Lee and Matthew and mentored them to ensure it would be a smooth transaction and that they would all thrive in their roles. To see the business going from strength to strength and carving out a national reputation is testament to this and it’s exciting to see how Ben Johnson continues to develop over the coming years.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) is working with the British Standards Institute (BSI) and UKRI’s Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, to develop an AI-powered tool to help electromechanical repair specialists ensure they repair hazardous area motors to the correct standard. The tool, which is being developed with some funding and support from Innovate UK, will enable engineers repairing rotating electrical equipment to clarify technical requirements through an easy-to-operate chatbot-style interface. Within the BS EN and IEC 60079 series of standards, various technical standards govern, among other things, the repair, overhaul, reclamation, installation, maintenance, and inspection, plus the design, testing and marking of equipment designed for use in explosive atmospheres. Navigating and interpreting this complex range of standards can be time-consuming and open to error. In addition, these standards are reviewed and updated periodically; however, it can be a challenge to ensure the right standard is used in conjunction with the age of the equipment being repaired. The tool under development by the AEMT and BSI aims to vastly simplify interpreting and complying with these complex standards while reducing the potential for error. Users of the system will be able to ask questions about the repair they are working on and be provided with the technical guidance and information required to ensure compliance and safety. The chat-based interface draws on large language model technology, which allows for further detail or clarification where needed. This is particularly valuable in interpreting a range of cross-referenced documents, where identifying the pertinent parts of various standards is not straightforward. By understanding the year in which the type of hazardous area equipment was certified, which can be established from the first two digits of the certificate number, the chatbot will be able to establish which version of the relevant standard applies. For example, in the 2000 version of the Ex d standard BS EN 50018, the dimensions relating to flame paths differ from those in the 2004 version, IEC 60079-1. However, where IEC 60079-19, which covers the repair, overhaul, and reclamation of equipment designed for use in explosive atmospheres, is concerned, the chatbot will only give information from the latest version. This is because repair procedures improve over the different versions released. For example, a go-no-go test, which helps to check for damaged threads, was introduced in the latest edition, 2019, but this is not referenced in the 2015 version of the same standard. The tool will initially cover ten versions of four different BS EN Hazardous Area standards and is due to be tested by AEMT members and rolled-out from quarter 2, 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In response to the Rightmove statistic finding a 273% jump in sellers coming to the market on Boxing Day, Nathan Emerson CEO Propertymark comments: “Positivity is clearly resonating on the property market even though Christmas is normally a quiet period for the property sector. Rightly so, sellers are clearly not deterred by the latest inflation figures or interest rates as optimistic signs start to emerge and are demonstrating confidence in the market. This is the positive type of news that Propertymark hopes to see more of throughout 2024.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A mixed-use development in Molesey, Surrey, has been rejuvenated by Odyssey Developments thanks to a seven-figure property development loan from Secure Trust Bank (STB) Real Estate Finance. The property, located within Greater London, is a commercial-residential hybrid with a florist on the ground floor and two, two-bedroom flats above. Molesey, situated on the south bank of the River Thames, is just minutes from Hampton Court Palace, and takes 35 minutes to reach central London via train. The second floor of the building was recently added using STB’s loan, alongside a further two detached houses built on the remainder of property’s land. The deal was agreed thanks to STB’s approachability and thorough understanding of the real estate market. Signed under an 18-month term, the loan itself is structured as one of STB’s popular residential property development loans, used to support with the heavy refurbishment of residential development sites. STB Relationship Director, Paul Scagliosi, orchestrated the deal with Odyssey Developments, with a LTGDV of 59% and a 74% LTC, taking just six weeks to complete. John O’Neil, Director at Odyssey Developments, said: “It’s important for us at Odyssey Developments to have a trusted financial institution that understands our needs and is able to turn around the necessary requirements and funding for a project in a speedy manner. Secure Trust Bank executed this superbly. “Our new build houses which were constructed through the less desirable autumn and winter months were fully completed and sold in 26 weeks with no delay or overrun. Much of this was only achievable due to our close working relationship with STB. “Our appreciation and gratitude go out to those personnel at STB who worked so closely with us on this very successful project. We look forward to working with STB again soon, on our next housing proposal.” Paul Scagliosi, Relationship Director at STB Real Estate Finance, said: “This development has been rewarding and very fun to work on. We have come away with a great working relationship, and four high-quality homes within touching distance of London. John and the team at Odyssey are brilliant to work with, exceptionally skilled at what they do and are all-round nice people. The tailored approach and process was smooth given its complexity, and I’m glad we were able to contribute to a great, practical development.” For more information about Secure Trust Bank Real Estate Finance, please visit https://www.securetrustbank.com/business-finance/real-estate-finance Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BLOCWORK, the partnership between Network Rail and property developer bloc Group has completed its first build-to-rent scheme for Grainger plc in Nottingham. The Barnum – a 348-home scheme situated adjacent to the city’s railway station – was delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, and marks the regeneration of a significant area of brownfield land. The scheme is the first delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, and follows the recent announcement that they will partner again with the potential to deliver some 2,000 new purpose-built BTR homes across sites in major cities across the UK. Richard Thomas, development director at bloc Group, said: “blocwork was created with the aim of repurposing railway land and buildings into sustainable long-term assets, and The Barnum has been a great project to kick the partnership off. “As well as the partnership with Network Rail, we’ve worked very closely with Grainger and the contractor Graham to create a development that not only brings much-needed new homes to Nottingham, but also brings life to an area of the city that had previously been restricted to railway infrastructure.” blocwork specialises in bringing forward sites owned by Network Rail, making use of under-used land and buildings adjacent to railway infrastructure. Robin Dobson, group property director at Network Rail said: “Combining Network Rail’s infrastructure experience with the private sector development expertise of bloc Group has proved to be a fruitful partnership, which is clear by the successful launch of The Barnum. “Delivering developments through Partnerships like blocwork are important for Network Rail Property as we look to build housing and mixed-use regeneration across our brownfield estate in a way that can be accelerated and scaled across our portfolio.” blocwork is one of several partnerships bloc Group is undertaking, with the aim of sustainably and sensitively regenerating challenging sites for residential development. Alongside the work it is doing with Network Rail, bloc Group has a long-term partnership with the Canal & River Trust, which has delivered hundreds of new homes while providing funds for the upkeep of the nation’s historic rivers and canals. Richard said: “Our success has been down to our partnership approach with occupiers, property and infrastructure owners. By working closely with the right partners, we can deliver impactful developments that maximise economic and social value from sites that were previously underperforming or underutilised. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PERMAGROUP, the parent company of PermaRoof UK LTD, PermaRoof Commercial, and other leading solutions-based brands, is celebrating another successful year, achieving a record 16.4% growth in revenue. Despite challenging industry conditions, the company has gone from strength to strength, and in 2023 launched its latest innovation in rubber technology, Elevate RubberGuard SA, while a further two new products aimed at the commercial roofing market will be launched this month. PermaGroup also strengthened its internal team throughout the course of the year with eight new recruits, including Duncan Kirkwood, who will take on the position of managing director full time from 2024, following Adrian Buttress’ 23 years in the role. Adrian Buttress said: “It’s been another fantastic year for us at PermaGroup, and we’ve enjoyed a number of really exciting developments in the company. Not only have we seen record revenue growth, but we’ve broadened our product range, maintained our impeccable staff retention record, and created an incredibly strong management team to drive the business forward. “We’ve also continued to maintain strong working relationships with all of our clients despite material shortages and challenges in the industry, which is a real triumph.” In 2023, PermaRoof UK LTD became one of the first distributors in the industry to receive membership into the Single Ply Roofing Association (SPRA), strengthening its position in raising industry standards and as a leader in the field. The company had to undergo a thorough inspection of its office and warehouse, as well as prove its compliance with the SPRA Quality Charter in order to receive membership, which has been one of the first initiatives pushed forward by Duncan. Duncan Kirkwood said: “2024 is already shaping up to be another successful year. We’re welcoming two new senior recruits to help build our middle management team and are looking forward to seeing our improved CRM system assist us with the strong growth we’re predicting for the business over the next few years, so we can’t wait to see what the future holds. I’d like to thank the whole team for their continued hard work in making PermaGroup such a huge success and I’m eager to lead the group forward from the new year, having taken over the reins from Adrian.”
Works have now completed for Units 2 and 3, Omega West, Omega Business Park in Warrington delivered by McLaren Construction Midlands and North. Unit 2, developed by Omega St Helens Limited and managed by Miller Developments with Barings as Funder, is currently being marketed to potential end users and comprises a portal steel frame building, with a single-storey office block and an extensive warehouse, the overall area of which is 300,000 sq. ft. Externally, a concrete service yard is situated to the north of the building and carparking for staff is located at the east elevation. Unit 3, funded by Aviva Life 7 Pensions UK Limited and now let to Iceland Foods Limited, is a large 510,000 sq. ft. cross dock distribution centre with 106No dock doors, two transport hubs, a Vehicle Maintenance Unit and extensive office space over two floors. The unit has provision for frozen, chilled and ambient storage within the building which will be installed as part of the upcoming Iceland fit out works. Starting in November 2022, construction works for Unit 2 (£22m) and Unit 3 (£40m), completed in October 2023. Both units have achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent,’ fitting in with net zero targets, and include EV charging, 10% roof lights to warehouse and a score of 45/45 in the most recent Considerate Constructor’s audit. The McLaren Construction Midlands and North team overcame challenges during the build of Unit 2, including being in close proximity to existing overhead Scottish Power lines, meaning the Northwest corner of the build was constructed under strict controls. Exclusion limits meant that the erection of the steel frame and delivery needed to be extensively planned before execution. The challenges faced on Unit 3 included combatting poor ground conditions, managing, and removing asbestos found in the ground and completing numerous variations to the contract to meet Iceland Foods requirements, all within the original programme period. Providing social value-added opportunities, the contractor invited work experience candidates to join the Omega team, including 3No local trainees, a 1No trainee administrator, a 1No trainee site manager, alongside employing locally with the appointment of document controller, Rebekah Morris, and community and supply chain coordinator, Sarah Caine. Community workshops were also carried out during the build, with the involvement of local councils and charities and alongside this, McLaren Construction sponsored Martin Murray’s ThinkFAST academy to provide support and development for young people through the discipline and ethos of boxing. Teaming up with Miller Developments, £30,000 was donated to the St Helens-based Martin Murray Academy to help hard-to-reach young people with high quality social support and development through the ThinkFAST programme. Gary Cramp, managing director of McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “We’re pleased with the completion of the second and third units of this pivotal logistics scheme and our teams have worked hard to deliver a high-quality end product. “Alongside the builds, we’ve worked with the local community to provide a range of social value-added opportunities, including supporting the fantastic work of Martin Murray’s ThinkFAST programme.” David Milloy, a Director of Omega St Helens Limited and Managing Director of Miller Developments said: “This was the second project we appointed McLaren Construction to build. The quality was first class and Gary’s team were both helpful and accommodating throughout.”
Veriforce CHAS, the supply chain risk management expert, is encouraging employers to make a habit of addressing mental health in 2024 as new figures indicate that stress, depression or anxiety now account for almost half (49%) of all cases of work-related ill health. According to the latest data from the HSE, during the 2022/23 period, approximately 875,000 workers experienced work-related stress, depression, or anxiety, resulting in 2,590 cases per 100,000 workers and an estimated loss of 17.1 million working days. Underscoring the need for businesses to proactively address mental health concerns in 2024, Veriforce CHAS Managing Director Ian McKinnon comments: “The latest HSE statistics on workplace ill health shows mental health issues continue to loom large, which is why we are encouraging businesses to make a habit of addressing mental health in the coming year. “We urge businesses who haven’t already done so to sign the Causeway mental health pledge and commit to promoting good mental health as a routine part of their business operations.” The good news is that there are a range of free workplace mental health resources that can support businesses in this aim. Find out more in the Veriforce CHAS FREE Mental Health Resources Guide for Businesses. Prepare for new standard Taking action around mental health now will help businesses prepare for a future where mental health assessments become a standard component of the prequalification process. Veriforce CHAS is working to contribute to this shift by launching a dedicated mental health accreditation in 2024. This initiative aims to set benchmarks for how businesses and their supply chains address mental health, fostering a healthier and more supportive work environment. Ian adds: “At Veriforce CHAS, we have a long history of setting compliance benchmarks and raising health & safety standards, and we are resolved to use this influence to drive improvements in workplace mental health in 2024 and beyond.” Find out more about CHAS at: http://www.chas.co.uk/ or call 0345 521 9111. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ellis Osborn, Ecommerce Manager at IronmongeryDirect, said: “As we begin a new year, it’s always useful to look back to reflect on our industry’s challenges and successes, and the latest government data suggests we’re in a positive place moving into 2024. “While the value of construction output fell slightly (0.5%) in October to £15,485m, this was largely due to planned work being delayed by bad weather, and the figure is still 1% up compared to the same month last year. “The number of workers in the sector has also risen over the last 12 months, and now stands at 2.25m, which is 36,000 more than in 2022, representing a 1.6% increase. “The biggest increase in workforce was seen in the West Midlands, where there are now 29% more employees. The South East takes second place, with a 10% rise, and remains the most popular place for construction workers, with 350,000 in total. “Interestingly, a significant proportion of the growth has been seen in the self-employed section of the industry. At 310,000, the current number is the highest it’s been for four years, and is 22% higher than it was 12 months ago. The amount of female self-employed workers has doubled to 24,000. “With vacancies dropping – they’re currently 28% lower than at this stage in 2022 – this suggests that companies feel confident and have recruited for the positions they need ahead of the new year. “We hope that everyone in our industry can have a well-deserved break over the festive period, and return in 2024 to a really positive situation.” For more information about IronmongeryDirect, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/
Leading UK powered access provider Nationwide Platforms has seen the second cohort of trainers graduate from its new IPAF trainee programme. Currently holding a 100% pass rate, the programme is designed to close the trainer skills gap and encourage younger people to become certified instructors. Jessica Taylor, Jennifer Roddis, Paulina Stempnakowska, Robbie Hayhurst and Matt Dawson were the latest five participants to graduate. Previously, prospective trainers had to have a minimum of three years of operator experience before advancing to training others. However, this has resulted in many trainers retiring with no replacement, creating a subsequent skills gap. Designed and created by Nationwide Platforms’ Operational Training Manager Brian Sneddon and Senior IPAF Instructor Neil Laws in partnership with the International Powered Access Federation, (IPAF), the new programme accelerates the education process through a mix of face-to-face classes, on the job training and complimentary e-learning, over an intensive 10-15 week course. The course covers all aspects of operation, including an expected minimum of 150 operating hours, as well as administration and trainer management. The programme is tail ended by an intensive two-week assessment period that vigorously tests applicants’ knowledge and practical skills. Jessica, Jennifer, Paulina, Robbie and Matt had to travel to different locations to gain experience and knowledge from a variety of Nationwide Platforms depots. 23-year-old Jessica, from Teesside, came from an agricultural background and was used to operating machinery but lacked the management skills required to be a trainer. The course equipped her with the knowledge and tools to train others to match her operational experience. She commented, “The jump from operator to instructor is significant. It was eye-opening to learn how much I didn’t know, but the course quickly filled the gaps in my knowledge. I had the most amazing experience, with some great people who were always there to offer support. I would highly recommend this course to everyone.” Jennifer, 22, hailing from Hereford, previously worked on farms and construction sites, much like Jessica. Similarly adept at operating machinery, Jennifer found the IT side of the training the most challenging but the programme gave her all the support she required. She said, “Nationwide Platforms were extremely helpful, offering hands-on guidance. All the instructors were brilliant and went the extra mile to help us out. It could be extremely challenging having a great deal of information to absorb and memorise. However, as you progress, the wealth of technical information and safety information start to seep into the practical, hands-on training. I plan to take forward all I’ve learnt and do further training.” Paulina, mid-30’s and based in Leicester, was inspired by previous applicant Kelly-Ann Macgillivray to apply for the course. As a member of Nationwide Platforms’ fleet management team, Paulina had plenty of management and administration experience but far less hands-on operative knowledge. She said, “I saw how much Kelly-Ann benefited from doing this course, so when the opportunity arose, I didn’t hesitate. It’s been a tough but rewarding journey and I couldn’t have done it without the wonderful support of the tutors and other participants. One challenge I faced was the pronunciation of certain English words, as it’s my second language. Communication is vital when training other operatives, so I had to make sure my pronunciation was clear and correct. I’m now in a learning groove, and I’m keen to continue gaining more qualifications.” Robbie, 39, from Liverpool, previously worked as a regional driver within Nationwide Platforms and even before the IPAF programme came out had expressed interest in becoming an instructor. His goal now he has qualified is to upskill within the training department as much as possible. Matt, 57, from St Helens, has almost three decades experience as an SV (Specialist Vehicles) operator for Nationwide Platforms. Matt has extensive knowledge with the kit and has travelled the country operating the largest machines on prestigious projects. Now he’s qualified, he hopes to learn as much as possible with the training department. Now fully rounded trainers, the cohort are looking forward to advancing their careers with Nationwide Platforms, through further training and career development. Brian Sneddon said, “This course is a fantastic way to build your skill set in a safe and supportive environment. It’s been wonderful having a new cohort who embody the talented people we work with, displaying amazing passion and commitment to their education. “We couldn’t have done this without the support of Neil Laws, who continues to take this course from strength to strength, giving up much of his personal time to provide a high-quality training experience for the participants. I can’t wait to see more cohorts come through the programme and encourage anyone looking for a new career path or to continue their own development to apply.” As Nationwide Platforms continues to finetune the course, applications for the next intake are currently open to internal and external applicants to increase the number of IPAF certified trainers. For more information on the IPAF training programme visit: https://training.nationwideplatforms.co.uk/en-gb/ipaf-training-courses
