Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) has secured a new three-year contract worth £1m with Housing Solutions, a leading provider of affordable homes in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Delivering on the supply and storage of the building materials required to develop and maintain Housing Solutions’ portfolio, JPS will be supporting residents in properties
Leading property management company, Rendall & Rittner, is proud to announce that an impressive 20,000 of its residents have signed up for its e-communications platform. This achievement reflects Rendall & Rittner’s firm commitment to creating sustainable communities for people to live, work and play in. Having initially been recognised for
Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK and wholesaler TF Solutions are celebrating a successful 10-year working partnership. From the launch of its first branch in Stockport in 2001, TF Solutions has grown to 15 branches and is one of the UK’s leading air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump wholesalers. Now part
There’s one major misconception out there for construction companies, and it’s the fact that they don’t need to pay too much attention to marketing the company or their branding. It’s like there’s this idea that the work will easily come to them. To a small degree, yes, a lot of
Commercial property developer Stoford has begun work on a new high specification regional fulfilment centre (RFC) in East Devon on behalf of a leading UK retailer. The 42,500 sq ft building is being developed on a 2.98-acre plot at Exeter Logistics Park, Clyst Honiton, just two miles from Jct 29
Leading construction materials supplier, Aggregate Industries, welcomes the newly revised British standard for concrete, BS 8500, signifying a substantial leap forward for the construction industry in the UK. The upcoming changes are set to transform the industry, broadening the spectrum of available low-carbon mixes for designers, contractors and manufacturers. By
Leading Net Zero Consultancy, The Consultus International Group, has announced bringing utility infrastructure management division back to the fore, as a standalone business unit. Formerly lacking a striking identity, Consultus’ Utility Infrastructure Management area of the businesses has rebranded as ‘Connectus’, arming the division with its own individuality and place
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build
The winners of the prestigious Considerate Constructors Scheme’s (CCS) national Leading Lights Awards have been announced. 51 construction sites and organisations and 12 individuals received a national Leading Lights Award for their outstanding efforts in demonstrating the very highest levels of consideration in respect of the CCS’s Code of Considerate
Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, proudly announces its achievement at the ‘FIS Training Awards’, taking home the accolade for the ‘FIS Member Training Programme’ category, after receiving commendation for its one-of-a-kind installation school. The Zentia Installation School has been recognised as an industry benchmark and forms
Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) has secured a new three-year contract worth £1m with Housing Solutions, a leading provider of affordable homes in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Delivering on the supply and storage of the building materials required to develop and maintain Housing Solutions’ portfolio, JPS will be supporting residents in properties ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to three-bedroom family homes across the seven local authorities in and around the Maidenhead area. Offering a managed service solution, JPS has developed a dedicated centre for Housing Solutions’ operatives within its Jewson branch in Maidenhead. Scott Cooper, Managing Director of JPS, said: “We’re very proud of our new partnership with Housing Solutions, which we know is going to have a significant impact on a community that need it. Housing Solutions are focusing relentlessly on delivering high-quality housing and maintenance services. The service we’re providing will help support their commitment to provide housing stock of the highest possible quality. We look forward to working closely with Housing Solutions, supporting them in creating communities where residents are proud to live.” Steven Brookfield, Director of Property and Development at Housing Solutions, commented: “One of our key priorities is to keep our residents’ homes in good condition and resolve any issues that arise quickly. Our new partnership with Jewson means that we can continue to deliver rapid, high-quality repairs, ensuring that residents live in a safe, comfortable, and secure environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading property management company, Rendall & Rittner, is proud to announce that an impressive 20,000 of its residents have signed up for its e-communications platform. This achievement reflects Rendall & Rittner’s firm commitment to creating sustainable communities for people to live, work and play in. Having initially been recognised for its sustainable approach to property management in 2010, Rendall & Rittner has continued to strive for improvements to its robust ESG strategy. In 2023, the company received the first ever Environmental & Sustainability Impact Award at the ARMA Ace Awards. Key benefits of Rendall & Rittner’s e-communications solution include: Catherine Riva, CEO of Rendall & Rittner Ltd comments: “For many years, Rendall & Rittner has been committed to developing sustainable strategies and practices that are mindful of the wider impact of our work. By switching to e-communications, residents at the developments we manage have helped us to further minimise our environmental footprint. We want to say a big thank you to all the residents that have signed up so far.” Find out more at: https://www.rendallandrittner.co.uk/about-us/our-regions/south/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK and wholesaler TF Solutions are celebrating a successful 10-year working partnership. From the launch of its first branch in Stockport in 2001, TF Solutions has grown to 15 branches and is one of the UK’s leading air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump wholesalers. Now part of the Travis Perkins Group, the company has been selling Fujitsu equipment for the last decade. Sales and Business Development Director Andy Cherrill said: “It’s important in a partnership that you are working with a great business, great products and great people. With Fujitsu we are lucky to have all three and those are the reasons we have reached our 10-year milestone with them. I’m looking forward to an exciting future, collaborating together for success.” Ian Carroll, Chief Operating Officer at Fujitsu, said: “Congratulations to Andy and all the team at TF Solutions. This 10-year anniversary is a testament to the strength of our partnership. Their confidence in our products and services has helped us grow as a business. We are honoured to be part of this success story and look forward to building on that in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
There’s one major misconception out there for construction companies, and it’s the fact that they don’t need to pay too much attention to marketing the company or their branding. It’s like there’s this idea that the work will easily come to them. To a small degree, yes, a lot of construction companies, particularly commercial construction companies, usually don’t need to market themselves too much because they usually keep the same clients for long periods of time. But that doesn’t entirely mean that the company’s branding or how they market themselves doesn’t matter. Honestly, no matter what industry your business is in, there’s always going to be competition, so you’re always going to have to find a way to get known and stand out. So, with that said, here’s exactly why construction companies absolutely need to pay more attention to branding. You’ll Be Establishing Way More Trust One thing any business needs to understand is the fact that trust is the foundation of any successful business relationship, and branding is a key driver in establishing trust with clients, partners, stakeholders, and general people in the industry too. You want people inside and outside of your industry to know that your construction company is a real company that people can trust, and honestly, having some strong branding with the help of a brand agency is really going to do the trick. So, if you want trust and credibility, than solid branding is the way to go. It Shows Professionalism No matter the industry, all businesses, both big and small, need to show that they’re professional. A brand is more than just a logo or fancy lettering; you need to keep in mind that it goes way beyond that! It encapsulates the values, mission, and ethos of a company. This helps prove that your brand is reliable, it’s dedicated to delivering excellence, and it’s organised. Prospective clients need to know that they’re going to be in the hands of a professional, and solid branding is honestly one of the best ways to show this. It Shows Differentiation Most construction companies know that they can try to cater to everyone and that they’re going to have to niche down and specialise and branding is one of the easiest ways to show what makes your construction company different than other ones. It highlights your unique strengths, whether it’s expertise in a specific type of construction, a commitment to sustainability, or a reputation for innovation. Attracts Top Talent All companies want to hire the very best of the best: the very best talent that can help them take their construction company to new heights through their innovation, their ideas, their dedication, experience, and so on. But in order to get the best of the best, you have to have solid branding, nothing basic. Construction projects require skilled professionals, and the best talent is often drawn to companies with a positive and compelling brand image. Your branding needs to reflect the culture of the company, the vision, the core message, prove the commitment to employee development, and, of course, safety. These are all a magnet for talent, and your branding needs to reflect elegantly.
Commercial property developer Stoford has begun work on a new high specification regional fulfilment centre (RFC) in East Devon on behalf of a leading UK retailer. The 42,500 sq ft building is being developed on a 2.98-acre plot at Exeter Logistics Park, Clyst Honiton, just two miles from Jct 29 of the M5 motorway. Stoford is lead developer for Exeter Logistics Park and has a long-term site wide agreement with the Church Commissioners for England to deliver c.500,000 sq ft of high quality industrial/logistics accommodation on the site. It has secured planning consent and private funding for the new RFC, which will contain several industry-leading sustainability features. They include water and daylight saving controls, PV panels, EV charging provision and a sustainable urban drainage system. Stoford will target BREEAM ‘very good’ and an EPC ‘A’ rating for the new building, as well as net zero carbon in operation. Glencar has been appointed as contractor and the unit is expected to be available for occupation from Q2 2024. Edward Peel, Director at Stoford said: “Exeter Logistics Park continues to attract high-calibre occupiers and we’re very pleased to commence construction of this new development. This is a well designed building, offering a combination of high-quality internal and external spaces in an easily accessible location that is perfect for distribution. “We have outline planning consent in place and the on-site infrastructure to immediately deliver new, high-quality accommodation that is flexible to meet individual needs.” Joanna Loxton, Head of Strategic Land at the Church Commissioners for England, said: “Today’s announcement marks the latest milestone in our development partnership with Stoford to deliver high-quality, sustainable industrial and logistics accommodation across Exeter Logistics Park, supporting employment opportunities and economic growth in the region. The fulfilment centre’s strong sustainability credentials – including net zero operational carbon – closely align with the Church Commissioners’ own environmental objectives and support for a low carbon economy.” Cllr Sam Hawkins, Vice Chair of East Devon District Council and Ward Councillor for Cranbrook, said: “It’s good to see this new regional distribution centre coming forward with a focus on sustainability and operationally net zero carbon, which is vital and supports the area’s vision for clean growth. “Exeter Logistics Park is a key employment site in East Devon, strategically located and complements our four sites in the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone.” Cllr Matt Hall, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Economy, added: “As a distribution centre based in East Devon, Exeter Logistics Park is bringing new job opportunities for local people. This highly anticipated building is expected to achieve excellent sustainability credentials which is important in helping us reach our net zero carbon goal.” Exeter Logistics Park is ideally located for distribution, with access to the national motorway network via the A30 and direct bus links. It is sited near Exeter Airport, with Exeter city centre lying just six miles to the west of the site. Stoford has already delivered four new developments at Exeter Logistics Park, which include a new DHL parcel distribution service centre, and a 90,000 sq ft distribution unit and EV charging park for Amazon. More recently, adhesive manufacturer Forgeway signed a 15-year lease on a 28,500 sq ft building that was speculatively developed by Stoford and Urban Logistics REIT. Stoford has also installed high quality fitness and wellbeing facilities on site, including a trim trail and outdoor gym areas with bodyweight exercise equipment. For more information on availability at Exeter Logistics Park, contact the scheme’s retained agents, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading construction materials supplier, Aggregate Industries, welcomes the newly revised British standard for concrete, BS 8500, signifying a substantial leap forward for the construction industry in the UK. The upcoming changes are set to transform the industry, broadening the spectrum of available low-carbon mixes for designers, contractors and manufacturers. By increasing the cementitious options available, the introduction of additional multi-component blends opens the door for scalable, low-carbon options that have the potential to become the default solution, as the standard will now allow additional Portland-composite cements (CEM II/C-M) as well as other composite cements (CEM VI). It will also address aspects such as properties of fresh and hardened concrete, composition limitations, delivery procedures and conformity criteria – ushering in a new era of sustainable concrete production practices. Forefront of sustainability As an industry leader, Aggregate Industries will be hosting a webinar series, focusing on the recent changes to the BS 8500 standard, specifically delving into the impacts on concrete specification. The first session is scheduled for 1st December 2023, at 11:00 AM. Those interested in attending can register for here for free. Mark Hickingbottom, Commercial Director at Aggregate Industries, said: “We applaud the newly revised BS 8500 as a significant advancement for the construction industry and we’re ready to assist customers in capitalising on these new changes. It not only broadens the array of available low-carbon concrete mixes, but also positions Aggregate Industries at the forefront of this sustainable shift. “Leveraging our industry partnerships, we collaborate closely with key associations to drive innovation, coupled with initiatives such as the sector’s first customisable carbon reporting tool and our low-carbon portfolio. We strive to empower informed choices and look forward to hosting a series of educational webinars for the industry.” Register here for the BS 8500 webinar. For further information, please visit aggregate.com
Leading Net Zero Consultancy, The Consultus International Group, has announced bringing utility infrastructure management division back to the fore, as a standalone business unit. Formerly lacking a striking identity, Consultus’ Utility Infrastructure Management area of the businesses has rebranded as ‘Connectus’, arming the division with its own individuality and place in the utility infrastructure landscape, spanning across many sectors, and bringing with it time-served experience, delivery by a highly knowledgeable team. Although the Connectus name is new, the team come with a wealth of experience in multi-utility connections across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, leisure and hospitality, to name but a few. Connectus focus on delivering all aspects of connection, disconnection and relocation when it comes to industrial, commercial and residential developments that can take the pressure off any development and multi-site scheme. Their goal is to become a project manager’s first port of call when considering business utilities, by offering ‘turn-key’ solutions, through strategic decision-making. Whether it’s electricity, gas, water, telecoms/ICT, sewerage or other utilities, Connectus make themselves accountable, for the service, and speed up the process. Connectus have carried out work for property developers Patrick Properties, who commented – “Consultus (now rebranded to Connectus Utilities) has saved us a lot of time and hassle. They perform procurement contract negotiations for us, resulting in major savings; and by heeding their advice we have also avoided large penalty payments. We know that they are doing a fantastic job and therefore trust them implicitly”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build 300,000 new homes in England[1], while 90% of student accommodation rooms for the 2023/24 academic year had already been sold by April 2023[2]. With a 17% increase in hotel construction projects also reported over 2024[3], pressure is on the construction sector to build faster as confidence in city centre building continues to rise.[4] REHAU’s new report, Offsite Trends in Building Services explores how modern methods of construction (MMC) can help tackle this issue. Underlining a skills shortage of 937,000 construction industry vacancies by 2032, it looks specifically at how to implement mechanical service installation into offsite projects to make builds easier and faster.[5] Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical, REHAU Building Solutions, said: “Building at pace within tight footprints and using traditional methods is undoubtedly difficult, necessitating new approaches such as MMC. This new report details what is possible and how different offsite methods suit specific projects and help provide simpler, faster and high-quality builds for contractors, all within a factory-controlled environment.” With high-rise construction increasingly necessary in high-density urban areas, REHAU’s guide highlights how the company can help with the challenge of building at height in smaller spaces. At the same time, it uncovers obstacles that contractors, specifiers and developers must overcome when using offsite construction methods to ensure quality work. The guide includes information on key components that can be assembled at the factory and transported and assembled onsite for a high-quality build. This includes modular shafts, pre-wall constructions, bathroom pods and polymer risers, as well as relatively new technologies such as thermally activated building structures (TABS), which can provide both heating and cooling. “There have already been many exciting innovations across the globe to further improve offsite construction methods that we have included within this new guide,” Steve concludes. “Like all fields, MMC is continually developing, and the hope is that through this whitepaper, readers can find out more about these innovative methods and solutions, and best put MMC techniques into practice to meet market demand.” To download REHAU’s report, ‘Offsite Trends for Building Services’, CLICK HERE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The winners of the prestigious Considerate Constructors Scheme’s (CCS) national Leading Lights Awards have been announced. 51 construction sites and organisations and 12 individuals received a national Leading Lights Award for their outstanding efforts in demonstrating the very highest levels of consideration in respect of the CCS’s Code of Considerate Practice. Over 350 guests attended the glittering event held on 27 November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. The awards recognise projects, people and initiatives that have achieved outstanding performance in being a Considerate Constructor. Each award category reflects the three areas of the CCS’s Code of Considerate Practice: Respecting the Community, Caring for the Environment and Valuing the Workforce. The award categories were: Community: Community Enrichment Award; Local Sourcing Award; Community Engagement Award. Environment: Plastic Reduction Award; Natural Environment Award; Enhancement and Energy Efficiency Award. Workforce: Physical Wellbeing Award; Mental Health Award; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award. 11 award winners received the highest accolades by being crowned as the ‘Overall Winners’ and “Individual Champions”, they are: Overall Winners: Community Overall Winners: Environment Overall Winners: Workforce Congratulating all award winners, Executive Chairman of the CCS, Amit Oberoi said: “On behalf of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, huge congratulations to all this year’s award winners. These construction sites, organisations and individuals should be immensely proud of their success. The enthusiasm and considerate practice they have shown in being a Considerate Constructor is highly commendable; achieving great standards through initiatives across communities, the environment and the industry’s workforce.” Click here to see all award winners. The ceremony also celebrated the 25+ years the Considerate Constructors Scheme has been in place since it was established in 1997. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, proudly announces its achievement at the ‘FIS Training Awards’, taking home the accolade for the ‘FIS Member Training Programme’ category, after receiving commendation for its one-of-a-kind installation school. The Zentia Installation School has been recognised as an industry benchmark and forms the cornerstone of Zentia’s dedication to fostering expertise and innovation within the industry. Since its inception in the 90s, the Zentia Installation School has trained over 10,000 individuals in installing ceiling systems safely and securely. The Installation School not only provides insightful training for external contractors, but it also forms a key part of the training programme for every Zentia employee. New starters complete the course to gain a deeper understanding of Zentia’s products and the interiors industry and can book refresher courses throughout their Zentia career as new products and techniques become available. Graham Taylor, Sales & Marketing Director at Zentia celebrated the win, saying: “At Zentia we firmly believe that persistent learning and development is crucial to building a strong foundation for our industry to continue growing and collaborating. We are proud of the knowledge we have been able to share as a result of our Installation School, and even more pleased that it has been recognised by the FIS in their Training Awards.” To find out more about Zentia click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals