Multi-disciplinary consultancy, The Rocket Group have appointed Sam Hinchliffe, ARB RIAS, as Technical Director of Architecture for Scotland. Sam joins Rocket’s Dundee-based team, enhancing the company’s expertise in archaeology, heritage, ecology and construction. With more than 10 years of experience as an Architect and Principal, Sam has acquired his broad
Leading infrastructure solutions company, Costain, has been awarded three assurance frameworks worth up to £7.15m by Yorkshire Water (YW). The contract is for an initial two-years, with the option to extend for a further two years. Costain, in joint venture with Arup, has successfully supported YW’s health and safety (H&S)
The University of Chichester has confirmed Uliving in consortium with Equitix, as preferred bidder to deliver and enhance the student accommodation facilities across their two campuses. The University’s primary objective is to create new accommodation and refurbish the existing accommodation to meet demand but also provide an affordable, high-quality student
Leading developer Stoford has submitted a planning application for works at Worcester Six Business Park on the southern side of the site. If Wychavon District Council’s planning committee approves the application, it will mean Stoford can begin extending the estate road from the existing business park through to a new
HS2 Ltd is the only organisation in the UK to achieve and retain a prestigious accreditation standard established to recognise exceptional commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workforce. The Clear Assured Platinum Standard, which was first achieved by the government-owned company in 2021, marks its commitment to
New research by Dispute Assist, the UK’s leading dispute resolution provider, has revealed the impact of customer disputes on the working hours and financial success of the nation’s home improvement contractors. According to the research, 43% of contractors are spending between two and five hours per month dealing with disputes,
Telford Homes, one of London’s leading residential and mixed-use developers, has achieved Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 Kitemark accreditation as the firm seeks to further burnish its credentials as a high-quality, industry-leading developer. Following a three-day audit, Telford Homes successfully obtained the accreditation. The achievement, which can be applied
Ventilation systems manufacturer Zehnder Group has revealed its new factory in Maidstone as the company committed to remaining and investing in the Maidstone area. Faversham and Mid Kent MP, Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care, Helen Whately and The Worshipful the Deputy Mayor of Maidstone,
As one of the largest suppliers of security fencing in the UK, CLD Systems offer tailored, trusted, and durable security solutions to protect environments such as data centres, education, logistics hubs, manufacturing and warehouses, elite professional sporting venues, open spaces, and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sites. Recently, CLD Systems embarked
Royal Mail’s Midland Super Hub opens The UK’s leading owner and developer of logistics property, Prologis UK, recently saw the opening of Royal Mail’s largest automated parcel facility at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT). Spanning 53-acres and totalling 840,000 sq. ft. of warehousing space, Royal Mail’s Midlands Super Hub
Multi-disciplinary consultancy, The Rocket Group have appointed Sam Hinchliffe, ARB RIAS, as Technical Director of Architecture for Scotland. Sam joins Rocket’s Dundee-based team, enhancing the company’s expertise in archaeology, heritage, ecology and construction. With more than 10 years of experience as an Architect and Principal, Sam has acquired his broad range of skills working on projects as diverse as the refurbishment of the Trimontium Roman Museum, near Melrose, and a bespoke housing development in Kennoway, Fife. Sam said: “I’ve worked for Scottish councils and as a self-employed architect, and I’m very much looking forward to working with such an exciting and fast-moving organisation. I fully intend to continue my commitment to high-quality and sustainable design, which is an appropriate match for Rocket’s variety of contracts. “I lived and studied in Dundee for seven years to complete my MArch (Hons), and I’m proud to return to the city as Rocket’s Technical Director of Architecture for Scotland and am extremely keen to get started on projects in Tayside and across Scotland.” Rocket Group CEO, Craig Huddart commented: “At the Rocket Group, our focus is on creating an all-inclusive, end-to-end service for our clients with our experts in ecology, heritage, architecture, archaeology, and construction. Being present as early as possible on a client’s project allows us to streamline that project from start to finish. Sam, with his passion for architecture coupled with his expertise, will be crucial to delivering Rocket’s vision.” The Rocket Group encompasses Rocket Heritage & Archaeology Ltd, Rocket Construction Ltd, Rocket Ecology Ltd, and Rocket Architectural Design & Surveying as nine full time staff members bring together a powerful mix of experts, with the Group’s client base including Dundee Renewable Energy Society. The Group’s Regional Director for Scotland, Dr Greg Bremner said: “We’re delighted to welcome an architect of Sam’s calibre and reputation to Rocket. He’s a hugely important addition to our team as we head towards the first anniversary of our presence in Scotland, and as we continue to recruit the very best talent.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading infrastructure solutions company, Costain, has been awarded three assurance frameworks worth up to £7.15m by Yorkshire Water (YW). The contract is for an initial two-years, with the option to extend for a further two years. Costain, in joint venture with Arup, has successfully supported YW’s health and safety (H&S) assurance needs through a consultancy framework since 2019. From July 2023, the new award will see environmental and technical assurance frameworks added to the H&S remit. The frameworks, which run from 2023 to 2025, will see the JV provide project and programme management services, end to end quality and risk services, process safety management and environmental, sustainability and ecology services. The assurance frameworks will be implemented across YW’s catchment area and will cover Technical, Health & Safety and Environmental works, building on the service already delivered in AMP7. Gerard Shore, water sector director at Costain commented, “We successfully delivered vital health and safety assurance work for Yorkshire Water across 23 capital delivery partners last year, and we’re delighted by the vote of confidence shown by Yorkshire Water in extending our remit. We’ll use our in-depth knowledge and expertise to help Yorkshire Water meet its needs and continue to deliver exceptional service to its customers.” Richard Jelfs, contractor HSE manager at Yorkshire Water, said, “We are delighted to continue to work closely with Costain-Arup as we assure against our existing and develop new health, safety and environmental standards and controls within Capital Delivery.” Catherine Wenger, UKIMEA Water Business Leader, Arup added, “We are pleased to be able to continue our longstanding assurance partnership with Costain and Yorkshire Water into Amp8 sharing national and global best practice.” Yorkshire Water manages the collection, treatment, distribution and disposal of water in Yorkshire. It supplies around 1.24 billion litres of drinking water each day as well as disposing of approximately one billion litres of wastewater safely back into the environment.
The University of Chichester has confirmed Uliving in consortium with Equitix, as preferred bidder to deliver and enhance the student accommodation facilities across their two campuses. The University’s primary objective is to create new accommodation and refurbish the existing accommodation to meet demand but also provide an affordable, high-quality student and living experience. Uliving, the student accommodation brand of Linkcity UK, working in consortium with Equitix, propose to deliver a total of 1,032 units across the two campuses in Bognor Regis and Chichester. This will include: a stock transfer of, and extensive refurbishment to, the existing 507 beds across the two campuses; delivery of the enhanced consented 176-bed new build scheme at Bognor Regis and delivery of 349 new beds at the Bishop Otter campus in Chichester. The consortium is already a multi-award winner in student accommodation projects, over several years and their experience means they are well placed to provide the services required for meeting the university’s exacting standards. The project would add to their already large portfolio of student accommodation across England. Professor Jane Longmore, Vice-Chancellor, at the University of Chichester, said: “We are delighted to be working with Uliving and Equitix. Both companies listened and responded carefully to our brief to deliver high-quality student accommodation for both our campuses. This will include an extensive building programme, as well as refurbishment of many of our existing bedrooms. The building designs, sustainability plans and attention to social spaces impressed both University and Student Union colleagues alike. Within the Chichester region this new accommodation will help us meet increased demand as our student numbers grow and provide an affordable student living experience, as they move away from home for their new lives at university.” Oliver Campbell, CEO of Uliving said, “We are thrilled to have reached this stage and are looking forward to progressing our plans with Equitix to deliver high quality, affordable living spaces which meets the needs of the University of Chichester and its students. We will work collaboratively with our sister companies Bouygues UK and Bouygues Energies & Services to deliver sustainable buildings that provide the highest level of facilities management services.” Hugh Crossley, Chief Executive for Equitix, said: “We are delighted to be named as Preferred Bidder on this exciting project with one of the UK’s fastest growing institutions. As the UK’s leading investor and developer in social infrastructure, Equitix are well placed to successfully deliver an enhanced student living experience with our valued partners”. The consortium propose to refurbish, develop and enhance the twin sites to be delivered in stages with practical completion by September 2027. The delivery of this project will tie in with University of Chichester’s long term sustainable investment strategy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading developer Stoford has submitted a planning application for works at Worcester Six Business Park on the southern side of the site. If Wychavon District Council’s planning committee approves the application, it will mean Stoford can begin extending the estate road from the existing business park through to a new access point onto the B4636 Newtown Road. Edward Peel, Stoford Director, said: “Following the outline planning application approval for the extension to Worcester Six which was granted in December 2021, we are delighted to announce that a detailed application has now been submitted for the road and infrastructure works. “We are in the process of discussing the works with contractors, which will enable us to start the works immediately upon approval. “Extending the business park has always been part of the long-term strategy. It promises to be another important milestone as we attract new occupiers who want to join other successful national and international businesses that are making a critical contribution to the local economy. “Our strategy to submit planning and start the works is due to the continued occupier interest in the site and we look forward to making further announcements in due course.” An extension has always been part of the Worcester Six Business Park plans, which is included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan. When phase two is complete, it will provide up to a further 680,000 sq ft of floorspace on 61.18 acres of land, adjacent to Newtown Road. The developer is also safeguarding and improving the green space at Worcester Six. It has worked with Worcestershire’s Green Infrastructure (GI) Partnership to create a long-term GI Concept Plan, which will see Stoford putting aside 40% of the site for natural habitats and landscaping, in addition to on-plot landscaping. Worcester Six Business Park is home to a number of major national and international companies, including Siemens, Spire Healthcare, Kimal, Kohler Mira, ZwickRoell, Alliance Flooring Distribution and IONOS. Once fully developed, it will provide about 2.1 million sq ft of accommodation. For enquiries, contact Charles D’Auncey at Harris Lamb: Charles.Dauncey@harrislamb.com, or Seb Moseley at BNP Paribas: Seb.Moseley@realestate.bnpparibas For more details about Worcester Six, visit www.worcester6.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 Ltd is the only organisation in the UK to achieve and retain a prestigious accreditation standard established to recognise exceptional commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workforce. The Clear Assured Platinum Standard, which was first achieved by the government-owned company in 2021, marks its commitment to embedding inclusive best practice into all elements of its work, including the design and delivery of Britain’s new railway. Through evidence-based assessment, HS2 Ltd demonstrated that its EDI policies and processes continue to be best practice and set new standards for the industry. HS2 is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all employees. Actions to address feedback from Clear Assured in 2022 were swiftly taken to maintain progress in areas such as, fairness and proportionality in the outcomes of talent assessments, supporting senior staff members on leading inclusively and reinforcing its commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination. Alexandre Maria, Director of Clear Assured & Supplier Diversity at the Clear Company, said: “HS2, despite already being EDI leaders in the industry, have continuously stretched the boundaries of inclusive best practice since originally achieving Clear Assured Platinum accreditation in 2021.” “HS2’s dedication to quantifying the impact of their interventions and proactive approach to inclusive recruitment and fostering diverse senior leadership, demonstrates their commitment to achieving their EDI targets.” “Whilst HS2 keeps raising their EDI standards and strives to create an even more inclusive working environment, the EDI team’s own leadership, their effective use of data and commitment to accountability makes them an exemplar organisation.” The announcement coincides with the publication of HS2 Ltd’s EDI report for 2022/23, which shows that the HS2 project is leading the way and exceeding industry benchmarks for workforce diversity. As Europe’s largest infrastructure project, HS2 is setting new standards and driving change in both the rail engineering and construction sectors. It achieves this through a strategic commitment to EDI, inclusive procurement practices and by holding its Tier 1 suppliers to account for their EDI performance and they, in turn, do the same for their sub-contractors. As a result, ethnic minority representation in HS2’s Tier 1 supply chain increased by 2% in 2022/23 and now stands at 20%. The number of females in the Tier 1 supply chain workforce also increased from 28% to 30%. Leading by example is at the heart of HS2 Ltd’s approach to EDI good practice. Non-Executive Director and HS2 Board Diversity Champion, Dame Judith Hackitt, is determined the organisation must go above and beyond to change the face of construction now and for future generations. Dame Judith said: “A project of HS2’s scale and longevity presents a unique opportunity for change and I’m determined we capitalise on that. “Three years into our major civils programme, it’s evident that HS2 is showing what can be done and demonstrating the benefits of addressing the lack of diversity which has been a feature of construction for so long. “I genuinely believe that if we can set an example at HS2 and show the benefits of a diverse, inclusive culture, then we’ll lead the way for the rest of the sector.” As the project client, HS2 Ltd sets its own challenging targets for workforce representation. It achieved 24% for ethnic minority representation in 2022/23, against a target of 23%, but fell just short of its ambitious 40% target for females in the workforce, securing a 38% rate – one percentage point higher than the previous year. This is significantly higher than current construction and industry standards, which are between 21% and 23% Encouraging more women to enter and progress their careers in the sector remains a key focus for HS2 Ltd. 40% of its executive team is female and 36% hold Director roles within the company. Throughout 2023/24, HS2 Ltd will continue to focus on its recruitment and retention strategies to increase the female workforce in its delivery directorates, where gender representation remains a challenge. Shira Johnson, HR Director at HS2 Ltd said: “We are exceptionally proud of our EDI achievements to date and the commitment shown by the thousands of UK businesses engaged in our supply chain. “The fruits of our work are really beginning to take shape. More women and ethnic minority groups are stepping forward to play their part in Britain’s new railway, as they recognise the importance we attach to ensuring that HS2 is an inclusive workplace for all. “Clear Assured provides rigorous assessment and direction allowing for accountability to be allocated throughout the organisation and consistently measured. There is always more we can do, and that remains our focus in the months and years ahead.”
New research by Dispute Assist, the UK’s leading dispute resolution provider, has revealed the impact of customer disputes on the working hours and financial success of the nation’s home improvement contractors. According to the research, 43% of contractors are spending between two and five hours per month dealing with disputes, a huge drain on their time and resources. Shockingly, nearly a fifth (17%) of contractors admit to spending between six and ten hours a month liaising with customers over disagreements, and one in 10 (11%) spend more than ten hours a month. Only 7% of contractors said that they spend no time at all dealing with disputes, suggesting that they are a regular feature in the professional lives of most home improvement contractors. Assuming a contractor’s hourly rate stands at £35, they lose the equivalent of £70 upwards to £350 on handling disputes alone, meaning these disputes have the potential to significantly setback a home improvement business financially. Costs rack up even more when a customer dispute is escalated to the courts, and it is concerning that more than a third (36%) of contractors revealed they have had an unhappy customer make a court claim against them. Despite the financial and reputational damage a trip to court can create, uptake of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services to prevent disputes from reaching this stage has been surprisingly slow amongst contractors. Two-fifths (42%) of those surveyed are not part of an ADR scheme, and 28% don’t actually know what ADR is, even though it has been a legal requirement since 2015 for traders to signpost customers to an ADR provider if a complaint cannot be resolved. ADR includes softer methods like mediation and conciliation, which helps a customer and contractor to resolve a dispute by finding a fair resolution away from court. Expert determination, which sees an expert within the field of the dispute provide a legally binding ruling without involving either party in the decision-making process, can often resolve cases within a matter of days, rather than weeks. Ciarán Harkin, managing director of Dispute Assist, said: “There is currently a lot of turbulence within the home improvement sector. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, many customers are rejecting the increased costs that contractors have passed to them. Unfortunately, given the current constraints within the supply chain, these cost increases can arise unexpectedly, despite contractors’ best intentions. “As a result, many within the sector are likely to find themselves facing a higher number of customer disputes. However, our data shows a concerning trend that the majority of home improvement workers are spending vital working hours attempting to settle disputes themselves, whilst possibly causing irreparable damage to their reputation. “Therefore, it is important that contractors begin to explore the range of dispute resolution options available to them. ADR offers easily accessible, less time-consuming, and cheaper solutions to disagreements, without requiring contractors or their customers to ever step foot in a courtroom. “With 80% of those that do know what ADR is having chosen to join a scheme, it is clear to see that more education is required to teach a greater number of contractors how to protect their finances and reputation in an already challenging economic climate.” You can read the full findings of Dispute Assist’s latest report here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Telford Homes, one of London’s leading residential and mixed-use developers, has achieved Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 Kitemark accreditation as the firm seeks to further burnish its credentials as a high-quality, industry-leading developer. Following a three-day audit, Telford Homes successfully obtained the accreditation. The achievement, which can be applied for by contractors and developers, is only the second time a developer has achieved BIM accreditation in the UK and just the fifth in Europe. Telford Homes passed the assessment as both a developer and a contractor. BIM is a groundbreaking approach that manages information throughout the entire life cycle of a built asset, from initial design, through procurement to construction, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning. By utilising digital modelling, BIM facilitates seamless collaboration between various stakeholders such as architects, engineers, funders, owners, contractors and subcontractors within a common data environment. It allows all stakeholders to communicate and coordinate effectively while providing crucial insights into potential impacts. BIM Level 2 Kitemark sets the industry benchmark for best practice, consolidating all project and asset information, documentation and data at the design and construction phases of a project using BIM processes. It is an essential part of the UK BIM Framework, which marks a fundamental step towards the digital transformation of the country’s construction sector. Husam Mostafa, Technical Director at Telford Homes, said: “The BIM Kitemark accreditation stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the industry. BIM accreditation – as both a developer and a contractor – places Telford Homes in an excellent position to secure institutional investment for our industry-leading projects, with faster and efficient processes, reduced uncertainty and on-site waste, and improved safety all by-products of an impressive BIM system. This achievement positions us at the forefront of digital transformation in the UK’s built environment industry and will assist in meeting the government’s plans for the building safety act.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ventilation systems manufacturer Zehnder Group has revealed its new factory in Maidstone as the company committed to remaining and investing in the Maidstone area. Faversham and Mid Kent MP, Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care, Helen Whately and The Worshipful the Deputy Mayor of Maidstone, Martin Cox, attended the opening of the manufacturing plant, which will bring new work opportunities to the local area. Most of the staff live within 12 miles of the site, including the factory’s operations manager, and every employee has access to a local free electric bus service to help them get to work. The launch will also open up job opportunities for local residents, with a focus on skilled and experienced professionals in the manufacturing and engineering fields. Chairman of the Board of Directors for the 120-year-old Zehnder Group, Dr Hans-Peter Zehnder and Zehnder UK Managing Director, Tony Twohig, welcomed guests for an exclusive tour. The new factory site has been designed to meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability and will incorporate the latest energy-efficient technologies to minimise its environmental impact. New machinery, such as plastic moulding machines, cooling systems and a fully electric vehicle fleet, including forklift trucks, also work to the latest energy efficiency ratings – lowering Zehnder’s carbon footprint. Helen Whately MP, said: “It’s great to have Zehnder in Maidstone and continuing to invest in our local economy. Its new factory is impressive, combining innovative technology with sustainability. “Investments like this are just what our area needs. They bring good jobs and opportunities, and mark Kent out as a place to do business. I wish Zehnder every success for the future.” The modern manufacturing facility represents a significant investment for the company. Factory operations manager Conrad Thrower said: “This new facility will offer us increased production capacity and more efficient technology to expand our product lines and services.”
As one of the largest suppliers of security fencing in the UK, CLD Systems offer tailored, trusted, and durable security solutions to protect environments such as data centres, education, logistics hubs, manufacturing and warehouses, elite professional sporting venues, open spaces, and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sites. Recently, CLD Systems embarked on a remarkable project that showcased its expertise. Tasked with transforming the home of West Ham Untied FC at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s London Stadium, a prominent stadium hosting Major League Baseball London Series fixtures, CLD Systems demonstrated its commitment to excellence and delivered a significant enhancement to the stadium’s infrastructure. The project commenced with CLD Systems being appointed by a pitch installer, the key entity responsible for the stadium’s transformation. CLD Systems Systems’ primary role was to provide a robust fencing system that would enclose the perimeter of the baseball field. This system not only served as an integral structure to form the field build but also had to withstand the impact of professional athletes running at full speed and occasionally climbing the fencing to catch a ball. Additionally, the fencing system provided support for the installation of padding, ensuring player safety, and acted as a platform for advertising and marketing purposes. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s London Stadium project involved multiple concurrent activities, including the reconstruction of stadium seating, protection of the football pitch and athletics track, and the creation of a new artificial baseball field. The scale of the project was substantial, requiring 144,000 square feet of turf, 345 tonnes of clay, and an impressive 4,000 tonnes of aggregate. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s London Stadium project exemplified international collaboration, as professionals from Canada, the USA, Australia, Poland, Greece, and Scotland came together to contribute their expertise. This diverse team ensured a multifaceted approach to the stadium’s transformation, incorporating various perspectives and best practices. The efficiency and professionalism of all teams involved were evident throughout the project. Completed within a remarkable 18-day timeline, the stadium was decommissioned and made ready for the next event in under five days. The impact of the project was reflected in the remarkable attendance figures, with over 110,000 spectators witnessing the grandeur of the revitalised stadium. The highest attendance record was set on Saturday, with 54,622 spectators, which was surpassed the following day when Sunday’s attendance peaked at an impressive 55,565. CLD System’s director, Russell Wells said, “We are proud to have been part of the MLB World Series at the London Stadium project, contributing our expertise in security fencing to enhance the safety and integrity of the venue. The collaboration with our esteemed partners and stakeholders has allowed us to set new standards in stadium security, ensuring a seamless experience for fans and players alike.” The successful collaboration between CLD Systems and other stakeholders played a crucial role in delivering a stadium transformation that captivated both fans and players. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s London Stadium now stands as an iconic landmark, showcasing innovative design, meticulous planning, and seamless teamwork. CLD Systems’ involvement in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s London Stadium project highlights its commitment to setting new standards in stadium security. By providing tailored, trusted, and durable security solutions, CLD Systems ensures the safety and enjoyment of all who attend major sporting events while contributing to the creation of inspiring and secure spaces. For more information on CLD Systems, please visit: www.cld-systems.com
Royal Mail’s Midland Super Hub opens The UK’s leading owner and developer of logistics property, Prologis UK, recently saw the opening of Royal Mail’s largest automated parcel facility at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT). Spanning 53-acres and totalling 840,000 sq. ft. of warehousing space, Royal Mail’s Midlands Super Hub is the latest milestone in a significant growth and development programme currently being progressed at DIRFT. Once fully operational, the Super Hub has the capacity to process 235 million parcels a year, with the site benefitting from an integrated rail link to support intermodal deliveries. DIRFT investment continues with Practical Completion of DC628 and DC327 Royal Mail’s Midland Super Hub joins a total of almost 1.5m sq. ft. of logistics real estate investment on site, with DC6 and DC7 for Warrens Group now fully operational, and speculatively built DC628 and DC327 recently reaching practical completion. The new builds are symbolic of Prologis UK’s outstanding commitment to high quality, sustainable development – achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating as well as EPC ‘A’ rating and being net zero in construction. DC628 and DC327 highlight Prologis UK’s iterative approach to improving design, featuring roof garden spaces to enhance employee’s work experience with an amenity area focused on wellbeing. Second-tier windows above dock doors, designed to increase natural daylight and provide the option of adding a mezzanine floor. Both units are two of the first units to be all electric, with energy generated from solar PV array. Continued focus on DIRFT user’s welfare with new HGV parking facilities Alongside new distribution centres, Prologis UK has further invested in the creation of 130-bay lorry park to provide HGV drivers servicing the park with free, safe, and well-maintained facilities. The new development ensures that HGVs no longer need to park on surrounding roads, enhancing driver welfare and reducing traffic build up. The new area lorry parking provides users with high quality amenity facilities to cater for overnight stays, alongside 24/7 security monitoring by DIRFT’s onsite team and police community support officers. Investing in next generation talent and employment The Hub at DIRFT is a purpose-built training and recruitment facility that delivers job training and career development through the Prologis Warehousing and Logistics Training Programme (PWLTP). The programme, which launched in 2021 recently reached a significant milestone by delivering over £22m of social value through the delivery of courses to people looking to enter the logistics sector. Almost 1,000 people have undertaken free training courses as part of PWLTP, helping match candidates with a wide range of quality roles available at Prologis’ customers at DIRFT. Sally Duggleby, Head of Leasing at Prologis UK, said: “DIRFT is our largest logistics property asset in the UK and second largest outside of the US, so to welcome Royal Mail’s Super Hub to the site’s portfolio is a fantastic addition. With a growing number of customers choosing to increase their operations at the site, DIRFT will continue to go from strength to strength. “As a multi-faceted location, comprising three rail terminals, warehousing, a lorry park, Lilbourne Meadows nature reserve and a logistics training facility, Prologis UK’s sustained investment in the facility’s development is evident.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals