Nearly a quarter of a million extra people are needed in construction by 2027 but outdated perceptions mean it is often overlooked as a career, according to a new report. The Chartered Institute of Building, CIOB’s The Real Face of Construction survey showed 57 per cent of respondents perceived average
Leading construction materials supplier Aggregate Industries has launched ECOPlanet, a range of green cement that delivers at least 30% lower carbon compared to standard CEM I. Launching in the UK for the first time, ECOPlanet uses a broad range of low emission raw materials, such as fly ash, creating a
HS2 has taken a further step forward in decarbonising the constructure sector, completing a world first by installing four 30-metre deep piles on a London site using a hydrogen dual-fuel piling rig. The trial took place as part of work done in partnership by ULEMCo and Cementation Skanska, working with
Another year, another stellar Hire Association Europe Event Hire Association (HAE EHA) Hire Awards of Excellence is in the bag with the glamorous evening having taken place on Saturday 22 April 2023. In its sixteenth year in our nation’s capital, the industry’s showpiece event took place at Grosvenor House, London.
What do a successful musical and an award-winning purpose-built student accommodation developer have in common? Alumno Managing Director David Campbell reveals all… When we applied for planning permission for one of our most challenging, yet rewarding projects in 2018, little did we know that the journey would end with an Alumno team outing in March 2023 to
Designer Contract’s charity challengers, Team Massive, are set to reach new peaks. The team of eight employees is in training for the Peak District Ultra Challenge on July 8 and 9. The tough two-day test will see some of the team taking part on both days, walking a whopping 100km.
Glencar, a leading UK & Ireland construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been awarded a project to build the new LHR21 facility for Vantage Data Centers at their second London Campus, near Heathrow Airport. The 194,000 sq ft data
European real estate investor to deploy Honeywell solutions across its commercial building portfolio in Romania and Poland to improve operational efficiency and support sustainability efforts Honeywell announced yesterday that Globalworth, a leading real estate investor in Central and Eastern Europe, has selected its connected technology to help increase operational efficiency,
Winvic has successfully delivered the first hands-on training sessions to Northampton College engineering students as part of the new Winvic Enrichment Programme. The initiative provides students with up to five days of construction industry insights, gives them practical experience related to their studies and develops their soft skills. It also helps Winvic,
As the UK Government targets 10GW of hydrogen production by 2023, industry leaders will convene at the Planning for Hydrogen Infrastructure 2023 event on 23 May, to explore strategies and planning for building successful hydrogen infrastructure projects – from concept to reality. Theevent, hosted by international law firm Eversheds Sutherland
Nearly a quarter of a million extra people are needed in construction by 2027 but outdated perceptions mean it is often overlooked as a career, according to a new report. The Chartered Institute of Building, CIOB’s The Real Face of Construction survey showed 57 per cent of respondents perceived average annual earnings to be lower than the true figure of £36,000. CIOB chief executive Caroline Gumble said: “Our survey shows there are big misconceptions around earning potential, job prospects and working conditions.” In fact, construction is £3,000 above the average annual salary across all sectors at £33,000. The survey shows while earnings across all sectors rose by 15 per cent between 2012 and 2022, the rise for full-time construction workers was 24 per cent. “Overly physical” and “dangerous” were among the top three answers respondents selected when asked to describe construction jobs despite more positions being office or site-based. Ms Gumble added: “This is something the sector needs to work together to address if we’re to bridge the existing worker shortfall that will over time become bigger if nothing is done.” Parents don’t encourage their children to go into construction The study showed the sector was often overlooked by individuals exploring job options or changing their career path. Just seven per cent of respondents said they would recommend construction as a career to their children or other young people. Londoners are most likely to recommend construction careers, 38 per cent, while those in Wales, 20 per cent, are least likely. “Without construction workers, including those in IT, planning, administration and management, as well as the frontline trades, there can be no new homes or other infrastructure and our economy will grind to a halt,” said Ms Gumble. Construction is the fourth largest employer in the UK outside of the public sector with 2.1m working in the industry and accounting for six per cent of gross value added to the economy. The Southeast has the biggest number of construction workers, 381,000, while the east of England has the largest percentage of its total workforce engaged in the sector at 7.9 per cent. “We want to see construction better represented in schemes to promote STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths – careers and vocational qualifications, not just in construction but more widely, given equal esteem with university degrees. “Construction must be promoted as a sector in which people can make a positive difference, drive sustainability, improve their communities and leave a real legacy.” Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said development finance lenders were aware that staff shortages were a factor in residential and commercial projects being held up. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading construction materials supplier Aggregate Industries has launched ECOPlanet, a range of green cement that delivers at least 30% lower carbon compared to standard CEM I. Launching in the UK for the first time, ECOPlanet uses a broad range of low emission raw materials, such as fly ash, creating a low carbon product that doesn’t compromise on performance. Its low carbon footprint is further enhanced by the decarbonising its production process through the use of alternative fuels. ECOPlanet is the latest product range in Aggregate Industries’ suite of green building solutions and is the lowest CO2 footprint fly ash cement available in the UK. Other key benefits of ECOPlanet include its resistance to both sulphate attack and chloride ingress, and prevention against alkali-silica reaction. It also improves pumpability, placing and finishing – making it the ideal solution for high durability requirements. Dragan Maksimovic, CEO at Aggregate Industries, said: “The launch of ECOPlanet expands on our existing low carbon products including ECOPact, the world’s broadest range of green concrete or Super-Low Carbon, the first asphalt using biogenic material within the bitumen. The product is driven by innovation and by our ambitions to build a net zero future, and we’re delighted once again to be pushing the boundaries of low carbon construction solutions.” Steve Curley, Managing Director Cement at Aggregate Industries, said: “The launch of ECOPlanet represents yet another step forward in the transition towards a more sustainable construction industry. Its innovative formula and unique production process delivers at least 30% lower CO2, making it the first low carbon cement for the precast segment available in the UK. We look forward to working with our customers to provide yet another option to support our collective goal of achieving net zero emissions.” The launch of ECOPlanet is part of Aggregate Industries’ ambitious 2030 sustainability strategy, Building Progress for a Sustainable Future. For more information, visit the ECOPlanet webpage. For more information on Aggregate Industries, visit aggregate.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 has taken a further step forward in decarbonising the constructure sector, completing a world first by installing four 30-metre deep piles on a London site using a hydrogen dual-fuel piling rig. The trial took place as part of work done in partnership by ULEMCo and Cementation Skanska, working with the world-leading Business Research Establishment (BRE), funded through the BEIS Phase 1 Red Diesel Replacement competition. ULEMCo and Cementation Skanska successfully modified a medium sized CFA piling rig, converting it so that the machine component operated using energy from on-board hydrogen tanks. Using the dual-fuel system, both diesel and biofuels (HVO) can be mixed with hydrogen, displacing the fuel with hydrogen, resulting in a reduction in fuel use and lower CO2 emissions. Following successful yard trials simulating the technology, the rig was brought onto a HS2 site in London where it has successfully completed piling works for HS2, demonstrating that the dual-fuel adaptation can be applied more widely across the construction sector supporting the decarbonisation of plant and machinery. The successful trial is one of several initiatives being undertaken by HS2 in its commitment to decarbonising construction sites and achieving completely diesel-free sites by 2029. To date, 19 HS2 sites operate entirely diesel-free. Speaking about the success of the dual-fuel piling rig on a HS2 site, Andrea Davidson, Head of Environmental Sciences for HS2 Ltd, said: “HS2 is continuing to drive a positive change in the construction sector and is providing an important environment to develop the real-world use of hydrogen energy technology. “The development of dual-fuel systems that can be used to adapt existing equipment so it can run off cleaner, low carbon energy sources, could be a game changer across the construction sector.” Now that it has been shown that the technology can work in a real-world scenario, ULEMCo and Cementation Skanksa are looking at how this technology can be used more widely, reducing embodied carbon in construction and reducing impacts on local communities near construction sites. Terry Muckian, Managing Director, Cementation Skanska said: “Using this rig in a real-world environment to install piles on a commercial site is an exciting milestone. It follows the success of the simulated trials last year and is the next step towards rolling the technology out more widely. “This project goes beyond piling and ground engineering, it provides proof of concept for converting other types of heavy construction equipment, paving the way to construction site decarbonisation.” Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo said:“The machines used in construction are owned and used for many years, so demonstrating a decarbonisation solution that utilises these existing assets is not only cost-effective but also important for sustainability.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Another year, another stellar Hire Association Europe Event Hire Association (HAE EHA) Hire Awards of Excellence is in the bag with the glamorous evening having taken place on Saturday 22 April 2023. In its sixteenth year in our nation’s capital, the industry’s showpiece event took place at Grosvenor House, London. The show, itself an award winner having scored the Best Longstanding Event at the Association Excellence Awards, celebrates the outstanding achievements of hire and supply companies across the UK’s plant, tool, equipment and event hire industries. As CEO Paul Gaze said on the night: “People really are our greatest asset, and it is important that as a sector we work together to help promote careers and look for a much wider and broader range of candidates. We have some inspiring finalists for the 2023 Awards.” This year’s host was former Royal Marine and Elite Team Coach, Scotty Mills. The ‘secret weapon’ behind the success of the England football team at the 2018 World Cup kept everyone entertained and inspired with his commentary throughout the evening. The first accolade of the evening was for the Outstanding Contribution to Hire Award. With many worthy recipients across the plant, tool, equipment and event hire sectors this is an extremely tough award to give. But with 23 years’ experience across the sector and for championing improvements to the way the hire industry tackles mental health, Asif Latief, Managing Director of Boels Rental, took the applause and the award. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
What do a successful musical and an award-winning purpose-built student accommodation developer have in common? Alumno Managing Director David Campbell reveals all… When we applied for planning permission for one of our most challenging, yet rewarding projects in 2018, little did we know that the journey would end with an Alumno team outing in March 2023 to see an award-winning musical at London’s National Theatre. Always looking for exciting and original projects, we were approached by our friends at Urban Splash to become involved in the regeneration of Sheffield’s iconic Park Hill Estate development. This striking, sublime, brutalist, yet much maligned, development was designed by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith in the 1950s, providing almost 1,000 homes in 400 acres of high-rise blocks poetically named the ‘streets in the sky’. Creativity in sync We always believed the city centre location made Park Hill ideal for student housing, so were honoured to be brought in to deliver our vision for phase 3 of the project, Béton House. After months of planning work, led by Sheffield-based Whittam Cox Architects, we convinced the local authority that our conservation-led approach to the design, preserving the historic character of the building, was the right move, and celebrated gaining planning permission in July 2018. While we were preparing the plans for Béton House, another creative team were also working on a Park Hill project. In contrast to our preservation of the visual design, architecture and structure of the estate, they were marking and celebrating its social impact. Standing on the Sky’s Edge is the vibrant and compelling story of how Park Hill and its dwellers have changed across generations. It reflects the fluctuating face and personality of Sheffield, much in the same way as we saw the new student community as part of this legacy and a new vibrant community. Songs and storeys When our construction partners Kier began work on Béton House, Standing on the Sky’s Edge was opening at Sheffield’s Crucible theatre to rave reviews. However, plans to tour were brutally brought to a halt by the pandemic. By the time the musical re-emerged in December 2022, Béton House was open, flourishing with vibrant student life. Another stage was complete in the revitalisation of a Sheffield landmark and social hub. Meanwhile, the buzz around Standing on the Sky’s Edge was growing again, with the show soon to move to London’s famous National Theatre. Which was when the Alumno team went along to experience the show and revisit the themes and feelings that made Park Hill such an important project for us – and we were delighted to be mentioned in the show’s programme! The production has since won Best New Musical at the 2023 Olivier Awards. Our restoration of Park Hill will help to ensure the iconic estate has more stories for playwrights and songsmiths to tell about the people who live there for generations to come – and we are proud to say we have played our part. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Designer Contract’s charity challengers, Team Massive, are set to reach new peaks. The team of eight employees is in training for the Peak District Ultra Challenge on July 8 and 9. The tough two-day test will see some of the team taking part on both days, walking a whopping 100km. The others will join them to complete the 50km day two hike. Last year Team Massive successfully conquered the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise £5,490 for Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield, the Derbyshire town where Designer Contracts is headquartered. Said commercial director Louise Walters: “Although we said ‘never again’ after last year’s challenge, the team couldn’t resist the opportunity to tackle the figure-of-eight route, starting in Bakewell and following the northern loop through the Peak District National Park, an area which is world famous for its outstanding natural beauty. “The company is a long-time supporter of Ashgate Hospice. Last year we donated more than £100,000 to the charity after running an online Christmas prize draw. In 2019 we gave £100,000 to help fund the hospice’s ‘Three Bedded Bay Appeal’ for renovations to its patient bays. Although we’ve set our target at a modest £500 we hope our supporters will once again step up and ensure we can raise a really worthwhile sum for the charity.” Taking part in this year’s challenge are Louise Walters, Sarah Hayes, Simon Lovett, Stacey Brereton, Harry James, Kim Cartwright, Lee Hassett and Nick Bury – all Designer Contracts employees. They will join the anticipated 2,000 adventurers expected to take part in the 2023 Ultra Challenge. Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/designercontracts1 Designer Contracts is the UKs largest flooring contractor and operates nationally. As well as flooring, the company provides blinds and curtains, furniture and lighting, and operates a show home interior design service division. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Glencar, a leading UK & Ireland construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been awarded a project to build the new LHR21 facility for Vantage Data Centers at their second London Campus, near Heathrow Airport. The 194,000 sq ft data centre will be six storeys high and house data processing equipment (Telecommunications and computers) that will serve various businesses and enterprises that deliver online data services. Glencar’s specialist Data Centre team is preparing to commence construction at the 1.2-acre wider site campus with the project expected to be delivered in early 2025. The Glencar team has also partnered with Essex Services Group (ESG), a highly regarded Building Services leader in the Data Centre marketplace, collaborating as part of the ‘Contractor Alliance’ to successfully deliver LHR21. The data center will feature the most state-of-the-art electrical equipment to ensure maximum efficiency and reliability, advanced cooling systems designed to be climate independent while also being environmentally responsible, and physical and electronic security systems, including industry-leading security management. Commenting on the project Eddie McGillycuddy, CEO said: “Securing this project with Vantage Data Centers is a real milestone for Glencar as we enter the Data Centre space. Many of our team have a wealth of experience in this sector but it is our first major scheme under the Glencar banner and Vantage has been an incredible partner since day one. Our involvement through the planning and pre-construction phase, coupled with our in-depth knowledge of highly-specialist industrial, pharmaceutical and temperature-controlled facilities such as this, has enabled us to bring forward an effective programme to deliver this scheme” We look forward to working with Vantage and getting started on site in the coming weeks.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
European real estate investor to deploy Honeywell solutions across its commercial building portfolio in Romania and Poland to improve operational efficiency and support sustainability efforts Honeywell announced yesterday that Globalworth, a leading real estate investor in Central and Eastern Europe, has selected its connected technology to help increase operational efficiency, support sustainability efforts, and improve the occupant experience across the Globalworth portfolio of commercial office buildings in Romania and Poland. Globalworth will use solutions from Honeywell Forge for Buildings, a comprehensive approach to building system operations and management, to help improve performance and reduce energy consumption throughout its facilities from a single point of control. Buildings are a primary consumer of energy – the UN Environment Programme 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction found the building and construction sector accounted for 34% of energy demand and 37% of energy and process-related CO2 emissions in 2021. In Europe, the numbers are even more concerning with the buildings sector accounting for 40% of the continent’s total energy needs, 80% coming from the use of fossil fuels.[i] To help reduce this energy demand, Globalworth will use the machine learning models within Honeywell Forge for Buildings to monitor energy consumption across its buildings, down to a device or asset level, and make automatic adjustments to minimise energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort and productivity. “We believe that building technologies can provide not only better experiences for our tenants but can also add value in helping to achieve operational and sustainability goals – all without sacrificing occupant comfort. We are investing in Honeywell Forge for Buildings for its ability to integrate systems, improve maintenance, and save energy, with the aim of helping us to optimise our selected building operations,” said Dennis Selinas, CEO of Globalworth Group. Honeywell solutions, including Honeywell Forge Site Performance, Carbon and Energy Management, an application of Honeywell Buildings Sustainability Manager, and Honeywell Sine visitor management solutions, will help Globalworth digitalise real estate operations across its facilities in Romania and Poland. “Building inefficiency is a major challenge to Europe’s overarching climate objectives, and with the continuing energy challenges that Europe faces today, there is a pressing need to update existing buildings across the region with the right technology to maximise their energy credentials,” said Mark Loughran, president, Honeywell Central and Eastern Europe. “Honeywell Forge for Buildings represents a ready now solution to this challenge. Globalworth’s implementation of these offerings will support the company in meeting its environmental targets, while maintaining its occupants’ comfort and reducing its overall operating cost.” Globalworth is an innovator and early adopter of technology to help enable world-class experiences for its blue-chip roster of tenants. The company invests in technologies to continue to help improve the operational efficiency, safety and security, and resilience of its buildings while supporting its sustainability goals. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic has successfully delivered the first hands-on training sessions to Northampton College engineering students as part of the new Winvic Enrichment Programme. The initiative provides students with up to five days of construction industry insights, gives them practical experience related to their studies and develops their soft skills. It also helps Winvic, suppliers and clients to meet strategic social value goals, while it supports further education establishments to meet their enrichment activity targets. The first Winvic Enrichment Programme is being delivered over a number of weeks in collaboration with client Prologis UK at The Hub at DIRFT, which is a new training, meeting and café facility on the Logistics Park available for occupiers and local businesses to use. A typical programme includes a site tour, an overview of contractor, subcontractor and developer roles and health and safety awareness training, and teaches CV writing, interview and presentation techniques. The first programme has been tailored with Northampton College to meet the needs of the 16 BTEC Engineering students who are in their first and second years of study; therefore sessions include hands-on setting out equipment training, a practical lesson on concrete mixes and a demonstration of concrete slab pouring inside an industrial warehouse. A number of Winvic’s subcontractors are involved to help get the students work ready across a variety of our planned programmes, including Stanford Flooring, Sitecrete and Collins Earthworks, who provided minibus transport for the students’ first day at The Hub at DIRFT and will be delivering a practical session about on-site plant using their machines later in the programme. Winvic delivered the DIRFT III Rail Infrastructure extension project and is currently constructing two large industrial units for Prologis at the site – the 327,000 sq ft DC327 and 628,000 sq ft DC628. Enquiries to training@winvic.co.uk about the Winvic Enrichment Programme are welcome from further education providers across the country; developed to be flexible and delivered over one week or day release, programmes are tailored to the college course or courses. Recent changes to the T-Level pathway mean one third of the required placement hours can now be undertaken as enrichment sessions. Kayleigh Merritt, Winvic’s Talent Development Manager, said: “We have been working to shape the Winvic Enrichment Programme for some time with subcontractors, clients and colleges, so it’s exciting to see it coming to life with students already giving wonderful feedback. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Winvic and our experience in delivering social value activities illustrates that you can always do more and benefit more people when you work together. The Winvic Enrichment Programme supports the objectives of our clients and building occupiers, further education providers – offering numerous qualifications – and students who want to be work ready, armed with practical experience and accomplished soft skills. I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved so far and I’m looking forward to rolling the five-day initiative out to many more projects in the future.” David Mellor, Director – Development Management, Prologis UK, commented: “Early engagement with students from Northampton College has been great fun and we’re delighted to have been able to support Winvic with their initiative here at The Hub at DIRFT. Students have come away from their days with us enthused about the engineering opportunities we presented – whilst developing key skills to support their employment application process.” Paul Bailey, Teacher in Construction and the Built Environment at Northampton College, added: “Thank you to everyone at Winvic, Prologis and other subcontract firms for the time and effort that they have put into the impressive Enrichment Programme. We very much appreciate all of your effort in enabling this to happen for the benefit of the students, to allow them to meet with a range of professionals from the construction industry in an excellent training environment, as well as experience a live construction site and concrete batching plant. This programme has certainly broadened the student’s knowledge and understanding, which has enhanced their teaching experience, as well as providing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teaching staff – they all clearly enjoyed the day, as did l.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As the UK Government targets 10GW of hydrogen production by 2023, industry leaders will convene at the Planning for Hydrogen Infrastructure 2023 event on 23 May, to explore strategies and planning for building successful hydrogen infrastructure projects – from concept to reality. Theevent, hosted by international law firm Eversheds Sutherland in London, will provide an opportunity for the key players in hydrogen infrastructure to come together and share ideas in a growth area for the energy sector. The rise in hydrogen production presents a dual opportunity to tackle the energy crisis and reduce emissions with a cleaner alternative. The event will explore how new hydrogen projects can be successfully delivered, and provide attendees with valuable insights on planning strategies, site selection, stakeholder engagement, and consultation practices. It will also cover the latest policy developments supporting hydrogen production, infrastructure needed to meet the demand, and funding options available. The day will allow hydrogen and planning leaders to share ideas to address existing challenges and discuss ways to support future development. A key topic under discussion at this year’s one-day event will be ScottishPower’s new business division that focuses on green hydrogen, and what the company’s first projects in this area will mean for communities. There will be a range of panel discussions throughout the day. Helen Sanders, Head of Policy and Sustainability at SSE Thermal, James Walker, Senior Manager – Hydrogen Strategy at Ofgem and Jubilee Easo, International Head of Hydrogen at Eversheds Sutherland, will examine the current policy direction for hydrogen production, and what more Government can do to support the industry hit its 10GW by 2030 target. While Chris Rowell, Clean Growth and Innovation Manager at Tees Valley Combined Authority and Chris Taylor, Head of Planning and Consents at Progressive Energy, will discuss planning and delivering hydrogen infrastructure, and how best to effectively engage with all stakeholders. A range of other leading hydrogen infrastructure experts in the industry will also debate: The event will be chaired by Clare Jackson, CEO at Hydrogen UK. Ms Jackson leads the hydrogen industry association. In 2021, she launched Hydrogen UK, which brings together organisations delivering across the hydrogen value chain to work to make the UK one of the best places in the world to develop and deploy hydrogen solutions. Ms Jackson said: “The Planning for Hydrogen Infrastructure event offers an excellent opportunity for key players in the hydrogen energy sector to come together, share ideas, and develop innovative solutions to address the most pressing challenges facing the industry both in 2023 and beyond. “It’s a critical time for the sector as we look to develop policy and technological innovations that will prioritise energy security and provide the UK with a sustainable, decarbonised energy system, with renewables such as hydrogen at its core. “There will be plenty of opportunities for attendees to network with significant stakeholders in the hydrogen energy sector, including those spearheading cutting-edge hydrogen projects and infrastructure.” The event is being organised by Waterfront Conference Company. Waterfront delivers physical and virtual policy conferences for the planning, energy, rail, ports and maritime sectors. For more information and to register for the Planning for Hydrogen Infrastructure 2023, visit the event website https://waterfront.eventscase.com/EN/hydrogeninfrastructure or for other Waterfront events, visit https://www.waterfrontconferencecompany.com/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals