80% of environmental professionals have concerns around the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offsetting schemes Businesses across the UK have expressed concern at the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offsetting schemes. In a report presenting the outcomes of the National Environmental Services Survey[1] – run in association with
Family-owned housebuilder City & Country is pleased to announce their recent acquisition of 177 acres of land in the Stansted area. The newly purchased site, currently used for farming, is to be promoted by City & Country’s planning team through the Council’s local plan review process. The land is situated
UK ground engineering specialist Mainmark has been shortlisted for a major industry accolade. Mainmark has been shortlisted for the “UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of up to £500K’’ category which recognises leading projects with a focus on innovation, quality, sustainability, health and safety and value engineering. The annual Ground
Following the announcement of the General Election for July 2024, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has launched their manifesto, A Blueprint for Better Construction. The document focuses on how policy can support better procurement and contracting, and help to improve investment in skills, innovation and net zero. Throughout the
Following an extensive and thorough tender process, Rutland County Council has awarded their Highways Term Maintenance Contract (HTMC) to the highest scoring bidder, Thomas Bow Ltd. Rutland County Council’s current HTMC ended on 31st May 2024. Thomas Bow Ltd then commenced with their contract on 1st June 2024 and this
Muse, the nationwide placemaker, has grown its team in the North West with the addition of two regeneration experts, Alex Vogel and Sam Wilson. Alex has been appointed Senior Development Manager, bringing almost 10 years’ experience in residential and mixed-used regeneration. Joining from Greystar, Alex actively managed the delivery of
New data released today shows the number of people in work has dropped. The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 138,000 in the three months to April amid growing signs of a weaker jobs market and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. Rosalind Gill, Head of Policy
Metrolink has hit another milestone with the UK’s largest light-rail network enjoying its busiest month ever in its 32-year history. Millions of people got on board in May which proved to be a bumper month for events including the Great Manchester Run, Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning parade and high-profile
The UK construction industry is set to experience a shift in thinking with the September launch of Offsite Construction Week (OCW) – an unprecedented collaboration amongst leading industry pioneers and associations. Organisers of the influential Offsite Expo and Offsite Awards have partnered with industry leaders with the specific goal of
NAVTOR has taken another step forward on its ambitious growth path with the acquisition of specialist software development company Masterloop. With a proven track record within IoT (Internet of Things), AI and web solutions, Masterloop’s arrival boosts NAVTOR’s innovation and development team, already strengthened by the acquisition of Voyager Worldwide
80% of environmental professionals have concerns around the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offsetting schemes Businesses across the UK have expressed concern at the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offsetting schemes. In a report presenting the outcomes of the National Environmental Services Survey[1] – run in association with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), The Environmental Services Association (ESA), Groundwork, and ESS Expo (Environmental Services and Solutions Expo) – 80% of respondents stated that they had serious concerns around the integrity of carbon credit offsetting schemes. While almost a third of those questioned (33%) believed carbon offsetting is a viable strategy for achieving net-zero emissions, just 37% have employed it as a strategy to reduce their businesses’ environmental impact. The full report and survey findings can be downloaded here. Greenwashing also remains a major concern among industry insiders, with 94% of respondents believing it is prevalent in the UK. In 2023, a quarter (25%) of respondents to the same survey stated that greenwashing was the one thing they would change about the environmental sector as Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, explains: “It is alarming to hear that so many sustainability experts believe carbon offsetting schemes are actually failing the environment. While there are some businesses entering into highly certified programmes, there are concerns from many across the industry that these schemes are simply another form of greenwashing and can, in some instances, cause more harm to the environment than good.” Overall, perhaps unsurprisingly, climate change and global warming (32%) were cited as the biggest issues within the environment and sustainability today, followed by environmental policy and governance (15%) and waste management and the circular economy (13%). Crucially, as we head into a general election, 37% of those asked believe current government policies are unsupportive when it comes to achieving net zero goals, with just under a third (32%) stating that they are one of the biggest barriers to their organisation achieving net-zero, surpassed only by financial constraints (44%). Worryingly, only 3% of those interviewed said their organisation was currently at net zero. Achieving net zero When it comes to achieving net zero emissions across sectors, collaboration and partnerships are key, with 85% of respondents reporting that working together is either essential or very important. Further, nearly all respondents (99%) believe innovation and technology will play a role in accelerating the pathway to net zero emissions, with almost everyone (87%) agreeing it will play a significant part. The five biggest focusses will lie in the expansion of the circular economy (20%), advancements in clean energy technologies (16%), public awareness and engagement in sustainability (15%), followed by strengthening policy and regulation and green infrastructure at 14% and 9%, respectively. Lee Marshall, Director of Innovation and Technical Services at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), said: “It is always valuable to get insights from those who work in the sector. The concerns about off setting show that resources and waste professionals want to do the right thing and take meaningful steps to support climate mitigation. The UK has made good progress, but it is no surprise that people feel policies on net zero and circular economy are not strong enough. “We need policies that will accelerate the transition to a more resource resilient and circular economy capable of meeting future material demands and supporting the battle against climate change, and this is something CIWM is calling for in our ten policy recommendations for the new government.” Head of Climate and Energy Policy at The Environmental Services Association (ESA), Charlotte Rule, said: “Clearly, from these alarming survey results, there remains significant work to be done across the business community to demonstrate credibility and build trust in efforts to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, and achieve net-zero targets. “Achieving net-zero must be a collaborative exercise, which is what the ESA has sought to achieve through its Net-Zero strategy – aligning organisations across our sector through a shared roadmap; speaking with a unified voice to Government to achieve a supportive policy environment and being mutually accountable to each other as a membership body.” The survey gathered data from 1,498 professionals from across the environmental services industry from April-May 2024. Download the full report for free on the ESS Expo website here. To register to attend ESS Expo 2024 from 11-12 September at the NEC, Birmingham, visit the website here. [1] The survey gathered data from over 1,498 professionals from across the environmental survey industry from April – May 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Family-owned housebuilder City & Country is pleased to announce their recent acquisition of 177 acres of land in the Stansted area. The newly purchased site, currently used for farming, is to be promoted by City & Country’s planning team through the Council’s local plan review process. The land is situated within a sustainable location with close access to existing transport links and has the potential to be suitable for residential, commercial, and leisure opportunities. Located in the Essex area, City & Country’s newly acquired Stansted site is part of the housebuilder’s commitment to its medium- and long-term development plans. On the new acquisition, City & Country’s Land and Property Director, Simon Marner commented: “The newly purchased Stansted land holds significant potential, and this acquisition aligns with our medium to long-term strategies to grow our residential and commercial development activities. We look forward to discussing our ideas for sensitive and sustainable development with the local community as we look towards the next steps for our plans for growth in Stansted and for the business more generally.” Wayne Douglas, MD at City & Country, adds: “Our specialist land and planning teams are constantly striving and seeking to invest in sustainable sites in desirable locations. This new land acquisition is a significant milestone for City & Country as we look to unlock a full range of planning and development opportunities in the Essex area.” For further information about City & Country, please visit https://www.cityandcountry.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
UK ground engineering specialist Mainmark has been shortlisted for a major industry accolade. Mainmark has been shortlisted for the “UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of up to £500K’’ category which recognises leading projects with a focus on innovation, quality, sustainability, health and safety and value engineering. The annual Ground Engineering Awards brings together leaders in the industry to celebrate major achievements. This year’s awards will be held at a prestigious event on 19 June at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Mainmark’s shortlisted project highlights its work on the construction of the 43-storey tower, Arena Point in Leeds, set to be the world’s tallest purpose-built student accommodation. The £95m project on Merrion Way features over 700 bedrooms, with a mix of studio apartments and shared cluster flats, replacing a previously underutilised office block. The construction was halted due to unstable ground, and was only able to progress thanks to the expertise of Mainmark who successfully strengthened the ground prior to excavation using its innovative Teretek® geopolymer resin injection technology. Mainmark’s Teretek engineered resin injection technology solution was chosen to strengthen the ground in a controlled and timely manner. With the proximity of nearby buildings, infrastructure and the restricted site traditional piling and ground anchor techniques were unsuitable for the specific challenge. Teretek® technology, developed by Mainmark, was injected at high-density levels to fill any voids, compact the ground and bind together large cobbles and brick fragments. It was completed in just 10 days, without the need for heavy plant, allowing the construction to continue as scheduled. Tom Kavanagh, General Manager at Mainmark UK, comments: “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award, it showcases the passion, skill and expertise that our team puts into developing new solutions, allowing the sector to better tackle site specific challenges. “We take great pride in not just meeting but exceeding our clients’ expectations and enabling the Arena Point construction to progress as planned is just one great example of where are dedication to formulating new solutions has been a success.” Mainmark has previously been recognised for its work with the post-earthquake resurrection of the Christchurch Art Gallery which won International Project of the Year. Chosen from seven high calibre of finalists, the re-levelling of the gallery was a landmark project for Mainmark and the industry, setting a new benchmark in the earthquake remediation for large scale buildings. Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of the Mainmark group of companies established in 2016, with its headquarters located in Milton Keynes. For over three decades, Mainmark has established itself as a pioneering force in the industry, leading the way in developing and delivering cutting-edge ground improvement solutions. With an impressive track record of over 200,000 successful projects across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the UK, Mainmark has earned international recognition as an award-winning and leading ground engineer. https://mainmark.com/uk/ @mainmark(UnitedKingdom) Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following the announcement of the General Election for July 2024, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has launched their manifesto, A Blueprint for Better Construction. The document focuses on how policy can support better procurement and contracting, and help to improve investment in skills, innovation and net zero. Throughout the manifesto’s development, FIS leaned heavily into research completed with Professor Stuart Green of Reading University and AMA Research in 2023. It has also consulted with its membership and externally to help further refine and ensure it does not cut across and is consistent with other construction lobby groups. FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee emphasised the manifesto’s goals, stating it presents “well-reasoned practical, targeted and specific” recommendations building on previous industry work. He added that the FIS has shared this document with other representative groups in construction to support their efforts, inviting further comments to refine and develop the proposals. “Beyond this we’ll be using our network and opportunities to ensure as FIS we carry forward the message that construction is a key enabling industry, but there are key policy levers that can be pulled to unleash the full potential of the sector,” he said. FIS will be taking this message forward with Ministers, MPs, Regulators and Civil Servants and at the same time is recommending its members use the document to target their candidates locally. “Consistency is key to change,” he added. “It is important to remember that the election deadline isn’t the critical one, it is being ready in the Autumn to deliver a consistent message from construction to the new Government (whatever colour) and give them a plan to ensure construction is well placed to support their vision for our future.” FIS is urging all members to contact their local candidates (you can find their details here) and challenge them on how their party will support a sector that enables growth, delivers sustainability and provides employment for one in 10 people in the UK. You can download a copy of the FIS Manifesto, A Blueprint for Better Construction here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following an extensive and thorough tender process, Rutland County Council has awarded their Highways Term Maintenance Contract (HTMC) to the highest scoring bidder, Thomas Bow Ltd. Rutland County Council’s current HTMC ended on 31st May 2024. Thomas Bow Ltd then commenced with their contract on 1st June 2024 and this will run for a period of ten years to 31st May 2034. There will be an option to further extend the contract by a further 2 x 5 year periods if a number of Key Performance Indicators are met. Rutland County Council’s Strategic Director for Places, said: ‘Thomas Bow Ltd have a breadth of industry experience and have a significant number of highway contracts around the country. ‘We are pleased to be able to shape the new contract to ensure it has an emphasis on social value and positive benefits to the local community, ranging from employment to community engagement. There is also a focus on carbon reduction, innovation, an opportunity for potential income generation and a cost reduction on the depot lease. ‘We are looking forward to working with Thomas Bow Ltd to deliver proactive maintenance measures, ensuring the highway network is kept safe and maintained in a sustainable manner for all residents and visitors to the County.’ Thomas Bow Ltd Managing Director Alistair Bow commented ‘This is an exciting contract for Thomas Bow and demonstrates our in-house capability to deliver multi discipline contracts for clients. We are extremely happy to secure this long term contract and we look forward to working with Rutland County Council to deliver improvements identified in the recent survey and also having a positive impact on the local community.’ In 2023 Rutland County Council scored well in The National Highways and Transport (NHT) Public satisfaction survey results. The survey was carried out in June 2023 and Rutland County Council was ranked joint 5th in the country along with Manchester and Solihull out of a total of 111 authorities that took part. The NHT Public Satisfaction Survey collects public perspectives on, and satisfaction with, Highway and Transport Services in Local Authority areas. It is a unique, standardised, collaboration between Highway Authorities across the UK enabling comparison, knowledge sharing, and the potential to improve efficiencies by the sharing of good practice. Over four million households have been sent a copy of the NHT Survey since it was first launched in 2008 and over a million members of the public have responded to date. For further information about the NHT Survey please visit www.nhtnetwork.co.uk/home Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Muse, the nationwide placemaker, has grown its team in the North West with the addition of two regeneration experts, Alex Vogel and Sam Wilson. Alex has been appointed Senior Development Manager, bringing almost 10 years’ experience in residential and mixed-used regeneration. Joining from Greystar, Alex actively managed the delivery of Greenford Quay, a regeneration masterplan which delivered 2,000 new homes, commercial space, and public realm as part of a new waterfront neighbourhood in London. Joining the Muse team in the North West, Alex will support the delivery of the Oldham Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan. A partnership between Oldham Council and Muse, the masterplan is set to deliver a new neighbourhood, complete with 2,000 new homes across a mix of tenures. Also joining the team is Sam Wilson as Project Manager. Sam joins from AtkinsRéalis, where he supported the delivery of the £240m arts venue ‘Factory International’, working in partnership with Manchester City Council. Sam has also supported the delivery of Tower Works, a 245-bed mixed-use build to rent scheme in Leeds, and the design of Nikal’s Blackpool Central regeneration. As part of the Muse team, Sam will help deliver a pipeline of new places in Blackpool, Wirral, and Warrington. Phil Marsden, Managing Director at Muse – North West, said: “Alex and Sam join Muse with extensive placemaking experience. Their knowledge and insight, gained from supporting significant and large-scale regeneration, will be invaluable to our team. “As we deliver on our exciting pipeline of new places across the North West, alongside our local partners, it’s our people who will unlock the opportunity, long-term benefit, and social value of regeneration. Alex and Sam will be critical to our ambition. “We have seen strong growth in our business over the last 12 months. Expanding our team allows us to create additional capacity and bolster our knowledge and skills. Alex and Sam will be critical to our long-term vision and achieving our targets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New data released today shows the number of people in work has dropped. The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 138,000 in the three months to April amid growing signs of a weaker jobs market and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. Rosalind Gill, Head of Policy and Engagement at the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), “Today’s newly released labour market statistics paints a very worrying picture and hammers home the uphill battle that the new Government will face. New data reveals that 3.2 million people are out of work but want a job, and that the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%.” Gill concluded: “As the new government takes office, it’s vital that they implement a cohesive plan that involves educational institutions, businesses, and policymakers to equip our workforce with the skills needed for today’s economy. As technology quickly advances, the labour market is transforming at pace and the skills gaps will only become more acute. Failure to address these issues now risks further economic stagnation and missed opportunities for growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Metrolink has hit another milestone with the UK’s largest light-rail network enjoying its busiest month ever in its 32-year history. Millions of people got on board in May which proved to be a bumper month for events including the Great Manchester Run, Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning parade and high-profile concerts at the Co-Op Live. During the month 4.1 million people travelled on Metrolink across Greater Manchester, setting a new record for monthly patronage since the network opened in 1992. The previous record of 4 million was set in November 2019. Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Chief Network Officer, said: “This is a historic achievement for Metrolink and is the result of a huge team effort between TfGM and the operator KeolisAmey Metrolink over the last few years. “It shows just how important Metrolink is for Greater Manchester, as well as demonstrating Metrolink’s integral role as part of the Bee Network. It is also a testament to the staff on the frontlines and behind the scenes who keep the network running reliably. “This growth in passenger numbers, together with our renewed focus on tackling fare evasion is helping to get Metrolink back on track following the decline in passengers during the pandemic. “This is just one of many milestones that Metrolink has hit since 6th April 1992, and with work under way to improve the network and make it quicker, smoother and more reliable for passengers, I am confident that Metrolink will continue to go from strength to strength.” Damien Chabas, Managing Director of KeolisAmey Metrolink, said: “Metrolink plays a vital role in delivering a safe, reliable, and accessible public transport services for the around 900,000 people who choose to travel with us every week. “We are delighted with the record-breaking patronage in May, with the continued dedication and pride of our brilliant employees, KeolisAmey Metrolink will continue to build on our commitment to providing a highly-performing network in partnership with TfGM that adds value to the communities of Greater Manchester.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK construction industry is set to experience a shift in thinking with the September launch of Offsite Construction Week (OCW) – an unprecedented collaboration amongst leading industry pioneers and associations. Organisers of the influential Offsite Expo and Offsite Awards have partnered with industry leaders with the specific goal of inspiring strategic collaboration across the offsite construction sector. A UK first, Offsite Construction Week will bring together clients, manufacturers, developers, architects, specifiers, project managers, legislative and accrediting bodies for a week-long series of events, debates, and discussions on how to accelerate sector growth by removing current barriers to MMC implementation. Uniting industry leaders from different construction and material sectors, the newly-formed Advisory Group will create a set of objectives for successfully expanding the application of offsite construction methods and technologies, ensuring that every stakeholder’s perspective is reflected in the resulting strategy. The Advisory Group comprises 20 of the most well-informed and respected industry figures at the forefront of offsite innovation from pioneering companies and industry bodies. For full details of the Advisory Group, go to: www.offsiteconstructionweek.co.uk/advisory-group Together, these industry leaders will curate the Offsite Expo Masterclasses, roundtable debates and events that take place throughout the five days of Offsite Construction Week. Through a series of practical seminars that share insider knowledge of projects success factors and learnings – speakers will offer solutions to legislative, procurement, procedural, and financial roadblocks to accelerating the pace of implementing offsite methods and products in construction. Key topics to be addressed will include but are not limited to, creating industrialised construction ecosystems, enhancing building safety, increasing productivity, closing the performance gap, driving innovation, digital delivery for tomorrow, creating a zero-snag culture and delivering against net zero carbon targets. On behalf of the Advisory Group, spokesperson Tudi Sully said, “We will act as industry ambassadors for delivering a better built environment, chairing roundtable debates and connecting decision makers from various client organisations, industry bodies, government stakeholders and the supply chain. “By engaging in an open, unbiased and critical debate of current roadblocks to the implementation of approaches such as DfMA, offsite, MMC and industrialisation; showcasing past project challenges and successes; and offering insights from different vertical sectors, the Advisory Group will demonstrate a roadmap for the wider adoption of these innovative solutions. “With the ambitious goal to help accelerate the UK government’s agenda for a safer, more sustainable and faster-growing built environment, the Advisory Group will not only connect top decision makers but will also oversee an educational outreach to young professionals, apprentices and students in construction programmes – all of which will start at Offsite Construction Week.” The Advisory Group’s involvement during Offsite Construction Week will include curating the programme and leading the Masterclass seminars, sharing insights from the organisations they represent and presenting a highly focused, factual overview of the sector and the challenges it faces. Whilst the discussions in the Masterclass Theatre will equip attendees with a well-balanced view of the industry’s roadmap for the future, the Advisory Group will set the tone for a series of live webinars on some of the most pressing issues in the industry. About Offsite Construction Week Taking place from 16-20 September 2024, Offsite Construction Week will showcase the most comprehensive series of offsite technology events ever seen in the UK. The aim of the curated selection of seminars, industry awards ceremony, site tours and features exhibition, is to highlight the benefits and advancements in offsite construction, driving innovation and collaboration across the sector. Unilateral Support Offsite Construction Week is supported by a robust lineup of industry associations, including BUILDOFFSITE (BOS), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT,) Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA), MMC Ireland, Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA), Offsite Alliance, Steel Construction Institute (SCI), Structural Timber Association (STA) and others have come together to support the most comprehensive series of offsite events the country has ever seen. To keep informed go to: www.offsiteconstructionweek.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NAVTOR has taken another step forward on its ambitious growth path with the acquisition of specialist software development company Masterloop. With a proven track record within IoT (Internet of Things), AI and web solutions, Masterloop’s arrival boosts NAVTOR’s innovation and development team, already strengthened by the acquisition of Voyager Worldwide in December. The Norwegian-headquartered business will now focus resources on the continued push for data-driven efficiency, performance and decarbonisation for customers, integrating further solutions into its connected digital ecosystem. Fresh perspectives “Masterloop provides another piece of the digital puzzle as we continue our mission to make life easier, safer and more profitable for shipping companies worldwide,” comments Tor Svanes, NAVTOR Founder and CEO. “The team’s industrial IoT strength and maritime understanding, highlighted by their Bluekey vessel efficiency application, will feed into our drive to enhance our portfolio with intelligent, data-based, AI solutions that simplify the increasingly complex operational reality faced by today’s maritime businesses. “Masterloop brings something new to the table, with fresh perspectives and broad experience gained from outside of shipping too. We believe they can help accelerate our innovation, as we push to deliver transformational technology for an evolving industry. It’s great to have them on board.” Shared visions NAVTOR is the world leader in e-Navigation and performance solutions, with products and services aboard over 18,000 vessels in the world fleet. Masterloop, meanwhile, has made a name for itself with a proprietary IoT platform, Bluekey and a smart bike-sharing application CityBike Cloud. Its client history includes names such as Easee, Zaptec, Kolumbus and Kverneland Group. Jan Helge Skailand, Masterloop’s Founder and CEO, has a long history of collaboration with NAVTOR. He was originally one of the founding team in 2011, taking the role of CTO, before leaving to form Masterloop in 2013. The two companies have collaborated on numerous projects since that point. Deep-dive expertise “In many ways this feels like ‘coming home’,” says Skailand. “I know NAVTOR very well and the two companies share the same values, innovation culture, and commitment to developing new solutions that unlock powerful benefits for users. However, we also have a deep-dive domain specialization within IoT and have gained experience from working alongside a unique mix of customers. So, I think we have something to offer a team that is already at the vanguard of maritime technology. I can’t wait to see what comes of this.” Masterloop’s team of ten, based in Norway and Sri Lanka, will now join NAVTOR’s global network of approximately 400 specialists. A key task will see them feeding competence into the Green AI for Sustainable Shipping (GASS) project, which is now tailoring digital twin and AI-based tech to introduce ‘dynamic voyage optimisation’ for vessels, aiming to cut emissions by up to 20%. Purpose driven development “We want to lead from the front and help change the industry with smart technology,” comments NAVTOR CTO Anders Holme. “Optimising performance and energy efficiency is one of our main focuses, helping our customers comply with stricter regulations, dramatically reduce fuel costs, and, of course, work towards ambitious decarbonisation goals. “We have a strong sense of purpose and an important role to play. It’s great to see a talented team like Masterloop buying into that, enhancing our capacity as we seek to ‘make a real difference’ for the industry we serve.” NAVTOR offers a comprehensive range of integrated smart shipping solutions, including advanced planning platform NavStation, fleet performance software NavFleet, and unique digital logbooks, amongst other products and services. To discover more please see www.navtor.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
