McLaren Construction’s Midlands and North arm is reflecting on a year of record turnover and growth, with ambitions plans set for 2023 and beyond. Alongside achieving £142m turnover for the financial year ending July 2022, the company has achieved 75 percent repeat business, winning multiple awards for its developments and
The latest industry index on property fall throughs by property purchasing specialist, House Buyer Bureau, has revealed that there has been a sharp increase in both the number of property transactions falling through in Q3 of 2022, as well as the cost associated with these fall throughs. House Buyer Bureau
Terry Stocks, a director at Faithful+Gould, part of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in the New Year Honours list for his pioneering work as one of the UK’s leading experts on building information modelling (BIM). A chartered structural and civil
LEADING sustainability and M&E firm CPW has solidified its presence in Nottingham with its recent relocation to a new city centre office space. Having been located on Stoney Street within the Lace Market area of Nottingham since 2008, the move to a 3500 sq. ft space in the Imperial Buildings
Both CaberMDF Pro and CaberMDF Pro MR from timber product specialist, West Fraser, are premium grade Medium Density Fibreboards developed for interior joinery: their uniform consistency offering all the benefits of timber, but without the natural defects. Due to their construction and smooth surfaces, CaberMDF Pro and Pro MR are
There are over 250,000 self-employed tradespeople in the UK, and as we head into a new year, many will be considering taking the step and setting up their own business. With this in mind, IronmongeryDirect has partnered with Rick Smith, Managing Director at Forbes Burton, to share some expert tips
Legal & General Capital announces that it committed around £5bn towards levelling up the UK’s towns and cities across 2022, driving regional economic growth, tackling the housing crisis, and supporting the climate transition, whilst expanding its footprint into the US for the first time. Despite globally economic uncertainty, Legal &
The UK construction sector has taken a number of significant steps towards net zero, according to data published this week by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), as UK bank NatWest reflects on its key role as a partner of the programme helping its construction customers make the transition. At COP26
One of the largest groups of independent builders merchant in the UK, with in excess of 170 branches throughout the South of England, has launched a comprehensive cost of living support package for its employees. Some 2,000+ employees across the 20 brands of the Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG), will benefit from
Barhale has been awarded a £4.5M contract by Thames Water to install a protective liner to minimise the impact of a third party tunnel boring machine on north London’s important Middle Level Two (ML2) Sewer. The protection liner to the ML2, part of Joseph Bazalgette’s transformative Victorian sewer system, will
McLaren Construction’s Midlands and North arm is reflecting on a year of record turnover and growth, with ambitions plans set for 2023 and beyond. Alongside achieving £142m turnover for the financial year ending July 2022, the company has achieved 75 percent repeat business, winning multiple awards for its developments and expanding its team and portfolio into new sectors. Projected turnover for the present financial year is £258m, an increase of 80 percent on 2022, and the Midlands and North division has already secured projects exceeding £100m into 2024. McLaren’s strategy in 2022 was to focus on nurturing key client relationships, supporting valued customers through the delivery of quality developments, whilst enhancing social value through its sustainability and charitable efforts. Notable projects delivered this year include the West Midlands Ambulance Service site – home of the UK’s first electric ambulance fleet, as well as the Cadent Ansty development – which won commercial development of the year at the Insider West Midlands Property Awards. The Midlands and North team also received the prestigious UKREiiF Contractor of the Year award this spring. Working towards the company’s sustainability targets to reach net zero Scope 1 and 2 by 2025, and Scope 3 by 2045, the team have worked to ensure projects in the region are meeting government green targets through the reduction of embodied carbon in construction. With many construction firm’s removing diesel generators from sites in a bid to hit net zero targets, the West Midlands Ambulance Service site was the first McLaren Construction site of its kind to use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), an industry-leading sustainable fuel alternative. The build of a logistics development in Sherburn, Leeds for the Firethorn Trust, was also the first net zero carbon industrial and logistics project for the Midlands and North region. Giving back to the communities in which its developments are based, the division has also concentrated its charitable efforts on a wide range of causes this year, including theorganisation of raffles for the Ukraine Appeal and the Lighthouse Construction Charity, regular donations to the St Helen’s Food Bank and assistance with hosting a Christmas party with the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT), to create magical memories for terminally ill and disadvantaged children in Cheshire. McLaren Construction as a whole, finished its financial year on 31 July 2022 with a turnover for the previous 12 months of £726.2m, exceeding pre-pandemic levels with an increase of £184.1m on the previous year. Turnover for the year ending July 2023 is currently forecast at over £850m, with 80 percent business already secured. Reflecting on a year of exceptional growth for the Midlands and North division, Gary Cramp, managing director, said: “We are extremely proud of our success in the last year, and this is all down to the amazing work of our team and our consistent approach to planning. “The challenges following Covid have presented themselves during a busy construction market in 2022, and the industry has been presented with inflationary pressure on materials and labour resource to carry out projects. “Despite these pressures, our solid preparation has allowed us to secure early procurement to mitigate risks to the business and we are excited by the value and rich variety of projects we have in the pipeline next year, and into 2024. “While there are lots of positives to look forward to in 2023, we are prepared for the emergence of a tougher market, but our focus will remain on key relationships and supporting our valued customers, whilst investing centrally to enhance our social value, diversity and sustainability offering.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest industry index on property fall throughs by property purchasing specialist, House Buyer Bureau, has revealed that there has been a sharp increase in both the number of property transactions falling through in Q3 of 2022, as well as the cost associated with these fall throughs. House Buyer Bureau analyses the number of transaction fall throughs across the UK property market, what this means in terms of the average cost of a fall through and what the total cost to the property market is as a result. The latest index shows that in Q3 of last year, 90,188 transactions are estimated to have fallen through, a 15.6% increase on a quarterly basis and a 3.6% uplift versus this time last year. This is also the highest quarterly number of fall throughs recorded over the last five years. What’s more, a combination of runaway inflation and increasing house prices have pushed the average cost of a property transaction collapse to £3,337. As a result, House Buyer Bureau estimates that homebuyers and sellers were hit by a total estimated cost of almost £301m as a result of their transactions falling through in Q3 2022. This total cost is not only 18.7% up on the previous quarter, but also 16.3% on an annual basis. There is one silver lining for the nation’s buyers and sellers, as House Buyer Bureau estimates that the total number of fall throughs seen in 2022 will still sit some -6.7% below the total seen in 2021. However, this is largely down to the fact that the first two quarters of the year saw a far lower level of transactions falling through, with the latest quarterly spike suggesting that the property market could be in for a rougher ride in 2023. Managing Director of House Buyer Bureau, Chris Hodgkinson, commented: “We’ve seen a consistent increase in the number of property transactions falling through in recent years and despite a fairly settled start to 2022, the latest data shows that the number of sales collapsing hit a five year high in the third quarter of 2022. This is almost certainly due to the turbulence that came via the mortgage sector in September, as lenders pulled a raft of products and increased mortgage fees in reaction to the Bank of England’s aggressive attempts to curb inflation via a string of consecutive interest rate increases. As a result, many buyers found that they could no longer afford the cost of borrowing which has led to swathes of property sales falling by the wayside during the second half of last year. Unfortunately, we saw a further hike to the base rate come in December and so the likelihood is that this increased level of property fall throughs will not only be apparent within the final quarter of 2022, but it’s likely to be maintained into 2023. Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here.
Terry Stocks, a director at Faithful+Gould, part of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in the New Year Honours list for his pioneering work as one of the UK’s leading experts on building information modelling (BIM). A chartered structural and civil engineer with more than 40 years’ experience in the construction industry, Terry has been recognised with the honour for his services to construction innovation in both the public and private sectors. Terry, from London, joined the Faithful+Gould team in 2015 where he has been at the forefront of delivering innovation across a number of key government accounts, including Dept. for Education, the Ministry of Justice and the Dept. for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Previously he was at the Ministry of Justice for 24 years, where he led on the UK Government’s first BIM projects (HMP Cookham Wood) and the cross-government departmental delivery of the UK BIM Mandate, as part of the UK BIM Task Force. He has also chaired both the Government BIM Working Group attended by Govt Depts, large UK infrastructure providers and local government representatives, as well as the UK Cabinet Office New Forms of Construction Procurement Group, developing and implementing collaborative procurement models across UK Government departments. Following the announcement Terry, who is married with three children, said it was a real privilege to be awarded with the MBE. He adds: “I have been lucky to work for some great organisations, such as the MoJ, and Faithful+Gould/ Atkins, along with some great people as well – too many to mention! “I have always worked to try to make a difference, so to be recognised in this way is a real high point. But I fully intend to carry on, with more of the same. Working with excellent people to deliver excellent outcomes is extremely motivating.” James Butler, UK and Europe managing director at Faithful+Gould said: “All of us at Faithful+Gould offer our congratulations to Terry for this thoroughly deserved award. “He has been integral in delivering innovation and efficiencies for our clients in a crucial sector for our organisation, drawing on a huge amount of experience from a career spanning over 40 years. It’s a great start to the year to see that body of work being recognised in this way.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING sustainability and M&E firm CPW has solidified its presence in Nottingham with its recent relocation to a new city centre office space. Having been located on Stoney Street within the Lace Market area of Nottingham since 2008, the move to a 3500 sq. ft space in the Imperial Buildings on Victoria Street marks a new chapter for the firm, aligning with the firm’s consistent growth and success in Nottingham and the surrounding areas since joining the region’s business community in 2003. Rising staff levels, flexible ways of working and the resurgence of client facing activity were key drivers in the decision to relocate CPW’s Nottingham team. The leadership team was compelled to create a space that was adaptable and complimentary of the energy, drive and passion that the CPW team embodies. Carl Humpage, director and Nottingham office lead at CPW, said: “We wanted to create a space that enables us to produce the best possible work for our clients, while also achieving a flexible office setting for our 26 staff with all the modern facilities and intricacies needed for growth in the sector. “Larger screens for building information modelling (BIM) capability, a boardroom with the ability to cater for larger meetings, a virtual reality room to bring our projects to life and the sustainability of air source heat pumps are just a few of the ways the new space is optimal for our line of work.” Craig Waldron, director at CPW, added: “The new office has provided us with an opportunity to re-invest. It’s an exciting and creative workspace that our colleagues are already loving. It’s brilliant how the new environment has reinvigorated the team and really enhanced the energy, drive and passion for what we do. “The location also provides us with easier access to the city centre and all its amenities, with a close tram stop improving connectivity for commuters and promoting more sustainable transport options.” The fully refurbished office includes facilities to promote staff capacity and wellbeing, including larger spaces for social evenings, breakout spaces for varied meeting environments and a pool table for friendly competition. The firm’s new fit-for-purpose space provides the opportunity for CPW’s already strong presence in the region to grow further. Carl Hubbard, director and Nottingham office co-lead at CPW, said: “Our work in the East Midlands is something we are really proud of and the mission to deliver low or zero carbon design solutions is never ending. Projects with the University of Nottingham and our involvement in The Island Quarter scheme are examples of the significant work we are involved in with local stakeholders. “Looking ahead to our 20th year in Nottingham, we are excited to build further on our current client base and our new office plays a vital role in our position as a leading business in the regional construction community.” CPW is an international M&E consultancy with more than 250 staff based across 12 offices. The firm – which works across a wide range of sectors including healthcare, residential, education and more – has sustainability at its core and specialises in designing and integrating a full range of MEP solutions into existing and new buildings. For further information visit www.cpwp.com or follow @CPWengineering on social media. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Both CaberMDF Pro and CaberMDF Pro MR from timber product specialist, West Fraser, are premium grade Medium Density Fibreboards developed for interior joinery: their uniform consistency offering all the benefits of timber, but without the natural defects. Due to their construction and smooth surfaces, CaberMDF Pro and Pro MR are ideal for use where intricate detailing is required; plus, the boards are ideally suited to machining and surface finishing, as well as being able to accept high quality paint finishes. Both are easy to saw, drill and rout cleanly without chipping or splintering. Therefore, elaborate detailing is possible, while for the most artistic of interior designers, developers or builders, the boards will even accept foils and ornate veneers. The versatile panels are suited to shop fitting, general purpose joinery and furniture making, as well as wall panelling, architectural mouldings, and the production of doors. They are also frequently specified for exhibition stands, staircases and even fire surrounds, as well as in public buildings, banks and hotels. Then in terms of the product designation, the MR refers to the moisture resisting treatment and conditioning given to the CaberMDF Pro MR boards during their production, making them suitable for use in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms or other situations where the environment is prone to high humidity. Ruggedness as well as accuracy of manufacture is also enhanced by the industrial grade’s superior screw and fastener holding over other types of panel product, thanks to the board’s carefully selected, high quality fibres and internal bond strength. At 1220mm wide, both boards are available in lengths of 2440 or 3050mm; and in thicknesses of 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 22, 25 and 30mm. For CaberMDF Pro, extra options include sizes of 1525 and 1830mm, plus 2745 x 1220mm with the longest board measuring 3660 x 1220 mm. For peace of mind, the boards also conform to European E1 emission standard, comply with BS EN 622: Parts 1 and 5, and carry the CE mark. To find out more about West Fraser’s products for housebuilders, get in touch with Dan Clarke – email Daniel.Clarke@westfraser.com or download product brochures from the housebuilder page of the West Fraser website https://uk.westfraser.com/housebuilders/ For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/ Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
There are over 250,000 self-employed tradespeople in the UK, and as we head into a new year, many will be considering taking the step and setting up their own business. With this in mind, IronmongeryDirect has partnered with Rick Smith, Managing Director at Forbes Burton, to share some expert tips on how to make sure your new company has the smoothest start possible. 1. Know your costs Knowing the costs of running the business is the first step on the road to success, and if this stage is missed, then the future of the company is at risk. Rick says: “Your first goal should be to have three months of running costs in a separate account to give you security. “Next you should evaluate the true cost of starting up your business. Make sure you have an understanding of the expected running costs, including wages, rent, rates, vehicles and what all this will total in cost per week, month and quarter to trade with no work coming in. “You also need to know what it is going to cost for things like rent deposits, equipment, tools and supplies for your first few jobs. Remember, at first you may not get paid for quite some time. “Finally, always price your work according to your figures. If you have the previous few steps worked out, this should be easy and will ensure smooth sailing for the most part.” 2. Remember to focus on the whole business Many tradespeople will set up their own business because they’re experienced on the job and are confident in their abilities, but the work itself is only one part of running a successful business, and tradespeople also need to learn how to run a company. Rick says: “A high percentage of our trade clients grow through a demand for their services. Put simply, if you are good at what you do, you will be in demand. “The problems start when they have to learn how to run a business. Providing a quality service and running the business well are equally important and you can’t do one without the other. “The business side of it doesn’t always get the attention it requires, which can mean the foundations of the company are weak. A combination of poor systems, processes and financials means cracks will appear and it then becomes a real problem that can spiral.” 3. Implement a sustainable structure Remembering to divide your time between completing work and running the business is vital to the company’s survival, so you should ensure that you dedicate time to creating a structure that allows both aspects of the company to get the attention they need. Rick says: “If you are an established tradesperson, you should know how to quote and fulfil the work before you even set up a business, but time should be taken to research, get a good understanding and implement a structure to your business that is sustainable. “The golden rule should be, get the right balance of working in and on your business. Scheduling your time weekly, rather than monthly to work on your business is always a good idea. It may seem like an inconvenience getting in the way of fulfilment of work but is the difference between success and failure in a lot of cases.” 4. Market your work You could be an incredible tradesperson but getting the word out about your company is something that takes time and specific attention, otherwise you’ll find work difficult to come by, regardless of your skill. Rick says: “Start by looking at what is working for other people in your position, how are they marketing their business? “You should consider things like signage on the site of jobs you’re working on, or at least on your work vehicle. You should also make use of social media, like Facebook, where community groups can be especially good at getting word out about your services. You can also use physical marketing, such as printing leaflets and information booklets to distribute in key areas.” You can read more of tips on how to make the most out of social media here. 5. Build your reputation Finally, developing a good reputation is key to long term success, and will ensure that you have a growing list of reliable clients. Rick says: “Word of mouth is always invaluable in spreading the message about your company, and you should always look to provide the highest quality of service to build your reputation. “Treat your customers well and be polite, do your job to the best of your ability, and don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials and reviews after a job well done. “If you’re just starting out, you can always ask your clients to pass on the word to their friends and family, which may just lead to you securing new work.” For expert tips on how to set up a trade business, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog/expert-tips-for-setting-up-a-new-business Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Legal & General Capital announces that it committed around £5bn towards levelling up the UK’s towns and cities across 2022, driving regional economic growth, tackling the housing crisis, and supporting the climate transition, whilst expanding its footprint into the US for the first time. Despite globally economic uncertainty, Legal & General Capital has significantly increased its alternative asset commitments in 2022, backing the delivery of over 17,000 new homes, 2.7m sq ft of commercial real estate across the UK and US, and investing in multiple innovative clean energy businesses to support the transition to a low carbon economy. Legal & General Capital’s commitments in 2022 mean it is on track to deliver against its stated ambitions to generate up to £600m in profit from alternative assets by 2025, with returns of around 10% to 12% per annum, across its key focus areas of housing, SME finance, specialist commercial real estate, digital infrastructure and clean energy. In 2022, Legal & General Capital’s commitments have included: Laura Mason, CEO of Legal & General Capital said: “2022 has been a landmark year for Legal & General Capital as we have made major commitments to deliver transformational schemes in all our alternative asset specialisms across both the UK and, for the first time, the USA. Much of this has come through strategic partnerships with like-minded investors, who are seeking stable, long-term returns, but also looking to drive positive social impact and limit the impacts of climate change. With an increasingly uncertain picture over the next 12 months, it’s essential that financial institutions continue to invest in the real economy, recycling pensions funds and savings into projects that help to create jobs, housing and vital infrastructure. Despite headwinds, our appetite to continue to invest globally, alongside other institutional partners, remains strong for 2023”. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK construction sector has taken a number of significant steps towards net zero, according to data published this week by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), as UK bank NatWest reflects on its key role as a partner of the programme helping its construction customers make the transition. At COP26 last year, the Construction Leadership Council launched its CO2nstruct Zero programme, with associated measures to track carbon reduction activities, and challenge the industry to improve in 9 key areas. The first annual review of progress published on Monday, sets out the evidence that UK construction is playing a leading role in cutting carbon. The annual CO2nstruct Zero Performance Dashboard shows that the last 12 months has seen the sector: In support of its customers in the construction sector as a leading partner of the programme, NatWest has taken a number of steps in the last 12 months to help its customers improve in the 9 key areas outlined in Construct Zero’s dashboard. Earlier this year, the bank launched its Carbon Planner tool, designed to help SMEs understand their carbon footprint and suggest tailored actions to help reduce emissions and cost. The bank has also introduced green loans and green asset finance to support businesses across the sector to invest in zero emission plant and electric vehicles, as well as charging points and associated infrastructure. The bank also formed its Sustainable Homes and Building Coalition with Worcester Bosch, British Gas, Scottish Power and Shelter, to raise awareness around retrofit, and are currently retrofitting 10 homes as part of the coalitions retrofit pilot. CO2nstruct Zero’s network has grown rapidly, with more than 200 organisations now established as Business Champions and Partners under the programme, alongside NatWest. This network has played a crucial role in supporting carbon reduction policy development, feeding into UK Government work on retrofit and energy security, as well as developing its own detailed plans including a route map to cut diesel usage on sites. Construction Leadership Council Deputy Co-Chair Richard Robinson said: “Last year we asked the industry to join us on a journey towards a lower carbon future, and the response has been very encouraging. We must now build on this momentum, pushing ahead with pace and purpose in 2023 as we continue to play a leading role in getting the UK to net zero.” Laura Capper, Head of Manufacturing and Construction, NatWest Group said: “We are delighted to be a part of the Construct Zero programme, and are pleased to see the progress being made in the first 12 months. We know our customers want access to tools and products that will help them enact long term, meaningful change within their business, and our partnership with the CLC is helping ensure we focus on the areas that will make the most difference to the sector. We look forward to continued collaboration with Construct Zero and the wider network over the coming year.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of the largest groups of independent builders merchant in the UK, with in excess of 170 branches throughout the South of England, has launched a comprehensive cost of living support package for its employees. Some 2,000+ employees across the 20 brands of the Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG), will benefit from a three-pronged package of additional support that includes a one-off winter payment, a ‘perks package’ and a special Employee Purchase Scheme(EPS). IBMG is making a one-off payment of £500 to employees this winter in an immediate effort to assist with the rising cost of living. Along-side this IBMG has also launched a Group-wide employee ‘perks package’, that has proven successful in saving £1000s during its pilot run throughout the Parker Building Supplies network. This package provides discounts for IBMG employees on a raft of daily essentials such as groceries, clothes, mobile phones, insurance and household bills. Finally, IBMG has a new special employee purchase scheme(EPS) that provides employees of the Group with exceptional discounts on IBMG’s vast range energy saving products, such as insulation and draught proofing – a key to longer-term security from rising energy costs. IBMG’s CEO, Martin Stables, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide this support. We forecast that the combination of these measures will immediately benefit and support our team. “These are extraordinary times and as a leading group of successful builders merchants, we feel it is important to support our brilliant employees throughout the business. The vast majority of our team have been with the business for many years. Everyone works hard, showing dedication to their role and we want to help them and their families even further at this challenging time. “From a winter payment and help with energy saving measures, to an extensive discount package to help with day-to-day household expenditures we hope to wrap our arms around each person in our IBMG family and provide help through this winter and beyond.” The support package is considered to be one of the most generous in the sector and has been hugely welcomed by all employees of IBMG. www.Independentbm.com Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barhale has been awarded a £4.5M contract by Thames Water to install a protective liner to minimise the impact of a third party tunnel boring machine on north London’s important Middle Level Two (ML2) Sewer. The protection liner to the ML2, part of Joseph Bazalgette’s transformative Victorian sewer system, will see civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale install a 75 metre length of non-structural liner. It will protect the 2 metre sewer while the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) for HS2 pass beneath. The relining will take the form of a series of steel hoops installed at 600mm intervals internally to the existing sewer with additional supports and bracing added between. Access to install the liner will be provided by two shafts – one existing and one new. The latter will be constructed at a point where the route of HS2 will be in closest proximity to the sewer to optimise monitoring. The shaft will be constructed as a caisson but installed using underpinning from the collar rather than by jacking so avoiding pressure on the 19th Century, brick-constructed sewer. ML2 carries third party cables and additional measures have been put in place to ensure they are not disturbed. Steve Hills, Contracts Manager at Barhale, said that the work was an important measure. “The ML2 has been an important part of the capital’s infrastructure for more than one hundred years,” he said. “While it has more than stood the test of time, it is prudent to make sure that it is fully protected as HS2’s TBMs pass below. “Every element of these works has been carefully planned and designed so that there is the least impact on the sewer through construction and the maximum protection afforded for the future. “That design philosophy of minimising impact has also extended above ground where we have planned to minimise disruption as we negotiate an historic part of London around Regents Park.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals