HSE is currently recruiting for trainee inspectors, are you right for the role? Apply now, closing date for applications 25 September 2016. Source link

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and The Wren Insurance Association Limited (the Wren) the architects’ professional indemnity insurance mutual, have announced five 2015 RIBA Wren Insurance Association Scholarships. Each winner will receive £5,000 for the last year of their Part 2 course in architecture and the opportunity to be mentored by a member of the Wren. The 2015 winners are: • Ruxandra Maria Gruioniu from University College London• Lilly Ingleby from the University of Sheffield• Johnny Lui from the Royal College of Art• Alexander Mills from De Montfort University• Charles Proctor from the Royal College of Art RIBA President Stephen Hodder said: “I’m delighted that this scheme continues to recognise young, outstanding talent within our profession. Through a significant financial contribution to their studies, and the opportunity to be mentored throughout the last year of their Part 2, I have no doubt that these students will make the most of this exciting prospect and look forward to seeing how they progress in their future career.” Richard Pullen, Chairman of Wren, said: “I am delighted to announce that Ruxandra Maria Gruioniu, Lilly Ingleby, Johnny Lui, Alexander Mills and Charles Proctor are the winners of this year’s RIBA Wren Scholarships. Our insurance mutual, having enjoyed over 25 successful years, is continuing to mark its quarter century by making available a scholarship fund of £25,000 per year to Part 2 students at a time when the cost of qualification can be overwhelming. We are also offering the successful students the opportunity of being mentored by some of the UK’s leading architectural firms. The Wren Members, having helped each other for so long, feel it is appropriate to support and encourage the next generation of talented architects who have the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of architecture.” -ENDS- Notes to editors 1. For further press information please contact Gagandeep Bedi in the RIBA Press Office on 020 7307 3814 or email gagandeep.bedi@riba.org2. To download images of this year’s recipients and copies of their portfolios please visit: http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Becomeanarchitect/Fundingyoureducation/Studentfunding/RIBAWrenInsuranceAssociationScholarship.aspx  3. The scholarship scheme was created in 2013 as part of the Wren’s 25th anniversary celebrations. For more information about the Wren see www.wrenmutual.co.uk. The recipients of funding were selected after an initial shortlisting stage followed by individual interviews with a judging panel. 4. The judging panel consisted of: Chris Bennie (TP Bennett), Luke Butcher (member of the RIBA Education Trust Funds Committee), Jonathan Hall (Allford Hall Monaghan Morris), Tony Poole (Sheppard Robson Architects LLP), Clare Richards (member of the RIBA Education Trust Funds Committee). David Gloster, Director of Education at RIBA was present as independent moderator of the judging process.5. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Visit www.architecture.com and follow us on Twitter. Posted on Monday 20th July 2015 Source link

Praxis has commenced a major refurbishment scheme at Dakota House on Concord Business Park near Manchester Airport, with Savills and JLL appointed as joint letting agents. The 40,000 sq ft (3,715 sq m) vacant office building will undergo significant improvements including a full Category A refurbishment, which is due to be completed in September 2016.  Quoting rents at Dakota House are £16.50 per sq ft (£177.60 per sq m). Situated 1.5 miles from Manchester Airport, Concord Business Park benefits from the recent Metrolink extension and offers a range of amenities including an on-site restaurant.  Virgin Media and ASE Global are among the major occupiers located there. James Evans, head of Savills Manchester, comments: “We anticipate strong interest in the refurbished Dakota House, particularly as the supply of high quality office space in the area is so limited.  The quality of the refurbishment, the public transport connections and the on site amenity offer set it apart from competing locations.” Source link

The RIBA’s focus on its 40,000 members has been strengthened by an internal restructure that creates one new team in a new Members Directorate. The changes recently approved by the RIBA Board will come into effect in June with the recruitment of the new executive director members who will directly connect activities currently managed by the RIBA’s Membership & Profession directorate and the Nations & Regions directorate. Harry Rich, RIBA Chief Executive, said, ‘This change will allow us to serve our members in the UK and around the world even better. Directly connecting our activities in this way represents a renewed and strengthened commitment to our work in the regions and nations of the UK and to our core membership, practice, education, client and international activities. It will allow us to build on the achievements of Richard Brindley and Elizabeth Robertson in their tremendous leadership of our Membership & Profession and Nations & Regions teams.’ Richard Brindley After 11 years as a director of the RIBA, Richard Brindley will be leaving the Institute at the end of June 2015. Over the next four months Richard will continue to lead and develop the RIBA’s professional and membership services and after June, he will continue to be involved with the RIBA, helping to bring to fruition the work he initiated on new and improved membership categories and services. Richard joined the RIBA as Director of Practice in November 2003 and then became RIBA Director of Professional Services (2007-2011) and is currently Executive Director Membership and Profession. Prior to his RIBA executive roles, whilst a practicing chartered architect, Richard was engaged with the RIBA as a Branch and Regional Chair, Council Member and Vice President between 1986 and 2002. Harry Rich said, ‘We will thank Richard properly and fully in June, but in the meantime I want to express my gratitude for his immense contribution to our work and to the practice of architecture in the UK and beyond. He has been instrumental in developing many new services for RIBA members, such as the RIBA Chartered Practice scheme, Client Services, Business Benchmarking and sustaining the RIBA’s membership during the recent recession. I have enjoyed working with him and am grateful for his support as a highly respected and knowledgeable colleague. I am delighted that Richard will be able to ensure a smooth handover to his successor and that we will have the benefit of Richard’s professional skill and knowledge after June.’ Richard said: ‘It has been an immense privilege and fulfilling professional experience to work at the RIBA with many talented and committed RIBA members and staff colleagues and to be part of making a real positive difference for our architects’ profession and for architecture. Looking back on the last 11 years, it gives me great pride to see what we have achieved together in developing, supporting and promoting the profession through times of great change and challenge. The RIBA and its members are recognised globally as representing excellence in architecture and professionalism. Long may that continue!’ Elizabeth Robertson From June Elizabeth Robertson will move to a new role of Executive Director CSR and will lead on a number of key cross-organisational areas, initially including the completion of RIBA North and initiating a coherent programme of corporate and social responsibility. Liz will work three days a week. Liz has been with Nations & Regions for ten years this summer, overseeing a programme of change and renewal that has harnessed the creativity of staff and members and delivered outstanding work in all areas of RIBA activity. Harry Rich said, ‘As a result of Liz’s remarkable leadership of our teams around the country our regional and branch network is stronger than ever – providing invaluable support to members and spreading our message about the value of architecture. I am immensely grateful for this and I am delighted that we will continue to benefit from Liz’s expertise, dedication and friendship in her new role.’ Liz said: ‘Leading Nations and Regions has been a constant source of pleasure and it has been a privilege to work with such dedicated teams across England and Wales. My new role will bring fresh challenges, but also exciting opportunities. I will continue to work with staff, members and other partners, and I look forward to creating a new programme of work which will positively engage all parts of the RIBA.’ Harry Rich said, ‘These changes are being made to serve our members even better and to build on the great work of the Membership & Profession and Nations & Regions teams over the past few years. The changes will come into effect from June.’ ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information contact the RIBA Press Office: 020 7307 3662 pressoffice@riba.org 2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members www.architecture.com 3. Follow us on Twitter for regular RIBA updates www.twitter.com/RIBA   Posted on Thursday 12th March 2015 Source link

©Getty Tamar offshore gasfield Israel’s Harel Insurance and Financial Services said on Sunday that it was in talks to buy up to 4 per cent of the Tamar offshore natural gasfield from Houston-based Noble Energy, currently its biggest shareholder. The sale would be part of framework deal agreed by Noble and other investors in Israel’s offshore gas sector with the country’s government in order to address an antitrust challenge and allow the much larger Leviathan gas project to go ahead. More On this topic IN Oil & Gas Harel, Israel’s largest insurer, said in a notice to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that the talks with Noble covered a 3 per cent share, with an option to buy another one per cent of Tamar. The field began producing gas in 2013, and is now Israel’s main source of supply. The insurance group said that any deal would require regulatory approval. Noble’s spokesperson in Israel declined to comment. Noble agreed as part of a gas framework plan reached with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to cut its stake in Tamar from 36 per cent to 25 per cent. Delek agreed to sell all of its 31.3 per cent stake. The compromise was a response to a challenge in December 2014 posed by Israel’s antitrust watchdog, which recommended that Leviathan be broken up as Noble and Delek had too much control of the sector already. News of Noble’s sale talks with Harel comes as work finally begins on Leviathan, one of the eastern Mediterranean’s biggest gas reservoirs and a potential cash cow for Noble and Delek, which have signed preliminary export deals with Jordan and two refinery projects in Egypt. The field is also due to supply customers in Turkey with gas via a proposed undersea pipeline, following a reconciliation deal between the Turkish and Israeli governments expected to be finalised shortly. Leviathan, touted in Israel as a game-changing regional energy project, faced long delays after the antitrust challenge, which pushed the investors and Israel’s government into long negotiations on the gas framework, which were complicated by disagreements within the governing coalition. Opposition politicians accused the Netanyahu government of guaranteeing the investors too high a gas price, while the gas companies and the government accused them of economic populism and overzealous regulation. A final version of the gas framework was finally agreed last month after being amended to address a further challenge from Israel’s Supreme Court. Last week Delek and Avner, another Leviathan shareholder, said that they had begun work on a $120m plan to build Leviathan’s production platform, which they described as “a significant milestone for the overall project”. The field is due to begin producing gas by 2019. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link

Wessex water has revealed its pre-tax profits dropped £12.2 million in the financial year 2015-16. Wessex Water chief executive Colin Skellett The water supplier also revealed that turnover decreased by nearly £20 million from £540.3 million to £520.8 million. Operating profit has dropped as a result of a £2 billion programme of work for major water and sewerage improvements. However, customer bills have dropped by five per cent since April 2015. The programme which is currently underway includes a £39 million scheme to improve bathing water quality in the Burnham-on-Sea area to meet tighter standards. A new water supply grid is also being built and is due to be completed in 2017. Wessex Water chief executive Colin Skellett said: “2015/16 was the first year of a new five-year price control. Our focus is on delivering the outcomes our customers and local communities want. “We have made an excellent start and performed well against our commitments, achieving industry-leading customer service and environmental performance.” As part of the supplier’s five-year investment plan, the Wessex Water Partnership has been formed, independently chaired by former water minister Dan Rogerson, the partnership will provide advice and guidance on customer engagement, service, affordability and tariffs. Earlier this year the company announced a joint venture with Albion Water, taking a 51 per cent stake in the independent supplier. Source link

When the Swedish challenger for the 35th America’s Cup heads for a qualifying race in Japan next month it should boost a new sponsor — commodity trader Gunvor. On one level the move is unsurprising: Artemis Racing is owned by Torbjorn Tornqvist, the billionaire Swedish who co-founded Gunvor and helped build the company into one of the world’s largest oil traders. But prominently placing the Gunvor logo on the catamaran’s main sail also has symbolic value for the Swedish executive, as Gunvor tries to shake off the stigma of its Russian roots. It is six months since the Financial Times revealed how Gunvor paid Mr Tornqvist, the company’s controlling shareholder, a special $1bn dividend that he used to sever ties with his old Russian business partner, who was hit with US sanctions in 2014. For Mr Tornqvist, who is widely known in the oil industry as TT, it was a chance to reinvigorate Gunvor. “In 2014 and 2015 we were on the back foot,” Mr Tornqvist says in an interview with the FT at Gunvor’s sleek modern offices in Geneva. “Now we can be forward looking and position the company for the future.” Gunvor chief executive Torbjorn Tornqvist © Reuters A key challenge facing Gunvor is how it replaces the profits it used to secure from Russia. Gunvor once had a market-leading position in Russia, handling about one-third of its seaborne exports of crude oil, but today commodities originating from the country amount to less than 15 per cent of the company’s total trading. This reflects how Gunvor sold Russian assets after company co-founder Gennady Timchenko was placed on a US sanctions list in 2014, during the early days of the Ukraine crisis. The US state department alleged Gunvor had ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin — something the company has vehemently denied. Gunvor was only able to keep trading due to Mr Tornqvist buying out Mr Timchenko’s stake the day before the US sanctions were announced. But the money he owed to Mr Timchenko, an oligarch who is close to Mr Putin, was only paid off with the $1bn dividend in 2015. Since the split with Mr Timchenko, Gunvor has focused on expansion in Asia and western Europe. But its most audacious move — given the sanctions imposed by Washington on Mr Timchenko — has been to establish a US operation. Gunvor this month opened an office in Houston, having secured a $500m bank loan to support its fledgling North American operation. The company has hired traders in the Texas city, where US oil exports have been growing this year since the lifting of curbs on sending such crude overseas. Gunvor is also planning to open an office close to the financial centres on the US east coast. Gunvor co-founder Gennady Timchenko © Bloomberg Meanwhile, Gunvor in February secured full ownership of a Rotterdam refinery by buying out Kuwait’s national oil company, highlighting a trend of commodity traders purchasing older plants they believe they can run more profitably than energy groups. Gunvor now owns three European refineries with a combined capacity of almost 300,000 barrels a day in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ingolstadt. “For Gunvor, the US is the main focus this year and the Rotterdam operations,” says Mr Tornqvist. Gunvor last year traded about 2.5m barrels of oil and petroleum products, making it one of the biggest independent energy traders behind Glencore, Trafigura and Vitol. Net income jumped from $267m in 2014 to $1.3bn last year after Gunvor recorded a large profit on the sale of a majority stake in its once prized Russian oil terminal, Ust-Luga. The Russian oil terminal at Ust-Luga © Reuters Mr Tornqvist says trading conditions in the first six months of 2016 have not been as favourable as a year earlier when traders with access to oil storage facilities were able to buy crude cheaply and sell it forward in the futures market for higher prices. Gasoline trading — which was “really strong last year” — has presented fewer opportunities in 2016, adds Mr Tornqvist. Craig Pirrong, a finance professor at the University of Houston who has written about the trading industry for Trafigura, says Gunvor appears to have been “relatively successful in pivoting away from Russia”. “In this, it has been helped by highly favourable market conditions for oil traders,” he adds. “The challenge will be to see how it navigates less favourable conditions that are inevitable in the future.” Mr Tornqvist says Gunvor is unlikely to make big acquisitions before 2017 despite having $1bn plus of cash on its balance sheet. But as Gunvor changes its geographic focus, he is also altering the company’s ownership. Mr Tornqvist is selling shares to his top traders to further incentivise them, in moves that mean his shareholding is due to fall from 78 per cent to 62 per cent by the end of 2016. “We want to attract the best traders,” he says. Source link