BDC News Team

Warm.co.uk Says Plumbing Skills Crisis Could be Looming

It is thought that there is a very real risk of running so low on plumbers in the UK that the country could face the largest crisis they have seen in around 20 years. Warm.co.uk has said that the Government needs to do something in order to avoid drastic consequences.

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GN2 Working on ReSource Opening in Hammersmith

GN2 the property agency business operating in London has been offering advice to one of their new clients. The Property Agency has been advising their new client on the set up of a new “Wellness” Centre which will be located in Hammersmith. ReSource, GN2’s new client, has acquired a 13,239

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Keepmoat starts Darwen care home

Work has officially begun on a £12.4m housing and care development in Darwen, Lancashire, that will provide homes for people over the age of 50 with an assessed need for care. Above: Local dignitaries pose for ground-breaking, along with Keepmoat construction director Jeff Hook on the right Keepmoat is building

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Lack of government incentives puts brakes on energy efficiency

Lack of government incentives puts brakes on energy efficiency Published:  05 July, 2016 The TFT Energy Survey 2016, published today by Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (TFT), reports that 80% of commercial property landlords claim a lack of government incentives is the single biggest barrier to widespread energy efficiency measures being introduced

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Graham lands £14m Twickenham school job

Graham Construction has secured a £14.4m contract to build new facilities for a Catholic school in west London. Graham has been contracted by the Trustees of the Diocese of Westminster to construct a three-storey, 6,700 m2 school accommodation building at St Richard Reynolds Catholic College in Twickenham. Scheduled completion date

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Sabotage threat from smart meter hackers

September 23, 2016 by: Pilita Clark, Environment Correspondent Ministers need to do more to convince homeowners that the UK’s new £11bn smart meter system is safe from hackers, say MPs, who have been warned the devices could be used to sabotage power grids. Experts from the Royal Academy of Engineering

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Plastic Fencing Market Size,Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast by 2023: Global Market Insights, Inc.

Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Fri, Apr 29th 2016 Plastic Fencing Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Development, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 – 2023 Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Plastic fencing market

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Wates recruits Interserve director for SES

Building services contractor SES Engineering Services has appointed Andy Wall as its new managing director. Above: Andy Wall Andy Wall joins SES from Interserve’s London construction business, where he was a divisional director. At SES he replaces Mark Perkins, who has left after overseeing the transition of ownership from Shepherd

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Redrow and Wates lodge Bicester plans

Redrow and Wates Developments have submitted outline plans to Cherwell District Council to build 1500 homes in Bicester. Wretchwick Green would be part of Bicester’s wider ‘Garden Town’ initiative. The developers are proposing that 450 of the 1500 homes would be classed as affordable. It also plans to build a

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Recticel Insulation set to showcase new feel-good systems at Vision

Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, May 3rd 2016 A new philosophy and a new product will headline on Recticel’s Vision stand. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Leading PIR manufacturer Recticel Insulation (stand 45) is launching its new

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Latest Issue
Issue 340 : May 2026

BDC News Team

Warm.co.uk Says Plumbing Skills Crisis Could be Looming

It is thought that there is a very real risk of running so low on plumbers in the UK that the country could face the largest crisis they have seen in around 20 years. Warm.co.uk has said that the Government needs to do something in order to avoid drastic consequences. The heating and boiler company has said that the known on effects for businesses and consumers in the UK could be very serious if the lack of plumbers available is not addresses. More needs to be done in order to encourage more people into this industry. The plumbing industry appears to be neglected in terms of work put into attracting and training new workers. Because of this and the related lack of plumbers entering the industry, there is a crisis looming. It is thought that if this skills deficit continues on the same trajectory, there could be a time where, in larger cities, emergency call outs could take as long as 3 weeks to be solved. If situations like this begin to occur there could be a serious risk to health as well as putting businesses in danger. The increase of plumbing trainees needs to be addressed as a priority to avoid this rather bleak forecast. It has been said by the heating and boiler company Warm.co.uk that it is not too late to address this issue however, the input required in order to make a big enough difference would need to be drastic and immediate. It has also been suggested that, in order to achieve the best results, a government-led solution would be most effective. If no action is taken, there could be country-wide delays, even for emergency work. Due to the demand for plumbers, there could also be price inflation, with the few plumbers that are available charging what they wish for the work. This means that anyone who can’t afford the inflated prices are left in an even worse situation. It is thought that offering incentives for school leavers, encouraging them to go straight into apprenticeships and training for the profession, would be a great solution to ensure that the skills crisis doesn’t get any worse. Warm.co.uk have also recommended a range of other actions that could be taken in order to avoid the problems that a skills crisis would entail.

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GN2 Working on ReSource Opening in Hammersmith

GN2 the property agency business operating in London has been offering advice to one of their new clients. The Property Agency has been advising their new client on the set up of a new “Wellness” Centre which will be located in Hammersmith. ReSource, GN2’s new client, has acquired a 13,239 sq. ft. space on the ground and mezzanine floor levels of Thames Wharf, which is located on Rainville Road in West London. The rent for this space is approximately £650,000 per annum. GN2 works to deliver office and educational space for clients to rent. The company also works to offer a rent review and restructuring service in order to secure a lease agreement that works for the client and the landlord. It is also important for the company to make sure that they ensure the maximum investment value for both occupier and investor. GN2 worked with planning consultants, Montague Evans in order to successfully secure a change of use for the building from Fulham Borough Council. Following this change of use, a diverse venue can now be created, offering an art gallery, artists’ studios, coffee shop, workshops, reception area and education space. ReSource will be using the space in order to create an avenue for great ideas and collaborations through events that are centered around workshops, exhibitions, performances, lectures and food. The new Wellness centre is expected to cater to both young and old audiences, making sure that there is something for everyone. The Managing Partner of GN2, Julie Rees has said that they have seen an increase in the number of enquiries from clients about using spaces for alternative means, such as gyms, leisure and wellbeing centres. This area of the market appears to be thriving and as more and more people look into different ways in which to tackle their stress levels and look after themselves better. The opening of ReSource’s planned Wellness area will be a valuable new addition to the popular Hammersmith area of London.

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Keepmoat starts Darwen care home

Work has officially begun on a £12.4m housing and care development in Darwen, Lancashire, that will provide homes for people over the age of 50 with an assessed need for care. Above: Local dignitaries pose for ground-breaking, along with Keepmoat construction director Jeff Hook on the right Keepmoat is building the 119-home scheme for Together Housing Association, along with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. The Darwen development will have 85 self-contained apartments, with some communal facilities including a resident’s lounge, restaurant, hair & beauty salon and gardens.  A further 34 two-bedroom bungalows will also be built on the same site for applicants over the age of 50.  Completion is expected by spring 2018. Keepmoat area director Frank Mondino said: “We have worked in partnership with Together Housing and Blackburn Council on previous projects and this scheme embraces our shared vision of providing quality housing options for the ageing population in Lancashire.  We have delivered substantial extra care and specialist projects for older people and this new facility in Darwen will not only provide a safe environment, but the on-site amenities will enhance social inclusion.”     This article was published on 1 Sep 2016 (last updated on 1 Sep 2016). Source link

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Lack of government incentives puts brakes on energy efficiency

Lack of government incentives puts brakes on energy efficiency Published:  05 July, 2016 The TFT Energy Survey 2016, published today by Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (TFT), reports that 80% of commercial property landlords claim a lack of government incentives is the single biggest barrier to widespread energy efficiency measures being introduced across UK commercial real estate. With a confusing array of disconnected, individual energy regulations, a further 75% have said that the current regulatory framework is too complex to navigate. This follows an overwhelming majority of respondents reporting that attitudes to energy efficiency have improved since the last recession. TFT Energy Survey 2016 is TFT’s first annual survey into the current barriers to delivering truly energy efficient real estate. Specifically targeting property investors and managers, it explores a range of key issues including whether energy efficiency has become a higher priority. Mat Lown, partner and head of sustainability for TFT, said: “With the removal of government incentives, combined with the sheer complexity and scale of the myriad pieces of energy regulation and policy statements, we have the perfect storm creating an erosion of confidence in the sector that has become a major barrier to implementing efficiency measures. 60% of investors can see the clear investment potential of energy efficiency projects but, to date, investment has been targeted towards the large-scale projects. We hope that with more mainstream banks beginning to provide funding, smaller-scale projects will be able to attract funding streams. “Lack of confidence came across strongly among many respondents. The market could benefit from standardised methodology for appraising the viability of projects. Particularly among investors, knowing that the advice they were receiving is truly independent is clearly a high priority. “Of course, it now remains to be seen exactly how much European legislation will be retained and whether the UK Brexit vote means a more simple approach to energy regulation and policy. The European Union has been instrumental at gently encouraging our government to commit to CO2 reductions as well as setting targets for energy savings and renewable energy generation. What is without doubt is that prolonged uncertainty will begin to impact widespread measures to improve energy efficiency in UK real estate.” Source link

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Graham lands £14m Twickenham school job

Graham Construction has secured a £14.4m contract to build new facilities for a Catholic school in west London. Graham has been contracted by the Trustees of the Diocese of Westminster to construct a three-storey, 6,700 m2 school accommodation building at St Richard Reynolds Catholic College in Twickenham. Scheduled completion date is August 2017.     This article was published on 6 May 2016 (last updated on 6 May 2016). Source link

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Sabotage threat from smart meter hackers

September 23, 2016 by: Pilita Clark, Environment Correspondent Ministers need to do more to convince homeowners that the UK’s new £11bn smart meter system is safe from hackers, say MPs, who have been warned the devices could be used to sabotage power grids. Experts from the Royal Academy of Engineering and private technology companies have raised concerns about the meters’ security, according to a report from the Commons science and technology committee. Nick Hunn, a wireless technology consultant, said he was worried about the risk of “rogue programmers” in metering companies. “If I were working for one of those companies, I could insert code that would make every meter turn off on a particular date in a year’s time,” he said, adding the inclusion of an isolation switch in every smart meter was “an unnecessary risk”. “If somebody could hack into that or turn off very large numbers of meters by mistake, the sudden shock of taking them off the grid … would cause significant damage,” he said. The academy added that “disruption to energy and gas supplies at a massive scale is possible”. The Commons committee held a private meeting with a representative from GCHQ, Britain’s electronic intelligence agency, after the Financial Times reported in March that the agency had intervened to secure the smart meter system against hackers. Disruption to energy and gas supplies at a massive scale is possible MPs were told that layers of security controls had been built into the system to prevent mass disconnection, and special arrangements had been made to vet people with “access to sensitive system components”. “GCHQ’s involvement in designing the security for the smart metering system gives confidence that security is being taken seriously,” said Tania Mathias, a Conservative MP and the committee’s interim chair. “But the government will need to do more to convince and reassure customers that the technology is safe from being hacked.” The committee’s report added: “It would be unfortunate if unwarranted concerns in media reports about smart meter security diminished public trust in the programme. More than 3.6m smart meters have already been installed in homes and businesses and 53m are due by 2020. Consumers will foot the bill for the £10.9bn programme through their energy bills, at an average cost of £215 per home, the committee said. Advocates say the meters’ ability to show people how much energy they are using will encourage consumers to switch off lights or buy more efficient appliances, lowering their bills and cutting greenhouse gas pollution from electricity generation. Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Smart Energy GB, a body supporting the smart meter introduction, described the project as “the biggest behavioural change programme that this country has seen”. British Gas told the Commons committee that people using 100,000 gas and electricity meters installed since 2014 had cut their energy consumption by around 3 per cent a year compared with customers with conventional meters. The former energy department has predicted that by 2020, households could make an annual saving on their dual fuel energy bill of £26, rising to £43 in 2030, while non-domestic customers could expect to save £200 a year in 2020. Ministers also hope the scheme will make it easier to switch energy suppliers and avoid billing problems. The Institute of Directors business group, another critic of the project, said on Friday the costs would work out to more than £400 per smart meter and few people would willingly pay this. It urged the government to review “an overly complex scheme for which the benefits are far from clear”. Sample the FT’s top stories for a week You select the topic, we deliver the news. Source link

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Plastic Fencing Market Size,Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast by 2023: Global Market Insights, Inc.

Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Fri, Apr 29th 2016 Plastic Fencing Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Development, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 – 2023 Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Plastic fencing market size was valued at over USD 2.5 billion in 2015, with growth prospects of more than 5% from 2016 to 2023. Mounting demand for these products from numerous sectors such as commercial, residential, agricultural, and construction is likely to drive industry over the forecast period. Global fencing market size was around USD 24 billion in 2015, and is estimated to surpass USD 32 billion by 2023. Browse Latest Industry Research Report on Global Plastic Fencing Market: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/plastic-fencing-market Escalating demand for these products for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of buildings as well as construction sites is anticipated to propel global plastic fencing market size growth over the next seven years. In addition, rising safety and security concerns among people is also expected to fuel growth over the forecast period. The industry has witnessed growing customer interest in home improvement and home decor. Factors such as low cost, high durability and low maintenance have driven consumption. Get Detail TOC: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/upcoming-detail/385   Use of inferior products by unlicensed contractors may pose a challenge to companies operating in the industry. Low plastic fencing market price trend has encouraged adoption among consumers. Based on end-use, the plastic fencing industry can be segmented into residential, commercial as well as agricultural. On the basis of product, the industry can be segregated into vinyl, HDPE, wood-plastic composites (WPC), polystyrene, and polyethylene. Residential segment is predicted to witness substantial growth over the forecast period. Surging remodeling product and construction activity justifies residential demand over the forecast period. Rising need to safeguard crops, farm animals as well as farm areas from wild animals and potential theft is expected to drive vinyl fencing market demand in the agricultural sector. Commercial or industrial segment is predicted to experience considerable growth due to growing demand from colleges, industrial premises and schools over the forecast period. Escalating institutional construction as well as government spending for enhancement of parks, government premises and public places may boost demand. Attributes such as quality, cost, aesthetic value and design are forecast to be the key buying factors. Vinyl and wood-plastic products are expected to witness high growth prospects and are likely to replace wood products. Various plastic fence manufacturers are now developing products with earth tone colors, low gloss, and embossed wood grains to mimic wood. WPC fencing is predicted to have an edge over vinyl counterparts due to the availability of a wide range of darker colors. Privacy fence is predicted to be the most popular type installed in residential applications. Chain link fence is one of the lowest priced products and is a preferred choice for homeowners owing to its high effectiveness for security as well as low cost. North America plastic fencing market size is forecast to continue its dominance owing to presence of large number of production units across the region. Asia Pacific PVC fencing market is expected to experience high growth prospects over the forecast period. Industry participants comprising plastic fencing market share include CertainTeed, Associated Materials, Long Fence Company, Bufftech, Fox Fence Company, Poly Vinyl Creations, etc. Other players are Deqing Huazhijie Railing & Fencing, Chengdu Geelian Safety and Linan Fentech Fence Products. End users differentiate products from various manufacturers on the basis of quality and requirements. The industry is primarily influenced by local manufacturers, therefore branding, quality maintenance, and customer service is an important aspect for success. Innovation in product design is another important factor to gain competitive advantage and reduce operating cost. Contact information Jack DavisGlobal Market Insights, Inc.8, The Green Suite #4594Dover, DE 19901United StatesDover199011-302-257-2444https://www.gminsights.com Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Source link

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Wates recruits Interserve director for SES

Building services contractor SES Engineering Services has appointed Andy Wall as its new managing director. Above: Andy Wall Andy Wall joins SES from Interserve’s London construction business, where he was a divisional director. At SES he replaces Mark Perkins, who has left after overseeing the transition of ownership from Shepherd to Wates. SES Engineering Services was previously Shepherd Engineering Services until its acquisition by Wates in October 2015. SES chief operating officer Dave Smith said: “Andy brings substantial knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to the business and we are confident that through the implementation of our growth strategy, we can continue to build on our impressive portfolio of high-profile commercial and public sector projects under Andy’s guidance.”         This article was published on 10 Aug 2016 (last updated on 11 Aug 2016). Source link

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Redrow and Wates lodge Bicester plans

Redrow and Wates Developments have submitted outline plans to Cherwell District Council to build 1500 homes in Bicester. Wretchwick Green would be part of Bicester’s wider ‘Garden Town’ initiative. The developers are proposing that 450 of the 1500 homes would be classed as affordable. It also plans to build a new primary school and a district centre with shops and community facilities. Redrow and Wates Developments have greatly appreciated the time that many people from all parts of the community have already given to discussing the application and providing their feedback, all of which has been carefully considered over the past few months. A spokesperson for Redrow and Wates Developments said: “With the need for housing provision in the UK remaining acute, we are encouraged to be bringing forward Wretchwick Green as part of the broader ‘Garden Town’ initiative in Bicester. This has followed extensive engagement with the town and district council, local residents and the wider community which have significantly shaped our proposals. Should outline planning consent be granted, Redrow and Wates Developments will continue to seek community input into any future detailed plans.”     This article was published on 30 Jun 2016 (last updated on 30 Jun 2016). Source link

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Recticel Insulation set to showcase new feel-good systems at Vision

Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, May 3rd 2016 A new philosophy and a new product will headline on Recticel’s Vision stand. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Leading PIR manufacturer Recticel Insulation (stand 45) is launching its new “Feel good inside” philosophy and debuting a self-supporting room-in-a-roof system for pitched roofs at this year’s Vision built environment exhibition for architects, specifiers, clients and suppliers (June 7-8, Olympia). The next-generation product, L-Ments™, comprises roofing underlay, counter battens and integral structural timber in one PIR insulation panel as a single lightweight cost-effective modular roofing element, making it exceptionally quick and easy to install. The innovation new system enables specifiers and contractors to design and build roofs without the risk of thermal bridging, providing them with a future-proof solution thanks to its high-performance insulation core.Using L-Ments in conjunction with Recticel’s full fill cavity wall insulation Eurowall + provides specifiers and contractors with a holistic building solution for the complete building envelope that showcases this “feel good inside” approach. It also showcases Recticel’s fabric first approach to build as well as Modern Methods of Construction via the use of fewer materials and speedier installation. Representatives from Recticel’s technical department will man the stand to answer technical questions, advise on building materials, installation, prices, grants and bespoke solutions for specific needs.    Source link

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