Doncaster-based Keepmoat Homes has appointed Myles Gibbins to the role of Group IT Director. Myles brings almost 30 years of experience in business technology and IT with roles spanning industries including Construction, Engineering and Manufacturing, as well as a previously working as a management consultant for PwC. “I’m looking forward
Construction is one of the many industries in the UK where traditional methods have been gradually replaced by more digital alternatives. With many reluctant to switch from pen to paper to digital apps, we want to explore which apps are actually worth trying, and could make your work life easier.
Property experts at PriceYourJob.co.uk were curious to find out the impact of good neighbours on property values across the country, and surveyed 2,341 homeowners to find out more, asking if they’d be happy to pay more for a property if neighbours had desirable kerb appeal, and what features would influence
The proposal of a major employment development could support the creation of approximately 4,000 jobs. The proposed development would be an extension of the existing West Moor Park commercial development that is currently home to the likes of Ikea, Next, Fellowes Manufacturing and Anglo Beef Processors, among others. The proposal
Heritage office furniture designer and manufacturer, Bisley, has launched a new flexible furniture collection, conceived and created during the coronavirus pandemic and influenced by the evolving requirements of the 2020 workplace. Bisley produces over 15,000 items per week at their Newport factory, exporting to over 50 countries, with clients including
Arthur McKay, a leading building support services provider in the UK and an Atalian Servest company, appoints David Prendergast and Justin Wolvin as Regional Directors to strengthen the team and expand sales development opportunities. David will steer both the Arthur McKay mechanical and electrical projects as well as subsidiary company
Mountpark Logistics has started work on a major 359,500 sq ft speculative development in Bristol which is due to complete in July 2021. The building has the potential to attract several hundred new jobs to the local area. The developer of industrial and logistics property has started construction on an
The demolition plans of a prominent office block in Leeds’ Arena Quarter have been revealed, as well as the construction of a 43-storey tower that could become one of the tallest buildings in Yorkshire. Olympian Homes will present pre-application proposals for the Arena Point building on Merrion Way to Leeds
Barberry industrial has been selected to construct a manufacturing and design facility in Birmingham by the City Council and Homes England. The detailed planning application for the 57,000 sq ft scheme at the city’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub has already been submitted. “We are very excited to announce that we have
One the UK’s largest scaffolding suppliers has invested in two Hiab 188B-2 Hi Duo Cranes on a Scania chassis to boost its 70-strong fleet. Generation UK, part of global Altrad Group, has 17 locations across the UK and supplies commercial scaffolding and access solutions to major construction developments. The brand-new
Doncaster-based Keepmoat Homes has appointed Myles Gibbins to the role of Group IT Director. Myles brings almost 30 years of experience in business technology and IT with roles spanning industries including Construction, Engineering and Manufacturing, as well as a previously working as a management consultant for PwC. “I’m looking forward to leading the Keepmoat Homes IT and Digital teams and am excited to join at the start of a major business change programme. Keepmoat Homes have committed to a strategic partnership with Microsoft and DXC which will underpin and accelerate digital transformation across the company,” said Myles about his new role at Keepmoat Homes. Myles spent 20 years at Crest Nicholson PLC, a FTSE250 listed Housebuilder where, as Group IT Director, he oversaw ERP, CRM, Corporate Performance Management, Digital and Business Intelligence initiatives. He also led Crest’s cloud first strategy, championed Cyber Security and co-sponsored their GDPR programme. “I’m delighted to have Myles on board and spearheading Keepmoat’s IT and Digital transformation. Having worked with him for many years at Crest, I am confident that he is the best person to drive this vital project,” commented Tim Beale, CEO of Keepmoat Homes. Keepmoat Homes is a top 10 UK home builder and leading partnership focused home builder providing high quality, affordable homes across the country. Committed to a multi-tenure strategy, they partner with local authorities and registered providers to deliver much needed new homes for sale, affordable rent and the private rental sector. They are the largest delivery partner of Homes England and have delivered thousands of new homes in partnership with them since 2009. Over 70 per-cent of their customers are first-time buyers and the average selling price of a Keepmoat home is £161,000. The company delivers more than just new homes, it transforms communities and improves the lives of local people. It has a national presence combined with local knowledge and expertise across the whole housing lifecycle – from finance, design and planning, to developing and building.
Construction is one of the many industries in the UK where traditional methods have been gradually replaced by more digital alternatives. With many reluctant to switch from pen to paper to digital apps, we want to explore which apps are actually worth trying, and could make your work life easier. Many people still prefer to work the ‘old fashioned way’, however taking advantage of apps can be a great way to decrease workload and increase productivity. Here are some of the advantages of using apps in the construction industry: Save Time Save Money Improve Communication Increase Profitability Read our reviews of the best construction apps below to find out how. The Best Apps for The Construction Industry: Procore This construction project management app is cloud-based, meaning it allows you to access and update your projects on the go when offline. Procore can be used to create specifications, RFIs, logs, timecards, update drawings and lots more! It’s camera function means that you can also add photos to your records. All of this is accessible from your mobile device. Advantages: Procore is super simple and easy to use on the go, both online and offline. What’s more, this construction app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play! Building Calculator This is an Android app which acts as a free construction calculator, and is perfect for calculating the quantity of materials for your project. Many Project Managers use this mobile app to calculate flooring, paints, bricks, and lumber, quickly and accurately. You can use this app to calculate just about anything! Advantages: This construction calculator is versatile and simple to use even offline! Perfect for when you’re on site with limited internet access. Fieldwire Fieldwire is a task management app specially designed for the construction industry. This is a great app that can be used by contractors and field workers to share drawings, blue prints, and other tasks whilst on site, all from their mobile device! This app also has the ability to create email or app notifications to alert staff of new tasks and updates. Advantages: This construction app works on both Android and Apple devices, and can be used remotely! Autodesk BIM 360 This app is a cloud-based reporting tool that allows teams to collaborate and track a project. Autodesk BIM 360 has the ability to track quality management, building information management (BIM), commissioning, and safety, making it ideal for Project Managers. Advantages: Pushpin markers can be used to mark locations and add notes. This app is available on both Apple and Android devices. DEWALT Mobile Pro This construction app is a very popular choice for many in the industry. The DEWALT Mobile Pro app offers a reference tool and full-scale construction calculation abilities. In addition to the standard calculators, there are nine additional add-ons to suit every need. Advantages: This app allows you to easily store and share your calculations meaning no more losing lists or notepads! Plan Grid The Plan Grid app offers an excellent alternative to endless paper blueprints, cutting down on printing costs and making your processes more environmentally friendly! This is a collaborative tool, meaning you can view and share notes, drawings and blueprints with others. Advantages: This is a free app that can be downloaded from both Itunes and Google Play. Disadvantages: This app requires an internet connection in order to sync data. All-in-One Calculator This calculator app is specially designed for creating accurate construction calculations. It allows you to calculate percentages, areas, volumes and perform currency and unit conversions. Advantages: This is a free app for Android Devices and includes over 75 calculators and unit converters! Disadvantages : This app is not available on Apple devices. There are also ads within the app, however these are not too invasive. Canvas Canvas can be used to fill out forms, audits, estimates and orders, and is a highly recommended reporting app for contractors. As this can all be done on your mobile, this negates the need for paper files and folders. Documents can be created and easily converted to PDFs to be shared. Advantages: Canvas has an excellent reputation for its customer service. It is also compatible with most devices. Using construction management apps is a revolutionary way to manage your projects more effectively, and increase communication and productivity across your teams. These apps decrease the reliance on 3rd party knowledge by being user friendly and thorough in their calculations. In an industry where time is always of the essence, using construction apps decreases the amount of time spent on jobs, in turn increasing your profitability. These digital methods also reduce the need for paperwork, or any communication errors encountered previously, as all of the information is safely shared with all team members. For a more simple, smooth and profitable construction project, why not try some of the apps above and see how it helps your team? This article was written by Capital NDT Inspection Services, a UK-based non-destructive inspection service for the construction industry and more.
Property experts at PriceYourJob.co.uk were curious to find out the impact of good neighbours on property values across the country, and surveyed 2,341 homeowners to find out more, asking if they’d be happy to pay more for a property if neighbours had desirable kerb appeal, and what features would influence their decision most. PriceYourJob also ascertained how much on average Brits would be happy to pay a premium for. Neighbourly kerb appeal features Brits would pay a premium for: Well-kept garden – 75% Well-kept driveway – 67% No overflowing rubbish in bins – 58% Bins out of sight – 56% No building work – 51% Security/alarm system – 48% Neat paintwork/exterior – 42% Fencing around property and garden – 39% Clean windows (no chips or rotting) – 22% Clean gutters – 15% High-quality DIY finishes – 14% Modern/well-kept cars in the drive – 8% A well-kept garden is hugely important when viewing a property, as discovered by OnBuy’s Garden Furniture sector who found that 67% of British homeowners are more inclined to view a house where the garden is in a good condition. Therefore, it’s somewhat predictable that PriceYourJob’s survey respondents claim they’d be willing to pay a premium for neighbours with a well-kept garden (75%). Following not too far behind is a well-kept driveway, with 67% of Brits dubbing this the second most influential good neighbourly quality for potential added value. It would appear, 58% would rather not see overflowing rubbish in bins, whilst 56% would rather not see the bins at all. After all, recent findings from SaveOnEnergy uncovered that 66% of Brits would fine their neighbours £20 for overflowing bins. In the penultimate spot are high-quality DIY finishes with just 14%. In last place are modern/well-kept cars in the drive, influencing just 8% of the population. Following on from the survey results, PriceYourJob.co.uk asked respondents how much extra they’d pay for good neighbours: 1-3% extra = 51% of respondents 4-7% extra = 44% of respondents 8-10% extra = 4% of respondents 10% + extra = 1% of respondents To put this is into context, PriceYourJob.co.uk explored just how much extra properties per region in England could see in added value (up to 3% – as shown in the survey). As expected, Greater London would see the highest average property value increase if homeowners paid up to 3% more for good neighbours. With an £659,985 price tag for properties in Greater London over the last 12 months, this would mean an additional £19,800. Thereafter, South East is second, and should homeowners pay an additional 3% more, properties could see an additional £11,777 added to average values (£392,569). South West is third (£8,905), with a potential property value of £305,741. Yorkshire and the Humber is bottom of the table with the lowest average property prices over the last 12 months, at £180,177. If homeowners pay up to 3% more for neighbourly kerb appeal features, properties could see an additional £5,405.
The proposal of a major employment development could support the creation of approximately 4,000 jobs. The proposed development would be an extension of the existing West Moor Park commercial development that is currently home to the likes of Ikea, Next, Fellowes Manufacturing and Anglo Beef Processors, among others. The proposal masterplan – designed by architects’ practice Bowman Riley – includes flexibility for a range of employment units and would also feature extensive landscaping and planting, trails for exercise and outside seating areas. Development of the site would also complement public investment in the A630 West Moor Link dualling scheme, with works on this infrastructure well underway. This Council-led scheme has been supported by the Sheffield City Region Growth Funding and is intended to “enable investment in new developments that create new jobs and homes”. “West Moor Park East will provide a major boost to the local economy, especially in the current uncertain times the whole country faces. Over recent months there has been a big take up of other commercial space that has resulted in an undersupply of space in the Doncaster area,” said Jonathan Moses, a director of Blue Anchor Leisure. “We strongly believe that these plans will help Doncaster, and the wider City Region, to ‘build back better’ and create a more sustainable, greener, resilient and prosperous borough that is the aim of all politicians. There is very strong interest from major developers and occupiers because of the tremendous location and transport links that West Moor Park East offers, and the fact that the proposals can be delivered quickly, subject to planning permission from the council. “It’s an opportunity we feel should be grasped to create a sustainable new business park and extend the already successful West Moor Park. Creating new industrial and employment space here will allow existing local businesses to grow and attract major inward investment into Doncaster.” Commercial enquiries are being handled by Doncaster headquartered Barnsdales. A public consultation on the plans was carried out last summer, with feedback from the local community said to have been encouraging.
Heritage office furniture designer and manufacturer, Bisley, has launched a new flexible furniture collection, conceived and created during the coronavirus pandemic and influenced by the evolving requirements of the 2020 workplace. Bisley produces over 15,000 items per week at their Newport factory, exporting to over 50 countries, with clients including Direct Line, BBC and PwC. In early 2020 at the start of the pandemic, as office workers everywhere were told to work from home, Bisley’s newly appointed CEO Richard Costin asked four of Bisley’s in-house designers to propose ideas for products that would work well in a flexible home office scenario. The result is the newly launched Belong collection, an office furniture portfolio designed with home working firmly in mind, from its fully customisable nature, to the simplicity of assembly. “It was immediately obvious that we needed to pivot from our planned 2020 workflow and innovate, fast. We have entered a new era where our industry has to adapt to a different way of working. I asked our design team to think, if they had free rein over new products within our steel and wood factories – that we could sell to our dealers, our on-line shop and to the domestic home worker, what would they be? They came back with some wonderful ideas, and the result of that is the Belong Collection. It’s times like this that we have the opportunity to thrive; our team has really worked hard and used their fantastic talents and skills to come up with something really beautiful for Bisley,” said Costin. The Belong range comprises multiple collections, as well as individual pieces and accessories, all designed by Bisley’s experienced in-house team, and suitable for a variety of spaces. The collection includes the Hideaway wall desk, a space-saving, wall mounted desk that folds down to provide a practical worksurface, as well as somewhere to store your desk accessories; and the Outline range – a sleek, steel-framed collection of desking and storage that has a strong, minimalist style. Chris Fowler, Director of International Projects at Bisley, said of the new collection: “It goes without saying that 2020 has been an unusual year. New product launches can sometimes be years in the making, but Bisley has decades of design expertise in developing office furniture solutions and we channelled all of that history, knowledge and expertise into developing and producing the Belong range in three months. “From initial sketches and renders, our team worked closely with the factory floor to develop prototypes, which were then developed and perfected over the course of the summer. The role of our wood processing plant was an additional strength to our bow. With Belong, we weren’t tied to any particular material – referring back to the brief from our Board, we could use our imagination and select the most suitable mix of materials for each element of the range. Being self-sufficient was a real advantage, compressing both development and supply chain timelines. “Its realisation is a particularly proud moment for us as it is the first time in a long time that the full process, from inception through to launch, has been conducted by an in-house design and production team.” The launch of the Belong range comes after a transformative year for Bisley that saw more than a 300% spike in e-commerce sales as office workers looked to quickly set up home offices. Bisley’s sales largely comprise of significant corporate contracts, including the recent completion of BBC Cymru Wales’ new Cardiff city centre HQ, for which Bisley supplied furniture solutions that accommodated the various different needs of all media departments. “After being appointed Bisley’s CEO in February to be met with a global pandemic the very next month, it’s fair to say that this year has been something of a wild ride. During lockdown we evaluated our business, our selling channels, how the economy would react and how business and the working environment might change,” said Richard Costin, Bisley CEO. “From this, and in addition to our new Belong collection, we have committed to increasing our online selling capabilities and have started to work with Amazon to develop a new online function that will be implemented across the world. I strongly believe that with these tactical and strategic objectives, and most importantly, to have the Bisley people that are so talented and committed, we will go from strength to strength.”
Arthur McKay, a leading building support services provider in the UK and an Atalian Servest company, appoints David Prendergast and Justin Wolvin as Regional Directors to strengthen the team and expand sales development opportunities. David will steer both the Arthur McKay mechanical and electrical projects as well as subsidiary company Thermotech Solution’s fire protection teams. David is responsible for expanding Arthur McKay’s footprint in the North of England and will be leading the company’s new Stockport office. David was previously Managing Director at Thermotech Solutions where he developed the business to become one of the UK’s leading fire protection companies. This led to the acquisition by Atalian Servest to form part of Arthur McKay in 2018. He brings more than 20 years’ experience in the fire protection industry. “I’m delighted to be joining the Arthur McKay team and taking on the role of Regional Director. It’s been a pleasure working with the business during my time at Thermotech and we’ve had an exceptional journey together over the last couple of years. The fact that I have already worked very closely with Arthur McKay means I have a thorough understanding of the company’s position in the market,” commented on his appointment, David Prendergast. In his new role as Regional Director, Justin will drive the company’s sales development and will be responsible for rolling out the company’s new products and services, and pioneering growth in the Central England area. Justin will lead the Nottingham and Leeds offices. “It was a natural step for me to start delivering the projects I have developed over the last few years in a more client facing role. I’m so positive about the developments Arthur McKay has made, and about improving our offering to provide a truly end-to-end service solution for our existing customers, and new customers in different sectors,” said Justin Wolvin. Justin has almost 30 years’ experience in the electrical sector. He has been with Arthur McKay for over five years and was previously Development Director where he built up a solid sales pipeline for special projects he ran primarily in the prison and courts sectors. Before joining the company Justin worked for an electrical contractor for more than 20 years. “David and Justin are integral to the development of Arthur McKay. They both have extensive industry experience and knowledge of the business to start from an advantageous position. Their appointments are critical as we ramp up our expansion plans in the north. I’m pleased to welcome David to the Arthur McKay team, and Justin to his new position,” added Arthur McKay’s Managing Director, Steve Wallbanks.
Mountpark Logistics has started work on a major 359,500 sq ft speculative development in Bristol which is due to complete in July 2021. The building has the potential to attract several hundred new jobs to the local area. The developer of industrial and logistics property has started construction on an inventory cross-docked unit at Mountpark Bristol 360 in Central Park, Avonmouth. Designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification with an EPC A rating, the facility includes features, such as rooftop Solar PV array and battery storage that will help maximise operational efficiency. The building has been designed to enhance employee wellbeing, with measures such as natural daylight in the warehouse and an office rooftop terrace. Close to the new M49 (J1), Mountpark Bristol 360 is also near the M4, M5 and M48 motorways. Intermodal facilities and international transport connections are available at the Central Park rail freight terminal, at Avonmouth and Royal Portbury docks and at Bristol Airport. “Mountpark Bristol 360 is a prime site at the economic heart of the South West,” said David Carvey, development director UK & Ireland, Mountpark. “There is a shortage of Grade A stock in the region and rising demand. Central Park is an established distribution location and we believe this new development provides one of the best logistics property opportunities on the market.” JLL, Colliers International and DTRE are acting for Mountpark. The development manager is Stoford.
The demolition plans of a prominent office block in Leeds’ Arena Quarter have been revealed, as well as the construction of a 43-storey tower that could become one of the tallest buildings in Yorkshire. Olympian Homes will present pre-application proposals for the Arena Point building on Merrion Way to Leeds City Council’s City Plans Panel next week. Under the plans, the existing 19-storey office building, previously known as Tower House, would be demolished and a new 43-storey tower built on the site. The new building would provide a total of 694 student bedspaces in a mix of studios and clusters flats. About 9,100 sq ft of dedicated amenity space, as well as an external roof terrace, would also be created. Councillors will be asked for feedback on the proposed development, including their views on the loss of office space and proposed student accommodation use, the approach to living conditions, and the mass and form of the new building. The elevated terrace on the west side of the Arena Point building, which includes the reception to the offices, has recently been partially redeveloped, with Unite Students ‘ White Rose View development comprising 17- and 27-storey buildings opened in September 2020. The entrance lobby would be demolished under the new plans. The former site of Hume House, adjacent to Arena Point, is currently being redeveloped by Olympian Homes as Altus House. The new 37-storey student accommodation development is set to become the tallest building in Yorkshire. The current tallest building in the region is the 112-metre Bridgewater Place. Two applications have been submitted this year for 38- and 39-storey buildings in Sheffield that could take the crown, while an application was lodged in May for a 46-storey residential tower on land at Cartwright House in Holbeck.
Barberry industrial has been selected to construct a manufacturing and design facility in Birmingham by the City Council and Homes England. The detailed planning application for the 57,000 sq ft scheme at the city’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub has already been submitted. “We are very excited to announce that we have been selected as preferred purchaser and development partner to deliver Barberry 57 – a high quality, grade A advanced manufacturing facility located in a prime position at the Advanced Manufacturing Hub. This represents another excellent piece of business between Barberry, Birmingham City Council, and Homes England,” said Barberry Industrial development director Jon Robinson. “The new development will provide the occupier with a state-of-the-art facility with easy access to the M6 and Birmingham city centre. It is also expected to attract further investment to the region, generate further economic growth and new jobs for the region. “We have worked hard and invested heavily to create a Barberry brand in the mid-box industrial/logistics market, providing high quality buildings for occupiers, built to an institutional acceptable specification. It is therefore hugely satisfying to know that the quality of our developments is recognised.” Construction could start on site before the end of the year, with practical completion expected in the third quarter of 2021. The development could create up to 250 jobs. “This is a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham’s economic recovery and means jobs and investment at a time when they are sorely needed. The Advanced Manufacturing Hub continues to be a real success story, with major occupiers such as Hydraforce, Guhring, Mayflex, Y International, and Salts Healthcare, creating over 1,500 jobs. Now, with this investment from Barberry, we can build on that success, creating the jobs and opportunities needed in Birmingham,” commented Council leader Cllr Ian Ward. Charlie Spicer, director, Savills, also added: “This represents the latest milestone in the success story for the Advanced Manufacturing Hub and we look forward to seeing this building coming out of the ground soon. There is a shortage of industrial stock in Birmingham so Barberry57 will be a welcome addition.”
One the UK’s largest scaffolding suppliers has invested in two Hiab 188B-2 Hi Duo Cranes on a Scania chassis to boost its 70-strong fleet. Generation UK, part of global Altrad Group, has 17 locations across the UK and supplies commercial scaffolding and access solutions to major construction developments. The brand-new hi-tech cranes are operated by remote control and are connected with Hiab’s HiConnect technology which tracks real-time data on crane usage and operator performance. Jamie Whale, national fleet and transport manager for Generation UK said the investment would help the business retain its Silver Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) accreditation. “As the UK’s largest supplier of scaffolding we deliver materials to some of the biggest construction sites which have stringent requirements around site safety,” he explained. “Commercial sites require lifting plans from delivery suppliers like us and we often have site-specific guidelines to adhere to, which helps to manage risk and improve health and safety. “Space can be challenging and we often have a small window to deliver, so we need to make sure we can deliver safely and swiftly; investing in the right equipment helps us to do that. “Our business needs to evidence year on year reductions in our carbon footprint to maintain our Silver FORS accreditation. The HiConnect software which monitors crane usage will play a major role in that. “The Silver FORS accreditation is a requirement for several of our customers, so I’m really pleased we have a tool which makes it easier for us to evidence our sustainable credentials and continue operating on those sites. “The platform gives us real-time insights on operator performance and actual crane usage, we fully expect to reduce our fuel emissions over time.” David McDonald, northern key account manager and area sales manager said: “These two cranes are perfectly-suited to Generation UK’s needs. The remote-control operations combined with HiConnect software gives incredible visibility for the operator and the fleet manager. “Jamie explained to us that reducing downtime was a priority for Generation UK. Our ProCare essential service contract combined with HiConnect will make sure trucks and cranes are on the roads for as long as possible. “HiConnect’s real-time operational data pin points when maintenance is due and our engineers can connect to the crane to trouble shoot any issues ahead of a call out, giving us the opportunity to respond quicker to maintenance and repair needs. “We know it’s possible that HiConnect can calculate productivity cost savings of over £1,000 per crane for one year based on idling time alone, which I’m confident Generation UK will benefit from.”