Leading power tools supplier Howe Tools has asked people around the UK about the discounts they expect on trades work carried out by friends and family, along with what they deem as the most useful trade. When time and skillset is in low supply, and something in our homes needs
When it comes to getting older, the milestones that we all associate with ageing aren’t as set-in stone as they used to be. The time we decide to sell the family home and “right size” varies dramatically, there is no longer a set approach and it seems as though people are
Peakon, an employee success platform, has revealed that UK employees are rapidly becoming more vocal on the topic of climate change and the environment in the workplace. In 2019, the number of employee comments that mentioned environment-related issues nearly doubled – up 85% on 2018’s total. The findings are part
The Sky campus in Osterley, West London, is entering the next stage of redevelopment with the creation of a new innovation centre. ISG has struck a deal to deliver the project, which will see the site of two former buildings make way for a three-storey hybrid steel and cross laminated
Kensa Heat Pumps have succeeded in securing their full suite of 3kW to 13kW thermal output single phase ground source heat pumps on the Energy Networks Association (ENA) Connect & Notify database. The move means British-based manufacturer Kensa has the largest number of ENA Connect & Notify approved ground source heat pump
SD Sealants, the UK’s leading sealant and cosmetic repair company, is looking to expand its workforce after growing rapidly in the North of England. The Caldicot-based company, which provides sealant application, cosmetic repairs and tiling for homeowners, housebuilders and commercial businesses, has seen continuous growth for the past year with
UK company John Wood Group has sold its nuclear business to American engineering giant Jacobs in a £250 million deal. The firm, headquartered in Aberdeen, completed the deal for Wood Nuclear, bringing more than 2,000 employees into Jacobs’ business and expanding its UK employee base to nearly 11,000. This deal
Access to East Midlands Airport has been improved with the official launch of a new 2.5km route. A £10 million infrastructure scheme has reached completion, delivering the Castle Donington relief road in Leicestershire. This provides a much-needed link from the airport to the A50. Principal contractor Chasetown Civil Engineering worked
As part of a drive towards helping homeowners achieve greener lifestyles, the award-winning Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has fitted electric vehicle charging points, as standard, to over 50% of the properties on the company’s first development in the Somerset town of Wincanton. For those who want to reduce their travel
Leading energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE has been appointed to provide a £67 million repairs and maintenance service on behalf of Tamworth Borough Council. As part of the council’s ongoing commitment to provide high standards of affordable housing for local residents, the contract – which begins on 1st April 2020 –
Leading power tools supplier Howe Tools has asked people around the UK about the discounts they expect on trades work carried out by friends and family, along with what they deem as the most useful trade. When time and skillset is in low supply, and something in our homes needs to be fixed or maintained, it’s often an easy option to go to a friend or family member in a trade and ask for some help. While pay is sometimes included in these deals, generous discounts, or ‘mates rates,’ can make the job unprofitable for the tradesperson. In light of this, we’ve asked people in the UK to reveal their typical expectations around hiring a friend/family member for trades work. So, what are the true costs of mates rates and which trades do we value most? The most valued trade So when it comes to which trade we find useful, which ones come out on top? 41% of people would find an electrician the most helpful tradesperson to have as a friend or family member. Plumbers come in close second, with 39% of people finding them the most useful person in a group of friends. This could actually be down to the fact these trades are some of the most expensive to pay for and they’re two of the highest paying trades available. Discount disbelief In total, 81% of people expect discounts on work done by friends in a trade. This reveals that mates rates are a standard expectation when work is carried out, and suggests a pressure for tradespeople to provide discounts on a regular basis. With 43% of people claiming they’d be annoyed if they didn’t receive a discount from a friend in a trade, tradespeople could be put in an unfair position, choosing between friendships and earnings. Which location wants discounts the most often? Even though living costs in London are three times higher than Sheffield, residents from Sheffield come out on top when it comes to expected mates rates, with 36% of people surveyed wanting discounts. London is in second, with 34% wanting discounts, and Glasgow is in third at 32%. In comparison, Belfast and Edinburgh are the best cities for tradespeople to be paid in full, with only 1 in 5 friends and family asking for mates rates, making them the lowest in the UK. Manchester comes in at 4th overall, with 31% wanting mates rates, while Liverpool is much lower, coming in at 12th, with a quarter wanting mates rates. Does age affect mates rates? The overall average expectation of mates rates is a 25% discount off trade work. People between 16-24 years of age expect the highest discount, at 33%, while those over 55 years old expect a lower discount at 20% off. This correlation between age and discount expectations could be due to younger people having less money for trades work – Millennials are the most reliant on mates rates, with 13% suggesting they’re not able to pay full price for it. Are mates rates down to cost? All of these expectations surrounding discounts could lead you to believe that trades work is priced higher than the average person can afford. However, the data reveals that income doesn’t exactly correlate with requiring a discount, as 44% of people earning over £55,000 would delay work without a discount, compared to only 24% of those earning under £15,000. This suggests lower earners feel less comfortable asking for mates rates and would rather pay full price for the work they have done.
When it comes to getting older, the milestones that we all associate with ageing aren’t as set-in stone as they used to be. The time we decide to sell the family home and “right size” varies dramatically, there is no longer a set approach and it seems as though people are re-writing the rule book and for many different reasons. Many of us find it hard to accept change, especially as we age. When it comes to our beloved family home that has seen precious memories, it can be one the hardest things to come to terms with. Often, people wait until they reach a critical point to make such a significant move, perhaps following a bereavement, a stroke, a heart attack or another serious health condition. This can leave you with an urgent need to find suitable accommodation at a point when you are most vulnerable. For those who do leave it to a critical point, it is usually an extremely stressful period trying to find a home that meets the needs of people with reduced mobility or more specialist health and social care needs. With limited choice it is often difficult to find a home that meets aspirations as well as needs. Alongside the challenges of diminished options, there is a huge amount of admin that comes with buying and selling houses, for those in the position of care giver, it can add more stress to an already difficult situation. Having a family home to sell, often means that there is little, if any, Local Authority support. The stretched social care budget is prioritised for those on the lowest income and with no property assets. This may mean that following a health crisis, a large section of society has extremely limited options. From research that we have undertaken and observations, home buyers looking for the special home in later years, tend to fall in to three main categories: Crisis movers who need to find alternative housing as soon as possible due to an emergency. Lifestyle movers who are looking to right-size rather than down-size. In this scenario individuals may look to enhance their LIFEstyle, enabling a home that is easy to secure whilst they spend time abroad. Or simply want to live in a stunning location with lots of exciting options to enhance their LIFEstyle. Planners find themselves struggling with the stairs in their current house due to arthritis or one of the many other chronic illnesses that are becoming more prolific as people are living longer. Planners tend to feel that their family home is too much to keep on top of, which results in them looking for a new property. Planners have time on their side, meaning they can look around for the home of their dreams. It is evident from our experience with customers that crisis movers, selling a family home at speed, often means accepting below market value. Finding a home suitable that meets aspirations as well as needs, can be a real compromise – especially in a hurry. For those who have more time to plan, look around to find the right location, the outcomes are usually far more favourable as they have the time to sell their old home at full market price and decide on the right style of home. The circumstances for those who don’t have the luxury of this are usually far more controlled by the drivers of “need” rather than “want”. Whilst a holistic approach to housing does provide assistance for those needing extra support in the comfort of their own home, it also creates an aspirational LIFEstyle for our ageing society. With residents from 55 to 100, there doesn’t have to be a correct time to retire or right-size. On a LIFEstyle by ENGIE development there is a community hub which will often include a coffee shop, library and weekly clubs, activities and events. LIFEstyle by ENGIE is all about providing choice and meeting both need and aspiration – even in crisis scenarios. One of the first schemes is set in the delightful rural village of Walton in West Yorkshire and is a brilliant example of an innovative approach to providing homes for our older generation. A further development on the outskirts of Scarborough is planned to launch this year.
Peakon, an employee success platform, has revealed that UK employees are rapidly becoming more vocal on the topic of climate change and the environment in the workplace. In 2019, the number of employee comments that mentioned environment-related issues nearly doubled – up 85% on 2018’s total. The findings are part of Peakon’s 2020 Employee Expectations report, which examines emerging and evolving workplace needs and expectations. Peakon analysed more than 14 million employee survey comments from across 160 countries. The inaugural report found that, globally, the number of comments on environmental issues jumped 52% in 2019. ‘Plastic’, ‘single-use’ and ‘carbon footprint’ were among the most prevalent topics raised in employee comments worldwide. Last year also marked the first time ‘Greta Thunberg’ was mentioned in an employee comment. Generation Z employees – the workplace’s youngest members – led the discussion, with a 128% surge in climate-related comments from this generation in 2019. There were also strong year-on-year increases among Millennials and Baby Boomers – up 62% and 59% respectively. This demonstrates that employees of all ages increasingly expect their employers to be more environmentally responsible. “At a time when ‘zero waste’ has become part of our everyday language, and Google search trends on how to reduce plastic are at a five-year high, businesses need to understand that employees now expect them to take decisive action on environmental issues at work,” comments Peakon CEO and co-founder Phil Chambers. “Addressing social issues like climate change is increasingly becoming an employee expectation, especially among the youngest members of the workforce. Gen Z has grown up amid an unending litany of social and political unrest, and place high value on the ethics, authenticity and social impact of employers today.” The report also reveals that employees in the Manufacturing sector have become extremely vocal on the environment and climate change in the past year. Peakon found a staggering 595% increase in climate-related comments among manufacturing employees from 2018 to 2019. The sector has gone from being one of the least vocal on the issue in 2018, to one of the most in 2019 – a shift leaders in the industry cannot afford to ignore. Chambers adds: “In 2020, organisational positioning on social and environmental impact will become an increasingly important yardstick by which we measure businesses – both from a consumer perspective and an employee one. “Amid spiralling employee expectations, it’s become vital for organisations to engage in a continuous dialogue with their employees. Only then can companies hope to effectively understand and meet expectations before employees become frustrated, disengage and seek employment elsewhere.”
The Sky campus in Osterley, West London, is entering the next stage of redevelopment with the creation of a new innovation centre. ISG has struck a deal to deliver the project, which will see the site of two former buildings make way for a three-storey hybrid steel and cross laminated timber (CLT) frame structure. Demolition has already been completed on site ahead of the development of the new media centre. Targeting a BREEAM Excellent environmental performance rating, Sky’s new innovation centre will be delivered with a significant focus on driving down embodied carbon, reducing waste through prefabrication and efficient design, and ensuring materials are responsibly sourced. One hundred percent of construction waste will be diverted from landfill, and ISG will be working alongside the supply chain to eliminate single-use plastic packaging during the construction phase. This is all part of Sky’s commitment to become Net Zero Carbon by 2030, two decades before the Government’s target. The scheme also includes the construction of an adjacent circular pavilion dining building with an impressive CLT pitched roof. This single-storey structure incorporates a large commercial kitchen and provides accommodation for circa 450 covers. A significant landscaping package sees ISG provide a range of hard and soft landscaping design elements. Steven McGee, managing director of ISG’s London Construction business, commented: “Sky is globally recognised as a company at the forefront of innovation, and this latest investment in spaces to inspire and nurture the creativity of its teams demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering the best possible outcome for its people and its customers. People are at the heart of the design for the new innovation centre, which is targeting a WELL Gold certification, as is consideration for the planet. “The focus around eliminating single-use plastics and reducing carbon are key areas which could have significant positive implications on behaviours and practices across the wider industry, and we see this as a major legacy of the project.”
Kensa Heat Pumps have succeeded in securing their full suite of 3kW to 13kW thermal output single phase ground source heat pumps on the Energy Networks Association (ENA) Connect & Notify database. The move means British-based manufacturer Kensa has the largest number of ENA Connect & Notify approved ground source heat pump products in the UK – over 60% of the ENA single phase database – enabling simpler, quicker and lower cost ground source heat pump installations. Kensa Heat Pumps’ Technical Director and co-founder, Guy Cashmore, comments: “Installers of heat pumps will be familiar with the complications, hassle and potential additional costs of a heat pump not being ENA Connect & Notify approved. Meantime, homeowners may not be aware that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) requires evidence of District Network Operator (DNO) ENA approval. For heat pumps which are not Connect & Notify approved, this approval process could cost the homeowner thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of pounds, along with substantial delays. Kensa’s significant Connect & Notify status eliminates these additional cost risks for the consumer and hassle for installers; this is a fantastic opportunity for the UK’s adoption of ground source heat pumps.” The UK’s strategy for the decarbonisation and electrification of heat with heat pumps has prompted electricity network operators to invest in their networks to ensure capacity, safety, and asset lifetime. Many low carbon pathway predictions suggest a significant increase in heat pump deployment to achieve the UK’s carbon reduction targets – Scottish Power suggest 22 million heat pumps by 2035. As electrically driven technology, the mass electrification of heat with heat pumps will inevitably have an impact on the electricity grid; the ENA Connect & Notify approval identifies Kensa’s Evo and Shoebox ground source heat pump ranges to be of low grid impact, enabling their installation without any prior approval requirement from local DNOs. Connect & Notify approved heat pumps are deemed to be suited to DNO electricity supplies without the requirement for upgrades. Should in rare instances an upgrade be necessary, the DNO is obliged to supply this at their cost; the opposite is the case for non-Connect & Notify heat pumps, where the consumer is required to pay any upgrade costs. For installers, the consequence of non-Connect & Notify heat pumps requires an application for DNO permission prior to installation and connection, creating delays and approval uncertainty, and therefore also RHI uncertainty. The DNO decision takes into account how robust the electricity supply is at the installation location and the anticipated demand of the heat pump system on the electricity supply. If a DNO deems a supply upgrade is necessary, this is usually chargeable and can be very costly. Being on Connect & Notify eliminates the possibility of these charges and removes any delay while permission is obtained. To achieve ENA Connect & Notify status requires compliance with a strict set of standards limiting the maximum electricity demand of the heat pump.
SD Sealants, the UK’s leading sealant and cosmetic repair company, is looking to expand its workforce after growing rapidly in the North of England. The Caldicot-based company, which provides sealant application, cosmetic repairs and tiling for homeowners, housebuilders and commercial businesses, has seen continuous growth for the past year with a new office in Leeds and the acquisition of sealant company H2O Sealants. The recruitment drive will see up to 20 new recruits, from experienced/ skilled workers to those starting out in the trade, join the company in order to keep up with a period of growth which has seen the business turn over more than £1million in what has been a record-breaking 12 months for the firm. SD Sealants has been involved in a number of significant construction projects in the UK, particularly in the North of England, including Liverpool FC’s training ground and Aintree racecourse in Merseyside, Lincoln Cathedral and the Dewsbury and District Hospital, Yorkshire. SD Sealants Tiling division recently won a prestigious contract worth £600,000 for contemporary flats in Bristol’s city centre and other highlights include Sir Thomas Rich’s school in Gloucestershire, which called on the tiling team to carry out a full refit of its swimming pool facility and the brand new York Stadium, home to York Football Club and York City Knights rugby league team, which is a £44m development boasting 8,000 seats. And, just last year, SD Sealants rooted itself in Yorkshire with the purchase of a new 2,600sq unit in Leeds last year as well as the acquisition of Leeds-based H2O Sealants. The new unit is at Gelderd Trading Estate, West Vale and will allow the business to create a real foothold in the North. The demand for work has grown significantly and more jobs will be created to make sure that future projects are also finished to the usual high standards. He said: “We set up our first office in the North two years ago and the demand for work has just grown and grown. We’re thrilled to be growing our team. We’ve already had the opportunity to work on some fantastic projects around the UK and we look forward to welcoming some new members to the SD team who can help us to continue our hard work. “We’ve found there is a great deal of skill and expertise all over the UK and we’re looking forward to having some new faces on our team. We pride ourselves on having the best crew in the business.” Launched in 1973, SD Sealants and Cosmetic Repairs originated as a family run business in Somerset that specialised in the supply and application of sealant. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of the UK’s largest sealant companies, with eight offices across England, Scotland and Wales. SD Sealants has extended its services to include cosmetic building repairs, tiling and as of 2019 has introduced both painting and decorating and marine repairs services to its portfolio.
UK company John Wood Group has sold its nuclear business to American engineering giant Jacobs in a £250 million deal. The firm, headquartered in Aberdeen, completed the deal for Wood Nuclear, bringing more than 2,000 employees into Jacobs’ business and expanding its UK employee base to nearly 11,000. This deal will enhance Jacobs’ credentials as a global leader of total lifecycle nuclear services and technology-enabled solutions, providing strategic support to clients’ mission-critical defense and clean energy priorities, nuclear clean-up and decommissioning, environmental restoration and operational support. “Bringing together Wood Nuclear within Jacobs’ Critical Mission Solutions business provides a powerful platform to support clients’ complex programs, respond to unprecedented changes in the many sectors and geographies where we work and help accelerate commitments to a more sustainable future,” said Jacobs Chair and CEO Steve Demetriou. “With our shared values, technical heritage and global reach, we are combining complementary capabilities to deliver high value, differentiated nuclear and defence solutions for our clients and greater opportunities for our people across our diverse portfolio.” Clive White of Wood Nuclear will lead the new combined business as Senior Vice President Critical Mission Solutions – International (CMS-I), reporting to Dawne Hickton Executive Vice President and COO of Critical Mission Solutions. Leveraging Jacobs’ industry leading integration approach, a joint Jacobs-Wood Nuclear Integration Management Office (IMO) has been formed and is working to oversee the integration process, building on the strong cultural foundations of both organisations to maximise the value of the new entity.
Access to East Midlands Airport has been improved with the official launch of a new 2.5km route. A £10 million infrastructure scheme has reached completion, delivering the Castle Donington relief road in Leicestershire. This provides a much-needed link from the airport to the A50. Principal contractor Chasetown Civil Engineering worked with Leicestershire County Council and designers IDOM Merebrook to deliver the scheme. Pick Everard also delivered project management, quantity surveying and health and safety advisory services Paul Gibbs, associate director at Pick Everard said: “Although the road is quite short in terms of distance, the project required a significant amount of technical understanding. It was an incredibly complex infrastructure project to deliver, with constraints including: construction taking place under a 185,000 volt power line; the demolition of an abandoned underground reservoir and the site’s close proximity to East Midlands Airport. “Airports have strict guidelines on how neighbouring construction works affecting the land will alter wildlife patterns. We had to be mindful of grass seeding and vegetation specification, considering the length of grass, height of mounds and hedgerows planted in relation to bird patterns. “We held ‘bird strike mitigation meetings’ every two weeks with East Midlands Airport, monitoring bird flight and feeding patterns throughout the duration of the works. “Wildlife requirements were also balanced alongside security considerations when working in proximity to the airport boundary security fencing. “Further public liaison meetings took place with local councils and groups for the duration of the project to ensure minimum impact on the local community.” The new road now also provides access points for Miller Homes, Redrow Homes and Clowes Developments’ 900-unit housing development and neighbouring commercial schemes. Jake Richardson, engineering manager at Miller Homes Midlands added: “We feel very strongly about leaving a positive legacy that benefits the local community wherever we build. This approach has been guiding us since we announced our Charters Gate development in the area. “By joining forces with the two neighbouring developers and working closely with our contractors, including Pick Everard, we’ve delivered a complex but very much needed piece of local infrastructure. Built to help ease traffic in a busy commuter hotspot for Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, we hope it will benefit both residents and local businesses for years to come. “This is just one way Miller Homes is investing in Castle Donington, alongside building a new primary school, sports pitch and village park to support our £1.5 million Section 106 contributions to the area.”
As part of a drive towards helping homeowners achieve greener lifestyles, the award-winning Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has fitted electric vehicle charging points, as standard, to over 50% of the properties on the company’s first development in the Somerset town of Wincanton. For those who want to reduce their travel by car, Cavanna Homes is also offering new homeowners at Cales Reach the chance to join a Green Travel Initiative where they can receive cycle vouchers towards a bike or cycling equipment. Councillor Ray Tudgay, Deputy Chair of Wincanton Town Council, was invited to cut the ribbon at the formal opening of the “green” development where the new show home is fitted with the latest features to help achieve maximum energy efficiency. Cllr Tudgay was joined by Head of Sales and Marketing Paul Furner who said: “Cales Reach is a great example of how we are future-proofing our new homes with extensive wall and roof insulation in excess of industry guidelines, modern heating systems and car charging points. We recognise that many people will want to go much further in their efforts to live a greener lifestyle by choosing to travel by bus, bike or foot – and we want to reward that too by way of our Green Travel Initiative.” The three-bedroom show home is a ‘Steeperton’ which offers a spacious family lounge and a large, modern open plan kitchen / dining room for entertaining guests. At Cales Reach there will be 60 new homes, designed to appeal to a full range of requirements and tastes; from two-bedroom semi-detached homes to four-bedroom family homes and townhouses. Surrounded by hills, Cales Reach is close to the A303 and Templecombe train station. Wincanton town centre is within walking distance of Cales Reach and offers pubs, cafes, shops and a monthly farmers’ market. The town also has a GP surgery and vet practice. Wincanton County Primary school, which is close to the new homes, will benefit from a contribution from Cavanna Homes of £110,000 towards an extension which will house eight new classrooms. Cllr Tudgay said: “Cales Reach is in a brilliant location and Cavanna Homes’ Green Travel Initiative is a great incentive for home-buyers to opt for sustainable travel methods by foot, bike or bus. I look forward to seeing the completed development next summer.” Cavanna Homes was awarded the UK’s Medium Housebuilder of the Year in the 2019 national Housebuilder Awards. Kelly Aylesbury, Sales Advisor at Cales Reach, added: “Cales Reach is a fantastic development and we’re excited to open the doors to our stunning show home welcoming visitors to take a look around. “We’ve already had off-plan reservations, which is brilliant, and being in such a beautiful location has been a great selling point for many homebuyers. We also offer buying schemes, including Move Assist, Part-Exchange and our show home leaseback schemes. “If you’re looking to move to the area, come and visit us to see our selection of beautiful new homes.”
Leading energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE has been appointed to provide a £67 million repairs and maintenance service on behalf of Tamworth Borough Council. As part of the council’s ongoing commitment to provide high standards of affordable housing for local residents, the contract – which begins on 1st April 2020 – will see ENGIE provide responsive repairs, adaptations and estate management services to more than 4,200 homes across the borough over a ten-year period. In addition, ENGIE will also provide gas maintenance work, day-to-day and out of hours emergency repairs and the servicing of void properties. Martin Smithurst, Divisional Chief Operating Officer at ENGIE, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working once again with Tamworth Council – a partner that so closely shares our core values. “ENGIE has a proven track record of providing an excellent repairs and maintenance service, as well as helping our partners across the UK address their housing, social value and climate emergency-related priorities, and we’re looking forward to demonstrating that in Tamworth.“ Cllr Michelle Cook, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Communities, said: “ENGIE was selected after a robust, two-stage procurement process which included external legal and consultative support, interviews involving tenants and detailed assessments of all elements of the bids submitted. “All submissions were of a high standard and the winning contractors demonstrated an understanding of our needs and instilled confidence in their ability to deliver the service.” As part of the contract, ENGIE has commited to a number of social value measures which will benefit the wider community. These include training opportunities and the creation of apprenticeships for local people, as well as improvements to council-owned facilities such as play areas and community buildings.