McLaren has launched a new national business dedicated to the residential market. McLaren Living brings together McLaren Group’s property and construction expertise, responding to local needs by creating tailored, residential solutions. The business, led by Managing Director Matthew Biddle, will work to create agile, solutions-focused partnerships and joint ventures with private and public-sector organisations, bringing speed and flexibility to the process of building much-needed homes and mixed-use developments, across the UK. There will be a focus on mixed-use, residential development and placemaking in the UK. Matthew Biddle joins the business with 18 years of experience, leading residential development businesses at Berkeley Group. At McLaren, he will work alongside former Chief Executive of Newham Council, Kim Bromley-Derry CBE, to strengthen McLaren’s partnership offering and develop long-term joint ventures. Kevin Taylor, Chairman, McLaren Group, commented: “We welcome Matthew to McLaren at this exciting point in the evolution and growth of our company. His skills and experience will help us to deliver homes that the country so badly needs and new places where people want to live, work and stay. We look forward to sharing our can-do culture with local authorities, registered providers and other organisations, working in partnership to help them to meet and exceed their housing priorities.” Commenting on his new role, Matthew said: “It’s a pleasure to be joining at the inception of McLaren Living, working with McLaren Group’s leadership team to establish this new business. We will be delivering developments for the public sector along with homes for rent and sale; working in true partnerships to develop places that make a positive difference to people’s lives. “I’m particularly excited to be joining a team of passionate, experienced individuals who bring a fresh enthusiasm to building homes and places that enhance and transform communities, drive local employment and protect the environment.”

Sustainability is a topical issue for every industry and as such, the rate of businesses that are taking part and investing in greener practices and processes is continuing to increase. This is also in line with the announcement from the UK Government of its landmark Green Finance Strategy, which set out plans to drastically increase sustainable investment, and for the UK to reach net zero emissions by 2050.  There’s a clear argument to improve sustainability efforts across industries, with research showing that reducing emissions by 42% can result in a growth in the economy of 72%. So it comes as no surprise that the construction and building industry is changing significantly as well; many buildings are now designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, with a portion aiming to produce renewable energy on site through solar panels for instance. But with innovative green construction methods on the rise, how can employers ensure that with these new adaptations, workers and importantly lone workers are safe during the construction and development of such sites? Increased risk Materials and methods involved in greener construction and development are brand new to many workers and certainly not as familiar as traditional techniques, which can create safety risks. Research already shows that lone workers, those working at height, and also those in more typical working conditions face increased danger from green construction projects. It was found that they involved an increased exposure to ‘working at height; with electrical current; near unstable soils; and near heavy equipment for a greater period of time’ than traditional, less sustainable projects. Workers faced with these environments are then also expected to tackle new techniques for construction and handle new, unfamiliar materials as well – potentially a dangerous combination. On top of this, the tasks are typically more high risk as well, such as: constructing atria, installing vegetated roofs, installing domestic or commercial wind turbines, and installing solar panels. Findings also detailed that there had been a significant rise in injuries, including lacerations and sprains, from working with recycled construction materials, and a sharp increase in eye strain from working with reflective roof membranes, with links to the 24% increase in falls from height. Also revealed, was a rise in exposure to harmful substances as a direct result of workers installing greener, more innovative wastewater technologies. It’s clear there are unique challenges for employers to overcome to be able to provide improved safety for workers on these sustainable construction projects, particularly as techniques become more commonplace. With this form of development intended to improve and protect the health of its future occupants, it’s imperative that the health and safety of construction workers isn’t sacrificed along the way.  Ensuring safety To meet health and safety requirements, employers need to ensure they’re analysing every aspect of the scenario and implementing the best and most suited safety technology to protect all workers, from those working alone to those working at height. Lone worker devices are a vital resource for those that work in isolation as they operate without supervision or direct contact with colleagues and so the risks are significantly increased. Without team members nearby the speed at which assistance can be provided in the event of an injury, illness or other emergency incident is reduced. Users must rely on these devices, such as robust smartphones with built-in alarms or tilt sensors, and expect them to have a constant connection and work faultlessly; so that if an emergency occurs, they can trust in the technology to raise an alarm and it will be dealt with effectively. To ensure this is a reality, employers need to carefully consult with specialists to ensure the right technology is selected to suit every situation. There are multiple factors to think about as well, not just the device itself, and the first point to consider is the workplace employees are operating in, to assess which features and format would be most suited. For example, employees on construction sites require hard wearing devices that can withstand being dropped and can be operated by someone wearing heavy duty or wet gloves. There are multiple options available on the market and by working with specialists, businesses can ensure that every working environment has a bespoke setup that is specific to the needs of the employees and the business as a whole, to counteract the increased risks from these greener construction situations. Functionality vs cost In addition to the environment, another factor for consideration is employee communication. Lone worker devices can now be multi-functional and address additional communication challenges, as well as worker safety. So instead of carrying a number of devices that serve different purposes, functions such as comms, lone worker and messaging can all be integrated into the same device. Alternatively, if a business has already installed a communications system, but without a lone worker function, the existing solutions can potentially be enhanced to provide lone worker safety functionality. For some organisations this can be a cost-effective solution to the issue of lone worker safety, which in an economically-strained time is beneficial. However, procurers shouldn’t be swayed by the cheapest options available, as ultimately worker safety relies on these decisions and they need to be able to instil confidence in the workforce it is supposed to help protect. Cheaper overseas devices don’t adhere to the same standards and businesses can’t trust that these have been fully tested and certified.  Clearly businesses need to make these changes now to streamline employee safety in line with the shifting landscape and innovative procedures, but they need to make the right decisions that suit these environments. By working with a supplier that is an expert in the market, they can help to evaluate a business’ requirements in detail and recommend a suitable solution that fits their specific needs within a greener construction environment, while focusing on integrating systems where possible to save on costs; rather than adopting a ‘one device fits all’ approach that doesn’t suit the increasingly sustainable future. Klaus Allion, Managing Director, ANT Telecom

Masterson Holdings Ltd, the construction group turning over circa £150 million per annum, is deploying a revolutionary fingerprint drug testing system across its four operating companies. The Intelligent Fingerprinting test detects drug use in around 10 minutes by collecting and analysing tiny traces of fingerprint sweat, and will be used to support the random drug testing of all Masterson Holdings employees from directors to labourers. The fingerprint drug testing system will be used to enforce contractual drug usage policy adherence required by major contractors on construction projects, encourage employee health and safety and also as a fundamental element of the company’s ‘fitness for work’ and proactive employee wellbeing initiatives. Masterson Holdings selected the fingerprint method ahead of urine and saliva tests as Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable solution enables on-site drug tests at its construction sites. The process can be carried out in-house by HR staff, with results available on site in 10 minutes. The ability to manage the initial test in-house is not only a major operational benefit for Masterson, but also supports the company’s wellbeing policy. Masterson is committed to offering support to any employees who may have a drug usage problem, providing them with a range of support options through their HR function. Masterson will use the fingerprint drug test across its operating companies: GetJar, the concrete frame and groundwork specialist; its Atlantic Contracts carpentry and joinery business, and Glencoe Plant Services that provides plant hire & construction services. Andrew Chowings, Group SHEQ Director of GetJar said: “As a contractor, we have a drug usage Health and Safety Policy for our employees’ on-site safety, and adopting the Intelligent Fingerprinting solution allows us to carry out tests quickly, easily and more unobtrusively when compared to urine tests for example. However, as a reputable family business, we wanted to go a step further. Instead of relying on external parties to fulfil our drug testing, we can now bring the function in-house, proactively introducing drug testing as part of our employee wellbeing initiatives. There are, of course, urine and saliva drug tests on the market but the fingerprint method fitted the bill for us as we are able to test our employees ourselves – at a random time to suit us, with rapid on-site results. It is also extremely quick and ‘clean’ with no unhygienic bodily fluids used as part of the process. “As part of a broader employee wellbeing initiative, we have also introduced random drug testing for all our employees, from directors to labourers. The programme has been in play for a few months now and the response from our employees has been extremely positive – we’ve even had volunteers as they are intrigued by the innovative fingerprint-based testing technology. We’ve now adopted Intelligent Fingerprinting into our health and safety and wellbeing policies, and randomly test a part of the business every 12 weeks,” he continued. Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing solution features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

Regeneration and energy specialist, ENGIE, has been appointed to deliver a variety of regeneration programmes by Sunderland-based housing association, Gentoo Group. As part of the Group’s wider £317m investment programme across its 29,000 home portfolio, the scope of the varied £16m work will include a variety of modernisation and safety improvement work across a number of Gentoo buildings, as well as the installation of new gas- condensing, energy-efficient combination boilers and associated works to 1,000 properties in Washington as part of a district heating upgrade. Lee Francis, Area Director at ENGIE, said: “Resident welfare is at the core of all these projects and it is important that all households feel safe and secure in their homes. “We have a skilled team and vast experience in regeneration, which is further enhanced by our fantastic partnership with Gentoo. We have demonstrated our extensive abilities, with a number of projects already being delivered by us on Gentoo’s behalf. We’re currently re-roofing properties and repairing gable walls across thousands of properties in Houghton le Spring and Sunderland, whilst also installing Ground Source Heat Pumps, an innovative source of renewable energy, to seven tower blocks in Sunderland.” Conan McKinley, Director of Asset Strategy at Gentoo, said: “We’re really pleased to continue our partnership with ENGIE and look forward to seeing the successful delivery of some really key projects over the coming months.” All three of the newly awarded projects will be managed separately, but all work will be completed with residents in occupation and ENGIE will work openly and closely with Gentoo customers throughout the duration of the projects to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. Several consultation meetings and coffee mornings will be scheduled for those who are affected by these programmes of works; while dedicated Resident Liaison Officers will also be on hand at all times.

An iconic landmark in the Bermondsey area of London is set to be transformed into a new high street cultural venue. Really Local Group is working with Southwark Council to redevelop The Blue building into a community hub featuring a three-screen cinema, coffee shop, a café, bar, informal co-working spaces and a food and craft hall featuring local artisans and vendors. The building has lain vacant for over a year, with this project expected to bring life to the marketplace using funds from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund. Cllr Leo Pollak, Cabinet Member for New Homes, Great Estates and Social Regeneration, said: “After years of working to improving the mix of shops and stalls at the Blue, and intervening on the sale of Thorowgoods, we are hugely proud to have secured a three screen cinema, community events and exhibition space and an affordable food market showing the best of local producers. We were greatly impressed by Really Local Group’s approach, and I’m confident this will become a major new arts centre for the north of the borough, and a game-changer for the Blue. This not only underscores our commitment to healthy thriving high streets across the borough, but the importance of municipal interventions high streets that need a ‘curatorial’ steer while getting the tone balance and affordability right. Bring on the Summer of 2021!” Serving as a link between the historic centre of Bermondsey and Bermondsey Street, the repurposed space will provide a platform for local businesses and community members to engage with the craft heritage of the area. Aiming to increase footfall to 5,000 people on weekends, the venue will aid towards revitalising the local economy and its traders. Really Local Group will also collaborate with local talent to showcase comedy and music performances alongside educational opportunities, with a community run creative school. The venue will also provide a collaborative space for community groups to develop their own program of events.  The lettings strategy for the Blue agreed in 2016 created a bespoke approach to lettings on the Bermondsey high street, with Southwark Council considering the impact their choice of retail tenants makes to the vibrancy and affordability of shopping on high streets, local parades and estates. The local residents’ opinion has had a big impact on the shape of the high street too, with the Commonplace survey with locals carried out influencing the delivery of Bermondsey Uprising, Bermondsey Community Kitchen, Big Local Works, and a number of private commercial lets at the Blue. Southwark has also already taken steps to update their letting policy, reversing the dominance of payday lenders and betting shops on the high street to cultivate a community destination. This proposal is subject to approval by the Council’s Cabinet members, and planning approval.