An underused office space in the Ealing area of London is set for a major renovation starting this month. British Land has awarded a contract to McLaren for the £6.5 million project at 54 The Broadway on Ealing Broadway. Work will involve the complete renovation of three floors of office space, the ground floor reception area and the basement. McLaren will also install new lifts, remove the existing gantry elevation on the roof and provide a new plant room in the loft. It will also provide upgrades to the shower facilities and drainage systems throughout the building. An updated external façade and a new entrance canopy, designed by Corstophine + Wright, will give the building a fresh new appearance from Ealing Broadway and new windows on the south elevation will bring more light into existing areas. Jay Newman, Managing Director, McLaren – South, said: “54 The Broadway is an instantly recognisable office building that has been an underused but key part of British Land’s portfolio for years. We are proud to be bringing our innovative approach to commercial, ‘cut and carve’ office refurbishment to 54 The Broadway, giving the whole building a facelift, which brings it back to full use. “Ealing is an appealing location for large and small companies alike and 54 The Broadway provides great travel links, nearby amenities and a vibrant area in which to work. We are always excited to work with British Land and look forward to creating more important, modern office space for London businesses.” The 45-week project will present some logistical challenges with only one elevation providing entry and exit points for plant and materials. Jay explained: “Getting in and out of the building has provided some fundamental challenges but with innovative, thinking and our can-do attitude we have developed a solution that streamlines the project. A scaffold gantry will sit above the public footpath just off Ealing Broadway and will incorporate a lifting beam and goods hoist to aid material and plant movement into the building, ensuring the work stays on track and minimises disruption to local workers and shoppers.” The project is expected to reach completion in December 2020.

Kensa Contracting and Together Housing are delighted to announce that they have been shortlisted for the H&V News ‘Renewable Project of the Year’ Award for their multi-site renewable heating upgrade programme in social housing across Yorkshire and Lancashire. Now in their 26th year, the prestigious H&V News Awards are an annual celebration of excellence, forward thinking and the highest achievements across the HVAC and building services industry. The largest retrofit ground source heat pump programme of its kind to date, this three year, ongoing, project involves the install of 1,000 ground source heat pumps in social housing residences at 12 locations across Lancashire and South and West Yorkshire. Displacing night storage heaters with a Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pumps fitted inside maisonettes, houses and flats, with each of the heat pumps connected to shared ground loop arrays, where two or more properties share a borehole. Kensa’s retrofit work with Together Housing will save tenants on average 45% in heating costs, making a substantial impact on fuel poverty and carbon reduction targets. Using current SAP methodology, the lifetime carbon savings of the project have been calculated as upwards of 44,858tCO2. As the grid further decarbonises with the increased levels of renewable capacity, the carbon impact of the heating will be further reduced. Kensa’s innovative shared ground loop array method allows residents independent heating control and the freedom to switch energy suppliers, whilst also creating access to the Government’s Non Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which will allow Together Housing to fully recover their capital costs and create a regular income stream for 20 years to potentially fund further property improvement measures in the future.  Together Housing resident June Wilson said: “The heating system is amazing. Before it was difficult to heat up more than one room, but now I don’t have to worry about that.” David Broom, Commercial Director of Kensa Contracting, comments: “Kensa Contracting has pioneered the use of ground source heat pumps in social housing, developing the capability to deliver increasingly ambitious market-leading projects; this project is the largest of its kind delivered to date. This scheme has been a true partnership of client and contractor working to achieve a shared goal of decarbonisation, reducing fuel poverty and providing affordable comfortable homes, through the adoption of British-manufactured renewable technology.” Patrick Berry, Managing Director of Together Energy, added: “It is great for this project to be acknowledged for this award because the impact of it has been fantastic for residents’ day to day lives as well as the environment.” “With 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gases coming from households, it is great to be leading on a project which shows that it is possible to reduce existing homes’ carbon footprint.” Winners of H&V News Awards will be announced on the 30th April 2020.

Good planning is the most important factor for preventing construction projects from going over budget, according to new research by Association for Project Management (APM). A survey conducted for APM by research company Censuswide asked project professionals whose primary project is on or under budget to specify the factors that have contributed to this. Good project planning was cited most frequently by respondents in the construction sector, with 55 per cent of survey respondents saying this had helped them to stick to their budget. In addition, 56 per cent of respondents whose main project is on or ahead of schedule said good planning was a contributing factor for this, too. Factors that have contributed to projects that are on or under budget Survey respondents who selected this option Good project planning and review 55% Competent project teams 47% Clear goals and objectives 38% Commitment to success 30% Effective governance 29% Factors that have contributed to projects that are on or ahead of schedule Survey respondents who selected this option Good project planning and review 56% Competent project teams 47% Clear goals and objectives 40% Commitment to success 27% Effective governance 21% Among project professionals whose main project is over budget, the most commonly cited factor was external factors beyond the project manager’s control. Those whose primary project is over schedule also tended to cite external factors as a contributing factor. Debbie Dore, APM’s chief executive, said: “Regardless of a project’s size or scope, a robust process for planning and review is essential. “As the chartered body for the project profession, we are committed to supporting learning and development for project professionals in the construction sector, so that they are able to plan and review effectively to ensure that the economic and societal benefits of their work can be realised. “APM’s innovative knowledge and research programme helps advance the art, science and practice of project management. We offer project professionals a diverse range of insights and resources to facilitate discussion, inspire improvement and assist application.”

Sir Robert McAlpine has launched a new sustainability strategy for 2020-2024 – setting a clear path to achieving net zero carbon emissions within the next five years and realising year on year increase on social value delivered across its operations. The sustainability strategy aims to have a measurably positive impact on local communities and the environment, empowering individuals across the business to drive the sustainability agenda. Working hand in hand with the supply chain, it tackles the challenge to deliver sustainable construction, operate ethically and address issues known to be underlying causes of climate change. Building on the previous sustainability roadmap, which earned Sir Robert McAlpine the title of ‘Environmental Contractor of the Year’ in 2018, the strategy incorporates lessons learnt from employees, projects and supply chain partners. The result is a sustainability framework with the flexibility to allow for targets that are specific and adapted to each project. The overarching strategy will focus on four key areas: • Becoming net zero carbon: Sir Robert McAlpine is focusing on reducing emissions through carbon reduction initiatives implemented across the business and industry collaborations resulting in year on year reduction in carbon emissions and achieving net zero carbon emissions within five years. The Carbon Trust will provide third party certification to validate the claims. • Resource efficiency: year on year reduction of construction waste, maximising resource efficiency and applying circular economy principles in the delivery of projects. Achieved through the implementation of modern methods of construction, modularisation, offsite construction, as well as collaboration across the industry. • Ethical procurement: increasing the transparency of supply chains to ensure services are ethically sourced, and improving the responsible sourcing of building materials to minimise impact on the environment. • Social value: year on year increase of social value delivered across the company’s operations. A partnership with the Social Profit Calculator allows the business to set targets, forecast, monitor and improve the social value delivered by each project.  A core driver of the company’s ambition to be the best place to work, the best builder and the best business, the new strategy constitutes a veritable culture change in the way the company approaches sustainability. It provides flexibility for projects, improving buy-in and ownership, ultimately allowing each project to deliver meaningful improvements. The specialist skills and expertise of the core sustainability team will drive the strategy and embed innovation and continuous improvement into their operations. Simon Richards, Head of Sustainability at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “As individuals, we are passionate about the work that we do and delivering quality projects for our clients, yet the impact that our industry has on the environment and society cannot be ignored, Climate Change being a prime example. “It is collectively our responsibility to address this, and this strategy gives our people and projects a framework to do so proactively and collaboratively with our supply chain partners and the wider construction industry. “We all have a role to play, our strategy emphasises our skills and expertise to take up the challenge and lead on embedding change, making a meaningful, lasting difference.”

The Skills Centre Director John White has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of The British Empire) for his determination to empower a community through his tireless work to help find people work and upskill people in his community. John manages the Southwark Construction Skills Centre, which has provided training to 8,000 people since it was founded more than three years ago – including ex-offenders, ex-military and ex-gang members. The Skills Centre works closely with employers and residents to provide employees with the skills required by businesses. The training includes learning new skills as well as upskilling. John, who is based at Lendlease’s Elephant Park site in Southwark, is passionate about inspiring and engaging young people to want to work in the construction sector. John runs a range of school engagement activities to highlight the range of opportunities available and to increase employment and training opportunities in the construction sector for local people by using The Skills Centre as a complete service for on and off-site training. John, who found out about his MBE honour when he was gardening, said: “We work within our community, within South London. We are going to employers, finding out what they want. If they are going to employ people, what jobs are on offer? What are the skills they need? What kind of person are they looking for? Then, we run the training. “My big push is to make sure the training is open to everyone. There are barriers to training – maybe age, previous qualifications – we want there to be no barriers. If you are 16 or 74, no matter where you come from in the community, the opportunity is open. If you’re the right person, you’re the right person. “Apprentices are also really important, and I’m keen they go into the community to work rather than just into our yard or classroom.” There have been many and varied projects for apprentices to get involved, including Southwark Peace Gardens in Walworth Road, dedicated to reducing knife crime and providing support to community members affected by it. John works hard within the community of Southwark, trying to help people get into the work environment by speaking to employers to find out what skills they require and then running suitable training courses. He recently reached out to the local Latin American community with more than 200 people turning up to his presentation. In 2020, the Centre will be expanding to Brixton and to Stratford in partnership with Transport for London. John will be honoured at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace later this year – but he admits the news is taking a while to sink in. “It was a surprise, very shocking,” he said. “I was digging the garden and my wife Sam said ‘you have a letter here, do you want to open this, it looks very official’ and I did, then I went back to digging as I couldn’t quite believe it.”

ELAS Occupational Health, one of the UK’s leading providers of occupational health and health surveillance has added Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system to their portfolio of best-of-breed business services. The innovative fingerprint drug test detects drug use by collecting and analysing tiny traces of fingerprint sweat, enabling ELAS Occupational Health to provide customers needing drug testing as part of a medical, company policy or proactive wellbeing policy with a more dignified drug testing approach. The Intelligent Fingerprinting system’s portability will also enable ELAS Occupational Health to offer unobtrusive and dignified drug testing to clients from its 30 strong mobile van fleet,  which takes occupational and health surveillance services to UK customers across a range of sectors including construction, transport, manufacturing and logistics. According to Shaun Clarke, Health Surveillance Manager at ELAS Occupational Health: “At ELAS Occupational Health we see the fingerprint drug test as a valuable addition to our services portfolio. There’s no requirement for specialised testing facilities with the Intelligent Fingerprinting solution and its portability means we can be very flexible on where tests are taken, enabling us to test from our mobile medical units that travel out to customer sites. In comparison with a urine test, for example, the ease and dignity of just putting fingers on a cartridge for sample collection is far less intrusive and is likely to prove much more appealing. We are delighted that we have been granted exclusive rights by Intelligent Fingerprinting to provide fingerprint drug testing as part of our mobile occupational health services.” Intelligent Fingerprinting’s Dr Paul Yates added: “We look forward to working with ELAS Occupational Health as they roll out our innovative fingerprint testing method to their nationwide customer operations. The system is highly portable and, with instant results available on site, the advantages of fingerprint-based drug testing make it an increasingly smart choice for organisations wanting a fast, dignified and hygienic approach to drug testing. Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it worksIntelligent Fingerprinting’s 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. A fingerprint-based laboratory confirmation service is also available.