The joint venture between Arup and Costain has secured a £2 million Yorkshire Water contract under a Health & Safety Assurance consultancy framework. Together they will deliver the work across a four-year contract as part of the utility’s AMP7 capital investment programme, which aims to facilitate the delivery of resilient assets
New research, commissioned by the Association for Project Management (APM) and conducted by PwC UK, has for the first time revealed the scale of the contribution the project profession makes to the UK economy. The new report, entitled ‘The Golden Thread’, has identified that project management in the UK generates
Good news have been announced ahead of the Easter break as the vast majority of roadworks on England’s motorways and major A roads are set to be removed. Highways England is working to remove 459 miles of roadworks to allow for easier travel during the holidays. “We’re doing everything we
The final beam was laid on a new nine-storey building on London’s Hanover Square development; a progress celebrated by contractor Mace and Great Portland Estates with a topping out ceremony. The 1.3 acre mixed-use development – Hanover Square Estate – is scheduled for completion next year. It will provide 220,000 sq ft
A year-long refurbishment of The Green Dragon Hotel, a Grade II listed building in Herefordshire, is underway; transforming a neglected city centre gem into a stunning 83 bedroom boutique hotel. The hotel is now seeking top hospitality talent to deliver its ambitious plan to be at the forefront of the
A £102 million contract has been sealed by Balfour Beatty for the delivery of 302 Zero Carbon Homes near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The firm will build phase one of the East Wick and Sweetwater development, which involves four mixed use buildings, including 302 apartments, townhouses and duplex residencies
The lead contractor on a new £50 million fire safety framework is Kier, who will serve as the leader for construction management on Hyde’s four-year framework. “We are delighted to be appointed to this very important framework and to be working with Hyde to help them ensure residents continue to be
A complex restoration project in Surrey will be cost managed by Gleeds, the international property and construction consultancy. The project includes the revamp of Clandon Park, a historic building in West Clandon that was ravaged by fire in April 2015. An intensive salvage phase has been carried out since the incident,
Hull’s £200 million Energy Works has appointed global engineering firm Black & Veatch as the new principal contractor, after M+W Group had its contract terminated due to concerns over significant delays in the build. Once completed, the site will generate enough electricity to power more than 40,000 homes. It also hopes
After secuting a place on the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework for Defence services, Amey is set to bid for the next round of UK Defence contracts. The firm is one of one of six shortlisted FM providers who will compete for the Future Infrastructure Defence Services (FDIS). The lots
The joint venture between Arup and Costain has secured a £2 million Yorkshire Water contract under a Health & Safety Assurance consultancy framework. Together they will deliver the work across a four-year contract as part of the utility’s AMP7 capital investment programme, which aims to facilitate the delivery of resilient assets and drive exceptional service for the company’s customers. “UK water companies are facing significant challenges in AMP7 around affordability, operational resilience and increasing expectations from regulators, stakeholders and customers. The Costain-Arup partnership is committed to supporting Yorkshire Water and its supply chain in providing exceptional service for its customers by assuring the delivery of safe, reliable and resilient assets,” said Mark Fletcher, Arup Global Water Business Leader. Under the contract, the JV will provide expertise in CDM (Construction, Design and Management) regulation compliance, design phase process and construction site safety to help Yorkshire Water address key affordability challenges in the efficient delivery of its AMP7 investment programme. “Following a twelve-month selection process, we are delighted to be working with Costain and Arup on our new Assurance Framework. The framework supports our enhanced assurance approach which is aimed at providing specialist, targeted assurance to meet the challenging needs of AMP7,” said Paul Robins, Continuous Improvement Manager at Yorkshire Water. “Costain and Arup bring a range of specialists to support our Health and Safety assurance needs, promoting collaborative working, innovation and continual improvement within the Yorkshire Water supply chain,” Paul concluded.
New research, commissioned by the Association for Project Management (APM) and conducted by PwC UK, has for the first time revealed the scale of the contribution the project profession makes to the UK economy. The new report, entitled ‘The Golden Thread’, has identified that project management in the UK generates around £156.5 billion of annual Gross Value Added (GVA) and that an estimated 2.13 million full-time equivalent workers (FTEs) are employed in the UK project management profession. This means around 7.9 per cent of UK employment (full time equivalents FTEs) delivers almost nine percent (8.9%) of total UK GVA. The new APM and PwC report seeks to highlight the contribution of the project profession to all aspects of UK plc, and reveals that the profession generates GVA that far outstrips other cross-business activity such as design, law and marketing. Debbie Dore, chief executive of APM welcomed the report stating: “Project management has for too long been cast as a ‘Cinderella’ or ‘hidden’ profession, working hard behind the scenes to ensure other’s success. But this new report recasts the profession into the role of a ‘golden thread’ – a seam that runs through UK plc, helping to develop new services, drive strategic change and sector-wide reform. In short, this report finds that the project profession is a thread truly woven into the fabric of UK societal and economic success.” Having established the real value of the profession, APM, the chartered body for the project profession, is now building on these findings to raise a red flag, warning of the factors that could inhibit the potential growth of the profession’s economic contribution. Of particular concern is the potential for a growing skills gap which, if not addressed, could lead to the rise of the ‘accidental project manager’ – employees without any recognised professional standards or training, who are given project management roles – decisions that can often jeopardise project success. Debbie Dore explains “Our report suggests that the contribution from and demand for the project profession is more extensive than many commentators thought and is set to increase. This could lead to demand for qualified and experienced project personnel starting to outstrip supply – ultimately leading to the failure of increasing numbers of projects. That’s why this report highlights to business, government and the education sector, the importance of training, development and professional standards (such as chartership) as the best way to develop a talent pool that is to scale and fit for purpose in today and tomorrow’s world.” Measured optimism PwC interviewed over 400 businesses for The Golden Thread and concluded that, as recognition of the importance of good project management grows, so too does the level of optimism among organisations in all sectors about the future of project management. 40 per cent of those interviewed in this research predicted a growth in projects, and 34 per cent were expecting project budgets to grow over the next three years. However, the report concludes that challenges remain – with over half of organisations (52 per cent) expressing concern over the current uncertainties caused by government policy – and just over one third (35 per cent) ranking this as the single greatest challenge of the past three years – with 56 per cent of businesses forecasting that this will still be an issue by 2021. Skills shortage Skills and capability shortages were also cited in the report as a potential barrier by a third of organisations questioned. Having access to enough people with the right project management skills and capabilities in the UK is a concern for 39 per cent and financial pressures leading to severe cost containment issues is a worry for 37 per cent. 32 per cent and 39 per cent of businesses respectively expect these to continue to be a challenge in the next three years. Sectoral trends Types of projects undertaken vary from sector to sector, but overall IT and digital transformations and new product development projects tend to dominate with 55 per cent and 46 per cent of organisations respectively having undertaken these types of project in the past year. Perhaps not surprisingly, in the construction and local government sectors, fixed capital projects are the main project type undertaken. Sandie Grimshaw, Partner, PwC UK explains the need for the UK to focus on skills further: “As ‘megaprojects’ increase in size and complexity, project professionals’ skills and attributes will need to change and adapt to handle media and political pressure along with strategic stakeholders in ways that are akin to professional diplomats. Whilst the UK has a strong and growing number of project professionals, this research helps to provide a better baseline for the skills sets and numbers of professionals required to support the capability for delivering projects – both large and small – in the years ahead.”
Good news have been announced ahead of the Easter break as the vast majority of roadworks on England’s motorways and major A roads are set to be removed. Highways England is working to remove 459 miles of roadworks to allow for easier travel during the holidays. “We’re doing everything we can to make journeys as smooth as possible this Easter and that’s why we’re keeping around 99 per cent of the road network we manage, free from roadworks,” commented customer service director Melanie Clarke. Starting with 6am Thursday 18 April 2019, the motorway and major A-road network will be free of roadworks until 12.01am on Tuesday 23 April 2019. For safety reasons, Highways England is urging drivers to do simple vehicle checks before their Easter journeys to minimise the risk of breakdowns on the road network. These include checking fuel, tyres, engine oil, water and lights. Drivers are also reminded to ensure that they have the correct licence and insurance to tow whatever the weight, make sure you have connected correctly, and always ensure your load is secure and within the limits for your vehicle before setting off. Specific focus has also been put on adhering to motorway signage, especially the red X signals on smart motorways. Lanes are closed for a reason and ignoring red X signs puts people at risk. To ensure everything runs smoothly and to help people who get into difficulty, Highways England traffic officers will be working around the clock. These measures are being implemented to ensure drivers and passengers stay safe on national roads over the holiday break.
The final beam was laid on a new nine-storey building on London’s Hanover Square development; a progress celebrated by contractor Mace and Great Portland Estates with a topping out ceremony. The 1.3 acre mixed-use development – Hanover Square Estate – is scheduled for completion next year. It will provide 220,000 sq ft of high quality office, retail and residential accommodation centred around a new public courtyard. “This ceremony marks a significant milestone in the construction of the Hanover Square Estate. With Europe’s largest infrastructure project directly underneath us, and operating on a constrained construction site in Mayfair, this project was always going to face challenges. I am very proud of the collaborative working we have seen from our construction team and external stakeholders,” said Toby Courtauld, Chief Executive of Great Portland Estates. 18 Hanover Square is a nine-storey building constructed above the new eastern entrance to the Elizabeth Line’s Bond Street station, and will include 126,000 sq ft of offices and 2,300 sq ft of retail space. Other projects under the development include a separate building on New Bond Street, new office space above 1 Medici Courtyard, a restored Georgian Grade II Listed building, and six new 2 and 3 bedroom residential apartments at the junction of New Bond Street and Brook Street. “When complete, Hanover Square will deliver some of London’s most enviable offices, retail and private residences. I’m honoured to be here today to mark such a significant step forward for the project. Great Portland Estates are one of the best developers operating in the UK, and we’re thrilled to have built such a close relationship with them through the delivery of three major London landmarks,” added Mark Reynolds, Chief Executive of Mace. The project team has worked closely with Crossrail, who are delivering the new Elizabeth line station at Bond Street. They are also working closely with Transport for London (TfL), who operate the adjacent London Underground station.
A year-long refurbishment of The Green Dragon Hotel, a Grade II listed building in Herefordshire, is underway; transforming a neglected city centre gem into a stunning 83 bedroom boutique hotel. The hotel is now seeking top hospitality talent to deliver its ambitious plan to be at the forefront of the regional food and drink scene. Work started this month to refurbish both the exterior and interior of this landmark building, with exciting plans to bring it into the 21st century whilst being sympathetic to its significant centuries-long history. As well as improving the building’s amenities there are exciting opportunities for hospitality professionals who have a clear passion for food and drink. The hotel is currently seeking an Executive Chef, two Head Mixologists and world-class Baristas. Managing Director Julian Vaughan comments “ We are looking to bring something different to Hereford and this major landmark deserves only the best talents we can find. Herefordshire is abundant with high-quality produce as a major farming county and it is the perfect place for an Executive Chef to maximise their talents with the best ingredients right on their doorstep. Herefordshire also benefits from a lower cost of living than major cities and is perfect for someone looking to live a more rural lifestyle.” Two Head Mixologists will be appointed to lead the hotel’s new cocktail bar which is being supported by locally produced Chase Vodka. As well as overseeing the creation of new drinks menus, the role will also include recruiting and developing new talent and brand relationships. The historic Offa bar is set to be a talking point for visitors to the hotel. It is one of the most stunning rooms in the hotel and has for decades been mothballed. Plans are set to transform it into a buzzing and atmospheric cocktail bar, adding sparkle and glamour back into the Herefordshire nightlife. The focus will be on unique serves and cocktails that celebrate Herefordshire’s finest ingredients and rural inspirations. Plans for a fast-paced new coffee shop are also underway, and there will be roles available for passionate, experienced baristas to deliver a contemporary coffee experience and manage the transition from daytime espresso to an evening wine bar, serving both hotel guests and the busy local business community.
A £102 million contract has been sealed by Balfour Beatty for the delivery of 302 Zero Carbon Homes near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The firm will build phase one of the East Wick and Sweetwater development, which involves four mixed use buildings, including 302 apartments, townhouses and duplex residencies and a number of associated commercial facilities including retail and leisure amenities. The new homes will contribute to the transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, providing a new, diverse and vibrant part of East London, as well as 1,500 new homes for the community. Around 500 people are expected to be employed at construction peak, with 7% of the workforce made of up apprentices. “This contract award builds on Balfour Beatty’s strong relationship with the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the London Legacy Development Corporation, having constructed the London 2012 Aquatics Centre and delivered transformative engineering works to the London Olympic Stadium. We look forward to providing East London with a lasting legacy by creating a range of employment opportunities for local people and businesses through the development of this new and exciting neighborhood,” said Graham Hill, Balfour Beatty’s Managing Director for its London Regional construction business. This work is the first of seven construction phases for the development and is being supported by equity from Balfour Beatty Investments in joint venture with Places for People and borrowed funding provided by Homes England. Ground preparation works commenced in early 2019 with completion expected in spring 2021.
The lead contractor on a new £50 million fire safety framework is Kier, who will serve as the leader for construction management on Hyde’s four-year framework. “We are delighted to be appointed to this very important framework and to be working with Hyde to help them ensure residents continue to be safe in their homes. This appointment builds on the strong partnership approach we have established with Hyde delivering fire safety projects,” commented David Mawson, executive director of Kier specialist services. Launched in March 2019, it will provide safety works to homes in the Hyde portfolio and other external users across the country. Works included in the framework range from the installation of fire doors, emergency lighting and sprinkler systems to fire proofing, electrical works and business continuity planning. Kier will fulfill a construction management role to Hyde and/or framework users who wish to utilise works or services from any of the framework lots. “Fire safety is a really important issue and we are really proud to have established this framework with excellent partners and to have made it available to all public sector organisations to use. Resident safety has always been our priority and through this framework we can deliver quality services, ensure that we can manage and address fire safety issues accordingly and get better value for money,” added Jake Le Page, Fire Safety Taskforce Lead at Hyde.
A complex restoration project in Surrey will be cost managed by Gleeds, the international property and construction consultancy. The project includes the revamp of Clandon Park, a historic building in West Clandon that was ravaged by fire in April 2015. An intensive salvage phase has been carried out since the incident, which involved making the building safe as well as windproof and watertight before archaeologists could begin meticulously sifting through the debris to recover and catalogue surviving collection and architectural elements. Since the fire, detailed specialist surveys and investigations, including the undertaking of laser survey work and the completion of a conservation plan. The National Trust selected Gleeds’ heritage cost management team to support the project, joining the Trust-assembled consultant team in undertaking a comprehensive feasibility study before construction begins and providing strategic advice throughout. “This is one of the most significant conservation projects ever undertaken and I am delighted that Gleeds will be playing such a critical role in its delivery. We have worked with the organisation on a host of other historic schemes, including Knole, Ickworth House and Wimpole Hall and are committed to bringing historically significant sites such as these to life for the public to enjoy,” said Martin Hall, Director at Gleeds. Architectural practice Allies and Morrison was appointed to lead a design team which includes landscape architect, Robert Myers Associates, conservation architect, Purcell, structural engineer, Price & Myers and mechanical and electrical engineer, Max Fordham. They will support the National Trust with developing the concept for the remade Clandon Park, which will combine restored historic interiors, modern gallery and learning spaces, and beautiful new gardens to create a unique place for cultural and creative programming.
Hull’s £200 million Energy Works has appointed global engineering firm Black & Veatch as the new principal contractor, after M+W Group had its contract terminated due to concerns over significant delays in the build. Once completed, the site will generate enough electricity to power more than 40,000 homes. It also hopes to reduce the amount of waste heading to landfill by almost 250,000 tonnes. “Black & Veatch are pleased to be supporting Bioenergy Infrastructure Group to oversee the final stages of commissioning of the Energy Works Hull (EWH) project,” said Peter Hughes, director of business development at Black & Veatch Europe. The drastic decision to terminate the contract of M+W Group was taken in March by shareholders at Energy Works, which includes firm Bioenergy Infrastructure Group (BIG). Energy Works bosses said at the time the move “guaranteed the future of the plant,” amid uncertainty over when it will open its doors. The announcement came after months of delays at the site. Last December, it was confirmed the opening of Energy Works had once again been pushed back , with spring 2019 announced as the target. “Black & Veatch has demonstrated both technical capability and organisational commitment to the renewable energy industry, including as a lead contractor at our Ince Bio Power project in Cheshire,” said Hamish McPherson, CEO at Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, of the new appointment. “We are delighted to have brought them on board in Hull. This represents very good news not only for this facility but for the city of Hull. We have regenerated a brownfield site, will be enabling other local businesses to reduce their carbon footprint, and will be providing clean energy to the local grid,” Hamish added. Over 500 people were employed during the construction phase of Energy Works, and a further 25 jobs will follow in the operational phase. More jobs are being supported in the supply chain. BIG recently announced that Ince Bio Power, its facility near Ellesmere Port in Cheshire which uses similar technology to Energy Works, is fully operational. Ince Bio Power is currently the largest facility of its kind in the UK but will be overtaken by Energy Works once the Hull plant is fully operational.
After secuting a place on the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework for Defence services, Amey is set to bid for the next round of UK Defence contracts. The firm is one of one of six shortlisted FM providers who will compete for the Future Infrastructure Defence Services (FDIS). The lots Amey has been shortlisted for are: • Two housing contracts which will include provision of the full range of occupancy management services including allocation and occupation of MOD housing in the UK and Northern Ireland along with housing maintenance services. • The Defence Facilities Management contract which will provide hard facilities management services to ensure a fit-for-purpose MOD Estate and includes barracks, airfields and other defence facilities in the UK and Northern Ireland. “Securing a place on the CCS Framework has provided us with a great opportunity to build on our existing relationships in the Defence sector. Amey is pleased to focus on the defence sector and our efforts to improve the service we provide to the UK’s Armed Forces and their families. We will now draw on our experience to deliver the key elements of the required framework scope and support our business strategy of becoming the MOD’s most trusted partner,” said Amey’s Chief Executive, Andy Milner. The company will now compete in a series of ‘call-off’ contract competitions with each ‘call-off’ contract being seven years in length with options to extend up to a further three years, subject to satisfactory performance and other considerations.