The new £6 million exhibition and visitor centre at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, west London, which opened in March last year, has won a prestigious industry award. The Hillingdon Council-owned building won the Best Public Service Building accolade at the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Awards for
As part of their continuous support towards the training and development of future roofers, Midland Lead has been supplying thousands of pounds of raw materials and tools to colleges, all for free. Now, the independent lead manufacturer has added five new institutions to the portfolio of colleges they support across
Manchester based Nikal Group has welcomed Darren Jones, previously Managing Director of Himor Group and Director of Economic Development at Oldham Council, as Development Director. “We are delighted that Darren has joined us. He brings to the team 30 years’ of private and public sector experience in regeneration, development and
The prestigious international Partnership Awards that took place at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel, London, named the Dalbeattie Learning Campus, an ‘all through’ campus consisting of nursery, primary and secondary education set in an innovative landscaped setting, the ‘Best Social Infrastructure’ project. Delivered for Dumfries and Galloway Council in a
Haley Sharpe Design, a design agency based in Leicester, has led the final stage in the regeneration project of the iconic Gateway Arch and the surrounding National Park in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. It is working on a new museum situated at the base of the monument, which, upon its
Fletcher Longstaff Limited, the residential conveyancing and property law firm, is investing in Lexis Visualfiles, legal workflow and case management solution, to drive profitability. By streamlining and automating business processes, the firm will achieve time savings and efficiency gains that will improve productivity and enable the business to easily scale
More and more companies are looking for ways to use connected devices to improve field service and George Walker, managing director of field service management software provider Novotek UK and Ireland, explains how the Internet of Things (IoT) is changing field service. Field service management has traditionally been responsible for
A recent poll conducted in the lead up to Smart Home Week (21st – 27th of May) by the UK’s largest online supplier of ironmongery, IronmongeryDirect, showed that despite the rise in popularity of smart home products, many tradespeople are still unprepared for the increasing customer demand. Nowadays, nearly 30%
Construction company Pave Aways handed over, between April 2017 and April 2018, projects worth more than £15 million to private schools, universities, colleges and local education authorities in England and Wales. During the previous financial year, the company worked on education schemes worth £12.6 million. Oswestry-based contractor carried out refurbishment
The prestigious Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards has announced Glenwood School as the winner in the Community Benefit category. The Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Benfleet, Essex was recognised for addressing the needs of SEN school places and community facilities in the local area at the RICS
The new £6 million exhibition and visitor centre at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, west London, which opened in March last year, has won a prestigious industry award. The Hillingdon Council-owned building won the Best Public Service Building accolade at the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Awards for the London region, going forward for the national final in November. The building is visually stunning and its design embraces the central themes of flight and planes. The judges were impressed with its interesting shape, saying that it pays fitting tribute to the RAF on its 100th anniversary. After becoming custodians of the Battle of Britain Bunker in 2016, taking over responsibility from the Ministry of Defence, Hillingdon Council secured £1 million in government funding to carry out essential repairs. It also invested £6 million itself in the new Exhibition and Visitor Centre, to recognise this important part of the borough’s heritage. “The council is extremely pleased to have won this accolade and be shortlisted once again for a national LABC Award. The Battle of Britain Bunker Exhibition and Visitor Centre is an amazing building in both design and content, and it has been a real achievement to see it open in just two years after taking over responsibility for it from the Ministry of Defence,” said Cllr Ray Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council. “We wanted to ensure this national heritage site remains open for generations to come to visit and learn about the bunker’s pivotal role in the Second World War. Judging from the comments we’ve received so far, it’s proving popular with residents and visitors alike,” he continued. At the awards, the exhibition and visitor centre beat 11 other shortlisted buildings, which included Great Ormond Street Hospital Phase 2B, The Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre in Romford and the United States of America Embassy. In total, Hillingdon Council was shortlisted in three categories: best builder, best extension, and best new individual home (which it also won).
As part of their continuous support towards the training and development of future roofers, Midland Lead has been supplying thousands of pounds of raw materials and tools to colleges, all for free. Now, the independent lead manufacturer has added five new institutions to the portfolio of colleges they support across the country. Over the last six year, Midland Lead has built a successful rapport with Leeds College of Building (LCB) and realised it was time to create more relationships. As of March, the company has committed to supporting six colleges across the country, including Leeds College of Building, Newcastle College, South Devon College, Eastern Region Roof Training Group, Dudley College and the South Coast Roof Training Group. Midland Lead will be supplying colleges with up to a metric tonne of rolled lead, at the current market value of £2,200. On top of that, the company provides lead working tools, tool belts and other ancillary products, such as sealant and patination oil, all free of charge. “Without the support we receive from Midland Lead our apprentice students wouldn’t be able to work with lead itself,” said Chris Messenger, tutor at LCB. To keep costs at a minimum, many colleges tend to use plastic alternative-lead products, but this has its downsides. “It is only by using the actual material that apprentices can learn best practice when it comes to working with lead itself,” added Chris. Moreover, at the end of the term, Midland Lead collects and recycles the lead that has been used, making sure that nothing goes to waste. Since its successful relationship with LCB, the manufacturer has been welcoming student groups to their site for factory tours; an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about the various processes behind lead manufacture. “As a national supplier of lead it is vital that companies like Midland Lead are doing their bit to bridge the skills gap and help the construction industry as a whole. Making these links between companies and institutions helps to do just that. As the future buyers of construction materials, forming relationships with the prospective workforce, and making them aware of lead as a sustainable and durable product, is so worthwhile for the future of our trade,” concluded Lynn Street, marketing and sales manager, as well as the person behind the initiative since the start of the year.
Manchester based Nikal Group has welcomed Darren Jones, previously Managing Director of Himor Group and Director of Economic Development at Oldham Council, as Development Director. “We are delighted that Darren has joined us. He brings to the team 30 years’ of private and public sector experience in regeneration, development and management. He will provide strategic advice, help deliver complex brownfield projects where we work in partnership with landowners, Local Planning Authorities and community groups across the UK and help us focus on expanding the activities of our home builder brand, Hillcrest Homes,” said Nick Payne, Nikal co-founder and Managing Director. Darren Jones managed a number of public and private joint ventures, capital programmes, residential developments, asset, FM, marketing and sales functions, as part of his role within Oldham Council. He also implemented and delivered the Town’s strategic investment framework, its regeneration strategy and major placemaking projects, including the award winning Old Town Hall and The Independent Quarter. Moreover, Jones ran his own development company, called Reflect Developments, for five years and spent 18 successful years at Orbit Developments. Talking about his new role, Jones said: “I have known Nick for 35 years and greatly admired the achievements of the Nikal Group so was delighted when he asked me to come on board. I look forward to working closely with Nick and the Nikal and Hillcrest Homes teams to deliver some fantastic new projects.” The Nikal Group is a dynamic and progressive force within the property industry that specialises in both the imaginative redevelopment and regeneration of strategic sites across the UK, such as Masshouse in Birmingham and Altair in Altrincham. Within the group is leading luxury homebuilder Hillcrest Homes which recently expanded into the Ribble Valley with a development of 30 new homes in Hurst Green, near Whalley.
The prestigious international Partnership Awards that took place at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel, London, named the Dalbeattie Learning Campus, an ‘all through’ campus consisting of nursery, primary and secondary education set in an innovative landscaped setting, the ‘Best Social Infrastructure’ project. Delivered for Dumfries and Galloway Council in a collaborative partnership approach with hub South West, the learning campus features multiple ‘learning bases’ that provide flexible and functional spaces aimed at a focus on lifelong learning and vocational qualifications, as well as traditional school subjects. “This has been a fantastic evening, and a just recognition of the work hub South West, GRAHAM and Dumfries and Galloway Council have put into the Dalbeattie Campus, as well as a clear indicator of what can be achieved in partnership,” said Michael McBrearty, Chief Executive of hub South West. Valued at £24 million, the project saw 58% of all sub-contracting work packages going to local businesses as part of hub South West’s commitment to ensuring that local construction projects support businesses and employees within local communities. As part of the project’s additional development benefits 13 delegates were upskilled, 2 graduates were recruited, 9 N and SVQ completions for subcontractors were achieved, and 17 work placements were secured. “Providing the best start in life for all of our children is a priority for our Council. So, I’m delighted that our Council is being recognised for the excellence of the first of our new learning campuses. Dalbeattie Learning Campus is a first class facility that is appropriate for the 21st century and transforming education in Dalbeattie,” said Councillor Jeff Leaver, chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Children, Young People and Lifelong Learning (CYPLL) committee. The Awards took place on Thursday, 10th of May, and were attended by over 700 people to celebrate the best in Public/Private Partnership (PPP) projects. The Partnership Awards, now in its 20th year, is the largest event in the industry and covers projects across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Haley Sharpe Design, a design agency based in Leicester, has led the final stage in the regeneration project of the iconic Gateway Arch and the surrounding National Park in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. It is working on a new museum situated at the base of the monument, which, upon its opening in July, will mark the completion of the nearly £275 million regeneration project that could offer an urban renewal blueprint for cities across the world. The project has already attracted investment to the area around the Arch, estimated at around £1.45 billion, as well as visitors to St. Louis at a time when the city is building a reputation as the new ‘hipster’ capital of America. The regeneration project was conceived in 2009 and it was funded through local business philanthropy and funds from the public sector. The design competition to redevelop the entire area was won by landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. The new design included the creation of a new park over the highway that connects the city to the Arch and the Arch to the Mississippi River, creating a single, open and easily accessible space. As part of the project, St. Louis’s central riverfront was raised to reduce flooding closures and provide biking and walking connections. “The Arch is iconic and beloved by St. Louisans, however, day to day, it was increasingly less attractive to visitors. People began to gather and use the park almost as soon as the landscaping work was completed, and we are seeing local businesses and leisure operators start to thrive from the increased volume of visitors. By linking the Arch to the city and to the river in a way that is sustainable and accessible, this new project marks a new phase in the development of St. Louis as a great place for everyone,” said Eric Moraczewski, Executive Director of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation. Further development around the Gateway Arch Park has already been plans, with options including a commitment to becoming the first 100% renewable energy national park in the US by 2020.
Fletcher Longstaff Limited, the residential conveyancing and property law firm, is investing in Lexis Visualfiles, legal workflow and case management solution, to drive profitability. By streamlining and automating business processes, the firm will achieve time savings and efficiency gains that will improve productivity and enable the business to easily scale in tune with strategic objectives. The Visualfiles Conveyancing Accelerator provides access to a comprehensive suite of conveyancing workflow, from quotation and instruction through to linked sale and purchase, remortgage and transfer of equity. Fletcher Longstaff will also be able to use the flexible tools within Visualfiles to integrate it in third party applications and enable customisation of their business processes where necessary. Moreover, the Visualfiles Online web portal will provide 24/7 accessibility for clients and work providers via mobile and web. “We are investing in Visualfiles to enable us to stay a step ahead in the game,” said Adam Cheal, Director at Fletcher Longstaff Limited. “We are taking a comprehensive and long-term view for technology adoption. While initially, Visualfiles will help us to get off the ground quickly, the flexibility it gives us to customise the platform and deploy other complementary applications is something no other solution on the market is able to offer. In adopting Visualfiles, we are future-proofing our technology; and over time, as we create our own unique workflows and processes, we will be developing our own IP. For a firm of our size, this would not be possible without a system like Visualfiles.” By using a combination of the Visualfiles Pro2SQL reporting warehouse and Microsoft’s Power BI solution, the firm will be able to provide access to any data within the system, including real-time reports, management insight and key performance indicators to internal and external parties as necessary. “Despite what we hear about the property market in the UK, our business is on an upward trajectory. The business insight that Visualfiles will give us will play a key role in enabling us to grow our competitive advantage,” Adam added.
More and more companies are looking for ways to use connected devices to improve field service and George Walker, managing director of field service management software provider Novotek UK and Ireland, explains how the Internet of Things (IoT) is changing field service. Field service management has traditionally been responsible for activities such as locating fleet vehicles, scheduling maintenance work-orders and dispatching personnel. However, the advent of the IoT means that much of this model is shifting to real-time, predictive maintenance and those companies that adapt their businesses will benefit the most from the resulting competitive advantage. In the next few years, the number of IoT connected devices is set to surge, going from 27 billion in 2017 to 125 billion in 2030. Sensors help engineers to remotely diagnose problems in many instances, as well as help to remotely repair or prevent further damage to equipment. These hardware sensors however, are just the beginning. Better software will make businesses realise the true potential of IoT in field service management. Modern field servicing software needs to go beyond the basics and offer better and wider integration with the company’s inventory, billing and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. For this reason, Novotek partnered up with ServiceMax, the leading vendor in the industry, and became the sole distributor of GE’s ServiceMax field servicing software in the UK and Ireland. It creates solutions for the people who install, maintain and repair machines across dozens of industries, as the leading provider of complete end to end mobile and cloud-based technology. By using this service, you avoid situations where some technicians are overloaded, while others have white space in their schedules. Moreover, a machine on a customer site can send an alert to the service team, warning them of an imminent failure and potential downtime. Technicians can then be proactively dispatched to site with the right parts to carry out urgent repair and mitigate costly downtime. IoT has already drastically changed other sectors of the industrial landscape and is now making waves in the field service management sector. Whether you’re a utility business, a healthcare provider or even a telecoms business, it’s about time you looked at how IoT will change field servicing for you.
A recent poll conducted in the lead up to Smart Home Week (21st – 27th of May) by the UK’s largest online supplier of ironmongery, IronmongeryDirect, showed that despite the rise in popularity of smart home products, many tradespeople are still unprepared for the increasing customer demand. Nowadays, nearly 30% of UK homeowners own at least one smart home product and the sales are expected to more than double this year. A previous national research showed that almost 90% of tradespeople are not confident when advising customers on smart products. Only one in ten said they felt ‘very confident’ when it comes to offering guidance on smart products. “Smart products are redefining the way that a property functions, and there is a clear need for tradespeople to keep abreast of the developments involving smart technology. With basic burglar alarms now enhanced to monitor, control and interact with a home or business premises from a smartphone or tablet, we are just at the beginning of this smart tech revolution,” said Wayne Lysaght-Mason, Managing Director of IronmongeryDirect. “There is still a demand for traditional products, but these new smart alternatives should not be ignored. There are some fantastic products on the market, whether you want to specialise in security, lighting, heating or household appliances,” he continued. Smart Home Week is now in its second year and it aims to raise the profile of smart home technology and to inform, educate and reassure consumers about the benefits and opportunities of living in a smart, connected way. To help themselves with the ever changing nature of the market, tradespeople can take part in courses in smart technology, offered by training organisations around the UK. AWE Smart Home Academy in Surrey, for example, equips tradespeople with the skills and confidence they need to advise customers on the technology. Its Foundation Workshop is aimed at the less experienced residential smart technology installer and focuses on the fundamentals of custom installation.
Construction company Pave Aways handed over, between April 2017 and April 2018, projects worth more than £15 million to private schools, universities, colleges and local education authorities in England and Wales. During the previous financial year, the company worked on education schemes worth £12.6 million. Oswestry-based contractor carried out refurbishment work for schools in Dolgellau, Wales, for Gwynedd Council and extensions and refurbishments for Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council. It also finished four projects for Concord College near Shrewsbury including extra student accommodation, a new science block and dining hall extension, and the new Agritech Innovation Hub at Harper Adams University. “Our experience in this field has made us the informed choice for many organisations when it comes to major infrastructure projects as our team – from on site to back office staff – understand the issues and constraints of working on projects in this industry and offer the flexible approach to ensure that teaching facilities are maintained,” said managing director Steven Owen about the firm’s success in education. For the 2018-2019 financial year, the future looks promising, with the company already reaching more than £3.9 million on projects at Severndale Academy in Shrewsbury, work for Shropshire Council at Stoke on Tern, Long Mountain Primary and Shifnal Primary Schools, an extension and remodelling work for Tarporley C of E Primary in Cheshire and redevelopment of Castle Block, the former science building, at Concord College. “Since 2007, we have completed 19 projects worth £19.8 million at Concord College near Shrewsbury. We also have an historic relationship with Harper Adams University near Newport where we have completed 20 builds since 2006 worth £20.1 million,” said Steven. “We pride ourselves on creating long-term relationships with our clients by offering a local solution, combined with the highest standard of construction and exemplary after service.” Pave Aways carries out construction work across a range of sectors including industrial, healthcare, residential, retail and commercial.
The prestigious Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards has announced Glenwood School as the winner in the Community Benefit category. The Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Benfleet, Essex was recognised for addressing the needs of SEN school places and community facilities in the local area at the RICS East of England Awards, which recognises outstanding developments in the region. The £15 million scheme was commissioned by Essex County Council through its own construction framework utilising leading property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard for project and cost management services, with design and build expertise being provided by construction firm Morgan Sindall. “We’re delighted that Glenwood has won this incredibly prestigious award,” said Gary Buick, director at Pick Everard. “This project was delivered to address a chronic shortage of SEN school places in Essex, and the team worked closely with the school to ensure that the design met the needs of the pupils and fitted the ethos of the school.” The new state-of-the-art building includes 26 classrooms and facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool, swing therapy rooms and a trampoline room to help promote body awareness, sequencing, postural control and organisation of the senses. “Glenwood School provides the very best support and learning opportunities for children and young adults with special educational needs. The new state-of-the-art facilities will provide a secure and exciting learning space for pupils,” said Gary. “The new building also provides much-needed lettable space for community groups that require accessible facilities including hall spaces, a swimming pool, playing fields and a multi-use games area.” Councillor Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, named Glenwood School as the perfect example of the investment offered by the council in special school places. “We are committed to ensuring all pupils receive the best possible education and work hard to ensure this is within an environment that meets their individual needs,” he said. The RICS Awards were held on Friday, the 11th of May, and are the premier property and construction awards in the country, honouring the most innovative projects in the region and their impact on local communities.