50 apprentices are beginning careers at Costain across its infrastructure projects Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, is welcoming a record number of apprentices in 2026 to support its delivery of critical national infrastructure across the UK. Costain is onboarding 50 apprentices this year, doubling last year’s intake in response to
Every time a torch lights on a British site, paperwork starts. A Hot Work Permit, a safety briefing, a marked-out zone, and at least an hour of continuous fire watch after the work stops. None of this is box-ticking: insurance cover for most large contractors is tied directly to compliance.
Project Four Building Safety Experts has joined the Vadella Group as the business enters its next phase of growth, building on a strong track record of supporting clients through the Building Safety Act and Gateway 2 process. The Northwest headquartered consultancy has taken more than 10,000 homes through Gateway 2,
Planning permission has officially been approved for a transformative £41.8 million redevelopment project at Ewenny Road, Maesteg, bringing 192 new homes to a prominent brownfield site that has stood vacant for over 12 years. The project is being delivered by Sylfaen, the commercially driven development subsidiary of Bridgend-based housing association
Located between Lostock Hall and Leyland within the Lancashire green belt, the new Lancashire Cricket Club AO Farington Cricket Ground Pavilion has been designed to become one of the UK’s leading cricket facilities. Designed and developed as a state-of-the-art second ground for Lancashire Cricket Club, the facility will support professional
Public sector procurement specialist SCAPE has published the Tender Notice for its next generation SCAPE Construction Works and Services Framework, covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The framework offers a fully compliant, actively managed procurement route for public sector organisations, maximising value through the creation of long-term strategic partnerships. The
Doka is further enhancing its position as a leader in transparent sustainability data for the construction industry. The global formwork and scaffolding specialist is expanding Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) to more than 9,000 products. By increasing the dataset, Doka is removing a major barrier to transparent, evidence-based decision-making across the
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson,has bolstered its team with the appointment of Glenn Slater as Business Development Manager. Glenn joins G F Tomlinson with 31 years’ experience in business development within the construction industry, with a focus on Public Sector Frameworks, and his primary focus will be to drive new
HS2 is launching a new fast-track training programme to help unemployed West Midlands residents secure a construction apprenticeship on Britain’s new railway. The programme is being led by HS2’s West Midlands construction partners, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) – who are delivering the 90km section of the railway between Warwickshire, Birmingham
From Passivhaus to working at height; roofing to insulation; fire safety to solar integration, the new Building Envelope Stage at UK Construction Week Birmingham will offer visitors a practical and technical focus on the systems and materials that determine a building’s performance, safety, durability and energy efficiency. Bringing together contractors,
50 apprentices are beginning careers at Costain across its infrastructure projects Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, is welcoming a record number of apprentices in 2026 to support its delivery of critical national infrastructure across the UK. Costain is onboarding 50 apprentices this year, doubling last year’s intake in response to growth in its volume of long-term infrastructure projects and commitment to building a growing pipeline of talent, offering them rewarding and fulfilling long-term careers. The hiring activity is taking place across all of Costain’s infrastructure sectors, which include road, rail, integrated transport, energy, water, and defence and nuclear energy, and in a variety of disciplines, such as civil engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, quantity surveying, finance and project management. Costain offers all levels of apprenticeship in the UK, including degree-level, and each apprentice will ‘earn and learn’, completing a programme of training which lasts from 12–60 months, depending on the level of study. Costain also recruits for graduates, internships and university placements across its sectors and has a Graduates and Apprentices (GRaAPS) network to support professional development. Costain’s apprentices will join some of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects. These include delivering the London tunnels section of HS2 as part of the Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture, strategic water infrastructure through long-term AMP8 frameworks with Southern Water and United Utilities, and critical utilities infrastructure upgrades for Sellafield. More details on Costain’s planned early careers and apprenticeship intake for 2027 and how to apply will be released in November. Catherine Duffy, Chief People and Sustainability Officer at Costain, said: “I’m extremely proud to be welcoming a record number of apprentices into Costain. The industry requires more skilled workers than ever to deliver critical infrastructure for a more prosperous, resilient and decarbonised UK, which makes it a hugely exciting time to enter the sector. “Our apprentice programme underscores our commitment to offering vocational routes into employment. It is designed to help apprentices earn while they learn and gain qualifications with real-world experience to help them build a meaningful, long-term career.” Ella Williams, Apprentice Project Controls Engineer and member of the GRaAPS network at Costain, said: “It’s hugely exciting to be part of a growing group of like-minded, ambitious early careers professionals. Throughout my apprenticeship at Costain I have been fortunate enough to work on complex infrastructure projects which have given opportunities to learn, develop and apply myself in a collaborative, stimulating environment.” Apprentice intake at Sellafield to support skills development and regional prosperity Costain’s apprentices hired to work at Sellafield’s west Cumbria site will gain experience in complex infrastructure works through roles in engineering, project controls and health and safety. They will support the delivery of services through the Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP), where Costain is providing critical utilities upgrades under a minimum nine-year contract worth up to £1bn. The hiring activity by Costain has been informed by detailed analysis of where skills gaps have historically existed in the region and supports Sellafield’s commitment to create a thriving and sustainable local community. This involves developing a skilled labour pool, which local businesses can also access, providing opportunities for early careers professionals and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds across Cumbria. The activity also means that Costain is exceeding a commitment for apprentices to comprise 10% of its workforce for IDP. Claire Gallery-Strong, Project Director at Costain, said: “Together with Sellafield and our IDP partners, we’re committed to offering high-skilled learning and development opportunities for young people in Cumbria and the wider region, supporting a more prosperous, thriving local community and growing the pool of home-grown talent. We’re welcoming a fantastic group who will be delivering against the identified skills gaps and be provided with a range of experiences and guidance from senior colleagues to set them up for success.” Darcy Williamson, Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Apprentice at Costain who has recently joined the IDP programme, said: “Joining Costain as an apprentice has already been a hugely positive experience. I’ve been made to feel incredibly welcome and as I build my career in SHE, I’m excited to learn from my team, develop my skillset and make the most of the opportunities across Costain and IDP.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Every time a torch lights on a British site, paperwork starts. A Hot Work Permit, a safety briefing, a marked-out zone, and at least an hour of continuous fire watch after the work stops. None of this is box-ticking: insurance cover for most large contractors is tied directly to compliance. The trade has spent the last decade moving away from open flame wherever it can, and press-fit technology is one of the clearest drivers of the shift. Understanding ‘Hot Works’ and Their Inherent Risks Hot work covers any task that involves open flame, heat or sparks. Welding, cutting, soldering, grinding and torch-applied roofing all fall under that heading. On site, any such activity normally needs a Hot Work Permit. It’s issued by an authorised person before the shift begins and sets out the location, the cleared zone, the extinguishers on hand and the named fire watch. The regulatory backdrop has several layers. HSE’s HSG168 (third edition) expects designers to consider flameless alternatives at the planning stage, alongside CDM 2015. The Joint Code of Practice (JCoP, tenth edition), drawn up by the FPA and RISCAuthority with insurer backing, applies to projects valued at £2.5m and up. It requires at least an hour of continuous fire watch after work stops, with checks every twenty minutes for the next hour and up to three hours on higher-risk jobs. The numbers explain the strictness. CE Safety, drawing on ONS data, recorded 381 hot-work fires in England across 2023/24 and 2024/25, with welding and cutting accounting for 85%. The most damaging recent case struck Selsey Academy in West Sussex in 2016: losses near £20m, ignition traced to a gas torch during roof repairs. Figures like these underpin the case for flame-free systems such as press fit fittings, where joints go together without a torch or a permit. The Industry Shift Toward Flameless Construction Technologies HSG168 puts it plainly: design hot work out wherever you can. If you can’t, look at flameless alternatives first. NFRC carries the same principle into roofing through its Safe2Torch initiative. The reasoning is practical. Every job done without an open flame saves a permit, a fire watch, an insurance exposure and downtime on site. Flameless covers a family of methods, not one technology: For internal plumbing and heating, press-fit is now the de facto standard on commercial sites and is spreading fast into residential work. How Press Fit Fittings Revolutionised Pipe Installations The story begins in 1963. Swedish engineer Gunnar Larsson introduced the first range of pressfittings for copper, steel and stainless tubing, alongside the hydraulic press tool. Mannesmann AG ran the system until 2004 when the business passed to Geberit. The contour seal, brought in around the turn of the millennium, was the turning point. It took press-fit into the mainstream British market and bedded it into the trade. Large commercial contractors took it up first, but the picture has shifted sharply over the last ten to fifteen years. Sole traders and small crews are investing in press tools because the payback on two or three big jobs is obvious. Today’s choice is broad: Geberit Mapress, Viega Profipress, Conex B Press, alongside M-Profile own-label ranges from UK distributors. Sourcing for a specific job (potable water, gas, heating) goes through specialist trade suppliers, and on most tasks M-Profile covers the full 15mm to 108mm range. Time and Cost Efficiency in Modern Projects Speed comes up first in nearly every conversation. Manufacturers and trade publications cite 50 to 80% time savings against soldered joints. Viega quotes a single connection in “under twenty seconds” and an 80% cut in installation time across a full system. On site the gap is often wider. On the Trade Legends podcast, Rothenberger UK’s spokesperson described jobs that used to take two or three days wrapping up in three hours. Speed isn’t the only saving. A pressed joint takes pressure immediately, with no cooling-down period eating minutes off every connection. Consumables drop out too: flux, solder, cleaner and tape are no longer needed. Assemblies can be prefabricated on or off site, and pressure tests can run with water already in the lines, which suits retrofit work. The biggest operational shift comes back to fire safety. No open flame, no permit, no fire watch, no breach of insurance terms, no stoppages while a fire officer inspects the job. The evolution of safer construction comes down to more than one technology. But the move from soldering to pressing is one of its clearest chapters. Less paperwork, less risk, more output per shift.
Project Four Building Safety Experts has joined the Vadella Group as the business enters its next phase of growth, building on a strong track record of supporting clients through the Building Safety Act and Gateway 2 process. The Northwest headquartered consultancy has taken more than 10,000 homes through Gateway 2, with over 30 schemes already securing approval and a live Gateway 2 portfolio of more than 14,000 units nationally. The projects span some of the North West’s most significant residential and mixed-use developments, with P4 supporting developers, contractors and wider project teams through the increasingly complex Building Safety regime. For Project Four, the partnership with Vadella is about building on that momentum rather than changing direction. Max Meadows, Managing Director at Project Four, said: “We’ve built Project Four around one simple idea – good people, good technical advice and getting the job done properly. “The Building Safety Act has changed the way the industry has to approach projects, and Gateway 2 has raised the bar again. We’ve been right in the middle of that, working with some of the region’s biggest development teams and helping them navigate what is still a relatively new and challenging process. “We’ve got a strong business, a great team and a lot of opportunity in front of us. Vadella gives us the investment and additional capability to build on that rather than take our foot off the gas. “We’re still Project Four. The people, the clients and the way we work remain at the heart of the business. This is about building the next phase properly.” Project Four’s Gateway 2 work includes major schemes across Manchester and Leeds, ranging from developments of hundreds of homes to large-scale projects, with its wider portfolio collectively covering more than 14,000 units. Its experience includes work with leading developers and contractors across the residential, build-to-rent and student accommodation sectors. Alan Robson, Chairman, said: “We’ve always wanted Project Four to be bigger and better without losing what made it successful in the first place. “The business has grown quickly, and the Building Safety market is only becoming more important. We’ve reached a point where the right partner can help us take the next step while giving the team more opportunity to develop and the business more capability to invest. “Vadella felt like the right fit. They understand what we’re trying to build and, importantly, they understand that Project Four has its own identity, its own culture and its own way of doing things.” James Knight, Group CEO of Vadella, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the Project Four team to Vadella. Their Building Safety Act and Principal Accountable Person expertise is a fantastic addition to the Group. Project Four’s track record with some of the UK’s leading contractors and developers makes them a natural fit alongside the compliance specialisms our clients already rely on us for.” The partnership will support further investment in Project Four’s people, systems and technical capability, while creating opportunities to collaborate across the wider Vadella Group. Project Four will continue to operate under its existing brand and leadership, with Max Meadows continuing as Managing Director. Its existing services, client relationships and projects will continue as normal. The business will also continue to develop its wider Building Safety offer, including Gateway 2, Building Safety consultancy, Principal Designer services, Principal Accountable Person and Safety Case support, CDM and Principal Contractor Support. Max added: “There is a lot of talk about Building Safety at the moment. For us, this isn’t a new market we’ve suddenly decided to enter – it’s what we’ve been doing every day for years. “The opportunity now is to take what we’ve learned, keep developing our people and help more clients get their projects through the process safely and properly. “That’s the bit we’re excited about.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning permission has officially been approved for a transformative £41.8 million redevelopment project at Ewenny Road, Maesteg, bringing 192 new homes to a prominent brownfield site that has stood vacant for over 12 years. The project is being delivered by Sylfaen, the commercially driven development subsidiary of Bridgend-based housing association Valleys to Coast, in partnership with housebuilders Tai Derw Developments Ltd, an Edenstone Group company. The site was prepared for development following £3.5 million in remediation funding from Bridgend County Borough Council and the Cardiff Capital Region. Located adjacent to the Oakwood Estate and a short walk from Ewenny Road railway station, the landmark development represents Sylfaen’s first scheme to date and a major milestone in meeting local housing demand across Bridgend. Designed to create a diverse and thriving neighborhood, the mixed-tenure community will comprise 192 homes tailored to various needs, including 35 homes for social rent, 19 affordable rent homes, 54 shared ownership properties and 84 homes for open-market sale. Future residents will also be able to enjoy a community garden, public open spaces, and a fully equipped children’s play area on-site. The scheme will deliver substantial community benefits through a contribution of more than £100,000 to support local initiatives. Revenue generated from the open-market sales will be reinvested to help strengthen Valleys to Coast’s ongoing investment in delivering and maintaining social homes across South Wales. Work on-site is scheduled to commence in October 2026, with the first homes expected to be ready by April 2027. Phased construction will continue through to target completion in 2031. James Griffiths, Managing Director of Sylfaen, said: “For more than a decade, this site has stood empty, but soon it will be a vibrant, thriving neighborhood. By offering a true mix of social rent, affordable ownership, and open market sale properties, we are creating opportunity and meeting a range of local housing needs. “Our goal is to build communities where people can grow, work and belong and we look forward to working closely with key partners and local residents as we turn this long-awaited vision into reality.” As part of its commitment to involving the local community early in the process, Sylfaen is establishing an on-site Community Cabin. The space will act as a base for the development team to answer questions from neighbors and will provide a venue for local councillors to hold surgeries with constituents. Sylfaen is also inviting local residents and customers to help shape the identity of the site by submitting naming suggestions for the development, its six new streets, and its eight house types, honoring the rich industrial heritage of the former Revlon factory. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Located between Lostock Hall and Leyland within the Lancashire green belt, the new Lancashire Cricket Club AO Farington Cricket Ground Pavilion has been designed to become one of the UK’s leading cricket facilities. Designed and developed as a state-of-the-art second ground for Lancashire Cricket Club, the facility will support professional cricket alongside more than 750 hours of community use each year. The impressive development includes two full-size cricket ovals, 36 pitches, a central viewing pavilion with a 5,000-spectator capacity, changing rooms, and fitness facilities. The club also hopes the new venue will host men’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup fixtures and become a Women’s Centre for Excellence for the North-West. Designed by BDP and built by main contractor Eric Wright Construction, the Pavilion’s striking triangular form was driven by the need to provide uninterrupted views across both cricket pitches. Large, cantilevered canopies and an efficient triangular roof structure enabled long open spans and the creation of a highly flexible, multi-functional internal space with spectacular panoramic views. Set within a sensitive landscaped green belt environment, the project demanded a low-impact, durable roofing solution capable of delivering long-term waterproofing performance while supporting the building’s ambitious architectural design. To meet these requirements, a comprehensive Sika roofing specification was selected, centred around the high-performance SikaShield® reinforced bituminous membrane system. Installed by roofing contractors, AMS Cladding Ltd, the roofing build-up included SikaRoof® Primer-610 Spray, chosen for its quick and easy application properties and its ability to improve adhesion of air and vapour control layers and self-adhering membranes. The waterproofing system incorporated SikaShield® E74 PE SA 3 mm underlay and SikaShield® HB79 Tex 4 mm capsheet membranes, delivering exceptional durability, flexibility, and long-term weather resistance. Within Safe2Torch exclusion zones, SikaShield® E79 MG SA 4 mm was specified to provide a flame-free application solution, helping to enhance safety during installation. SikaShield® membranes combine polymer-modified bituminous compounds with reinforced layers and protective surface finishes to create a robust waterproofing system capable of withstanding long-term environmental exposure, including UV degradation and harsh weather conditions. The system also offers excellent flexibility at low temperatures and strong adhesion between layers. To enhance thermal performance, Sikatherm® EPS 200 031 RJ1 insulation was installed. This high-performance rigid expanded polystyrene insulation board provides excellent thermal efficiency while protecting the waterproofing system with minimal water absorption. A SikaRoof® EPS Filter Layer was also incorporated to minimise cold rainwater flow beneath the insulation and reduce the migration of fines and debris from upper roofing layers. The completed roof was finished with a stone ballast surface, complementing the Pavilion’s architectural design while contributing to the overall durability of the roofing system. The AO Farington Cricket Ground Pavilion now provides Lancashire Cricket Club with a modern, sustainable and architecturally distinctive venue that supports high-performance cricket, community engagement, and the long-term future of the sport across the North-West For more information about the AO Farington Cricket Ground Pavilion project visit: http://spkl.io/60417OQg3 Client: Lancashire Cricket ClubRoofing Contractor: AMS Cladding LtdProduct Used: SikaShield®Project Size: 1,186m Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Public sector procurement specialist SCAPE has published the Tender Notice for its next generation SCAPE Construction Works and Services Framework, covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The framework offers a fully compliant, actively managed procurement route for public sector organisations, maximising value through the creation of long-term strategic partnerships. The framework has a total capacity of £8 billion over a four-year period. Fully aligned with the Procurement Act 2023, it is expected to run between 2027 and 2031, with the option of a two-year extension. Following extensive pre-market engagement with public sector bodies, alongside more than 100 organisations from the construction industry, the next generation framework has strategically evolved in response to client and industry feedback and to reflect the changing needs of the public sector. Providing an accelerated route to market, it will support organisations ranging from local authorities and blue light to housing associations and universities to deliver a range of cross-sectoral projects. These include new build, refurbishment, retrofit and long-term programmes of work. The framework’s five lots are designed to deliver on precise client requirements, allowing for the development of enduring strategic partnerships between the public sector and contractors. A competitive selection process will allow clients to ask project-specific questions based on their bespoke needs. To provide greater choice, the framework will appoint three delivery partners per lot in response to market feedback. The five lots are as follows: The re-procurement builds on the strong performance of the current SCAPE Construction Framework, which has supported over 240 completed projects and 100 live projects. The announcement closely follows the procurement of SCAPE’s £8.5 billion standalone Defence and Complex Environments Framework in August 2026, which was launched following the construction framework’s consultation process. The market engagement indicated strong demand for a dedicated solution focused specifically on defence and complex environments. All 11 of SCAPE’s current frameworks have achieved Gold Standard verification, reflecting its commitment to collaborative working practices, robust governance and continuous improvement that leads to consistent, high-quality outcomes. SCAPE framework delivery partners are actively managed, audited and performance monitored against the framework agreement, driving continuous improvement and providing clients greater confidence in project delivery. Craig Murphy, Director of Frameworks at SCAPE, said: “Informed by extensive market engagement with both contractors and public sector organisations, SCAPE’s Construction Works and Services Framework responds to an evolved legislative environment alongside demand for greater choice and flexibility over delivery partners. “Building on the success of our current framework – which has successfully delivered hundreds of often high-profile public sector projects over the last few years – its next generation successor offers no less than five sector-specific lots designed to meet client requirements. Through an actively managed service, the framework aims to deliver exceptional project outcomes across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Doka is further enhancing its position as a leader in transparent sustainability data for the construction industry. The global formwork and scaffolding specialist is expanding Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) to more than 9,000 products. By increasing the dataset, Doka is removing a major barrier to transparent, evidence-based decision-making across the construction supply chain. The expansion forms part of Doka’s wider sustainability ‘mindset’, embedded across its long-term strategy. Julia Weber, Head of Sustainability at Doka, said: “Expanding our Product Carbon Footprint data to more than 9,000 products creates even greater transparency throughout the entire construction process. Reliable emissions data helps our customers better understand the CO₂ impact of their projects, make informed procurement decisions, and effectively support their own climate targets.” The construction industry is a major contributor to the UK’s carbon footprint. According to the UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee report, the built environment accounts for circa 25% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Wider adoption of initiatives such as PCF data will be crucial to the UK meeting its net zero goal. Expanding sustainable strategy A product carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by a single item throughout its entire life cycle – from cradle-to-grave. Doka’s expansion of its PCF dataset is its sustainability strategy’s latest landmark achievement. In December 2024, it became the first formwork company worldwide to commit to the Science Based Targets initiative – the global benchmark for net zero, aligning annual emissions-reduction targets with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. Doka is progressing its ambitious 2040 net zero target while committing to reducing its Scope 1, 2 and 3 CO₂ emissions by 42% by 2030. This is alongside the company’s continued investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable logistics across its own operations. Julia Weber continued: “Expanding our Product Carbon Footprint data is a natural extension of our sustainability mindset, not a standalone milestone. It reflects how we operate as a business — absorbing sustainability into every part of our operations as we work towards net zero.” For more information on Doka projects and services, click here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson,has bolstered its team with the appointment of Glenn Slater as Business Development Manager. Glenn joins G F Tomlinson with 31 years’ experience in business development within the construction industry, with a focus on Public Sector Frameworks, and his primary focus will be to drive new business generation and growth for the construction firm across the Midlands and South Yorkshire, while promoting Public Sector Frameworks. He will support Head of Business Development, Les Needham, and will nurture new and existing client relationships, as well as supporting other teams across the business. A committee member for the Forum for the Build Environment East Midlands, Glenn also holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Marketing and Management and a Cambridge University Institute for Sustainable Leadership certificate in Business and Climate Change: Towards Net Zero Emissions. On his new position and joining G F Tomlinson, Glenn said: “I have always thoroughly enjoyed working with construction businesses to positively contribute to their growth and development. I am pleased to be given the opportunity to continue this passion with G F Tomlinson working alongside Les Needham and building our presence across the Midlands and South Yorkshire. “I’m looking forward to using my decades of experience in this industry to bring a fresh perspective to a long-established business, contributing to the company’s ongoing success.” Andy Sewards, Chairman at G F Tomlinson, said: “It’s great to have someone of Glenn’s calibre on board. His appointment is pivotal as we embark on the next phase of our company’s growth, and we’re delighted to welcome him to the business development team with Les Needham. Glenn’s invaluable experience and sector knowledge will be key for the whole business, and for driving our initiatives forward.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 is launching a new fast-track training programme to help unemployed West Midlands residents secure a construction apprenticeship on Britain’s new railway. The programme is being led by HS2’s West Midlands construction partners, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) – who are delivering the 90km section of the railway between Warwickshire, Birmingham and Staffordshire, and Mace Dragados – who are building Curzon Street Station. The new initiative builds on the success of BBV’s well established routes into employment programmes. In the West Midlands, 2,273 unemployed local residents have already secured a job on HS2 and 885 have started an apprenticeship. Now, for the first time, the two joint ventures are teaming up to deliver a new six-week general operatives training programme, which will equip participants with the skills and health and safety accreditation they need to start working in construction. Candidates who successfully complete the six-week course, and want to progress their career in construction, will automatically qualify for an interview for an 18-month apprenticeship. Julie Venn Morton, HS2 Ltd’s Senior Skills and Inclusion Manager for the region said: “We work exceptionally hard to ensure that local residents benefit from career opportunities on HS2, and it’s great to see our construction partners working together to create more new entry-level jobs for local people. “A project the size and scale of HS2 offers a unique opportunity to upskill the next generation and we’re proud of our achievements to date, with over 2,000 people starting an apprenticeship and over 5,700 unemployed people starting new careers on the programme.” The six-week general operatives training programme will be delivered at South and City College’s Bordesley Green campus and starts on 28 September. Eight successful candidates will go on to secure an 18-month Level 2 apprenticeship, where they will join the teams delivering the city’s new flagship terminus station. Beatriz Ramos Albert, Communications, Skills & Social Value Lead at Mace Dragados said: “Collaboration is essential to maximising the social value we create through HS2, and this programme is a great example of what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared ambition. We are delighted to be partnering with Balfour Beatty VINCI and are grateful for the expertise and best practice they are bringing to this programme. “As construction of Curzon Street Station progresses, we continue to create opportunities across our city centre project and supply chain, and initiatives like this help to ensure those opportunities are accessible to local residents”. Four candidates will progress onto a Level 2 apprenticeship with BBV, where they will join the teams constructing the railway as it travels through Solihull and Warwickshire. Kam Hundal, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Skills, Employment and Education Business Partner said: “We’re creating more new apprenticeship opportunities for local people who are currently out of work, as part of our on-going commitment to leave a lasting skills legacy in the West Midlands. “Candidates who successfully complete a six-week training programme are guaranteed an interview for these entry-level roles. Along the way, we’ll equip them with the skills and health and safety accreditation they need to start working in construction.” West Midlands residents who are interested in joining the programme should register their interest with their local Jobcentre Plus. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
From Passivhaus to working at height; roofing to insulation; fire safety to solar integration, the new Building Envelope Stage at UK Construction Week Birmingham will offer visitors a practical and technical focus on the systems and materials that determine a building’s performance, safety, durability and energy efficiency. Bringing together contractors, manufacturers, specifiers and installers, the programme will explore the latest developments in roofing, cladding, insulation, facades and waterproofing, alongside key issues such as fire safety, regulation, retrofit and net zero delivery. Partnering with organisations such as the National Retrofit Hub and NFRC, topics covered on the Building Envelope Stage will include: Passivhaus at Scale: Why Major Housebuilders Are Embracing Higher Performance Standards; Healthy Homes: Building Fabric, Ventilation and Occupant Wellbeing; and Roofing for Net Zero: Design, Performance and Whole-Life Value. Stage highlights include: Tuesday 29th September 12.30pm – 1.15pmHealthy Homes: What Really Makes a Building Good for People?Demonstrating best practice, the session will provide evidence-based guidance on delivering homes that are not only energy efficient, but demonstrably better for occupant health and wellbeing.Speakers: Dr Anastasia Mylona (CIBSE), Jade Lewis (Healthy Homes & Buildings Group), Mark Allen (Fortem), Olga Turner Baker (Ekkist) 1.30pm – 2.15pmThe Retrofit Reset: Beyond Grants to Long Term DeliveryGovernment grants have played an important role in kickstarting retrofit, but they won’t deliver the scale or pace of home upgrades the UK needs on their own. What comes next? How do we move beyond short-term funding towards a stable, long-term retrofit market that gives homeowners, landlords, local authorities and industry the confidence to invest?Speakers: Carl Bairstow (Efficiency North), Rachael Owens (National Retrofit Hub), Sarah Louise Fletcher (Leeds Beckett University) Wednesday 30th September 2.30pm – 3.15pmRight First Time: The Future of Membrane SuitabilityApproved Document B, Awaab’s Law and the Future Homes Standard are converging on the roof. As fire safety rules tighten, repair timeframes shorten, and solar PV goes mainstream, membrane suitability is a critical compliance consideration. This panel cuts through the noise to ask what “suitable” will mean going forward, and how the sector can get it ‘right first time’.Speakers: Adrian Howe (Stormforce Roofing), Matthew Sexton (BMI UK & Ireland), Thomas Marshall (Don & Low Ltd) 3.30pm-4.15pmBeyond Sedum: The Next Generation of Green RoofsThis session will explore the technical and practical considerations of designing, specifying and maintaining roofs that respond to local vernaculars, support Biodiversity Net Gain objectives and function as genuine nature-based solutions rather than compliance measures.Speakers: Chris Bridgman (Bridgman & Bridgman and Chair, Green Roof Organisation (GRO), Vice President, European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations and Founder, World Green Roof Day), Keith Hills (Eco Green Group), Luke Rootham (Axter Ltd), Maggie Fennel Wells (The Environment Partnership (TEP) Ltd) Thursday 1st October 10.30am – 11.15amSolar, Storage and Heat Pumps: What New Build and Retrofit Mean for Your BusinessThis session will explore how the Future Homes Standard and the Warm Homes Plan are shaping demand for solar PV, battery storage and heat pumps, and what businesses need to do now to prepare.Speakers: Jason Howlett (Energy Storage Association), Neil Evans (GoodWe), Nigel Banks (Octopus Energy) 12.30pm – 1.15pmNet Zero Transition Planning: Turning Construction Ambition into ActionThis presentation will explore how organisations can build robust transition plans, align with the emerging ISO Net Zero Standard, and integrate carbon reduction into business planning, procurement and project delivery.Speaker: Lucie Shackley (Carbon Trust) Martin Hurn, UKCW Birmingham Editorial Director, commented: ““The Building Envelope Stage reflects a shift we’re seeing across the industry: performance is no longer an abstract ambition, it’s a practical discipline. By bringing contractors, manufacturers, specifiers and installers together, we’re creating a space where real world challenges meet real world solutions. This is where innovation becomes practice, and where the sector moves forward together.” Sponsored by Barbour ABI, Zutec, Wyre, HotelPlanner and Build Warranty, UKCW Birmingham will feature over 250 leading brands; 200 speakers and over 150 hours of CPD accredited seminars across four stages, alongside a series of built-for-purpose sections. Architect, TV presenter and UKCW ambassador, George Clarke will officially open the show and also host the Main Stage discussions on Day One (September 29th). To find out more and to register free for UKCW Birmingham, visit https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/0hcnqiudc1lrv?actioncode=1000 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals