BDC

Search
Linkedin
BDC Magazine
Kenneth Booth
Groundforce Shorco unveils a carbon calculator for temporary works

Groundforce Shorco unveils a carbon calculator for temporary works

Kenneth Booth March 22, 2023

Methodology for calculating carbon is shared by Groundforce Shorco. Specialist shoring supplier Groundforce Shorco has developed a carbon calculator for temporary works and is making it available not just for customers but the shoring industry as a whole. This altruistic offer is part of the Vp plc subsidiary’s commitment to

Read More »
National Association of Shopfitters becomes the latest organisation to sign up to the Construction Industry Collective Voice

National Association of Shopfitters becomes the latest organisation to sign up to the Construction Industry Collective Voice

Kenneth Booth March 22, 2023

The Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) has welcomed another major organisation to its ranks, as the successful collective continues to offer a wealth of practical support and guidance to Scotland’s building sector. The National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) becomes the first new full CICV member of 2023 and the 29th overall,

Read More »
Atkins awarded contract on Ireland’s MetroLink

Atkins awarded contract on Ireland’s MetroLink

Kenneth Booth February 21, 2023

Atkins, a member of the SNC Lavalin Group, has been appointed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to deliver the detailed design for the Advance Works programme for the MetroLink Project, a high capacity, high-frequency metro railway and integrated public transport network connecting the Greater Dublin Area, including Dublin Airport and city

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 346 : Nov 2026

Kenneth Booth

BSI launches an update of the world’s first specification for the decarbonization of buildings and infrastructure

Kenneth Booth April 6, 2023

BSI, in its role as the National Standards Body (NSB), today announces the launch of the revised carbon management standard, PAS 2080:2023, designed to help built environment organizations accelerate progress to a sustainable world by reducing their carbon emissions. The scope of the standard has expanded to accelerate progress with a move from ambition into action on decarbonization, by detailing steps to reduce the carbon footprint of both buildings and infrastructure over the whole lifecycle of an asset. The new standard, developed with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Green Construction Board (GCB), covers everything from the materials to design, construction, and the use of a structure, including demolition and disposal. In addition to demonstrating how to integrate carbon management into decision-making from the earliest origins of projects through to end of life, PAS 2080 is designed to support organizations with reviewing their carbon emissions by encouraging early collaboration between project parties. This involves setting out roles and responsibilities to maintain a low carbon focus throughout. The updated specification includes methods for all organizations involved in a built environment project to understand the impact of their activities on their wider network, revealing interdependencies that could influence and support decarbonization across built environment systems. Anthony Burd, Associate Director and Head of Built Environment at BSI said: “The original standard on carbon management has been well used within the built environment and this update is designed to further empower behavioural change on carbon reduction by helping organizations recognize and respond to the urgency for climate action. “We are delighted to be introducing this specification for the decarbonization of buildings and infrastructure to the built environment sector and would like to thank all those organizations that have been involved. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this will have on accelerating the reduction of carbon emissions, ultimately bringing wider benefit to society.” PAS 2080 has been sponsored by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Green Construction Board (GCB), enabling the standard to be offered free of charge. An updated Guidance document, also published today, offers a range of case studies where the standard has been applied, and provides worked examples to further assist organizations with the application and integration of PAS 2080. Keith Howells, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers , said:  “As civil engineers and technicians, we are at the forefront when tackling global challenges, such as enabling a cleaner, greener, more resilient future in the face of the climate and nature emergency. PAS 2080 sets out a strategic approach to empowering countries, cities and communities to reduce carbon emissions and reach net zero.  “In sponsoring this standard, the ICE wanted to remove financial barriers to organisations accessing this important guidance on how they can build decarbonisation into procurement.  “By implementing the advice set out in PAS 2080, we can inspire behavioural change and accelerate the pace of change as we take a systems-based approach to design, construction and operation of the low-carbon solutions of tomorrow.”  Chris Newsome, Chair of the Infrastructure Working Group, Green Construction Board, said: “This revised PAS 2080 standard recognises the need to consider carbon reduction at a systems level, across the entire built environment sector. “The emphasis on considering climate and environmental resilience within the carbon-management and decision-making process will help the industry better meet the needs of society now and in the future. “PAS 2080 gives organisations and individuals the knowledge required to play their part in responding to the climate emergency.” For further information on PAS 2080, visit: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/standards/pas-2080/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
John F Hunt appoints Simon Wilkinson as new Business Development Director

John F Hunt appoints Simon Wilkinson as new Business Development Director

Kenneth Booth April 4, 2023

In a move to further John F Hunt’s ambition to grow market share in London’s commercial sector, the firm has confirmed Simon Wilkinson will be joining their senior team from the beginning of April.  The appointment follows a string of recent acquisitions including the company’s strategic acquisition last month of RKD, a highly respected engineering consultancy that has an impressive track record in some of London’s most recent high-profile projects. John Hall, Chairman of the Group, commented, “We are seeing a growing demand for specialist contractors, not only to advise and engage in the repurposing of existing buildings but to take on far more substantial and complex packages, ranging from demolition up to and including the entire concrete frame & core. We are growing a highly experienced team to meet that demand and Simon’s depth of knowledge fits perfectly with the Group’s ambitions”. Simon Wilkinson started his career as a surveyor in the late 70’s for John Laing Construction on the final phase of the Barbican Arts Centre. A mid-career change saw him take on a more front-end role with engineering consultants Oscar Faber a few years before their acquisition by AECOM.  Wates Construction then came knocking where he was tasked by the then COO, Dave Smith, to help shift the balance away from the company’s reliance on the public sector. Wilkinson confirmed he will continue to support the Claritas Group in a reduced role to further develop their brand in construction management and traditional contracting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Groundforce Shorco unveils a carbon calculator for temporary works

Groundforce Shorco unveils a carbon calculator for temporary works

Kenneth Booth March 22, 2023

Methodology for calculating carbon is shared by Groundforce Shorco. Specialist shoring supplier Groundforce Shorco has developed a carbon calculator for temporary works and is making it available not just for customers but the shoring industry as a whole. This altruistic offer is part of the Vp plc subsidiary’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2050 and came into effect from March 2023, when it began including embodied carbon estimates, comprising an embodied carbon component and a transport component, on all temporary works designs. Carbon reporting for the design of permanent structures has already been reasonably well adopted by the industry, and embodied carbon databases are now justly established. However, for temporary works, this presented Groundforce Shorco and its customers with a unique challenge. Oliver J. Smith, Head of Engineering Design at Groundforce Shorco, explained that temporary works do not have the same impact as a permanent part of the structure as the products and components are often re-used, so it is already appreciated there is a sustainable element. If the total embodied carbon for a brace or strut was calculated, this would be counted numerous times on each site it visits. But although they are re-used, this does not mean they are zero carbon either. They still need counting, because if they were not being used in such projects, they would likely never have been produced at all. So, Groundforce Shorco has developed a methodology that allows its customers to estimate their ‘share’ of the embodied carbon for what they are hiring, based on how long they hire it for. To do this, the company considers the embodied carbon in its entire fleet, its life expectancy and its average utilisation, to calculate a weekly C02e per unit weight of either steel or aluminium. This can then easily be multiplied by the number of weeks on hire to provide a total embodied C02e which can be combined with the quoted transportation C02e to provide them with a value for use in their project. They then find that for very short duration hires, the bulk of the C02e sits within transport, and as the hire duration increases, more of the impact comes from the product itself. Groundforce Shorco is now making freely available, a detailed technical guide for the calculation, sharing the methodology, the data, the assumptions made, and the reasoning behind it. Oliver J Smith said: “This methodology is free to access for all and we would like to encourage others in the fleet rental and temporary works markets to consider this when establishing methods for C02e calculations. We believe this is a positive step in leading to sustainable improvements within our industry and would welcome an open dialogue to develop this further. “Calculating the carbon footprint of the projects we work on is essential to reducing our impact on our planet. It allows us to make informed decisions about what we will build and how we will build it to meet the pressing need to cut carbon emissions across the world.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
National Association of Shopfitters becomes the latest organisation to sign up to the Construction Industry Collective Voice

National Association of Shopfitters becomes the latest organisation to sign up to the Construction Industry Collective Voice

Kenneth Booth March 22, 2023

The Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) has welcomed another major organisation to its ranks, as the successful collective continues to offer a wealth of practical support and guidance to Scotland’s building sector. The National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) becomes the first new full CICV member of 2023 and the 29th overall, adding its weight to the collective’s existing wealth of experience and influence. Alan Wilson, CICV Chair and Managing Director of electrical trade association SELECT, said: “We are delighted to welcome the NAS, which is a trusted professional representative body with a membership spanning the length and breadth of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. “It is very gratifying that the CICV is still being sought out by organisations within the sector who want to play their part in creating a greener, fairer and more inclusive industry. “The NAS’s decision to join follows our latest initiatives including an open source Best Practice Guide and well-attended webinar, in which our experts provided information and real-life examples of how to enhance the workings of the entire contractual chain.” The NAS was established 104 years ago and, from humble beginnings, now represents a group of tried and tested contractors who work with and for each other. James Filus, Director of the NAS, said: “We are pleased to become part of an organisation which shares our ethos of working collectively in the common interest and we hope to be able to make a significant contribution to the CICV’s activities. “We are keen to bring our ideas to the table and to continue to foster the spirit of co-operation and collaboration which has proved to beneficial to the industry since the CICV was founded in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.” As well as its recent Best Practice Guide, the CICV is once again organising this year’s Green Home Festival, a five-day hybrid event as part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which will focus on topics of interest to both the industry and the general public. The CICV, which changed its name from the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum last year, is now made up of 29 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies. It has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with Scottish Government ministers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
ConSpare launches first white paper focusing on sustainable concrete production at the UK Concrete Show

ConSpare launches first white paper focusing on sustainable concrete production at the UK Concrete Show

Kenneth Booth March 16, 2023

THE UK’s leading concrete batching plant equipment and spare parts supplier, ConSpare, has published its first industry white paper, focusing on the need for a more sustainable concrete production process and the route to getting there.  “Why Sustainability is a Concrete Matter: Reducing Carbon and Cost from Concrete Batching Plant Operations” addresses how inefficiencies in the plant and process lead to wasted materials, unnecessary energy expenditure and increased maintenance interventions – which ultimately result in avoidable carbon and higher operating cost.   Combining commentary from sustainability expert Dr Miles Watkins, client case study testimonials and industry statistics, the new white paper was first launched at the UK Concrete Show by James Bullock, managing director at ConSpare.  James said: “Concrete production currently accounts for 1.5% of the UK’s carbon footprint, and with construction output expected to grow by 42% by 2030 – the challenge of reducing carbon emissions from the concrete production process poses a significant problem for the environment.   “The industry has made great strides in implementing more sustainable solutions. With our expertise in concrete batch plant technology and the production process we want to play our part, complementing the good work already taking place and providing an opportunity to forge a new path.   “If you view the production process through the lens of cutting carbon, targeted investment decisions can be made to ensure that concrete plant operators achieve maximum benefit. This is where our white paper aims to inform and support the industry to make small, seemingly insignificant changes to processes that compound over time into wholesale improvements.”  Dr Miles Watkins, said: “Sustainability is changing society. Sea levels are rising, we have more droughts and heatwaves than in any time in human history, and Arctic ice is on course to disappear in our lifetimes. This is having a massively impactful change and businesses need to understand how society is moving and move with it, or risk getting left behind.  “There has been a considerable effort by our industry to tackle this problem, but we’ve only just begun – we’re about to embark on a journey and everyone will need to throw their hat in the ring and take part. ConSpare is instrumental in providing help to organisations who are struggling to find a solution, and is playing a critical role in helping its customers  achieve their goal of reducing their carbon footprint.”  James concluded: “Ultimately, long-term economic growth should not come at the cost of the planet and this new white paper aims to facilitate discussion in raising awareness of the carbon and cost reduction opportunity our industry has.   “Every batch of concrete should be treated with caution and care, which includes working together to drive as much carbon as possible out of the concrete production process. By working together, we know this can be achieved and look forward to leaving a responsible legacy by making smarter choices today.”  For more information and to download “Why Sustainability is a Concrete Matter: Reducing Carbon and Cost from Concrete Batching Plant Operations” visit www.conspare.com/sustainability    Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Building for the future: new campaign to fill construction roles in South London

Building for the future: new campaign to fill construction roles in South London

Kenneth Booth March 3, 2023

The South London Partnership (SLP) is launching a campaign to find apprentices and tutors to help boost the construction trade across South London, as UK labour vacancies reached a record 48,000 in 2021.  Supported by the Mayor of London, the SLP has created the initiative after research showed the construction industry has a shortage of apprentices and tutors.  Last month the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) released its annual Construction Skills Network (CSN) report which shows that Greater London needs 22,800 extra workers by 2027 – that means an annual recruitment boost of 4,560.  The SLP is a sub-regional collaboration of five London boroughs: Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton. The SLP will work alongside Wandsworth Council, South London businesses and colleges to deliver this campaign.  Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council and Chair of the South London Partnership said:   “South London is a great place to live, but like other parts of London, provision of good quality, affordable and sustainable homes is a priority. Whether this is building new homes or retrofitting existing housing stock, we are predicting an even greater demand on the construction workforce.  “There is a wide range of apprenticeships on offer locally, which give young people a pathway to good quality careers in the industry. And for those further on in their career, tutoring provides a great opportunity to take those years of knowledge and experience and put their skills to use in a different way and help nurture the next generation of the workforce.”  A survey of 1,000 people conducted by UK Construction Week (2022) noted several barriers to young people pursuing a career in the industry. This included it being seen as a ‘dirty job’ (23 per cent), a lack of careers advice (19 per cent), and the sector being seen as male-dominated (15 per cent).   Shakir Kikomeko, 21-years-old, is an apprentice site manager working on one of South London’s biggest projects while studying one day a week at college.   “Most of my friends have gone to university, but I felt it wasn’t for me as I was keen to earn money and get started in a career. Sometimes you can feel unsure about asking questions, but you soon learn that there’s no such thing as a stupid question. When doing an apprenticeship you are surrounded by people that have been in the construction business for 20 or 30 years and there isn’t anything they don’t know.”  A recent study by The Financial Times on behalf of the Association of Colleges found that 85 per cent of colleges across the UK were understaffed for construction courses, with the lack of tutors contributing to a sector-wide shortage of construction workers.  Kevin Williams, 54, worked as a self-employed plumber for 20 years before becoming a lecturer and assessor at South Thames College. Kevin, who himself was an apprentice, said:   “It’s seeing the students grow and learn that really drives me. You can literally see the passion and determination in their faces to learn and succeed.”  For more information email csl@southlondonpartnership.co.uk or visit http://southlondonpartnership.co.uk/skills/mayors-construction-academy-hub/  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Panattoni increases commitment to south coast logistics market with 452,469 sq ft speculative park

Panattoni increases commitment to south coast logistics market with 452,469 sq ft speculative park

Kenneth Booth February 22, 2023

Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has begun speculatively developing a 452,469 sq ft last-mile logistics development at Burgess Hill, 45 miles south of London. Construction at Panattoni Park Burgess Hill follows the granting of planning consent by Mid Sussex District Council at the end of January and reflects Panattoni’s confidence in the strength of the south coast logistics market, where the demand-supply imbalance is acute. Panattoni’s expansion for developments south of London comes following purchases of sites in Crawley and Brighton. Panattoni Park Burgess Hill is located on a 22-acre site, which fronts the A2300 dual carriageway and provides fast access to the A23/M23, Gatwick Airport, Brighton and the wider south coast markets, and is adjacent to facilities occupied by DPD and Roche. Panattoni is intending to speculatively develop 14 units, with planning in place for light industrial, general industrial and warehousing and distribution. The units will be built to a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ and an EPC rating of ‘A’ and will benefit from 15% roof lights, electric charging points for vans and cars and up to 7.5 MVa of available power. David McGougan, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “We are pleased to be bringing forward this first of three southern developments planned for 2024, which will provide 452,469 sq ft of space in 14 units. This scale of construction emphasises our continued commitment to speculative development in key, undersupplied markets. “We start on site in March this year and will have all units completed and ready for occupation in the first quarter of 2024. We forecast that the delivery of these new units will provide up to 1,000 jobs to the region. “We are delivering a wide range of unit sizes from 8,136 up to 142,815 sq ft in one phase to meet the high occupier demand for industrial and logistics space in the south market, where there is a critical lack of stock to serve such a big market of consumers”.  Agents at Panattoni Park Burgess Hill are DTRE, Lambert Smith Hampton and SHW. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Atkins awarded contract on Ireland’s MetroLink

Atkins awarded contract on Ireland’s MetroLink

Kenneth Booth February 21, 2023

Atkins, a member of the SNC Lavalin Group, has been appointed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to deliver the detailed design for the Advance Works programme for the MetroLink Project, a high capacity, high-frequency metro railway and integrated public transport network connecting the Greater Dublin Area, including Dublin Airport and city centre. Atkins, supported by its subconsultants RPS, a Tetra Tech company, will develop the detailed design for a programme of activity to precede the main infrastructure works, including utility diversions, archaeological and heritage works, facilitation of land access and environmental monitoring, with the aim of achieving a level of site readiness to facilitate mobilisation of MetroLink’s main infrastructure works. Martina Finn, Managing Director, Atkins Ireland, said “The Metrolink Project will provide Dublin with a modern, interconnected transport system that eases congestion and offers commuters faster, more convenient and cleaner transport options in and around the city. “This appointment builds on our existing role as Operations Advisor for Metrolink and we’re pleased to bring our local teams of experts and global experience in transportation to support Transport Infrastructure Ireland as they progress this exciting project.” MetroLink is one of the key projects identified in Ireland’s National Development Plan. It will be a first-of-a-kind public transport infrastructure in Ireland, with much of the 18.8km route running underground. The Project will link Dublin Airport, Irish Rail, DART, Dublin Bus and Luas services, linking major transport hubs and key destinations in the city centre, and is estimated to carry up to 53 million passengers annually. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Chubb celebrates industry-breaking contact centre response rates with launch of new video

Chubb celebrates industry-breaking contact centre response rates with launch of new video

Kenneth Booth February 17, 2023

Chubb, the UK’s leading fire safety and security solutions provider, has launched a new video showcasing the exceptional service customers can expect to receive from its Blackburn Customer Experience Centre. The video marks a momentous occasion as Chubb has just recorded industry-breaking contact centre response rates. Last year, Chubb’s Customer Experience Centre answered 335,221 calls, an average of 94% of calls in 20 seconds. This smashes the call centre industry standard, typically set at 80% of calls answered in 20 seconds. This achievement echoes the findings of the recent Call Centre Helper survey1, which found that the importance of response time has more than doubled from 11.3% in 2021 to 22% in 2022, suggesting that customers are now looking for even greater speed when dealing with contact centres. In Chubb’s new video, Director of Business Support, Sue Dean takes us on a journey through its Customer Experience Centre, introducing the teams supporting customers and the company’s branch network.  Chubb’s contact centre operates 24/7, 365 days a year, taking emergency calls, booking routine service visits and scheduling and dispatching work to its field-based engineers. Within Chubb’s business support teams, the company onboards all new customers and processes orders, which are then passed onto the branch network to deliver locally. Depending on the size and complexity of the customer requirements, Chubb has dedicated account management teams that tailor services and solutions to meet their specific needs.  Sue said: “I’ve been with Chubb for 25 years, and I’m proud to lead an amazing team passionate about delivering great customer service. Our commitment to our customers is to offer a fast and effective resolution to every call that comes into our contact centre. We are proud that over 90% of our customer calls are answered within 20 seconds, which is a true testament to our dedicated teams and customer-centric ethos.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »

Brigade Electronics to showcase its new sensor fusion system at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023

Kenneth Booth February 17, 2023

Brigade Electronics will be showcasing its latest concept system, Brigade Fusion, at CONEXPO-CO/AGG 2023 in Las Vegas between March 14th and 18th. Brigade Fusion uses sensor fusion technology to combine Brigade’s range of safety devices, including its 360-degree camera, radar obstacle detection and M2M RTLS (Real Time Location System) technology. This allows the system to predict high risk events, providing the operator with appropriate and prompt alerts and, if required, signal the machine to prevent movement, slow down or stop entirely if its operator is unable to react in time. The new system, which has been trialed by several customers in the US and the UK, adds EMESRT (Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table) Level 8 and Level 9 collision avoidance to its existing Level 7. This delivers the highest standard in worksite safety for off-road construction and mining mobile equipment. In addition to exhibiting, Brigade’s Sales Development Manager Henry Morgan, along with Chad Repp from Brigade’s development partner, HED, will be delivering a speech on The Value of Telematics, which will feature live use cases. As a long-standing member of IFPE and recent Frost & Sullivan Award recipient for Product Leader of NA Off-Highway Telematics, HED is partnering with Brigade Electronics to speak on how telematics enables OEMs to bring successful, value driven solutions to market within their vehicle(s). The detailed use case will highlight how HED telematics, combined with Brigade object detection, is being used to provide collision avoidance, ultimately delivering a safer more efficient construction site.  During the 45-minute presentation, attendees will be able to learn more about telematics and leveraging data through analytics to set notifications for predictive maintenance and alerts of high-risk events, as well as how this converts back to ROI. The Value of Telematics will take place on Thursday, March 16th at 9.30am in the South Hall at booth S229. Henry Morgan, Sales Development Manager of Brigade Electronics plc, said: “We are extremely excited to be showcasing Brigade Fusion at CONEXPO. The solution is a result of extensive research and development bringing together third-party technology with our range of high-quality safety devices to create the ultimate safety solution for worksites. For operators, it provides a very robust layer of protection and additional peace of mind. With Level 9, in the event the operator is unable to react in time, signals are sent to slow down or stop the machine. Importantly, the solution is not only modular, but can be integrated with other customer hardware and data, so it can be designed to meet the customer’s specification.” In addition, Brigade will be showcasing its AI (artificial intelligence) camera system that can detect pedestrians and can be incorporated into Brigade Fusion or used as a standalone system. The device utilizes AI to provide instant audible and visual alerts to the driver as soon as a human is detected nearby the vehicle. Brigade Electronics will be attending CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 at Las Vegas Convention Center from March 14th to 18th and exhibiting its range of plant and machinery safety systems. Find them in the North Hall at booth N10851. The Value of Telematics: featuring live use cases will take place at 9.30am on Thursday, March 16th in the South Hall at booth S229. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »