Vital Energi has partnered with The City of Liverpool College for the second year to deliver bespoke renewable energy and heat network apprenticeship programmes across the country. Scaling up heat networks and generating energy from renewable technologies is at the heart of the Government’s plans to boost the UK’s energy
Two social landlords have joined forces in a newly formed partnership to offer a more locally based repairs service. Platform Housing Group and national housing provider, Stonewater, have signed a contract which will see Platform Property Care – a subsidiary of Platform Housing Group – undertaking repairs on Stonewater homes in Herefordshire
Demand has skyrocketed, but tradespeople have also been hit with a series of challenges because of Covid and Brexit, so Rated People explores the true effects of ‘the home improvement boom’ and looks at what’s in store for 2022 62% of UK tradespeople said 2021 was the ‘busiest year they’ve
Living Space has concluded its third year of physical trading, hitting a turnover in excess of £30m. The Solihull-based affordable housing specialist launched to the market in 2019 and is currently constructing seven residential developments across middle England. 13 additional sites are either in the planning system or being promoted.
Hayfield has appointed Sam Foglia as a Contracts Manager to oversee three of the award-winning housebuilder’s developments, located in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The expansion of the construction team is in line with Hayfield seeking to deliver a turnover of £150m during the current financial year. Sam Foglia joins from Barratt/David
Fast-growing RECOM Solutions has moved to new headquarters to accommodate its expanding team. RECOM, a construction project management consultancy which also acts as a main contractor, fire protection and cladding specialist, has relocated to Salford Quays after acquiring a three-storey building on the Waters Edge Business Park. The 4,000 sq
Construction has started at a £9 million speculative warehouse development in the West Midlands, leading commercial property developer Barberry Industrial announced today. Main contractor A&H Construction has started work on a 3.5-acre site at Well Lane, Wolverhampton, where Barberry will deliver a 55,575 sq ft unit. Barberry acquired the site
Award-winning student Madeleine Clarke is part of a rising number of women pursuing a construction career at Coventry University and is hoping her achievement will inspire more young girls to consider a career in the industry. Third year Architectural Technology BSc student Madeleine won the West Midlands’ crown at The
ISG has acquired a majority shareholding in ESS Group – the modern methods of construction (MMC) specialist headquartered in Dublin and Manchester. The investment underpins ESS Group’s ambitious growth strategy, and further enhances ISG’s leadership role transforming the construction industry through smart innovation and pioneering delivery approaches and methodologies. Founded
Esri UK today announced the winners of a competition to find local planning authorities with innovative ideas, for how best to use geospatial technology to help modernise the planning process. Attracting almost 50 entries, the three winning councils were Nottingham City, Dacorum Borough Council and South Ayrshire who will work
Vital Energi has partnered with The City of Liverpool College for the second year to deliver bespoke renewable energy and heat network apprenticeship programmes across the country. Scaling up heat networks and generating energy from renewable technologies is at the heart of the Government’s plans to boost the UK’s energy security and achieve the country’s Net Zero target by 2050. To achieve this, 18% of heat will need to come from heat networks. As it stands today, connections to heat networks represents just 2%, so we need the resource and skills to deliver this infrastructure. In response to this, Vital – which has over 30 years’ experience in delivering heat networks – is joining forces with The City of Liverpool College, which will deliver the curriculum from the £2m state-of-the-art Training Academy located at Vital’s Blackburn headquarters, for two pathways: Craft and Technical. Both pathways will enable apprentices to learn and work within the renewable energy and heat networks market. They will discover how energy is generated and distributed, and how to manage and reduce consumption for residential and commercial clients. Apprentices will also learn how carbon emissions are reduced through Vital’s renewable technologies and the innovative products they have developed. The initiative follows an incredibly successful first year for the programmes, which demonstrate the organisations’ commitments to developing the key industry skills required to achieve net zero and create a sustainable workforce to shape the energy landscape for the future. Liverpool City Region has an ambition to reach net zero carbon by 2040 and The City of Liverpool College is focussed on developing its curriculum around the needs of industry, creating a workforce for the future by developing the skills needed to enter the world of work in sustainable careers. Lindsay Meadows, Head of Apprenticeships at The City of Liverpool College, said: “Our partnership with Vital Energi is built on the knowledge and skills of its engineers and our innovative curriculum leaders at The City of Liverpool College. Working with progressive, exciting organisations such as Vital Energi helps us to continue to innovate and provide our students with the skills they need to enter the workforce and forge successful, sustainable careers. “The apprenticeships will play an essential role in developing the skills needed to deliver our low carbon future, while giving apprentices the skills and knowledge they need to thrive and forge sustainable careers in the industry.” The programmes will be delivered via a blended mix of virtual online teaching and a minimum of 25 days curriculum learning each year within the Training Academy. Apprentices will spend the majority of their time on-site working on real projects, where they will pick up a wealth of skills through hands-on experience and support from Vital’s expert team. During the three-year Craft programme, apprentices will study for a Level 3 Building Services Engineering Craftsperson qualification. They will learn a range of key skills from pipework fabrication and jointing techniques such as electro fusion jointing, to welding, the installation of plumbing and heating systems, and more. At the end of the Technical programme, apprentices will achieve a Level 3 Building Services Design Technician qualification, after developing their understanding of building services design principles. On his experience of the programme, Harvey Hudson, Technical Apprentice, commented: “As well as a better understanding of the job and career, spending time in a variety of departments has helped broaden my knowledge of the industry and the many different aspects required for a successful project. I’m also able to gain valuable, practical experience and learn from site-based professionals, which I know will help me to hit the ground running in my career.” Chris Roach, a site-based Project Manager at Vital Energi, started his career journey at The City of Liverpool College when he was 18 years old, where he completed a four-year Mechanical Building Engineering apprenticeship. He studied Building Services Engineering in the first two years before focussing on Mechanical Building Services Engineering in the last two. As well as achieving a HND, Chris won the North West HVAC Student Engineer of the year in 2005, and the National CIBSE HVAC Student Engineer of the year in 2005. His hard work and determination throughout his apprenticeship formed a solid platform for his future career. Chris Roach, Project Manager at Vital Energi, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an apprentice at The City of Liverpool College, and as well as gaining a wealth of skills through hands on experience and support from tutors, it allowed me to discover the career path I wanted to follow. “I strongly believe that my apprenticeship formed a great foundation for my career path. Here at Vital, we’re working on exciting projects across the whole of the UK to help our clients reach net zero. We’ve connected over 82,000 homes to heat networks so far and in my opinion, there is no better time to join us!” During the three-year Craft programme, apprentices will study for a Level 3 Building Services Engineering Craftsperson qualification. They will learn a range of key skills from pipework fabrication and jointing techniques such as electro fusion jointing, to welding, the installation of plumbing and heating systems, and more. At the end of the Technical programme, apprentices will achieve a Level 3 Building Services Design Technician qualification, after developing their understanding of building services design principles.
Two social landlords have joined forces in a newly formed partnership to offer a more locally based repairs service. Platform Housing Group and national housing provider, Stonewater, have signed a contract which will see Platform Property Care – a subsidiary of Platform Housing Group – undertaking repairs on Stonewater homes in Herefordshire and surrounding areas. Leon Storer, Assistant Director of Homes – Capital Investment at Stonewater explained: “I’m really pleased to say that from 1 April this year, Stonewater’s repairs in this area will be delivered by Platform Property Care. Platform already has homes in the same location as ours and by working with a partner that is based geographically closer to our customers there are a host of benefits. Not only does this bring together two likeminded organisations, with shared values, it ensures that customers across this area receive fantastic services that demonstrate true value for money.” The work to be carried out at Stonewater’s homes will include home repairs and maintenance, and repairs to empty properties that are due to be re-let to new customers. It is hoped that in time Platform will also take over responsibility for on-going maintenance projects, like the fitting of new kitchens and bathrooms. Lee Vernalls, Assistant Director at Platform Property Care said: “We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Stonewater. We share the same social values and will ensure excellent service delivery.” Platform Housing Group has a similar arrangement with Rooftop Housing; the Worcestershire based social landlord that is a charitable association and focuses on provision of affordable housing for all household types and needs. Stonewater customers wishing to report a repair can do so through the usual ways, either via MyHome or by calling 01202 319 119. Tenancy agreements and repairs standards will remain the same.
Demand has skyrocketed, but tradespeople have also been hit with a series of challenges because of Covid and Brexit, so Rated People explores the true effects of ‘the home improvement boom’ and looks at what’s in store for 2022 62% of UK tradespeople said 2021 was the ‘busiest year they’ve ever had’ and 86% expect to be ‘very busy’ in 2022 Carpenters, painters, tilers, handypeople and builders were the most in-demand trades last year Nine in 10 (89%) tradespeople say their costs increased in 2021, 84% experienced material supply issues and 62% had to cope with staff shortages 43% of tradespeople experienced increased stress last year, and one in four (25%) say they suffered with exhaustion Bathroom fitters, tilers, roofers, plumbers and plasterers are set to be the top five most in- demand trades in 2022 New research from the find-a-tradesperson platform, Rated People reveals homeowner desire for home improvement went through the roof in 2021. Nearly half (49%) of UK residents improved their homes and demand for tradespeople increased by 32% in just one year. Almost two in three tradespeople (62%) say last year was ‘the busiest year they’ve ever had’. In fact, compared to the start of the pandemic in 2020, demand for home improvement has gone up by 50%. The findings are taken from the 2022 Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report, and the study shows that 77% of UK tradespeople experienced increased customer demand in 2021. Carpenters/ joiners are the trade that’s reported to have experienced increased consumer demand the most, with almost nine in 10 (89%) saying demand went up in 2021. The top 10 trades that say they experienced increased homeowner demand in 2021: Carpenter / Joiner – 89% (say they felt demand increase in 2021) Painter and decorator – 83% Tiler – 82% Handyperson – 81% Builder – 78% Roofer – 75% Plasterer / Renderer – 74% Gardener / Landscape gardener – 73% Electrician – 73% Plumber – 72% Opportunity in a Challenging Time The surge in demand since the start of the pandemic has brought about huge opportunities for tradespeople. But they’ve also been hit with a series of challenges – almost nine in 10 tradespeople (89%) say their costs increased in 2021, 84% experienced materials supply issues and just under half (44%) had workforce shortages. As a result, four in five tradespeople (83%) had to increase their prices and almost two thirds (62%) had to delay or cancel jobs. More than one in three tradespeople (43%) went on to say the challenges from last year led them to feel an increased level of stress, and a quarter (25%) say they felt exhausted. But, one in three UK tradespeople (34%) did also say that the opportunities resulting from increased demand meant they felt an increased sense of motivation, and a quarter (27%) said they had increased job satisfaction and an increased sense of achievement last year. Material and workforce shortages Unsurprisingly, Covid was a major cause of disruption in 2021, but the main reason for cancellations and delays was actually materials shortages, with 44% of tradespeople saying they had to delay or cancel work because of supply issues. Supply issues were felt across the industry. Plasterers/renderers were the most affected, but nearly all trades experienced shortages. Between 75% and 96% of the top 10 most affected trades found it difficult to get the materials they needed. The top 10 trades that were most affected by materials shortages in 2021: Plasterer / Renderer – 96% (experienced materials shortages) Builder – 95% Gardener / Landscape gardener – 87% Carpenter / Joiner – 87% Painter and decorator – 85% Bathroom fitter – 85% Handyperson – 81% Electrician – 77% Plumber – 77% Roofer – 75% Workforce and contractor shortages were also experienced by many trade businesses in 2021, with the main causes being Covid isolation and a lack of skilled workers. The top reasons why UK trades suffered workforce shortages in 2021: Needing to isolate because of Covid – 29% Lack of skilled/experienced workers – 22% Staff/subcontractors not wanting to work because of Covid risks – 15% Loss of staff members due to Brexit – relocating out of UK – 15% Fewer people getting into the trades industry – 14% Increasing Costs = Increasing Prices For Homeowners This year, nine in 10 tradespeople (91%) expect their costs will increase, and 82% say they will need to put their prices up in 2022. 97% of builders, 91% of heating engineers and 89% of plasterers say they’re planning to increase their prices this year. And when looking at the top 10 trades most likely to charge higher prices, a minimum of 77% from each trade say they will need to put their prices up in 2022 to remain profitable. The top 10 trades increasing their prices in 2022: Builders – 97% (are upping their prices this year) Gas/ heating engineers – 91% Plasterers/ renderers – 89% Carpenters/ joiners – 89% Handypeople – 88% Plumbers – 84% Roofers – 82% Gardeners – 81% Painters/ decorators – 79% Electricians – 77% The Most In-Demand Trades in 2022 This year, demand doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon, as 86% of tradespeople across the UK say they expect to be very busy in 2022. According to the study, all of the bathroom fitters and tilers surveyed said they are gearing up for another year of unprecedented demand, and across the top 10 trades set to be the busiest this year, a minimum of 82% expect to be very busy. The top 10 trades with the most homeowner demand in 2022: Bathroom fitter – 100% (expect to be very busy in 2022) Tiler – 100% Roofer – 89% Plumber – 86% Plasterer / Renderer – 85% Electrician – 85% Carpenter / Joiner – 85% Painter and decorator – 85% Builder – 84% Gas / Heating engineer – 82% Adrienne Minster, CEO of Rated People commented: “The last two years have been challenging for many reasons, but it’s great
Living Space has concluded its third year of physical trading, hitting a turnover in excess of £30m. The Solihull-based affordable housing specialist launched to the market in 2019 and is currently constructing seven residential developments across middle England. 13 additional sites are either in the planning system or being promoted. The combined construction value of its development portfolio is in excess of £131million, which equates to 890 affordable houses, apartments and bungalows. The company’s land acquisition strategy, active management of its whole supply chain, and repeat business from leading Registered Providers (RPs), have all contributed to the successful year. Paul Breen, Managing Director of Living Space said: “Our turnover has increased by 50 per cent on the previous year, which is a proud achievement, given the number of unforeseen planning delays we are currently encountering across our whole area of operation. While waiting lists for quality, energy-efficient affordable homes are at unprecedented levels, we are continually tackling bureaucratic issues that delay delivery of much-needed new homes. “At each of the seven energy-efficient schemes currently under construction, we are utilising the skills of local supply chains to maximise the benefit to the regional economy. We are now embarking on our fourth year of physical trading, and with 13 sites in our immediate pipeline, we are on track to increase turnover to £50m for the 2022/3 year.” The vast majority of the homes Living Space builds are delivered to RPs for affordable rent and shared ownership. Living Space sources the land, achieves Full Detailed Planning consent and builds the homes for the RP, enabling them to focus on the funding and management of high-quality homes for their residents. Living Space’s clients include Stonewater, The Wrekin Housing Group, Hightown Housing Association, Paradigm, and Platform Housing Group.
Hayfield has appointed Sam Foglia as a Contracts Manager to oversee three of the award-winning housebuilder’s developments, located in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The expansion of the construction team is in line with Hayfield seeking to deliver a turnover of £150m during the current financial year. Sam Foglia joins from Barratt/David Wilson Developments, where he was a Project Manager, coordinating trades, direct labour and materials to meet production programmes. During his five-year tenure with the volume housebuilder, he also closely monitored and upheld quality and safety standards. Mr Foglia was an NHBC Pride in the Job winner two years running – in 2019 and 2020. He has accumulated over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. Ken Mulpeter, Production Director for Hayfield said: “We are delighted to welcome Sam to the team, as his housebuilding and technical experience – together with his success with the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards – will be a great asset to Hayfield. He has a passion for quality and is well-versed at working in partnership with other departments and supply chains. He will be able to steer our site-based teams to deliver the premium homes we have built our multi award-winning reputation on.” Sam is currently working towards becoming a chartered construction manager with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), which he is looking to accomplish before the end of 2022. Mr Foglia has been appointed to oversee the final phase of construction at Hayfield Oaks in Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire, where the homes will benefit from a zero carbon ready specification. Sam’s other live projects include the £31m Hayfield Park scheme in Bromham, which is within the Borough of Bedford. The development of 80 zero carbon ready homes has recently launched for off-plan sales, with the site due to be unveiled to the public later this year. His third project – also in Bedfordshire – is Hayfield Gate, located in the village of Clifton, where construction is underway for the final phase of 95 homes. Sam Foglia, Contracts Manager for Hayfield said: “Hayfield has quickly developed a reputation for having a fantastic brand and a fantastic team. The specification, design and overall quality of each house really shows, and I hope I can add value to the business by overseeing delivery of many more exceptional homes. I can already see that there is a strong sense of pride in the quality of the product delivered to customers and this will be the focus of everything I seek to do, both with colleagues and the supply chain.” Solihull-headquartered Hayfield is proactively installing air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, EV fast-charging points, and fibre optic broadband into all new and upcoming developments, in line with its strong ESG foundations. The expansion of the construction team is in line with Hayfield seeking to deliver 350 homes during 2022. The company is gearing up to deliver 500 homes annually, supported by a portfolio of sites to enable visible production into the future. For more information on Hayfield’s development portfolio, visit: https://www.hayfieldhomes.co.uk/
Fast-growing RECOM Solutions has moved to new headquarters to accommodate its expanding team. RECOM, a construction project management consultancy which also acts as a main contractor, fire protection and cladding specialist, has relocated to Salford Quays after acquiring a three-storey building on the Waters Edge Business Park. The 4,000 sq ft building provides scope to further expand RECOM’s team, which currently stands at a record high of 30 following recruitment across its operations. Its move marks a return to Salford Quays, where it was based until 2020 when it relocated to Trafford Park. RECOM enlisted chartered surveyors Fletcher Bond to assist in the search for new premises after outgrowing its base in Trafford Park. A fit-out of its new headquarters is under way. The ground floor will feature a reception area, showers and changing facilities and three meeting rooms. On the first floor will be breakout areas for staff and RECOM’s new fire protection training academy. The academy will be a live environment for the training of operatives in the latest industry measures, legislation and new products, as well as being a showcase for this specialism to its nationwide client base, in the residential, care home, healthcare, commercial, leisure, education, heritage buildings and industrial sectors. RECOM is an approved contractor under the UK’s Fire Accreditation Scheme (FIRAS) for its fire protection services, which include fire door surveys and installations, repairs and upgrades, fire strategy reviews, compartmentation surveying, penetration sealing, advice and guidance, training, development and support. The company is also a member of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, a trade association for the passive fire protection sector. The second floor of RECOM’s new HQ on Modwen Road will house office space and the firm’s accounts department. RECOM, which was founded in 2015 by directors Jason McKnight and Joseph Dillon, undertakes construction project management and main contracting work across sectors including healthcare, education, retail and leisure, commercial and residential. It also provides consultancy services to assist in the delivery of high-quality projects. These services include design, risk, quality, health and safety and sustainability alongside passive fire protection and cladding. Clients of the company include Barry’s Bootcamp, Pot Kettle Black, Urban Village Bars, WUKPG, Arrowsmith Investments, The Derwent Group, Fletcher Bond, the University of Manchester and the NHS. Jason McKnight said: “It is the right time to buy a permanent home for the business, and the new premises gives us the scope for further growth in the team across our passive fire protection division and our other services, including our construction offering. “The Quays is an ideal location and is popular with our staff. It has excellent transport links and amenities, and is a desirable area in which to live, with a number of developments springing up offering private rented accommodation. “Additionally, our new building is close to the Manchester Ship Canal and it’s only a short walk to Manchester city centre. “This investment shows our willingness to retain a firm foothold in Manchester and to attract the best possible talent within our sectors. We are currently going through a period of growth and need the best facilities we can provide for our expanding team.”
Construction has started at a £9 million speculative warehouse development in the West Midlands, leading commercial property developer Barberry Industrial announced today. Main contractor A&H Construction has started work on a 3.5-acre site at Well Lane, Wolverhampton, where Barberry will deliver a 55,575 sq ft unit. Barberry acquired the site from ASSA ABLOY for an undisclosed sum. Called Barberry 55, the development will be a highly specified Grade A building with 10-metre clear height eaves, 2,965 sq ft of internal offices, 45 car parking spaces and 50-metre yard depth, with dock and level access loading provision. It is expected to reach practical completion in Q3, 2022. It demonstrates Barberry’s continued investment in the region and will create significant job opportunities while helping to address the shortage of new industrial accommodation in the West Midlands. Jon Robinson, development director at West Midlands-based Barberry, said: “This start on site marks another great occasion in our quest to deliver another one of our market leading speculative developments comprising a new, Grade A industrial and logistics hub in Wolverhampton. “We believe our new building will create the much needed quality accommodation for local, regional and national businesses to expand their operations within the Midlands creating much needed new jobs. We have seen significant occupier demand for new industrial and warehouse units of this size and specification, and we expect there to be a great deal of interest in Barberry 55. “It perfectly complements the many other projects we have delivered within the region where we have delivered best in class, Grade A buildings. Our latest investment is expected to generate around 120 jobs, making a significant contribution to the local economy.” Kieren Turner-Owen, associate director property at Frontier Development Capital, said: “Demand for high quality industrial and logistics space continues to grow in the West Midlands. Barberry 55 will help address the shortage of Grade A industrial accommodation. We are delighted to be working with Barberry on another scheme that unlocks unused brownfield land and helps deliver economic growth to the region.” Robert Mottram, director, of A&H Construction, said: “We are delighted to have secured this construction tender and are very much looking forward to working with Barberry in delivering this project within the heart of Wolverhampton.” The site is situated in a prime urban location just four miles from J10 of the M6 via the A454, within 3.4 miles from J1 of the M54. It also benefits from its close proximity to links to the M6 Toll, M5, and M42. It is adjacent to the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Wednesfield Way, with Bentley Bridge Retail Park nearby hosting a number of market leading shops and restaurants. Other major occupiers nearby include Supersmart Services, Crown Workspace, Yodel, Euro Car Parts, Travis Perkins, Mercedes, Tool Station and Tata Steel. Jaguar Land Rover has an engine factory within five miles at i54. Barberry has a 3.6 million sq ft industrial/logistics development portfolio with a Gross Development Value of in excess of £500 million. It is developing a £40 million state-of-the-art manufacturing and design facility for a global leader in engine and flight controls systems in Gloucestershire. The 207,000 sq ft centre of excellence for Moog’s Aircraft Controls Segment is being built on a 10-acre site at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury. The company has also commenced speculative construction of three high quality mid-box manufacturing/logistics units totaling 222,750 sq ft at a prime West Midlands business park in a £37 million project. Barberry’s development includes industrial/logistics units of 47,750 sq ft, 62,000 sq ft and 113,000 sq ft at Wolf Pack, Hilton Cross Business Park, just off junction 1 of the M54, Wolverhampton.
Award-winning student Madeleine Clarke is part of a rising number of women pursuing a construction career at Coventry University and is hoping her achievement will inspire more young girls to consider a career in the industry. Third year Architectural Technology BSc student Madeleine won the West Midlands’ crown at The Association of Women in Property 2021 Student of the Year Awards, an event that aims to increase and support the 15% of women who make up the construction and property workforce. Coventry University is helping to address that figure, with women making up a quarter of the students studying built environment courses at the university. Madeleine, who was 23 when she decided to pursue her dream, is keen to increase exposure of careers in construction to young women. She said: “The only careers that were pitched to me at school were nursing or teaching. I was only exposed to a career in architecture when I completed a career quiz online. When I go to these Women in Property events it is great because the room is filled with women in the industry. “I just want to encourage more women and girls to look into a career in property or construction because exposure is important, and I want to show people through this award that you can change your path and do something different.” Sabine Coady Schäbitz, Curriculum Lead for Built Environment at Coventry University, says the university wants to drive change in the industry. She said: “We are proud of Madeline and are actively encouraging women to enrol on our professional courses in the Built Environment. In the last five years the percentage of women studying with us rose from 17.3% to 26.4%. “We are working closely with industry and the professional bodies to further increase equality, diversity and inclusion in the creation and management of the Built Environment.” Find out how Coventry University can help you follow in Madeleine’s footsteps.
ISG has acquired a majority shareholding in ESS Group – the modern methods of construction (MMC) specialist headquartered in Dublin and Manchester. The investment underpins ESS Group’s ambitious growth strategy, and further enhances ISG’s leadership role transforming the construction industry through smart innovation and pioneering delivery approaches and methodologies. Founded in 1989, the ESS Group employs more than 280 staff based in four offices and three manufacturing facilities across the UK and Ireland. The Group, which includes the ESS Modular and Spatial Initiative brands, specialises in delivering MMC solutions for clients in the public sector, healthcare and commercial markets. The financial strength and backing of the ISG business will enable the independently operating ESS Group to support its ambitious growth plans across the UK and Ireland, with a core focus on generating increasing opportunity across current and target public sector frameworks. The acquisition brings additional MMC capability and expertise to the wider ISG business, while maintaining the firm’s agile and responsive approach to client-led demand for innovative construction solutions. Paul Tierney, CEO at ESS said: “The ISG investment is a pivotal moment for the ESS Group, giving us a solid financial platform for our continued growth plans. We passionately believe in a better way and have been working for the last 30 years to bring our high-quality offering to clients. We are looking forward to what we are sure will be an exciting time for the industry as we see MMC continue to transform customer outcomes and expectations in the drive towards a net zero future.” Matt Blowers, CEO of ISG, commented: “Greater integration and collaboration are two ways that our industry can accelerate its performance to meet the growing demand for net zero construction solutions. The ESS Group brings a wealth of expertise, talent and innovation into ISG and enables us to collectively fast-track our journey developing and implementing leading-edge built solutions that are rooted in operational performance and the highest sustainable and ethical outcomes.”
Esri UK today announced the winners of a competition to find local planning authorities with innovative ideas, for how best to use geospatial technology to help modernise the planning process. Attracting almost 50 entries, the three winning councils were Nottingham City, Dacorum Borough Council and South Ayrshire who will work with Esri UK to make their pilot projects a reality, receiving free consultancy and access to GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software from the company. The competition revealed several common planning challenges faced by local authorities, being addressed by the pilots, including the improvement of community engagement, how to maximise the use of 3D visualisations and how to manage developer contributions more efficiently. Esri UK is also creating a Customer Advisory Board to help grow best practice use of GIS within planning. “As the government looks to reform the planning system with an increased use of digital technologies, we wanted to find innovative solutions to planning challenges and collaborate with authorities to bring them to life,” explained Stephen Croney, Head of Sector for Land, Property and Planning, Esri UK. “By combining each council’s domain expertise with our team of geospatial experts, the pilot projects will explore new and efficient approaches to problems all designed to help make the planning process easier for everyone.” Nottingham City Council’s project will examine how geospatial technology can help increase the use of 3D visualisations within planning, both internally and with the public. Dacorum Borough Council’s pilot will be using GIS systems to better manage the use and communication of developer contributions secured through Planning Obligations, while South Ayrshire Council’s objective is to create an innovative community consultation platform, with interactive methods of engagement to improve community involvement in Local Development Plans. “Geospatial technologies can help shape the future of the planning process by delivering significant cost and time savings,” said Croney. “Spatial data provides the common language to join different data together and make it meaningful. Helping to understand the spatial nature of our environment so that we can better determine its future, means that more sustainable communities are created and helps with the Levelling Up agenda too.” The Customer Advisory Board will provide a forum for local planning authorities to discuss best practice and share common problems and goals. Croney continued: “It became clear that finding new ways of applying GIS in planning opened the minds of councils entering the competition as to what problems could be solved. The advisory board will help Planning teams learn from each other, make better use of their investment in GIS and shape the future of digital transformation within planning.” Geospatial technology and data have an important role to play in digital planning reform, as outlined in the Planning for the Future white paper, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in 2020. The use of mapping and associated analytical tools was also one of the recommendations in the report A Digital Future for Planning: Spatial Planning Reimagined, released in February 2022, by the Independent Digital Task Force for Planning. Selected from almost 50 entries, the winning applications are: Dacorum Borough Council Dacorum Borough Council wants to translate existing text and spreadsheets by using digital mapping to better manage and communicate infrastructure and developer contributions, secured through Planning Obligations. “The objective is to use digital mapping to help with not only the decision making around the planning of new infrastructure and make the whole process more transparent but also to support community engagement,” commented Councillor Alan Anderson, Portfolio Holder, Planning and Infrastructure at Dacorum Borough Council. “Our current system outputs are text and spreadsheet based – we believe that by providing this information in a spatial way it will provide a powerful asset which can be used by Council officers and others for planning, decision making and monitoring and also by the public to enhance understanding and engagement in infrastructure funding and planning.” Nottingham City Council Nottingham City Council’s proposition will explore how geospatial technology can help increase the use of 3D visualisations within the planning environment, internally and with the public. “If 3D assessments are conducted in a GIS environment, planning teams will be able to conduct an assessment of various constraints on a site, at the same time as a visual assessment of the impact of the site. This will enable better and quicker business decisions and greatly contribute to modernising the planning processes as per the Government White Paper,” explained Mick Dunn, GIS Service Manager, Nottingham City Council. “GIS will bring other capabilities to the process too, from in-depth flooding analysis to view analysis, which we would like to be able to share easily with interested parties. We feel this could be pushed even further, perhaps being able to provide VR (virtual reality) consultation on sites.” South Ayrshire Council South Ayrshire Council’s project will examine how an innovative community consultation platform with interactive methods of engagement can help further improve community involvement in Local Development Plans – the Proposed South Ayrshire LDP2 in the first instance. “The objective is to create a space to keep our community engaged and informed to strengthen our relationship with our stakeholders, in order to reach better planning outcomes,” said Gordon Wilson, Planning Technician at South Ayrshire Council. “Effective public engagement can lead to better plans, better decisions and more satisfactory outcomes and it can help to avoid delays in the planning process too. Our vision is to build on the work already done by South Ayrshire in creating its LDP2, developing new apps and information to create a Local Plan community engagement and consultation Hub, which will be more accessible, as the majority of people are now online.”