Work has begun to transform a vacant brownfield site into a landmark, 30 home timber frame housing development – providing much needed affordable properties in Leeds. The scheme will deliver a total of 14 one bedroomed apartments, ten two bedroomed houses and six three bedroomed homes – two of which
Lysander, the privately-owned construction consultancy, has announced a major expansion across five European markets as it seeks to satisfy continued demand across the industrial, logistics and commercial sectors. New offices are now operating in Frankfurt, Madrid, Paris, Milan and Rotterdam adding to the company’s existing German presence where it opened
Stylish, high-quality products matched with outstanding quality control and a seamless delivery process are just some of the reasons why leading uPVC window and door manufacturer Euramax Solutions has been chosen as a main supplier of modular home manufacturer ilke Homes. Based in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, ilke Homes manufactures up
The information gap between contractors, framework providers and customers is the biggest barrier to ensuring compliance across the board, says the director of a leading built environment technology solution. Martin Ward of MiProject Solutions, which works with major contractors and frameworks to ensure compliance on digital frameworks, believes that the
When considering flooring products for new-build or refurbishment projects, the housebuilder and specifier can be sure that West Fraser’s CaberFloor range includes the perfect solution. Just as sound foundations are essential for any building, the right flooring system lays a good foundation for a quality flooring finish, saving problems and
Construction firms are being targeted by cyber criminals with fake invoices and bank details as part of a sophisticated fraud netting more than £100m a year in the UK. Mandate Fraud, also known as Payment Diversion Fraud (PDF) and Business Email Compromise (BEC), tends to affect businesses and customers where
BSW, the UK’s largest integrated forestry and sawmilling group, has unveiled its new brand, with an expanded vision of ‘seeing timber in new light’. The brand launch sees the group uniting its capabilities under a new, overarching, BSW Group brand, forging an integrated supply chain to create value and sustain
Harworth Group plc, a leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, is pleased to announcethat it has secured planning for 110,000 sq ft of industrial & logistics space as part of Phase 2 of its Gateway 36 development in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The next phase of
A SIGNIFICANT housing project has been announced as the first large-scale project procured through national framework provider Pagabo’s Developer Led Framework. Southwark Council has selected Linkcity as developer for its Tustin Estate scheme, which will feature nearly 700 new homes. This includes 200 replacement council homes, around 50 shared equity
Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, is spearheading a new industry initiative aimed at reversing the crisis level shortage of skilled fitters. On January 17, 2022, the company took on its first cohort of 10, 16 to 18-year-old apprentices under a new block release training scheme launched as a
Work has begun to transform a vacant brownfield site into a landmark, 30 home timber frame housing development – providing much needed affordable properties in Leeds. The scheme will deliver a total of 14 one bedroomed apartments, ten two bedroomed houses and six three bedroomed homes – two of which will be located on a satellite site, replacing two old properties that were previously demolished. The homes to be built at Leeds Meynell, in Holbeck, will be 100% affordable and constructed in less than nine months, with the first residents expected to move in by early summer 2022. They will be built using an innovative timber frame construction process, that involves constructing elements of the properties offsite – in a factory-controlled setting – before transporting them to site for assembly. The method uses the same materials, standards and codes as conventionally built homes but the controlled plant conditions ensure the process is completed more quickly than a traditional build. They will be constructed using a ‘Fabric first’ approach – which involves maximising performance of the materials and components that make up the very fabric of a building. This will help to achieve a key objective of the project, which is to ensure energy efficiency, lower fuel bills and tackle the fuel poverty problems that some Leeds City Council tenants face. The eco-friendly scheme will also support the council’s commitment to reduce the city’s direct carbon emissions to net-zero by 2030 and make Leeds a greener, fairer and healthier city. The project is being delivered through Leeds City Council’s Housing Growth Programme (CHGP), which aims to build around 1500 new, high-quality social housing units over the next five years. Once completed, the new homes will be managed by the council and will become part of its affordable housing stock, Mick Holling, Managing Director with United Living New Homes North, said: “Leeds is a thriving and growing city which needs new, good quality housing to meet demand. We look forward to playing a central role in regenerating this area of Leeds and creating much-needed new homes for local people. “The timber frame sector is transforming the way new homes are built. It offers a comprehensive, energy-efficient and low carbon solution for social housing that is high-quality, affordable and easily accessible and adaptable”. Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate, said: “One of Leeds’ biggest priorities is to provide enough housing to meet the needs of a growing population. This is why we have developed our programme to build 1,500 new affordable homes over the next 5 years; all of which need to be high quality and accessible. Not only will this scheme positively contribute towards this ambition, it will also help us achieve our climate targets by providing people with energy efficient, low carbon homes. “I look forward to following the progress of this scheme and welcoming our first residents later this year.” As the principal contractor for the development, United Living will partner with Leeds City Council and William Saunders Architects.
Lysander, the privately-owned construction consultancy, has announced a major expansion across five European markets as it seeks to satisfy continued demand across the industrial, logistics and commercial sectors. New offices are now operating in Frankfurt, Madrid, Paris, Milan and Rotterdam adding to the company’s existing German presence where it opened in Berlin and Munich in 2020. In the UK, Lysander has steadily grown its footprint to include offices in central London, Godalming, Northampton and Newcastle. The wider European expansion was a natural next step as Chairman James Duckworth explains: “Since launching 21 years ago, Lysander has grown an enviable portfolio of clients and projects across the UK, Ireland, EMEA and Asia. Client relationships have expanded and strengthened as we have grown, and it made sense to invest in the long-term potential of our existing and future relationships. “There continues to be significant demand for experienced, commercially astute technical advisors across the industrial and logistics sectors, and we’ve already seen the positive impact that investing in the German market has made since our initial launch there two years ago. We’re delighted to be further expanding our European presence with some of the very best, most experienced leaders from across the fields of project and cost management.” Lysander has successfully delivered complex, market-leading projects for some of the best-known developers, online retailers, automotive manufacturers, data companies, financial institutions and logistics operators in the world. Lysander’s track record includes repeat work with clients such as Amazon, GLP, Google, Microsoft, BlackRock and Scannell Properties. In the UK, Lysander was appointed as Project Manager on Amazon’s LCY3 facility, a four-storey, 2.3 million sq. ft. warehouse which boasts the largest PV roof installation in the UK. Commenting on Lysander’s future growth, Joint Managing Directors, Tim Roles and Richard May said: ‘’We are very excited about the future for Lysander. We have worked hard to establish a strong understanding of our clients’ businesses, their ambitions and the challenges that they have faced, whilst they also move into new markets. We are very much aligned with them and will continue to bring our experience, pragmatism and positive attitude to their projects to ensure successful outcomes. “It is a testament to the Lysander team that we repeatedly work with some of the most sophisticated occupiers and developers in the world. Demand for project and cost managers with a deep and extensive knowledge in the industrial and logistics markets in particular shows no sign of abating, and we will continue to be a trusted advisor to our valued clients.” More information on Lysander can be found by visiting: https://lysander.com/
Stylish, high-quality products matched with outstanding quality control and a seamless delivery process are just some of the reasons why leading uPVC window and door manufacturer Euramax Solutions has been chosen as a main supplier of modular home manufacturer ilke Homes. Based in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, ilke Homes manufactures up to 2,000 modular homes every year for local authorities, housing associations, developers and private investors, and can produce a home in just 15 days, with four modules coming off the production line each day. “In order to increase our output, we needed to collaborate with like-minded suppliers, and for the past two years, Euramax has really understood our manufacturing processes,” comments ilke Homes Procurement Manager Rachel Kaye. “In addition to supplying us with high-quality products, Euramax provides an excellent, efficient delivery service, really allowing us to streamline and get the most out of our production processes.” Working from a state-of-the-art 205,000 square foot manufacturing facility, Euramax Solutions manufactures high-quality uPVC and aluminium windows and doors that are the perfect fit for modular buildings. The company delivers all its products in stillages, minimising product damage during transportation, while also eliminating unnecessary plastic waste. Module identification numbers (MINs) are also provided for each stillage – these are specific to the windows and doors for each house and module type, ensuring products can be installed without hassle. Rachel continues: “Communication between everyone in the modular supply chain is vital to success, and thanks to regular monthly meetings and consistent input from Euramax’s technical team, we’ve been able to continue successfully producing modular homes. “Apart from being a reliable, trustworthy supplier, Euramax has allowed us to achieve the best possible outcome for our products.” Euramax Solutions Managing Director Nick Cowley comments: “Removing the complexity from supply chains, reducing production costs and increasing productivity is what we do every day for our clients in the modular construction sector. “Since partnering with ilke Homes, we’ve been delighted to supply such a big name in this market with our products. “We’re delighted that the company is happy with both our products and our delivery service, something we are very proud of. “It’s a real testament to our hard work and commitment, and we look forward to working with ilke Homes for many years to come.” For more information, call 0330 1340 290 or visit www.euramaxuk.com/
The information gap between contractors, framework providers and customers is the biggest barrier to ensuring compliance across the board, says the director of a leading built environment technology solution. Martin Ward of MiProject Solutions, which works with major contractors and frameworks to ensure compliance on digital frameworks, believes that the key points raised by the Construction Playbook and the recent Mosey Report can only be addressed with the introduction of better digital tools. Ward will be one of the keynote speakers at the Built Environment Networking National Framework & Procurement Conference, where he will present on how to optimise performance through digital frameworks. Ward said: “The construction industry is currently in a critical phase of flux. The recent Mosey Report on the framework gold standard has shone a harsh light on the process side of framework management, most notably how processes can be made more efficient. “By the same token, the ambitious aims of the Construction Playbook around embracing collaboration and digital innovation are setting a high bar for frameworks to meet. “The obvious success of the Playbook is its ability to repurpose the meaning of value broader than capital cost. However, if the drivers of the playbook and enablers of the value toolkit are to flourish they will need a seismic shift in data and digital transformation. “To build certainty of outcomes, we have to establish the correct objectives and establish the aligned measures and capture the right data. “Compliance is crucial to the smooth running of frameworks, but the problem that the industry faces at the moment is that there is a real information gap between the contractor, the framework provider and the customer. “While this is a huge issue, it isn’t insurmountable. By introducing tools which capture, report and analyse outcomes throughout a project’s lifecycle, you create a golden thread which pulls everything together, ensuring more accurate governance from the customer through to the contractor and delivering a true value toolkit. “We look forward to the opportunity to talk through our digital solutions to overcome these common industry challenges.” A construction industry veteran with more than 20 years’ experience in the technology sector, Ward believes that measurability and accountability are going to be the key outcomes as frameworks become increasingly digitised. “Being able to evidence outcomes is a key tenant of the Construction Playbook. Future measures will not only need to be transparent, but they must in turn follow that golden thread back to the core object. “This will then lead to better understood and more tangible outcomes. It is impressive to say, for example, that a project has delivered £1m in social value, but if that money has gone towards apprentices and parks in an area where the key challenge is child poverty, is it really adding value where it is needed?” Addressing the opportunities that lay ahead for frameworks, Ward states that the key is going to be being agile and adaptable enough to meet the demands of a changing landscape. “Frameworks are competitive, and customers have more choice than ever, and customers will demand to be brought closer to the journey, to be able to feel their objectives being delivered. “The opportunity facing frameworks is simple – long-term relationships form the perfect platform to bring about change, work smarter, invest in the relationship and technology, and provide a smarter, slicker digital enabled journey. “We see frameworks adopting an eco-system of support and data capture technologies. However, it isn’t those tools that are related to project management or delivery that will be of most benefit, but rather those focussed on bridging the communication and information gap between customer, framework and contractor.” Martin Ward is leading Built Environment Networking National Framework & Procurement Conference’s ‘Best Practice Presentation’ at 1pm on Wednesday, 2 February. To register for the event, click here. For more information on MiProject Solutions, visit miprojectsolutions.com
When considering flooring products for new-build or refurbishment projects, the housebuilder and specifier can be sure that West Fraser’s CaberFloor range includes the perfect solution. Just as sound foundations are essential for any building, the right flooring system lays a good foundation for a quality flooring finish, saving problems and costs later. The West Fraser website contains a handy flowchart to help builders, specifiers and architects choose the right flooring system for every project, coupled with handy installation guides and videos https://uk.westfraser.com/resources/help-advice/installation-instructions/ for the individual CaberFloor products. Leading the field in the popularity stakes, CaberFloor P5 is the UK’s most specified moisture-resistant P5 flooring. The high-strength particleboard is ideal for domestic and most other floors and removes the need for intermediate noggins. The boards are moisture-resistant, stable, durable, easy to lay and, with a tongue and groove or square-edge profile, provide an excellent surface for subsequent floor laying operations. Some floors require more advanced solutions and, no matter the size or shape of the floor being laid, there are key questions to ask. Although not necessarily obvious, the first point to consider is whether the building’s roof will be in place. If the answer is no, the floor will need to withstand the elements. This is where CaberShieldPlus proves its worth as it is designed to allow building work to continue in all weathers. CaberShieldPlus is an advanced product that has all the inherent benefits of CaberFloor P5. In addition, it offers double-sided protection with a tough, permanent waterproof coating and is BBA approved for 60 days exposure, when laid according to manufacturer’s instructions. It is also a non-slip, safe working platform that withstands high site traffic. An alternative solution is CaberDek which is BBA approved for 42 days exposure, when installed with CaberFix according to manufacturer’s instructions. The P5 grade flooring has the advantage of a strong, waterproof and slip-resistant peelable film. It provides protection from the elements and construction mess and, when removed, leaves a clean, finished floor. The film is impact, puncture and tear-resistant to withstand high site traffic. CaberDek also provides 44dB sound reduction when used in conjunction with leading I-beam and insulation manufacturers. All three CaberFloor products comply with BS EN312 and are designed to be used with the CaberFix range of specially developed sealing and fixing products that include powerful adhesives and tapes. For example, CaberFloor P5 is best used with CaberFix Joint&Joist, an adhesive and sealant that will adhere to a wide variety of materials, creating a strong, silent, and flexible bond. Similarly, CaberFix D4 complements CaberDek and CaberShieldPlus. This adhesive bonds flooring to joists, T&G joints and seals exposed perimeter and edges. Beyond the advantages and practicalities of using CaberFloor, the materials and processes used to manufacture the product offer the reassurance of being sustainable. Unsurprisingly, West Fraser’s range of board products is available in a wide selection of sizes to minimise waste. All timber used is responsibly sourced and FSC certified. The panels are manufactured in the UK from locally grown timber and are net carbon negative. Additionally, all of West Fraser’s UK mills have obtained the coveted ISO 14001 environmental accreditation. Samples of all West Fraser construction panels can be ordered on the website Uk.westfraser.com. Head to the housebuilder page on the website to download a selection of tools including a fully-interactive guide to all West Fraser products and a checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your build. For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com
Construction firms are being targeted by cyber criminals with fake invoices and bank details as part of a sophisticated fraud netting more than £100m a year in the UK. Mandate Fraud, also known as Payment Diversion Fraud (PDF) and Business Email Compromise (BEC), tends to affect businesses and customers where electronic financial transactions are common place, such as the construction industry. Criminals will contact businesses or customers via email, usually claiming to be from a company that the business or customer has been dealing with. They will request a payment to be made via fake but very plausible invoices, or payment details to be changed. It is estimated that mandate fraud costs the UK more than £100m annually, with the average loss per business around £27,700. In 2019 alone, 3,577 reports were reported to the police. One historical mandate fraud cost a single construction company £1.1m. The scams are becoming ever more sophisticated with the criminals often creating fake e-mail addresses which are very similar or identical to genuine business, down to the e- signatures and disclaimers. These directs payments from businesses and customers go straight into the criminal’s bank account where it is quickly moved on. The scammers do their homework and will often go to extraordinary lengths to mimic their victim’s online presence and email branding. The NEBRC – North East Business Resilience Centre – which advises businesses on how to prevent such fraud are currently advising across the construction sector including prevention, recovery from an attack and putting in robust IT protection. Supt Rebecca Chapman (pictured) , head of the not-for-profit NEBRC, said: “Mandate fraud aimed at construction businesses is becoming more commonplace as the nature of the sector with complex supply chains, multiple third-party contractors and a fast-moving work environment often meaning there’s little time to double check authentic looking requests that come in on email. “But the construction industry needs to be aware of this threat and ensure they have robust systems and checks in place. The NEBRC can advise businesses who don’t know where to start with audits to check current security measures, IT enhancements and, most importantly, staff training. It only takes a split second for a member of staff to unwittingly allow a mandate fraud to take place, and the criminals will take no time at all to move any monies on from genuine customers and bank accounts.” CASE STUDY: Tom is the managing director of a successful medium-sized construction-based firm with a £3m turnover based in Yorkshire: “I operate a small construction-based business and we have a reasonable customer base; we’ve been trading a long time and had all the relevant standard industry protection you would expect for a company our size. We thought we were safe. “We had a customer who owed us a substantial amount of money and when we were chasing them for our monthly payment they announced they had already paid us – which they hadn’t. “It turned out, they showed us an email purporting to be our offices that was instructing them to change our payment banking details and they paid our monthly payment into someone else’s bank account on what seemed to be our instruction. We realised this was a very serious situation that can affect anybody. We never thought we were vulnerable to this sort of thing, and obviously it causes an awful lot of stress, undue heartache, and financial. “We have been consulting with NEBCR who have been extremely helpful and informative on these issue and we have put systems in place to hopefully make sure this sort of thing can’t happen again. All I would say to anybody out there is make sure this is front of mind , it can happen to you, it can happen to anyone, and it happens every day.” Tom’s full interview can be seen here: General advice to follow an possible attack includes: STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe. CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests for your financial or personal details. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam. TO PROTECT EMAIL IDENTITY AND AUTHENTICATION: Use a strong and separate password for your email. Create strong passwords using 3 random words. Save your passwords in your browser. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). Update your devices. Back up your data. For further information go to the NEBRC website www.nebrcentre.co.uk
BSW, the UK’s largest integrated forestry and sawmilling group, has unveiled its new brand, with an expanded vision of ‘seeing timber in new light’. The brand launch sees the group uniting its capabilities under a new, overarching, BSW Group brand, forging an integrated supply chain to create value and sustain long-term growth. Tony Hackney, CEO, BSW Group, said: “As the sector’s biggest integrated business, with capabilities including tree nurseries, forestry management, harvesting, production and energy, we believe we have a responsibility to drive positive change. “Following a period of intense acquisition activity, we commissioned a robust, independent review of our brand and market positioning to guide the actions needed to support a more sustainable future. The feedback we gained has been invaluable. It has inspired our vision to become the most innovative, technologically advanced and sustainable timber business in the UK.” As part of the launch, BSW Group is committing to ensuring a seamless, circular supply chain, to investing in innovation and education, and to giving people more stability and choice. “By growing markets, increasing efficiency and resilience, and elevating our craft, we can help secure the future of our industry and our planet. We have a shared will to create value and achieve sustainable growth,” added Tony. The brand launch follows BSW Group’s acquisition by Binderholz, which completed on 5th January 2022, strengthening the brand’s positioning in the value-added timber market. Our businesses – Maelor Forest Nurseries, Tilhill, Dick Brothers, BSW Timber, BSW Timber Solutions, Bayram Timber and BSW Energy – will continue to operate in their own specialist areas under the new overarching BSW Group brand, with a shared vision to create value and achieve sustainable growth. For more information, visit www.thebswgroup.co.uk.
Harworth Group plc, a leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, is pleased to announcethat it has secured planning for 110,000 sq ft of industrial & logistics space as part of Phase 2 of its Gateway 36 development in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The next phase of the scheme will see the direct development of three buildings ranging from 23,000 sq ft to 49,500 sq ft, which will include up to 10% office space and will be marketed as “R-Evolution 36”. The smallest building will be split into four units of 5,750 sq ft each to ensure its suitability to a broad range of occupiers. This will support the development of two additional buildings as part of Phase 2, which will provide an additional 425,000 sq ft of industrial & logistics space. The proposed development will be built to BREEAM “Very Good” standard, with 11% of the roof area covered by solar PV panels, and an enhanced design to allow occupiers to increase this coverage to 100%. The scheme will also include 20 EV charging points, rainwater harvesting and a sustainable heating and cooling system, as well as a building envelope design that is sympathetic to the surrounding environment. This development will build on the success of Phase 1 of Gateway 36, which comprised the direct development by Harworth of 145,300 sq ft of industrial & logistics space across four units, which were sold to Mayfair Capital in 2018. It also follows last month’s sale of a 24-acre land parcel at the development to Firethorn for £11.6 million, which will be used to deliver a BREEAM “Excellent” standard, 340,000 sq ft logistics facility. Located close to Junction 36 of the M1, Gateway 36 provides occupiers with direct motorway links to Leeds, Sheffield and Doncaster. The development is supported by £3.1 million of funding from Sheffield City Region, with all of the facility now drawn down contributing to the infrastructure that has opened up development of the site. Harworth is already well progressed with the creation of development platforms and access roads at the site, and intends to begin direct development of Phase 2 in early 2022. The units will be marketed by Knight Frank and Gent Visick. “Gateway 36 is a major hub for logistics and manufacturing in Yorkshire, benefiting from its adjacency to Junction 36 of the M1. The development of this discrete second phase of the scheme will be a contributor to Harworth’s strategy of increasing its direct development of industrial & logistics space over the next five to seven years.” Andrew Blackshaw, Chief Operating Officer, Harworth Group plc “The next phase of Gateway 36 will meet the growing demand for well-connected, high-specification industrial & logistics space in Yorkshire. In addition to supporting new jobs in the area, the development’s environmental impact will be minimised through the use of onsite energy generation and energy efficient design.”
A SIGNIFICANT housing project has been announced as the first large-scale project procured through national framework provider Pagabo’s Developer Led Framework. Southwark Council has selected Linkcity as developer for its Tustin Estate scheme, which will feature nearly 700 new homes. This includes 200 replacement council homes, around 50 shared equity properties, around 220 additional council homes including keyworker homes, and around 220 homes for sale. A Pre-Construction Services Agreement is set to be signed to kick off the process. The project also includes a central park, several refurbishments of existing council homes and at least 1,800 sqm of commercial floorspace. Linkcity, part of the Bouygues Construction group, will work with the authority over the coming months with a view to signing a full development agreement in summer 2022 with Bouygues UK as the main contractor for the scheme. Construction will begin late 2022 and is planned to complete in summer 2028. Pagabo’s £47bn Developer Led Framework was the first framework of its kind when it launched to the market in December 2020, with 29 companies appointed across nine lots to deliver projects across a huge variety of development sectors. Jonathan Parker, head of construction at Pagabo, said: “I am thrilled to have been involved with the procurement of a developer for the Tustin Estate low rise redevelopment programme, which will provide much needed improvement and expansion of Southwark Council’s existing social housing provision, as well as upgrading the facilities for people in the area. “The Developer Led Framework was launched as a unique market offering to help procure significant projects that make a huge social difference, and Tustin Estate is exactly that. Having been heavily involved from the outset, we’re really excited to see this project come to fruition over the coming years.” As part of the framework and procurement process, Pagabo assisted with the procurement advice, development’s business case, early engagement, expression of interest, formulating the invitation to tender, quality scoring and tender moderation, tender summary report, and notification letters. Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Homelessness, said: “We are delighted to welcome Linkcity to the Tustin Estate and look forward to working with them and our residents to build quality new council homes. Southwark has one of the most ambitious council house building programmes in the country and the work on Tustin Estate will not only help us reach our aim of providing new housing but also enhance the estate for current residents.” As part of the initial phase of development, Linkcity will create around 200 new homes to rehouse current tenants of the estate. In addition, the developer will deliver 440 homes across two further phases over the next three years, through its construction partner Bouygues UK, with at least half of these designated as affordable housing. Tom Jackson, development director at Linkcity said, “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Southwark Council and the Tustin Estate residents to deliver the first project on Pagabo’s Developer Led Framework. It’s a great opportunity to provide social and economic value through local employment and education opportunities, as well as new homes for this thriving community.” For more information about Pagabo please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/.
Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, is spearheading a new industry initiative aimed at reversing the crisis level shortage of skilled fitters. On January 17, 2022, the company took on its first cohort of 10, 16 to 18-year-old apprentices under a new block release training scheme launched as a joint venture between FITA (Flooring Industry Training Association) and Webs Training Ltd. The apprentices, based around the UK, will attend the FITA training centre in Loughborough for practical training for one week in every eight. In between – over the course of the three-year apprenticeship scheme – they will train with one of Designer Contracts’ employed or sub-contract fitters FITA is also creating a bespoke Designer Contracts’ training standard so the company can assess and further develop its trained, employed fitters. The move follows a growing labour gap and skills crisis over the past two to three years which has seen the emergence of a ‘bidding war’ for the shrinking pool of available fitters. Said Louise Walters, commercial director for Designer Contracts: “The decision to take on 10 apprentices – with plans for a further 10 in 2023 – represents a significant moment for us as a company as well as the new industry training initiative. “Apprenticeships and further training are one way in which we can tackle the chronic skills shortage. As a company we have also been recruiting and directly employing more fitters rather than relying solely on contractors. Over the past two years we have taken on more than 25 fitters, many of them in the past 12 months – and going forward our plan is to directly employ even more. “We still have around 300 contract fitters on our books but as many in the industry will know, accessing this pool of trades people has become increasingly difficult over the past three years. “The CFA has been leading this drive for more training and, through FITA, started delivery of apprenticeships in Loughborough in May 2021 with its first intake of 20 apprentices “We are delighted to be supporting this industry initiative with the largest single intake of apprentices by any one company in the country. It represents a real investment in and commitment to the future of the industry and, as a CFA director and committee member, we are fully behind this scheme.”