When delivering a successful construction project there are some fundamentals to follow to ensure the smooth running of the project, that is no different when using Modular Construction. Stelling Properties believe there are three core principles that will deliver smooth modular projects. Early engagement of the design team Bring factory
Hoardings have been erected and enabling works begun on the NewcastleGateshead Quays arena, conference and exhibition centre scheme. Developer Ask:PATRIZIA has instructed contractor BAM Construction to work on the initial preparation works to the site between the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, the Sage Gateshead and Gateshead College on Hawks
AECOM director David Ross said: “AECOM provided strategic and technical support to DLUHC in its development of the changes to Part L (conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations and the introduction of Part O (overheating). Our work supported policy development in areas such
Leading paving and building manufacturer AG has ramped up its production capacity by 50% following increased demand for facing brick and paving products from throughout the UK and Ireland. The family-run business has been at the leading edge of hard landscaping and building solutions for more than 60 years, providing world class
Anderson, one of the UK’s leading property development and construction companies, has secured more than £16m of new contracts as part of the recent building boom. The most recent contracts involve two separate projects in Essex and one in Suffolk, which have all started in the last few weeks. Andrew Nowosad, Associate Commercial Director of Construction at Anderson, said: “The securing of
A contract to install back-up power for a major new project in Saudi Arabia has taken York-based family business Enrogen ‘into the Premier League’ of UK manufacturing. The firm, established in 2005, has been selected to install 12 diesel back-up generators at a huge new data centre being built by
What’s happening with the prime London rental market? Rob Pratt, Director of Lettings at central London estate agency Bective’s Notting Hill Branch, has shared his thoughts on the current prime rental landscape and what we can expect to see going forward. Rob Pratt – Lettings Director, Bective Notting Hill –
Stoford is making progress on a new DHL parcel distribution service centre as part of the next phase of a job-creating logistics park in East Devon. Construction is underway on two new buildings that will deliver a combined 83,500 sq ft of industrial/logistics accommodation at Exeter Logistics Park, on the
Lawson Demolition takes delivery of two new medium excavators Demolition and licensed asbestos removal expert, Lawson Demolition, has invested in two new Cat 323 hydraulic excavators to celebrate its 30 year anniversary in 2021. The well-established company bought the machines from exclusive Caterpillar® distributor, Finning UK and Ireland, where it
THERE IS no secret that as an industry we need to do more to look after our employees. The sector does go the distance when caring for physical health as this is associated with safety, but as our wider understanding of mental wellbeing grows, we cannot ignore it. National framework
When delivering a successful construction project there are some fundamentals to follow to ensure the smooth running of the project, that is no different when using Modular Construction. Stelling Properties believe there are three core principles that will deliver smooth modular projects. Early engagement of the design team Bring factory precision to onsite works Greater collaboration and communication across the project team 1. Early engagement of the design team. When using volumetric construction, the need for the early engagement of the design team cannot be over emphasized, due to the method of manufacture and construction there are important considerations regarding the scheme that require the expertise of design team and need to be decided early in the project. The key considerations for design are: Ensuring the design delivers standardisation to maximise manufacturing performance and minimise waste whilst achieving the architectural ambitions. Performance specification Interfaces between foundations, central cores, existing buildings. Structural loadings Fire compliance Installation prioritisation Thermal performance of the modules Façade and air permeability Services and connections Ventilation Overheating 2. Bringing Factory Precision to Onsite Works The manufacturing process for the volumetric modules will work to tolerances that are not normally achieved in the traditional construction industry, in many cases the modules are built to a +/- 2mm tolerance, as a result attention needs to be given to the interfaces with the modules and any structures that are a part of the project, for example foundations, central building cores, connections to existing buildings or large communal areas. Investing time and effort in setting out to ensure that the interface surfaces meet the same exacting standards is key to preventing construction issues later in the project as the volumetric modules are installed. The key considerations in the construction stage of a volumetric construction project are: The precision required at the interfaces between the modules and the elements constructed onsite The logistics of transporting, unloading, and installing the modules on site, to maximise the efficiency of construction the modules should be lifted straight from the transport lorry to the final location. Crane lifting capacity, site location and jibbing configuration. 3. Communication We all know communication is essential to every phase of any construction project. However, with over 80% of modular construction projects completed offsite the need for communication takes on greater importance. Therefore, it is important to establish a flow of communication with everyone on the ground — and every stakeholder and supplier in the plan. This transparency will make the process smoother and will reduce the number of emails, phone calls and project delays whenever a problem arises. So, what are the best ways of ensuring a good communication flow amongst the stakeholders. Establish Clear Lines of Communication Early on in a construction project it is important to establish a clear line of communication and determine a chain of command. Choose an Appropriate Method of Communication There are numerous methods of communicating whether it be by phone, video, texting, or email. A method of communication for specific tasks and information sharing should be established between all parties, it is then important that the chosen method of communication is then always used by all the stakeholders. Listen One of the key skills of good communication is the ability to listen, whether communicating verbally, face to face or by phone. Be Clear and Concise Understand the audience, and what the information they need, as when communicating in construction, it is important to make sure a message can be understood prior to sending it to the intended recipients. Get these three important elements right and you will go a long way to delivering a successful modular construction project.
Hoardings have been erected and enabling works begun on the NewcastleGateshead Quays arena, conference and exhibition centre scheme. Developer Ask:PATRIZIA has instructed contractor BAM Construction to work on the initial preparation works to the site between the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, the Sage Gateshead and Gateshead College on Hawks Road. Gateshead Council has led the development of the site which involves some £300m of regeneration investment. The enabling works package is a significant step forward for developing the arena and conference centre scheme which is expected to create some 2,000 new jobs (during construction and to operate the complex on completion) and provide around a £70 million annual boost to the local economy. BAM is working with several key partners, suppliers and sub-contractors to ensure a smooth start to the work and to minimise disruption to roads and footpaths around the development site. Appropriate traffic management measures will be in place to keep all road users and pedestrians safe. Full construction work will begin next year under a separate contract. NewcastleGateshead Quays will feature a world class arena, purpose-built conference and exhibition centre, restaurants, a dual-branded hotel and large areas of outdoor realm and performance space. It is anticipated the site will attract over 1million additional visitors each year and it is due to complete in 2024. The development will connect directly to Gateshead’s district energy network, including cycle provision across the site and capacity for electric vehicle charging points. BAM and Ask:PATRIZIA are examining a range of sustainability enhancements and a plan for significant social value measures. Councillor Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said: “We are delighted to see work beginning on what is a vital site for Gateshead and the wider region. We will work closely with our partners and local stakeholders to ensure the development progresses smoothly, and we deliver a project that creates good quality jobs and provides a huge boost to our economy.” John Phillips, Regional Director for BAM Construction North East, said: “Gateshead and the North East are very significant to us, because our people and our hearts are there and we know the local companies and suppliers so well. It’s a transformational scheme which everybody will benefit from and we have a wonderful opportunity to use our time here to enhance lives and give something back to Gateshead and its people. I’m very grateful that trust and confidence in BAM has allowed us to become involved at this stage. We continue to work hard on what is a large, complex scheme in tough market conditions.” BAM has premises and a long-term presence across the North East of England. It is presently at work on Home Group’s headquarters in Newcastle city centre. Accor, the leading hospitality group, is bringing its internationally renowned Novotel and Ibis Red hotel brands to the scheme and the 12,500 capacity arena, exhibition centre and conference space will be managed and operated by ASM Global. Speaking on behalf of the Ask:PATRIZIA partnership, John Hughes, managing director of Ask Real Estate, said: “Having worked with BAM on numerous previous schemes we know that they have the expertise and skills to deliver this world-class facility for us on behalf of Gateshead Council.” The North East Local Enterprise Partnership provided £5m from its Local Growth Fund to support designs and site investigations for the Newcastle Gateshead Quays scheme, and a further £7m from government’s Getting Building Fund to support the establishment of infrastructure locally, to create a new link road connecting Baltic Quarter with the A184 and Felling Bypass, and build a new multi-storey car park. Both the Local Growth Fund and Getting Building Fund are managed by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership. Read more about the development here: https://www.ngquays.com/
AECOM director David Ross said: “AECOM provided strategic and technical support to DLUHC in its development of the changes to Part L (conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations and the introduction of Part O (overheating). Our work supported policy development in areas such as assessing the technical viability and the cost benefit of proposals. “New buildings have been set an improved performance standard which will make them more energy efficient through better insulation, better performing windows and more efficient building services. The new regulations should also encourage the early adoption of low carbon heat by presenting a roadmap for its implementation in new buildings and they are also more favourable to low carbon heat sources such as heat pumps. Standards have also been raised to reduce energy use and carbon emissions when carrying out works to existing properties such as retrofitting or extending the building. “These new regulations will have significant impact on the industry and the day-to-day decisions developers make about building design and specification. They should be seen as a stepping stone to the 2025 Future Homes and Buildings Standard and are an important milestone in the built environment sector’s journey to net zero emissions.”
Leading paving and building manufacturer AG has ramped up its production capacity by 50% following increased demand for facing brick and paving products from throughout the UK and Ireland. The family-run business has been at the leading edge of hard landscaping and building solutions for more than 60 years, providing world class products and services to architects, specifiers, contractors and homeowners across the UK and Ireland. The past 12 months has seen unprecedent challenges hit the construction industry with firms across the sector facing supply chain interruptions, increased lead times and significant skills shortages. CEO, Stephen Acheson said: Covid-19’s impact on our business was instant, but innovation and resourcefulness – two key components of our corporate DNA – have enabled us to not only survive but thrive. By continuing to invest in research and development and harnessing technology we have been able to embrace these new challenges by adopting new processes and capabilities throughout the business.” The third-generation family business has also created a number of new jobs across its manufacturing plants in response to the heightened demand across the domestic and commercial sectors. Acheson said “AG employs more than 230 people across eight locations meaning we were well placed to react quickly when the pandemic caused a nationwide shortage of building products, subsequently increasing lead times to unprecedented levels. In response, we introduced additional shift patterns into our plants as well as adding even more talent to our fantastic team, enabling us to increase stocks of Country Cobble, Facing Brick and paving products. “The past year has seen us achieve some record-breaking sales in both the domestic and commercial sectors which is testament to the resilience and outstanding work of our team”. Acheson said that the company expects demand for building products to continue to grow in the coming months: “We predict this exceptional demand will continue to grow over the next 12 months, placing considerable pressure on building merchants. In response, we have introduced new processes enabling us to significantly increase production input and massively reducing our lead times. We have greater stock levels of some of our most popular products which can be easily called off at short notice and lead times on some made to order items is as little as four weeks, which will be satisfying news to our customers.” AG – which has built a solid reputation for innovation – launched its ground-breaking Enduur advanced concrete technology earlier this year, a factory-installed enhancement process that improves the environmental performance of its products. It also launched its new revolutionary Fiamma range – a reconstituted flagstone resembling flamed granite – that the firm regards as its most advanced product ever. Stephen Acheson commented “2021 has been a big year for us and as we look towards the new year, we remain committed to delivering the best products to our customers”.
Anderson, one of the UK’s leading property development and construction companies, has secured more than £16m of new contracts as part of the recent building boom. The most recent contracts involve two separate projects in Essex and one in Suffolk, which have all started in the last few weeks. Andrew Nowosad, Associate Commercial Director of Construction at Anderson, said: “The securing of these works is a fantastic achievement by all involved, and further demonstrates the strong working relationships we have collectively developed with our valued clients. “Well done and thank-you to all involved and may our successes continue as we move further onwards and upwards.” The first project to be awarded is the next phase of groundworks on-site at The Mulberries, in Witham, Essex, a 750-home development from Redrow Homes. Anderson has previously completed the first two phases including site infrastructure and off-site works which included relocating a roundabout as part of the technically-challenging Section 278 public highways package. This latest contract win is the 12th contract award at the Mulberries. Andrew said: “This amount is a mightily impressive achievement from all the team, to not only continually secure this work but, to also deliver the works consistently to such a high quality and safe standard.” The second contract win is securing the second phase on-site at River Reach, Mistley, Essex – a Hopkins Homes development. The contract involves delivery of all on-site infrastructure and groundworks to 100 units. “This is another job secured for Hopkins Homes and another continuation phase, further marking the importance of winning multi-phase projects,” said Andrew. “The team, working closely with Hopkins Homes commercial team, were able to ensure the tendering process was quick and efficient ensuring a timely start on-site.” Finally, the third contract involves first phase infrastructure and groundworks to 130 units at Henley Gate, Ipswich, Suffolk, which is a development by Crest Nicholson. Andrew said: “The importance of securing the first phase on a 1100-unit development can never be undersold. Having gone through a rigorous tendering process and multiple re-tenders, successfully securing the first phase at Henley Gate is excellent work from all the team and stands us in great stead for future works on such a strategically important site.” Steve Howe, Managing Director – Construction, said: ‘Our strong order book for the year ahead is testament to the team and the professional way everyone has gone about their work to help secure and futureproof the growth of the business. “Business relationship management is all about building trust, communication, and loyalty for mutually beneficial results. “And this culture – in our case ‘The Anderson Way’ – is what has led to us become a contractor of choice for many large housebuilders.”
A contract to install back-up power for a major new project in Saudi Arabia has taken York-based family business Enrogen ‘into the Premier League’ of UK manufacturing. The firm, established in 2005, has been selected to install 12 diesel back-up generators at a huge new data centre being built by a global computer company in Saudi Arabia’s north-eastern region, representing Enrogen’s biggest-ever deal. As a vote of confidence in what the contract win means for its future, Enrogen is creating further capacity by building a state-of-the-art fabrication plant at its Pocklington Plant near York. It has also launched a recruitment drive to employ more skilled and unskilled roles to boost its workforce, and actively encouraging applications. Enrogen specialises in the manufacture, fitting and ongoing and emergency maintenance of diesel back-up generators. Its generator sets help ensure critical systems can be maintained in the event of power outages at high-risk facilities including super-prisons and hospitals. This latest deal will help ensure the integrity of significant amounts of data, stored in the Cloud by the computer firm that has commissioned the installation at a new business park which is so big, it will be serviced by a new road and rail network in the middle of the desert. While Enrogen has seen consistent year-on-year growth since it was established by brothers-in-law James Brown and Gavin Wilkinson in 2005, and has remained buoyant despite the recent challenges caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, this latest commission has taken it truly global, according to Sales Director Kevin Griffiths. It could open the door to further Middle-Eastern projects which would cement its place on the world stage and potentially double the size of the firm over the next four years and beyond. “It’s already won us the ‘Exporter of the Year’ 2021 award from the Association of Manufacturing Power Systems,” explained Kevin, “and there’s no doubt this deal will get us noticed in this industry. “Doing a good job of this install, which represents our biggest project ever, will hopefully pave the way for further commissions out in other parts of the Middle East, which is a real growth centre at the moment, particularly for areas like computing and data housing, and financial services, because – as well as undergoing significant growth itself – it is ideally placed to act as a conduit for supplying key infrastructure services to developing economies nearby. For the current Saudi project, Enrogen bespoke-designed a back-up power system made up of 12, 2.5 MVA (megavault amperes), 16-cylinder (60 litre), 2700hp engines housed in acoustic containers. Enrogen was one of the smaller companies to pitch for the Saudi job, which is being handled by a UK intermediary, and won based on its unique bespoke manufacturing expertise. The project requires generators running on 60-hertz power, which are more common in the US and Saudi Arabia, rather than the 50-hertz systems that are more common across the world, and Enrogen had to source special Mitsubishi engines from Japan which can meet these alternative power requirements. Enrogen will build and test the systems in the UK and then disassemble them for transporting to Saudi, before rebuilding them on-site at the new business park. “It’s a specialist job that not many companies in the UK can actually do,” explained Kevin, “Certainly very few independent manufacturers. There are a lot of generator manufacturers that supply basic, off-the-shelf solutions, whereas we build our generator sets to suit what each client wants, which is outside many other firms’ comfort zones.” Back-up generator sets like those manufactured by Enrogen are designed to ‘keep the lights on’ at critical sites if they experience power outages that last beyond what their battery back-up systems are designed to cope with, and represent crucial kit in a world where so many functions are controlled by sophisticated computer systems. Members of the Enrogen team, including owner James, have been out to Saudi to meet fellow contractors and assess the requirements. “The site is basically in the middle of the desert but we’ve seen computer-generated images of what it will look like in the future and it’s going to be a huge business park featuring all sorts of companies and even served by its own railway network,” explained Kevin. And the scale of the project is taking Enrogen into new territory, in a multitude of ways. “It’s clearly an important project to Saudi Arabia and that makes it a big thing for us too,” he continued. “Dealing with global exporting to the other side of the world has represented new territory and a learning curve for us, albeit facilitated by a UK-based logistics company with representatives who speak Arabic, which is helping us to transport the generators ready for our team to commission on-site.” The company also prides itself on employing local people and offering the best of UK engineering on the world stage, representing the culmination of years spent building outstanding experience and expertise. “Securing the Saudi job has generated a strong sense of pride within our business and its workforce. It’s already doubled our turnover and we all feel a real sense of excitement and drive in terms of the opportunity for future work this could bring,” added Kevin. “The UK used to be one of the biggest generator manufacturers in the world and that has slowly declined as companies have gradually moved their production to China or Eastern Europe. However, we hope to play our part in putting UK back on the map and champion British manufacturing, and hopefully this project win is just the start of that.”
What’s happening with the prime London rental market? Rob Pratt, Director of Lettings at central London estate agency Bective’s Notting Hill Branch, has shared his thoughts on the current prime rental landscape and what we can expect to see going forward. Rob Pratt – Lettings Director, Bective Notting Hill – has worked in Prime Central Lettings for over 10 years and has intricate knowledge of the market in W11, W2 and W14. He is passionate about building long-lasting relationships and prides himself on offering the best possible customer service, whilst delivering excellent results for clients. Pandemic Impact What we saw last year across much of the prime market was like-for-like activity when compared to 2019. Whilst we did endure six weeks of lockdown restrictions, a handful of essential moves were able to take place and the rest of 2020 performed relatively well considering the disruption, making up for the lower volume of transactions during the six weeks of lockdown. It’s fair to say that actually, the pandemic impact on the prime rental market in 2020 was fairly muted both in terms of the number of rental applicants and the level of stock reaching the market. However, particular price brackets that normally perform very well, underperformed; house sharers were bailing on the market with jobs being furloughed, meaning the two-bed circa £450 per week apartments suffered. Studio flats fell out of fashion with not many people interested in being locked down in small spaces. The best performers were the houses, scarcely coming onto the market and being snapped up pretty quickly when they did. The first half of 2021 was a little more sluggish with the balance between supply and demand weighting slightly more towards oversupply. While domestic applicant numbers were reasonable, travel restrictions continued to prove problematic for foreign renters. Nevertheless, this did improve on a monthly basis throughout the year. The pandemic was always going to interfere with market activity and the immediate impact was predictably a drop in applicant levels. By late summer last year the lettings market had improved but still wasn’t operating at pre-pandemic levels. Even in spring this year the market had been challenging to navigate creating a mixed picture with pricing. Who is pushing the market forward? Over the last quarter (Sept-Dec 21), the market has undoubtedly returned to pre-pandemic levels. There has been a dramatic increase in enquiry levels from those relocating from abroad which has had a positive impact on pricing. Of course, the latest development of the Omicron variant is expected to dampen this in the short term, though in spite of this we’re now seeing supply squeezed to the point of stock scarcity. So much so that there is little to offer those already committing to the market. It’s a certainty that international movers will continue to be the deciding factor behind the rental market health in prime London and the virus has only reaffirmed that they are essential for the performance of the market. Throughout autumn 21, we saw an influx of American families looking to secure rental homes ahead of the school year. There was a limited level of high-end housing available and many of these families were securing properties after only just seeing it on a video. That’s not to say they are the only ones influencing the market. Domestic movers from outside of London have made a return, there’s a returning degree of student demand and there has also been activity from those already in the area looking to upsize or downsize. What’s more, heavy flooding throughout autumn has left the Notting Hill and Kensington areas suffering heavily, particularly the lower ground flats. This has resulted in an even higher number of applicants as insurance companies scrambled to secure temporary homes for them. Biggest challenges facing the market? We definitely don’t want another pandemic and we are hoping/anticipating that this latest variant doesn’t cause the nation to move backwards rather than forwards. However, as we all know unforeseen events can upset the stability of the rental market at any point and Covid will no doubt be a lingering consideration for some time to come. The more immediate issues facing the market are inadequate stock levels. Looking ahead, we have to wonder what the solution is if more tenants are choosing long term renting as a lifestyle whilst buy-to-let stock is dwindling. Is buy-to-let now out of fashion because yields are lower and long term landlords have felt the government have failed to support them? With the introduction of the tenant fee ban, changes to stamp duty and tax thresholds for buy-to-let purchases, is the appetite for buy-to-let no longer there? Build-to-Rent is becoming more popular and it may fill the gaps but space for such developments is limited within the prime market. Rental Hotspots in 2022 There have been huge infrastructure investments made across London with Nine Elms being the largest regeneration zone in Central London at 227 hectares. Fulham’s Imperial Wharf is the last section to be redeveloped within the South Fulham Riverside Regeneration Area which spans over 40 hectares and more than £4bn is being invested into the regeneration of Elephant & Castle creating and reinstating over 5,000 homes in the area. Modern-day tenants are looking for more than just an apartment, with new build homes offering on-site amenities, resident’s facilities and even close proximity to workplaces. Apple’s new campus at Battersea Power station will become home to 1,400 corporate employees in its half a million sqft. office space, making it inevitable that a vast number of these workers will settle in the Nine Elms area. The Tech industry in London is flourishing in other areas too, Hackney and Shoreditch are going to continue being major beneficiaries of this in my opinion. The Tech industry is only set to grow over the coming years with the likes of Meta’s digital world, which is likely to lead more tenants flocking to the areas that surround their workplaces, either relocating from abroad, outside of London
Stoford is making progress on a new DHL parcel distribution service centre as part of the next phase of a job-creating logistics park in East Devon. Construction is underway on two new buildings that will deliver a combined 83,500 sq ft of industrial/logistics accommodation at Exeter Logistics Park, on the former Hayes Farm, Clyst Honiton. They include a modern, bespoke facility of 55,000 sq ft on behalf of DHL that has been designed to reduce the logistics firm’s environmental footprint by minimising the number of vehicles required on site. Stoford is targeting BREEAM ‘very good’ and an EPC A rating for the new service centre, which will benefit from sustainability features including PV solar panels, EV charging points, a sustainable urban drainage system and a green roof atop integral office areas. The new development will also promote employee health and wellbeing through the creation of trim trail and outdoor gym areas, including bodyweight exercise equipment. A second unit of c. 28,500 sq ft is being developed speculatively by Stoford, in partnership with Urban Logistics REIT, and is expected to operate as a conventional facility with flexible warehouse space. The new developments could create more than 150 new jobs when they are functional in Q1 2022. Dan Gallagher, Joint Managing Director, Stoford said: “This is an ambitious build programme that recognises the need for Exeter Logistics Park to be developed responsibly, delivering environmental and economic benefits. There is huge pent up demand for logistics and distribution accommodation of this size and quality in the region, which is why we’ve taken the decision to develop speculatively. We’re excited by the potential to establish the site as the South West’s leading distribution hub, south of Bristol.” John Barker, Development Director at investor, Urban Logistics REIT, said: “Because of the lack of supply in this location and the quality of the build, we’re already seeing some early interest. This is another deployment of capital into the Exeter market which should be seen as a sign of our confidence in the South West market which we see as an important market for logistics.” Richard Moffitt, CEO of Urban Logistics REIT, commented: “The location of this scheme is already endorsed by logistics operators and the micro location is excellent, being close to the M5 and the airport. We are excited to be working with Stoford and the Church Commissioners for England to bring this site forward.” Joanna Loxton, Head of Strategic Land for the Church Commissioners for England, said: “The Church Commissioners are delighted to be partnering with Stoford to deliver these new facilities at Exeter Logistics Park. We are pleased to see the strong sustainability credentials that form a key part of the scheme, including infrastructure for electric vehicles, green roof spaces and the provision of solar panels, all of which will contribute towards carbon reduction.” Councillor Paul Hayward, East Devon District Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economy and Assets, said: “This exciting development builds upon the incredible growth of the wider Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone and will create much welcomed employment for the area. Additionally, this innovative building design will provide a significant number of environmental benefits which will accord with the aims and objectives of East Devon District Council to be a green, carbon-zero and eco-friendly local authority. I look forward to seeing the building in all its glory and send my thanks to all involved for choosing East Devon as the place where they wish to do business.” Exeter Logistics Park is part of the second phase of a significant industrial scheme on a 55-acre site, owned by the Church Commissioners for England. It is part of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point economic development zone east of the M5, near Exeter Airport. All enquiries regarding Exeter Logistics Park should be directed to the scheme’s retained agents, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield and M1 Agency.
Lawson Demolition takes delivery of two new medium excavators Demolition and licensed asbestos removal expert, Lawson Demolition, has invested in two new Cat 323 hydraulic excavators to celebrate its 30 year anniversary in 2021. The well-established company bought the machines from exclusive Caterpillar® distributor, Finning UK and Ireland, where it will be used with a variety of different work tools for demolition and materials processing applications. Lawson Demolition, a member company of the Lawson Group, provides bespoke demolition packages to clients by applying innovative methodologies to projects and using the latest technology in its plant and equipment. To be able to guarantee this for its customers, Lawson Demolition was looking for high quality equipment that boasted reliable performance, while also benefitting from better fuel efficiency and lower emissions as the company aims to reduce its carbon footprint. The two 323s will be joining Lawson Demolition’s already established fleet of Cat excavators. The new machines come with built-in Cat GRADE with 2D, Grade Assist and Payload as standard equipment right from the factory, boosting operator efficiency by up to 45 per cent. Combined with up to 15 per cent lower maintenance costs and 20 per cent less fuel consumption, the 323s are a low-cost-per-unit-of-production excavator, built for heavy-duty applications like demolition and site clearance. This year Lawson Demolition is celebrating its 30th year in business, a milestone of successful business operations. Sorrowfully at the same time, the business is mourning the loss of its founder and respected leader, Martin Wilson. Martin was the driving force behind a successful self-grown business within the industry, formed into a group of companies in October 2003 with the launch of Lawson Group. The business is now directed by Claire Wilson, Managing Director and Andy Neath, Projects Director. In addition to Martin’s commitment to Lawson Group, he was a passionate leader in the Demolition Industry and served as NFDC President from 2015 to 2017 to lobby the voice of the industry. “Our 30th year in business hasn’t been exactly as we imagined it, with the tragic loss of my beloved Father and the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Claire Wilson, Managing Director of Lawson Group. “However, with the help of our dedicated team, the support of Finning and our other suppliers, we’re confident that his legacy will live on for next 30 years and more”. “We will continue our excellent working relationship with Lawson Group — something that we’ve had for 20 years through both sales and aftercare,” said Darren Bodio, National Account Manager at Finning UK & Ireland. “The 323 medium excavators will be a fine addition to its fleet, and we will be supporting the company as they continue to secure projects planned for 2022 and beyond with servicing and maintenance from Cat certified engineers and a three-year essentials parts CVA.” Once delivered, the two Cat 323s will be put straight to work at current demolition sites throughout the South West. Delivering power, speed and high production performance, the Cat 323 has all the technology and benefits that companies need to take demolition to the next level. To find out more about the medium range of excavators from Caterpillar, visit the Finning website.
THERE IS no secret that as an industry we need to do more to look after our employees. The sector does go the distance when caring for physical health as this is associated with safety, but as our wider understanding of mental wellbeing grows, we cannot ignore it. National framework provider Pagabo is pushing forward with key wellbeing initiatives, including its ongoing partnership with leading health tech brand Moodbeam. In September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data for 2020, which shows that for every 100,000 construction workers, 30 took their own lives. The figures are horrendous when the rates in the industry are compared to other kinds of jobs. Glasgow Caledonian University professor Billy Hare has also carried out analysis of rates of suicide in different sectors, which found that construction workers are 3.4 times more likely to take their own life. Charley Wainwright of Pagabo said: “The latest ONS stats and the analysis carried out by Professor Billy Hare is striking – especially when we look at the past five years and across other industries. While the rate has remained fairly steady between 2015 and 2020 for other professions, the construction figure has gone up by five percentage points, from 25 in 100,000 in 2015, to 30 in 100,000 in 2020. “This ongoing issue clearly isn’t going away and instead is becoming even more prevalent, which is why as an industry we need to find new ways to manage this collective issue. We have been working in partnership with health tech brand Moodbeam to test its unique solution across the industry and have concluded a trial across 13 construction businesses. “Mental wellbeing is a complicated issue. Much like a hard hat will not stop you from cutting your hand, there needs to be a network of safety nets and personal protective equipment (PPE) to help protect workers – and Moodbeam can be seen as PPE for mental wellbeing.” The trials saw more than 380 volunteers* from 13 businesses – including Kajima Partnerships, Pick Everard, and Faithful+Gould – across the industry using Moodbeam’s wearable wellbeing solution. The wristband featured two buttons – a yellow one for the user to press when feeling good, and a blue one for when they were feeling not so good. Organisations were able to visualise this data and see how their teams and individuals were feeling, with a view to being able to identify where changes could be made, or additional support provided to improve more positive wellbeing at work. Feedback from volunteers following the three-month trial has shown that more than half of the participants believe Moodbeam’s initiative should be introduced across the industry. The trials have concluded at a time that Moodbeam has adapted its service offering post-pandemic, launching a more accessible and discrete option of a direct-entry mobile app. The new app features yellow and blue buttons to mirror the original wristband hardware used in the trials, with the revamped dashboard giving organisations even more insight into how their people are feeling across teams, departments and locations. One of the companies that took part in the trials was built environment developer Kajima Partnerships, which had 20 volunteers take part. Talking about their experience in the trials, project director Richard Coe said: “Looking after our staff is something at the heart of our business. However, as the pandemic started to take hold, we were really concerned about staff mental health and wellbeing as they had to start working from home and to juggle personal and professional lives and stresses against the backdrop of Covid-19. “The concept and simplicity of Moodbeam really appealed to us, along with the ability to stay in touch with how staff were feeling – and we found the trials really illuminating. We had volunteers sitting across several departments, so it was interesting to see how different departments were under different pressures at different times. “Not being in the office, we didn’t have the usual visual clues on how our people were feeling. Moodbeam really helped to alleviate this, and if anyone was consistently pushing blue then we were able to check in, find out why and mobilise solutions. We’re really pleased to see Moodbeam is adapting, how it does things further, and look forward to continuing the use of its new app.” Pagabo and Moodbeam will continue to work in partnership to drive change in the way the construction industry handles employee mental wellbeing. Speaking about the new app and continued partnership with Pagabo, Moodbeam’s co-founder Christina Colmer McHugh said: “The pandemic changed everything when it came to how, where and why we work, and we have adapted our offering in line with that and feedback from users to ensure Moodbeam provides businesses with the best tool possible to add to their approach to staff wellbeing. “Moodbeam is all about gaining a true understanding of situations, taking successes and failures forward as learnings in a manner that brings teams together to create the changes when and where they are needed the most. With the worsening statistics around mental wellbeing in the construction industry, we’re really pleased to hear the feedback from the initial trials and to continue our working relationship with Pagabo to make a difference to those working in the sector.” Simon Toplass, group chief commercial officer at The 55 Group, which is Pagabo’s parent organisation, added: “As the materials shortage and skills gaps continue to worsen, the pressure put onto contractors, developers and consultants will continue to grow as timescales and budgets tighten. The race to the bottom is still unfortunately very much on, and with this comes uncertainty and stress – and this is all against the backdrop of anything someone may be dealing with in their personal life, and uncertainty around what the winter months will bring. “Moodbeam is an effective tool for understanding the pressures on our people – and how they vary across businesses, teams and individual people. Earlier intervention is the key to tackling these wellbeing issues at or