For many of us, homeownership is a major life ambition that we work for consistently over a prolonged period of time – and it’s natural that, since this is the case, virtually everyone has some sense of what they would like their “dream home” to look and feel like. The
Bellway is set to deliver 1,134 new homes at four new sites across the south-east of England as the company focuses on the provision of new housing in the Thames Gateway area. Plans are in the pipeline for three new developments in Kent – at Maidstone, Greenhithe and Northfleet –
The Heat Pump Association warmly welcomes the launch of the UK’s Heat and Buildings Strategy today in the hope that it will encourage exceptional market growth over the next few years. The Heat and Buildings Strategy published today (Tuesday 19th October) has unveiled phased out dates for the installation of
Work underway to deliver 824-home neighbourhood, breathing new life into a disused trading estate in Hove Construction has begun at Moda Living’s Sackville Road regeneration project, which will deliver a thriving intergenerational neighbourhood of more than 800 state of the art homes in the heart of Hove. The project at
“Although the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy does look like a clear indication of ongoing investment, it doesn’t go far enough. “When considering a heat pump there are many factors to assess which are not considered here, such as the property’s suitability. A home may need to be adapted to
Mark Bouldin, Clean Air Expert, Johnson Controls UK&I “With COP26 round the corner, now is our chance to work collectively and set the standard for others to follow. “Thankfully, technologies already exist that can help us get to grips with many of the issues at hand. 40% of the world’s
The majority of Self Assessment customers will have been affected in some way by the pandemic last year, which is why your tax return for the 2020/21 tax year may seem a bit different than in previous years. Whether you are new to Self Assessment or have been completing your
British Gas has become the latest organisation to sign up to the UK’s main F-Gas register REFCOM as it seeks to keep pace with growing demand for heat pump installations. The energy giant’s social housing subsidiary PH Jones maintains more than 195,000 homes across the UK. It supports 23 social
North West Leicestershire District Council Leaders visit to see employment and skills initiatives in action Following the launch of the on-site ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre at Mercia Park, Winvic Construction Ltd – a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering
The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mrs Terri Beer, was among those celebrating the achievements of a group of veterans who have retrained in construction thanks to a partnership between City College Plymouth, Sherford Skills Training Centre, and Building Heroes. The veterans were joined by College staff and local dignitaries
For many of us, homeownership is a major life ambition that we work for consistently over a prolonged period of time – and it’s natural that, since this is the case, virtually everyone has some sense of what they would like their “dream home” to look and feel like. The way things often play out, however, is that we end up having to significantly adjust our expectations to match the pre-existing properties available on the market, not only with regards to the homes we end up living in, but also with regards to the buildings we might want to use for commercial purposes. Ultimately, one of the key ways of getting around many of these potential limitations is to have your property built from scratch – and this is what many people do in fact opt to do. Here are a few of the benefits of having a property built from scratch. A new build, and the benefits that come with that While old buildings very often have their own kind of charm, and are attractive in a range of different ways, there are also various particular benefits that exist only – or at least primarily – with regards to new builds. If you are very drawn to modern architectural trends and home design styles, such as those which emphasise a lot of natural illumination and clean lines, having a properly built from scratch is the best way of guaranteeing that you’ll be able to have those exact aesthetic preferences represented in the way your home ultimately ends up. In addition to this, there are also various other ways in which having a new build could be very beneficial. With the explosive rise in the popularity of “Smart Tech,” and digital tools and systems in general, more people are drawn to the idea of having a “Smart Home,” which is well integrated with features that can be controlled via a mobile app. Often, these features can be difficult and costly to install in an older home, but if your home is being built from scratch, you’ll have a great degree of scope for modifying it so that it has the latest “smart features.” A property that is specifically tailored to your particular and unique requirements Not all homes or properties are the same, or serve the same purpose, and every individual is likely to have their own particular preferences and requirements for the type of property they want. If you run a suitable business, for example, having a plot of land where you can easily erect a Steel Building might be invaluable for helping your entrepreneurial venture to thrive. Likewise, you may have a particular hobby or pastime that you would like your home to facilitate, but which could be difficult to implement in an existing structure. Having a building constructed from scratch gives you a great range of different options for ensuring that the space is as personalised as you want it to be, and can properly support and enhance your existing lifestyle, pastimes, and even profession. When you consider just how popular various home ornaments are, and just how big market is for home remodelling and redesign, you can clearly see that most people do want their homes to be well personalised, and to feel like something more than generic living spaces from a catalogue. While there are certainly also things that you can do to enhance the ways in which your home feels truly and uniquely “yours,” and the extent to which it helps to facilitate your preferred pastimes, it’s difficult to argue that any other approach offers quite as much scope and variety as having a home constructed from the ground up, according to particular specifications, and with your own oversight. Greater awareness of just how your property is being built, and what is being put into it Increasingly, there is a growing sense of homeowner awareness about some of the ways in which particular material used in home construction can be hazardous or detrimental – and yet many homes which have been built in the past still contain potentially volatile and harmful materials. It’s still very common, for example, for existing homes to contain have asbestos in their construction – and even though it shouldn’t be harmful unless it is damaged or disturbed, this still creates one significant potential risk factor that you have to be mindful of, and another dimension in which your home might be hazardous to those working on it. In addition to the fact that certain materials that were commonly used in the past might be directly harmful to human health, construction norms have changed over time in other ways, and the kind of homes that were considered fashionable and cozy several decades ago will not necessarily reflect the architectural standards of the current day, or your own preferences. When you have a home, or other property, built from the ground up, you will tend to have a significantly greater level of awareness of just how that property is being built, and what is being put into it. When you’re having your own property built from scratch, you will also be in a much better position to mindfully vet the specific construction team that you want working on the build, and to get a sense for how skilful and trustworthy they are. In recent years, there have been several high-profile tragedies and controversies in different parts of the world, concerning buildings which were built without following proper protocol, back in the day. The satisfaction of being the first one to inhabit the property Let’s face it: although many people like the idea of living in a home that already has its own history and story, many other people also like the idea of being the first inhabitants of a property, and leaving their own mark on it. If you like the idea of starting a new chapter in your life with your own home, and making sure that it really
Bellway is set to deliver 1,134 new homes at four new sites across the south-east of England as the company focuses on the provision of new housing in the Thames Gateway area. Plans are in the pipeline for three new developments in Kent – at Maidstone, Greenhithe and Northfleet – and a further site in Essex, at Fobbing. Bellway Thames Gateway already has planning permission for 532 homes at Harbour Village at Ebbsfleet Garden City in Northfleet, 258 properties at Crossways Quarter in Greenhithe and 168 homes at Maple Creek in Fobbing, while detailed plans are pending consideration for 176 homes for the Bellway at Rosewood development in Langley, Maidstone. Tom Sherriff, Managing Director of Bellway Thames Gateway, said: “We as a company are fully committed to this extensive building schedule which represents a huge commitment by Bellway to the south-east of England. “The need for new housing in this part of the country is widely documented and we are in the process of trying to meet some of that demand. “These developments are four key sites that will help us build on our already extensive portfolio in the Thames Gateway region. These sites will see us create more brand-new communities and provide neighbourhoods where people want to live and put down roots. “The developments differ in size but between them they offer a comprehensive mix of housing, from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses, which will appeal to a wide range of purchasers from first-time buyers to growing families and down-sizers. “We are set to deliver 966 new homes in Kent and 168 new properties in Essex and are proud to be part of the growing success of both of these counties.” The developer has started construction work on a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments at the Crossways Quarter site – a five-acre site off St Mary’s Road and Crossways Boulevard in Greenhithe. Groundworks have also begun at Harbour Village on the south bank of the Thames as part of the Ebbsfleet Garden City regeneration zone. The Bellway development will include a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two to four-bedroom houses on the former Northfleet cement works. The housebuilder is preparing to start work at Maple Creek, which will comprise a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, and one and two-bedroom apartments on a 24-acre site off High Road in Fobbing. Meanwhile, detailed plans have been submitted for the Bellway at Rosewood development in Langley, Maidstone, after outline planning permission was granted by Maidstone Borough Council. The plans are for a range of one to five-bedroom homes, including houses and apartments, with a third of the 10-acre site to be provided as public open space. For more information about homes currently being built by Bellway Thames Gateway, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway.
The Heat Pump Association warmly welcomes the launch of the UK’s Heat and Buildings Strategy today in the hope that it will encourage exceptional market growth over the next few years. The Heat and Buildings Strategy published today (Tuesday 19th October) has unveiled phased out dates for the installation of fossil fuel heating, increased funding support for households purchasing heat pumps, and the rebalancing of environmental levies on electricity, all of which will be vital to growing the heat pump market and reducing emissions from our homes. Chair of the Heat Pump Association, Phil Hurley said: “The heat pump industry warmly welcomes these bold steps forward. The industry in the best shape it has ever been, with sales this year already double those seen ever before. “This announcement is timed perfectly to take advantage of the Heat Pump Association’s recently launched training course, with the industry now ready to retrain the UK’s army of installers with the capacity to train up to 40,000 per year, to ensure consumers can find a suitably trained and skilled heat pump installer when they need one. “Today’s announcement will give industry and installers a huge confidence boost that now is the time to scale-up and retrain in preparation for the mass roll out of heat pumps, as well as making heat pumps more affordable, so all consumers can soon access and enjoy the benefits of reliable low carbon heating that stands the test of time.” Key highlights for the heat pump industry include: The extension of the Clean Heat Grant scheme. Going beyond earlier proposals, the scheme will now run for three years from April 2022 with an increased funding pot of £450 million. Consumers will receive government grants of up to £5,000 for the purchase of heat pumps. The rebalancing of the environmental levies on electricity and gas. This will help to reduce fuel bills for consumers switching to heat pumps and is likely to further stimulate demand. Phase out dates for fossil fuel heating. Regulation is vital for instilling confidence in industry and commitment to phase out fossil fuel systems by 2035 is a major milestone for the low carbon heating market
Work underway to deliver 824-home neighbourhood, breathing new life into a disused trading estate in Hove Construction has begun at Moda Living’s Sackville Road regeneration project, which will deliver a thriving intergenerational neighbourhood of more than 800 state of the art homes in the heart of Hove. The project at the Sackville Road Trading Estate is set to deliver 564 high-quality build-to-rent homes and 260 care community homes, as well as extensive public gardens and a main boulevard leading to a large public square, office accommodation, workspaces, shops and cafes. The nine-acre brownfield site is on the former trading estate which is conveniently located next to Hove Station and is just a few minutes’ walk from the seafront. Funding for the site purchase was provided by Apache Capital Partners. Midgard has been appointed lead contractor on the project, with completion targeted for early 2024. The construction phase of the project is set to create more than 560 jobs, with many workers at the site based in the local and surrounding area. Moda Living, the UK’s leading family-owned developer and operator of build-to-rent homes, designed the neighbourhood with an intergenerational focus, an emphasis on public amenity spaces and social infrastructure for residents and the wider community. The neighbourhood will offer a variety of homes ideal for families and individuals with secure long-term tenancies for up to three years, helping to address the area’s housing shortage. Approximately 70% of the site will be curated into new public spaces, including landscaped areas and an abundance of green space with newly planted trees and gardens. The plans also include communal lounges for events and wellbeing workshops, private dining areas, restaurants, shops, 50,000 sq ft of office and co-working space, and five communal roof terraces. As part of its commitment to the area, Moda Living has signed the largest planning contributions deal Hove has seen from a private company in more than a decade. The business will contribute more than £10 million to local investment in infrastructure, public realm, education, public art and supporting the local community. Additionally, 10% of the 564 rental homes have been allocated as affordable housing. Following a formal event attended by officials including Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle, Moda celebrated the occasion with a community barbeque in Hove Park. More than 70 local residents of all ages enjoyed an afternoon of delicious food and drink with live entertainment, all provided by local businesses and artists. James Blakey, Planning Director at Moda, said: “We are thrilled that construction work has begun on this regeneration project to transform a rundown brownfield site in Hove into a multi-generational community, providing high quality rental homes and hundreds of jobs, both during construction and on completion. “We are also excited to integrate Moda Living into Hove’s vibrant wider community and are looking forward to investing £10m into local projects spanning education, public realm, employment, sport, public art and green spaces.” Sean O’Driscoll, Operations Director at Midgard, said: “We’ve been working with the Moda team on the project for several months and we’re excited to have reached the stage where construction works are finally commencing. “We’re looking forward to working closely with all stakeholders to deliver a successful project.” John Dunkerley, CEO and co-founder of Apache Capital Partners, said: “Our Hove site with Moda is one of our largest and most ambitious projects to date, and the construction phase will create local jobs and ultimately see this former brownfield site turned into a modern, intergenerational community replete with amenities that is underpinned by high-quality homes for rent. “Institutional capital wanting to access resilient, long-term income streams to match their liabilities continues to be attracted to the UK build-to-rent sector as it is structurally supported by long-term demographic growth drivers and a demand-supply imbalance, with a lack of high quality, professionally managed, purpose-built properties set against a growing number of privately renting households and an ageing population.” Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle said: “Whenever I walk around Hove, I look at the beautiful Regency architecture we are fortunate to have, and I say thank you to the people who built it all those years ago. “I want any new development in Hove to be something that people will say thank you for, long after we’re gone. That’s exactly what we have with Moda’s redevelopment of the Sackville Road Trading Estate.” Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council Phélim Mac Cafferty said: “Sackville Trading Estate was identified as a key site for development in our City Plan to help address the city’s chronic housing shortage. “This development will bring this largely underused and derelict land back into use to provide hundreds of new homes as well as jobs, community facilities and public gardens.” For more information, please visit: https://modaliving.com/live/location/brighton-hove
“Although the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy does look like a clear indication of ongoing investment, it doesn’t go far enough. “When considering a heat pump there are many factors to assess which are not considered here, such as the property’s suitability. A home may need to be adapted to accommodate a heat pump, such as resizing radiators and making space for hot water cylinders, which carry cost implications. Therefore, the proposed grants may help with the cost to purchase a heat pump, but there will still be costly investment required from homeowners in existing properties. “As for boilers, the strategy does not refer to any legislation behind a boiler ban, so it’s not surprising that there is confusion among installers and homeowners. “Whilst it is encouraging to see that hydrogen is still on the agenda and is referred to within the Strategy, it is a shame to see that a decision around hydrogen won’t be made until five years from now. With hydrogen-ready boilers already successfully trialled, they could be a strong alternative to fossil fuel boilers on the market today – yet this strategy seems to omit them. “We are committed to the decarbonisation of heating and hot water in the UK and will continue to work with Government and industry to offer a technology agnostic future, while educating and inspiring homeowners to make greener choices for home heating.”
Mark Bouldin, Clean Air Expert, Johnson Controls UK&I “With COP26 round the corner, now is our chance to work collectively and set the standard for others to follow. “Thankfully, technologies already exist that can help us get to grips with many of the issues at hand. 40% of the world’s carbon is generated by buildings so we must look to innovation to put us solidly on the pathway to Net Zero. Smart technologies are no longer a gimmick or a flash in the pan initiative and must instead be recognised as a significant vehicle to make a positive impact and advance our sustainability efforts. “But what governments and businesses don’t realise is that improving energy efficiency has more than just a good effect on the planet. Research has found that, in buildings with clean air technology, productivity can increase by 11%, with cognitive scores increasing by 101%. That’s a business gain that can only be achieved by exceeding current regulations. “When it comes to tackling climate change, we don’t have the luxury of time. Technology is the place to start, sooner rather than later.”
The majority of Self Assessment customers will have been affected in some way by the pandemic last year, which is why your tax return for the 2020/21 tax year may seem a bit different than in previous years. Whether you are new to Self Assessment or have been completing your tax return for many years, preparing your paperwork now can help avoid the unnecessary stress of leaving it until the last minute and will prevent you making mistakes or forgetting to include your allowances. If you’re self-employed and have earned more than £1,000 between 6 April 2020 and 5 April 2021, you will need to file your paper tax return by 31 October 2021 or 31 January 2022 for online returns. If you’re new to Self Assessment, you must ensure you leave enough time to register for Self Assessment first via GOV.UK in order to receive your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) and activate your account. Self-employed individuals must also register for Class 2 National Insurance. By registering early, you’ll be able to access guidance to help you to understand your tax obligations such as record keeping, filing and payments deadlines, and the potential for a first tax payment to include a payment on account. Thousands of people chose to get ahead of the game this year – more than 63,500 customers filed their tax return on 6 April 2021, the first day of the tax year. Filing early means you know what tax you owe. The sooner you file, the more time you have to plan and budget for the tax you need to pay. And it doesn’t mean you have to pay your tax any earlier, you still have until the deadline on 31 January 2022 to pay your tax. For those worried about paying their tax bill, make sure you access the support and advice that’s available to you as we may be able to help by arranging an affordable payment plan. Visit GOV.UK and search ‘time to pay’. If you have been affected by COVID-19 and reached out for financial support, it is important to remember that you will have to declare any grants or payments you received from COVID-19 support schemes up to 5 April as these are taxable. This includes: Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) Other COVID-19 grants and support payments such as self-isolation payments, local authority grants and Eat Out to Help Out However, the £500 one off payment for working households receiving tax credits does not need to be reported in your Self Assessment. To find out which COVID-19 grant or support payments to include on your tax return, you can visit Reporting coronavirus (COVID-19) grants and support payments on GOV.UK for more information. So, start preparing for your Self Assessment now and leave yourself enough time to get the relevant documents together. Check your information is correct and set aside time to enter your details. The easiest way to file your tax return is online. You can do it at a time that suits you and it doesn’t even have to be completed all in one sitting. You can work around your busy schedule and your business by saving your progress in stages and coming back to it again and again. To find out more visit Self Assessment on GOV.UK.
British Gas has become the latest organisation to sign up to the UK’s main F-Gas register REFCOM as it seeks to keep pace with growing demand for heat pump installations. The energy giant’s social housing subsidiary PH Jones maintains more than 195,000 homes across the UK. It supports 23 social housing providers, has carried out almost half a million service calls and installs more than 11,000 heating systems and 850 renewable projects annually. A growing number of these installations now involve renewable systems with noticeable growth in heat pumps. It is actively recruiting to increase its team of skilled engineers and grow installation work backed up by ongoing expert service and maintenance. With the social housing sector moving more quickly towards low and zero carbon targets than other parts of the residential market, British Gas said upskilling the PH Jones workforce was a priority. “The industry is clearly suffering from an acute skills shortage, and it is crucial that large employers like us step up to address it,” said PH Jones director Matt Isherwood. “As well as bringing new engineers into the sector, we also need to upskill our existing workforce, particularly those already involved in boiler installations and other ‘traditional’ heating projects. “They will be crucial to delivering high performing heat pump systems in line with the government’s ambitions, but the technology does require specialist skills. We recognise the importance of making sure everyone working for us is properly trained, accredited, and able to comply with legislation. Credentials “That is why we were very keen to become REFCOM members as it is the best way to demonstrate our credentials and support higher standards across the sector,” he added. The government has set the industry the challenge of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 – an almost ten-fold increase on current rates – and the Climate Change Committee believes 19 million will have to be installed to meet the country’s net zero carbon emissions target by 2050. PH Jones already has 11 F-gas qualified engineers and a larger team specialising in its renewables work. The agreement it has signed with REFCOM will allow it to eventually register many more certified operatives in line with its plans to expand its workforce. Founded in 1963, it now employs around 600 staff. Its social housing and facilities management business was acquired by British Gas in 2011. It received a ROSPA gold medal in 2019 following five successive years of receiving the prestigious health & safety initiative’s gold award. REFCOM is celebrating 25 years of helping refrigeration and air conditioning companies demonstrate their business and technical credentials and promoting higher professional standards of refrigerant management. Originally set up as a voluntary scheme in 1996 by a group of contractors who wanted to demonstrate their commitment to high professional standards and responsible refrigerant handling, it became the mandatory register for compliance with the European F-Gas regulation in 2009. It recently recorded its 7,000th company membership, which represents an estimated 90% of the total number of firms operating in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors. The UK continues to ‘mirror’ the F-Gas Regulation despite its departure from the EU, which means that all personnel carrying out installation, commissioning, decommissioning, repairing, maintenance, or servicing of stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning or heat pump equipment that contains or is designed to contain F-Gas refrigerants must hold the relevant designated qualifications.www.phjones.co.uk/www.refcom.org.uk
North West Leicestershire District Council Leaders visit to see employment and skills initiatives in action Following the launch of the on-site ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre at Mercia Park, Winvic Construction Ltd – a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects – and its client, IM Properties (IMP), has unveiled a Sustainability and Innovation Hub (SIH) at the same Leicestershire site. The Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC), Richard Blunt, Deputy Leader, Richard Ashman, and Chief Executive, Bev Smith, visited the site to see first-hand the progress of the 238-acre employment park, and experience some of the training taking place as part of the scheme’s employment and skills commitments. The visit included the impressive civils and infrastructure works that Winvic has delivered, the recently handed-over 550,000 sq ft facility for DSV and the progress of Jaguar Land Rover’s 2.94 million sq ft global parts logistics centre, as well as Winvic and IM Properties’ commitment to sustainability and innovation that has culminated in the opening of the first satellite Sustainability and Innovation Hub. The Hub comprises three zones – Sustainability, Innovation and Learning – which provide areas to showcase Mercia Park’s sustainability credentials, demonstrate Winvic’s digital advancements, train Winvic’s staff and supply chain more creatively than ever and inspire young people through educational visits. Its proximity to the ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre also means both facilities can be used for linked training activities. One key feature of the SIH is a 360-degree BIM CAVE area, which will aid the BIM design process in a real-time scenario by facilitating design team meetings and workshops and help develop VR imagery for health and safety training. Unlike the BIM CAVE located at Winvic’s Centre for Innovative Construction, it is a 360-degree resource where Virtual Reality (VR) 3D design models can be viewed as an immersive room experience, without a headset. Members of Winvic’s supply chain have partnered with the main contractor to bring the SIH to life, while IMP has provided the land. Carter Accommodation has supplied the cabins, Bespoke Construction the internal partitions and glazing; the PV and battery storage has been provided by Ivegate and the interactive screens by Walter Miles Electrical, while A & L Block Paving has undertaken all works to the external areas. Winvic has also sourced all the internal and external wall graphics and signage for the Hub through local social enterprise Nuneaton Signs. Also found within the SIH, there is an interactive meeting room, training and learning space and an area with a 3D printer. Visitors, such as school, college and university students, can also get hands on with Winvic’s digital Operation and Maintenance Manuals, whereby they can access sections of a design manual, maintenance guidance or 360-degree photos by using QR codes, in the same way end-users can within their finished building. Not only did the visiting party from NWLDC get hands-on, enjoy a demonstration of the BIM CAVE and see the facilities, but they also witnessed PGL Midlands delivering Face-fit training for Bespoke Construction, onsite and classroom IPAF Training being delivered onsite by Nationwide. Activities also included an interactive demonstration at the Sika Concrete Mobile Training Laboratory and a tour of the on-site concrete batching plant as part of Hanson’s concrete sustainability CPD training. To end the visit, Winvic and IMP took the NWLDC Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive on a Mercia Park site tour where they saw the progress of the Jaguar Land Rover project. Winvic’s Technical Director, Tim Reeve, who sits on the company’s Sustainability Leadership Team, commented: “The Sustainability and Innovation Hub – the second facility we have launched with IM Properties at Mercia Park in a matter of weeks – is testament to both company’s commitment to the future of construction, which has sustainability and innovation at its very heart. We can’t thank IM Properties – and our suppliers – enough for their willingness to drive this initiative in partnership with us. “Mercia Park’s green and state-of-the-art digital credentials make it the ideal location for the facility. It’s not only an operational digital design centre for Winvic, IM Properties, consultants and suppliers to utilise, but it also showcases the scheme and our team’s innovative initiatives and acts as an education and training centre for young people in the community. The value of such a facility and the broader was clearly seen by the visitors from North West Leicestershire District Council who were enthused all day, and we’re now looking forward to welcoming schools, college and universities, as well as more companies in our supply chain, to the Hub.” David Smith, planning director for IM Properties added: “It is great to see the commitments we made at the planning stage of the project, being turned into reality. It has been an incredibly difficult period in which to mobilise these activities, however our creative thinking, partnership approach, persistence and passion to maximise the employment and skills outcomes associated with the project, is beginning to yield some very positive outcomes. “Winvic is particularly proactive and we are delighted to be able to host their first Sustainability and Innovation Hub to showcase our joint ambitions to deliver net zero in construction on site as part of our overall commitments as a business to achieve new targets for improving our carbon footprint over the next decade.” Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council said it was great to see first-hand the approach to zero carbon and sustainable development Mercia Park was championing. “Mercia Park is an example of how a development can make a range of significant contributions to an area, both in terms of employment and community infrastructure. The green credentials of the development are very positive. As a council we are committed to being Zero Carbon by 2030 and we want others to follow our lead. To see the sustainability at Mercia Park is very inspiring.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news
The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mrs Terri Beer, was among those celebrating the achievements of a group of veterans who have retrained in construction thanks to a partnership between City College Plymouth, Sherford Skills Training Centre, and Building Heroes. The veterans were joined by College staff and local dignitaries for the Building Heroes graduation ceremony on Friday 15 October. The ceremony took place at Sherford’s revolutionary £370,000 Skills Training Centre, which was created to address the region’s skills shortage. It was funded by the Sherford Consortium – a partnership between Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Partnerships – and opened its doors in 2018. The centre has supported the training and development of hundreds of apprentices and armed service leavers, created hundreds of jobs, and enabled users to retrain and upskill across trades. The Building Heroes course teaches construction skills to veterans, service leavers and direct family members, offering them the training they need to start new careers whilst also providing new talent to an industry that is experiencing a shortage in new workers. Steven Ricketts, Sherford Skills Training Coordinator, said: “I would first like to congratulate all of the students who have worked extremely hard to complete their course. It is never easy to start over, especially for those whose previous careers were in the Armed Forces as it can sometimes be challenging to adjust to civilian life. “They have all excelled in their training and shown real dedication to learning the skills that will help them start new careers. I’m pleased they are able to mark their achievements with their families as it is the first graduation ceremony we have been able to hold since the COVID-19 pandemic.” The students – a combination of military personnel in a resettlement period and unemployed veterans – took part in the fully-funded construction skills course over five weeks, with the aim of securing future careers in construction. They received tuition and hands-on instruction in various areas of construction and safety and can now progress to a higher level of study or find employment working on construction sites. The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Terri Beer, said: “It was a real joy to preside over today’s celebrations and acknowledge the achievements of a group who have a genuine determination to learn new skills. “Construction is such a vital industry for Plymouth and a pillar of resurgam; all those who complete a Building Heroes course will be essential to our city’s development and growth. I wish them all every success in the future.” Karen Jefford, Chief Operations Officer of Building Heroes, said: “The charity’s focus has always been to support these men and women by offering them new opportunities for successful, long-term careers. “Building Heroes is also helping to meet the local skills shortage in construction, so it is great to know we are also supporting this essential industry.” Building Heroes first started delivering the courses at Sherford in 2019 and it was the first in the country to run on a live construction site. City College joined the partnership in 2020 when its staff took over teaching the students, in line with the College’s strategic plans for supporting the local construction industry through training new tradespeople, and also improving health and wellbeing by providing routes into fulfilling careers. The charity reports that there are around 120,000 unemployed military veterans of working age in Britain today. Figures also reveal the UK construction industry is facing a massive skills shortage, with 217,000 new construction workers needed by 2025. With Plymouth known for its considerable military population; this is an especially appropriate place for veterans to be given a new opportunity. For more information about Building Heroes and how to register for a Building Heroes course, please visit www.buildingheroes.org.uk.