Kenneth Booth

Platform Housing Group begin work on biggest MMC site so far

Platform Housing Group have begun work on a site in Kirton where all dwellings will be constructed from modern methods of construction. Alongside developers Burmor, they will be producing 41 homes on the former brownfield site on London Road, making it their largest site of this kind to date. 35

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REFCOM welcomes £1m penalty for F-Gas offender

The UK’s primary F-Gas register REFCOM has welcomed the Environment Agency’s decision to hammer a company with a fine of more than £1m for breaching the F-gas Regulations. The London-based firm IMO Gas Supplies Ltd was found guilty of seven separate offences all linked to breaches of regulation 31A of

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WE NEED TO BE BOLD BUT BALANCED TO REACH 2030 CARBON TARGET

There is no single challenge facing the construction industry – and arguably the world – that is bigger than reducing carbon emissions. The UN Sustainability Goals target carbon neutrality by 2030, but with the built environment being one of the most problematic for emissions and the stark economic realities of hitting that goal

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Five Ways Of Scaling Your Business Smartly

It is an inevitable, ineludible fact – we live in a society accentuated by the success levels and the extent of profits. Due to this, interannual expansion is critically important for businesses to thrive. There’s a fierce business world out there; every business owner should invest effort and time to

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Latest Issue
Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Kenneth Booth

World Mental Health Day: Expert gives advice as HALF of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems

Bricklayers (73%) are the most likely tradespeople to experience work-related stress  Finances are the most common cause of stress  IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Mind, to raise awareness of the issue    Nearly half (49%) of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work related issues, a study1 has found.  Ahead of World Mental Health Day (10th October), the research, by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, found that nearly three in five (58%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, at least once a week.  Money worries cause the most stress, with 38% of tradespeople blaming financial situations for giving them anxiety.  Other issues, such as tensions with customers (31%) and suppliers (29%), are also major causes of concern for tradespeople.  The 10 issues which cause the most stress for tradespeople:  Finances (38%)  Tensions with customers (31%)  Tensions with suppliers (29%)  High workload (26%)  Tensions with business partners (26%)  Job security (21%)  Doing the best job for customers (12%)  Making mistakes (11%)  Abuse from customers (6%)  Lack of work (5%)    Female tradespeople (57%) are significantly more likely to experience work related mental health problems than their male counterparts (41%).  Additionally, the main causes of stress and anxiety differ between the genders, with women more likely to feel stressed due to finances (39%) and tensions with business partners (29%), whilst men are more affected by high workloads (39%) and tensions with suppliers (37%).   When it comes to age, middle aged tradespeople experience the most work-related related mental health issues. Nearly three in five (57%) tradies aged between 45-54 report stress and anxiety due to work.  Bricklayers are the most likely tradespeople to experience mental health problems, with a shocking 73% admitting to dealing with issues such as stress and anxiety. In contrast, surveyors (18%) are the trade least likely to have poor mental health.   Mind’s top tips for dealing with mental health problems  Understand more about stress.  Figure out what you find helpful to deal with your mental health, as well as what can trigger it.  Learn about different coping techniques and if they work for you.  Exercise regularly.  Practise mindfulness and meditation.  Open up and talk to your family, friends and colleagues.   When dealing with mental health problems, nearly half (48%) of tradespeople said they choose to talk to friends and families about their issues. Less than a third (32%) choose to seek counselling, while more than a quarter (28%) take medication.  The research also found that a similar number (29%) do not feel comfortable talking to people close to them about their mental health. Furthermore, more than a third (34%) do not know how to access support services.   Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “We know that issues like stress, anxiety and depression are common in all workplaces, but that there are some sectors where poor mental health is even more prevalent, including construction.   “Because men generally find it more difficult to talk about how they’re feeling, in male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.  “We’re pleased to be working with IronmongeryDirect during Mental Health Awareness Week to launch our ‘Mental Health in the Trades’ report highlighting the scale of poor mental health across the sector, and urging employers within construction to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.”  Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “It’s shocking and saddening to see that mental health problems are so widespread in the industry.  “We feel that it’s vital for the stigma of mental health to be removed from the industry, and whilst we understand it can be difficult to open up, we encourage all tradespeople to talk about their problems. Whether this is with friends and family, your employer, or professional counsellors, speaking about your problems can often be the first step to addressing them.”  For the 2021 report of mental health in the trades industry, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/ 

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Hospitals, prisons, military bases & other public sector sites can cut carbon emissions by 70% by 2032

Complex public sector sites – such as hospitals, prisons, and military barracks – could achieve a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2032 with an average capital cost of £12.6m per site, according to a two-year innovation pilot. The Modern Energy Partners (MEP) innovation programme was tasked with exploring how to decarbonise the public sector estate, by developing repeatable methods that enable large campus-style sites to meet UK Government commitments on net zero.  MEP was driven and funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through the £505 million Energy Innovation, and overseen alongside Cabinet Office, and other estate-owning departments, with Energy Systems Catapult providing programme delivery, analytical and technical support. The MEP pilot used a test bed of 42 sites responsible for over 294,000 tCO2e carbon emissions – equating to 8% of Ministry of Defence (MOD), 17% of Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and 6% of NHS sites. MEP found that on average for a campus-style to achieve 70% emissions reduction by 2032 the capital cost was £12.6m per site. The MEP final report provides independent recommendations for stakeholders involved in public sector decarbonisation for campus or similarly challenging sites: Strategic plans to help speed up and scale up action are important: An increase in the pace and scale of decarbonisation across the public sector estate is urgently needed to reach targets. Agreed-upon, organisation-wide and long-term decarbonisation strategies can help simplify processes and cut timelines. More broadly, a public sector-wide reporting framework alongside appropriate carbon valuation will incentivise action. Tailored plans at site level are vital: A tailored and detailed approach is needed for each site. The design stage should consider all aspects of Departmental and site-level governance as well as the appetite for investment in low carbon technology. Working with multiple consultancies in the development of individual design plans can increase idea sharing and avoid technology bias. Delivery capability must be considered: Appropriate resourcing, capacity-building and prioritisation is urgently needed. This includes the capacity building of roles focussed on coordinating the planning and delivery of decarbonisation strategies into existing asset life replacement programmes on site. Important responsibilities of this role will be to select the technology appropriate delivery route and ensure sign-off and access are obtained in a timely manner. The programme focused on “learning by doing”, MEP tested out the practicalities of scalable decarbonisation through three primary activities: 1. Tested rapid deployment of data gathering technologies and analysis techniques to appraise future net zero progress across 36 of the 42 testbed sites. 2. Developed a systematic and repeatable appraisal approach for the decarbonisation of campus-style public sector sites at 24 of the sites, showing estate-wide programmed deployment can be planned. 3. Worked intensively with four “pathfinder” sites to test out different commercial deployment routes, seeking quality and value for money: Sheppey Prison Cluster HMS Collingwood NHS Goole and District Hospital Catterick Garrison Energy Systems Catapult chief executive, Philip New, said: “The public sector only accounts for around 2% of total UK emissions. But by both reducing its own emissions and demonstrating an ambitious, systematic and scalable programme of work, it offers an opportunity to demonstrate that it is possible to decarbonise at scale. The potential to procure at scale is likely to drive value for money for the public purse, encourage innovation, support skills building, help levelling up across the country and push technology prices down benefiting the wider economy. “The Modern Energy Partners programme demonstrated that it was possible to put individual sites on track to hit net zero targets through a sustained effort by people with a mix of skill-sets. “While some action has already being taken towards reducing emissions within the public sector estate, MEP experienced multiple barriers to delivery which must be overcome to deliver decarbonisation at scale. “Firstly, each Government department needs a deliverable net zero strategy, which captures the scale and pace required to meet national net zero commitments. “Secondly, the cost of decarbonisation is a key barrier. To make decarbonisation scalable, funding must be available and deployed efficiently within a department.  “Thirdly, MEP found that capability was limited to centrally based sustainability teams and, rather than embedded throughout departmental estate management. Under current conditions, delivery that relies on these small central teams is time-consuming and not scalable. “Finally, we found that in the future decarbonisation of campus-style sites, like prisons, military bases and hospitals could be possible and could be delivered at the scale and pace required, however it needed to follow a systematic, repeatable and scalable approach.”

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Final set of cooling towers successfully blown down at Eggborough Power Station.

Landscape changing demolition constitutes the next key milestone in the redevelopment of the iconic site which is set to be transformed into a state of the art logistics and distribution park. On Sunday 10th October 2021 DSM Demolition, sister company to leading regeneration specialists and an expert in brownfield development. St Francis Group successfully demolished the last four cooling towers at the former Eggborough Power station plant in Goole, North Yorkshire.  The landscape changing demolition was the next key milestone in the redevelopment of the site which is earmarked for mixed use regeneration in a Joint Venture by St Francis Group and Marshall Commercial Development Projects. The implosion took place at 09:00 a.m within the perimeter of a secured 350m diameter exclusion zone to safeguard the public and third parties Over 50 DSM employees implemented the localised road closures and the exclusion zone supported by officers from North Yorkshire Police on the day and state of the art surveillance equipment including heat seeking drones ensured that the zone was completely sterile in advance of the works DSM worked closely with Northern Gas networks and National Grid to ensure uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to the local area. The 90m high towers were only 60meters distance from the National Grid sub-station open switch gear and overhead lines, this was a challenging aspect of the job and meticulous planning and protective measures were required to ensure that our works did not impact on their continuing operations In advance of the works DSM met with local councillors to explain the works approach and to emphasise our prime concern of the safety of the public and monitoring measures to evidence that the works did not cause an environmental pollution nuisance. Commenting on the blowdown, DSM Project Manager, James Fincham said: “18-months of planning and work on site to achieve what has been accomplished today is a testament to the demolition team on site and all involved with the project. Plans and preparation are now well underway for the further demolition works to be undertaken in 2022.” Also commenting St Francis Group Director of Operations, Simon Dale said:“On behalf of St Francis Group and Marshall CDP, I would like to thank the DSM team for their successful and safe implementation of our second explosive event at the former Eggborough Power Station plant. The team have worked diligently over the past few months to ensure the event was planned, co-ordinated and implemented safely. The removal of all 8no cooling towers is a significant milestone for the development, and we look forward to working further with DSM and others to regenerate this site and create economic development for the region.”   *** EXCLUSIVE LINK TO VIDEO *** https://we.tl/t-0HTIGosY0r

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Esri releases ArcGIS GeoBIM, bringing spatial context to AEC operations

@esriuk New GIS product connects with Autodesk Construction Cloud to bridge gap between GIS and BIM Esri today announced the release of ArcGIS GeoBIM, a new product that links GIS and BIM systems and workflows, expanding the ability for BIM project teams to benefit from GIS. By connecting Esri’s ArcGIS with Autodesk Construction Cloud, the new product gives BIM the benefit of spatial context during the design, construction and operation of large AEC projects. ArcGIS GeoBIM provides an easy-to-use web-based experience, allowing AEC teams to explore and collaborate using data from multiple systems, in a geospatial context. The new product connects to Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro, a cloud-based design collaboration, coordination and model co-authoring software, built on the Autodesk Construction Cloud. ArcGIS GeoBIM is available from 5 October 2021. “With many global initiatives underway to improve construction, design and planning practices it is critical that today’s AEC professionals can collaborate together with a common view of assets in a geospatial context,” said Craig Evenden, Head of AEC & BIM at Esri UK. “ArcGIS GeoBIM lets teams work on BIM and GIS data in one place, see all their BIM projects on one map, share information with stakeholders more easily and minimizes costly data conversion, as they don’t need to keep switching between GIS and BIM systems.” ArcGIS GeoBIM will provide project leaders and stakeholders in the AEC industry with a common view of asset locations, costs, issues, risks and timelines throughout the project lifecycle. “Autodesk and Esri’s cloud-to-cloud connection gives our shared customers a unified experience and the information they need at their fingertips – regardless of whether it’s BIM or GIS data,” said Amy Bunszel, Autodesk Executive Vice President of AEC Design Solutions. “This will improve efficiency and decision-making during planning, construction and operations. Ultimately, our collaboration will help enable the industry to deliver more sustainable and resilient infrastructure.” “What we need is a single, authoritative source of truth access point for everyone on our team, a way to bring data and information together that originates from multiple formats,” said Darin Welch, HNTB Associate Vice President and National Geospatial and Virtual Engagement Manager. “Esri’s ArcGIS GeoBIM connection to the Autodesk Construction Cloud combines survey, design and planning workflows that offer a blended BIM-GIS data experience that equips our team with more informed decision making.” @esriuk

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Platform Housing Group begin work on biggest MMC site so far

Platform Housing Group have begun work on a site in Kirton where all dwellings will be constructed from modern methods of construction. Alongside developers Burmor, they will be producing 41 homes on the former brownfield site on London Road, making it their largest site of this kind to date. 35 of the homes will be built using Green Square Accord’s Eco100 system, which is an off-site, timber framed panlised system. 6 of the dwellings will be built using a new material from Durisol UK, who use woodcrete insulated concrete framework blocks. Luke Boekestyn, director at Burmor Construction said, “We are very excited about the possibilities at this site. We have a long standing partnership with Green Square Accord and know they will be able to deliver everything we need in terms of materials and time scales. We also recognise the enthusiasm for other materials in the MMC space, so bringing in Durisol on the smaller site to build those dwellings is fantastic. Our Quantity Surveyor on the site has a real passion for MMC as do we as a company because of the sustainable benefits for residents.” Early indications show that all the homes built with have an EPC rating of B or even A in some cases. This aligns with Platforms ambitions to achieve ratings of C or above for all homes in its stock in the next few years. Platform was recently named as one of Homes England’s strategic partners, receiving the highest possible grant of £250m to build affordable homes across the midlands. Part of this commitment will see them increasing the percentage of homes they build using modern methods of construction to 25%. Gerraint Oakley, Director of Growth and Development at Platform said, “This is just one of many sites we are using modern methods of construction on and we’re really pleased with the plans Burmor have produced. We have huge sustainability goals in our development strategy and we’re confident this site will be a leading example of how well MMC can work in terms of scale and time frame.”

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Next-gen digital showhome sees buyers spend 10 times longer on newbuild marketing sites

Transformative new digital showhome software, launched today, will bring newbuild sales into the 21st Century and allow housebuilders to get ready for the expectations of post-COVID buyers. The HomeSelector, developed by award winning PropTech company, Pixel, allows potential buyers to browse newbuild projects online.  Buyers can virtually walk through each property with and without furnishings, walk around the streets of the development, see birds-eye perspectives of plots and floorplans, compare and shortlist multiple properties, and click to reserve a house before they’ve had a chance to visit the site in person. In a pre-launch commercial trial, Pixels HomeSelector saw buyers spend ten times longer, on average, engaging and interacting with properties than before the software was integrated to the homebuilder’s site. The longer buyers were engaged, the more likely they were to buy, which was reflected in dramatically increased newbuild sales during the pilot. Steve Smith, Director at Pixel, says, “These days people expect to be able to view, reserve and buy almost any trivial item online.  But when it comes to the most important purchasing decision of your life, buying a home, the sales process is really antiquated.  “As a result of the pandemic, more and more people are looking to move further afield, so visiting sites and viewing showhomes in person is not always practical or even possible.  Housebuilders are no doubt aware of this change in buyer behaviour, and Pixel’s HomeSelector gives them the opportunity to get ready for this new era of house buying. “But it’s more than that, it’s an opportunity for firms to make a long overdue quantum leap in how they do things.  Pixel’s HomeSelector is more than just a new piece of software, this is the Netflix to the traditional showhome’s Blockbuster.” Pixel’s HomeSelector software is fast loading, intuitive and adaptable, to augment existing sites seamlessly. To find out more or request a demo, visit, www.pixel-future.com.

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REFCOM welcomes £1m penalty for F-Gas offender

The UK’s primary F-Gas register REFCOM has welcomed the Environment Agency’s decision to hammer a company with a fine of more than £1m for breaching the F-gas Regulations. The London-based firm IMO Gas Supplies Ltd was found guilty of seven separate offences all linked to breaches of regulation 31A of the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations over a two-year period. It was given five separate fines of £200,000 each for failing to ensure that the quantity of HFCs it was using did not exceed its f-gas quota. It also received a £10,000 fine for failing to sufficiently report imports of HFCs to the European Commission and a £1,500 penalty for not keeping proper records. The company is reported to have been using refrigerants R134A, R404A, R410A and R407C, which are all subject to restrictions under the F-Gas regulations. “This is precisely the kind of tough action we have been urging from the Environment Agency,” said REFCOM’s head of technical Graeme Fox. “It is the direct result of a tip-off from a REFCOM member who had become exasperated by this kind of irresponsible behaviour that gives the whole sector a bad name. “This is only the second fine issued to an F-Gas offender, but it is a huge statement of intent from the EA. However, we know this is not an isolated incident and the battle goes on against rogue traders who seem bent on flouting this vital environmental law for financial gain.” Frustrated REFCOM said its members had been frustrated by the apparent lack of enforcement of the F-Gas regulations which puts them at a commercial disadvantage because unregistered firms were getting away with not investing in training and the systems needed to keep track of their gas usage. “We have been telling the authorities about the need for visible policing for years and, hopefully, other offenders will take note and mend their ways,” said Fox. “We are delighted to see an example being made of this company and hope this will make others think again about putting the quality of services and products at risk, endangering lives and property, and undermining the UK’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” REFCOM said it was also closely monitoring the use of illegally imported refrigerant gas in the UK. “The continued use of illegal refrigerants by unscrupulous contractors is a very serious problem,” said Fox. “Not only do they damage the environment and atmosphere but are an extreme danger to life and property. “This is another area where the authorities need to raise their game because there are still far too many ‘cowboy operators’ using illegal products that they buy online,” he said. “REFCOM members are audited to ensure safety and legal compliance so they are rightly sick of being undercut by uncertified firms using dangerous practices and dodgy products.” REFCOM 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. Originally set up in 1996 by a group of contractors who wanted to demonstrate their commitment to high professional standards and responsible refrigerant handling, it became the country’s mandatory register in 2009 when the UK adopted the European F-Gas Regulation. The UK continues to ‘mirror’ the 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. REFCOM members receive a range of business benefits alongside meeting their legal obligations. For example, specially designed software to help them manage their projects and track refrigerant usage was made available free of charge two years ago.  The software, which would cost more than the REFCOM registration fee if bought separately, was developed by Joblogic and makes it easier for firms to remain compliant with the regulations. Registered firms also receive listing on the country’s largest F-Gas register, access to insurance services, the use of the REFCOM logo and other support. They also receive discounted training via the BESA Academy including the F-Gas renewal course. “We are making it as easy as possible for firms to be compliant with the law so there really is no excuse for not being registered,” said Fox.www.refcom.org.uk

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WE NEED TO BE BOLD BUT BALANCED TO REACH 2030 CARBON TARGET

There is no single challenge facing the construction industry – and arguably the world – that is bigger than reducing carbon emissions. The UN Sustainability Goals target carbon neutrality by 2030, but with the built environment being one of the most problematic for emissions and the stark economic realities of hitting that goal increasingly apparent, how can the industry hold up its end of the bargain? Lee Marshall, managing director at Viridis Building Services, believes the answer lies in boldly balancing environmental and economic viability.   “When it comes to sustainability there is a constant struggle between environmental techniques and making it fit within the budget. Businesses can have the best intentions regarding carbon neutrality, but if the proposed solutions aren’t economically viable, the most financially appropriate option will win out every time.   “However, we must start taking a different approach and understand that green solutions don’t have to cost the earth.   “The balance is found in the early-stage assessment of what works for clients across three different critical factors – technical, environmental and economic justification. It is from this basis that the strongest and most sustainable solutions are built. A building can have all the environmental bells and whistles, but if it doesn’t meet the brief and serve its purpose, there’s a good chance the client will be looking at other options fairly quickly.  “First up we look for a solution that meets the technical needs of the client, then we consider the environmental elements. Finally, we then look at the economic aspect – cost against benefit – and work out where the sweet spot is.   “This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Adopting the principles of Passivhaus – where buildings are created to rigorous energy efficient design standards such as being airtight and using high-quality insulation –can work for certain situations for example. But it isn’t a panacea, especially when certification is sought at the detriment of the underlying economics and justifications.  “With new projects, it’s crucial to get ahead in the design phase and look at the environmental versus economic elements. However, existing buildings are also a very real issue. The key to reaching minimal carbon output is to start from the bottom and identify the essentials. We all need light and warmth, but we can do without lots of lighting and big boilers.   “Finding the right way to reduce a company’s carbon footprint can be a minefield but establishing the true carbon baseline is a great place to start. We recently completed a feasibility study for transitioning the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National “Park to net zero. We identified the park’s direct energy usage across the entire estate and produced a best in class/challenger roadmap to reduce reaching the net zero target from 2030 to 2025.  “We all want to ensure that we design and build in the most environmentally efficient way. By incorporating sustainable building methods as well as technology into the brief is where real change will come, and the strongest and most sustainable solutions are built.” 

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What Construction Applications Are Expanded Metal Best Used In?

If you’re not familiar with expanded metal, it would be a good idea to get to know it, as it’s actually a very versatile material that can be used in many different contexts. Essentially, expanded metal is created by putting a sheet of metal through a shear-form process. During this process, the sheet of metal is put under multiple knives, which then inserts slits and simultaneously stretches them out. What you’re left with on your sheet of metal is a pattern of diamond-shaped mesh, the composition of which allows it to be very strong relative to how much it weighs. In addition to its many construction applications, using expanded metal (which can be made from basically any type of metal, including aluminum or steel) can also be a very environmentally friendly decision. Because the metal, during the expansion process, is slit by the knives rather than being punched through, you aren’t wasting any pieces of the material. Because of this, expanded metal is typically a very green construction material. So, you’re probably wondering when to utilize this in your construction projects. There are several worthwhile applications of this material, and we will cover some of them here. Supporting Structures Because of its raised mesh pattern, many builders utilize expanded metal for supporting things like masonry, tile, and stone veneers, as it provides an excellent surface for keying plaster (a process that allows for more effective adhesion). Expanded metal is also frequently used to support parts of a building that are more likely to suffer cracks, such as the edges of doors and windows, or in any corners where a wall intersects with the ceiling or a different wall. Because of its light weight and versatility, it can be utilized as a means of support for a variety of different surfaces and structures. Keeping a Jobsite Safe & Secure Another excellent benefit of expanded metal is that it can be used to increase the safety at a construction jobsite. For example, workers falling through skylights is a very real risk at any worksite, but using this material as a screen can prevent it from happening. Additionally, the material has anti-slip properties, so if utilized strategically, it can be placed over the more slick places in the work area to help prevent workers from taking any nasty falls. In terms of the actual construction applications, it can also keep whatever structure or facility is being built safer, by being used on scaffolding, walkways, or even staircases. You don’t want your construction workers slipping and falling, but you certainly don’t want pedestrians or residents slipping and falling once the project is done, either! Expanded metal can also be used as an effective deterrent for any potential burglars or vandals. For one, large amounts of this material can be set up as a type of fence around whatever you want to keep secure, whether it be an entire jobsite or just a specific collection of equipment. Alternatively, due to its versatility, small lockers or storage boxes can also be constructed from it, if you just need to keep a smaller object safe and secure. Because it is such a strong material, businesses and facilities have been trusting fences and barriers made from it to keep their important property secure for many years. Filtration When you need to filter things like grease or oil from any of your more heavy duty construction equipment, expanded metal can serve as an excellent tool, due to its inherent strength. When you use it within your filtration system, it can be very effective at filtering out the vast majority of the bigger contaminants and particles, which takes a ton of stress off the filter itself. Not only will this help your heavy equipment run more smoothly, but it will also allow your filter to do its job more efficiently. Because of how well it does this job, it is typically one of the most common types of metal that professionals prefer to use when it comes to filters for heating and air conditioning systems, as well. Decoration Because it can be slit with nice-looking patterns, and be coated with various paints or markings, expanded metal can be an aesthetically-pleasing material to use for many different decorative or display purposes. Whether you choose to construct a professional looking fence or walkway, or just use it as an outer layer for the surface of a building, outdoor furniture, or really any types of outdoor structures that you may be putting together, it tends to look good. Many people praise this building material, mostly for its impressive functionality, but it is also frequently found to be quite pleasing to the eye. All over the world, it is becoming more and more common for it to be used simply as a way to make a building facade, a ceiling, or a sidewalk look unique. Since it’s so light-weight, and versatile in the sense that it can be made from so many different types of metal and fitted to so many different purposes, there is really no end to the uses you can find for it. In Conclusion As you can tell, there is no shortage of ways to utilize this product into your construction project. If you are using it to improve your actual construction working conditions, and are only interested in its usefulness and functionality, you will certainly not be disappointed. When set up the right way, it will not only greatly lower the chances of you or any other workers injuring themselves on the job, but it will also give you peace of mind that everything stays secure when your crew isn’t around to keep watch.On the other hand, if you’re more interested in using expanded metal to enhance the final product of the construction job, you will be happy with your results in that area as well. Overall, it will not only make the building or structure safer for its occupants, but it will make the buildings themselves sturdier

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Five Ways Of Scaling Your Business Smartly

It is an inevitable, ineludible fact – we live in a society accentuated by the success levels and the extent of profits. Due to this, interannual expansion is critically important for businesses to thrive. There’s a fierce business world out there; every business owner should invest effort and time to raise their profit margin. One word that could sum up the cutthroat business world is unpredictability. So how would an entrepreneur expand the business with ever-changing consumer behavior, increasing supplier costs, tumultuous political moments, and the never-ending technology streak? It is a common misconception among entrepreneurs that merely a business plan is enough to foster growth, draw investors, and bring in more revenue. But, the reality is, unless an organization revamps its current strategies now and then, it’s impossible to make your business flourish. Therefore, every successful and intelligent business leader fine-tunes the existing methodologies that yield revenue or might be generating it in the unforeseeable future. No matter how much the media and stats tell you that the odds are against you and there is a slim chance of success, never fret. There are heaps of opportunities to make your company prosper every single year. Ahead are proven strategies to grow your business smartly: Become socially and ethically responsible The concept of corporate social responsibility has gained much recognition lately. The term “social responsibility” here refers to organizations’ actions to save the planet we live on and the inhabitants of it. Today, customers get more inclined towards brands that follow ethical practices and don’t make profit their priority. Therefore, ensure that your organization operates in a way that showcases social responsibility. That way, you can win the hearts of the audience. Not only this, but corporate social responsibility initiatives also help attract the best talent and investments. Although it’s not a legal prerequisite; still, businesses that work sustainably hold a positive reputation, gain a competitive edge, and enhance customer and employee engagement. Assess operational costs Many business owners often neglect this strategy when it comes to scaling their business. What’s the point of earning more revenue if your operational costs increase along with it? If both revenue and operating costs increase simultaneously at the same rate, then it might not be in your company’s best interests. Operating cost refers to the money that your business requires to run your day-to-day business operations. So if you wish to grow your business smartly, one critical step is to ensure your revenue is more significant than your operational costs. Look for ways where you can optimize business processes. For example, collaborate with your employees to understand how production processes occur in your business and what measures you can take to enhance their efficiencies. You can also identify some operations that no longer need more workforce; instead, employing automated services can help you grow and succeed. Furthermore, you can determine your operating costs by analyzing income statements. Enhance customer service Customers are one of the most significant assets for all types of businesses. You can’t overlook your customers and expect your business to gain profitable expansion. And losing potential customers to your competitors is probably the last thing you want. But, how do you retain existing customers and acquire new ones? One best practice is to offer exceptional customer service. That way, you can keep your customers happy and satisfied. Thus, gain an insight into your customers’ needs, interests, and preferences to understand your target audience. In this manner, you can offer personalized services to the relevant customer base. You can also ask for feedback from your customers to know their pain points and enhance your business strategies. Don’t get downhearted with negative reviews or constructive feedback. Instead, consider this as your learning opportunity and knuckle down to improve your areas where you lack. Keep the employees in the loop Long gone are the days when high-powered leadership orders around and made businesses prosper. Today, such dictatorial methods can hamper business performance and workplace culture. Conversely, organizations that appreciate and value the opinions of employees increase the probability of growing. While you get engrossed during the scale-up event, take some time to get the nuts and bolts fixed and particularly understand your employee’s points of view. Listen to them intently and let the suggestions pour in from inside the workplace. Since your workforce always remains at the forefront and sees business operation first-hand, they might provide better ideas. Also, instead of keeping your staff in the dark, you must share your organizational goals and plans with them. Transparency and effective communication can increase productivity levels. In turn, this will give you the zeal to veritably expand your young business. Come up with a cohesive marketing approach Failing to come up with a successful scaling strategy may spell severe repercussions down the road. For instance, your business might probably end up compromising the quality of the product or service. And this equates to losing your customers – the diametric inverse of why you wished to scale up the business initially. Therefore, tap into your creative skills and craft a cohesive marketing campaign. For instance, try to pick up a unique color, recommend an innovative tagline, and ensure it conveys the same message as your company’s mission. Moreover, you can nail down your scaling strategy by expanding your marketing campaigns on various social media platforms. Instead of building silos for each medium, share a unique message across all marketing channels. That way, your business will achieve qualitative outcomes – even more than that and more incredible than ever. And that’s how your business will most likely propel to the next level. However, if you don’t prioritize your personnel, marketing, and process, you may have a hard time fulfilling your intention of scaling. Final Words While all these tips may be helpful, you mustn’t consider them as sweeping generalizations. Instead, the crucial takeaway is to get down to your target audience’s needs and zero in on business peripherals. Remember, when you are cent percent certain

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