GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, announced today that it has appointed Natali Cooper as Head of Portfolio, Asset Management and ESG, Europe. Natali has played a lead role in the development of GLP’s ESG strategy across its European portfolio and through its funds.
Chubb, a leading provider of security and fire safety solutions has been appointed by EDF Energy as the main security systems provider for the operational station at Hinkley Point C (HPC) – the UK’s largest construction project and first new generation of nuclear plant to be built in over 20 years.
Leading property management agent, Rendall & Rittner, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a We invest in people, platinum accreditation by Investors in People. This is the highest level possible and is only achieved by 2% of organisations. Rendall & Rittner first achieved Investors in People accreditation
Workers spend entire days on construction sites, so you must provide effective sanitation to fulfill their basic human needs. Having an unclean working environment can lead to infections and will result in hefty lawsuits. Now, more than ever, you need to make sanitation a priority for your project plan. Luckily,
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
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
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.
@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
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
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
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, announced today that it has appointed Natali Cooper as Head of Portfolio, Asset Management and ESG, Europe. Natali has played a lead role in the development of GLP’s ESG strategy across its European portfolio and through its funds. Through the new role, Natali will be responsible for the ongoing implementation and evolution of the strategy across the European business. In addition, Natali will remain in charge of the portfolio and asset management functions as an ongoing strategic priority for the business. GLP has established a broad range of environmental, social and governance commitments that elevate the business and create value for its stakeholders. These cover a number of areas including developing and managing sustainable assets and promoting the well-being of its people, partners and communities. GLP has pioneered market-leading sustainability initiatives in the logistics real estate sector including the development of Magnitude at Magna Park, Milton Keynes which is one of the first designated net-zero logistics building in the UK. Nick Cook, President, GLP Europe, said: “Our approach to sustainability and ESG sits at the heart of our decision-making process. Natali has led the way in developing our long-term ESG strategy and we are thrilled that she will be leading on its execution over the coming years. We have made great strides in integrating ESG considerations across our business but recognise that we, and the industry as a whole, have a long way to go. I look forward to working closely with Natali to further develop our sustainability credentials.” Natali Cooper added: “The logistics sector’s stratospheric growth and increasingly important role in the global economy has already placed the industry in the spotlight. It is essential for the long-term success of our business that we take meaningful action to reduce our carbon footprint and create a blueprint for integrating these buildings into communities. This is both a moral and commercial imperative. The whole team is committed to delivering on our ambitious strategy and I look forward to implementing it in the years to come.”
Chubb, a leading provider of security and fire safety solutions has been appointed by EDF Energy as the main security systems provider for the operational station at Hinkley Point C (HPC) – the UK’s largest construction project and first new generation of nuclear plant to be built in over 20 years. Chubb is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. HPC will generate low-carbon electricity for up to six million homes, which equates to 7% of the UK’s energy supply. The plant is also expected to generate approximately 25,000 employment opportunities throughout construction and operation jobs, 900 permanent jobs and contribute significantly to the UK economy. Chubb came on board in October 2020, to provide physical and electronic security systems. The total solution deployed includes unique design and in-house software development, integration, delivery and accreditation of bespoke systems. The comprehensive security system will include CCTV, intruder alarm, access control and visitor management technologies, as well as perimeter intruder detection for the nuclear power station. “We are delighted to work with the HPC teams for this project. Our long-standing relationship with EDF Energy is important to us and we value the opportunity to work on such a high-profile project. Chubb is able to fully leverage its expertise as a leading designer and integrator of security systems, identifying and solving complex requirements to critical national infrastructure and major, large-scale projects across the public and private sector,” said David Dunnagan, Systems Director at Chubb. To learn more about Chubb’s solutions and services, visit https://www.chubbfiresecurity.com/en/uk/
Leading property management agent, Rendall & Rittner, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a We invest in people, platinum accreditation by Investors in People. This is the highest level possible and is only achieved by 2% of organisations. Rendall & Rittner first achieved Investors in People accreditation in 2006, and since then has continued to develop its people management practices in the pursuit of excellence. The company, which currently employs 500 members of Head Office staff and over 1,500 on-site staff, has achieved an award that matches the Platinum standard it was awarded in 2018. Commenting on the award, Catherine Riva, Director at Rendall & Rittner, said: “This is a great result, which reflects the significant hard work of everyone in our company. From our apprentices to our team managers, and from our cleaners to our lead executives, we would not have been able to attain a Platinum standard without their commitment. At Rendall & Rittner, we aim to continuously improve and have goals of being a lead employer in the industry, offering value-added services and delivering high levels of customer care to residents across all of our developments. This tremendous news provides verification from an international awarding body that we are achieving our goals. We will continue to strive for excellence in our future work.” Investors in People is the international standard for people management, defining what it takes to lead, support and manage people effectively in order to achieve the best results. The platinum accreditation means that policies and practices focused on supporting people are embedded in every corner of Rendall & Rittner. As a platinum company, everyone knows that they have an important part to play in the company doing well, and is always looking for ways to improve. The award demonstrates Rendall & Rittner’s ability to deploy the essential skills and effective structures required to outperform in any industry. Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, said: “We’d like to congratulate Rendall & Rittner. Platinum accreditation on We invest in people is a remarkable effort for any organisation, and places Rendall & Rittner in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.” For more information on Rendall & Rittner visit www.rendallandrittner.co.uk or for more information about Investors in People please visit www.investorsinpeople.com
Workers spend entire days on construction sites, so you must provide effective sanitation to fulfill their basic human needs. Having an unclean working environment can lead to infections and will result in hefty lawsuits. Now, more than ever, you need to make sanitation a priority for your project plan. Luckily, all it takes is some simple planning and common sense to make your site compliant. Below, we tell you the key aspects of setting up construction site sanitation. Portable Toilets Portable toilets and urinals are the answer to affordable construction site restroom requirements. They need to be placed correctly and kept clean at all times, so make sure you know how to manage your construction site sanitation equipment. You should put considerable thought into the model of portable toilet you use. For example, some of them supply hot and cold water as well as heating capabilities. When you plan how many you need, you should follow the recommendations laid out by The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). They state that you should have at least one toilet for a site of 20 people. For sites with 50+ workers, you need to supply at least one toilet and urinal per 50 people. Suitable Water Your site needs to have sufficient water to keep away the dehydration. You should ensure that drinking water is labeled clearly and contained in barrels with a dispensing tap. Once you’ve positioned airtight drinking solutions, you should consider providing disposable cups and attempting to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Maintaining a green construction site will help to win over the affection of anyone opposing your project. Hand Washing Facilities Hygiene should be at the forefront of your mind when planning your project, especially after the global pandemic. Therefore, alongside sufficient toilets, you need to provide clean handwashing facilities. As well as having washbasins, you need to provide quality soap to eradicate harmful substances that workers may have come into contact with. Efficient Shower After a long day of hard graft and coming into contact with potentially dangerous materials, your employees will want to wash before they leave. Therefore, you should supply the demand by renting a shower trailer. These trailers come with a supply of water, which means you don’t have to worry about running water on your site. Changing Rooms For projects that call for specialized gear, you need to supply a changing room. If you’re having a shower trailer onsite, you should customize your selection to include a changing room. However, if you need to rent a separate facility, ensure it has ample storage space for employee belongings. Constructions sites are busy places with plenty of contaminates about the place. Workers will spend long hours on-site, and therefore need to be looked after. Supplying clean and accessible portable toilets, showers, hand washing facilities, and changing rooms will guarantee you tick all the boxes. When you are choosing equipment, you need to think about their placement to allow maintenance trucks access at all times.
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/
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.”
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
@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
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.”
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.