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
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
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
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
Small business owners or newbie entrepreneurs have many things on their plates with little time to accomplish everything. However, it would be best to remain well aware that sales alone won’t decide your business’s financial success in the future. Sure, significantly increasing your sales will lead to more profits in
The waterside development is of outstanding design and quality, and key to the ongoing regeneration of Worcester The new proposals are a direct response to planning and consultation feedback The scheme will provide a £362m economic boost to Worcester and the wider West Midlands area The development responds directly to
MCM Group is delighted to announce that Unit 12, a 38,000 sq ft warehouse at Felnex Road off Pontefract Lane, Leeds, is to be redeveloped creating a new high specification, industrial property suitable for use as a storage and distribution facility or trade counter. Planning permission has just been granted
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has secured extra government funding to provide a further 200 free places on its online heat pump training course. BESA developed the installer training in collaboration with the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and heating equipment manufacturer Worcester Bosch. Launched in March, it has already trained for free
Work will begin on the new Countesswells Primary School and Nursery next Monday 11 October, ahead of the school being completed in 2023. Construction of the new school, led by Aberdeen City Council, will begin with the formation of a new vehicle access and boundary fencing at the start of
Bureau Veritas hails month-long initiative as ‘crucial’ in turning the tide on improving overall health in the construction industry Leading CDM and Occupational Hygiene authority urges industry to eliminate risks associated with dust, starting at the design phase of development Leading Construction Design and Management (CDM) and Occupational Hygiene authority, Bureau Veritas, has praised the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for
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
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.”
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
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
Small business owners or newbie entrepreneurs have many things on their plates with little time to accomplish everything. However, it would be best to remain well aware that sales alone won’t decide your business’s financial success in the future. Sure, significantly increasing your sales will lead to more profits in the future. But, you must never forget one thing – trying to increase your sales by applying every sales strategy you can find will only end up lowering your profit margins because if you’re spending more cash, you’re reducing your profits. That said, generally, when talking about financial success and profitability, the best thing to do here is to improve the variables that affect your business’s ability to earn a profit. Typically, these variables range from accounting practices to marketing efforts to your employees and everything in between. Ultimately, you’ll have to change or optimize your business practices if you are to increase your profits tenfold. So, let us look at a few ways your small business can make big profits. Train your employees. It is a well-known fact that helping your employees improve their productivity levels will lead to more satisfied customers, more sales, and enhanced profitability. Not to mention, it will also reduce the chances of operational errors and mistakes when your workforce doesn’t have to perform the same tasks repeatedly. That said, an easy way to improve your employee’s productivity and efficiency is by educating and training them. Doing so will allow you to enhance their knowledge base and skills necessary to conduct business operations more effectively while making them feel like a valued part of your business. So, whether you decide to enroll them into higher education programs like an online MBA no GMAT required degree or send them to employee training camps, it is all about showing commitment to their progression. Furthermore, taking this initiative will give your employees a sense of encouragement, motivating them to perform with excellent efficiency and dedication towards achieving your business’s unified goals. Work on your website. Potential customers will often visit your business website to look for information about your business and its products/services before purchasing. So, it is a no-brainer to improve your prospects’ online experience by enhancing your website’s quality. With that in mind, your website should allow you to accomplish a few things; Provide information about your business, products, and services Entice potential customers into buying something Offer them an excellent online shopping experience Provide 24/7 customers support services So, by ensuring that your business website has the best design language, is up-to-date, and is user-friendly, potential customers won’t think twice before clicking the purchase button. Plus, before your website is up and running, consider performing an SEO audit. Doing so will enable you to identify areas of your website that you can improve upon to reach the top of SERPs. Communicate with your customers regularly. These days, customers want to build solid relationships with the business they wish to affiliate with, especially in today’s all-digital world. However, have you ever thought of the advantages of doing such a thing? You probably haven’t. These days, large businesses treat their customers like cash cows. They want to milk them for every last penny they have. That said, by improving customer-business relationships through continuous interaction, you’ll be able to receive insights into what your customers like and what they dislike. That said, communication always is a two-way street. So, to get the most profits out of this interaction, consider offering them discounts, sales, offers, and free product/service trials, to name a few. Doing this will allow you to actively communicate with them while improving your profits in the process. Automate your business processes. One of the easiest, most effective ways to improve your small business’s profitability is business process automation. Plus, this will also reduce operational costs and enhance efficiency in the process. After all, an excellent, cost-effective process automation software or service will allow you to automate business processes ranging from payroll management to product packaging to inventory management to everything in between. In the end, automating your business processes will reduce the workload from your employee’s shoulders. As a result, they will perform more efficiently at work and focus more on other critical areas of your business. Just imagine this – would you rather have an employee working on customers service or sit around the warehouse packing orders? Through BPA(Business Process Automation), you can easily automate your order packaging to provide your employees with the time to work on more important business aspects. Reduce the prices of best-selling items. Your best-selling services and products are something that your consumer knows your business by. In fact, it is your company’s identity and shows every consumer that you are a market leader on a particular subject matter or solution. So, whether you provide a base-level product or a no-frills service to your customers, it would be wise to capitalize on the situation and cut down the prices of your best-selling products/services. Doing so will allow you to attract customers into buying the products/services your business is known for. Although you will reduce your prices, you will sell larger quantities of such products/services and earn more profits in the long term. Then, after new customers become loyal to your brand, you can then utilize up-selling and cross-selling techniques to make even more profits. So, in the end, whatever strategy you go with, offering your best products/services for a fraction of the price, compared to what your competitors offer for the same products/services, will undoubtedly allow you to sell more and earn more! Partner up with other businesses. Do you know of any non-competing business that targets the same customers as yours but caters to different customer requirements and problems? While you might not think of this as much when you run a small business. However, know this – collaborating with such non-competing companies is an excellent strategy to sell larger quantities of your products/services and increase profits in the process. It
The waterside development is of outstanding design and quality, and key to the ongoing regeneration of Worcester The new proposals are a direct response to planning and consultation feedback The scheme will provide a £362m economic boost to Worcester and the wider West Midlands area The development responds directly to the aspirations of the city to create more homes, businesses and jobs while being environmentally sustainable and heritage conscious UK residential and commercial property developer Godwin Developments, working in partnership with Lowesmoor Regeneration Ltd, has submitted updated plans for its waterside mixed-used scheme Lowesmoor Wharf in Worcester, as a direct response to feedback received from local stakeholders and residents. The development is an ambitious regeneration scheme of eight buildings and public spaces, designed by award winning architects Apt. When built, it will completely transform the currently industrialised canalside location in central Worcester into a vibrant, well-considered destination of exceptional quality. Created to meet the city’s aspirations to bring more residents into the city centre, Lowesmoor Wharf will provide 238 modern spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with balconies. Occupants will have access to private indoor and outdoor spaces – such as rooftop terraces and community areas – across the six residential buildings. The scheme will also help bring more businesses and jobs into Worcester through the provision of office, retail and food and beverage space, all set within generously sized fully landscaped public areas. As a direct response to the feedback received from planners, the community and various organisations, the height of the tallest element of the scheme has now been significantly reduced to match the requirements of the Worcester City Masterplan. The scheme now steps up from three to a maximum of eight storeys at Lowesmoor Terrace, with two of the canal facing buildings having also been reduced by a storey each. In doing so, the development integrates very well into the surrounding landscape of the conservation area and the wider Worcester skyline. An expert assessment on the visual impact of the amended proposals – also submitted as a part of the revised plans – has also been carried out and demonstrates that views of Worcester Cathedral and other significant landmarks in the city are not compromised. Additionally, the proposed hard and soft landscaping throughout the scheme has been improved significantly to include suggestions by Worcester City Council and the Canal & River Trust, the charity with guardianship over the UK’s waterways. The blend of new materials, that are better suited to the conservation area have been supplemented by additional trees and wildflower areas, which will improve the biodiversity of the site. New landscaping features have also been included to better define the towpaths and walkways, balancing accessibility for residents and visitors with security for existing boat users and businesses. Improvements to the servicing of the scheme have also been introduced, protecting the marina and minimising waste vehicle trips across the development. As with the previous proposals, the scheme will continue to prioritise the use of walking and cycling, as well as public transport and therefore will be mostly car free. However, as an additional amenity, it will include 12 car parking spaces and operate a ‘car club’ model for the benefit of residents. This will allow car sharing – including disabled parking spaces and EV charging – while the 606 secure cycle storage spaces on-site will improve walking and cycling opportunities throughout the development and further afield. The retention of heritage assets on-site has also been carefully considered, with the proposed scheme planning to carefully restore, for community use, the Portmaster’s House and the buildings facing Lowesmoor Wharf. The inclusion of water features resembling the historic canal fingers will echo the rich history of the site, while also creating focal points for residents and visitors to enjoy. Development director at Godwin Developments, Matt Chandler, said: “Lowesmoor Wharf is a scheme of exceptional quality and outstanding design but most of all a scheme of ambition – to bring new residents, visitors and businesses to central Worcester and retain them through an exciting destination that caters to living, working, socialising and being closer to nature. “We have always believed in the huge potential of this centrally located site in Worcester and have sought to create a development which will benefit the local community. Therefore, since submitting our original planning application last year, we have listened and responded to a number of comments to our plans. Working closely with stakeholders and our expert consultants, we have not only amended the scheme to reflect the feedback received but also ensure that Lowesmoor Wharf is viable and able to deliver on all the improvements to the public space we were hoping to achieve. “We are grateful to those who have engaged and worked with us constructively over the last few months and helped us shape the plans which we are excited to bring forward today. “I am confident that this development fits well with Worcester’s vision for the future. It is both forward looking in its design and sustainability, seeking to create new spaces for people, attract investment and benefit the local community, while also responding to the city’s rich heritage and supporting it in its post-COVID recovery.” Reflecting Worcester City Council’s declaration of a climate emergency and ambitions for Worcester to be a carbon neutral city, Lowesmoor Wharf includes a range of sustainable features including roof mounted PV panels for on-site energy generation, green sedum roofs for insulation, noise reduction and improved air quality, LED lighting, an efficient building fabric, heat recovery systems, rainwater attenuation and air source heat pumps for the commercial units on site. If approved, the scheme is set to bring a major economic boost to the city of Worcester and the surrounding areas. Analysis by international consultants Rider Levett Bucknall rated the scheme as “outstanding”- contributing almost £4 for every £1 invested. It will provide a whole life value of £362 million and create 175 jobs, apprenticeships and work placements in the construction phase alone. The social
MCM Group is delighted to announce that Unit 12, a 38,000 sq ft warehouse at Felnex Road off Pontefract Lane, Leeds, is to be redeveloped creating a new high specification, industrial property suitable for use as a storage and distribution facility or trade counter. Planning permission has just been granted for the building to be completely stripped back to its frame and reformatted. In order to maximise the 1.68-acre site, the footprint of the original property will be reduced to 28,537 sq. ft which in turn will provide additional yard space and parking areas. North East-based property investment company MCM Group, which acquired the site earlier this year, has been working with Carter Towler’s Industrial Agency team and S&SA Architects designing a redevelopment scheme that would maximise the potential of the existing building and land. Commenting on the scheme, MCM Group’s Investment Director Douglas Cranston said: “We are really excited to see this project get underway and complete an extensive refurbishment that will future proof such a well-located asset. The initial demolition work has now started on site and Walter Thompson Contractors will commence the rebuild. We are aiming for the new property to be ready for occupation early in the New Year. “We are keen to expand our property portfolio and were particularly interested in investing in Cross Green. This area just to the east of Leeds city centre is flourishing with leading businesses including Amazon, DHL, CEF, Euro Car Parts, Premier Farnell, Fedex, John Lewis, Symingtons and BCA but there is a marked shortage of medium-sized industrial properties which we hope to help address.” Carter Towler’s Industrial Agency Director Josh Holmes added: “While we have been advising MCM Group on the reformatting and marketing of the site we have received a number of very promising enquiries from potential occupants. We are confident given the high-quality refurbishment being undertaken and roadside prominence of the site that we will secure an occupier before it’s completed in January.” Tom Goode, Associate with the industrial property team of Knight Frank in Leeds, concluded: “Felnex Road will provide some much needed high quality stock to address the current supply and demand imbalance in West Yorkshire. Located between J45 of the M1 and Leeds city centre, the building occupies a prime and prominent position fronting Pontefract Lane and will appeal to both trade counter and logistics occupiers alike”. Felnex Road is located directly off the A63 close to junction 45 of the M1 and just 1 mile east of Leeds city centre. Tom Goode and Iain McPhail at Knight Frank in Leeds have been appointed as joint marketing agents.
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has secured extra government funding to provide a further 200 free places on its online heat pump training course. BESA developed the installer training in collaboration with the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and heating equipment manufacturer Worcester Bosch. Launched in March, it has already trained for free more than 700 qualified plumbing and heating engineers, who were looking to upskill to take on heat pump work. The course is delivered through the Association’s online training Academy and this new round of funding, which comes from unspent Green Homes Grant scheme money, will allow it to extend the free programme until the end of October. New applicants should sign up here and are urged to move quickly as demand continues to be high as the market for heat pumps expands encouraging more companies and individuals to diversify into this area. Heat pumps were highlighted by the Prime Minister as a key technology for delivering many of the government’s decarbonisation goals and he tasked the industry with installing 600,000 a year by 2028. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) also set a target of one million a year by the 2030’s towards an eventual total of 19 million to help achieve net zero by 2050. Industry estimates for this year put the current number of heat pump installations at around 71,000 and ramping that up to achieve the government’s ultimate target would require an additional 40,000 trained installers, according to the Heat Pump Association. Challenge The BESA Academy training scheme is a direct response to that challenge, according to the Association’s director of training and skills Helen Yeulet. “One of the biggest barriers to increased adoption of heat pump technology is the lack of suitably qualified installers,” she said. “It is also very important that installations meet a high technical standard and that engineers fully understand the technology, so consumers get the full energy and carbon saving benefits. “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with the HBF and Worcester Bosch because our combined expertise means we can include the most up-to-date knowledge in the training and use people who really understand the subject to deliver it.” Alongside the training course, BESA has updated its guide to good practice for heat pump installation (TR/30). This is the only guide that clearly identifies and explains all the different types of heat pump available and clarifies the type of training needed for successful installation. It also explains how to avoid many of the design problems that have impaired the performance of some systems to improve consumer satisfaction and cut more carbon emissions. The guide, which is available to buy from the BESA website, draws on the increased experience of heat pump technology in the field and provides an overview of the different applications including their benefits and limitations as well as providing outline design information for each. It contains updated references to building standards and codes of practice as well as data referenced from the latest CIBSE and BSRIA guides. Carbon emission factors have been updated along with explanations of new and emerging technologies that use different refrigerant types and blends which bring new hazards and safety considerations. “Since the first edition of this guide was published, there has been a significant increase in the use of heat pump technologies, which has resulted in a broader range of choices for end users, specifiers and installers, and also a greater knowledge of their potential benefits and pitfalls,” said Will Pitt, chair of the BESA technical committee. “New regulations, assurance schemes, government incentives and market entrants mean that heat pumps are now a far bigger presence in our industry. This makes the need for a recognised source of good practice increasingly vital to avoid some of the design problems that can undermine performance and disappoint end users.” TR30 is available to buy here. It costs £70 to BESA members and £140 to non-members. To sign up for heat pump training go to: www.thebesa.com/hpi
Work will begin on the new Countesswells Primary School and Nursery next Monday 11 October, ahead of the school being completed in 2023. Construction of the new school, led by Aberdeen City Council, will begin with the formation of a new vehicle access and boundary fencing at the start of next week. The new school is being built to the north of Countesswells, overlooking the Cults Burn Park and adjacent to the neighbourhood centre and next to the new Sainsbury’s Local which opened last week. Countesswells Development Limited (CDL) will ensure that, where possible, disruption to the local community is minimised. Alex Goodfellow, director at CDL, said: “Breaking the ground of our much-anticipated school is another significant milestone for our community, and a further demonstration of the commitment to deliver a highly attractive community to live, work, play and learn.” Parents and school pupils have been eagerly awaiting the new school which will have provision for over 400 pupils as well as around 60 nursery children. Plans for the modern school include a space for early years’ education, an all-weather pitch and two separate playgrounds as well as an outdoor classroom which will offer an innovative approach to teaching and learning. Residents got a preview of what their first new primary school would look like and were able to comment on the design and lay-out at a consultation event last year. Karen Watt, community liaison officer at Countesswells added: “All our residents were really excited by the final designs revealed last year, which took into account their feedback and ideas. This approach is part of our ambition to grow and nurture the community ethos we have created at Countesswells. The school will cater for the wider community, with designated community areas that can be accessed out of school hours. This includes the gym hall which can be used for evening classes and events and a meeting room – perfect for community groups to get together.” Countesswells Primary School pupils are currently being taught in the former Hazlewood School, overseen by Countesswells Primary School headteacher Paula Rough. Countesswells will eventually comprise 3,000 homes, along with healthcare facilities, local business units and shops, neighbourhood centres, green and civic spaces and extensive parkland. Ms Watt added: “The last few years have seen the community continue to prosper, with the addition of new house builder David Wilson Homes, as well as the continued development of homes from Stewart Milne, Kirkwood, Barratt and Chap. “Our first retail unit, Sainsbury’s Local has been very much welcomed by residents, and we’re sure that families and couples looking to start a family will be even more attracted to Countesswells now that they can see the state-of-the-art teaching and learning environment that will be in place for their children. This, in turn, will accelerate the delivery of other community facilities.” To date the infrastructure brought onto the site includes new roads, utilities and fibre optic broadband alongside extensive landscaping throughout the new community. This has included the construction of a new West Link access road, connecting the community at Countesswells with the existing Kingswells roundabout, while also providing a fit-for-purpose route for cars, cyclists and pedestrians, along with improved green space throughout the town that allows travel from one woodland to another. For information about Countesswells, visit https://countesswells.com/.
Bureau Veritas hails month-long initiative as ‘crucial’ in turning the tide on improving overall health in the construction industry Leading CDM and Occupational Hygiene authority urges industry to eliminate risks associated with dust, starting at the design phase of development Leading Construction Design and Management (CDM) and Occupational Hygiene authority, Bureau Veritas, has praised the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for highlighting the respiratory risks associated with exposure to construction dust as part of its month-long inspection initiative. Launched last week, the initiative will see HSE inspectors across the UK target construction firms to check the status of their health and safety standards, looking at the control measures businesses have in place to protect their workers from exposure to construction dust, including silica, asbestos and wood dust. Hailing the focus as a ‘crucial requirement’ in turning the tide on improving overall health in the construction industry, Bureau Veritas – a global expert in managing exposure risks to workers by recognising, evaluating and controlling hygiene hazards in the workplace – is urging construction firms to take an up-front approach to eliminating the risks associated with dust, starting at the design phase of development. Fran Watkins-White, Head of CDM Services at Bureau Veritas, said: “The focus on construction workers’ respiratory health as part of the HSE’s inspection initiative is a necessary step in improving practices across the construction industry when it comes to protecting workers’ health. We’ve seen the industry make great strides in improving conditions that place workers at risk from exposure to dust, but there is much more to be done in terms of eliminating that risk through the design phase on projects and good construction planning – particularly when considering modern advances in construction technology.” Research shows that each year more than 3,500 builders die from cancers related to their work, with thousands more cases of ill-health and lost working days. In fact, more workers are lost to diseases caused or made worse by their work than are actually killed in construction accidents. The current Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002 regulations require employers to control substances that are hazardous to health through various methods, including providing measures to reduce harm to health, providing monitoring and health surveillance and planning for emergencies. Joe Marais, Team Leader in Occupational Hygiene & Storage Equipment at Bureau Veritas, said: “Current regulations require the Duty Holder – or Principal Contractor – to ensure COSHH regulations are met, which detail the necessary steps to protecting employees against over exposure to hazardous substances, including dust. When considering the ‘hierarchy of control’, all too often we see Duty Holders implementing control solutions at the mid-way point – effective if the hazard is unremovable, of course, but does little to eliminate the hazard itself. “We would therefore urge construction companies to consider the risk of exposure to dust and other hazardous materials from project conception, effectively ‘designing out’ the dust risk through construction planning, including off-site construction where possible, and planning for work to be undertaken in controlled environments equipped for better managing the health risks associated with dust – such as dust suppressants and collection systems.” Fran added: “There are some simple ways that Duty Holders can ensure they are protecting the health of their employees, though we realise that complying with industry regulations and standards – such as CDM Regulations 2015, COSHH or ‘EH40’ (which details exposure limits) – can often feel like a minefield. In this instance, a third party such as Bureau Veritas can support in meeting necessary requirements and can even work with construction companies to provide a full suite of services, including CDM Consultancy services supporting the consideration of health and safety in design and support from our Occupational Health team by way of initial consultation, audit and testing through to full reports, recommendations and control of hazardous materials.” Bureau Veritas is a leading CDM and Occupational Hygiene authority, with expert capability to support clients in meeting regulations and managing exposure to risk. To find out more about Bureau Veritas’ services or to discuss individual requirements with a member of the team, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk.