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Kenneth Booth

Building a Safer Future Charter launches with first companies on way to becoming ‘Charter Champions’

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

The Building a Safer Future (BSF) Charter has launched its ‘Charter Champion’ company initiative to help companies drive the systemic culture change required to put building safety first. Through robust self-assessment, benchmarking and independent verification, the BSF Charter Champion company initiative will help companies identify potential issues and, in turn,

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UK construction employment rises for first time in two years

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said:  “Over the last few months, there have been small signs of recovery for the construction industry, but the latest ONS data is the strongest indication yet that the sector is truly getting back on its feet.  “The number of employed construction workers rose by

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Norbord Europe is now part of West Fraser

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

David Connacher, Marketing Manager, West Fraser, answers your questions 1.    Norbord – who are/were they in a nutshell? As the UK’s number one engineered wood panel manufacturer and serving the housebuilding and construction industry with a vast array of board products for flooring, panelling and roofing, Norbord is the go-to

Read More »

AB Glass expands production capacity with six-figure investment

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

AB Glass, the award-winning architectural aluminium and access control specialist, has completed a significant investment that will increase its production capacity by 35% as it gears up for a boom in new work and projects. The Swansea-based company has made a six-figure investment in building a new 3,000 sq ft

Read More »

Tech Trends in the Casino Industry

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

Technological innovation advances every field, taking it a step further in simplifying the process with which a product is made or a service is provided. It’s progress and it’s a continuous occurrence, one that cannot be stopped. While you might think that the casino industry has it all figured out

Read More »

Double award success for Salix Homes

Kenneth Booth May 19, 2021

Salford housing association Salix Homes is celebrating a double win in the prestigious Northern Housing Awards. Salix Homes, which owns 8,000 homes across Salford, won the Best Resident Involvement Initiative and the Best Digital Transformation categories in the awards, which celebrate the achievements of the housing sector in the North.

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Works complete on new £7.5m West Midlands mixed-use scheme

Kenneth Booth May 19, 2021

Construction works on a new multi-million-pound neighbourhood centre have now completed at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) in Solihull, and the finished scheme was marked with a socially distanced handover ceremony on 16 April. The £7.5million project, which was led by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson on behalf of client IM

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Latest Issue
Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Kenneth Booth

Building a Safer Future Charter launches with first companies on way to becoming ‘Charter Champions’

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

The Building a Safer Future (BSF) Charter has launched its ‘Charter Champion’ company initiative to help companies drive the systemic culture change required to put building safety first. Through robust self-assessment, benchmarking and independent verification, the BSF Charter Champion company initiative will help companies identify potential issues and, in turn, develop continuous improvement plans to advance their overall approach and performance on leadership and culture in relation to building safety. Through their participation in this process companies will be able to identify ways in which they can help to reduce their risk profile in terms of building safety. The first 12 companies, who are demonstrating real sectoral leadership, have signed up to begin the journey and engage in the robust benchmarking and independent assessment process. The organisations include BAM, Galliford Try, Kier, Mace, mhs homes, Persimmon Homes, Places for People, Salix Homes, United Living, Vistry Group, Wates and Willmott Dixon. Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent inquiry into building regulations and fire safety clearly identified failure of leadership and culture as key underlying causes of the Grenfell Tower disaster. The ‘Building a Safer Future Charter’ was initiated in response by a group of early adopters including contractors, housing associations and local authorities supported by MHCLG with a vision of having an industry committed to putting people’s safety first. The BSF Charter has been highlighted by Dame Judith Hackitt and the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) as a key mechanism for leading the culture change required for industry in their report for the Secretary of State and the Minister for Building Safety published in August 2020. The BSF Charter benchmarking and verification process is now open for participation from across the construction industry. All UK organisations involved in the built environment can proactively participate and demonstrate their commitment to building safety by becoming Registered Signatories to the Charter and, if appropriate, progress to undertaking the ‘Charter Champion’ benchmarking process. This is particularly the case for Duty Holders. Lord Greenhalgh, Minister for Building Safety said: “We are taking firm action to ensure that we never repeat the mistakes of the past, with this charter representing a major step forwards in delivering much-needed culture change in the built environment industry. “I warmly welcome its introduction and commend the twelve organisations already signed up to become ‘Charter Champions’. “I would strongly encourage more to get involved, especially those who will be playing a key role in the future building safety regulatory regime.” Peter Baker, Chief Inspector of Buildings at the Health and Safety Executive, said: “Self-assessment, benchmarking and independent verification are important elements of a robust system to enable businesses to properly lead, manage and control major building safety risks. “Businesses across the industry need to start preparing now for the new building safety regime.  The ‘Charter Champions’ scheme is a valuable contribution to driving the necessary change in culture and performance across the sector to ensure that residents are safe, and feel safe, in their homes.” Dame Judith Hackitt DBE, Author, Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety said: “I am delighted to see the formal launch of the Champions of the Building a Safer Future Charter. My congratulations go to Amanda Long and her team for the way in which they have built upon approaches which have been tried, tested and proved effective in other sectors to create the Charter initiative.  “I have consistently called for the built environment sector to recognise the need for culture change which can only happen when leaders in the sector stand up and are prepared to demonstrate what good looks like and to be held to account for delivery. I look forward to watching the Charter Champions group grow as others see the benefits of becoming part of this important programme which offers a real market differentiation opportunity.” Andy Mitchell CBE, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council said: “The Construction Leadership Council welcomes the launch of the Building a Safer Future Charter and its Charter Champions initiative. This is an important step towards an industry that is committed to putting building safety first. “The promotion of cultural change and leadership in the sector is vital and those that wish to demonstrate real sectoral leadership in relation to building safety should be engaged with the Building a Safer Future Charter.” Stephen Elliott, Chair, Building a Safer Future Charter said: “The BSF Charter provides a robust, independent verification process which will drive continuous improvement in leadership and culture in relation to building safety across the industry. “We have taken learning and insights from tried and tested approaches and responses to major accident hazard safety in other sectors such as aviation and chemicals – both nationally and internationally – and contextualised these for the UK built environment sector.”  Amanda Long, Chief Executive, Building a Safer Future Charter said: “In the built environment sector, the Grenfell Tower Disaster has put building safety at the top of everyone’s agenda. From a moral, social and economic perspective it’s now imperative that we embed enduring values, attitudes and ethical behaviours at the heart of all we do. The launch of the Building a Safer Future Charter’s ‘Charter Champion’ status is an important step in driving forwards the systemic culture change in relation to major hazard safety that is required across the built-environment sector and through the entire value chain. As we progress on this critical journey we should be seeking to raise standards and build public trust. I am delighted to welcome the first 12 companies on their journey to becoming a Charter Champion.” The Building a Safer Future Charter is referenced in the publication “A Reformed Building Safety Regulatory System: Government response to the ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation” published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in April 2020. The publication states that “the Government encourages duty-holders to be signatories and commit to the Building [a Safer Future] Charter” as part of a more rigorous approach to accountability. For more information about the Building a Safer Future Charter and

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UK construction employment rises for first time in two years

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said:  “Over the last few months, there have been small signs of recovery for the construction industry, but the latest ONS data is the strongest indication yet that the sector is truly getting back on its feet.  “The number of employed construction workers rose by 15,000 between January and March to 2.155 million and this is the first time the industry has seen an increase since the equivalent period two years ago in 2019.  “This was mainly driven by a staggering 9% increase in the number of women employed in UK construction, with the number rising to 309,000.  “Accordingly, the number of unemployed construction workers fell by 10,000 over the quarter to 62,000, which is the lowest figure since May-July 2020. This is still higher than pre-Covid levels, but things are certainly going in the right direction.  “For those who are working, job security and stability seem to be improving too. Redundancies fell by over 20% to just 7,000 – the lowest amount since April-June last year – and the average number of hours worked each week increased by two to 34.3. While still down year-on-year, this is the highest average in four months.  “This uplift has led to an increase in earnings. Average weekly income for construction workers grew by £34 to £676 in March, which is the single biggest monthly increase in two years, since March 2019.  “It would be naive to say that the industry is back to normal, with many of the figures yet to return to the levels we saw before the pandemic, but the data shows that in many areas, things are looking up for UK construction, and long may that continue.”  For more information on IronmongeryDirect, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/ 

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Hotel La Tour Sitting at Milton Keynes’ Highest Point is Topped Out at 50 Metres by Winvic

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has celebrated the topping out of its first hotel project, Hotel La Tour. The luxury hotel which is located at the highest point of central Milton Keynes stands at 50 metres now the roof has been completed. The roof covering programme is now underway and the Winvic team will be moving on to the floor and ceiling curtain walling, as well as focusing on the extensive glazing on the thirteenth floor where the sky bar, restaurant and public exhibition space will be. Hotel La Tour’s Managing Director Mark Stuart and Operations Director Jane Riley were invited to site along with Will Elsigood from pHp Architects to enjoy the city and park views from the roof of the fourteenth floor. A project progress tour was also provided by Winvic’s Operations Manager Mike Quinn and Project Manager Russell Sullivan which included a visit to the recently completed show bedroom and a close look at stainless steel, mirror finish cladding which the Winvic team started to install in April. Works to the envelope and cladding will continue with the 30m high, LED-lit satin finish stainless steel circle on the eastern façade completing the impressive external design. The ‘sun’ design will be visible up the city’s Midsomer Boulevard, which was created to align with the sun on the longest day of the year. Winvic is currently fitting-out the 261 bedrooms, which has included the sailing and positioning of off-site fabricated bathroom pods. Fit-out of other facilities within the hotel will also continue, such as the 12,000 sq ft flexible conference floor that comprises adaptable meeting spaces and an external terrace that has been designed to be high load bearing. The project is expected to be handed over to Hotel La Tour in July 2022. Mark Jones, Winvic’s Head of Multi-room, commented: “We started on site just two weeks after the first 2020 lockdown was announced and despite the unprecedented challenges, our team have hit milestone after milestone on, or ahead, of schedule. I’d like to say a huge thank you to them. Reaching the highest point of any multi-room project is always worth celebrating, but this is a bit more special as it’s Winvic’s first hotel. “It’s great to be able to welcome Mark and Jane from Hotel La Tour to site to enjoy the fourteenth-floor views and also for them to get a feel for the finished scheme in the fully completed show bedroom. Mark, the city planners and the people of Milton Keynes are already impressed with how the striking, mirrored cladding is looking, so we look forward to the next programme landmark when the façade reaches 50 metres up to the top of the building and boasts the 30-metre contrasting circle, which represents the midsummer sun.” Mark Stuart, Managing Director: “It’s always a pleasure visiting Hotel La Tour and seeing how Winvic have been driving the project at pace – they’ve been doing a good job so far, operating safely and swiftly. The mirrored cladding going up is an impressive spectacle, and the show bedroom provides the quality and luxury our guests will be looking forward to. Standing 50 metres high on the now completed roof has been a momentous milestone and it won’t be long before we’re welcoming members of the public to gaze at the views while enjoying a drink at the bar.  For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.  

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Norbord Europe is now part of West Fraser

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

David Connacher, Marketing Manager, West Fraser, answers your questions 1.    Norbord – who are/were they in a nutshell? As the UK’s number one engineered wood panel manufacturer and serving the housebuilding and construction industry with a vast array of board products for flooring, panelling and roofing, Norbord is the go-to corporate name behind the company’s popular brands for architects, merchants, specifiers, end-users and consumers alike in the UK.  2.    Who is West Fraser? West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States and Europe.  West Fraser was founded in 1955 when three brothers – Sam, Bill and Pete Ketcham – pooled their resources to buy a small planing mill in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada From responsibly-sourced and sustainably-managed forest resources, West Fraser produces lumber, engineered wood (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, particleboard), and other products including pulp, newsprint, wood chips and renewable energy.  West Fraser’s products are used in construction, repair and remodelling, industrial applications, papers, tissue and box materials.  You can find out more about the company at www.westfraser.com. 3.    Why is the acquisition a good thing?  The two companies are much aligned and share many common values, including a commitment to safety, efficient manufacturing facilities, a focus on continuous improvement and teamwork, as well as manufacturing sustainable products that are essential for a low-carbon economy. Product development and efficient supply chains will also be at the crux of the new organisation due to the merging of experienced teams.  4.    So, has anything changed? Absolutely nothing has changed for our customers. The people are the same, the products are the same, the plants are the same – Norbord Europe now becomes the European arm of West Fraser following the acquisition.  And a bright future awaits. 5.    Are the contact details still the same? The telephone number, and all the mobile numbers of contacts, have not changed. The website has a new name – www.uk.westfraser.com 6.    Will the names of the brands and products change? No. The existing brands are market-leading and hugely successful. They are well known and have been part of the UK business landscape for years, if not decades. They will remain as they are the company’s stock-in-trade – literally.  SterlingOSB Zero, CaberBoard, CaberFloor and CaberWood MDF, for example, will still be readily available. 7.    Will you still be supplying the same customers/merchants?  Yes – there will be no change to our supply network. Simon Woods, European Sales, Marketing & Logistics Director, West Fraser explains, “The joining of our two companies is a very exciting move for us in Europe. To list West Fraser’s long standing core beliefs – efficiency, modern mills, responsibility and leadership in environmental performance, the active involvement of employees in the business, a commitment to safety and a relentless pursuit of excellence in everything we do – is to echo Norbord’s. There is a huge opportunity for us to grow and develop in Europe – together. We are looking forward to a bright future!” For further information call 01786 812 921 or visit www.uk.westfraser.com

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AB Glass expands production capacity with six-figure investment

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

AB Glass, the award-winning architectural aluminium and access control specialist, has completed a significant investment that will increase its production capacity by 35% as it gears up for a boom in new work and projects. The Swansea-based company has made a six-figure investment in building a new 3,000 sq ft storage unit that will release 35% more floor space in its production unit, enabling it to increase and to further grow its order book. The construction of a state-of-the-art five-bay storage unit has now been completed. It will allow the business to cope with an increase in demand it has experienced as lockdown measures have eased and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit has lessened. The business works with blue chip private sector clients across the UK, as well as many universities, schools and public sector bodies. In addition to its architectural aluminium services, its access control offering has also experienced a surge in demand as workplaces adjust to post-pandemic safety recommendations as staff return. It also boasts a specially trained team with the specific skills needed when working with Passivhaus developments, a type of structure designed with energy-efficiency at its heart. It worked on the first Passivhaus leisure centre in the world and is seeing growing demand for this type of building. Alan Brayley, Managing Director of AB Glass and President of Swansea Bay Business Club, said: “We are delighted to have completed a structure that means quite a lot to the business. It frees up capacity in the main production space, which we need because of demand. But we feel it is also somewhat symbolic that we have achieved this despite one of the most challenging 12 months the business has endured. “Clearly, 2020 threw some severe challenges at us but I am very proud of the resilience we showed in how we quickly adjusted our working practices and worked very hard all year to ensure we weathered the storms. In addition to expanding our premises, we also welcomed a new generation of talent to the business. We now through into 2021 in a bullish frame of mind – and with much-need extra capacity at our disposal.”

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Everything You Need To Know About Starting A Construction Company

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

For some people, working for someone else just doesn’t fit them, and it can make for a much nicer experience to run things yourself. You have multiple choices when it comes to this in the construction industry – being a freelancer, or starting your own company. While being a freelancer is great, it doesn’t open up for expansion later on, and you won’t be able to grow as much as you would if you started your own company. That said, if you’re planning on starting up your own construction company, you have a lot more to consider on a daily basis. Connections matter With any construction company, it’s the networking that matters the most. The more people who know who you are, the more business you’re going to get. You want people to know what services you offer, and the quality you offer them at. A lot of people working in the construction industry rely on recommendations and hearsay, so making sure to leave a good impression is key whenever you’re dealing with customers. Getting yourself heard Marketing is something that’s difficult to do as a construction company, as it’s not something that people are going to need every day. You need to find ways to get your name and number out there, and you can do that in a number of ways. Many people have their own business cards, which makes it much easier for your contact information to be passed around. Convenience is important when it comes to customers, and it can land you a job over your competitors. You should also consider putting your contact information online. If you can’t afford a website, there are sites like Yelp that can help you put your name on the map, and that way customers can find out more about you when they’re looking to have work done. Health and safety concerns Construction work is often considered much more dangerous than different industries, which is why it’s important to put a heavy focus on health and safety in the workplace. If you’re going to have people working under you, you’re responsible for making sure they’re safe while they’re working. This means making sure they know what they’re doing, and how to properly operate machinery, making sure they’re not acting reckless, and that the machinery itself is safe to use. If you don’t ensure that the health and safety are up to scratch, your business can face legal consequences. If there were to be any legal issues that arise, you should also be aware that there are solicitors that can help you, and are trained in that area. Proper training Due to the nature of the work, it’s very important that you make sure both you and the people that work for you receive the proper training before they’re allowed to work on the site. You can’t have people who are untrained putting them and others at risk while they’re working. If you need the training to work with certain machinery, then make sure that your employees receive that before they come into contact with it.  Without the proper training, they themselves are a health and safety risk, and they could become injured while working. It’s up to you to make sure that they’re properly trained and the rules are enforced. 

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Tech Trends in the Casino Industry

Kenneth Booth May 20, 2021

Technological innovation advances every field, taking it a step further in simplifying the process with which a product is made or a service is provided. It’s progress and it’s a continuous occurrence, one that cannot be stopped. While you might think that the casino industry has it all figured out and they’re already making enough bank, like everyone, they are trying to implement technology and bring ease of use to the customer while maximizing profits. They’ve always been on the forefront of the economy, so they’re keeping up with the times so things stay that way. The industry’s shift into the digital sphere began back in the mid-90s. Today, online casinos are chipping away at their land-based equivalents, with annual revenues projected to reach $88 billion by 2024. When you look at the options these casinos offer, it’s easy to see why business is booming. After all, they have tons of quality games that players can choose once they register. Roulette is among the most popular categories and the Casimba roulette games are supplied by some of the world’s most reputable game providers. A pleasant gaming experience is guaranteed, but you must remember to play for entertainment purposes only. In just a couple of years, new technology will unmeasurably improve the games even the best online casino has to offer, but it will enhance their real-life versions in different ways as well. Analytics and Data Modeling While on the surface the word data doesn’t sound too exciting, there is no doubt that data is invaluable. The whole online sector is fighting over it. And with so many people playing games online, there are more than enough sources from which data can be mined. These services can track your history, when you played, how much you bet, at what time, what games do you gravitate towards and so on. Remember, they have your info, so they know your gender, age, and location, and they can build models for certain demographics. Concierge Apps This is truly a brilliant idea. You check into a casino and download their app, from then on it serves as your virtual guide and assistant. You can make dinner reservations through it, schedule a massage, or see what shows you can check out. Taking it a step further, you can even be allowed to control your room’s temperature, part the curtains, set the alarm or order room service. The casino can even provide slot games on the app, and if you’re a preferred customer, they might throw a few free spins your way. Today, these apps are the norm in some luxury residential buildings. Facial Recognition While you may think that your laptop and phone have this ability too, you have to understand that there are levels to everything.  There’s always been an eye in the sky on the casino floor, but modern advances have brought forward scanners that can identify perps before they even commit a crime. And, it’s not just their faces they can recognize, and records they can access, they can spot license plates and alert authorities as suspicious cars enter the premises. It won’t be long before they neutralize things like counterfeit-chips and card switching as well.

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Hilti employees reflect on new ways of working following a turbulent year for construction

Kenneth Booth May 19, 2021

As we approach the next step in the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, including the reopening of indoor entertainment venues from 17 May, it’s an opportunity for many to reflect on the changes life has thrown at us since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Whilst almost every industry was affected when lockdown pressed pause on daily life, the UK construction industry was ground to a complete halt for nearly 2 months when workers were ordered to stay at home. Not only did 80% of construction businesses have to cancel or postpone projects (The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme, 2020), but when construction eventually resumed in the spring, supply chain disruptions caused further issues, with many goods and services becoming unavailable. Trade and travel restrictions continued throughout 2020, as did increased operating costs, decreased demand and mandatory legislation that required employees to social distance and wear PPE on site. But with light finally at the end of the tunnel and reports showing a positive trajectory for the future of construction, attention turns to the aftermath and what is considered the new ‘normal’. Has the working landscape changed forever, and what positives can we take from these new ways of working? Employees from professional tool manufacturer Hilti share their thoughts. Michaela Hunter, Training Officer “When Covid hit, I had to work out how to deliver effective training to Hilti employees in a format that I never thought was possible. We were faced with the challenge of converting all of our material into a digital format, meaning we lost a key element of the training which was hands-on experience with the tools. It’s also more difficult to engage people digitally, so we had to get creative with activities and group work to encourage participation and help increase knowledge retention. We had a recruitment freeze in the UK too, so some of the team were redeployed to support other areas of the business, as there were less new employees to train. “Adapting to this new way of working has been a struggle for me and made me appreciate the small things in life. It’s been really tough not having that social interaction in the office, where we could have a chat over a coffee. Not to mention the technical issues that come with working digitally. On the flip side, it’s shown how people have the resilience to adapt to dramatic changes. It’s created opportunities which we can utilise even when the pandemic is over, although I’m really looking forward to running sessions in person again.” Charlie Ashworth, Implementation & Care Manager for Tool Services “My team is national based so before the pandemic, I would usually spend 2-3 nights a week away from home. Over the past year, that hasn’t been possible and I haven’t been able to join my colleagues in their cars during field rides. I’ve had to adapt the way I coach and support the team – remote field rides via Teams has meant I’m in more regular contact with each team member. “I’ve really enjoyed spending more time at home and hardly any nights in hotels, which has been great from a work-life balance perspective. Being able to join customer meetings via Teams has allowed me to be more productive too. But coaching and supporting is the best part of my role, so I’ve missed the human contact, as you don’t get the same experience with a Teams call compared to a full day in the field. “I don’t think work will ever return to normal. Teams meetings will continue and there’ll definitely be less travelling in my role, but I still intend to get back out in the field once or twice a week.” Emma Ross, Regional Head of Warehousing “Working in Logistics during the pandemic has hugely challenged us as a team, as we simply can’t do our job remotely. The biggest impact it had for me personally was the greater focus of putting people first. I have always looked to do this, but the stress and pressure the team were under gave greater emphasis to keeping them safe – both physically and mentally. Those people working in warehousing across the country are the hidden key workers. Being unable to work from home and having to go in everyday takes its toll. “We’ve really missed working alongside our office-based colleagues. Less formal communication is difficult to get right over Teams, so I’m certainly looking forward to meetings in person. We’re a very hands-on operation and like to physically show people the challenge, which isn’t as easy over a video call. “On a positive note, the small team left on site have become much stronger and closer. The worry that you might make a loved one sick isn’t easy to face every day, so we’ve been able to support each other. But, the realisation that we’ve helped keep businesses moving, and even contributed to the construction of the Nightingale hospitals, has made it a very rewarding year.” Chris Butters, Internal Sales Account Manager for Building Construction “The past year has been a weird experience. I definitely never thought I’d do an interview sat in my kitchen wearing a pair of shorts. I’ve started in a new team too, so it’s been interesting meeting new team members and doing training via Teams rather than getting hands-on with the tools. I’ve also missed the banter of being in the office, and just seeing people in general. “Despite the weirdness, I’ve loved being at home. I got to experience all of my son’s “firsts” like crawling, walking and talking – which is something I missed out on with my little girl. Luckily, I’m now back in the office twice a week, so it’s nice being able to see people and get support face to face.” Has COVID-19 forced your business to adopt new ways of working? And has jobsite productivity fallen as a result? Get back on track with Hilti’s free productivity guide > References:https://www.chas.co.uk/blog/covid-impact-on-construction-industry/

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Double award success for Salix Homes

Kenneth Booth May 19, 2021

Salford housing association Salix Homes is celebrating a double win in the prestigious Northern Housing Awards. Salix Homes, which owns 8,000 homes across Salford, won the Best Resident Involvement Initiative and the Best Digital Transformation categories in the awards, which celebrate the achievements of the housing sector in the North. The landlord scooped Best Resident Involvement Initiative in recognition of its pioneering Customer Committee, which was set up last year in a bid to give tenants a greater say in how its housing services are run. The Customer Committee has seen Salix Homes trailblazing a new approach to customer engagement, which was established ahead of national calls for greater transparency and for tenant’s voices to be better heard following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The Customer Committee is made up of 12 residents in a paid-for role, on a par with the organisation’s board members, who can commission a piece of scrutiny work into any area of the organisation. The judges commended Salix Homes for its commitment to putting tenants first. They said: “Salix Homes have reacted to the Grenfell disaster by putting tenants at the heart of what they do, ensuring they have a strong voice and are able to participate. A very well done to all of you.” Salix Homes was also recognised for its digital innovation, which has seen the landlord launch a ground-breaking digital repairs service incorporating innovative chatbot technology; and becoming the first housing provider in the UK to fully embrace the public cloud. Judges were also impressed with the MySalix customer portal – an online platform which enables residents to manage their tenancy at the touch of a button or tap of a phone. Jim Battle, Chair of the Board at Salix Homes, said: “We’re an organisation that prides itself on being progressive and forward-thinking, with a bold vision to rethink the way our housing services are provided in order to meet the demands of a modern and digital world. “Despite the challenges of the past year posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve pushed on with our plans to establish our Customer Committee and become a truly digital organisation, so to be recognised for our efforts for both these areas is a real honour and is testament to all the hard work of our colleagues and partners. “We’re particularly proud that our Customer Committee has been recognised for the impact it’s having on both our organisation and the wider social housing sector. Never has it been more important for social landlords to listen to the voices of tenants and we firmly believe our modern approach to customer engagement echoes the recommendations made in the Government’s Social Housing White Paper, calling for greater accountability, transparency and engagement with customers, so we’re very proud to be leading the way.” Salix Homes is no stranger to awards, having already been named Digital Landlord of the Year in the UK Housing Awards 2020, and coming in at number four in the recent Top 30 Digital Housing Providers roll of honour, organised by Housing Digital.

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Works complete on new £7.5m West Midlands mixed-use scheme

Kenneth Booth May 19, 2021

Construction works on a new multi-million-pound neighbourhood centre have now completed at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) in Solihull, and the finished scheme was marked with a socially distanced handover ceremony on 16 April. The £7.5million project, which was led by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson on behalf of client IM Properties, involved the construction of four mixed-use, high quality apartment buildings to act as a new hub for BVP. The 1.2million sq. ft. park employs 3,500 people and is occupied by more than 25 businesses, including a range of high-profile brands such as Gymshark, Lounge, Cooper Parry, Siemens and Zenith. Bloor Homes and Crest Nicholson are also on site building 750 new homes. BVP also features a number of amenities for people who live and work within the development, including Java Lounge Coffee House, Busy Bees Nursery & Pre-School and Virgin Active Gym, as well as 122 acres of surrounding parkland. The new neighbourhood centre helps to seamlessly blend the growing residential and commercial communities at the development – providing 48 one and two-bed apartments, 36 of which are being retained and let by IM Properties. The affordable housing element is being managed by Bromford Homes. Modern retail spaces make up two of the ground floor buildings, which are available for a convenience store and a further retail unit, creating additional jobs in the area. All four of the new apartment buildings provide level access to accommodate disabled members of the community and renewable green technology has been installed to provide power to apartments and communal areas. There is also cycle storage, a number of electric car charging points, and an onsite electric pool car for short journeys. Andy Sewards, managing director at G F Tomlinson said: “It has been a pleasure to work with IM Properties to create the new neighbourhood centre at Blythe Valley Park, which has delivered a significant number of new homes, complete with retail and food outlets, that will boost the local economy and employment. “Blythe Valley Park is a well-established business hub that offers great investment, employment and residential opportunities and we’re extremely pleased to have handed over this exciting project this spring, which has helped to further expand the park’s residential community. “As a Midlands-based contractor, we are always proud to work on schemes that deliver investment into the region and this is another significant residential project to add to our portfolio.” Richard Knight, technical director of IM Properties said: “We’re pleased to have worked in partnership with G F Tomlinson as a part of our trusted supply chain to create the new neighbourhood centre as part of our ambition to create one of the Midlands’ first truly mixed-use schemes. “The new neighbourhood centre helps to connect the commercial and residential phases and add to the buzz of community life at the heart of the scheme, with people living, working and enjoying leisure time alongside.” Chris Hill, project manager at Novus, said: “A fantastic project, delivered via a solid and collective team ethic, within extremely challenging circumstances; yet with programme and quality maintained. We are delighted to have been provided the opportunity to work with G F Tomlinson and the role of driving this scheme on behalf of our key client.” An 80-bed care facility is also under construction by Macc Care Group.

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