Dura Products launches new scheme to reduce waste and encourage material reuse Sustainable construction innovators, Dura Products, have today announced the launch of a new scheme to combat construction and demolition waste (CDW), of which the UK generates over 60 million tonnes per year[1]. Its groundbreaking Hire, Reclaim and Reuse
Building ventilation systems reduce the spread of airborne diseases by half compared to natural ventilation for schools, offices and hospitality venues, research shows. Ventilation specialists S&P UK has released the findings of detailed research carried out by their European R&D centre aimed at shedding light on whether mechanical or natural
Eddie Higgins joins to manage major speculative logistics development scheme at Bellshill. Knight Property Group has expanded its project management team with the appointment of Eddie Higgins as Construction Project Manager. Eddie brings around 26 years site engineering and project management experience with leading companies within the Scottish construction sector,
We do not agree that security is always 100% protected by these safety and security developments, i.e CCTV but we have come a long way and the technology is vastly improved from its induction in the 1960’s and it is certainly a huge deterrent and aid in catching perpetrators. Not
Jobsite accidents are unplanned events that result in personal injury. Most accidents happen because of negligence. It can also be because of improper use of tools, unsafe working conditions, or lack of protective equipment like an apron and helmet. Whatever the cause, job site accidents can negatively impact both workers
DESCRIBED as one of the most transformational developments delivered in the East Midlands in more than a decade, Unity Square – the new UK Government Hub in Nottingham, which will be home to HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) and other government departments – has now completed construction. The Grade A
Leeds and Manchester-based contractor Castlehouse Construction has kicked off its new financial year with a £20M+ order book. The company successfully completed a £20M project pipeline in 2020, despite the challenging backdrop of the pandemic and has already secured the same value of projects for the year ahead in a
With a colourful history, surviving a huge fire and two world wars, today Shoreditch Town Hall is a destination arts, events and community space, having been rescued from the brink in the late 1990s. Its recent renaissance culminated in April 2021 with a complete façade clean by Thomann Hanry remarkably,
Construction and civil engineering specialist firm GRAHAM has commenced works on the construction of a new £16 million railway station in Exeter. The new two-platform station will be delivered in collaboration with Devon County Council, who provided the initial concept design, which GRAHAM then utilized in a Design and Build
With businesses reopening to the public and employees returning to the office, it’s paramount that facility managers know how to keep all premises safe and secure from any unlawful activity. Theft and business crimes make up 20% of all crime in the UK1. This causes great distress to business owners
Dura Products launches new scheme to reduce waste and encourage material reuse Sustainable construction innovators, Dura Products, have today announced the launch of a new scheme to combat construction and demolition waste (CDW), of which the UK generates over 60 million tonnes per year[1]. Its groundbreaking Hire, Reclaim and Reuse initiative enables its recycled plastic kerbing and drainage solutions to be rented for a fixed length of time before being reclaimed and used again on future projects. Dura Products have been manufacturing sustainable road kerbs since 2003, and have always prioritised the green credentials of its sourcing, manufacturing and installation. However, 32% of waste sent to landfill comes from the demolition of buildings[2], and so to tackle this, the company has extended its focus to the recyclability of its solutions. This spurred Dura Products to launch its Hire, Reclaim and Reuse scheme, which allows contractors to rent and use its products for a fixed length of time before being reclaimed and used again on future projects. It aims to keep polymer waste in use for as long as possible to create a multiple recycling loop system that has a compounding positive effect on the environment. The scheme will be essential for short-term construction projects as it will provide an eco-friendly solution to the inevitable waste produced by the demolition of temporary infrastructures. Instead of discarding the materials, every Dura Product unit will be recovered and re-used. Steve Bennett, Managing Director of Dura Products, commented: ‘We’re incredibly excited to launch this first of its kind initiative! The scheme will be adopted within our environmental policy, developing over time with each and every uptake. In order to propel the construction industry towards a more sustainable future, we must be eco-conscious at every stage of development to ensure we get the maximum life out of the resources we use. The solutions we provide fit this criterion, and our new scheme, aimed at extending product life ever further, is the next logical step for us to take.’
Building ventilation systems reduce the spread of airborne diseases by half compared to natural ventilation for schools, offices and hospitality venues, research shows. Ventilation specialists S&P UK has released the findings of detailed research carried out by their European R&D centre aimed at shedding light on whether mechanical or natural ventilation should be used to improve air quality and curb the risk of contracting airborne diseases such as Covid in indoor environments. With lockdown easing and the UK vaccination rollout on track, more businesses, office managers, headteachers and other building owners are seeking clarity from the government, the scientific community and industry bodies on how best to minimise the spread of Covid in an enclosed space. Covid is spread via infectious aerosols which can stay airborne for long periods, particularly in poorly ventilated areas. The study by S&P UK found mechanical ventilation systems reduce by half the risk of Covid aerosol transmission compared to natural ventilation, such as opening windows and doors which has the added disadvantage of letting in noise, pollution and cold air in the winter. The detailed scientific modelling and analysis by S&P researchers considered three scenarios: schools, offices, and bars/restaurants. After four days in a classroom of 24 students wearing masks and an infected teacher, the accumulated probability of infection is 21% with natural ventilation – or five pupils infected. With mechanical ventilation, it is 9% – or two pupils infected. With no ventilation, seven contract Covid. If a student is positive rather than the teacher, the numbers are halved. In the winter, opening windows for 10 minutes every hour results in a 4.8% infection rate, meaning four cases after day four – twice as high as mechanical ventilation. Meanwhile, in a restaurant with 35 unmasked customers but a masked infected waiter, with natural ventilation, two customers are infected in the first two hours, and two more are infected over the second two-hour period, giving a total of four cases. With mechanical ventilation, it is halved to one infected customer in each two-hour period, or a total of two. With an infected customer instead of the waiter, with open windows, three customers contract Covid by the end of night. With mechanical ventilation, it is one. In an open plan office with 40 workers where one is infected, with everyone wearing masks, there are four infected employees after four days with natural ventilation, and two with mechanical. With no masks, it rises to 13 with open windows and eight with mechanical. There are long-held concerns that most offices only recirculate existing air with air-conditioning units, rather than pumping in fresh air using mechanical ventilation systems. The authors, S&P Global CFD (computational fluid dynamics) engineers Albert Carrasquer and Jordi Fabregat, concluded: “[Mechanical] ventilation can reduce more than twofold the infection risk when compared to open windows. If a lower infection risk is desired, installation must deliver higher ventilation rates than those defined by [British] standards.” The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) says building ventilation should be “integral to the Covid risk mitigation strategy for all multi-occupant public buildings and workplaces”. Alex Finch, managing director of S&P UK, said: “Our research shows that investing in mechanical ventilation systems must be considered by anyone who helps to manage any indoor space, whether that’s a headteacher, an office manager or a restaurant owner. “That’s because our evidence is clear: mechanised ventilation systems are twice as good as natural ventilation when it comes to reducing the risk of spreading airborne diseases like Covid-19 indoors. “There’s plenty of generic advice on ventilation but so many sections of society are crying out for official and clear-cut guidance on the exact best ventilation for typical scenarios. We also recognise that the failure to distinguish between indoor mechanical or natural ventilation as part of this ongoing debate is not surprising as it’s a complex and new challenge. “But we believe our research, inspected by our technical teams, will add some weighty evidence for specialists across the H&V sector and can help provide clarity for those who are looking to actively improve their work environments to minimise transmission of Covid.” S&P UK Ventilation Systems is the UK subsidiary of leading global manufacturer Soler and Palau, and is the sole UK distributor of commercial, industrial and residential fans and ventilation systems. Operating nationally, S&P UK Ventilation Systems is a leading fan, air movement and ventilation systems provider offering over 10,000 products along with technical sales support and consultancy. It is a subsidiary of Spanish owned S&P Group, whose global operations span over 90 countries and includes major R&D centres in Europe, Singapore, USA and Brazil.
Eddie Higgins joins to manage major speculative logistics development scheme at Bellshill. Knight Property Group has expanded its project management team with the appointment of Eddie Higgins as Construction Project Manager. Eddie brings around 26 years site engineering and project management experience with leading companies within the Scottish construction sector, including Ogilvie Construction and Stewart Milne. He will operate from the firm’s Edinburgh office and manage developments in the central belt of Scotland with initial focus being the development of Belgrave Logistics Park, the 14-acre former Devro site in Bellshill, which was acquired by Knight at the start of this year. His role will involve overseeing and managing the entire flagship 250,000 sq ft speculative development project, working closely with the design team and principal contractor. Site preparation is currently ongoing, with planning being submitted in June. Site works are scheduled to commence in September with completion in Spring 2020. Howard Crawshaw, Director of Knight Property Group said: “Eddie is a valuable addition to our experienced project management team and brings with him a wealth of experience in the construction sector. He is well respected and will add another dimension to our existing team given his background and many years of engineering expertise. He will manage the Bellshill project from the front-end to completion, bringing a specialism that will add real value and foster collaboration between the members of that team.” Eddie Higgins added: “I’m excited to be joining Knight and was impressed by the positive ambition of the company, along with the supportive and refreshing ethos. Belgrave Logistics Park is a major development project and my contracting background will be of benefit in ensuring that we deliver a successful project to bring to the Scottish logistics and industrial market next year.” The 47-year old is married with two children and lives in Perth.
We do not agree that security is always 100% protected by these safety and security developments, i.e CCTV but we have come a long way and the technology is vastly improved from its induction in the 1960’s and it is certainly a huge deterrent and aid in catching perpetrators. Not a day goes by without news of the theft, or even worst injury or even murder. and the question is how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones. The use of CCTV cameras and other forms of public security is now well advanced, so the question is: how do you protect yourself and your loved ones? Especially in your home, street, and business. We spoke with prodomtated and well respected CCTV experts from Leeds CCTV Direct who are the premier professionals when it comes to all things CCTV and secuirity and the new measures and sofesitcated equipment that is employed to take public, business and home security and safety with CCTV. This is what they told us. CCTV is Everywhere Now Every single incident is quite poissbly on a CCTV camera these days, so keep your eyes open, but the days of blurred images and blurred image quality are over. CCTV can therefore be used as an important tool for identifying offenders, and not just for crime prevention. Such as hit and run drivers. But if the workplace for keeping an eye on employees and even to help mishaps in high accident areas. Crime Provention is a Huge Advanatage It has been observed that most criminals leave the crime scene, before a crime has been committed due to the prevalience and deterrent of CCTV cameras being spotted “spooked” is the word many have used and they are indeed running away. In some cases, surveillance cameras have come to the rescue by containing information from video clips, but some remain unsolved due to a lack of identification. For example, in London and other major cities in the U.K, a number of high-profile crimes such as murder, rape and robbery have been caught on CCTV cameras. If there were a device that continuously recorded prohibited activities, the crime rate itself would fall dramatically. Since most illegal activities only take place at night and not all cameras can do so in low light, which is why cameras and night vision devices are becoming increasingly popular, some markets have night vision cameras. Night Vision CCTV with infrared is just such a device. Keeping Women Safe At Night Women’s safety is a much-debated issue in the United Kingdom, as women in our society are traumatized every day by harassment and assault. To be safe, we must protect not only ourselves, but also our families, friends, and neighbours. That is why our legal system has begun installing surveillance cameras and night vision devices in many cities to ensure that women are shielded. With a number of advantages, the importance of video surveillance in our lives has become priceless and irreplaceable. We will have a record of wrongdoing, so even if there is a mishap, we will be able to find the perpetrator. CCTV Helps Peoeple Sleep Soundly CCTV cameras are therefore an invaluable tool in a society that is constantly grappling with anarchy and monstrosity. People can sleep peacefully at night, parents can relax when they send their children to school, college, or University, and women can wander around the city knowing that someone somewhere is watching and recording all the annoying activities that criminals cause.
Jobsite accidents are unplanned events that result in personal injury. Most accidents happen because of negligence. It can also be because of improper use of tools, unsafe working conditions, or lack of protective equipment like an apron and helmet. Whatever the cause, job site accidents can negatively impact both workers and employers. Some worksite accidents can be avoided by setting up protective measures. However, some just happens. If you ever get into one, here are some things you can do to handle such a situation. Take note of all of these. 1. Inform Your Supervisor Or Employer It would be helpful if you can inform your supervisor about the accident immediately after it happened. Each state has specific laws concerning accidents, but most of them will require you to report the event within a particular period for you to prevent getting yourself into a legal disadvantage. Even if your state doesn’t have any law in place, reporting the accident as soon as possible is important. Reporting the accident in time will hasten processing of your compensation claim. It will also make your claim appear more valid in the court and the eyes of insurance companies. All this will help ensure you’re adequately compensated. When reporting, make sure you put it in writing and retain a copy. Be specific and honest in giving all the details about what happened. A written report is more persuasive than a verbal report. It can also be used as evidence if a dispute arises down the road. Moreover, report the accident to the company’s workers compensation insurance company immediately after the accident. Though these insurance companies don’t provide compensation to employees in most cases, it’s still possible to turnaround their decision when you file a lawsuit against your employer. 2. Hire An Experienced Lawyer In most situations, winning a lawsuit against your employer can be difficult, especially if you’ve sued for compensation. Though the injury may have occurred due to your employer’s negligence, they may refuse to accept it as fact. That’s why it’s advisable to hire an experienced lawyer to help you build a strong claim. That said, personal injury lawyers at banvillelaw.com and other firms are there to handle your case. You can find experienced lawyers from those firms that can help you out. They will represent you in court, and you don’t have to appear in court in person, especially when you’re seriously injured and need time to heal. 3. Seek Medical Attention After reporting the incident, seek medical attention. It doesn’t matter if the injury is not as bad as you thought. Make it a priority. In most cases, you might not feel pain immediately until hours or days later after you’ve sustained the injury. Even if you don’t feel anything, it’s good to go to the doctor for an examination. Do not ignore your injury. Getting it diagnosed and treated it without delay should be a knee jerk reaction from you. Also, the doctor will write a report which will provide more evidence when filing for a personal injury lawsuit. 4. Gather Information It would be helpful if you can gather as much information about the accident as possible. Collecting all details will help ensure you’re adequately compensated. The first thing you can do is get the contact information of any witness who was there when it happened. Plead with them to give you their contact details since these witnesses might be required to appear before the judge to provide evidence about what happened. But if they aren’t willing to give out their details, don’t persist. You have the option to let your lawyer do it for you, as they are more authoritative and can get the required information from them. Also, take photos around the scene. Taking photos is crucial, particularly if the employer failed to provide a better working condition or you with the necessary protective equipment. In addition, you need to take pictures of any injury you’ve sustained. Takeaway Job site injuries are common, especially in workplaces with dangerous tools involved. High-risk materials, poorly kept equipment, and even electricity accumulatively raise the chances of you getting involved in an accident. Work site injury can also be caused by your co-workers who aren’t trained or negligent. All these pose a great danger to you and everyone in the company. Having a safe working environment is a critical aspect of any site job operation. Despite many efforts to keep safe, accidents will and do happen. This is why employees need to know what to do when an accident occurs. Reporting the incident to various authorities, working with a lawyer, and seeking medical attention are some of the things you need to do immediately after the accident.
DESCRIBED as one of the most transformational developments delivered in the East Midlands in more than a decade, Unity Square – the new UK Government Hub in Nottingham, which will be home to HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) and other government departments – has now completed construction. The Grade A office scheme in Queensbridge Road, Nottingham has been eagerly anticipated since it was announced in late 2018 that HMRC, which is leading the delivery of Phase 1 Government hubs, had entered a 25-year pre-let on the development for the Government hub with Peveril Securities and its joint venture partner Sladen Estates. The provision of this ultra-modern, state-of-the-art, ten-storey office building will serve as a catalyst for regeneration in the Southside area of Nottingham and give the firms the momentum to bring forward their other office developments at Broadmarsh West and Unity Phase Two. Ralph Jones, managing director of Peveril Securities and main board director of Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “HMRC’s decision to award this Government Hub in the heart of Nottingham to Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates shows the confidence that HMRC had in our ability to fund and deliver this important scheme above other locations and developers that could have been in the running. It is hugely significant for the region, as well as for everyone who lives and works here, transforming the area around the city’s train station. With thousands of people set to work in the offices, businesses in the area will benefit from the increased footfall of workers in the area. “Those working in the building will benefit from Nottingham’s superb transport links, being right next to bus, train and tram services. The structure also serves as a remarkable landmark for commuters arriving at the train station, providing the sort of impressive development you would expect on arrival in one of the UK’s major cities.” The official handover of the regional hub took place today (Tuesday 11 May) via a virtual ceremony. Colin Casse, locations programme director at HMRC, said: “HMRC has a long-standing presence in Nottingham and the new Government Hub will be home to our Nottingham Regional Centre. A stunning building, right in the heart of the city, 1 Unity Square will provide a flexible modern working environment that can be adapted as our ways of working develop in the future. We are looking forward to the first colleagues moving into the building early in 2022.” The scheme has been constructed by Derbyshire based Bowmer + Kirkland, with the contractors having to contend with the coronavirus pandemic during the final stages of the build. Steve Chambers, regional director at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “We are very pleased to have completed this significant project on time in what has been a very challenging environment. Working closely with Peveril Securities, Sladen Estates, HMRC and L & G has allowed us to overcome the challenges we have encountered – particularly during the past year – and I would personally like to thank all of the staff, trades people and companies involved in the project who have worked extremely hard in very challenging circumstances to deliver the scheme.” Designed by Manchester-based award-winning architecture firm 5 Plus, the development is set to be one of HMRC’s largest regional offices, accommodating more than 4,000 colleagues. Nick Sladen, chief executive of Sladen Estates, said: “Every development has faced challenges over the past year, but we are really pleased that despite the coronavirus pandemic, Bowmer + Kirkland have been able to keep Unity Square construction on track. “Unity Square will have a positive impact on job creation and the economic growth of the area. It should prove to be a spark for significant regeneration in the Southside of Nottingham and provides a striking addition to the city skyline. We are really pleased that despite the coronavirus pandemic and all of the labour and material sourcing issues that caused that the scheme continued on track for its original target completion date.” Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates purchased the 1.14-hectare site in Queensbridge Road – opposite Nottingham train station – in 2015 and demolished the existing derelict car parks before embarking on the city’s largest and most eagerly anticipated scheme, with the government hub being forward funded by LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General).
Leeds and Manchester-based contractor Castlehouse Construction has kicked off its new financial year with a £20M+ order book. The company successfully completed a £20M project pipeline in 2020, despite the challenging backdrop of the pandemic and has already secured the same value of projects for the year ahead in a mix of sectors across Yorkshire, the North West and North East. Since opening its Manchester office in 2019 to service its growing North West client base, the company has continued its recruitment drive and now boasts a team of 33 across its Northern offices with a raft of projects secured spanning healthcare, hospital trust contracts, retail, industrial, offices and residential schemes. Castlehouse recently delivered circa 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space into the Leeds pipeline at the iconic One Embankment in the city centre following a £3.2M refurbishment programme. The company’s retail portfolio also continues to gain ground with its Pets @ Home £1.1M new build in Cheshire and a programme of Lidl new builds across Yorkshire, the North East and the North West as part of the company’s partnership framework with the retailer. The contractor also delivered the retail element of the £17M Treadmills regeneration development at the former Grade II listed prison building in Northallerton, which was driven by the Central Northallerton Development Company, a JV between Hambleton District Council and leading Yorkshire developer the Wykeland Group. Global ice cream brand Froneri also chose Castlehouse to deliver its Lancashire warehouse extension and charity Horticap commissioned Castlehouse to build its new two storey café and shop in Harrogate. The contractor has also successfully completed the acclaimed residential scheme at Southfield & Westfield House in Harrogate, transforming former office buildings into 20 luxury apartments with unrivalled views over The Stray. Castlehouse is one of the North’s fastest growing construction firms and works within all sectors of the market, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, education and residential on a design and build and traditional basis. The £20M order pipeline sees the firm’s projected turnover for 2021/22 at £25M+, demonstrating its resilience and growth since its £195,000 turnover back in 2011/12. The company was formed in 2009 by directors Richard Lumley and Frank Kofler who combined their extensive experience and expertise of working for and founding major companies in the Yorkshire region for more than 40 years. Richard Lumley, Chairman of Castlehouse Construction commented: “To secure £20M worth of orders as we start our new financial year, equal to that for the whole of 2020/21, is testament to the hard work and drive of the entire team in what has been testing times due to the pandemic. We are incredibly proud to be in this position and continue to benefit from the robust relationships we have built with our growing client base across the North of England.”
With a colourful history, surviving a huge fire and two world wars, today Shoreditch Town Hall is a destination arts, events and community space, having been rescued from the brink in the late 1990s. Its recent renaissance culminated in April 2021 with a complete façade clean by Thomann Hanry remarkably, the first exterior clean since it was built. In the process, this magnificent Grade II Listed building has been restored to its original splendour, turning the clock back some 155 years. Designed in Italianate style by Caesar Augustus Long and built in 1866, later to be extended in Edwardian baroque by William G Hunt at the turn of the 20th century, Shoreditch Town Hall is amongst London’s finest examples of grand civic architecture. Adorned with its iconic statue of Progress, the building exemplifies the purposeful optimism of the era, its “More light, more power” motto – carved beneath the Shoreditch crest – encapsulating this forward-looking ethos. From its opening in 1866, the Town Hall was the hub of local democracy and civic life for over a century. Its status as a political focal point was underlined by the arrest there of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst in 1913. The Town Hall was also a hugely popular Music Hall venue from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, in spite of a catastrophic fire in 1904. Hosting the first ever televised boxing match in 1955, it then became best known as a major boxing venue until 1975. Its subsequent decline into neglect during the 1980s was a sad fate for such a proud building with such a colourful history. In 1996 Shoreditch Town Hall was added to the English Heritage “Buildings at Risk” register, prompting a campaign to save this historic East London landmark. The Shoreditch Town Hall Trust took over the lease in 2002, marking a turning point in the building’s history. With £2.3 million of capital investment, it has since been transformed, realising a dynamic vision for one of London’s most important new arts, events and community spaces. In Spring of 2021, London building restoration specialists Thomann-Hanry® were commissioned to clean the Town Hall’s imposing Portland stone façade. With post-lockdown audiences due to return in June, it was important that the building should not be shrouded in scaffolding for months on end. For this reason façade gommage®, patented by Thomann-Hanry®, was the perfect solution. With all cleaning carried out from an agile hydraulic cabin, the entire 1500 square metre façade was cleaned by the four-man team in just eight days without a single pole of scaffolding to be seen. Projecting fine powders under low pressure across the contours of the façade, over a century and a half of accumulated dirt and grime were gently lifted away, revealing the face of the building as it first appeared in 1866. James Pidgeon, Director & Chief Executive of Shoreditch Town Hall, today said: “It has long been an ambition of ours to properly clean and give some attention to the façade of our much-loved landmark building, and so I’m delighted that we’re now able to start these works ahead of welcoming audiences back. The clean will no doubt have a transformative impact on the public’s perception of the Town Hall, and is a fitting and timely reminder of our presence and future ambition as we fully emerge from the horror of the last 12 months and continue to serve artistic and local communities in Shoreditch, Hackney and beyond.”
Construction and civil engineering specialist firm GRAHAM has commenced works on the construction of a new £16 million railway station in Exeter. The new two-platform station will be delivered in collaboration with Devon County Council, who provided the initial concept design, which GRAHAM then utilized in a Design and Build Contract, along with Network Rail, and train operating company GWR. The project will also involve the construction of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge that will supplement the new station, which GRAHAM will also deliver using its vast engineering expertise. The new bridge will provide step free access to the station and improve ‘active travel’ links (cycling and walking) between Alphington, Marsh Barton and the Riverside Valley Park. Once complete, the station will be located near the ‘Energy from Waste’ plant on the eastern edge of Marsh Barton industrial estate. The new station will accommodate services for more than 7,000 people employed at Marsh Barton, while there are also development plans for around 2,500 new homes across the estate, which is currently used for light industrial and office space, along with several car showrooms. From the end of May, there will be a road closure to vehicles at Clapperbrook Lane East for an estimated 14 months, however the route will remain open for access to pedestrians and cyclists throughout that period. Discussing the project, GRAHAM’s Civil Engineering Managing Director, Leo Martin, said: “We’re delighted to be working on this much-needed and anticipated railway station for residents living along the routes of Teignbridge, Exeter and East Devon. It will provide access to excellent job and leisure opportunities in the area while the new pedestrian and cycle bridge will encourage heathier travel choices. “GRAHAM is committed to providing projects that deliver lasting impact and our experience in the rail sector is vast and wide-ranging. This latest scheme adds to our impressive portfolio, which also includes several projects we are delivering this year for Crossrail alongside Network Rail.” A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: “The station is a core element of the Devon Metro rail strategy for Exeter and is central to supporting economic growth to the south west of Exeter and to the Marsh Barton employment area itself, as well as Dawlish and Newton Abbot.” The new station will serve passengers on the Exmouth to Paignton line, via Exeter Central and St. David’s, a route operated by GWR.
With businesses reopening to the public and employees returning to the office, it’s paramount that facility managers know how to keep all premises safe and secure from any unlawful activity. Theft and business crimes make up 20% of all crime in the UK1. This causes great distress to business owners and can lead to commercial failure. To help companies prepare for coming out of lockdown, safety and security specialists Reece Enterprise, have shared their top seven tips to preventing theft that all facility managers need to know. 1. Risk Assessment To mitigate the risk of being subject to theft crime, the first step businesses need to take is conducting a risk assessment. This will help to identify any potential hazards that may occur within the organisation so the board can identify what to prioritise safety wise. This can involve any security aspect from defective security cameras or blind spots to faulty locks or windows. Risk assessments should be undertaken regularly, at least once a year. A further review is recommended once any changes have been made to business equipment, materials, processes, or people. This is also advised after accidents occur, to ensure their validity. 2. Employee Training As stakeholders, employees are a critical part of any business and play a key role in keeping their workplaces safe and protected. Companies should always carry out full background and employment history checks before hiring people if possible. Once hired, security guidelines and theft policies should be clearly explained during employee inductions. Managers can help to mitigate the risk of internal theft by encouraging staff accountability. There are several actions that can be taken to enforce this, such as enacting policy that requires employees to keep laptops and equipment locked and password protected, encouraging employees to report suspicious activity, and by giving specific access, (for example to a cupboard of stationary) to named employees. 3. Keeping Everything Locked, Keys Included Managers can further minimise risk of theft by ensuring valuable items are locked up, making sure that doors, safes and storage spaces are locked, and by safely storing keys in one secure place, like a reliable key cabinet from Reece Enterprise. From fire-resistant to free-standing, key or wall mounted, with a key or padlock, there are multiple cabinets to choose from that are sure to suit your business needs. Adding additional locks to doors and shutters or grilles to windows can give further protection. 4. Surveillance Cameras Use of security cameras, such as CCTV, is one of the most common practices that businesses use to fight criminal activity in the UK. Although data protection rules apply for the use of cameras, they are an excellent tool for deterring burglars. They are particularly effective as they provide evidence and visibility. When operating with small budgets, consider installing a limited number of surveillance cameras in the most high-risk areas. Security mirrors in blind spots are also another good alternative. This will create a robust security system for the business. 5. Keeping Records Another key factor in dealing with theft is identifying the unusual activity in the first place. Being organised and staying on top of stock management within the organisation is essential. Track all your inventory, keep on top of your paperwork, and use tags and labels with serial numbers for all the important pieces of equipment to make sure nothing gets lost. 6. Installing Alarms Alarms are one of the most traditional and prevalent types of security system. Alarm systems and security lighting are a go-to measure for discouraging intruders and having them in place can also help to lower insurance premium costs. Consider setting up a BS 4737-4.3:1988 intruder alarm system, this is part of the general requirements that companies need to comply with in accordance with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and therefore should be considered. Once set up, managers are advised to arrange for the alarms to be regularly tested and maintained.