Approval Granted For New Speculative Industrial Scheme at Integra 61 Durham County Council has granted planning consent to Citrus Durham for the delivery of the next phase of employment accommodation at its £300m mixed-use Integra 61 development at J61 of the A1(M). The new business/industrial hub, Evolution@Integra61, will be delivered
Musculoskeletal Injuries in Construction Health and safety is a key priority for today’s businesses and employees. Although the majority of people working in the construction industry care about health and safety and are diligent in their work, the construction industry remains one of the most dangerous sectors to work in
Kingspan’s founder, Eugene Murtagh’s fortune has gone up nearly a billion dollars in a year, but investors are moving away from the Grenfell Tower insulation supplier. Forbes published its annual list of billionaires earlier this week with Kingspan founder and Chairman, Eugene Murtagh is on the list with a $2.4 billion fortune,
After a year in which the construction industry has led the way in terms of the safe return to work during a global pandemic, organisers of a North East awards ceremony are preparing to celebrate this year’s incredible construction heroes at a fully live, online awards ceremony. The Trades Awards
Contract Finder Pro’s Sandy Boxall explains why we need to industrialise the bid process for the construction industry I’ll never forget the sight of dormant cranes adorning the skylines of city centres across the UK during the first national lockdown. Talk about an apt metaphor. As the country closed down
Foxhills Club & Resort has underlined its family values and value to the local economy by forging ahead with the launch of its new venue, the Pavilion. The new £7m facility is the latest to be unveiled by the Surrey resort as it continues to invest in its array of
Although the premises are pretty similar, truck accidents are different from your typical car accidents. They have a higher mortality rate and can lead to more catastrophic damages to the surroundings. As such, the compensation will be relatively higher than usual, so dealing with a truck accident is much different
FireArrest surveyed experts to shine a light on the biggest fire risks Prominent fire stopping business, FireArrest, recently performed a study with a range of fire professionals to understand what, in their experience, are the most common fire risks. As we all know the management of fire risks within a
PROPERTY, construction, and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle has taken new steps in further integrating its extensive supply chain – announcing global industry heavyweights Stantec and WT Partnership as part of its expanded “PrimeCore” team. Perfect Circle achieved unprecedented success in leading SCAPE’s former Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework, delivering
Trinova and Europi snap up Cuprum and The Stamp Office in £44m office acquisition swoop A joint venture between TREOS (the discretionary fund vehicle of Trinova Real Estate) and Swedish real estate investor, Europi Property Group, has purchased two major Scottish office investment assets in Glasgow and Edinburgh over the
Approval Granted For New Speculative Industrial Scheme at Integra 61 Durham County Council has granted planning consent to Citrus Durham for the delivery of the next phase of employment accommodation at its £300m mixed-use Integra 61 development at J61 of the A1(M). The new business/industrial hub, Evolution@Integra61, will be delivered speculatively by Citrus and will add up to a further 23 flexible units totalling 52,142 sq ft in sizes from 1,205 sq ft up to 6,480 sq ft at the Integra 61 development, which already includes Amazon’s new 2m sq ft Fulfilment Centre and has consent for over 3 million sq ft of employment space with the potential to create some 4,000 jobs. The new units at Evolution@Integra61, which will be available to purchase or lease, can be occupied individually or combined to meet larger requirements of up to 14,940 sq ft. With design and build packages available for units up to 600,000 sq ft in the wider Integra 61 scheme, the development can accommodate occupiers of all sizes making it inclusive for all businesses seeking new space in the North East. Integra 61 will also create circa 300 new homes, a 70-bed hotel, a family pub/restaurant, a nursery, car showrooms and a number of trade counter/retail units all adding to the diverse offering. Located at J61 of the A1(M) and fronting onto the newly upgraded A688 and Durham Services, Integra 61 is just 4 miles away from the City of Durham. Evolution@Integra61 has been designed to address the regional shortage of modern small units to satisfy strong demand from local and regional occupiers seeking high quality industrial/warehouse units in the centre of the County. Citrus Durham will be appointing a contractor to start work on site in the summer and agents, Avison Young and Colliers International, are already taking reservations in advance of practical completion of Evolution@Integra61 in Q4 2021. David Cullingford, Project Lead for Integra 61 and Citrus Durham, said; “We are proud to be delivering such an inclusive scheme and to be able to offer a wide range of opportunities to businesses of all sizes. Research has demonstrated the critical lack of new build space in the North East and we are confident that this next phase of flexible business accommodation will not only support regional occupiers but also provide an influx of jobs to boost the local economy.” Danny Cramman, Director at Avison Young commented; “The scheme will unlock much-needed new supply for the region. With the industrial and logistics sector so busy, there continues to be an increasing need for these type of units and there has already been a huge amount of interest expressed by local and regional businesses seeking a rare opportunity to purchase premises of this size in such a prime location. Occupiers will also benefit from the wide range of on-site amenities being delivered as part of the wider scheme.”
Musculoskeletal Injuries in Construction Health and safety is a key priority for today’s businesses and employees. Although the majority of people working in the construction industry care about health and safety and are diligent in their work, the construction industry remains one of the most dangerous sectors to work in when it comes to musculoskeletal injuries.1 According to statistics from the UK government agency, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 498,000 workers reported to be suffering from work-related musculoskeletal injuries in 2018/19 with 41% of these injuries relating to upper limbs and neck.2 Altogether, HSE reports that 8.9 million working days were lost due to work-related musculoskeletal injuries in 2019/20.3 Overhead Work: A Major Risk Factor Musculoskeletal injuries develop when biomechanical demands, such as extreme postures, repeatedly exceed the worker’s physical capacity during construction work. In this regard, overhead work has been identified as a major risk factor for this type of injury in the shoulder region. Working with the arms raised over 90° for more than 10% of a worker’s working hours increases the risk of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in the shoulder region by one to two thirds.4 Support is Needed Overhead work remains a very common part of construction work today. And despite growing automation, numerous strenuous tasks cannot be fully automated, at all or at a reasonable cost. One solution to physically relieve workers while keeping them in control of the task is to assist them with an exoskeleton. An exoskeleton is a wearable system that provides physical assistance to its user through assistive torques and/or structural support. As the system is worn on the body and follows the user’s movements, no – or very limited – modifications of the workplace are required. Exoskeletons are drawing great interest from the industry to help alleviate some of the issues caused by overhead construction work. Hilti Exoskeleton: Addressing Productivity and Increased Demand xoskeletons are designed to enhance productivity by reducing stress on the body, causing less pain and fatigue due to a reduced load on muscles and joints. This reduced stress and increased comfort when working enables workers to improve their health and reduce the amount of sick days they take, provided that they still take the required rest breaks for physical and mental wellbeing. Tests have proved the effectiveness of the exoskeleton in terms of reducing stress on a worker’s muscles and joints, to improve the health of a worker and minimise days lost through ill health. By being able to retain skilled workers for longer periods of time due to less employee sick days, construction companies can utilise exoskeletons to improve operations twofold by improving employee wellbeing and increasing on-site productivity. Read the MRI Report here > References: HSE, Construction Statistics in Great Britain, 2020 HSE, Health and Safety at Work: Summary Statistics for Great Britain, 2019 HSE, Work related musculoskeletal disorder statistics (WRMSDs) in Great Britain, 2020 Grieve J, Dickerson C., Overhead work: Identification of Evidence-based Exposure Guidelines. Occupational Ergonomics, 2008; 1: 53-66
Kingspan’s founder, Eugene Murtagh’s fortune has gone up nearly a billion dollars in a year, but investors are moving away from the Grenfell Tower insulation supplier. Forbes published its annual list of billionaires earlier this week with Kingspan founder and Chairman, Eugene Murtagh is on the list with a $2.4 billion fortune, up from $1.4 billion in 2020. He owns 16% of the shares in Kingspan, which he founded in Ireland in 1965. Kingspan is the manufacturer of insulation materials used on Grenfell Tower. Kingspan executives appeared in front of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry through November and December 2020 and gave further evidence at the end of March 2021. WHEB, a financial investor specialising in sustainable investing, published the minutes of its Investment Advisory Committee and revealed why it no longer invests in Kingspan. “Our overriding concern is that there was, in our view, a culture within the UK operations that saw regulation as an impediment to doing business. There is clear evidence that senior leaders sought to manipulate tests to provide positive results. There is also evidence of management seeking to bully and threaten employees and put pressure on external consultants and clients who raised concerns. “This core issue of culture remains, in our view, largely unaddressed by the company. Compounding this concern was the decision by the company to appoint the CEO’s brother to the Board. This appointment was announced with the annual results in late February. In our view, this was a missed opportunity to make board appointments which present the clearest possible signal of independent governance.” Concluding its analysis, WHEB said that the cultural problems in Kingspan were “tacitly endorsed by group management” and that they did not believe that proposed remedies would go far enough to deal with these concerns. As a result, WHEB sold all its financial interests in Kingspan by 26 February 2021, 0.11% of Kingspan’s outstanding equity. WHEB is not the first investing firm to respond to the evidence provided at the Inquiry. In January, The Irish Times reported that Liontrust Asset Management had also cut its investment in Kingspan by about 400,000 shares. The Mail on Sunday published its survey of ethical investment firms on 23 January and found many still held Kingspan shares but were reconsidering their positions. “Until late last year, the £2 billion Baillie Gifford Positive Change fund had Kingspan as a top ten holding, with 3.9 per cent of its assets in the company. But last month, it reduced this stake.” The Grenfell Inquiry reconvenes on 19 April.
After a year in which the construction industry has led the way in terms of the safe return to work during a global pandemic, organisers of a North East awards ceremony are preparing to celebrate this year’s incredible construction heroes at a fully live, online awards ceremony. The Trades Awards are organised by local creative marketing agency Mearns & Gill and were launched in 2012 to reward and recognise individuals, teams, and businesses within the North East construction industry. Now entering its ninth year, the awards ceremony invites applications from businesses across all disciplines within construction, and from sole traders right up to national construction businesses with a head office in the North East. With 14 award categories available to enter including ‘Apprentice of the Year’, ‘Tradesperson of the Year’, ‘Sustainability in Construction’ and ‘Construction Project of the Year’, there are many opportunities for businesses of all sizes to share their success story. Trades Awards 2020 was initially postponed due to Covid-19, and eventually took place in October as a live, online event, broadcast from a studio at Mearns & Gill. Over 400 guests took part in the celebrations that saw winners give their acceptance speeches from living rooms, kitchens, and boardrooms around the North East, due to a tightening of restrictions at that time. This year’s ceremony will take place online again on Friday 1st October, with organisers hoping that finalists will be able to gather in smaller groups this year if government guidelines allow. Mike Wilson, Managing Director, Mearns & Gill said “We are very excited to be starting the search for this year’s crop of construction heroes. We organise a range of construction events throughout the year, so we get to see first-hand the incredible work that is being done out there, and we believe it is important to highlight these achievements. “We had initially hoped that we could celebrate together this year, but with so much uncertainty in terms of restrictions we took the decision to organise the event online again. We’ll be broadcasting live from our very own studio, with the hope that our sponsors and finalists will be able to gather in smaller groups to hear the award announcements. The world of digital events continues to get more exciting, and we’ll be using the best technology and techniques to ensure that all of our guests have an entertaining an interactive evening.” Neil Thomson, Deputy Managing Director, Stewart Milne Homes Scotland, said “On behalf of everyone at Stewart Milne Group, we are extremely proud to be the main sponsor of the Trades Awards for the seventh year in a row. I speak regularly about how proud I am to work in the construction industry, and that has never been truer than now. Our industry has led the way in terms of operating safely and efficiently during a global pandemic, and everyone has worked so hard to create new ways of working that have been adopted by other sectors. We have witnessed individuals in our own business, and amongst our contractors, suppliers, and peers rise to the huge challenges we have faced, and the Trades Awards offers an important opportunity to give these construction heroes the recognition they richly deserve.” Elaine Donald, W M Donald, said “Our industry is very much about the people, and we continue to support the Trades Awards because it offers a unique platform to highlight the skill, knowledge and passion within construction. For us, it is very important that individual apprentices, young professionals, and tradespeople receive recognition for outstanding achievements, as well as giving local companies the chance to talk about their efforts with regards to sustainability, health and safety, and looking after their people.” The deadline for entering Trades Awards 2021 is Friday 25th June, more information can be found on www.tradesawards.com
Contract Finder Pro’s Sandy Boxall explains why we need to industrialise the bid process for the construction industry I’ll never forget the sight of dormant cranes adorning the skylines of city centres across the UK during the first national lockdown. Talk about an apt metaphor. As the country closed down so, too, did construction sites and only after new operating procedures were rolled out, and disruption costing billions of pounds, did they re-open. Even though the industry was able to largely stay open for business during the second and third lockdowns, there’s no doubt that these events have proved a real shock to the system, driving both short and long term change. It’s also showcased the construction industry’s ability to pivot and rapidly implement innovative change. Of course, no sector of the economy or society has been untouched by the pandemic. However, it strikes me that firing up my laptop from home is one thing, safely deploying new operating procedures, including social distancing protocols and enhanced hygiene processes on building sites, is quite another. Nonetheless, despite these challenges, organisations have persevered and found ways to deliver projects safely. Ongoing opportunities The good news is that better times are fast materialising on the horizon. While the pandemic’s economic consequences continue to play out, public sector opportunities have thankfully remained plentiful, with over 1,500 of open tenders and worth more than £928 billion issued by the UK and Republic of Ireland governments within the last 12 months alone. Of course, such opportunities vary in size from the smallest to the largest, but competition is fierce – if anything fiercer than before Covid and likely to remain so as the recession reduces commercial construction opportunities. While who you know is still important in any procurement, the process is becoming ever more digital, with more tenders moving online and industry open days and other one-to-one interactions becoming an ever more digital experience. Industrial revolution The sheer scale of this conversion to all things digital means that now, more than ever, businesses need to industrialise their business winning processes. This will enable them to reap digital dividends, such as using technology to streamline procedures and increase their own efficiency, and in the process save their precious time to do the things that cannot be streamlined – such as the human interaction that can often secure the golden nugget of information that secures the win. An online treasure trove of information is now available, on both the market and on new opportunities that organisations would wish to bid for. Using data feeds, market trackers (like my very own Contract Finder Pro, for example) and integrating both outsourced (like bid writers and legal teams) and insourced components and services, the business winning process can become increasingly automated and slick. With a bit of thought and some changes to business winning processes, big improvements to efficiency can be made. Since there is never quite enough time to write a bid, those organisations that can automate the process most effectively and take advantage of the digital opportunity at hand will be more competitive than those that don’t. Their reward will be larger market shares and the promise of even more competitive advantage still to come. The future really is digital.
Foxhills Club & Resort has underlined its family values and value to the local economy by forging ahead with the launch of its new venue, the Pavilion. The new £7m facility is the latest to be unveiled by the Surrey resort as it continues to invest in its array of leisure amenities – despite the unprecedented difficulties of the last 12 months. It is further proof of Foxhills’ role as a leading hub for the local community for when life returns to some kind of normality. As one of the borough’s largest local employers, Foxhills is set to play a pivotal role in helping the local economy get back on its feet. The Pavilion will not only create even more jobs, but will also be an attractive proposition for holidaymakers ahead of the expected staycation boom this summer. The Pavilion follows 2019’s investment in the refurbishment of The Fox dining rooms, the opening of the Practice Den – a floodlit short-game area which adds to the club’s extensive golf practice facilities – and the Yoga Cabin, which has already gained huge popularity among the members and guests. Opening in May, just in time for the easing of most restrictions and ready for when leisure and socialising will be cherished the most, The Pavilion is one of Foxhills’ most exciting developments in its 46-year history. Designed by Michaelis Boyd, the architects behind Soho Farmhouse, the brief was to build “beautiful boxes filled with optimists”. The building is now just a few weeks away from completion and will feature indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a crèche, art studio, playroom with soft play and role-play ‘high street’, three more studios for dance, functional fitness and group cycling, a games room, a new restaurant and two terraces – all set within a Victorian walled garden overlooking one of the resort’s golf courses. The Pavilion joins an Olympic range of leisure facilities already at the club, offering more than 200 weekly activities for both adults and children. Highlights include group cycle, yoga, combat, reformer Pilates, Zumba, arts and crafts, Nordic walking, dance, judo, orienteering, tennis, table tennis, cycling and running clubs, basketball, football and golf. And with the new facility opening in a completely different world than expected, every step has been taken to make sure that it is Covid-safe and adaptable to the times we find ourselves in. The building itself is spacious and airy, with a state-of-the-art air exchange system to improve ventilation, while the design has also made the most out of outdoor space with two terraces – the larger with heaters and an awning for year-round dining and relaxing. More classes will also take place outdoors with yoga, boot camps and power walking on the 4km woodland trail on the estate, as well as the opportunity for most of them to be live-streamed or on demand so they can be enjoyed at home. Social distancing will be easy with three studios which are larger than the existing, with one being used for private one-to-one personal training. Swimming outside in the new 25m outdoor pool is better for limiting transmission and it will be possible every day as the pool will be heated all year. Takeaway food and drink will be available, a strict cleaning regime will be in place to thoroughly sanitise any touchpoints – although automatic doors, sinks and showers on sensors, as well a counter service, will also limit these. Hand sanitiser will also be available throughout. Marc Hayton, Foxhills managing director, said: “At this extraordinary time, we all need something to look forward to. The Pavilion will not only help to cement our place as a family club, but also as a valued business at the heart of the local community and will give a well-needed boost to the local economy. “Family is a vital component to Foxhills’ ethos and has always been the bedrock of the resort. We want to give our members and the local community the facilities they deserve – even more so after the tough year everyone has had. “We’re delighted that The Pavilion will arrive just in time and will provide the community with space to exercise, socialise and unwind in a safe environment.” Foxhills takes its role in the community seriously. In time for Christmas, the club organised an initiative which saw its members donate £25k to food banks in Weybridge and Runnymede and £100,000 has been committed to summer camps for local children providing those most in need with up to a month of activities.
Although the premises are pretty similar, truck accidents are different from your typical car accidents. They have a higher mortality rate and can lead to more catastrophic damages to the surroundings. As such, the compensation will be relatively higher than usual, so dealing with a truck accident is much different than when you’re involved in a typical car accident. This guide will discuss the things you need to do when you’re involved in truck accident cases so you don’t get the short end of the stick. 1. Get To Safety The first thing you need to do after a truck accident is to get to safety. You can start by driving to the side of the road since your vehicle may become an obstacle to emergency services that will arrive on the scene and cars that pass through the road. If the accident happened at night, it’s advisable to turn on your hazard lights for passersby to see. 2. Call Emergency Services After getting to safety, it should be safe to start calling emergency services, such as 000 or 911. If you don’t have a phone with you at the moment, try asking a passerby to make the call instead. Furthermore, if you think the truck is carrying hazardous materials, make sure to inform the dispatcher of this since they might need to prepare extra equipment. This step is also essential when there is a truck accident in a work site. 3. Document The Scene Emergency services typically arrive one hour after the call, depending on the distance between the accident scene and the nearby station. In the meantime, you can document the scene. You can start by taking pictures of your vehicle, preferably the areas showing the damage. Make sure to take photos of your injuries as well. If there are people who witnessed the accident, you can try to get testimonies from them. But, if they don’t have time at the moment, you can simply get their contact information and names. By documenting the scene, you can gather enough information to ensure that you’ll get compensation from the truck driver. It may also serve as a great tool to convince your insurance company to cover the expenses on repairs. 4. Exchange Information With The Other Party Once the emergency services arrive, they’ll be busy filing an accident report, so you should exchange information with the other party (the truck driver) in the meantime. At the very least, you need to collect the following information: With these pieces of information, it should be difficult for the other party to get away from their mistake if they’re at fault, and this will help greatly in the settlement process. 5. Seek Medical Attention Even if you feel like you’re completely fine, it should still be in your best interest to seek medical attention along with other parties involved in the accident since there’s a chance the injuries are internal and have no immediate signs. Since there are already emergency services on the scene, you don’t have to trouble yourself by going to a nearby hospital. But, just in case, make sure you also go to a hospital after getting checked by the responding officers so you can get a medical record from the doctor. This will come in handy during negotiations later on. 6. Check Your Vehicle Just like your body, your vehicle might’ve sustained internal damage that you’re not aware of, so it’s a good idea to get your vehicle appraised before settling the truck accident claim. That way, you can minimize the compensation for your vehicle’s repairs. Take note, however, that when getting your vehicle appraised on a body shop, you need to remind them that it’s not up for repairs, at least not until you’ve settled the claim. 7. Call Your Insurance Company Call your insurance company immediately to inform them of the accident. However, remember that they will aim to cut on their losses, so they’ll push you to settle immediately so the compensation will be as little as possible. On that note, you need to take control of the call. Here are some tips for pulling this off: Wrapping Up Truck accidents cause 5000 deaths every year, and if you’re not careful, you might become a part of such numbers. Hence, it’s only natural to panic after getting involved in a truck accident, but that will only be counter-productive. If you want to achieve a favorable outcome from this incident, your best bet would be to follow the tips above.
FireArrest surveyed experts to shine a light on the biggest fire risks Prominent fire stopping business, FireArrest, recently performed a study with a range of fire professionals to understand what, in their experience, are the most common fire risks. As we all know the management of fire risks within a property is the single most important factor when it comes to saving lives, protecting properties and the contents within them. The survey looked at three key areas of fire safety: Buildings. Liabilities. Hidden risks. When FireArrest asked what kind of building was at most risk of fire, seven out of ten said that the most fire risks were present within private homes. FireArrest then asked what the biggest fire risks were in terms of materials, 39% said combustible materials, 35% said electrical materials and 23% said vulnerable infrastructure. Finally, they asked the experts about the most common hidden risks, 31% of the responses agreed that walls and ceilings present the biggest dangers since they aren’t immediately visible. 23% said that entranceways were the biggest hidden fire risk within a property. Managing and mitigating the risk of fire within a building is key in not only saving lives but preventing severe damage to the structure of the building and the contents within. For our latest research project, we surveyed a range of active and passive fire industry professionals to shine a light on some of the most common, and often hidden, risks they see on a daily basis. In our survey, we based our questions around three core areas of fire safety… Risky Buildings When we asked fire professionals what kind of buildings presented the biggest fire risk, 7 out of 10 stated that most fire risks are present within residential properties. Conversely, the safest kinds of buildings appear to be restaurants with only 1 in 10 choosing this kind of building as high-risk. Biggest Fire Liabilities The skills of fire professionals are used to inspect properties and assess their vulnerabilities and the risk of fire. In our survey, we asked what the most common outcomes of these inspections are: 39% said combustible materials. 35% said electrical materials. 23% said vulnerable infrastructure. Other liabilities included kitchen exhaust systems and grease-laden vapours. Hidden Fire Risks When asked about hidden fire risks in a building, walls and ceilings were the most common answer, with 31% of our survey audience concurring that hidden risks are usually in these areas as they aren’t immediately visible. Secondly, 23% of our survey said that entrance ways were the biggest hidden fire risk within a premises.
PROPERTY, construction, and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle has taken new steps in further integrating its extensive supply chain – announcing global industry heavyweights Stantec and WT Partnership as part of its expanded “PrimeCore” team. Perfect Circle achieved unprecedented success in leading SCAPE’s former Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework, delivering more than 2,600 contracts across a public sector spend of £500m in the past four years. As a result, in January 2021, Perfect Circle was awarded the new Built Environment and Infrastructure lots of the SCAPE Consultancy framework for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Along with Perfect Circle’s principal partners Pick Everard, Gleeds, and AECOM, new preferred partners are joining its PrimeCore team – delivering project management and quantity surveying services to continue growth in providing service excellence to more than 300 public sector organisations. They join together as part of the consultancy’s already vast market of approved suppliers, with more than 600 supply chain partners creating better integration and collaboration in dynamic service delivery teams. The new preferred partners will help to drive the framework into new sectors, making significant contributions to the government’s build back better programme. Stantec and WT Partnership are the first of several firms in the expanded PrimeCore team to be announced. Victoria Brambini, managing director at Perfect Circle, said: “Since Perfect Circle was set up in 2016, we have been strengthening our collaborations between our shareholders, SCAPE framework partners and our supply chain. Our ethos is deep-rooted in partnership, working and bringing the strongest integrated team together to deliver the best services to clients, with embedded creation of community benefits right across the UK. “This is because we know that effective collaboration not only brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise into the group, but also a collective passion and drive for improvement – making a real difference to clients, communities, employees, and supply chain partners. “The scale and success of leading SCAPE’s former BECS framework has been recognised by the enthusiasm and commitment from suppliers to become part of our PrimeCore team. As we continue to be selected by public sector clients to deliver their projects via the new SCAPE Consultancy framework, we will further bolster our mission to deliver procurement value by connecting the public sector and its projects to the best talent and integrated team. “We are delighted to have added further expertise to our already expansive supply chain and engaged Stantec and WT Partnership into our PrimeCore team. Stantec will bolster and support our delivery of infrastructure projects, while WT Partnership will bring the benefit of 70 years’ experience within the property and construction industry across a full range of projects for public sector clients.” Perfect Circle delivers the broadest range of consultancy services available to the public sector via SCAPE Consultancy, a direct award framework that drives collaboration, speed and efficiency, social value, and value for money. The services are categorised as prime core (project management and quantity surveying), core (including building surveying, architecture, and the engineering disciplines), and non-core services, with principal partners Pick Everard, Gleeds, and AECOM and the new preferred partners able to deliver all services, and suppliers being engaged to deliver any core and non-core services. James Morgan, framework director at Stantec, said: “Stantec is delighted to join Perfect Circle as a preferred partner on the SCAPE Consultancy framework, delivering the Built Environment and Infrastructure lots. Together, we have a shared commitment to delivering community enrichment, social value, sustainability, and economic growth. “We look forward to providing expert consultancy and innovative solutions to our public sector clients through both framework appointments, with a particularly prominent role on lot 2 – Infrastructure – providing key schemes for environmental protection and transport such as, for example, the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford corridor (CaMKOx).” Dean Smith, joint managing director at WT Partnership, added: “We are thrilled to be designated one of Perfect Circle’s preferred partners, providing built environment and infrastructure consultancy services across the SCAPE Consultancy framework. “This will allow us to maximise upon our key business objectives of supporting the wider public sector, providing excellent value for money, and promoting social value to enhance local communities throughout the UK.” The SCAPE Consultancy framework runs from January 2021 until 2025. Accessible to any public sector organisation, the framework offers the broadest range of professional services available in the construction and infrastructure industry, with each lot providing experts in each sector. The fully OJEU-compliant procurement route brings together the strongest collaborative team with value for money, while contributing substantially to local social value. Mark Robinson, chief executive of SCAPE, said: “By extending its ‘PrimeCore’ dedicated supply chain, Perfect Circle is ensuring it has access to a wide range of specialist expertise. This means that clients can be confident that through SCAPE Consultancy, their projects will be ready to be accelerated by having the right team in place from the very outset.” Since its inception, Perfect Circle has assembled a supply chain of more than 680 firms that have access to work with a diverse range of public sector organisations. More than £74m has been spent across the supply chain on public sector projects over the past four years. For more information on Perfect Circle, please visit www.perfectcircle.co.uk.
Trinova and Europi snap up Cuprum and The Stamp Office in £44m office acquisition swoop A joint venture between TREOS (the discretionary fund vehicle of Trinova Real Estate) and Swedish real estate investor, Europi Property Group, has purchased two major Scottish office investment assets in Glasgow and Edinburgh over the past few weeks. Cuprum was built in 2010 and is of Grade A quality, offering excellent floorplates, extending to 96,267 sq.ft over eight floors, plus 37 car parking spaces. It is fully occupied, with the headline tenants being AXA Insurance (UK) plc and Teleperformance Ltd. It is also home to SAS Software Ltd and Citres Ltd. Set on Argyll Street, in the western edge of Glasgow’s International Financial Services District (IFSD), Cuprum is very well connected to key city centre amenities and transport links. The Stamp Office was originally built in 1819 and comprises a 52,177 sq.ft, seven storey classical Georgian building with four floors situated above Waterloo Place and three lower floors overlooking Calton Road to the rear, and adjacent to Edinburgh’s Waverley station. Located in the heart of Edinburgh, the Category A listed building has been comprehensively redeveloped behind a retained facade to provide Grade A open plan office accommodation on all levels. It is 85% occupied and tenants include Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, The Scottish Ministers, Covance, Queryclick and Senvion. Colin Finlayson, Director of Lismore, who advised Credit Suisse on the sale of Cuprum and a UK institutional owner on the sale of The Stamp Office, said: “We are seeing increased activity in the Scottish market, with investors like Trinova and Europi being drawn by renewed occupier activity, attractive yields and favourable exchange rates, along with the potential to add value. “Cuprum attracted significant interest from both overseas and UK investors. It offers excellent tenant covenants and secure income. The Stamp Office offers an opportunity to reposition a quality office building adjacent to the St James Quarter.” Martyn Brown, Director of CBRE, who advised the purchaser on Cuprum said: “We are pleased to have secured this quality, ‘value add’ office investment for Europi and Trinova. The asset offers clear asset management initiatives over the next few years, which will be implemented by our client, whilst taking advantage of the strong fundamentals that the Glasgow office market has to offer.” Alasdair Steele, Partner of Knight Frank, who advised the purchaser on The Stamp Office said: “The Stamp Office is in a prime office location, with exceptional nearby amenities and easy access to public transport. As organisations move towards a return to the office, with the right strategy and refurbishment programme the building can be turned into exactly the type of offering that occupiers are looking for: good quality, accessible and affordable accommodation in a prime city centre location. It is very rare to find a building like this in Edinburgh and we are delighted that it is now part of Europi and Trinova’s portfolio.” Lismore Real Estate Advisors represented Credit Suisse and the UK institutional owner on the sale of Cuprum and The Stamp Office respectively. CBRE advised the purchaser on Cuprum and Knight Frank advised the purchaser on The Stamp Office.