Places for People Group has partnered with global engineering and design consultancy Arup to launch a pioneering new design guide. The manifesto, entitled What makes great places for people? has brought together their collective expertise to propose the universal qualities and principles of great places. The recommendations are based on
Cable Services Group are the UK’s leading Specialist Electrical Distributor. We stock and supply both cable and cable accessories to the domestic and international markets, sourced from a select number of leading product manufacturers from our UK locations. We have branches located in Glasgow, Liverpool, Wrexham, Stone and Swindon, which
New electric vehicle (EV) charge point protectors are part of a package of safety and impact protection equipment from specialist Brandsafe that have been specified for Amazon’s new North East warehouse and distribution centre. The move sees Brandsafe supplying its impact resistant protection posts, bollards and highly visible HLGV and
The employee-owned business has recently added a wide range of innovative solutions to their ecommerce offering providing customers with sustainable alternatives, their latest one being shredded paper. Kite’s reusable, recyclable and biodegradable FSC and PEFC certified shredded paper is the perfect sustainable void fill solution for not only protecting items
The British Association of Landscape Industries has unveiled its new look ahead of its 50th year in business in 2022, marking the start of a new chapter in the Trade Association’s prestigious history. Spearheading the brand is the Association’s fresh, contemporary new identity, boldly updated for 2021 while celebrating its
The UK government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is soon expected to deliver its strategy for heat and buildings decarbonisation. Today – 31 March – BEIS Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Climate Change, Lord Callanan, joined an expert panel to discuss the beginning of the journey
Leading national brickwork, scaffolding and drywall firm, Phoenix Brickwork has just completed its part in the £21m development of the University of Lincoln’s new School of Medicine, providing essential infrastructure for the new facility. The three quarters of a million-pound contract saw a 12 strong team from Phoenix deliver specialist
Associated British Ports (ABP) has appointed ByrneLooby as lead engineering consultant to provide the design phase of the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF). This project will provide significant re-engineering of the existing quayside in the outer harbour, creating a modern port that supports the renewable energy industry. ByrneLooby’s marine team will deliver
Whether you are renovating your home for yourself or for a future investment opportunity, it’s understandable that you may be excited. You get the chance to create your dream property and can really spend time making it perfect. However, many people tend to get in over their heads. Renovating is
While many Brits enjoy a bit of DIY at the weekend, and painting is a popular choice for easy home renovation projections, it doesn’t mean that you can improvise becoming a pro painter-decorator overnight. If you ever feel tempted to tackle your next painting project yourself, make sure you avoid
Places for People Group has partnered with global engineering and design consultancy Arup to launch a pioneering new design guide. The manifesto, entitled What makes great places for people? has brought together their collective expertise to propose the universal qualities and principles of great places. The recommendations are based on research into the UK’s changing demographics; the population is projected to increase to 73 million by 2041, while people in the 65+ age bracket will rise from 18% to 26% of the total population – meaning that the creation of new homes must be sustainably accelerated and considerations need to be made for older living communities. The guide also analysed societal trends including the pandemic-induced work from home trend, with 76% more people now working from home than a decade ago, Basedon these findings, Places for People and Arup created six key principles which address how developers should put people first, how new developments should be built, how existing places should be managed, and how new neighbourhoods connect to our surroundings. Key themes explored within the guide include an assessment of people, place and planet, as well as an analysis of the changing context in which developments take place – including the factors that are driving demographic, social and environmental change. It also assesses the impact of COVID-19. Places for People Group Chief Executive David Cowans explained: “Our vision is to create thriving, sustainable communities that are good for people, and for the planet, and this design guide gives us a framework which enables us to do this.” Places for People’s track record already includes more than 71,000 social and affordable rented homes currently managed by the business; in the past year the company built 1,226 affordable homes. Places for People also generated £286.1m in social value in the year ending 2020. David continued: “We have already proven how long-lasting communities can be created, with Places for People neighbourhoods up and down the country offering affordable and attainable homes for people from all backgrounds – places in which residentscan lead fulfilling lives. “Our experience shows that mixed-use and mixed-tenure places lay the foundation for social cohesion, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability. We want to ensure that places are genuinely inclusive and have a range of facilities for the benefit of local communities to help them thrive in their work, life and leisure pursuits.” Reflecting on the partnership, Arup Director Sowmya Parthasarathy – an architect and urban designer with over 25 years of global experience, who was recently named as a Woman of Influence 2021 and led on the project, said: “The way that we live is changing and it is imperative that all developers advocate for and deliver spaces that accommodate everyone. This is essential to promote a high quality of life, and a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for people from all backgrounds. “With this, and the National Design Guide in mind, we have collated our research and findings to propose what we believe are the essential qualities and principles of great places. These principles aim to be universal, inclusive, and relevant to all people, irrespective of their age, gender, background, family structure, or socio-economic status. “I am immensely proud to have been involved with this body of work and look forward to the principles being applied to exemplary and sustainable neighbourhoods in the future.” Underpinned by broader industry findings, the Guide has also been cross referenced against recently published Government papers including Building Better Building Beautiful, MHCLG’s National Design Guide, and the National Model Design Code. The full published document is available to download now at https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/about-us/publications/place-design-guide/.
Cable Services Group are the UK’s leading Specialist Electrical Distributor. We stock and supply both cable and cable accessories to the domestic and international markets, sourced from a select number of leading product manufacturers from our UK locations. We have branches located in Glasgow, Liverpool, Wrexham, Stone and Swindon, which helps us service our customers more efficiently. We operate in several different markets which include: Utilities, Industrial Commercial, Power Generation & Transmission, Rail and the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical market. Our strength is our stock holding as well as our close relationships with our partners which gives us the ability to source and deliver products to support customer projects. We have a full range of products to support the utility market and have been supplying into the sector for many years. Our basket of products includes Cable Joints and terminations, Fused Equipment, Link Boxes, Cleats, Ducting, Earthing Accessories and many more. We work with a number of global supplies which include TE Connectivity, Henley, Prysmian, Sicame, Lovink and 3M who we can source products from to enable us to offer a one stop shop solution to the Utilities market Cable Services also have a custom built , state of the art training facility which has been specifically designed to accommodate training installations from low voltage jointing through to 132Kv. The unique 3,000sq ft facility operates in a classroom environment with full audio-visual equipment, a training workshop over 2 open plan levels; product display and demonstration areas; refreshment facilities and on-site parking. 2020 was a landmark year for the company, as we moved our head office and warehouse in Wrexham to a NEW purpose-built head office just down the road to the Wrexham Industrial Estate. “Following a difficult year with the covid19 outbreak, we leave 2020 behind and go into 2021 in our new home and into our 50th anniversary year of the Cable Services Group in a positive light. We continue to serve our customers in the best possibly way and look to support the market place recover following a difficult time.” Huw Evans – Marketing Manager
New electric vehicle (EV) charge point protectors are part of a package of safety and impact protection equipment from specialist Brandsafe that have been specified for Amazon’s new North East warehouse and distribution centre. The move sees Brandsafe supplying its impact resistant protection posts, bollards and highly visible HLGV and car wheel stops to provide improved levels of EV charge point safety and protection at the 148,477 sq. ft. logistics facility at Follingsby Park in Gateshead. The work also sees the company, which is working on the product specification side with architects SMR Architects and main contractor TSL, providing consultancy and project design alongside a package of aftersales service and support. The Gateshead site is part of plans by Amazon to boost its North East distribution activities, boosting services to millions of customers across the region. It’s anticipated that the facility, which is set to employ around 1,000 people when it opens in 2022, will operate as a freight consolidation centre, with HGVs delivering goods from larger storage facilities and vans before distributing these to the local area. Armco rails and safety barriers featuring integrated safety ends, corners and post caps together with pedestrian handrails, polywrap column protectors, security caging and fencing, and cycle shelters, are among hundreds of items of equipment also being installed by Brandsafe’s service team, to meet the requirement for safety and impact protection around the site. These are being manufactured at the company’s Milton Keynes site and involve close cooperation between product supplier and contractor teams as part of an extensive scope of work to provide added safety planning services and expertise. This is the latest success for Brandsafe, which has maintained growth and expansion in the wake a raft of new projects and a strong forward order book for the next 12 months. Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager, said the company is seen as a leading supplier of industrial safety and impact protection products and integrated systems for several major international logistics and retail operators. He said: “This is another prestigious project for us, showing our capability to meet the specific requirements of global customers and add value through bespoke planning and consultancy services. It vindicates our continued investment in products and services to deliver time critical, complex and high-profile contracts. “We continue to strengthen our relationship with Amazon, who are benefiting from our expertise, quality products and support resources.”
The employee-owned business has recently added a wide range of innovative solutions to their ecommerce offering providing customers with sustainable alternatives, their latest one being shredded paper. Kite’s reusable, recyclable and biodegradable FSC and PEFC certified shredded paper is the perfect sustainable void fill solution for not only protecting items but also as an added aesthetic and is FSC and PEFC certified. Commonly used in boxes, hampers, gift bags, baskets and much more, its zig-zag shape ensure it works its way into every corner filling small gaps and providing ultimate cushioning. Available in kraft (produced from 100% recyclable materials) black and white, Kite’s smooth and uncoated 70-80gsm paper does not need fluffing up beforehand and is industrially dust-extracted therefore reducing the dusty mess often associated with other alternatives. This high-quality alternative to many void fill solutions provides great cushioning for fragile products with good holding power. For more information please visit kitepackaging.co.uk
The British Association of Landscape Industries has unveiled its new look ahead of its 50th year in business in 2022, marking the start of a new chapter in the Trade Association’s prestigious history. Spearheading the brand is the Association’s fresh, contemporary new identity, boldly updated for 2021 while celebrating its heritage. Following a three-year development cycle which saw the team at Landscape House carry out research and analysis, a series of stakeholder interviews and a brand positioning exercise, several significant changes were decided upon to improve the Association’s continued efforts to promote, support and inspire its members, the wider landscape services industry and the public. From 1st April 2021, Association members who have passed its stringent vetting procedures will be referred to as Accredited members, replacing the previous ‘Registered’ name. The team at Landscape House, supported by its board of directors, felt the replacement term was a more suitable choice for explaining the process companies went through in order to attain accreditation. Affiliate, the label used to promote members offering trade and public-facing products and services has been dropped in favour of Supplier, a word that better describes that category of membership. So, in simple terms, a Registered Affiliate will now be known as an Accredited Supplier. The brand refresh has also brought with it changes to the way the Association communicates, including a focus on high quality content to inform, educate and inspire. It will use its position as a thought-leader in British landscaping to draw attention to issues affecting the industry and lobby government, as well as developing its technical support offering. The rebrand will also bring a new approach to the Association’s identity, dropping the acronym ‘BALI’. Often confused with non-industry terms, the Association’s new identity advertises a greater public-friendly position, simplified so it only displays the full company name that better describes the service offer. Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented, “This is an important moment for our Association and its members. We recognised, through talking with key stakeholders, that we needed to make changes to our brand to continue to build on our strong foundation and provide the high level of customer service our members expect. Next year our Trade Association celebrates 50 years and we wanted to be in the best shape possible to take full advantage of what that special milestone will bring. Expect further announcements of what we have planned later this year.” To support the launch of the new brand the team at Landscape House have refreshed all marketing and promotional materials for members, with the website bali.org.uk, suite of newsletters and popular journal Landscape Newsall receiving major design and/or functionality updates. Members can login to their member’s area bali.org.uk/login to download the new Accredited logo and brand guidelines (if their membership category permits), order vehicle stickers, download Use the Professionals leaflets and access their membership benefits portfolio which have also been updated.
The UK government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is soon expected to deliver its strategy for heat and buildings decarbonisation. Today – 31 March – BEIS Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Climate Change, Lord Callanan, joined an expert panel to discuss the beginning of the journey to zero emissions, on which the heating industry and its customers are about to embark. A key theme and outcome of the panel discussion was the pressing need for government and industry to engage consumers and influential heating installers. The widely-held view was that it was becoming essential to explain the benefits and transition path to new forms of low-carbon heat, namely hydrogen boilers, heat pumps and heat networks. Karen Boswell OBE, Managing Director of Baxi UK & Ireland, opened the virtual seminar by outlining the company’s plans to lead a sustainable heating revolution. This included Baxi’s ongoing research and development of low carbon technologies and its own role educating customers and installers. The expert panel was also attended by Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of Energy UK, Ian Rippin, CEO of Microgeneration Certificate Scheme and Mike Thornton, CEO of Energy Saving Trust, who explored the imminent need to begin decarbonising heating with current low carbon technologies, while future technologies and solutions are developed. The panellists highlighted that, although there are known technologies and solutions that will help in this process, there are still challenges. This includes upskilling heating engineers to be able to install new low-carbon heating and hot water technologies. Although the mix of low carbon technologies and its implementation has much further to go panellists agreed it was critical to deliver clear-cut solutions to meet the energy needs for the wide variety of buildings in the UK. To be successful, it was emphasised that now is the time for action in order to deliver a sustainable future for generations to come. Karen Boswell says: “We are pleased to have started the first of many discussions which demonstrate Baxi, the Government and key industry organisations are fully committed to plans for the decarbonisation of heating and buildings. “Making low carbon solutions readily available, ensuring there is a rich body of professionals to install them, and engaging the general public will be key to starting this progress. We can’t wait for a single, clear-cut solution that will likely never arise. Right now, we must get consumers and industry professionals on side to support the solutions, training and new services that are needed long into the future. “Baxi is committed to leading the low carbon heating revolution. All products we manufacture will from 2025 work with low carbon energy sources and we have pledged that, by 2030, we will be net zero across our operations in the UK. In the meantime, we’re eager to get the conversation started with our industry partners and customers to ensure we make the transition that is coming is as smooth as possible.” To find out more about Baxi Heating’s sustainability commitments, visit: www.baxiheating.co.uk/sustainability
Leading national brickwork, scaffolding and drywall firm, Phoenix Brickwork has just completed its part in the £21m development of the University of Lincoln’s new School of Medicine, providing essential infrastructure for the new facility. The three quarters of a million-pound contract saw a 12 strong team from Phoenix deliver specialist brickwork, insulation and fire safety services for the hi-tech, environmentally efficient building, with the 24-week project completed on time and on budget. Phoenix was selected by main contractor, BAM Construction for their expertise in health and research projects. The new facility will feature a range of laboratories including a clinical skills suite, anatomy suite and a category two science laboratory, alongside state-of-the-art lecture theatres and teaching areas. To aid medical students’ learning, it will also provide a clinical skills suite with mock consultation rooms, helping students by simulating a working hospital ward or a GP surgery. Site Manager, Sam Humphries said, “While we’re a firm that works on projects across the country, it’s always especially pleasing to be able to contribute to such a great regional initiative, and we are proud to be doing our bit to support the NHS.” Operating from its Derbyshire and Northamptonshire offices, Phoenix recently celebrated a ten-year trading milestone of £18m and recruited six new members of staff to help the business grow into London. “Projects such as this are incredibly rewarding for the team,” said Christian Watson, Managing Director at Phoenix Brickwork. “Not only can we be proud of delivering the project on-time and in budget, in the light of the current pandemic and the heroic efforts of our NHS, we are delighted to have played our part in the creation of this cutting-edge facility for the University and supporting tomorrow’s doctors and nurses.”
Associated British Ports (ABP) has appointed ByrneLooby as lead engineering consultant to provide the design phase of the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF). This project will provide significant re-engineering of the existing quayside in the outer harbour, creating a modern port that supports the renewable energy industry. ByrneLooby’s marine team will deliver state-of-the-art infrastructure that accommodates the next generation of offshore support vessels and provides facilities supporting O&M (Operations and Maintenance) and construction support activities, vital to the growing North Sea energy sector. When complete, the project will offer 360m of berthing space for simultaneous use by three SOVs and deliver up to eight acres of flexible storage and marshalling area. In addition, it will enable the development of around 5,000 sq ft of new office space with direct quayside access. Building on its long history of servicing offshore energy customers, the Port of Lowestoft is close to one of the most significant clusters of offshore wind farms in the UK. It provides a convenient marine hub for offshore wind customers to maintain operations, repower, and construct offshore wind sites. In 2019, Scottish Power Renewables opened an Operations and Maintenance building in Hamilton Dock to support the 714MW East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm. The port is also home to the O&M base for Scottish & Southern Energy’s (SSE) Greater Gabbard Offshore wind farm, located 23km from the Suffolk coast. Ian Dobson, Head of Marine UK at ByrneLooby, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the design of LEEF for Associated British Ports as part of the realisation of the port masterplan. “Our focus is on delivering this strategic project with sustainable and innovative solution-driven design that will realise the highest possible value for ABP. It will play a vital role in supporting ABP’s five-year-masterplan, re-invigorating the port, the locality and the region and providing its customers with a transformed next-generation port.” Project Video
Whether you are renovating your home for yourself or for a future investment opportunity, it’s understandable that you may be excited. You get the chance to create your dream property and can really spend time making it perfect. However, many people tend to get in over their heads. Renovating is a tremendous job, and there are things that you need to be prepared for. Below, we are going to talk about some things that no one tells you about renovating so that you can start this new journey in the best mindset possible. Want to learn more? Then keep on reading! It will take time Many individuals go straight into ripping apart their homes without thoroughly considering how long the process will take. While it does depend on what you are doing, certain aspects can take weeks or even months to be finished. Make sure that you evaluate the time frame and match it to what’s going on in your life. If you have any big plans, you may wish to move things forward or back. It gets messy Your home is going to look like a bomb zone during the time of reconstruction. No matter how much you try and clean, you won’t be able to get it back to normal until everything is finished. That being said, you need to keep things tidy to minimize hazards and reduce the risk of accidents. Do you plan on renting out your home after the renovations? Check out these end of tenancy cleaning London prices for more information. They will be a great contact to recommend to your tenants! There will be mishaps and accidents You can have a perfect plan laid out for each renovation you will make, but there are still going to be mishaps and accidents that happen along the way. Some changes may need to altered, the paint you wanted to order may not be in stock, and your new supplies may have come damaged. Instead of stressing about everything, make sure you plan for the unexpected and always have a backup solution. It’s better to interview multiple contractors You may want to get moving as soon as possible, but trust us when we say you want to spend some time interviewing different contractors. The last thing you want is to employ someone that overcharges you or has a bad reputation. Search around until you find the company that is right for you. It may take a few extra weeks, but it will be worth it. You want someone that is experienced, professional, and will listen to what you have to say. Sticking to a budget can be hard Sticking to a budget is an essential part of renovating; however, it isn’t as easy as it may look. There will be things you fall in love with that you can’t afford, and mishaps that we mentioned above may require you to cut costs in other areas. Remember to stay strong and work around things as best as you can. It may be challenging, but you don’t want to end up putting yourself in an extreme amount of debt. There are many hidden costs You may think that you have all the areas of your expenses covered, but there are still going to be hidden costs that you’ll want to prepare for. Here are a few you want to take into consideration: – Council fees and insurance – Rubbish disposal – Storage fees – Extra electricity and water (increased bill) – Garden reboot (it may become damaged during construction work) You can check out the real cost of renovating a home by clicking the link. You can’t do it all yourself DIYing can be a great way to reduce costs during the building process and can be very satisfying. However, it is important to know that it is impossible to do it all yourself. Some things such as plumbing and electrics should only be handled by professionals. Clearing junk should be done by a reliable company who offers rubbish collection in Chiswick. Doing them yourself will not only cause further damage but may also injure you in the process. You can click here to see a list of things you should and shouldn’t DIY. You will need somewhere else to live (for part of it) You may try and get away with living and renovating on the same property, but there will be one time or another when you need to move out. We aren’t just talking about if your bedroom is being under construction either. Paint fumes, dust, debris, and other material can be harmful to breathe in, and you will want to wait till things have settled down. You need to be aware of specific hazards Houses can have many hidden problems, and some of them can be highly hazardous. Before you go destroying anything, you need to get your home checked and make sure you have the appropriate safety gear. Certain pests, mold, and building materials such as asbestos are toxic, so be prepared and bring in professionals to clear the area. If you don’t have the right equipment, leave everything untouched! There will be times when you may want to give up Lastly, it’s important to remember that there are going to be times when it is very stressful, and you may want to give up. It’s hard to imagine the completed picture when there is dirt and building supplies everyone. However, you want to make sure that you power through and try your best to stay motivated. Once everything has come together, it will all be worth it. Final Thoughts And that’s it! These were the things no one tells you about renovating your home. While it may seem a bit scarier now, it shouldn’t turn you off starting this journey. We just want to help prepare you for the things that are yet to come so that you can build your dream home. So, what are you waiting for? Get your tools ready and see what you can
While many Brits enjoy a bit of DIY at the weekend, and painting is a popular choice for easy home renovation projections, it doesn’t mean that you can improvise becoming a pro painter-decorator overnight. If you ever feel tempted to tackle your next painting project yourself, make sure you avoid these common mistakes, so you never end up wasting time and money. No prep before painting Preparing the area you’re going to paint isn’t the most exciting part of the process, but it’s an essential step if you want to see the best results. Too many people just skip ahead and start painting without preparing the surface or the area they will paint. Needless to say that if you have wallpaper or old paint, you’ll need to strip the wall to ensure you have a smooth surface to paint on. If your wall has a lot of asperities (it’s a fancy word for roughness), you may need to do some plasterwork or some light sanding so that the texture doesn’t come through. Ensure the walls are also clean to avoid painting over dust particles or anything else that can get stuck over time. You can do so by vacuuming the walls to remove all dust and washing the area with warm water and vinegar for a deep clean. Don’t skip corners and baseboards! Finally, make sure that anything that doesn’t need painting will be protected. That includes the floors and nearby furniture. It would help if you also were wrapping doorknobs and use painter’s tape along the edges of your surface (the baseboards, for example). Taking the time to set up protection will ensure you have a clean finish, and you won’t stain precious furniture or other areas. Using the wrong paint This might seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised to see how many people buy paint before realising they didn’t choose the right one. Not all types of surfaces react to paint in the same way, so you will need different products depending on whether you are painting metal, wood, tiles, concrete, plaster etc. Make sure to double-check that the paint you are selecting will be appropriate for your surface area. In doubt, many specialist retailers like The Paint Shed are happy to provide guidance and help you choose the right products for your project. Once you have the right type of paint, don’t forget to check what finish you’re buying as well. It may seem like there wouldn’t be much of a difference between a gloss and semi-gloss finish, but anyone who has ever painted a whole room in gloss will tell you otherwise. Using the wrong tools If the tools don’t make the craftsman, having the right tools for the job will certainly help you achieve the results you want. If you are painting walls or large surfaces, swap the paintbrush for a roller which will avoid creating lines or streaks (which is caused by the brush bristles). Not all paint rollers are created equal, though, and you will have to select the right one depending on the type of surface. Generally speaking, thicker roller covers (also called nap or pile) are more suited to rougher surfaces as they can apply thicker layers of paint. Thinner roller covers will be better suited for smoother surfaces that require a more delicate finish. Make sure you’re not over saturating the roller when painting. Applying too much paint in one go can lead to uneven application and drips. The nap should be saturated with paint but not dripping. You can use a paint tray to ensure the paint is spread evenly on the roller and remove excess before applying it to your surface. Using trays is also highly recommended rather than dipping your tools straight into the paint can, leading to contaminating the paint with dirt or dust. Ignoring the weather Exterior projects are particularly concerned with the weather, but it could also apply to some inside work. If the weather is too humid and cold, it will affect the time needed for water-based paints to dry. If the weather is not going to be in your favour, consider delaying your project until it is warmer or drier. The wind is also something to think about. If you are painting outside, strong winds could ruin your work or just make it extra difficult for you. Now that you’re armed with these tips, I hope you feel ready to tackle your next painting project! If you enjoyed this, you’ll find more articles like this in the painting and decorating section of our website.