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
The recent discovery that the smoke control system on Grenfell Tower had been inoperative for over a year before the refurbishment and that the tenant management organisation (TMO) had known about it and done nothing to mitigate the risk for the building occupants came as no surprise to those of
In order to provide best value and service for its clients and residents, residential managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been developing a range of innovative, market leading procurement practices. With energy being one of the biggest regular costs in property management, the company has created a dedicated in-house utilities
Research from national UK estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has found that the demise of the UK’s retail industry has left empty premises with enough space to provide nearly 25,000 homes to a market value of £7.4bn. Keller Williams analysed the potential square footage of thousands of high street stores
Despite the ambiguous attitude of society towards gambling establishments and gambling in general, modern casinos are more than just a place where a person can instantly become rich or lose their fortune just as quickly. Moreover, this applies to both land-based casinos and online casinos, among which PlayAmo Australia stands
Savills Appointed To Seek Developer For Prime Site Citrus Durham has appointed Savills to market a prime residential site for up to 120 homes at its flagship, £300m mixed-use Integra 61 development at J61 of the A1(M). Savills has been instructed to seek an interested party to bring forward a
Bricklayers (73%) are the most likely tradespeople to experience work-related stress Finances are the most common cause of stress IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Mind, to raise awareness of the issue Nearly half (49%) of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study1 has
Adapting a Grade ll listed building for the needs of modern business Forme UK Design and Architecture Ltd recently completed the extension and redevelopment of 25 Berkeley Square, a Grade II listed building in the Mayfair conservation area of London. 25 Berkeley Square is a large office building in the
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) Group is pleased to announce strategic changes to its management structure, to focus on improving services and further development of the GGF and its subsidiary commercial companies, FENSA, BFRC, Installsure and RISA. The following changes have been made with full approval of the GGF
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.
The recent discovery that the smoke control system on Grenfell Tower had been inoperative for over a year before the refurbishment and that the tenant management organisation (TMO) had known about it and done nothing to mitigate the risk for the building occupants came as no surprise to those of us within the industry. In our experience, it is common for clients to leave reported defects for many months before authorising corrective action. In their March 2020 Fire Engineering Thematic Technical Report that audited buildings with mechanical smoke ventilation systems, the London Fire Brigade found that 20% of systems inspected failed to operate which would indicate that the problem of defective smoke control provision may be widespread. There are some common themes for high rise residential buildings that can contribute to a catastrophic system failure of the type experienced at Grenfell Tower and below we look at these and offer advice on avoiding the common pitfalls. The availability of people on-site to complete regular tests as recommended by the Regulatory (Fire Safety) Reform Order (RRO) 2005 and safety operating instructions, details the requirement for the smoke control maintenance of life-safety systems but these can often be overlooked or not fully understood. The weekly and monthly checks will typically be carried out by general maintenance personnel (RP), who have received basic hands-on training from the manufacturer/installer of the system. For systems maintained by a competent organisation, they will at best be tested at six-month intervals during service visits. The reality is weekly and monthly tests are problematic, particularly for high-rise residential buildings where there is no on-site maintenance presence and as a result, the checks are frequently overlooked. This means that if a fault occurs during the period between visits, it may go undetected, and the system would remain inoperable until the next scheduled maintenance visit. Even when smoke control systems are equipped with visual and audible fault alarms, these are often ignored in residential buildings without on-site security personnel. Under this regime, there is a very real risk of system failure in an emergency. The competence of the contractor undertaking the annual maintenance. Neither of the organisations who were responsible for the maintenance of the Grenfell project were smoke control specialists, however, this is not unusual. A fire alarm or mechanical and electrical contractor is unlikely to have an appreciation of the smoke control strategy and understanding of the products installed, but often the smoke control maintenance is bundled in with other services like fire alarm or building management. This can result in a deterioration of systems over time as minor faults go unattended. Or unnoticed. Failure of the client to sanction rectification of defects. This may be a result of a failure to appreciate the seriousness of the system being inoperable or simply down to a lack of budget; however, it is not uncommon for reported faults to remain unattended for months, as was the case at Grenfell Tower. The following actions are recommended to ensure compliance and safety of occupants of high-rise residential buildings. Use a competent smoke control specialist. Ensure the smoke control system provider is accredited and has third-party certification, Group SCS would advise you choose a member of the SCA (Smoke Control Association). Regularly carry out safety checks. In addition to the minimum annual service by the specialist provider, they must also actively encourage short-term tests of the smoke control system, offering training to site personnel and a logbook so all checks can be recorded and monitored. Consider remote monitoring of smoke control systems where there is no onsite facility staff. We also recommend when there is no one available on-site to regularly monitor your smoke control systems, then remote monitoring is a reliable solution. Make sure all defects are fixed. Alarmingly it is not unusual for defects in the systems not to be fixed which is often due to budget restraints. This is a false economy. If a fire breaks out in a building that is under your control and the smoke control system fails, lives are at serious risk and you could face prosecution.
In order to provide best value and service for its clients and residents, residential managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been developing a range of innovative, market leading procurement practices. With energy being one of the biggest regular costs in property management, the company has created a dedicated in-house utilities management team to work within the existing procurement division. Leading the new team, Chris Massingham has recently been appointed Utilities Procurement Manager. With ten years’ experience in the energy sector, Chris is an industry specialist who has previously worked for Anglian Water as well as in consultancies managing procurement for leading property management companies including Rendall & Rittner. In his new role, Chris will oversee the implementation of the latest energy management system, which will incorporate a billing platform, as well as managing the tariff procurement process. Both the electricity and gas bulk procurement contracts are currently with Ecotricity. Chris Massingham commented: “The principle of leveraging bulk spending for best value is of course one of the key reasons it makes sense for Rendall & Rittner to bring utilities management in house, but it also allows us to maintain the highest levels of service and respond more quickly to any issues that may arise. I’m looking forward to the exciting personal challenge of running a new function for the business and ushering in what is quite an innovative new approach from an industry perspective.” Richard Daver, Managing Director at Rendall & Rittner said: “As Rendall & Rittner has continued to grow, so too has the volume of energy we purchase as a group. This presents some challenges but also a great opportunity to leverage our buying power in order to obtain better value for our clients and residents in what is a fast moving and complex marketplace. We are pleased to welcome Chris Massingham to lead the new in-house team in line with our wider strategy of investing in talent and technical capabilities to ensure not only better value, but also more transparency, accountability and more efficient processes.” For more information on Rendall & Rittner please visit www.rendallandrittner.co.uk.
Research from national UK estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has found that the demise of the UK’s retail industry has left empty premises with enough space to provide nearly 25,000 homes to a market value of £7.4bn. Keller Williams analysed the potential square footage of thousands of high street stores used by 38 big retail brands to have ceased trading, or that are due to close this year. Based on the average square footage of A1 retail space (2,195 sq ft), Keller Williams estimates that these ongoing closures will leave some 19,735,230 square foot of unused retail space across the UK. With the average UK property coming in at just 790 square feet, this redundant retail bricks and mortar could pave the way for a potential 24,981 new homes. With the current average UK new build valued at £297,104, that’s a huge £7.4bn in new homes that could be developed and delivered to the market, providing a considerable boost to stock supply. Perhaps the biggest retail casualty has been Debenhams and their extensive high street presence would account for the vast majority of the new housing stock potential. The former giant of the UK high street has already liquidated 52 stores with the remaining 45 to close by 15th May this year. These 97 stores are thought to occupy 13,628,740 square feet of retail space, enough for 17,252 homes with a current market value of £5.1bn. CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented: “It’s been incredibly sad to see the demise of the high street hastened due to the pandemic, with many big names shutting their doors for good having been unable to survive months on end with no customer footfall. Hopefully, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease we will see a resurgence from the retail sector and some of these former premises can once again be used as intended. However, it’s becoming abundantly clear that we simply don’t shop in the same way we used to and so physical retail outlets are likely to remain largely redundant in many high streets up and down the nation. At the same time, we’re seeing a lack of housing stock failing to satisfy the appetites of UK homebuyers, while housebuilders and the government continue to fail year on year in meeting delivery targets. Developing unused retail space into housing could be a great way of repopulating our high streets, if only from a social standpoint, while also delivering some sorely needed housing stock to the market.” Brand Expected, potential & confirmed store closures Estimated available space for conversion to housing (sq ft) Potential number of homes if converted Potential value of new homes Debenhams 97 13,628,740 17,252 £5,125,513,931 Arcadia Group (Burton, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans) 440 965,800 1,223 £363,219,296 Peacocks 423 928,485 1,175 £349,185,824 Poundstretcher 250 548,750 695 £206,374,600 Brighthouse 240 526,800 667 £198,119,616 Bonmarche 226 496,070 628 £186,562,639 Age UK 133 291,935 370 £109,791,287 Paperchase 127 278,765 353 £104,838,297 Oak Furnitureland 105 230,475 292 £86,677,332 Oasis and Warehouse 92 201,940 256 £75,945,853 Jaeger 76 166,820 211 £62,737,878 DW Sports 75 164,625 208 £61,912,380 Laura Ashley 70 153,650 194 £57,784,888 TM Lewin 65 142,675 181 £53,657,396 Edinburgh Wollen Mill and Ponden Mill (EWM Group 64 140,480 178 £52,831,898 Kath Kidston 60 131,700 167 £49,529,904 Oddbins 56 122,920 156 £46,227,910 M&Co 47 103,165 131 £38,798,425 Hearing and Mobility (HHML) 27 59,265 75 £22,288,457 Victoria’s Secret (UK) 25 54,875 69 £20,637,460 Beales 22 48,290 61 £18,160,965 Harveys Furniture 20 43,900 56 £16,509,968 Hawkins Bazaar 20 43,900 56 £16,509,968 Antler 18 39,510 50 £14,858,971 Jessops 17 37,315 47 £14,033,473 Johnson’s Shoes 12 26,340 33 £9,905,981 Peter Jones (China) 10 21,950 28 £8,254,984 Le Pain Quotidien 10 21,950 28 £8,254,984 Norville Group 9 19,755 25 £7,429,486 Soletrader 8 17,560 22 £6,603,987 Oliver Sweeney Trading 7 15,365 19 £5,778,489 J Crew 6 13,170 17 £4,952,990 TJ Hughes outlet division 6 13,170 17 £4,952,990 Aldo (UK) 5 10,975 14 £4,127,492 Brooks Brothers (UK) 4 8,780 11 £3,301,994 The Hummingbird Bakery 3 6,585 8 £2,476,495 Autonomy Clothing 3 6,585 8 £2,476,495 DVF Studio 1 2,195 3 £825,498 All 2879 19,735,230 24,981 £7,422,050,482 Sources Based on store numbers multiplied by average size of A1 retail space at 2,195 sq ft Based on estimated available space divided by the average UK house size of 790 sq ft Based on the number of potential homes multiplied by the current average new build house price of £297,104 Note: Debenhams was the only value not based on the average size of retail due to available date on the total square footage of their stores
Despite the ambiguous attitude of society towards gambling establishments and gambling in general, modern casinos are more than just a place where a person can instantly become rich or lose their fortune just as quickly. Moreover, this applies to both land-based casinos and online casinos, among which PlayAmo Australia stands out especially. What are the modern casinos in the world? First of all, these are vivid examples of the successful fusion of such factors as the respectability of entertainment establishments, a clear and unchanging atmosphere of prestige, as well as age-old canons of gaming art and special standards of behavior. Each new casino that opens in the world is often bigger and better than its “brothers”. After all, every owner of gambling establishments, striving to surpass their numerous competitors in scope and luxury, often presents to the world real “masterpieces” of architecture and design. It is not surprising that the ranking of the best and most unique casinos in the world is updated quite often. And now, in continuation of the post, we present the TOP-5 of the most prestigious, luxurious, and incredible casinos in the world. Casino Рotel “Bellagio” Opened in 1998 in Las Vegas, the large-scale entertainment complex of the casino-hotel “Bellagio” is rightfully considered the most expensive gambling establishment in Sin City. Its estimated cost is about $ 2 billion. In the fabulously luxurious halls of this institution, the owners have installed 200 tables for games of the most popular gambling games, and there are also more than 2000 various slot machines. Bellagio is renowned for its fine dining and world-renowned Cirque du Soleil shows. Quite often, you can meet many world stars in the halls of the Bellagio casino. Casino “Baden-Baden” One of the oldest, but at the same time the most sophisticated and revered European casinos is the Baden-Baden casino located in Germany. The gambling tables, built back in 1809, of the institution, still remember the presence of monarchs, famous politicians, and cultural figures of those times when chips were used exclusively from gold and silver during the game. The aristocratic elegant halls of the casino have 24 tables and 113 slot machines. The exceptional professionalism of the local croupiers and the service of the staff always disposes guests to an exciting game. Casino “Casino de Monte Carlo” The exquisite casino “Casino de Monte Carlo”, which is located in Monaco, can rightfully deserve worldwide recognition. Just a royal marble facade and many classic graceful columns, luxurious room decoration, special VIP rooms for privileged guests, 316 state-of-the-art slot machines and 35 gaming tables, as well as a full range of services so that guests get the most out of the game, but and from the very presence in the institution. Entertainment complex-casino “Marina Bay Sands” Of course, the casino “Marina Bay Sands”, located in Singapore, is one of the few entertainment and gaming establishments in the world that are impressive in their scale and uniqueness. Marina Bay Sands is built on the shores of the very beautiful Marina Bay and is an incredible complex in terms of scope, beauty, and architecture. It consists of three 55-story towers, each 200 meters high. The crown of the towers is the truly unique panoramic pool connecting them. The casino halls have 600 gaming tables, as well as 2,300 state-of-the-art slot machines. According to the statistics of the institution, more than 25 thousand guests visit it daily. Hotel-casino “Venetian Macao” Built-in 2007, the Venetian Macao Hotel & Casino can be called Venice in Macau. The complex was built in the Venetian style: with water channels, along which gondoliers carry guests in their gondolas, with halls decorated with Venetian molding and paintings by Venetian masters. Everything here breathes Venice and, naturally, disposes to the game. The luxurious halls of the Venetian Macao have 800 gaming tables and about 3,500 slot machines.
Savills Appointed To Seek Developer For Prime Site Citrus Durham has appointed Savills to market a prime residential site for up to 120 homes at its flagship, £300m mixed-use Integra 61 development at J61 of the A1(M). Savills has been instructed to seek an interested party to bring forward a high quality development on the 8 acre site within the Integra 61 development which already has planning approval for circa 300 homes, over 3 million sq ft of sustainable employment space, 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. Phase 1 of residential development at Integra 61 is currently being delivered by Persimmon, with the £18M Millbeck Grange scheme well underway and the first residents of the total 170 homes moving in last year. Phase 2 is on the northern part of the site which is surrounded by Bowburn Beck, existing and new build housing and is connected to the centre of Bowburn Village by a newly constructed footpath. Savills is inviting offers by noon on Friday 28th May 2021. Located at J61 of the A1(M) Integra 61 is just 4 miles away from the City of Durham and as such is well connected for future residents in addition to having a range of amenities and job opportunities on the site itself, making it a highly sustainable location. The sale of the residential plot follows on from the recent announcement that Citrus Durham was awarded planning consent to deliver a new business hub, Evolution@Integra61, which will be delivered speculatively and add up to a further 23 flexible units available to purchase or lease making the development truly inclusive for occupiers of all sizes. David Cullingford, Project Lead for Integra 61 and Citrus Durham, said; “The residential element of Integra 61 makes an important contribution to the wider project and to meeting the housing requirements in County Durham. We are creating a new community with a wide range of amenities in a safe and attractive environment that’s well connected and of a high quality. We are looking forward to engaging with the successful party to bring forward this next phase of development.” David Craig, Associate Director at Savills, continued; “The site provides developers with a shovel-ready opportunity to deliver a high quality residential development which benefits from excellent connectivity and its proximity to one of the largest mixed use developments in the region. Integra 61 has proven to be a highly attractive location from a housing and commercial perspective and the continuation of its progression will further add to its vibrancy and appeal.” Interested parties to contact David Craig (0191 323 3145) or Ray Minto (0191 323 3142) at Savills Newcastle.
Bricklayers (73%) are the most likely tradespeople to experience work-related stress Finances are the most common cause of stress IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Mind, to raise awareness of the issue Nearly half (49%) of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study1 has found. The research, commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10th-16th) by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, found that nearly three in five (58%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, at least once a week. Money worries cause the most stress, with 38% of tradespeople blaming financial situations for giving them anxiety. Other issues, such as tensions with customers (31%) and suppliers (29%), are also major causes of concern for tradespeople. The 10 issues which cause the most stress for tradespeople: Finances (38%) Tensions with customers (31%) Tensions with suppliers (29%) High workload (26%) Tensions with business partners (26%) Job security (21%) Doing the best job for customers (12%) Making mistakes (11%) Abuse from customers (6%) Lack of work (5%) Female tradespeople (57%) are significantly more likely to experience work-related mental health problems than their male counterparts (41%). Additionally, the main causes of stress and anxiety differ between the genders, with women more likely to feel stressed due to finances (39%) and tensions with business partners (29%), whilst men are more affected by high workloads (39%) and tensions with suppliers (37%). When it comes to age, middle-aged tradespeople experience the most work-related related mental health issues. Nearly three in five (57%) tradies aged between 45-54 report stress and anxiety due to work. Bricklayers are the most likely tradespeople to experience mental health problems, with a shocking 73% admitting to dealing with issues such as stress and anxiety. In contrast, surveyors (18%) are the trade least likely to have poor mental health. The trades which are most and least likely to have mental health issues are: Bricklayer (73% say they have them) Joiner (62%) Builder (57%) Electrician (51%) Plumber (50%) Carpenter (49%) Landscaper (42%) Painter/decorator (36%) Plasterer (22%) Surveyor (18%) When dealing with mental health problems, nearly half (48%) of tradespeople said they choose to talk to friends and families about their issues. Less than a third (32%) choose to seek counselling, while more than a quarter (28%) take medication. The research also found that a similar number (29%) do not feel comfortable talking to people close to them about their mental health. Furthermore, more than a third (34%) do not know how to access support services. As part of the attempt to raise awareness of mental health amongst tradespeople, IronmongeryDirect is partnering with Mind, and will also donate £5,000 to the charity for its vital services. Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “We know that issues like stress, anxiety and depression are common in all workplaces, but that there are some sectors where poor mental health is even more prevalent, including construction. “Because men generally find it more difficult to talk about how they’re feeling, in male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal. “We’re pleased to be working with IronmongeryDirect during Mental Health Awareness Week to launch our ‘Mental Health in the Trades’ report highlighting the scale of poor mental health across the sector, and urging employers within construction to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.” Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “It’s shocking and saddening to see that mental health problems are so widespread in the industry. “We feel that it’s vital for the stigma of mental health to be removed from the industry, and whilst we understand it can be difficult to open up, we encourage all tradespeople to talk about their problems. Whether this is with friends and family, your employer, or professional counsellors, speaking about your problems can often be the first step to addressing them.” For the 2021 report of mental health in the trades industry, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/
Adapting a Grade ll listed building for the needs of modern business Forme UK Design and Architecture Ltd recently completed the extension and redevelopment of 25 Berkeley Square, a Grade II listed building in the Mayfair conservation area of London. 25 Berkeley Square is a large office building in the north-east corner of Berkeley Square, one of the most prestigious addresses in Mayfair, with a mix of office, retail and entertainment uses. Originally constructed in 1906 as a building of luxury mansion apartments, it was converted to office use in 1954. Over the years there have been several changes to the use of the building and in 1989 the rear of the building was substantially rebuilt behind the retained facade and the front range of rooms to Berkeley Square. The main facade of the building faces south onto Berkeley Square, now part of the Grosvenor Estate. Forme UK was appointed to provide several enhancements to the building, including creating a new roof extension with attic storeys, remodelling the interiors and designing flexible open plan office space, upgrading to comply with current building regulations, ensuring maximum natural daylight where possible and providing an interior that is fully ambulant disabled and wheelchair accessible. Mark Twigg, Managing Director at Forme UK, says, “Our approach to this project has been to re-develop the property to create modern office spaces while respecting and preserving the aspects of the buildings that are of architectural and historic significance. We wanted to greatly enhance and improve the existing interior design of the building, creating an inspiring open plan office environment offering dramatic views over London that is sensitive to the original form of the building and the surrounding architecture.” Externally and internally, alterations have only been made to the non-historic elements and all historic elements of the 1906 Verity building have been retained. The refurbishment features a new mansard roof of Westmorland green slate tile with ornate leadwork detailing, typical of the Beaux Arts architectural style, Portland stone cladding, molding and cornicing to match the building’s historic architectural character. Floors 1 – 6 now provide fully-flexible modern open plan office spaces which are adjacent to a series of grand ‘Heritage’ rooms overlooking Berkeley Square where all the original features have been enhanced. The reception area has also been redesigned, bringing together the original detailing of fine plasterwork and the grand volume of space with classic and contemporary elements. Features include a geometric patterned marble floor, dark timber joinery with striking bespoke brass detailing, a neutral toned, leather clad desk and statement lighting that changes the ambience depending on the time of day. The existing grand staircase has been restored and at the very top of the stairwell, a large existing coloured glass lantern has been refurbished and back lit to enhance the grey and ochre tones of the space. There are bespoke bronze wall lights on the walls and floating bronze hoops which are subtly lit and appear to float. Class glass lift doors set between the existing porticos reveal views through to pale marble clad walls beyond, combining the classical ambience of the staircase with the contemporary aesthetic of the office areas. The existing timber windows to the heritage facades have been restored to their former elegance and new wrought iron balustrades have been introduced to the new elements on the South and West elevations, complimenting the heritage architectural metalwork on the principal façade facing the square. A retail presence has been introduced on the ground floor on Jones Street, a narrow pedestrian walkway that separates the building from 27 Berkeley Square. Three new Portland stone-framed bays with full-height slim-line glazing offer new retail entrances and an accessible entrance to the building. This is further enhanced by an additional glazed shopfront in similar detailing on the corner of Jones Street and Bourdon Street. The renovated building has an excellent BREEAM rating and now offers 55224 sq feet of beautifully refurbished office space. Lazari Investments Limited in association with The Grosvenor Estate commissioned the project.
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) Group is pleased to announce strategic changes to its management structure, to focus on improving services and further development of the GGF and its subsidiary commercial companies, FENSA, BFRC, Installsure and RISA. The following changes have been made with full approval of the GGF Board and the Senior Management Team of the GGF Group. With immediate effect, GGF Managing Director John Agnew will assume overall responsibility for the operational activity of GGF (trade federation), GGF’s central internal services (HR, Finance and IT), and all subsidiary commercial companies. All GGF trade federation management, heads of central cervices & subsidiary commercial company heads will report to John Agnew in their day-to-day roles. Also with immediate effect, Anda Gregory will assume the new role of Chief Development Officer and take full responsibility for the business development activity of the GGF Group, including the trade federation, the central internal services and subsidiary commercial companies. All employees of GGF, the trade federation, central internal services and subsidiary commercial companies will report to Anda on all matters relating to the development of the business processes and systems and more importantly Anda Gregory will lead the development of the GGF Group’s products and services to all GGF Group shareholders, stakeholders and customers. Both John and Anda will continue to report to the GGF President, Tony Smith, acting on behalf of the GGF Main Board. On the new structure, GGF President Tony Smith stated, “This is an exciting time for the GGF Group of businesses, and these changes will enable us to drive the businesses forward creating excellent opportunities for our employees, customers, and shareholders.” On her new role, Anda Gregory commented, “I’m really excited by my new role as it will free up time to work on developing the business in a positive way, which is hard to do effectively around business as usual. And it’s great knowing that the commercial businesses will continue to be well looked after with John Agnew at the helm.” John Agnew concurred, “The changes that we have made in roles and responsibilities, will position the GGF Group of businesses to really focus on operational activities, whilst also developing the opportunities for business growth. This a very positive change for the whole organisation and I look forward to working with my colleagues as we embed the new structure for the benefit of all parts of the GGF Group.” Anda added, “The pandemic has given us the opportunity to reflect on what will work best for the businesses and the group as a whole. Standing still isn’t an option if we are to retain our leading positions in the glass, glazing and fenestration sectors. I’m very much looking forward to the new challenges and working on exciting initiatives for our industry.” Companies who are part of the GGF and its subsidiary commercial companies, should benefit significantly from these changes, with the new and sharper focus to take advantage of the raft of opportunities emerging as the industry recovers from unprecedented times. The new structure, will enable the GGF Group to grow quicker and improve all aspects of the business, from revenues, profits and investment, through to better processes, systems and a sustainable business that can enable a secure long term future for many in the industry. Tony Smith concluded by sharing his thoughts from a strategic perspective, “For many years, the GGF and its commercial companies have operated well but often independently. These changes will see the GGF Group make better use of its specialist skills across the organisation to improve the delivery of existing services and be more effective in the joint promotion of the GGF and its subsidiary commercial companies. I am sure all connected to the GGF Group will join me in extending our best wishes to John and Anda in their new roles.” The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is the primary trade association for companies that make, supply or fit flat glass and related products representing more than 60% of the industry’s turnover. As such the GGF is the recognised leading authority for employers and companies within the flat glass, glazing, window, home improvement, plastics and window film industries. This includes double glazing, Energy Efficient Windows, replacement windows, doors, conservatories, applied film, hardware, safety glazing, sealants, fire resistant glass, emergency glazing, decorative glass, secondary glazing, solar control and plastics. The GGF provides information for homeowners, professional specifiers and anyone seeking professional and unbiased information on any aspect of glass and glazing in the UK. GGF members supply replacement windows, doors, conservatories and Energy Efficient Windows in all framing materials including Aluminium, PVC-U, Steel and Timber. The GGF is a great promoter of energy efficient glazing and the GGF’s Carbon Calculator enables homeowners and others to see how much money and carbon can be saved by installing new Energy Efficient Windows. Architects and Specifiers are well supported with a range of literature and professional advisors to assist with all aspects of specification and related issues. GGF Members sign up to the Federation’s Code of Good Practice and are vetted before being accepted. A free conciliation service is provided for mediation between customers and supplying member companies when required. For further information go to: http://www.ggf.org.uk or for consumer information generated by the GGF please visit www.MyGlazing.com