South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has today unveiled plans to build an iconic new Eye Hospital in the centre of Sunderland as part of the City’s ambitious Riverside Sunderland masterplan. Sunderland Eye Infirmary is one of very few specialist standalone eye hospitals in the whole country and the
Brad Critcher has been appointed the new Director of Development. Wavensmere Homes, property developers based in the Midlands, have today announced that Brad Critcher has been named as Director of Development. This is a new role for the company following the huge success of the Nightingale Quarter in Derby and
An industrial box is used in different machines in the industry. It is a mechanical device that transfers energy from one machine to another. The industrial gearbox is used to reduce the speed of the motor and increase its torque rotation. It is made up of steel and placed on
September 11 of 2001, now simply referred to as 9/11, was one of the darkest days in American history. The incidents of that day, in which several commercial planes were hijacked and used for suicide attacks, left close to 3,000 people dead and thousands more injured, with the bulk of
The iconic Grade 1 Lloyd’s building in London isn’t your average tall building. To maintain the 88m tall building with its striking 4,500 linear metres of external stainless steel clad pipework and 12,000 square metres of glazing takes a lot of effort and ingenuity. In September 2020, Lloyd’s, with its
UK residential and commercial property developer Godwin Developments has yesterday (10 March 21) submitted plans for a gateway 336-apartment build-to-rent (BTR) scheme on the edge of Sheffield city centre. Located on the corner of Farm Road and Queens Road and within walking distance to Sheffield Train Station, the development –
North West construction company, HMS, is developing a £23 million housing scheme in Huyton, for growth and regeneration group Torus. Due to start on site in March, the development of two, three and four bedroom homes will dramatically improve the appearance of the part-brownfield site at the front of Knowsley
Multi award-winning industrial and logistics commercial property practice, M1 Agency LLP, has launched a new East Midlands office based in Nottingham. M1 is a niche commercial agency practice, with offices in London and Birmingham, offering specialist business space agency advice across the UK and Europe. They were recognised with investment transaction of the year in 2019 and best industrial development scheme of the year in 2018, along
The rollout of a new data-sharing agreement between the Common Assessment Standard providers means the benefits of qualifying for and specifying the scheme are greater than ever. CHAS, Managing Director Ian McKinnon explains more. What is the Common Assessment Standard? Since its launch in 2019, the Common Assessment Standard has
The idea that you could put up a skyscraper in as little as two weeks seems a little far-fetched, especially from the UK perspective, where most building projects drag on for years. But according to industry-leading consulting firms, such as McKinsey, it might be possible. The basic idea goes something
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has today unveiled plans to build an iconic new Eye Hospital in the centre of Sunderland as part of the City’s ambitious Riverside Sunderland masterplan. Sunderland Eye Infirmary is one of very few specialist standalone eye hospitals in the whole country and the region’s only dedicated centre for ophthalmology care. It is home to the Regional Cataract Treatment Centre and widely regarded across the NHS, both regionally and nationally, as a centre of excellence for eye services, caring for patients from across the North East, Cumbria and beyond. The current facilities on Queen Alexandra Road in the South East of the City are now over 75 years old with a costly and aging infrastructure that does not reflect the world class treatment and outstanding NHS care taking place inside. Building a brand new, fit-for-purpose Eye Hospital has long been part of the Trust’s strategic ambitions and has now been made possible thanks to partnership working with Sunderland City Council. All clinical services currently provided from Sunderland Eye Infirmary will transfer to the new state-of-the-art facility to be delivered from a new modern, purpose-built environment in a much more accessible City centre location. As part of its plans, the Trust is also keen to continue expanding its specialist ophthalmology services in the community through its satellite hubs across South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham, including the introduction of a new clinic at Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre in South Shields. Staff at Sunderland Eye Infirmary have welcomed plans for a new hospital. Clinical Director for Ophthalmology services and Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Jean-Pierre Danjoux said: “Staff at the Eye Infirmary are absolutely thrilled at the prospect of a brand new hospital as there is no doubt that our current building is dated and no longer fit for purpose. The services we offer are nothing short of world class with outstanding patient feedback and they deserve an environment to match. Today’s news is testament to the perseverance and ingenuity of our leadership team, who, by working in partnership with the Council, are now turning our dream of a new facility into reality for patients.” Plans to build a new Eye Hospital in Sunderland have only been made possible thanks to strong collaboration between the NHS and the local authority. Funding for the development has been provided by the local authority and will be repaid by the Trust to allow the relocation of the hospital to a much improved City centre location on the former Vaux site. Mr Ken Bremner MBE, Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our ambitions for a new Eye Hospital in Sunderland have been a long time in the making. Announcing our development plans is a historic moment for the Trust and represents a major investment into the local NHS thanks to our collaboration with Sunderland City Council. “In these uncertain times and especially as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, this is an extremely positive and welcome development and demonstrates our commitment to working with local partners to deliver the very best healthcare for the people we serve. We now look forward to involving patients, staff and the wider public in the design process ahead and as we work together to progress plans to the next stage.” Over the coming weeks a series of virtual engagement sessions will take place as follows and people can book onto the sessions via www.stsft.nhs.uk/neweyehospital: Friday 19 March 2pm – 3pm Saturday 27 March 11am – 12 noon Tuesday 30 March 1pm – 2pm Thursday 15 April 2pm – 3pm Tuesday 20 April 6pm – 7pm Tuesday 27 April 10am – 11am Thursday 29 April 2pm – 3pm Tuesday 4 May 1pm – 2pm The Trust is keen to hear from as many people as possible to ensure the design of the new Eye Hospital provides the optimal experience for patients, staff and visitors. Work is also taking place with The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to ensure the new hospital design is built around the needs of those with sight impairments. Plans for a new Eye Hospital in Sunderland have been fully supported by the region’s NHS. Sir Liam Donaldson, Chairman of the Integrated Care System across the North East and North Cumbria said: “This exciting development builds on Sunderland’s great tradition in eye surgery. It also shows how, in the midst of the extraordinary pressures of the pandemic, the NHS is still innovating and looking to the future needs of patients. The new Sunderland Eye Infirmary will shine as a beacon of excellence in the North East’s NHS for years to come.” The announcement represents the latest boost for Riverside Sunderland, which is undergoing rapid regeneration in line with the Council’s delivery plan to transform the area into a dynamic urban quarter, where up to 2,500 people will live, 10,000 will work and thousands will visit. The new Eye Hospital will stand alongside The Beam; City Hall, which is nearing completion, and two further commercial properties that are being developed as part of Legal & General’s £100m commitment to the site. Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council said: “We are delighted to work with the Trust on this exciting development for the City and help deliver a new world class facility for Sunderland Eye Infirmary as part of our Riverside Sunderland plans. We look forward to working with the NHS in the weeks and months ahead as plans progress.” Healthcare leaders will use the feedback gathered over the next few months to shape its plans for a new Eye Hospital before submitting a formal planning application at the end of May. The Trust hopes to start building work in 2022 (subject to planning approval) and is aiming for the new Eye Hospital to open in 2024. For more information visit: www.stsft.nhs.uk/neweyehospital or email stsft.SEI@nhs.net.
Brad Critcher has been appointed the new Director of Development. Wavensmere Homes, property developers based in the Midlands, have today announced that Brad Critcher has been named as Director of Development. This is a new role for the company following the huge success of the Nightingale Quarter in Derby and is indicative of the Company’s enthusiasm to secure further development opportunities across the greater Midlands area. Brad brings more than 30 years development experience gained across various sectors including retail, leisure, strategic land/residential and mixed use, having held senior development positions at Sainsbury’s and Castlemore, and more recently at shopping centre REIT intu where he led the team seeking to identify and secure the diversification of the portfolio via the addition of compatible non retail uses. James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes said: “Brad will give a new string to the Wavensmere bow. His knowledge and skill set will give us a competitive edge in repurposing city centre retail assets. “Brad’s extensive property and business development background will allow Wavensmere Homes to tap into new areas of the sector. We look forward to bringing Brad onboard at such an exciting time for the company following the success of Nightingale Quarter. We continue to concentrate primarily in and around the Midlands looking for new build opportunities. Eyes are firmly set on the future and the growth of the company.” Brad added: “I am incredibly excited to be joining the Wavensmere Homes team at this critical time. I believe its existing business model and talented management team is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the ever-changing property industry and the new opportunities and challenges that will unfold over the next few years. Urban regeneration, the revitalisation of our town centres and the repurposing of buildings is a key element in achieving sustainable and responsible economic growth as well as the creation of inclusive and thoughtfully designed communities. Wavensmere Homes has already demonstrated these skills with a number of best-in-class developments including Crocketts Lane, The Forge and Nightingale Quarter.” Brad has a degree in Land Administration, is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors having been elected in 1992, a past Chair of Accessible Retail and a member of various Revo Steering Groups. Established in 2015, Wavensmere Homes continues to go from strength-to strength specialising in challenging sites, place making and regeneration across the Midlands. Its on-going development, Nightingale Quarter, will create nearly 800 homes and is set to become one of the largest city centre regeneration projects in the UK. For Wavensmere Homes sales, email: info@wavensmere.com.
An industrial box is used in different machines in the industry. It is a mechanical device that transfers energy from one machine to another. The industrial gearbox is used to reduce the speed of the motor and increase its torque rotation. It is made up of steel and placed on the engine’s pole and Depending on the machine’s internal composition. The gearbox is very important for industries; a breakdown during work affects the whole industry, so it needs immediate repair. Many gearbox repair companies’ give 24/7 services to satisfy their clients. Industrial gearboxes are made up of steel, but some gearbox manufacturer companies made plastic gearboxes, For example, spur models. There are different types of the industrial gearbox which are used in various types of machine in industries. Like Skew bevel helical gearboxes, coaxial helical line, Bevel helical gearboxes, Worm reduction gearboxes, helical gearboxes, planetary gearboxes. These are some gearboxes, which are mostly used in industries. There are two primary types of industrial gearbox. First is the straight gearbox, which has straight teeth and it is used for low-speed machines, and also it is very rowdy. Another one is the helical gearbox is combining like a riddle. They are used in high-speed appliances and too silent as compared to a straight gearbox. In the industries where the industrial gearbox is mainly mostly as under: Cement industry: In the cement industry, a bevel helical gearbox is used because high torque machines are needed. And bevel helical gearbox has all those functions like reduction in speed and or engine expansion. Paper industry: gearboxes are also used in the paper industry because they need smooth and slung working, and gearboxes are efficient. Sugar industry: In the sugar industry, planetary and helical gearboxes are used because many heavy machines work. Steel industry: in the steel industry, different types of powerful and heavy machines are used like planetary, pinion, and gearboxes. Some factors are essential for the industrial gearbox. Gear ratio: gearbox ratio is the ratio of the number of gears and teeth present in the gearbox. There are two types of equipment currently in the gearbox. And both have their teeth. We can easily calculate the gear ratio by following the step, which is as under first of all separate gears and then counts their teeth if one gear has ten teeth and the other has 20 teeth then the ratio will be one is to 2. Output torque: In the gearbox, speed and torque are inversely proportional with each other if torque is high, then the speed of the machine will low. If you need the output of torque is high, then you need more gear ratio. Load distribution: if you want a gearbox first, you have to find out how much weight the gearbox has to support because if your gearbox bears heavyweight, then it can miss the place from its alignment, which is not suitable for your machine. The industrial gearbox is an essential part of an industry. Without it, the machine will not work accurately; if there is an issue in the gearbox, the device will not function properly, which gives massive loss to the industry and provides enormous devastation to human life. If you want to save your time and machine, you have to give your gearbox adequate care. If you want your gearbox to work for years, you have to take care of oil lubricant frequently because oil is essential for the gearbox to work in continuity. If the oil level is low, it gives you expensive consequences because your gearbox will fail badly, and if you go to repair it will make it costly. If your gearbox is not properly lubricated, it causes many problems in the gearbox, like the gearbox’s surface is damaged. Oil saves the gearbox’s surface from stress and temperature, increasing because of the machine’s speed. Oil lubrication is important because it protects the gearbox’s surface from distress and keeps the internal parts of the machine cool and maintained. For your industrial gearbox’s safety, you have to check the oil level daily; if you feel it is low, and then increase its level.
September 11 of 2001, now simply referred to as 9/11, was one of the darkest days in American history. The incidents of that day, in which several commercial planes were hijacked and used for suicide attacks, left close to 3,000 people dead and thousands more injured, with the bulk of those figures centered around the destruction and collapse of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. The incident itself caused a lot of death and destruction, and the recovery process for the city of New York and the nation itself was a long one. Even now, many years after the incident, the effects of 9/11 can still be felt in more ways than one, and in recent times, studies have shown that those who were present in Manhattan around that time are at a higher risk of many types of cancer. In the wake of these developments, many people who were present in the Manhattan area on or after September 11, perhaps working in the area or living nearby at the time, have begun to worry about their own health and want to know what to do next. This guide will cover all of the key information you need to know regarding the right steps to take. The Basics Before we get into the steps you should follow to potentially make claims, get medical care, and even potentially receive compensation for cancer connected to 9/11, it’s important to go over the basics of the situation in order to understand your rights and what you may or may not be entitled to. You can find various resources regarding this matter online. As a brief overview, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is the main fund to be aware of. This was actually set up shortly after the attacks of 9/11 but is still paying out and accepting claims today as research reveals more about the long-lasting risks and threats posed by the attacks. By learning more about this, you’ll be better prepared to make your claims and proceed. Remain Calm and Speak with Your Doctor Even though you may be at a higher risk of cancer because of your presence in the Lower Manhattan area during September of 2001, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are or will become ill. There are many people who were present at the time and who have gone on to enjoy perfectly healthy lives, so it’s important to try to remain calm and speak with your doctor to learn more about the situation, rather than panicking or jumping to conclusions. Many people are naturally worried about their health after learning about these findings, but speaking with a doctor can provide you with some much-needed clarity on the situation. A doctor may also be able to run tests and checks to identify any signs of illness too, as well as suggesting lifestyle alterations or treatment options to improve your health if needed. Speak to a Lawyer When it comes to making claims and seeking compensation, it’s usually best to contact professionals. So as well as speaking with a doctor, it’s also recommended that you contact a legal professional too. There are various legal firms out there that specialize in helping people who may be suffering from health issues connected to the incidents of 9/11. These attorneys will be able to answer questions you might have on the matter, clarifying any confusion and helping you make the right decisions, and contact the right people. They can also help with your claim applications and any appeals you might need to make if your claim gets rejected, as well as aiding with the process of gathering the evidence you need to support your claim, as you’ll need to provide documents and other evidence to show you were actually in the area at the time. Final Word Those who were present in Lower Manhattan on or after the events of September 11 2001 may have been exposed to the large dust cloud that formed in the area when the attacks occurred. This cloud was filled with a range of potentially harmful elements and particles, including asbestos, jet fuel, and more. Unfortunately, as studies have shown, the long-term risks of such exposure can be very damaging, but by contacting a lawyer, speaking with a doctor, and making a claim, you can get some degree of justice and compensation. So don’t suffer in silence; contact the right people today and get the help you need.
The iconic Grade 1 Lloyd’s building in London isn’t your average tall building. To maintain the 88m tall building with its striking 4,500 linear metres of external stainless steel clad pipework and 12,000 square metres of glazing takes a lot of effort and ingenuity. In September 2020, Lloyd’s, with its partner Arup, commenced the annual survey of the external façade of the Lloyd’s building, aimed at identification of any defects, particularly in those hard to reach places, that require remediation. In previous years, this has been done using rope access (abseiling), however this year for the first time, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV/done) were used for 80% of the survey. Abseiling isn’t completely eliminated. Arup anticipate that 20% of the façade will still require a “hands-on” examination. Russell Cole, Leader of Façades UK at Arup said: “Arup is using VirtuLabs for the UAV flying. Essentially, a façade engineer from Arup will be viewing the screen of the drone operator and directing him. Our two engineers, Graeme DeBrincat and Mitchell Campton, will work in partnership with VirtuLabs to undertake the detailed inspection of the captured data of the façade.” Terry Blacker, Senior Manager, Facilities at Lloyd’s said: “The use of drones to survey our building has reduced the risk from abseiling and saved time and cost. The results are excellent. The fact that a Lloyd’s Lab alumni created the insurance policies to allow this to happen also makes us very proud.” The Lloyd’s Building is one of the first UAV façade surveys undertaken in the City of London and Lloyd’s themselves have enabled this innovative approach to take place. Flock, an insurtech start-up which was a part of the Lloyd’s Lab in 2019, pioneered a flexible insurance product with integrated third parties and invasion of privacy cover has allowed commercial UAV equipment to be used for this type of work. There are also strict rules in place, such as the type of drone being used which must always be in line of sight and have a predesigned automated flight plan. This is unchartered territory for Lloyd’s and the City of London as well. VirtuLabs needed CAA approval and NATS clearance. Road and pavement closure permits from the Corporation of London were also required when flying over the public realm. Finally, Arup will use the images from the drone flights to undertake the inspection of the captured images and update the existing 3D virtual maintenance model of this unique heritage asset. This digital building and conditional information model is a unique and project specific interactive tool called Arup Inspect 3D which records not only conditional observations and any change over time but also captures planned maintenance and remediation activities through the life cycle of a building or asset.
UK residential and commercial property developer Godwin Developments has yesterday (10 March 21) submitted plans for a gateway 336-apartment build-to-rent (BTR) scheme on the edge of Sheffield city centre. Located on the corner of Farm Road and Queens Road and within walking distance to Sheffield Train Station, the development – named The Meridian – proposes the creation of one, two and three-bedroom modern open-plan apartments, 94 of which will include private balconies. The contemporary 23-storey building will incorporate a substantial amount of flexible ground floor space to provide residents’ facilities such as a concierge reception, co-working spaces, residents’ lounge and a gym, as well as extensive cycle storage and car parking. It will also feature a landscaped roof garden available exclusively to residents and will be complemented by a new external plaza fronting onto Queens’ Road. The Meridian, a major residential development in the Sheffield Midland Station and Sheaf Valley Development Masterplan, will contribute significantly to the housing requirements of central Sheffield. The scheme will support the regeneration of this important part of the city, also improving public spaces through landscaping and design, attracting significant economic, social and environmental benefits to Sheffield and promoting its reputation as a leading national destination. James Mulcare, head of residential capital markets at Godwin Developments, said: “We are really pleased to have reached this key milestone in the delivery of our ambitious BTR scheme in Sheffield. The Meridian is a forward-looking development designed around the requirements and lifestyles of city centre residents. Today more than ever they need their home to be a multifunctional place – not only for living but also for working, relaxing and socialising. That is why the building’s design emphasises wellbeing, light, quality materials and finish, as well as access to private and shared outdoor space and community focused amenities – all within easy access of the nearby transport, parks, culture and entertainment. “By understanding and delivering to residents’ aspirations we are seeking to create highly desirable Build-to-Rent schemes across key UK regional markets – building homes in both urban and suburban hotspots and generating positive outcomes for investors, local communities and economies alike.” The Meridian will redevelop a prominently located 1.1-acre brownfield site, which has been vacant for many years. Once complete, the scheme will be situated just a five-minute walk from Sheffield’s Midland Station and a ten-minute walk from the city centre including Sheffield’s main shopping and entertainment districts, with parks, outdoor spaces, and both Universities also nearby. The location is currently easily accessible by road and public transport, with proposed walking, cycling and tram routes expected to enhance sustainable mobility in the near future. Ketan Patel, senior development manager at Godwin Developments, added: “We have worked closely with the planning department at Sheffield City Council since we acquired this highly prominent site last year. We extend our sincere thanks for their support and guidance to-date, resulting in the creation of a clean and stylish design that celebrates quality, detail and craftsmanship with a simple but effective execution of brick and glass. In doing so we believe we have created a building of distinction and sense of place that adds positively to the city’s skyline and sets the benchmark for revitalised public spaces. “The Meridian will also be an environmentally responsible development, shaped with low energy design principles in mind and supported by a range of strategies to naturally reduce its carbon footprint over time. “The proposal has been prepared by local architects Bond Bryan whose vision and expertise have been essential in delivering a scheme of exceptional standard. Our extended leading consultant team include planning specialists Urbana Town Planning, cost advisors Rider Levett Bucknall and engineers HSP Consulting.” Bond Bryan associate, Tomasz Romaniewicz, commented: “We are delighted to be supporting Godwin Developments in preparing the design for The Meridian in what will be a contemporary and robust BTR product for the Sheffield market – and one which supports and promotes a new lifestyle choice. The resilience of BTR has been highlighted during the pandemic; with the UK investment hitting a new record high in 2020, The Meridian will undoubtedly form an essential component within the next chapter of the Sheffield City Centre.” News of the submission follows Godwin’s recent planning success for its suburban BTR scheme in Doncaster, which will see the creation of 60 BTR homes, as well as planning approval for two residential schemes in Nottingham which will provide 102 family homes. For more information about Godwin Developments, visit www.godwindevelopments.co.uk.
North West construction company, HMS, is developing a £23 million housing scheme in Huyton, for growth and regeneration group Torus. Due to start on site in March, the development of two, three and four bedroom homes will dramatically improve the appearance of the part-brownfield site at the front of Knowsley Lane and Astley Road and provide local people with an affordable way to step onto the property ladder through the popular Rent to Buy scheme. The 131-unit project will be HMS’ largest to date and builds on the organisation’s successful completion of award-winning projects such as the restoration of the Grade ll listed Tobacco Factory, Ogden’s, in Everton and Notre Dame – its landmark scheme in Walton, Liverpool. Demonstrating HMS’ ability to build widely recognised developments and upscale quickly, this scheme is expanding its construction portfolio, seeing the company take on larger scale projects. Due to complete in 2023, this development contributes to HMS’ growth plans and goal of building 200 units per annum by 2020/21. Upscaling not only its construction activity, but investment in local communities, as all commercial profits generated from this development will be reinvested in meaningful social projects. Discussing the project, HMS’ Construction Director, John Barrow, said: “In recent years, we have actively been focusing on growing our construction activities and have already completed a number of high-profile projects across the North West. “Growing both the size and scale of our construction activities has prepared us to undertake this latest build and along with the increase in activity, comes an uplift in our financial and social investment in Huyton’s local community. “As an organisation, we reinvest 100% of our commercial profits into social projects and with the ongoing impacts of Coronavirus seeing a decline in employment opportunities across the region, we will actively create training opportunities on site to support the regeneration and growth of the local economy.” Continuing, Director of Development & Sales at Torus Developments, Steve Alcock, said: “As a Group, Torus is committed to investing into the growth of communities across the North West and working with contractor partners that share that those values. “This is one of ten projects currently onsite with HMS and the largest to date. We’re delighted to be working with HMS on the development, assisting with their expansion as a new home builder of scale. This latest scheme will build on the Group’s investment in Knowsley, following the completion of our Extra Care scheme, The Maples, and will further bolster access to affordable housing in the area.
Multi award-winning industrial and logistics commercial property practice, M1 Agency LLP, has launched a new East Midlands office based in Nottingham. M1 is a niche commercial agency practice, with offices in London and Birmingham, offering specialist business space agency advice across the UK and Europe. They were recognised with investment transaction of the year in 2019 and best industrial development scheme of the year in 2018, along with various other credits from Costar for leading transactional volumes. The business continues to perform well having recently sold a site recently for £92 million on the M1 and advised on a £310 million development funding in the West Midlands, reinforcing their strong market position Its new East Midlands office will be led by local team of Matthew Smith and James Keeton, who have both left JLL to join M1 Agency at a very exciting time for the business. The agency’s new East Midlands office will operate across a range of commercial sectors with key instructions within industrial and logistics across the region including HBD’s 39-acre New Horizon scheme, Verdant Regeneration’s 200-acre site, as well as advising on major office schemes. M1 in Nottingham will also support student and strategic development alongside unrivalled development funding and investment expertise. Matthew has left his role as Head of the JLL Nottingham office, while James leaves his position as a Director in its Agency team, to lead M1’s new East Midlands offering. Richard Moffitt, Partner at M1 Agency, comments: “We have been looking to expand the operational coverage and expertise within the East Midlands and further north following a period of highly successful growth. Matthew and James are two of the highest profile agents with a proven track record within that market place and with the opening of a new office now it will give us the ideal platform to strengthen our position and drive forward our continued growth within these markets.” Matthew said: “We’re thrilled to be joining M1 at such a pivotal time for the business, opening a new office to enhance and expand the strength of advice the agency is known for nationally. “This is a really exciting new venture for James and I. M1 Agency are a recognised agency and consultancy practice with an excellent client base. They bring together a powerful brand and team that we are delighted to now be part of.” James added: “With a focus on leasing, development funding and investment, M1 Agency are a highly successful and agile business that deliver both the platform and expertise to grow. We will be combining our respective clients bases to create a new and successful East Midlands office for the business. Having worked together for over 15 years, Mat and I are now raring to go on this next career chapter.” M1 Agency East Midlands will operate from a new Nottingham office, building on a great business, offering agency services, development funding and investment advice across the East Midlands and North.
The rollout of a new data-sharing agreement between the Common Assessment Standard providers means the benefits of qualifying for and specifying the scheme are greater than ever. CHAS, Managing Director Ian McKinnon explains more. What is the Common Assessment Standard? Since its launch in 2019, the Common Assessment Standard has fast become the construction industry’s gold standard for prequalification. Led by Build UK, with the support of CECA, the scheme has been designed to replace multiple assessment schemes with one comprehensive industry-agreed questionnaire, based on existing prequalification questionnaires, including PAS 91. Previously the PQ system was complex and repetitive, with an estimated 180,000 specialist contractors required to produce over two million pieces of paper every year for 5,000 contractors at a cost of up to £1 billion. The Common Assessment Standard cuts through this inefficiency while helping the industry manage risk across a wider range of criteria such as sustainability, modern slavery and financial performance. Who specifies the Common Assessment Standard? As the Common Assessment standard is resetting a long-established system, a phased approach is being taken to its rollout. This allows companies to adopt the Common Assessment Standard at a time that suits them; however, it has already gained strong support from both the public and private sectors. The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) requires that contractors appointed to its seven-year framework assess their supply chains using the Common Assessment Standard, and it is expected to feature in the details of the Government’s new Construction Playbook. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) also supports the scheme. Many major contractors have also moved swiftly to specifying the new standard, with this figure expected to rise now that the data-sharing agreement is in place. What’s the relevance of the data-sharing agreement? CHAS was the first accreditation body to offer the Common Assessment Standard in 2019 via the CHAS Premier and CHAS Premier Assured packages. Although contractors could now take the assessment with other approved assessment bodies, the data-sharing agreement means the details of everyone who passes the assessment can be accessed via any of the providers, regardless of which assessment body carries out the audit. For CHAS contractors, this means they only need to complete the Common Assessment Standard once a year with CHAS to qualify for a wide range of work rather than having to sign up to multiple schemes – saving time and money. Meanwhile, clients looking for pre-qualified contractors simply specify the Common Assessment Standard to find contractors accredited to a single, consistent industry-agreed standard. Clients can access a database of these contractors via the services of any of the assessment bodies – such as the free CHAS Client Portal. Why choose CHAS? As well as being the founder of third party accreditation and a trusted authority on supply chain risk management, CHAS is renowned for providing a friendly and efficient service and high customer satisfaction levels. CHAS contractors receive additional benefits such as access to e-learning resources, discounted fuel and shopping schemes and business insurance. CHAS is also committed to helping contractors who are not yet ready to complete the Common Assessment Standard to work towards higher levels of accreditation. Meanwhile, it is free, quick and easy for clients to sign up to the CHAS Client Portal where they will also find a suite of complimentary supply chain management and procurement tools. How can you find out more? To find out more about qualifying for, or specifying, the Common Assessment Standard, visit www.chas.co.uk or call 0345 521 9111
The idea that you could put up a skyscraper in as little as two weeks seems a little far-fetched, especially from the UK perspective, where most building projects drag on for years. But according to industry-leading consulting firms, such as McKinsey, it might be possible. The basic idea goes something like this: you construct big pieces of buildings in a factory at high speed. You then ship them out to construction sites and use cranes to lift them into position. Then it’s just a matter of slotting everything together, like Lego. There is very little manual work to be done on the ground. And the tasks that do exist are predictable and repetitive, increasing efficiency. A company called Broad Group operating out of China already put this business model into practice. The firm currently has some world record-breaking feats under its belt, including the building of a fifteen-storey hotel in less than a week. And now it plans to roll out its business model to more parts of the world. The benefits of the firm’s approach are considerable. It potentially means that the economy can become a lot more flexible. If you can throw up a large building in just a few days, city centres don’t actually have to remain in the same geographic location. You could, essentially, create new centres in a matter of months, and shift people around, according to the need. Even more excitingly, you might actually be able to reuse buildings. Instead of leaving large tower blocks vacant, you could simply deconstruct them with cranes and then put them up, piece by piece, somewhere else. Challenges Facing Today’s Infrastructure Industry The challenges facing today’s infrastructure industry are considerable. As a whole, the sector is underperforming, failing to bring new technologies onboard to improve the rate at which buildings go up. Health and safety are improving all the time, but the pace of technological innovation is slowing. Companies like Broad Group are trying to change that by rethinking the construction process. Instead of getting an architect to design every building project from scratch, they’re offering templates that commercial investors can just buy and erect in a few weeks, getting people renting properties in as little as seven days. The problem with the industry at the moment, though, is the mindset. Construction managers assume that there’s just “one way to do things,” and that technology doesn’t have the power to change the industry. Now that flat-pack building concepts are getting off the ground, though, the old ways of working can’t last. It’s just so much cheaper to get a factory to assemble buildings in pieces and then ship them to the site instead of workers doing all the fabrication on the ground. The construction industry is inherently forward-thinking. Once a building goes up, the consequences last for decades – perhaps hundreds of years. So the challenge is to create buildings that can adapt to changing times. And that’s precisely what the modular approach offers. How Can The Industry Change Its Thinking? The construction industry, though, isn’t going to change overnight. This massive component of GDP comprises tens of thousands of companies and few communally-accepted standards. Perhaps the biggest impetus for change is what’s currently happening in the developing world. Cities are growing at their fastest rates in history, doubling in size every ten years or so. New accommodation needs to go up and long-term planning needs to take place. But old construction methods are low and lack responsiveness. City planners require better solutions. Perhaps the best approach is to make the entire city more modular, allowing buildings to go up quickly, without damage to the surrounding land and environment. How Antiquated Is Construction Industry Technology? While there are some innovators in construction, they are relatively few and far between. The vast majority of companies are doing things the way they’ve always been done, updating their methods every twenty years or so. In today’s fast-paced world, the opportunity cost of this slow and steady approach is considerable. There are now so many incredible technologies out there that ignoring them seems like a tragic waste. The construction industry could transform itself overnight if it chose to do so. Even today with all the modern technologies at our collective disposal, it can still take more than five years to complete a skyscraper. You would hope that the process would happen more rapidly than that. But due to reliance on old-fashioned technology and regulations, time horizons continue to stretch. What’s strange about this is that the rate at which we construct buildings is actually slowing down. The 370-metre Empire State Building took just 13 months to build in the 1930s. But a similar downtown Manhattan skyscraper today takes more like 60 months because of all the inefficiencies and rules. What’s The Alternative In The West? The alternative seems to be just what companies like Broad Group are proposing. Given the obsession with health and safety in the modern world, companies need to develop efficient ways of dealing with it quickly. That’s why constructing buildings to set templates in factors and then constructing them in the real world is such a game-changer. You’re no longer relying on a site-by-site adherence to policies. Instead, you’re getting most of that out of the way at the factory itself, covering all bases predictably. You’re then just assembling the project in a few days on the ground before fitting it out methodically. Why Are Sustainable Skyscrapers Important? New flat-pack skyscrapers also offer an opportunity to make cities more sustainable. Construction companies are increasingly paying attention to things like recycled materials, air quality and energy conservation. But completing a regular skyscraper comes with tremendous external costs. Construction companies foul the air and use virgin materials because the costs of recycling are too high. Factory production, however, eliminates many of these problems. Construction companies can produce building elements inside, cutting the needs for sawing, drilling and heavy machinery throwing out dust on-site. And they can take full control