Kooky, the new boutique BTR brand, has announced three appointments including, Vivian Hoelzl as Head of Property Operations, Piers Du Boulay as Head of Lettings, and Mark Fleming, as Head of Marketing. The new trio forms Kooky’s customer centric team, which will be dedicated to ensuring the consumer journey with
Norwest Plant, Mecalac’s official dealer for North Wales and the North West of England, has agreed a multi-million pound deal with B&W Plant Hire to add 71 state-of-the-art site dumpers to its fleet in 2021. Headquartered in Blackburn and operating from rental sites in Keighley, Northwich and Southampton, B&W Plant
One of the world’s most successful ever darts players is hoping his newest partner may need to supply him with the materials for a bigger trophy cabinet in 2021. James Wade, nicknamed The Machine, is world ranked number seven and is one of the most decorated players in history having
Mining can be a difficult yet rewarding profession. You need to consider relocation, long working hours, skill set, and understand the different types of mining There are many job opportunities in the mining industry. Mining is digging out valuable materials from underground where it is usually located. The common items
The employee-owned packaging company has a vast range of packaging perfectly suited to the ecommerce sector, available on their market leading b2b ecommerce website. Their range of ecommerce boxes are available in 5 sizes and 100% recyclable and biodegradable, making them perfect for customers looking to improve their carbon footprint.
Safety and health are two of the most important considerations that every employer should take into account. A safety culture is even more critical in the construction industry where hazardous conditions and risky situations are part of an employee’s everyday working environment. But, other than that, why exactly is workplace
Blinds are essential in your household as they provide privacy for everyone who’s inside. You don’t want other people to take a peep inside your home and see what’s happening. Not only can they invade your privacy, but they might even see the inside of your house and watch where
Today, Monday 8 March, Leeds College of Building is joining others globally in supporting the International Women’s Day campaign ‘Choose To Challenge.’The College has made great strides in pushing gender parity in construction. Female apprentices at Leeds College of Building have also grown from 33 in 2014 to 190 by
ACCORDING to statistics published by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), a mere 12.37% of all engineers in the UK are female. While it’s no secret that engineering has historically been a male-dominated industry, leading multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Dice is challenging the stereotype and providing opportunities to encourage more women to
Despite the government’s promise to wage war on fuel poverty across the housing market in England via the implementation of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) initiative back in January 2013, research by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has found just 7% of properties are in receipt of ECO measures. GetAgent.co.uk
Kooky, the new boutique BTR brand, has announced three appointments including, Vivian Hoelzl as Head of Property Operations, Piers Du Boulay as Head of Lettings, and Mark Fleming, as Head of Marketing. The new trio forms Kooky’s customer centric team, which will be dedicated to ensuring the consumer journey with Kooky is second to none when renting a home. Vivian joins Kooky to head up the property operations department, following her Community Manager role at Greystar where she was responsible for mobilising three developments across London: including 118 units in Vauxhall, 327 units in Canary Wharf and over 500 units in Croydon. Having over eight years of experience in the property industry, Vivian has also spent time working within private high-end real estate across London. Piers also joins the business from Greystar where he worked as their Business Development Manager, leading on strategic development for ongoing and new projects. Prior to Greystar, Piers worked at Hamptons International for over 3 years. As Head of Lettings at Kooky, Piers will oversee the entire lettings portfolio. Mark joins Kooky following nine years at Kuoni, where he worked as their Head of Digital and Marketing, leading on strategy, brand campaign planning and execution as well as CRM. Previously, Mark also spent time working for different start-up businesses to help grow them into large established companies. As Kooky’s new Head of Marketing, Mark brings with him over 15 years of industry knowledge having worked in a variety of brand strategy, marketing and digital leadership roles. The creation of the customer service team comes at a pivotal time for the business as Kooky continues to assemble a portfolio of properties in key locations surrounding London. Following the announcement of the Goodsyard development in Bishop’s Stortford, Kooky has invested just over £40 million in the BTR sector in the current quarter. Commenting on the appointments, Howard Crocker, Managing Director of Kooky, said: “At Kooky we are committed to attracting the best industry talent to help grow our presence as a key market player in the BTR sector. We want to be truly customer-centric and for us it’s really about focusing on what the customer wants, and how can we deliver it to them in the best way; enter our new customer team. Vivian, Piers and Mark are all great additions to our business, each bringing a broad range of expertise for us to learn and grow from in order to position Kooky front and centre as the new boutique BTR brand in the market.” Vivian Hoelzl, Head of Property Operations at Kooky, added: “Across the industry rental demand has proven resilient in times of uncertainty but in order to stay relevant, we need to ensure we stay front-of-mind for our customers. At Kooky we recognise the importance of taking a boutique approach, rather than mass-market, and I look forward to working with both Piers and Mark, to deliver schemes that put our customers first.” Kooky’s latest development, Goodsyard in Bishop’s Stortford, joins its existing apartment blocks in High Wycombe, Staines, Redhill, Mill Hill and Whetstone.
Norwest Plant, Mecalac’s official dealer for North Wales and the North West of England, has agreed a multi-million pound deal with B&W Plant Hire to add 71 state-of-the-art site dumpers to its fleet in 2021. Headquartered in Blackburn and operating from rental sites in Keighley, Northwich and Southampton, B&W Plant Hire’s four depots service construction, agriculture and earthworks professionals across the country. With deliveries spread across 2021, the new dumpers will provide hire customers with access to the latest industry innovations and equipment technologies. Jonathan Campbell, Managing Director of Norwest Plant, commented: “With a hard-earned reputation for service excellence and equipment reliability, the B&W Plant Hire team wanted to expand their fleet with the market’s best site dumpers. “Blending style, performance, technology and safety, Mecalac’s range was deemed the perfect solution. Robust and rental-tough, each model offers class-leading skip strength and a chassis engineered for rugged reliability. We look forward to working closely with B&W Plant Hire throughout 2021, ensuring each new dumper meets exacting standards.” Andrew Partington, General Manager at B&W Plant Hire, added: “Our customers demand the best – and we pride ourselves on delivering over and above expectations. With Mecalac’s site dumper range, we were impressed with the build quality, design and safety technologies included as standard. The 71 new models will be a welcome addition to our fleet – we’re confident that feedback from our customers will be equally as positive.” Paul Macpherson, Commercial Director at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, concluded: “Flexible, versatile and intuitive, Mecalac site dumpers really are the market leaders. To see one of the UK’s leading private hire companies place a significant order through Norwest Plant is not just a testament to the excellent equipment we make, but also the outstanding service our dealers provide.” For more information about Mecalac, or the company’s innovative portfolio of compact construction equipment, visit https://www.mecalac.com/en/.
One of the world’s most successful ever darts players is hoping his newest partner may need to supply him with the materials for a bigger trophy cabinet in 2021. James Wade, nicknamed The Machine, is world ranked number seven and is one of the most decorated players in history having an impressive eight TV majors. The Machine will now step onto the oche proudly wearing the name of Jewson on his shirt, after agreeing a partnership deal for the duration of the 2021 PDC calendar. As well as sporting the Jewson logo throughout TV tournaments on Sky Sports, ITV and the BBC, Wade will also be running competitions with Jewson customers, providing branded merchandise and even playing virtual darts. Jewson’s Head of Marketing, Gareth Drew said: “Many of our customers are big darts fans and it is a sport that continues to grow in popularity – further increased by lockdown where sales of equipment has reached record levels. “During the Christmas period we ran some virtual darts sessions on Zoom, where our customers played legs against James Wade from home. It went down a storm. “James gets on really well with the trades as, being a mechanic by trade, he has a similar practical mindset and was really interested in their businesses and the work that they do. “The hope is that James will be able to visit branches and even play darts with customers when circumstances allow, and hopefully we will able to get some people to tournaments cheering him on. “James will be providing content for social media, and even giving our customers the chance to promote their businesses on his shirt on prime-time TV. Tradespeople should watch this space to get involved in what we think will be a really fun and engaging partnership.” The Machine himself is delighted to be working with Jewson and believes they represent a huge amount of the darting audience. He said, “Often when I am talking to fans of the sport, I find out that they are in building or construction in some form, and when I have been having work done at my house, I have ended up playing darts with the guys that came round!
Mining can be a difficult yet rewarding profession. You need to consider relocation, long working hours, skill set, and understand the different types of mining There are many job opportunities in the mining industry. Mining is digging out valuable materials from underground where it is usually located. The common items that we get from mining are metals, coals, limestone, chalk, potash, gravel, and clay, etc. There are almost always openings for jobs as miners and the opportunities are promising too. For these lucrative opportunities, many people are now eager to get degrees in mining and take up mining as their profession. Before you want to start your career as a miner, you need to know a few things. But first, let us look at the different types of mining and how they work. Different Types Of Mining There are Four Main Types of Mining and all fall under these four categories. 1. Underground Mining As the name suggests, underground mining is to excavate expensive and valuable materials from under the surface of the earth. It is the process of digging deeper into the ground and extracting large amounts of ores and mines where they are deposited. The valuable part of these ores is then dug up while the waste and lesser valuable rocks and materials are left below. 2. Surface Mining This is the opposite of underground mining. Instead of digging deeper into the earth’s layer, surface mining gathers valuable materials that are present right at the surface of the earth. To get the materials, trees and bedrocks are removed so that the valuables present in shallow depths can be found. 3. Placer Mining Placer mining is usually done on riverbeds, sands, or areas that have high sediment. Whenever there are precious materials found in riverbeds or areas with high sediments or sands they are rinsed with water or wind and then collected, this method of extraction is known as Placer Mining. 4. In-situ Mining This is also referred to as Solution mining. Unlike other methods, this does not work by digging or bringing up materials from the surface, riverbed or underground. Instead, in this method, chemicals are poured into the ores to make a dissolved solution of the ores. Then the dissolved solution, known as “Pregnant Solution” is pumped up into the surface. The solution is processed, and the raw material is recovered. Things To Know Before Starting A Mining Job 1. You Might Need To Relocate Mining is a very location-specific job. It can only be done where mines and ores are found. So if you are living in an area that does not have any mines and ores nearby, then it will be hard to get a mining job. If you however wish to get a job in the mining sector, then move to a place near mines and ores. So relocation can be an issue that you need to consider. 2. Mining Has Long Working Hours Unlike other jobs, mining does not follow the daily 6-7 hour working schedule. Sometimes you will find yourself working very late at night or start your day very early in the morning. Since the mining industries are always open, it requires miners to be active at all times and for a long period as well. Not only working long shifts, but miners are also expected to work for long consecutive days, even 10-14 days without any off or vacation days. 3. The Skill Sets Required Mining is a job that is only suitable for highly skilled people. So only a qualified person can get a miner job. Since mining is a complex process and technology is also advancing, miners also need to have higher levels of skills and qualifications. So, recruiters look to hire people who have graduated from a mining school or have a degree in mining. 4. The Health Risks Are Higher Than Other Jobs Mining requires you to work in difficult situations. Sometimes, circumstances might get risky, and you will have certain health hazards. For example, during underground mining, you might come across toxic gasses and increased heat, while the tools you work with are also dangerous. So you need to be aware of these health hazards. But luckily, advanced technology and protective gear have reduced such risks by a great margin. 5. Salary Of The Job You need to consider the salary of the job as a miner. We have so far seen the negative sides of mining as a profession like long work shifts and health hazards, but the salaries make up for it. Even as a starting job, the salary of a miner can be as much as $35,000, increasing up to $85,000 after two or three years of experience. 6. A Great Workplace For Women As Well In the past, women were considered to bring bad luck if they were seen working in mining. So the whole mining industry was dominated by men. But as things have changed, women are also getting involved in mining. There are many great opportunities for women in this field. So, being a woman, should not hold you back from mining. 7. The Recent Setbacks In Mining Although there is always an opportunity in mining, things have seen some setbacks in recent years. This is because most recruiters are now looking for temporary miners who work only on one project. So long-term miners are having difficulty. But that does not mean there are fewer opportunities. The only downside is that the working contract is mostly based on individual projects and not long-term contracts. Final Thoughts Many people might think that mining as a profession is very difficult, and few people are suitable for it. Though some part of it is true, since miners need to have higher stamina than others, mining is still a great opportunity for job seekers. Hopefully, this article has helped if you are eager to start your first mining job.
The employee-owned packaging company has a vast range of packaging perfectly suited to the ecommerce sector, available on their market leading b2b ecommerce website. Their range of ecommerce boxes are available in 5 sizes and 100% recyclable and biodegradable, making them perfect for customers looking to improve their carbon footprint. Suitable for a wide range of items being sent out in transit, they are perfectly suited to fast paced operations due to their crash lock base design and integrated lid, making them extremely easy to erect and secure. They each have a peel-&-seal adhesive strip for a secure closure and open tear strip ensuring ease of opening for customers, making for a better experience. Aesthetically pleasing and commonly used for items such as homewares, beauty products, retail, accessories and much more. They are perfectly suited to be used in conjunction with Kites wide range of voidfill and tissue paper. For more information, please visit kitepackaging.co.uk.
Safety and health are two of the most important considerations that every employer should take into account. A safety culture is even more critical in the construction industry where hazardous conditions and risky situations are part of an employee’s everyday working environment. But, other than that, why exactly is workplace safety crucial on a construction site? 1. It’s the Law Why do you need to implement a safety protocol? National labor laws say you should. Even if accidents don’t happen, an unsafe construction workplace is still a risk. OSHA and other regulatory agencies expect strict and specific standards of safety—both on state and federal levels. If you don’t adhere to these requirements and regulations, it could lead to penalties and fines that can cause operation problems, or worse shutting your business down. So, to prevent such a headache, make sure to check your specific state laws regarding workplace safety and consider using a safety software to easily monitor worker safety and comply with these labor laws. 2. Protects the Public More often than not, construction sites are located in busy areas where numerous people may come and go. An inadequate safety protocol in a construction site can pose risks the public such as falling objects or debris. Without safety practices in place, curious bystanders, more particularly kids, might slip inside the site and cause an accident. So, by implementing safety and health protocols on your construction sites, you can prevent putting people who are not even connected to the project at risk. 3. Construction Accidents Really Happen Statistics revealed that out of every 5,000 private-industry worker fatalities, 20% are in the construction sector. This means that 1 out of every 5 worker deaths is construction-related. In 2018 alone, construction workers accounted for 47% or 1008 of all fatal work injuries. Not only that, but the construction sector also produces the most non-fatal injuries, costing companies millions of dollars annually. 1 in every 10 construction workers is injured yearly. A study also revealed that the construction industry’s non-fatal injury rates are up to 71 percent higher than other industries. Because serious injuries or even fatality is a risk when a construction worker works on the road, climbs a ladder, or operates heavy equipment, safety is crucial. Employers and all workers on a construction site must implement and follow strict safety protocols to prevent cases of accidents and deaths. 4. Reduces Unnecessary Costs and Time A safe construction site is not only about preventing accidents before they happen. It’s also about making sure that every hazard, near miss, or injury is properly reported. Workers should know who to speak to, what details to record, and why it matters to act quickly. Clear reporting can help employers fix dangerous conditions before they become worse. It can also make the situation easier to understand if someone is seriously hurt and needs support. In these cases, guidance from attorney Jess Jordan can help workers and their families understand why proper records, witness details, and medical documentation may be important after a construction-related injury. When reporting is taken seriously, safety becomes part of the daily routine instead of something only discussed after an accident. When an accident happens, you also lose money and time. An injury to your worker or even a death can cause the project to stop. Depending on the severity of the accident, you might also need to conduct an investigation. And work can’t continue while the investigation is underway. Injured workers also mean fewer workers to continue the work, significantly decreasing efficiency and productivity for the day. In addition, accidents can also increase the overall cost of your construction project. Compensation claims for injuries and deaths can drive up your operating costs. Now, if the person injured is actually not part of the construction team, let’s say an individual who happens to pass by, a lawsuit may occur. In addition, accidents may also cause damages to your supplies or equipment. You’ll need these repaired or replaced, further increasing your cost. If you keep your construction site safe and secure, you can limit these risks, allowing you to finish your project on time while sticking to the budget. 5. Good for Your Brand’s Image Business image is everything. How clients view your premises and construction sites can determine your chance of winning your next job contract. Safety protocols in a construction site are easily visible to discerning eyes. How your worksite, factory, or office looks reflects how you care about your people and your competence in what you do. No client wants to associate with a risky business that only cares about the next big contract or promises quickly-accomplished projects without prioritizing workers and public safety. 6. Employer’s Moral Obligation Above all things, enforcing safety protocols in place is every employer’s moral obligation. Those working at your construction site or facility have families, loved ones, and lives outside of being your employee. And their health and safety shouldn’t be compromised for the paycheck you give them once or twice a month. It’s crucial that you prioritize and implement strict safety measures and ensure that your workers can return home safely every single day. Conclusion It’s time for you to take a closer look at your worksite and check if you are indeed implementing safety protocols. Protect your workers, the public, and your company so no one will be at risk and you’ll gain respect from the people that surrounds you.
Blinds are essential in your household as they provide privacy for everyone who’s inside. You don’t want other people to take a peep inside your home and see what’s happening. Not only can they invade your privacy, but they might even see the inside of your house and watch where you keep your valuables. Apart from privacy, blinds also help to provide elegance and sophistication inside the room. These also provide excellent credibility in controlling the light that passes inside the room as the slats are equally distributed. With that, you need to look for the best blinds you could install in your home. There are plenty of stores like makemyblinds.co.uk where you can find blinds. Just ensure that these are reputable companies. Listed below are the different types of blinds you could choose from: 1. Venetian Blinds Venetian blinds are among the most popular and common types as they provide a classic look for anyone’s home. A Venetian blind has horizontal slats that use aluminum, wood, or plastic as its primary material. You can adjust how the slats go by twisting the wand, and the slats can face upwards or downwards, depending on how you decide to operate it. The way the slats move will determine the direction of the sunlight that goes through inside your home. You can also control how much or how little you’d like your room to lighten up. If you’d like the full light to come inside your homes, you can adjust the height of the Venetian blind by pulling the lift strings downwards, and the full slats should lift upwards, folding into one another. 2. Vertical Blinds A vertical blind works similarly to a Venetian blind, but it moves from side to side rather than going in an up and down motion. A vertical blind has thicker slats that are usually the preferred choice of blinds for office or patio use as they provide a classic and conventional look that’ll look best at any formal setting. They’re also perfect for floor-to-ceiling windows as they can help promote and highlight the windows’ height, allowing the room to look taller and more spacious. 3. Mini blinds A mini blind works just like a Venetian blind, except that they have smaller slats. Each slat of a mini blind is usually one-inch thick. It’s typically perfect for small windows. You can place it in the bathroom or kitchen where the windows aren’t too big. 4. Roman Shades If you’d like to lean towards having a traditional and classic look for your window treatment, you can never go wrong with having Roman shades. A Roman shade uses fabric as its primary material rather than the usual plastic, aluminum, and wood. You can compare a roman shade to a curtain due to the same materials, but it lays more flatly on your windows. A Roman shade is raised and folds itself once you decide to pull them to allow more light to come inside the room. It can be similar to a vertical blind, only that it doesn’t have slats, but rather a whole fabric that folds up. There is no gap in between, which disallows you to control the light’s direction coming inside the room. With a Roman shade, it can stand as a perfect window treatment if you have a traditional or Victorian-themed home. 5. Roller Shades One of the most basic yet popular shades of all time is a roller shade. A roller shade usually uses the material of either synthetic or natural fabrics that roll up and down. Unlike Venetian and vertical blinds, a roller shade doesn’t have any slats, but rather a whole piece of large fabric. When you want to lift the shade, the fabric can move upwards to allow more light to enter the room. Depending on the fabric that your roller blind has, it can act as thermal or blackout blinds that can benefit the entire household highly. With a thermal fabric, you can block the heat from coming inside and keep it on the other side without letting it pass through the room. For a blackout fabric, you can expect no light to come inside your homes, especially during the night when you’re highly sensitive to light as you go to sleep. 6. Cellular Shades If you’re looking for a cheaper yet effective way to promote proper insulation inside your home, the cellular shade would be the perfect window treatment for you. While the cellular shades may not be everyone’s favourite look for their shade, they’re unique for a reason. A cellular shade has a honeycomb shape on each bar that’s responsible for insulation. The honeycomb can hold the heated air, not allowing it to enter your home. A cellular shade uses thin fabric as its primary material. Hence, it’s one of the cheapest types of blinds available for your household. Not only is it cheap, but it can also help you save money on heating or cooling the room as you don’t have a constant battle with the outside temperature coming inside your homes. 7. Panel Blinds Panel blinds may be similar to a vertical blind as each slat comes in an upright shape. However, with a panel blind, the blinds only have four wide sections compared with vertical blinds which have many thin slats. In most cases, panel blinds are used for vast and floor-to-ceiling windows to provide full coverage. They’re perfect for any type of room as long as it has a broad set of windows. With a panel blind, you can’t expect it to tilt to control the amount of light inside the room, but you can, instead, slide it across the room to allow maximum light to come inside. A panel blind uses soft fabrics and can be a cheaper alternative to other options. Conclusion While there are different types of blinds available, ensure that you purchase one that fits
Today, Monday 8 March, Leeds College of Building is joining others globally in supporting the International Women’s Day campaign ‘Choose To Challenge.’The College has made great strides in pushing gender parity in construction. Female apprentices at Leeds College of Building have also grown from 33 in 2014 to 190 by 2020, an incredible 475% increase over 6 years. However, more work is needed to address the diversity of the construction industry. In 2019, GMB (the union for construction workers) revealed that just one in eight construction workers are women. By analysing official statistics, it was predicted that it would take almost 200 years to achieve gender equality in the construction industry. As a result, the College will be hosting a free female-only virtual open event, designed for any women who would like to know more about a career in the construction industry (8 March, 5-7pm). Videos by staff and students will showcase being a female in the construction industry today and the varied opportunities available. The College Team are also available on live chat via the website. Marked annually, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. Activity takes place worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s rights. Ruth Watson, a former Leeds College of Building Civil Engineering Apprentice, said: “Engineers help shape the future, so it’s critical that we inspire and encourage the younger generation to consider engineering. When I enrolled, I was one of only two girls in my class of 25. By the end of my programme, the number of female students at College had increased discernibly, which was fantastic to see. “I hope I can help to break down stereotypes and be part of the huge change that is taking place in this sector. I’d encourage other women to follow their passion and pursue a meaningful career. I’m very optimistic about the future and excited about the years to come in this diverse and rewarding industry.” Today, the Faculty of Higher Education, Construction Design & Management at Leeds College of Building employs 30% female staff (out of a total of 56 staff). Female lecturers come from a wide range careers including architecture, civil engineering, quantity surveying, and transport planning. Nikki Davison, Degree Apprenticeship Development Curriculum Manager and Quantity Surveyor, said: “The construction industry is constantly developing, with continual reviews of legislation, innovative technology, and ground-breaking construction methods. All of this makes it a very exciting industry to work in. “I started my career as a trainee Quantity Surveyor some 20 years ago. Today, thankfully, women are not only accepted, but we are encouraged in the industry. This is evident in the quantity and experiences of female students at the College who display a passion for construction, be that in a trade like painting or joinery, or in a role like engineering, surveying, or architecture.”
ACCORDING to statistics published by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), a mere 12.37% of all engineers in the UK are female. While it’s no secret that engineering has historically been a male-dominated industry, leading multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Dice is challenging the stereotype and providing opportunities to encourage more women to enter the profession. The East Midlands-based business prides itself on having a multicultural and diverse workforce, with 50% of staff being women. Having recently announced a raft of female hires and promotions, Dice has also invested in its apprenticeship scheme, which provides an ‘earn while you learn’ incentive during a time when traditional university pathways have been made difficult as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Iva Dimitrov, who recently joined Dice as a senior civil engineer, has more than five years of experience working on a variety of national schemes. She specialises in commercial developments and sustainable drainage design and has joined as the leader of the civil engineering team. Iva said: “I have always known that I want to be in a profession where technical skills and problem solving are integral parts. I grew up in a small town in Bulgaria and my closest role models were my mother, who is a mathematician, and my father, who is an engineer, so naturally engineering was my first and desired career choice.” Iva achieved her degree in civil engineering while studying in Bulgaria, after which she came to the UK and studied a master’s course in the subject at the University of Nottingham. Iva added: “Shortly after graduating, I started my first job as a civil engineer and was fortunate to work for a manager who was not only a fantastic engineer, but also a great teacher. I had the opportunity to work on a variety of commercial projects in a busy, fast-paced environment, which helped me to learn a lot more about the industry. “I feel incredibly proud to be part of such a thriving, client-focused and reputable consultancy like Dice, which is encouraging women from a multitude of backgrounds to pursue a career in engineering.” Husna Gul – one of the apprentices at Dice – is another young woman who is carving out a successful career in engineering. Having initially applied to university after completing A-Levels in maths, physics and chemistry, Husna discovered the benefits of the apprenticeship route and withdrew her UCAS application. Husna said: “Being the eldest child in the family, my parents were worried when I told them that I didn’t want to take the ‘traditional’ university route. However, after they looked into degree apprenticeships, they soon realised this was the right path for me and have been incredibly supportive of my decision. “Engineering is such an exciting and fulfilling industry where no two days are the same. I have picked up a huge amount of knowledge in such a short space of time. When I first started, I could never have imagined I’d be able to do the kind of jobs I’m doing now, and that’s testament to both Dice and Nottingham Trent University (NTU) for creating a new pathway into the industry.” Raj Somal, director of Dice, said: “For us, it’s imperative to have a diverse team – whether that be in relation to gender, ethnicity, race or religion. In past roles, I have experienced that non-diverse teams do not provide the best working environment, so we aim to buck the trend. The most important thing when starting the business was to create a positive place to work that is inclusive for everyone.” Dice has recently been nominated for an award at this year’s Nottingham Trent University Apprenticeship Awards, which celebrates the hard work, success and achievements of the university’s apprentices and the employers who are engaged with NTU’s apprenticeship programmes. To find out more about Dice, please visit diceconsult.co.uk
Despite the government’s promise to wage war on fuel poverty across the housing market in England via the implementation of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) initiative back in January 2013, research by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has found just 7% of properties are in receipt of ECO measures. GetAgent.co.uk analysed data on households in receipt of ECO measures since the scheme launched and what this equates to as a percentage of total dwellings across each area of England. The ECO was a government initiative introduced in January 2013 to help improve energy efficiency and support those at the sharp end of fuel poverty in England. The ECO set obligations for the big energy providers to install insulation and heating measures and to help reduce heating costs and energy usage. The research by GetAgent.co.uk shows that 1,794,601 households across England are in receipt of ECO measures, just 7.4% of the total 24,413,501 dwellings. The North West has seen the biggest benefit from the scheme, with 11.5% of all homes in receipt of ECO measures, with the North East (10.1%) and West Midlands (10%) also seeing a double-digit percentage of dwellings benefit. London has seen the lowest level of homes in receipt of ECO measures at just 4.5%, followed by the South East (5%). At local authority level, Blackpool has seen the highest impact with 21.2% of all homes benefitting from the ECO initiative. Other areas to see in excess of 20% of properties benefit include Bradford (21.1%) and Blackburn with Darwen (20.8%). Oldham (19.5%) and Burnley (18.6%) have also seen some of the biggest impact from the scheme. In contrast, London accounts for the top five areas with the lowest receipts of ECO measures, with Wandsworth seeing the least with just 1.2% of homes in the borough benefitting from the scheme. Outside of London, Mole Valley (2.4%), South Lakeland, Cambridge and Vale of White Horse have seen the lowest receipts of ECO measures since launch in 2013. Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “We could all benefit from making our homes as energy efficient as possible, but it’s important to remember that the ECO initiative is very much focussed on eradicating fuel poverty, rather than knocking a few quid off the average homeowner’s energy bills. So it’s only natural that there has been a greater focus on areas of the market where this help is needed most and so there is always going to be a regional disparity in terms of the number of households in receipt of these measures. In the same context, not every home will require this help and the near 1.8m households to have benefitted are no doubt very grateful for this helping hand from the government. However, while 7% of all households is a strong start, let’s hope the government continues to build on these foundations and use this initiative to further remedy the issue of fuel poverty from those suffering across the nation.” Table shows the total number of households in receipt of ECO measures between Jan 2013 and Dec 2020 as a percentage of total dwellings stock Location Households in receipt of ECO measures (to Dec 2020) Total dwellings 2019 Households in receipt of ECO measures as % of total dwellings North West 379,849 3,300,088 11.5% North East 125,419 1,236,808 10.1% West Midlands region 250,357 2,512,503 10.0% Yorkshire and the Humber 236,633 2,440,528 9.7% East Midlands 156,443 2,103,080 7.4% South West 149,779 2,603,367 5.8% East of England 140,188 2,705,425 5.2% South East 186,470 3,717,756 5.0% London 160,147 3,592,322 4.5% England 1,794,601 24,413,501 7.4% Source Gov.uk – Household Energy Effeciency Statistics Gov.uk – Live tables of dwellings stock Table shows the areas with the highest percentage of households in receipt of ECO measures as a percentage of total dwellings stock Location Households in receipt of ECO measures (to Dec 2020) Total dwellings 2019 Households in receipt of ECO measures as % of total dwellings Blackpool 14,879 70,187 21.2% Bradford 45,674 216,360 21.1% Blackburn with Darwen 12,728 61,287 20.8% Oldham 18,587 95,505 19.5% Burnley 7,655 41,080 18.6% Pendle 7,337 40,368 18.2% Hyndburn 5,895 36,891 16.0% Walsall 18,514 116,248 15.9% Tameside 16,393 102,993 15.9% Birmingham 67,815 441,536 15.4% Hartlepool 6,764 44,250 15.3% Manchester 34,640 226,995 15.3% Middlesbrough 9,550 63,261 15.1% Leicester 20,515 137,116 15.0% Rochdale 13,161 93,703 14.0% Sefton 17,630 126,962 13.9% Sandwell 17,944 132,618 13.5% Knowsley 8,977 66,519 13.5% Bolton 16,005 124,444 12.9% Luton 10,251 80,024 12.8% Source Gov.uk – Household Energy Effeciency Statistics Gov.uk – Live tables of dwellings stock Table shows the areas with the lowest percentage of households in receipt of ECO measures as a percentage of total dwellings stock Location Households in receipt of ECO measures (to Dec 2020) Total dwellings 2019 Households in receipt of ECO measures as % of total dwellings Wandsworth 1,772 148,075 1.2% Richmond upon Thames 1,203 85,564 1.4% Kensington and Chelsea 1,555 87,726 1.8% Hammersmith and Fulham 1,617 89,186 1.8% Westminster 2,382 125,312 1.9% Mole Valley 939 38,772 2.4% South Lakeland 1,551 55,820 2.8% Cambridge 1,536 55,207 2.8% Vale of White Horse 1,647 58,669 2.8% Merton 2,388 84,570 2.8% Winchester 1,530 52,740 2.9% Epsom and Ewell 962 32,566 3.0% Waverley 1,632 53,752 3.0% Uttlesford 1,168 38,008 3.1% North Hertfordshire 1,887 57,471 3.3% East Hertfordshire 2,069 63,011 3.3% Tunbridge Wells 1,694 51,339 3.3% Reigate and Banstead 2,022 60,966 3.3% St Albans 2,027 61,047 3.3% Cotswold 1,501 44,938 3.3% Source Gov.uk – Household Energy Effeciency Statistics Gov.uk – Live tables of dwellings stock