An innovative modular North East housebuilder is expanding the business by recruiting a team of people with a diverse skillset. CoreHaus, which recently set up a manufacturing facility in a 20,000 sq ft unit on Jade Business Park, Murton, near Seaham in County Durham recently assembled its senior team and
HS2 today began the search for a specialist contractor to build the high speed rail project’s central control centre and maintenance depot, which will create around 500 long-term jobs in Birmingham’s Washwood Heath. The contract – worth an estimated £275m – will see the winning bidder work with HS2 Ltd
The UK’s leading student accommodation platform, UniHomes, has called on letting agents and landlords within the student rental sector to act with greater vigilance, as changes to the model tenancy agreement could lead to an increase in the number of students opting to have a pet while at university. Lockdown
Construction businesses are more likely to win bids if they can guarantee high-quality work, while sticking to a budget and a deadline. Meeting all three criteria can be a challenge, but could technology make it simple? Here Peter Brooks, Regional Sales Manager at SITECH, the UK & Ireland’s exclusive distributor
Aptus Utilities, a leading multi utility connections provider is reporting an impressive start to 2021 despite the ongoing challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. The Bolton headquartered business secured 42 contracts with over 2900 plots in the month of January alone. This represents work with 25 clients across all 5
Matt Mccall is one of the latest stock traders to turn their hand to an online trading platform. Mccall joins the growing trend of traders leaving Wall Street to help ‘the average man’ make money by investing in stocks. Mccall has very little online presence and isn’t even the first
Doosan is presenting many new products for the first time at the Hillhead Digital event from 30-31 March 2021. They include the company’s new DL-7 wheel loader, DX-7 crawler excavator and ADT ranges, introducing a host of next generation machines, driven by powerful new Stage V engines and providing higher productivity, increased
NATIONAL framework provider Pagabo has launched its central procurement technology platform, which places everything at the fingertips of its users. It gives clients and suppliers access to a fully integrated procurement process through intelligent dashboards that provide real insights into projects, suppliers, social value and all the relevant information they
Research by national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has revealed that despite Covid causing a -38% year on year decrease due to lockdown restrictions, the property market in England and Wales still rallied to see a total of £171.7bn worth of residential property sold in 2020. Keller Williams analysed all
The campaign for the government to ditch reverse charge VAT is mounting with the Federation of Master Builders, FMB, claiming two-thirds of SMEs believing it will damage cash flow. Scottish National Party MP Kirsten Oswald has already tabled an early day motion calling for the controversial new regime to be
An innovative modular North East housebuilder is expanding the business by recruiting a team of people with a diverse skillset. CoreHaus, which recently set up a manufacturing facility in a 20,000 sq ft unit on Jade Business Park, Murton, near Seaham in County Durham recently assembled its senior team and is now steadily recruiting the workforce. But the team are not only the usual workforce with brickies and skills that many housebuilders turn to – rather, they often have technical and engineering backgrounds too. Joining the management team are Robin Gill as technical manager, along with Dan Selby, as production manager. Robin has operated as a principle engineer with more than 42 years’ experience in multiple sectors ranging from power generation to high-performance aerospace manufacturing and process development. Dan Selby is a senior operations manager with a strong technical background in construction. He has around 17 years’ experience in modern methods of construction. Scott Bibby, MD of CoreHaus, said: “Both Robin and Dan bring a wealth of different experience to their roles. Dan’s background is more directly related to the modular construction environment whereas Robin brings a technical engineering, product quality and process control to the team. “We’re doing something different in the modular housebuilding sector and need people who think and work differently. Our production and designs draw on modern, technical skills and innovation. We have a real opportunity to break the current mould, bring about change in housebuilding and construction.” Due to the nature of its steel-frame build, CoreHaus will adopt a different production methodology to most housebuilding. Technicians will be needed in the new factory who have engineering qualifications and are agile at problem solving in a technical environment. Scott added: “We are recruiting people from different industries to create a diverse workforce with a growth mindset. We need engineering skills and construction experience combined with a creative way of thinking.” This philosophy has been applied to the recruitment of the first five technicians – Chris Archer, Adam Willis, Kenny Walker, Peter Rowe and Paul Seager. For instance, Paul Seager joins CoreHaus as a fully qualified domestic gas and plumbing engineer having also worked in the rail manufacturing industry. Peter Rowe has a varied background predominantly within high level engineering companies such as Maclaren Racing and Hitachi. Kenny has construction experience combined with military aviation and manufacturing. Adam joins fresh from a lightweight steel manufacturer with experience in timber-frame modular construction too. Chris brings a wealth of experience from a variety of roles within construction and engineering. Scott is liaising with Derwentside College to discuss the kind of multi-skilled young people he would like to recruit, train, and develop going forwards. “We’re looking for a new breed of technicians as well as apprentices with a different mindset. We want people to love the job, to really want to come to work and get a buzz from the work they will be doing,” he explained. CoreHaus is a joint-venture company between Carlton & Co Group, the parent company behind North East based Homes by Carlton, and national social enterprise Fusion21, specialists in public procurement for the built environment. The five-year plan will see CoreHaus producing around 1,000 modular homes a year, which will result in more than 100 people working across the business. These homes will be built using modern methods of construction (MMC) which will result in high quality homes, built faster, with engineered precision and expected lower energy bills. More details at www.corehaus.co.uk
HS2 today began the search for a specialist contractor to build the high speed rail project’s central control centre and maintenance depot, which will create around 500 long-term jobs in Birmingham’s Washwood Heath. The contract – worth an estimated £275m – will see the winning bidder work with HS2 Ltd to transform the 30 hectare brown field site into the nerve centre of the HS2 network. From this point, next to the main line into Birmingham Curzon Street, HS2’s fleet of state-of-the-art high-speed trains will be serviced and maintained, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – ready to provide an unparalleled level of frequency and reliability for passengers across the UK. The depot will include a 40,000 m2 Rolling Stock Maintenance Building, Carriage Wash, Automatic Vehicle Inspection Building and 14 sidings where trains can be stored overnight. Also on the same site will be the Network Integrated Control Centre, the centre of the network’s state-of-the-art signalling and control systems as well as office buildings for cleaners and drivers. HS2 Ltd’s Commercial Director, David Poole said: “The start of the search for a contractor to build Washwood Heath is a real milestone for the HS2 project and a huge long-term opportunity for the area. With main works civils construction now well underway, we are putting the specialist team in place to support operation of the new railway. “Washwood Heath will be at the heart of the operation – and around 500 high skilled jobs based at the depot will be a major boost for the community.” The Washwood Heath site was formerly home to the disused Metro-Cammell railway works which closed in 2004. A team from HS2’s early works contractor LM, completed the demolition of the buildings on the site last year, ready for the start of construction. Once operational, Phase One and 2a will have a fleet of at least 54 trains which will be based at Washwood Heath. These 200m long units can be doubled up to create 400m long trains and will serve destinations beyond the HS2 network – like Liverpool, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow – via a connection to the existing West Coast Main Line at Crewe. Bidders are expected to be shortlisted for the single-stage design and build contract in the summer with contract award in 2023.
The UK’s leading student accommodation platform, UniHomes, has called on letting agents and landlords within the student rental sector to act with greater vigilance, as changes to the model tenancy agreement could lead to an increase in the number of students opting to have a pet while at university. Lockdown has caused a spike in pet ownership as many look to fill the boredom of days spent inside, as well as finding a new reason to venture out for some fresh air. Research by the PFMA has found that so far 2.1m people have added a pet to their family while in lockdown, with a further 1.8m planning to join them soon. However, the downside to this surge in knee-jerk pet ownership has inevitably been an increase in pets being abandoned, with the RSPCA revealing that 4,600 animals were dumped on them last winter alone; including horses, rabbits, cats and dogs to name but a few. UniHomes fears that this is a trend that could soon start to sweep the student rental sector due to recent changes to the model tenancy agreement now allowing well-behaved pets in rental properties. Research by UniHomes found that just 6% of all student accommodation currently listed on the market is pet friendly. However, UniHomes also found that while just 10% of students currently choose to have their pet live with them, 48% would have a pet at uni if ‘pet friendly’ accommodation was more widely available. Under the new laws now in place, a blanket ban on pets within the rental sector is no longer allowed. Instead, landlords must object in writing within 28 days of a pet request from a tenant. Rejections should only be made for a good reason such as the property being unpractical for the pet in question. Tenants will also remain legally responsible for any damages and the cost incurred. With no distinction made between regular and student rental properties, an easing of pet rental restrictions coupled with ongoing lockdown restrictions could cause an uplift in pet ownership amongst students. The unfortunate consequence of which could be an increase in pets being abandoned come the end of term time. Co-Founder of UniHomes, Phil Greaves commented: “Recent amendments to the model tenancy agreement mean that more landlords could be about to open up their homes to well-behaved pet roommates for students studying at university. However, we would urge both landlords and letting agents to be vigilant when it comes to student pet rental requests and consider the welfare of the animal as much as the potential impact on their property. We’ve seen numerous cases where students have left pets for the landlord or agent to deal with once they’ve finished their studies and we wouldn’t advise it for students who are keen to live the party lifestyle.” Survey of 1,068 UK students carried out by Find Out Now (11th February 2021). Do you have a pet in your student accommodation? Answer Respondents No 90% Yes 10% Would you have brought a pet to university if pet-friendly student accommodation was more widely available? Answer Respondents No 52% Yes 48% Location Pet-friendly rentals as a % of all student-specific rental stock Newport 20% London 15% Aberdeen 12% Edinburgh 11% Glasgow 11% Cambridge 6% Plymouth 3% Liverpool 3% Manchester 3% Sunderland 3% Southampton 2% Bradford 2% Birmingham 2% Portsmouth 2% Bournemouth 2% Oxford 2% Bristol 1% Swansea 1% Nottingham 1% Sheffield 1% Leeds 1% Newcastle 0% Leicester 0% Cardiff 0% Belfast 0% All 6% Pet-friendly stock based on the proportion of all student-specific rental stock that allows pets. Data sourced from Zoopla.
Construction businesses are more likely to win bids if they can guarantee high-quality work, while sticking to a budget and a deadline. Meeting all three criteria can be a challenge, but could technology make it simple? Here Peter Brooks, Regional Sales Manager at SITECH, the UK & Ireland’s exclusive distributor of Trimble® machine control technology, explores the answer. According to the UK Government, there were around 343,000 registered construction businesses operating in 2019 — new orders to the industry in 2018 were worth around £61.7 billion. In a competitive marketplace, construction businesses cain gain a competitive edge by proving that they can offer a better service at a better price. Investing in tools to improve productivity could be the answer, as they can reduce the need for reworking, reduce material costs and therefore help meet a customer’s expectations in term of budget and time frame. On the same page Communication between all parties is vital to a successful construction project. Designers, architects, surveyors, engineers and machine operators must coordinate to ensure that every process is completed accurately and to deadline. Parties often exchange paper plans across teams, so any changes are slow to reach operators completing the physical work. Working from a paper plan also means that surveyors need to regularly check that every member of the team is working to the latest revision of the design. Moving to digital communication can speed up the distribution of 3D Models to reduce the risk of errors. For example, machine control technology can be fitted to machines cabs so that operators can directly receive the 3D computer aided design (CAD) model from the surveyors or designers. Two-way data flow between equipment operators and the office means any changes can be communicated immediately and everyone is on the same page. In addition, surveyors and designers can send design changes straight to the machine and operators have the ability to record as built data manually or automatically to enable surveyors and the project team to see volumes and progress to keep everyone updated on the status of the work. An added bonus is that if urgent assistance is needed on the machine, the machine control provider (SITECH) or the surveyors can also offer immediate remote advice and assistance by communicating directly with the system on the machine over a GSM link. No second guessing When removing material from a site in preparation for new infrastructure, operators have to consider a variety of factors to ensure they dig efficiently, safely, accurately and within tolerance. Adding material is more expensive than removing existing material, so operators are often cautious at this stage of a project. An operator inside the cab and an engineer outside will work together to ensure machinery is ready to dig at the correct level and will slowly remove or fill material in layers. Fitting machinery with Trimble® Earthworks technology means that the operator has all the information they need inside the cab. Operators can simply input data from the 3D Models into the machine and excavate materials precisely, improving the accuracy of the work completed and reducing the time taken to excavate. In a study by Trimble® and Caterpillar that compared conventional equipment to digitised construction equipment, the same work was completed in almost half the time with less than half the passes and twice the accuracy. As construction companies see the accuracy of their work increase, while reducing the time taken to complete work, they will also see a reduction in costs. For example, more accurate excavation and movement of material will lead to reductions in fuel consumption and material costs. Once contractors see these savings, they can price up potential bids more efficiently and ensure that clients get the best service possible, meeting both their expectations and their budget. A gradual process Technology isn’t a quick fix that businesses should hurry to invest in to compete with the hundreds of other businesses operating the UK. Taking the time to find the right solution will help construction businesses see the most return on investment. Our consultants work with contractors to review a project and a customer’s existing fleet before suggesting any technology. Then, construction businesses can trial the right machine control system for them, key is making sure at an early stage that the system is a flexible as possible. Fitting several machines with install kits, and then having a flexible machine control system which is easily transferable across their fleet of varying machine types, is usually the most cost effective way forward. Are you interested in discovering if technology is the answer to you becoming more competitive? Visit www.sitechukandireland.com to speak to our experts.
Aptus Utilities, a leading multi utility connections provider is reporting an impressive start to 2021 despite the ongoing challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. The Bolton headquartered business secured 42 contracts with over 2900 plots in the month of January alone. This represents work with 25 clients across all 5 regions that they operate it. The month was also further bolstered by 5 new client wins. To support this continued success the company continues to grow and has recruited 14 additional members to the team during January. The Aptus Utilities operations team also delivered 100% of the months 700+ plot connections within the 10 day call off period. The stellar start to 2021 follows a solid performance in 2020 which saw the company secure 279 contracts, 89 new clients and delivering more than 9000 plot connections across the year. Lisa Kerford, Managing Director, from Aptus Utilities says “2020 was a challenging year but thanks to the hard work and commitment of all of our colleagues we continued to grow. Our advanced multi utility capability and exceptional customer service sets us apart from competitors and has been pivotal to the company’s success, helping to cement Aptus Utilities’ position as a leading multi utility provider within the UK housebuilding industry.” During a decade in the industry Aptus has built strong working relationships with local highway authorities and existing utility network owners, enabling them to consistently provide clients with a first-rate streamlined service. By providing excellent customer service and ensuring that all tenders are issued with a fully inclusive scope of works, clients can be assured of an end-to-end fully-managed project. For more information on Aptus Utilities visit www.aptusutilities.co.uk.
Matt Mccall is one of the latest stock traders to turn their hand to an online trading platform. Mccall joins the growing trend of traders leaving Wall Street to help ‘the average man’ make money by investing in stocks. Mccall has very little online presence and isn’t even the first Matt Mccall that comes up during a Google search. For this reason, many people are more vary about purchasing his program, more so than the programs of well-established names like Paul Mampilly and Paul Scolardi. In this article, we’ll be looking at who Matt Mccall is, what his platform has to offer, and how his platform compares to some of the other market leaders. Who is Matt Mccall? Matt Mccall is a former stock trader with a Masters Degree in Science, specializing in Finance. Mccall has over 18 years of experience in finance and investment. He began his time on Wall Street at one of its biggest firms, Charles Shwab. Eventually, Mccall retired from Wall Street and became the lead technical analyst for the radio show and podcast, Winning Wall Street. Since leaving Wall Street Mccall has started many enterprises including Point B publishing house and CrowdVest.Co. He has also written multiple books in an attempt to demystify the world of stock trading for the general public. Since leaving Wall Street he claims to have made over 1000 television appearances. Mccall has also traded Investment Opportunities, a subscription service. His research team shares tips with his subscribers about where they should be investing their money. Mccall has a particular focus on investing in new technology. What does his service offer? ‘Wall Street won’t tell you this, but by the time the general public hears about a major investment trend, the big money has already been made… by those who got there FIRST.’ -Mccall This article will very briefly cover what Mccall’s service can offer its subscribers, if you’re looking for more reviews on Matt Mccall, check out this article. So what do Investment Opportunities subscriptions include, and how much does it cost? Investment Opportunities only comes with one level of subscription that costs $99 for the year. The following things are included in this subscription: Monthly investment reports – Investment Opportunities owner’s manual – This is Mccall’s equivalent to Stocks 101. This manual talks you through the best ways to buy and sell stock; how to research stock before purchasing it; as well as talking you through how Mccall approaches the marker. Urgent Updates – If there is any major news in the market, or a major change in one of Mccall’s focus companies then Investment Opportunities will send out immediate updates to subscribers. Subscriber Only Reports – As part of your subscription, you will also get Mccall’s 12-36 page reports on businesses and parts of the market that he feels are worth watching. If you look into what some of the other trading platforms are offering this does seem very spartan. This is why his prices may be low, Mccall also does not have as big a reputation as some of the other market leaders. How does his service compare to other leading trade platforms? Mccall has a good reputation, solid product, and great pricing – but how does Investment Opportunities compare to the other trading platforms on the market? Investment Opportunities vs Profit Unlimited vs Super Trades Let’s end by comparing Investment Opportunities to its most similar competitors Profit Unlimited and Super Trades. The Prices By looking at the prices of these subscriptions we notice the first major differences between the three big players. Investment Opportunities offers only one level of subscription that costs $99 for the year. A whole year of Investment Opportunities costs less than one month of Super Trades. Super Trades offers two levels of subscription – one for $149 a month, and one for $249 a month. Profit Unlimited offers three different subscription offers ranging from $49 a year, to $479 a year. What they offer Whilst all three companies are run by ex-stock traders the level of advice offered varies wildly. Despite being the second most expensive Investment Opportunities offers the least to its subscribers. See above for more details on what it offers. Profit Unlimited not only offers its subscribers monthly trading advice and emergency updates, but Mampilly also offers a range of daily tips and weekly video calls. Super Trades seems to charge an extraordinary price. However, when you consider that you are sent roughly the same amount daily as Investment Opportunities sends once a month the price starts to make more sense. The subscription also includes weekly videos, a chance to talk to the Superman himself in the chat room, and access to his own investment records.
Doosan is presenting many new products for the first time at the Hillhead Digital event from 30-31 March 2021. They include the company’s new DL-7 wheel loader, DX-7 crawler excavator and ADT ranges, introducing a host of next generation machines, driven by powerful new Stage V engines and providing higher productivity, increased fuel efficiency and a low cost of ownership, coupled with a fantastic environment and experience for operators. New Award-Winning Design Among the new ‘DL-7’ wheel loaders at Hillhead Digital is the top-of-the-range DL580-7. The new DL-7 range is the culmination of the first complete redesign of the Doosan wheel loader range in 10 years, with the exterior design, in particular, undergoing a complete transformation. Redesigned buckets offering up to 7% more capacity ensure the seven new Doosan DL-7 wheel loaders provide easier and faster loading with maximum bucket capacities from 2.8 to 6.4 m3. This provides increased productivity for a very wide range of material-handling applications. The new cab offers a greatly improved field of vision for the operator, with blind spots around the cab minimized and a 14% larger glass window area compared to the previous DL-5 models. Inside the cab, the DL-7 wheel loaders offer significantly enhanced operating comfort, an enhanced steering system and advanced electronic controls. Using the new Doosan Smart Key system on the control panel in the cab, the operator can start the machine using a keyless device, helping to prevent machine theft. The Smart Key system provides remote door control, door lock and unlock, door release, searching and other functions. More Firsts in Doosan Crawler Excavators Among the Doosan crawler excavators making their debut at Hillhead Digital is the 80 tonne DX800LC-7, the largest excavator ever manufactured by Doosan. The DX800LC-7 excavator is powered by the new stage V version of the well-proven Perkins 2506J diesel engine, providing a high power output of 403 kW (548 HP), more than any other machine in this class. The high output of the engine is combined with a Virtual Bleed Off (VBO) hydraulic system (D-Ecopower+), providing a best-in-class hydraulic flow of 1008 l/min and a high system pressure of 343 bar, providing best-in-class performance, with higher productivity, lower fuel consumption of 45 l/h in heavy applications with bucket sizes from 4.6 to 5.2 m3 and smoother controls. Other standard features include the 360° around view monitoring system and the full package of powerful LED work lights for increased safety and the convenience and reassurance provided by the SKF Auto Greasing System. Choice of Boom and Swing Modes To provide optimized operations when working with the DX800LC-7 excavator, the operator can switch between two modes – Boom or Swing – giving priority to boom or swing movements, respectively, so they can best match how they are using the machine to the application they are working on. Faster working speeds are ensured by the 2-spool Boom Down Regeneration system in the DX800LC-7, which also reduces fuel consumption. The 2-spool hydraulic system for the bucket cylinder also increases hydraulic flow and the working speed of the bucket, again reducing fuel consumption. The DX800LC-7 also has a boom/arm cylinder lock valve (anti-hose burst valve) as standard for increased safety, preventing accidents caused by hydraulic hose rupture on site. Like the DX800LC-7, the new DX530LC-7 Stage V 50 tonne crawler excavator, also included for the first time at Hillhead Digital, offers the strength and productivity needed for heavy duty work such as large-scale earthmoving, moving rock, pulling down buildings, secondary breaking, loading haulers and pipeline projects found on quarrying and mining, highway, aggregate, demolition, utility and general construction projects. To meet Stage V engine emission regulations, the DX530LC-7 excavator is powered by the new Scania DC13 Stage V compliant diesel engine, providing a higher power output of 294 kW (394 HP). The Scania engine offers a new solution to exceed Stage V with super-efficient DOC/DPF+SCR after-treatment technology to ensure minimal emissions. Best Performance in 50 tonne Class In the DX530LC-7, the enhanced performance of the DC13 engine is combined with a Virtual Bleed Off (VBO) hydraulic system (D-Ecopower+) and the new generation Smart Power Control Technology (SPC3), providing an overall fuel efficiency increase of 11%. Increased pump capacity and the higher power of the engine produces up to an 8% increase in productivity, the best-in-class performance in the 50 tonne market. A Wealth of New Features on the ADTs The Hillhead Digital display also comprises the new DA30-7 and DA45-7 Stage V compliant articulated dump trucks (ADTs) from Doosan. The DA30-7 has a payload of 28 tonne, while that of the DA45-7 is 41 tonne. The DA30-7 is powered by the new Scania Stage V compliant DC09 9 litre diesel engine providing 276 kW (375 HP) of power. The DA45-7 is driven by the new Scania Stage V DC13 13 litre diesel engine with an output of 368 kW (500 HP). Both new ADTs have been upgraded with a range of features including a new cab and a new self-levelling front suspension that adjusts itself independently depending on the operating conditions to ensure a comfortable working environment for the operator. Together with several striking visual changes, there are a number of functional changes on the new ADTs which improve safety, comfort and serviceability. These include a new positioning of the diesel and AdBlue tanks. The latter are now much lower than before, allowing the operator to fill both tanks whilst standing next to the machine (‘ground level filling’). The new ADTs are equipped as standard with a real-time payload measuring system with a light indication for excavator operators, which will help them to place optimal loads in the ADTs to ensure excellent productivity and low fuel consumption. The greasing system has also been relocated to make it easily accessible from ground level. Space has been provided above the automatic lubrication system (which is standard) for additional grease cartridges and a filling pump. DoosanCONNECT Fleet Management System as Standard All the Doosan machines 14 tonne and above are factory-installed with the latest DoosanCONNECT
NATIONAL framework provider Pagabo has launched its central procurement technology platform, which places everything at the fingertips of its users. It gives clients and suppliers access to a fully integrated procurement process through intelligent dashboards that provide real insights into projects, suppliers, social value and all the relevant information they need. My Pagabo simplifies the full tender process, allowing clients to track projects from initial engagement, right through to completion. The new platform is designed specifically to create a smarter, faster and easier way of working for everyone involved, and has seen the team dedicate more than 6,000 hours of time into the development. All the information clients may need will be centralised within the dashboard and separated out into several key sections. Clients can view the frameworks available to them and digitally sign the client access agreement for others within the platform. They will also be able to see all of the suppliers available to them, with each one having an individual profile showing the key company information, case studies and good news stories. My Pagabo also has integration that allows clients to view the Creditsafe score of all suppliers on the platform. The platform gives clients the ability to input all the necessary data for their organisation, and to onboard all the team members involved in procurement processes. Live projects can be viewed, and new ones can be started quickly and easily from the projects section. Julian Penna, business analyst at Pagabo, said: “After pouring quite literally thousands of hours into the development of My Pagabo to ensure we have created the most effective procurement technology possible; we’re thrilled to be fully launching the platform to kick off the new year. “The key thing for My Pagabo is providing a simple and central process, combined with instant access to all the information users need within a central platform. It brings procurement into the future through the use of digital and will allow clients to manage their complete procurement processes – including all correspondence – in a central location. As well as the obvious benefits of streamlining, time saving and less physical paperwork, clients will be able to manage the entire process from the outset starting with an expression of interest, through the tendering and awarding process – all backed up with a dedicated customer support service. Charlotte Brogan, design and build manager at Wildgoose Construction, who has been involved with the beta-testing of My Pagabo, said: “I’ve found using the My Pagabo platform easy to use and it’s made the procurement process very simple. The platform has allowed us access to frameworks that we’re eligible for, to register interest and submit important documents, which saves us a lot of time. “The construction industry is always changing. A lot of new technology is coming in, there’s lots happening around training new members of staff, and projects are having to find more efficient ways of working. The My Pagabo platform helps to streamline that, it addresses all of these items in the procurement stages, which is where we need to get that push. There’s only so much you can reduce costs in construction without compromising on quality, and this platform helps us to narrow down costs right at the start of a project.” Anne Giliker, procurement manager at Red Kite Learning Trust, who has been using the My Pagabo platform, said: “The My Pagabo platform allows me to manage my tenders and see where everything is up to at each stage of them as I go through. It’s incredibly simple and organised, allowing me to access all of the latest information that’s coming through from suppliers and I can see where everybody is during the entire process.” Simon Toplass, chief executive at Pagabo, said: “Our mission at Pagabo is to provide the industry with the best procurement processes possible, and the launch of My Pagabo really underlines this digital-first approach that is needed within the industry. “Social value is always at the heart of everything we do – and My Pagabo is no different. Users will be able to view our overall social value statistics for our network of frameworks, but the platform will also be fully integrated with Social Profit Calculator. This means that clients will be able to effectively and accurately measure the end-to-end, real life impact of their projects. “We believe that technology is there to help, not hinder us and this new platform will do a lot of the heavy lifting for our clients – saving them time, allowing them to engage with suppliers like never before, and making the whole end-to-end experience much better for clients.” Working with an independent specialist solicitor, Pagabo has put security and data protection at the forefront of activity, with terms of services, and acceptable use, privacy and cookie policies all in place to protect the data of all users. The platform will be free to use for all Pagabo clients. For more information about My Pagabo, please visit https://www.mypagabo.co.uk/.
Research by national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has revealed that despite Covid causing a -38% year on year decrease due to lockdown restrictions, the property market in England and Wales still rallied to see a total of £171.7bn worth of residential property sold in 2020. Keller Williams analysed all residential property sales to complete via the Land Registry between January and December of last year, to see just what impact the current stamp duty holiday has had on the market. The research shows that in 2020, a total sum of £171.7bn worth of residential property was sold across England and Wales. An extremely respectable performance given the tricky landscape posed by the pandemic, although this is a marked decline on the £2.8bn sold in 2019. Highest sum of property sold When it comes to the most valuable pockets of the property market, London takes the silver gold and bronze. Westminster saw the highest sum of property sold prices, with £2.9bn worth of residential bricks and mortar sold in 2020. Kensington and Chelsea came second with £2.7bn worth of property sold, while Wandsworth was the third most valuable home selling hotspot with a total of £2.5bn worth of property selling last year. However, London far from dominates the top 20 most valuable areas of the property market in England and Wales. With a total of almost £2bn in property sold over the last year, Cornwall is the most valuable market outside of the capital. Birmingham also ranked high with £1.8bn in property sales throughout 2020. Leeds (£1.75bn) Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (£1.7bn), Wiltshire (£1.5bn), Bristol (£1.45bn), Dorset (£1.45bn) and Cheshire East (£1.4bn) also ranked as some of the most valuable areas of the property market outside of London. CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented: “Despite the radical market turn around spurred by the reopening of the property sector and the introduction of a stamp duty holiday, Covid has clearly had a lasting impact on the market in 2020. While the average house price has surged this year, a -38% reduction in the total value of property sold demonstrates the detrimental impact the pandemic had on market activity over the last year. This is even more significant when you consider that it’s compared with a 2019 market that was already operating sluggishly due to Brexit uncertainty. However, when considering all of these factors, it makes the late rally shown by the property market in the wake of a stamp duty holiday introduction all the more impressive. To think that this market revival still saw £171.7bn worth of residential property sold in what is a relatively short period of time is actually quite remarkable.” England and Wales 2019 2020 Change Total sum of property sold £277,490,140,743 £171,670,833,785 -38% Data sourced from the Land Registry Sold Price Records (Jan 2020 to Dec 2020) Table shows the top 20 areas to have seen the largest sold price sum of property sold District Median sold price Total sum of property sold CITY OF WESTMINSTER £950,000 £2,943,088,454 KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA £1,270,000 £2,686,441,764 WANDSWORTH £655,000 £2,514,098,748 CORNWALL £240,000 £1,984,888,965 CAMDEN £780,000 £1,856,469,571 BIRMINGHAM £180,000 £1,770,788,359 LEEDS £185,000 £1,754,133,158 BROMLEY £460,000 £1,747,027,590 BOURNEMOUTH, CHRISTCHURCH AND POOLE £290,000 £1,719,482,316 BARNET £540,000 £1,699,882,208 LAMBETH £550,000 £1,691,080,834 RICHMOND UPON THAMES £676,000 £1,609,154,142 HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM £765,000 £1,544,470,757 WILTSHIRE £270,000 £1,534,911,451 CITY OF BRISTOL £285,000 £1,454,265,744 DORSET £299,000 £1,451,908,502 CHESHIRE EAST £220,000 £1,406,148,108 CROYDON £390,000 £1,310,803,894 ELMBRIDGE £600,000 £1,278,730,756 SOUTHWARK £532,000 £1,194,475,137 Data sourced from the Land Registry Sold Price Records (Jan 2020 to Dec 2020)
The campaign for the government to ditch reverse charge VAT is mounting with the Federation of Master Builders, FMB, claiming two-thirds of SMEs believing it will damage cash flow. Scottish National Party MP Kirsten Oswald has already tabled an early day motion calling for the controversial new regime to be dropped. FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “This is a damaging policy being introduced at the worst possible time for builders. By removing the flow of VAT money between businesses in the construction supply chain, four in ten builders say this will have a ‘significant or moderate’ impact on their cash flow.” The new regime was to have gone live in October 2019 but was deferred to 1st March 2021 following industry lobbying. The new policy means no-one in the supply chain can invoice for VAT and pass the money on later to the tax office. Build UK has told the government that many SMEs are fighting to consolidate their cash flow following the pandemic and the effects of leaving the EU. It has set up a Twitter hashtag #StopReverseVAT to channel responses from affected construction companies. The organisation calculates that for companies that submit quarterly VAT returns they will need an extra five per cent of annual sales to compensate for the loss of cash flow. Firms who submit monthly returns will need an extra three per cent of annual sales. “The introduction of the charge at this time will put jobs and businesses at risk and may result in companies that survived the Covid-19 outbreak and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU being undone by this additional burden,” said Build UK deputy chief executive Jo Fautley. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said that property development lenders would be there to support SMEs experiencing cash flow hardship. Licensing builders holds key to tackling fraud The new policy is being introduced to tackle missing trader scams where fraudsters import goods VAT-free from other countries and then sell to domestic buyers charging them VAT. City Lofts London director Deepak Sing Udassi believes a mandatory licensing scheme for the construction industry would be a better means for tackling the issue. “Due to the little to no regulation in the industry, rogue traders are able to operate freely, to the detriment of consumers and reputable businesses like mine. “Licensing would also drive-up standards, professionalism and the reputation of the industry, which is clearly not well regarded across Whitehall as demonstrated by this punitive policy.” Elland and Steel Structures Ltd managing director Mark Denham said: “If this initiative is applied from 1t March, it will be the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for many sub-contractors both big and small. “Reverse VAT penalises good honest companies that have continually paid their VAT on time.” Build UK is calling on all firms in the supply chain to write to their MPs to request support for the forthcoming early day motion.