Construction works are progressing well on ‘The Yacht Club’ – an exclusive 81-home development on the banks of the river Trent, by Leeds-based developer KMRE Group Ltd. Situated in a prime waterside location to the south of Trent Lane, The Yacht Club will offer residents panoramic views of the river
Caddick Construction has been appointed to start work on the Warrington Youth Zone project, which will bring state-of-the-art sports and social facilities to young people from across local area. Construction will begin on the £6.9 million facility, designed by Seven Architecture, later this month. It is being delivered by national
Industry insight report from ARMSA Academy proposes a new decision-making philosophy to unlock safer and more productive projects Wind companies leaving money on the table by treating digitalisation as the sole route to project optimisation Report marks official launch of ARMSA Academy, a digital performance support platform to help wind
More than 30 renewable energy, heating and insulation companies have won places on a new £800 million energy efficiency framework for the public sector. The Energy Efficiency Measures and Associated Works (N8) framework from public sector procurement experts LHC allows local authorities, social landlords and other public bodies to source
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the UK, tradespeople are among those who have been advised they are still able to work under the national restrictions that came into effect on 5 November, including working in and around people’s homes. The news is certainly positive for the construction industry
A GROUNDBREAKING new collaboration aimed at transforming the future of the UK’s construction industry can be unveiled today. National framework provider Pagabo has forged a research agreement with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), aiming to together challenge current methods in the construction sector, and pioneer fresh
GRAHAM has been awarded a contract by THG, the global technology platform company, specialising in taking brands direct to consumers, to complete the interior fit-out of its ICON Studios and ICON Offices at Airport City in Manchester. The privately-owned fit-out contractor will help to create 376,000 sq. ft. of high
The British Occupational Hygiene Society, a scientific charity and chartered body for worker health protection has responded to the publication of the latest statistics on Health and Safety Executive with a call for a radical overhaul of the UK’s approach to Occupational Health, calling instead for a “Sustainable Workplace Health
Caddick Construction, part of the Yorkshire-based Caddick Group, has completed on the £154m Moda Angel Gardens B2R scheme in Manchester. Caddick has officially handed over the 35-storey neighbourhood to Moda Living, the flagship development in Moda’s growing £2.5bn portfolio. Caddick Construction originally took over the contract in 2018, just months
A London South Bank University (LSBU) student has won a prestigious Construction Services Apprentice of the year award at the BAME Apprenticeships Awards 2020. A second, female engineering LSBU apprentice has also been highly commended. Romario Cazaubon, who is currently enrolled on a five-year Quantity Surveying degree apprenticeship with Mace
Construction works are progressing well on ‘The Yacht Club’ – an exclusive 81-home development on the banks of the river Trent, by Leeds-based developer KMRE Group Ltd. Situated in a prime waterside location to the south of Trent Lane, The Yacht Club will offer residents panoramic views of the river and The Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay. Within easy reach of Nottingham city centre and West Bridgford, The Yacht Club sits adjacent to the River Crescent, Pelham Waterside and Trent Basin residential schemes, in the rapidly changing Colwick area known as Riverside. One, two and three-bedroom apartments are available, including penthouses, and prices start from £310,000 to £550,000. FHP Living has been appointed as the selling agent and interested parties can contact Steve Parker or Joe Hargreaves for information and viewings. Just over a mile from the city centre, the contemporary development – which boasts all apartments with balcony’s looking on to the river – is already at 40% sold, and is on the site of the former Park Yacht Inn, located in one of the most peaceful riverside settings in the city. In close proximity to Nottingham Forest F. C’s City Ground, Notts County Football Club on Meadow Lane and Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – the development sits in a great location for sports fans, whilst being closely situated to the amenities of the city and West Bridgford. Speculative plans have been put forward for a pedestrian footbridge to be built over the River Trent in the next couple of years, to cater to the burgeoning waterside residential communities, linking the riverside area to Lady Bay. Construction works involve a phased completion, with the first practical completion in March 2021, and a full handover of the site expected by summer 2021. The development comprises three stand-alone buildings, with each of the 81 apartments benefitting from large panoramic windows and its own balcony or terrace, with stunning views up and down the river. Penthouses have distinctively larger living spaces with underfloor heating, superior tiled floors and sweeping terraces boasting optimal views of the River Trent and Nottingham skyline. There will also be attractive outdoor spaces and footpaths along the river to the front of the buildings for residents to enjoy. A show suite will be available for private viewings from the end of November, enabling interested buyers to get a glimpse into the exclusive waterside lifestyle that The Yacht Club has to offer. It will also provide the first opportunity for confirmed buyers to personalise and upgrade apartments – with bespoke options to choose from for interior décor, fixtures and fittings. As well as sweeping riverside views, onsite parking for every apartment and vibrant outdoor communal spaces, all apartments will be finished to the finest quality, using high spec fixtures and fittings. Kam Mogul, managing director at KMRE Group Ltd, said: “We are extremely proud to be delivering this flagship residential scheme, providing the finest quality spacious homes, many with panoramic views of the River Trent, in an idyllic waterside location. “These homes boast unrivalled picturesque views of the water and the tranquil Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay, and are a pivotal part of the ongoing waterfront regeneration on the banks of the River Trent, offering a premium waterside living experience with a community feel, that really connects you with nature. “During these challenging times, we remain completely committed to the Nottingham market and construction works at The Yacht Club are progressing on track, with the show home due to open in the next few weeks for appointments with interested buyers.” “This is the first of our landmark ‘Southern Gateway’ developments in Nottingham, which also includes the 62-apartment Hindle House residential scheme.” Steve Parker, director at the selling agent, FHP Living, said: “With stunning waterside views, in a serene yet central location, The Yacht Club will provide the ultimate waterside lifestyle. “The development is in a great location on the banks of the river Trent and is within walking distance of local amenities, including East Point Retail Park – which includes an Aldi and Costa Coffee – and the beautiful Colwick Country Park. Within just five minutes’ drive is Victoria Retail Park, which boasts an M&S Foodhall, Next, Boots and many other popular retailers.” Fellow director at FHP Living, David Hargreaves, said: “We are pleased to see how quickly the building works are now progressing, particularly through these difficult times of lockdown. Now more than ever people are looking for homes close to nature, with outside space and scope to work from home, and being on the banks of the river, there is an abundance of nature on your doorstep at The Yacht Club. “The development is a welcome addition to the Riverside area and the team at FHP Living are looking forward to showing potential owner occupiers and investors around the new show suite shortly.” For enquiries, please call FHP Living on 0115 8411155.
Caddick Construction has been appointed to start work on the Warrington Youth Zone project, which will bring state-of-the-art sports and social facilities to young people from across local area. Construction will begin on the £6.9 million facility, designed by Seven Architecture, later this month. It is being delivered by national charity OnSide Youth Zones which has created a network of Youth Zones across the country. These provide unrivalled facilities for young people to go to and enjoy arts, sports, learn new skills, or just meet friends and have someone to talk to. Located in the stadium quarter next to the University Technical College (UTC) off Dallam Lane, Warrington Youth Zone will offer an indoor climbing wall, 3G kick pitch, four court sports hall, dance and drama studio, training kitchen, arts and crafts space, fully equipped gym, music room with recording studio and enterprise suite. Once fully open, more than 20 activities will be on offer for up to 250 young people every night of the week. Warrington Youth Zone will be OnSide’s 12th new Youth Zone project and follows the recently opened Hideout Youth Zone in Gorton, in East Manchester. Adam Poyner, Head of Construction for OnSide Youth Zones, said “It’s great to see another Youth Zone project join OnSide’s ever-growing network of much-needed Youth Zone facilities across the country, which provide opportunities and raise aspirations for young people from all backgrounds.” Ian Threadgold, Managing Director of Caddick Construction NW said: “The Youth Zone is specially designed to stand out and provide a visible landmark that will attract and inspire the young people who will enjoy and benefit from the many activities. It is a 21st Century facility that is so far removed from the old youth clubs we probably remember growing up with.” The project team consists of Seven Architecture, HL Engineers, Hurstwood Environmental Consulting and Walker Sime.
Industry insight report from ARMSA Academy proposes a new decision-making philosophy to unlock safer and more productive projects Wind companies leaving money on the table by treating digitalisation as the sole route to project optimisation Report marks official launch of ARMSA Academy, a digital performance support platform to help wind industry professionals reduce levelised costs A new industry insight report from ARMSA Academy has found that the wind industry’s drive to digitalise asset management risks obscuring an equally effective route to achieving optimal project returns: improving human performance. Released today, The Great Leap Forward draws on interviews with experts from across the wind industry. It says that, in an industry obsessed with asset performance and marginal gains, companies invest too little in human skills that help projects run optimally, or they instead invest in training methods that are ineffective. In parallel, a majority of companies continue to invest heavily in the use of digital technology to optimise mechanical assets. Amid growing pressure to run leaner projects, it is digitalisation that dominates when operators look at ways to increase profit margins. Companies are more concerned with finding ways to design humans out of their processes – via artificial intelligence and automation – than improving the skills and decision-making of the individuals at all levels in their teams. The report proposes that optimised human performance and decision-making can, if nurtured, act as a catalyst for increased availability, less turbine downtime, safer colleagues and fewer organisational silos. It comes as power sector consultancy ARMSA launches its new ARMSA Academy venture, a provider of safety-led performance support to wind professionals. ARMSA Academy’s digital performance support platform offers operators a new approach that uses technology to improve the performance of their staff at all stages of the project life cycle. Rakesh Maharaj, Managing Director of ARMSA Consulting, explains:“Conventional training approaches safety as an input; a cost of doing business. But we know that safety is an outcome of decision-making, and as such, is a lead indicator of good business performance.” “The daily decisions taken at all stages of the project life cycle have an impact on the safety and financial performance of projects. ARMSA Academy’s platform, accessible at the touch of a button, empowers individuals to cross reference those decisions, ‘in the flow of work’, against best practice and their industry peers. It’s an end to decision-making in a void.” ARMSA Academy’s programmes challenge decision-makers to consider consequence before action at all stages of the project lifecycle. The platform goes beyond the conventional and mechanical daily checklist, or the agreed set of safety procedures, by instilling a mindset of individual accountability, cross-functional integrity, performance optimisation and applied human intelligence. All trialists to have used the platform so far agreed that digital performance support can help the wind industry to further reduce levelised costs in both construction and operation. Khalida Suleymanova, Director of ARMSA Academy, said: “It’s exciting to be launching a new approach to skills development that fits, hand-in-glove, with the challenges the global wind industry itself acknowledges.” “It’s my own view that workflow learning represents the future of skills development in most industries and especially those chasing ever-leaner projects, as with wind power.” “But the theory is only as good as the tools that enable it. Our digital performance support platform is based on extensive research, as well as over a decade of direct experience promoting a philosophy of informed decision-making in the global wind industry. We’re confident it will help wind professionals to embrace active problem solving, making classroom learning a thing of the past.” You can download The Great Leap Forward industry insight report here: https://armsa.academy/thegreatleapforward/
More than 30 renewable energy, heating and insulation companies have won places on a new £800 million energy efficiency framework for the public sector. The Energy Efficiency Measures and Associated Works (N8) framework from public sector procurement experts LHC allows local authorities, social landlords and other public bodies to source specialist suppliers who can install a variety of carbon-cutting improvement measures for domestic and public buildings and can carry out any associated repairs and retrofit work. The framework is worth up to £500 million in England, £200 million in Scotland and £100 million in Wales. The regional lots cover the procurement of 21 individual energy efficiency measures across the UK as well as providing a multi-disciplinary offer. Mij Rahman, director of procurement at LHC, said: “This framework provides contracting authorities with an easier route to procure a variety of new and emerging energy efficiency technologies along with low carbon retrofit services. Implementing these efficiency measures is essential to help reduce fuel bills, improve asset value and performance, as well as delivering on our obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with the UK’s ambitious environmental targets. “There is huge interest and demand in the public sector for this work, but many councils and social housing providers need guidance and support with such technically-led procurement demands. To implement their decarbonisation plans, public authorities can take advantage of professional support, through technical and practical guidance available through the N8 framework contractors, and could also seek consultancy support from LHC’s Energy Efficiency Consultancy framework (N8C). “LHC is also here to provide its experience, through local procurement expertise and energy efficiency knowledge, which can certainly help to get best value for money locally.” The N8 framework covers a range of energy efficiency measures including: external, internal and cavity wall insulation; biomass heating systems; solar PV with battery storage; air to water heat pumps; electric vehicle charging infrastructure; solar thermal systems; building energy management systems; ground source heat pumps; commercial boilers; and electric heaters. The full list of appointed companies in alphabetical order is: A C Whyte (Scotland) Aaron Services Absolute Solar & Wind AD Construction Group (Architectural Decorators Ltd) AES Alisa Building Amaresco Aran Services Ltd BCA Insulation Limited (Scotland) Breyer Group British Gas Social Housing CCG Scotland (Scotland) Crystal Electronics Custom Solar Ltd E.On (Midlands) Easy Heat Systems Limited Engie Everwarm Gibson Specialist (Wales) Insulated Render Systems (Scotland) Ltd Ivor Cook K&T Heating Kensa Lawtech Low Carbon Exchange Mi-Space MP Group U K Limited SERS Energy Solutions (Scotland) Limited Sure Maintenance Sustainable Building Services (UK) Limited Swarco UK Ltd Synergize Ltd The Casey Group Thermal Earth Ltd (Wales) United Living (South) Zing Energy www.lhc.gov.uk
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the UK, tradespeople are among those who have been advised they are still able to work under the national restrictions that came into effect on 5 November, including working in and around people’s homes. The news is certainly positive for the construction industry and homeowners in England, as it means people can take advantage of the new Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, which will see the Government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of energy-efficient home improvements. The scheme is a key part of the UK’s green economic recovery following the pandemic. However, only TrustMark Registered Businesses can do work under the Government’s new scheme, meaning tradespeople and businesses who are not registered could be missing out on work. Simon Ayers, Chief Executive of TrustMark, explains, “There are certain steps that must be completed in order to become a Green Homes Grant installer. Firstly, the businesses must hold a PAS 2030 certification and/or MCS certification for low carbon installations, which can be achieved through UKAS accredited certification bodies. “They must also register with TrustMark which in turn, will allow them to register with the Government’s scheme administrator as a Green Homes Grant installer. “There are thousands of UK customers looking for someone to carry out work under the scheme right now, so it’s most certainly worth businesses getting involved.” The levels of work that will be created over the next decade to improve the homes we live in means a sustainable and growth driven market for businesses to operate within, an investment with rewards. To communicate this message, TrustMark has created a number of assets to make it easier for businesses to become Green Homes Grant installers, outlining the steps in more detail at: www.trustmark.org.uk/ghgvsopp And, since the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, the Government and industry have worked hard to ensure written safety guidelines are in place. To keep everyone safe, TrustMark, has created Work Safe Safe Work: a three-part guide to help customersknow what to do before, while and after they have tradespeople working for them. “We know that many people have reservations about what is expected of them and what they need to do while the work is taking place to ensure it’s safe. That’s why we would recommend tradespeople send out the Work Safe Safe Work guide to their customers at least 48 hours prior to the work being done”, says Simon Ayers. “In providing such clear and simple information, the guide will keep both tradespeople and customers safe, while giving them confidence in this new reality we are finding ourselves in.” For further information, please visit TrustMark’s dedicated Green Homes Grant page for trades: www.trustmark.org.uk/ghgvsopp.
A GROUNDBREAKING new collaboration aimed at transforming the future of the UK’s construction industry can be unveiled today. National framework provider Pagabo has forged a research agreement with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), aiming to together challenge current methods in the construction sector, and pioneer fresh ideas and innovations that embrace new technology and advanced manufacturing methods. Joining them in the venture are C4DI, the Hull-based incubator company that promotes growth in tech businesses, specialist data centre company Yondr and industry leader Lord Bob Kerslake. Just a few weeks into the new relationship, vital research into harnessing technology to streamline health and safety methods on construction sites is already under way. Gerard Toplass, executive chairman of Pagabo, said: “Everyone agrees that construction is a sector that has been left behind in terms of new ways of working and innovation. Many methods in construction have been used for decades. “What we want to do as a group is to totally shake up the construction sector – and create real change to drive economic growth and establish the UK as a global innovator.” He said that Hull-based Pagabo was so committed to the use of new methods that it had created The Future of Construction (TFOC) initiative to drive industry-wide collaboration to shape the sector’s future. “It’s vital that we think about the industry as a whole and how we can promote new technologies to improve how we do things,” he explained. “The construction sector needs a revolutionary moment – similar to the aerospace industry when it created the ‘black box’. “This new collaboration between Pagabo and the AMRC will bring the sector together, unify common objectives and drive forward real change. We will be building an enterprise that seeks to leverage new techniques, innovation and automation. “We intend to build on the government’s agenda for value, procuring for value and its ‘build, build, build’ initiative. But we also want to foster a new way of doing this that future-proofs the construction sector, secures jobs and builds sustainably – with economic, social and environmental processes in mind.” The University of Sheffield AMRC is a network of world-leading research and innovation centres that work with manufacturing companies of all sizes around the globe. It has particular strengths in the automotive and aerospace industries. Its pioneering research develops innovative methods that are of practical use to the manufacturing industry. The organisation transforms industrial and economic performance by making step changes in productivity, increasing competitiveness, developing new products and processes and training new talent and skills. Steve Foxley, CEO of the University of Sheffield AMRC, said: “We see construction as a wildly exciting and opportunity-filled industry to benefit from our learnings over the past 20 years. “We want to work closely with Pagabo to create a real catalyst for change. Pagabo has a unique and important role within the industry as a framework provider and has influence across a wider portion of the industry via its ecosystem of contractors and supply chain partners. “We will be learning from the automotive and aerospace industries and seeing where we can adapt methods and innovations that would work in the construction sector. “We want to look at areas like enterprise architecture, the future of buildings in a digital world, and how standards and interfaces will enable the digital world in construction.” Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, is a non-executive chairman of Pagabo who helped forge its relationship with the AMRC, seeing an opportunity to transform the construction sector through the sharing of expertise and collaboration. “Research and development remains low in construction,” he said. “And there is very little collaboration on this among key players in the industry. Combined, we want to make a real and transformational difference in construction within the next ten years.” He said one of the biggest objectives was to feed into the government’s levelling up agenda to create a more level economic playing field across the UK. “This is a project which sees innovation and development and research in the construction sector happening up north, in Sheffield and in Hull, with a huge focus and drive for economic growth. This new collaboration between Pagabo and the AMRC is hugely powerful.” John Connolly, managing director of C4Di, said the research agreement is powerful because of the way it will accelerate new ways of partnering on innovation. He said: “There are interesting models of innovation happening around the country, but the AMRC is the exemplar of how to bring large industry bodies together. Their experience harnessing the mental horsepower of large academic institutions and collaborating with industry to drive change is incredibly exciting. “This new research agreement benefits everyone. Leveraging learning and experience from the AMRC, and Pagabo’s connections within construction is a formidable force. The AMRC brought large industry players together to solve their challenges and Pagabo and its TFOC model builds on that; this is an exciting next step to extend the work of both organisations through collaboration.” Dave Newitt, CEO of Yondr, the specialist data centre operator, is involved with Pagabo and its TFOC initiative. He said: “We believe that construction has a great deal to learn from manufacturing,” he said. “We want to look at modularisation and taking works off-site – so, building off site rather than on site. It’s how the manufacturing world operates, and we want to emulate that to improve productivity.” Professor Rab Scott, head of digital at the AMRC, said that in just four weeks, the new collaboration had already created change. “We have already started working with Pagabo on health and safety on site and looking at ways of using digital technologies to streamline processes. In terms of results, if we can prevent one accident or one hour’s lost time, it has an immediate benefit, and our work is immediately scalable. “The diversity in the team is one of the great things that makes me get up in the morning. We are proud of what we are
GRAHAM has been awarded a contract by THG, the global technology platform company, specialising in taking brands direct to consumers, to complete the interior fit-out of its ICON Studios and ICON Offices at Airport City in Manchester. The privately-owned fit-out contractor will help to create 376,000 sq. ft. of high specification office and studio space spread over the 12-acre landmark business campus, adjacent to the UK’s third biggest airport. THG will be the anchor occupier of this development, with the content creation studio sitting at the heart of the ICON development, where THG will continue building its unique end-to-end ecommerce infrastructure, THG Ingenuity, as well as office space to house approximately 3,000 employees. Designed by Penson, the fit-out programme begins in November, and is scheduled for handover in May 2021. Commenting on the contract award Sue Blanche, GRAHAM Development Director, said: “THG is a truly global e-commerce company based in Manchester and is investing heavily in job creation across the region. We are delighted to be playing our part in this investment, ensuring a high-quality interior fit-out of studio and office space for this brand’s talented team of people.” GRAHAM’s appointment by THG follows its continued expansion across the north of England region. The leading fit-out contractor was recently appointed to fit-out Qiagen’s world-leading precision medicine campus, and is presently delivering Leeds Building Society’s new headquarters in Leeds City Centre.
The British Occupational Hygiene Society, a scientific charity and chartered body for worker health protection has responded to the publication of the latest statistics on Health and Safety Executive with a call for a radical overhaul of the UK’s approach to Occupational Health, calling instead for a “Sustainable Workplace Health Strategies” for each of the UK’s nations. The figures released by Great Britain’s regulator highlight the loss of over £10.6 billion to British industry, almost 40 million days lost to illness and 12,000 deaths a year from work-related lung disease alone. The Society is particularly concerned that despite years of effort to address respiratory illness, the decline in the number of deaths over the last decade has not been significant. Indeed, it points out that deaths from Interstitial Lung Disease are actually on the increase. The figures, which were compiled from data that was collected before the COVID-19 crisis, lead the Society to be extremely worried that the current virus may be sharpening and deepening the impact of long-term health exposure, based on research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. That research, released early in the pandemic, highlighted a number of diseases with strong occupational links to poorer outcomes for COVID-19 patients. The Society is calling for a rethink of the current approach that invests heavily in trying to treat occupational illness and disproportionately focuses on safety. Instead, the Society believes that prevention of health risk as part of national strategies for “Sustainable Workplace Health” is required. In every other environment, we have come to understand that prevention, long-term thinking and sustainability are key to effective measures. However, within the workplace, we are still thinking in a short-term way. It simply does not make sense to carry on with an investment in occupational health that ignores the vital importance of preventing risks to health in the first place. For example, in construction we think about the carbon footprint of building materials and even the welfare on site, yet we still plan to build in a way that generates cancer-causing construction dusts and then have to deal with the consequences. The figures speak for themselves. says the Society’s President Kelvin Williams. “There is so much focus on the immediate hazards that we miss the big dangers that are looming for us in the future and the huge opportunity we have to enable people to age well, not to be dependent on sickness benefits and work without fear.” The Society calls for a national dialogue and government focus on: Designing out health risks at work; Focusing research on prevention and control of workplace health hazards; Using an understanding of human factors and their role in helping people manage their own health protection at work; Targeting enhanced occupational health services to those who need it most; Embedding occupational hygiene and occupational medicine in mainstream healthcare training and education; Working with healthcare to develop a whole life strategy for managing occupational health & occupational hygiene exposures. “People would be surprised that in the 21st century, we are still missing obvious opportunities to curb the risk of being exposed to common hazards. We can so easily avoid so many cruel illnesses that will rob thousands of the loved ones and cost the country billions in benefits, healthcare costs and lost work, says BOHS CEO Kevin Bampton. “At a time where the country’s finances are likely to be stretched for decades because of the cost of COVID-19, we need to be planning to avoid a continuing legacy of avoidable ill-health. The measures don’t need to cost employers or the government more. It just requires a different mindset. We find the case for sustainability in every aspect of our lives. It’s time it was a central feature of our Workplace Health Strategies across the UK’s nations.” BOHS is relaunching its industry partnership campaign on respiratory illness, Breathe Freely. Over the next six months, it is releasing new training and educational materials to raise awareness of health risks in construction and manufacturing and will be releasing a White Paper, early in the New Year, outlining the case for Sustainable Workplace Health. The Society’s intention is to influence government and industry to plan for a healthy future for all workers. “For many people, the workplace is the environment where we spend most of our waking lives. Lockdown has highlighted that how and where we work can be different,” comments Mr Williams who has led much of the Society’s response to coronavirus. “COVID-19 has demonstrated that this is the place in our lives where our exposure to health hazards can be most effectively regulated. It does not take a great amount of imagination to envisage UK becoming the global leader in Sustainable Workplace Health Technology and Practice, based on what we have achieved over the period of the pandemic. That would be a worthwhile legacy of this painful time in our history.”
Caddick Construction, part of the Yorkshire-based Caddick Group, has completed on the £154m Moda Angel Gardens B2R scheme in Manchester. Caddick has officially handed over the 35-storey neighbourhood to Moda Living, the flagship development in Moda’s growing £2.5bn portfolio. Caddick Construction originally took over the contract in 2018, just months into the build after incumbents Carillion went into liquidation. Caddick’s intervention kept the scheme open and also helped safeguard 500 jobs. The build-to-rent project remains one of the largest outside of London and also includes 20,000 sq. ft of commercial space. Originally built on the site of Manchester’s first steam-powered cotton mill, Moda Angel Gardens now offers 466 high quality homes, ranging from studios to three-beds. Residents also have access to shared amenities including: a 24-hour gym and concierge service, parking, communal lounges including a library, cinema room and private dining room, co-working space and a multi-use roof terrace including a football pitch. On the corner of Miller Street and Rochdale Road, it sits across from Victoria Station and forms a key part of the exciting 20-acre NOMA neighbourhood in the city centre. Adrian Dobson, Caddick Construction’s Managing Director, said: “This has been a momentous scheme in every sense; from its size and quality of the build right through to the physical contribution it is making on a gateway district of Manchester’s city centre. “We are delighted to be able to hand over this prestigious project and the final result is testament to the team who have worked incredibly hard to deliver a truly iconic neighbourhood. He added: “Caddick Construction continues to grow its residential portfolio across the North and despite 2020 being an unprecedented year for the industry, we are confident there is still much to look forward to.” Architects were Ryder Architecture Ltd, with structural engineering provided by Burohappold Engineering. Quantity surveyors were Spring & Co Ltd.
A London South Bank University (LSBU) student has won a prestigious Construction Services Apprentice of the year award at the BAME Apprenticeships Awards 2020. A second, female engineering LSBU apprentice has also been highly commended. Romario Cazaubon, who is currently enrolled on a five-year Quantity Surveying degree apprenticeship with Mace Group, took the top prize for Construction Services apprentice. Dionne Alder, who is enrolled on a Civil Engineering apprenticeship with Southwark Council as her employer, received a ‘highly commended’ from the judges. Both students are studying part-time on their respective degree courses at LSBU’s School of Architecture and the Built Environment (BEA), while completing their apprenticeships. LSBU is one of the leading UK universities for apprenticeships with currently around 2000 apprentices enrolled, working for over 650 employers. LSBU currently offers a variety of apprenticeships with employer sponsors, across a range of sectors – from building services, engineering and chartered planning to nursing, screen skills, management and digital marketing. Since apprenticeship schemes were first introduced at LSBU four years ago, the University has enrolled over half (51%) of all apprentices from a BAME/multi-ethnic background: 16% black, 27% Asian, and 8% mixed race. Of these applicants, 43% are female, working in typically male-dominated professions, such as building services and engineering, as well as typically female dominated professions such as healthcare (55%). In 2019-2020, out of a total of 1600 LSBU apprentices, 38% degree/higher apprentices were women, with 28% studying for careers in architecture, building services and planning (17% in quantity surveying, 9% in engineering, 6% in architecture and 6% in chartered planning) with 7% in business management. Alison May, Group Director of Apprenticeships at LSBU, said: “It’s very exciting to hear that our Quantity Surveying student Romario Cazaubon has won Construction Apprentice of the Year Award at the BAME Apprenticeships Award 2020. And it’s great news that Civil Engineering undergraduate, Dionne Alder, has been ‘highly commended’ in the same category. “For LSBU, one of our apprentices winning this award is further proof that the University excels at setting up graduates for successful future careers.” The BAME Apprenticeship Awards 2020 were presented at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday 11 November.