Located along the Vltava river, Prague’s Dancing House is a hotspot for tourists and admirers of architecture. While its sloping structure gives the illusion that the building is dancing, the design offers nothing in the way of structural benefit. But would a building without such an eye-catching design feature gain
More than 50 suppliers have won a place on a major new consultancy framework following one of the most competitive procurement exercises ever held by the Council. The move is expected to unlock up to £95m in architectural, engineering and project management contracts over the next four years – helping
A new survey by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Close Brothers Property Finance One of the most comprehensive surveys of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) housebuilders, conducted by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Close Brothers Property Finance, has found that: Two thirds of SME housebuilders (65%) have said
Diets that are low in carbohydrates have been gaining lots of traction all around the globe for years. This makes a lot of sense as well. That’s due to the fact that they are linked to a host of significant health advantages. If you don’t eat a lot of carbs
Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, has commented on the potential impact of a second lockdown on the construction industry: “With rising case numbers and hospital admissions, the announcement of a second national lockdown was perhaps inevitable, but businesses will be hit hard once again. However,
Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd (LMB) has appointed Mike Hampton as Commercial Director to head up their new regional office based in Thorpe Park, Leeds. Mike is a seasoned industry executive who brings 20 years of masonry experience in the north and midlands to the business. Mike comments: “The opportunity to
No matter where you are in the world, you have likely been impacted somehow by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe you know someone who contracted it. Maybe it’s impacted your job or the career of someone you love. While some parts of the globe are seeing yet another surge, there are
Perega continues to demonstrate its structural engineering expertise in the retail sector, providing expert consultancy to Adidas for their latest UK outlet: an ultra-immersive store on London’s bustling Oxford Street. When it came to the design and build of its new West End outlet, which received a coveted accolade at
Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has completed the latest phase of works on the expansion and renovation of King Edward VI School in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Comprising two phases of works led by G F Tomlinson for Staffordshire County Council under the Staffordshire Construction framework, the project involves the delivery of
RFM Group, the property maintenance company, is rolling out a high tech mobile workforce management system. Supplied by BigChange, the cloud-based system provides a complete business solution incorporating back office management software that synchronises in real time with rugged tablets used by RFM’s mobile workforce. BigChange provides is a single platform CRM,
Located along the Vltava river, Prague’s Dancing House is a hotspot for tourists and admirers of architecture. While its sloping structure gives the illusion that the building is dancing, the design offers nothing in the way of structural benefit. But would a building without such an eye-catching design feature gain the same appreciation? Here, Nick Cowley, managing director at exterior cladding and outdoor living product supplier Endurawood, explains how cladding can take building design to new levels. Cladding has been popular in the construction industry for decades. It offers many benefits including thermal insulation, weatherproofing and protection of the building’s structure. Cladding does not support the structure of a building, but instead acts as a second skin to the exterior. The National BIM Library (NBS) categorises cladding into categories such as H10 for patent glazing, H21 for timber weatherboarding and H51 for natural stone slab features. While cladding offers a range of practical benefits, its design potential is often overlooked. All a façade Apart from adding style and colour to a building’s design, cladding can also be used as an architectural enhancement. Building design is important and, particularly for high rise structures, it can be difficult to distinguish one building from the next. Cladding can transform a usually overlooked building intoan eye-catching display. While cladding is traditionally applied to the entire exterior of the building, it can be used to decorate and accentuate specific areas. A façade is a simple addition that can dramatically improve the appearance of a building. For example, The Center for Wellbeing in Edinburgh, Scotland used timber cladding to create a 3D façade of the organisation’s name, Thistle. The façade creates an exterior that provides a friendly welcome, just like the staff on the inside. Low maintenance Unlike other common exterior finishes such as pebbledash or paint, which can become tarnished from weather conditions, cladding is built to last. As one of the main purposes of installing cladding is to provide a weatherproof barrier for the building, cladding must be able to withstand harsh weather conditions. While some cladding materials are naturally more durable than others, they still require additional treatments to increase their durability. These treatments can vary depending on the material. Aluminium cladding from Endurawood is corrosion, freeze and frost resistant and non-porous. Aluminium reacts with oxygen in the air, which forms a thin layer of oxide on the surface of the material. This works to eradicate corrosion caused by moisture, pollution and mould growth, which reduces maintenance and costs, maintaining the building’s design. Refurb over replace Typically, some building refurbishments require a substantial amount of work when undergoing upgrades. However, minor refurbishments to the exterior can be resolved with cladding. Using cladding to refurb is a quick way to improve the appearance of a building. Building Abseiling techniques allows virtually any job to be carried out by our experienced technicians on buildings or structures without the need for expensive and disruptive methods, such as scaffolding or cradles Cladding is versatile enough to be applied by a homeowner or installer for larger projects and is usually applied with ease, which means it’s ideal for both home and large-scale refurbishments. Without its unique design, it’s unlikely that the Czech capital’s dancing landmark would attract as many tourists as it does today. While architects must always consider the structural performance of building materials, design remains an important consideration. Alongside its weatherproofing and insulation benefits, cladding can help take building design to new levels.
More than 50 suppliers have won a place on a major new consultancy framework following one of the most competitive procurement exercises ever held by the Council. The move is expected to unlock up to £95m in architectural, engineering and project management contracts over the next four years – helping to boost the local economy beyond Covid-19 and support the delivery of state-of-the-art new schools, early years centres, sports facilities and affordable homes for residents across the Capital. The inclusion for the first time of Passivhaus Architects in this framework will ensure that new buildings are energy efficient and that the city’s net zero carbon by 2030 target sits at the heart of all capital projects, while the Council’s commitment to prioritising small business spending has resulted in more than 70% of successful bidders being SMEs. Every supplier is also committed to paying the Living Wage and carrying out community benefits as part of any work they secure. Following approval from members of the Finance and Resources Committee today (Thursday 29 October), plans for the Professional Services Framework will be finalised in the coming weeks. Councillor Rob Munn, Finance and Resources Convener, said: “With over 180 bidders vying for a place, this is one of the biggest procurement exercises we’ve ever undertaken as a Council. “We have an ambitious capital investment programme to make sure we build the schools, homes and community facilities Edinburgh needs for the future, and I’m confident that the successful suppliers we have listed offer the right mix of expertise to help us deliver on our aims. “At a time when the Council faces great financial pressures, the flexibility offered by the new approach is also expected to generate efficiencies of more than £10 million over four years.” Councillor Joan Griffiths, Vice Finance and Resources Convener, said: “The commitment of everyone under this framework to provide the Living Wage and put energy efficiency and community benefits at the centre of construction projects in Edinburgh is an important step and will help us make sure we work with our consultants to the benefit of local neighbourhoods. “Now more than ever we need to put plans in place for a fair economic recovery – both on businesses and their employees, and on the future of our planet – so I’m pleased that we’ve also been able to secure so many quality SME suppliers. This has been a challenging time for the industry but the investment we’ll be making in Edinburgh’s future can support employment too.”
A new survey by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Close Brothers Property Finance One of the most comprehensive surveys of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) housebuilders, conducted by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Close Brothers Property Finance, has found that: Two thirds of SME housebuilders (65%) have said their growth projections are down due to COVID-19 – close to 40% report growth to be down by up to 50% 76% of SMEs use Help to Buy and the new regional thresholds are expected to prove to be a major barrier, with a number of respondents highlighting challenges in their specific regions (case studies included) Planning delays and securing permission remain a major barrier to housing delivery over the next 12 months, according to 83% of respondents. Full survey findings are listed below and the full report can be viewed here. Frank Pennal, CEO of Close Brothers Property Finance, comments: “The threat to SME housebuilders following the COVID-19 pandemic is clear, and we now have to act to reverse the decline of this vitally important part of the housing market. Not only do SME housebuilders provide a training ground for young apprentices and trainees, they are the lifeblood of regional property markets and safeguard diversity of design, skills and craftmanship within the industry. This research underlines the need to support and protect SME housebuilders, which have consistently demonstrated their value when it comes to economic growth and directly supporting the local communities and micro-markets in which they operate.” Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman, HBF, comments: “As we look to boost housing supply post the coronavirus lockdown it is vital we support SME builders such that they can play their part. Increased bureaucracy and regulation and a harsh operating environment has seen the number of SME builders plummet in recent decades. Government needs to work with industry to develop policies that allow SMEs to grow. Doing so will increase housing supply, create jobs and stimulate economies across the country.” Reduced growth and delivery When asked about business growth post COVID-19, nearly two thirds of respondents (65%) have said their growth projections are down. Of this figure, 39% of respondents said their growth projections are down between 10-50%, with over a quarter (26%) seeing their growth projections fall between 0-10%. Help to Buy Help to buy has been a lifeline to this part of the market with 76% of the survey respondents using the initiative on 39% of their new homes sales (mean average). The hiatus of construction during the coronavirus lockdown and the inhibition of production capacity due to social distancing measures on sites have inevitably resulted in delays to build programmes. As such, there are thousands of property purchases at risk of falling through as they are ineligible for the new scheme; either because of the purchaser’s eligibility or because of the regional price caps that will come into effect under the new, 2021-23 Help to Buy programme. Case study: Kevin Marren, Managing Director at Eccleston Homes, located in the North West of the UK, comments: “Currently approximately 60-70% of our buyers use Help to Buy, however, under the regional caps the vast majority of our properties (probably over 90%) would fall outside of the new price banding, which is extremely low at £224,400. “At this price point, first time buyer homes in the North West will inevitably be smaller and there will be much less choice in the market. As first time buyers get older they are increasingly looking for family homes, so it’s unlikely these new regionally capped homes will appeal to buyers. “While the housing market is currently looking positive, we face having our legs cut out from under us next year, when the stamp duty holiday ends and the regional caps are introduced. We would urge the Government to increase the regional cap to £275,000, as this is in line with the market – not only providing more choice for first time buyers but also enabling the housing market to function properly.” Planning Planning continues to be a particular concern when it comes to industry growth and the delivery of homes. Indeed, 83% of respondents cited delays in securing planning permission or discharging of planning conditions by local authorities as a major barrier to increasing housing delivery over the next twelve months. With 73% of SME housebuilders seeing a lack of resource in local authority planning departments as a major barrier. (Ref. Table 1). SMEs are disproportionately affected by planning setbacks, as they may have their capital tied up in just one or two projects at a time. As a result, lengthy delays can bring their business to a halt. CBILS SME developers have had varying degrees of success in accessing the Government’s financial support measures for businesses introduced in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with some facing numerous challenges including delays, inconsistent approaches from lenders and a refusal by some to lend to the real estate sector, in their attempts to access financial support. Just over half of the respondents (53%) have tried to access supports through CBILS and of these, only 44% of respondents had been successful. Development Finance In the challenging post-Covid environment, the availability and terms on which development finance is offered to SME developers will continue to be of considerable importance. It is encouraging that development finance was rated as the lowest barrier to growth by SME housebuilders, with 41% not considering this to be a barrier to growth. (Ref. Table 1) Labour and growth A third of respondents (33%) do employ apprentices and train new employees, and they make up 19% of their workforce, on average (just under 1 in 5 employees). Nearly half (48%) of all respondents do not employ apprentices or train new employees, with 19% previously employing apprentices, but not currently.
Diets that are low in carbohydrates have been gaining lots of traction all around the globe for years. This makes a lot of sense as well. That’s due to the fact that they are linked to a host of significant health advantages. If you don’t eat a lot of carbs at all, then it may help you shed excess pounds. It may help you keep your weight in check. If you don’t consume many carbs day in and day out, then it may benefit your blood pressure. It may even do a lot for your HDL cholesterol amounts. Remember, HDL cholesterol is the “positive” kind of cholesterol. If you want to come up with six tasty low carb lunch options, these can all work like a charm. Yummy Salads There are numerous mouthwatering salad options that can do a lot for people who do not want to chow down on many carbs at all. You can nosh on an Asian noodle salad. Making this salad requires roughly 25 minutes. Round up soba noodles, chopped red bell peppers, crunchy rice noodles, sliced green onions, peeled carrots and cooked edamame beans out of their shells. You should pair this salad up with a peanut dressing that’s spicy. You can make this dressing by combining black sesame seeds, extra virgin olive oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sambal oelek and peanut butter. Veggie quinoa salad calls for ingredients such as red bell pepper, quinoa, shredded red cabbage, chopped green onions, edamame, peeled carrots, chopped basil, chopped cilantro, chopped peanuts and chopped cucumbers. If you combine all of these elements in a large salad bowl, you’re totally good to go. Cold peanut noodle salad is another low carb option for lunch. You can make this delectable salad come to life by combining red bell peppers, spaghetti, roasted and salted peanuts, cilantro, carrots, cucumber and sesame seeds. If you want to add some flair with a delightful dressing, mix lime juice, sesame oil, garlic, sriracha, ginger, honey, sauce sauce, water and peanut butter. If you’re strapped for time, you don’t have to make this salad on your own. Just take the time to explore your choices in meal delivery services such as Home Chef. Learn more about Home Chef here. Other Low Carb Pleasures for Lunch Salads aren’t the only amazing lunch options for people who simply want to steer clear of carbohydrate consumption. Try your hand at summer rolls. If you want to make these rolls, you need to gather a carrot, rice paper wrappers, sliced purple cabbage, red peppers, a cucumber, cilantro, a sliced avocado, sesame seeds, cooked shrimp and green lettuce leaves. Put your rolls in a baking pan that’s round. Immerse the paper wrappers into water that’s warm for a maximum of 20 seconds total. Put these rolls on a classic serving plate. Chicken satay lettuce wraps also are ideal for fans of food items that are low in the carb department. Be sure to get your hands on chicken breasts, three garlic cloves that are minced, sweet chili sauce, lime juice, fresh ginger, soy sauce and, finally, sriracha. The actual wraps call for bell peppers, lettuce, sliced cucumber and sliced carrot. Preheat your oven to roughly 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the breasts inside. Bake them for a maximum of 25 full minutes or so. You can do so until the breasts get to 165 degrees. Give the chicken breasts the chance to cool down for a bit prior to cutting them up into strips. Zucchini boats are yet another top-notch choice for people who are keen on avoiding carbs during their daily lunches. If you want to relish this lunch pathway, then it’s up to you to secure ingredients such as zucchini, corn kernels, black beans, red bell peppers, brown rice, chili powder, cumin, olive oil, shredded cheddar cheese, jalapeno peppers, salsa, salt and chopped cilantro. Once you assemble these ingredients into “boat” form, you can preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. After that, you can blend in a bit of cilantro. Add some salt, too. You should bake these boats inside of your oven for a total of 25 minutes. Switch the oven to “broil” mode. Cook the boats for five additional minutes. Wait for the cheese to take on a light brown appearance for optimal results. Give your zucchini boats the opportunity to cool down for approximately 10 minutes. Once you wait, you can “conceal” the boats using fresh cilantro. You’re ready to nosh on these nutritious lunch delights. Explore All of Your Choices The world is basically brimming with fantastic lunch options that also do not happen to have high amounts of carbohydrates. If you want to take charge of your health and physique, then a diet that doesn’t include many carbs may be ideal for you.
Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, has commented on the potential impact of a second lockdown on the construction industry: “With rising case numbers and hospital admissions, the announcement of a second national lockdown was perhaps inevitable, but businesses will be hit hard once again. However, the construction industry is exempt from workplace closures and this will hopefully allow recent signs of recovery to continue. “Driven by increases in new work (17.5%), construction output rose by 3% in August (the latest data available) to nearly £12,500 million, marking the fourth successive month of growth for the industry. Such sustained growth is a healthy indicator of confidence returning to the sector, with companies across the UK willing to commission fresh projects. New private housing has been performing particularly well and will be boosted by the news that such work is unaffected by a second lockdown. “The Prime Minister also announced that the furlough scheme will be extended until December, with employees still receiving 80% of their salary. While the number of construction workers on furlough has been dropping rapidly each month – the quickest proportionate decrease across all sectors – the latest data shows that there were still over 275,000 people on the scheme in July. Therefore, the extension of the funding will be greatly welcomed by many in the industry. “Despite being able to continue operations, the second national lockdown will undoubtedly put extra strain on the construction industry and we may see the rate of recovery slow down further. “However, the sector is proving to be incredibly resilient and has shown this year that it can rebound strongly after challenging setbacks. The government’s announcement at the weekend has given the industry a chance to continue its growth and hopefully it can end the year in a strong position.” For more information about IronmongeryDirect, visit: www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/
Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd (LMB) has appointed Mike Hampton as Commercial Director to head up their new regional office based in Thorpe Park, Leeds. Mike is a seasoned industry executive who brings 20 years of masonry experience in the north and midlands to the business. Mike comments: “The opportunity to join one of the leading masonry companies in the UK was too good an opportunity to miss. There is huge potential in the north as masonry packages grow bigger and bigger and it shows great confidence in the region that LMB wants to become part of the Northern Power House story” LMB Director Dan Clarkson comments: “Mike is a great addition to our team. Many of our clients have been asking us to work in the region for some time but we have been waiting to recruit individuals that share our drive, commitment to quality and customer focus” LMB Managing Director Lee Marley commented “We have worked all over the country on major projects but it has always been an ambition of mine to have a permanent base in the region to create a bridge between our work in Scotland and the South and offer a comprehensive national masonry solution to our customers” LMB’s team includes operational and commercial management and will be focussing on large scale schemes that have become the company’s hallmark in Southern England and Scotland. The company has chosen Leeds as its base in the North of England because of its good transport links and highly skilled labour pool. With offices already in London, Reading and Glasgow, Leeds is the next step in their national expansion plan. Future business plans include working in partnership with local colleges and universities in the North of England to further develop LMB’s apprenticeship and graduate programmes. For more information about Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd, please visit: www.leemarley.com
No matter where you are in the world, you have likely been impacted somehow by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe you know someone who contracted it. Maybe it’s impacted your job or the career of someone you love. While some parts of the globe are seeing yet another surge, there are certain industries that have to keep going in order to maintain some sense of normalcy. So far, the construction industry has been considered ‘essential’ in many different areas of the world. Things still need to get built. Deadlines and schedules need to be kept. Unfortunately, one recent study in the U.S. has found that construction workers might be at a greater risk of developing COVID-19. So, why the increased risk within the construction industry, and what can you do to keep your team safe? Why Are Workers at Risk? At the height of the pandemic, the BESA released new COVID-19 guidelines to keep engineering and construction firms safe. Like many other industries are discovering, however, no safety plan is foolproof. One of the biggest reasons why construction workers remain at high risk is because the industry remained in demand throughout the pandemic. Again, many construction projects needed to keep going and workers were considered essential. Whether a buyer needed a property report or actual building needed to be completed, the commercial real estate, construction, and design industries haven’t stopped. In many places across the globe, things have been so uncertain for so long that it has been hard to keep up with changes in rules, regulations, and policies. Amidst that confusion, it has likely been easy for those in the construction field to make a few missteps in keeping themselves safe. Close Confines on Construction Sites If you work in the industry, or you’ve been on a job site before, it’s easy to think you’re safe from the threat of any virus, considering you spend the majority of your time outside. But, think about how close you can get throughout the day to your fellow workers. You might need to give them instructions or receive some from someone else. You may be touching the same tools and building materials as someone else. Construction workers often go from job to job, too. That can easily increase the spread of the virus, even if just one worker is carrying it from site to site. Simply put, there are plenty of ways in which the virus can be passed at a job site, which may also be contributing to the greater risk for those in construction. What Can Be Done Now? Thankfully, the precautions necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 haven’t changed much over the last few months. If you are in charge of a job site, you should make it your top priority to keep everyone safe. If you are a worker, it is your own responsibility to take precautions and keep yourself safe while doing what you can to reduce the spread to others. The most important thing you can do is to make sure everyone on the site is practicing social distancing as much as possible. That may not always feel realistic when working on a job. But, if it means extending a deadline to keep your workers safe, that’s what needs to be done. Having fewer people on the site is a great place to start. Additionally, anyone who is there should be wearing a mask at all times. This is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce the spread of COVID, and it’s a small price to pay for keeping everyone healthy. Contract tracing should also be done among workers. If one employee is exposed to the virus, everyone needs to be made aware and the right procedures need to be put in place. That’s especially important for workers who go to different job sites to work. Does that mean some of your workers will have to quarantine for a while? It’s likely. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Not putting these precautions in place could trigger an outbreak among your employees. Information like this isn’t meant to scare anyone. The construction industry certainly isn’t the only one facing these ‘surges’ and rising case numbers. Almost any profession that requires people to work closely with one another is at a greater risk of spreading the virus. But, if the construction industry wants to stay afloat, guidelines need to be taken seriously and construction firms need to have their own sets of rules in place that are designed to keep everyone safe.
Perega continues to demonstrate its structural engineering expertise in the retail sector, providing expert consultancy to Adidas for their latest UK outlet: an ultra-immersive store on London’s bustling Oxford Street. When it came to the design and build of its new West End outlet, which received a coveted accolade at the World Retail Awards, global fashion brand Adidas knew it needed to deliver a shopping experience with a difference. Known for its instantly recognisable logo and Three Stripe trademark, they wanted the store to be as bold as the brand identity; visually striking, and enticing, a space that would stand out from the fierce competition in the surrounding area. In the beginning… In development for over three years, Perega was involved in the ambitious five-storey project from the very beginning, before the landlord began converting the building’s shell structure from office to retail. This long involvement allowed the appointed team of engineers to influence the shell works, adding value to the client through ensuring the floor plate, and three-storey entrance atrium was to Adidas’s requirements. Another important task during the early stages was the design and planning of the store’s scenic lift and the main staircase, which would cantilever from and wrap seamlessly around the central lift shaft. This work tested Perega’s engineers to their limits. It was made more challenging as it had to be completed during the landlord’s shell works before any other design elements were fully developed. Delivering the Displays Adidas wanted to create the most digital retail outlet in the UK, with smart mirrors, iPad consoles, and immersive audio-visual installations. As part of the project, Perega also helped deliver unobtrusive, yet robust, supports for these numerous digital display features. The larger of these items were hung and the solutions we developed had to be aesthetically pleasing or hidden. This included the support for the store’s impressive ‘digital chandelier’ and transparent display screens hung in the façade’s double-height ground floor windows. Challenges were faced early on in the fit-out design, especially regarding the load-bearing capabilities of the structure, which was inadequate to lay screed on. Working closely with the main contractor, Powells, an alternate lightweight solution was proposed to allow work to go ahead with minimal delay. No stone left unturned The client wanted exposed concrete blockwork walls within the store, to achieve a gritty, urban style. However, the same issue faced with the screed occurred once more; fundamentally, the structure was inadequate to support this weight. Instead, block slips were glued to stud walls, reducing the weight but maintaining the same desired aesthetic. The overall result speaks for itself, and through Perega’s unrivalled problem-solving abilities, the team was able to deliver robust structures and systems according to Adidas’s overall brief, without any compromise on aesthetics. Commenting on the project, Perega’s Senior engineer, Sam Coleman, said, “Our work on Adidas’s new Oxford Street store is a great example of collaboration throughout the construction journey. The client’s design team had ambitious ideas for the space, and we helped them to realise their vision within the boundaries of what’s possible. I particularly enjoyed the open dialogue we maintained on the project. A healthy and structured process of analysis, reflection, and mutual compromise meant we were able to overcome challenges and create a unique, structurally safe interior, which will appeal to customers and influence purchasing decisions.” He continues, “I have a deep respect and admiration for Adidas’s design team whose creativity is unmatched. The scope and the scale of the project is breathtaking, and this has been borne out with the recent win of a highly coveted World Retail Award for Outstanding Store Design. We look forward to working with the brand again in the near future.” Throughout the Adidas Oxford Street project, Perega worked closely with other members of the design team, including Mace, Powells, DB3 Architecture, Brinkworth Design, and Quadrant Design. Opened earlier this year Adidas Oxford Street recently received a highly-coveted accolade at the World Retail Awards for ‘Outstanding Store Design (> 1200sqm). To find out more about Perega’s work in the retail sector, click here.
Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has completed the latest phase of works on the expansion and renovation of King Edward VI School in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Comprising two phases of works led by G F Tomlinson for Staffordshire County Council under the Staffordshire Construction framework, the project involves the delivery of a new extension to an existing building, as well as the construction of a new modular building to provide essential replacement teaching spaces at the co-educational comprehensive for pupils aged 11 to 18. Phase one, which is progressing well, is expected to be complete in spring 2021, and involves the construction of a new three-storey extension on the site of a former swimming pool, which has been closed for over ten years. The extension will provide the school with enhanced teaching and auxiliary spaces, as well as an administration area on the lower ground floor, which will be the location of the school’s new student services area. Phase two started in spring this year and is now complete – works involved the demolition of the existing accommodation buildings, replacing them with a brand new standalone modern modular structure to provide enhanced science laboratory teaching facilities. This is the second contract secured by G F Tomlinson through the Staffordshire Construction framework for Staffordshire County Council, led by Entrust Property Services, and follows the successful delivery of the £5.2m Poppyfields Primary School in Cannock last summer, as part of a major housing development in the area. Building on a winning collaboration following Poppyfields Primary School, G F Tomlinson once again appointed Arc Partnership to provide architectural and engineering services for works at King Edward VI School. Ideal Modular, part of G F Tomlinson’s existing supply chain, was also appointed to deliver the modular element of this project. During the course of the construction works, G F Tomlinson has been looking to engage with both staff and students at the school. Once COVID-19 guidelines allow, the site management team will perform virtual live site tours for the school to report project progress and allow them to raise any queries they have. Chris Flint, director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are pleased to have completed the latest phase of this project for our client Staffordshire County Council. The works are providing the school with a much-needed renovation, by removing older buildings and replacing them with brand new, optimised teaching spaces and facilities. These important changes to the school will maximise the space and have a positive impact on the overall experience of both the pupils and the staff. “We continue to enjoy productive partnerships with Staffordshire County Council, Arc Partnership and Entrust Property Services, as well as all of our local supply chain partners on the framework, and look forward to seeing the next phase of the renovation at King Edward VI School progress over the coming months.” County Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Education said: “Ensuring we can meet the needs of local parents and provide enough school places to accommodate increased demand is incredibly important. Once finished, the work to King Edwards will enable the school to expand by 150 pupils by September 2021. It’s really good to see this stage of the construction completed, and it has already transformed the look of the school whilst creating extra space for staff and pupils.” John Doherty, CEO of Entrust Support Services, said: “We are delighted to have project managed the construction of the new teaching facilities at King Edward VI School. This has been a complex project which we are proud to have worked on alongside our partners G F Tomlinson, Staffordshire County Council and the school. We are confident these new spaces will support pupil’s learning for a long time to come.” Jane Rutherford, headteacher at King Edward VI School, said: “We are delighted to be moving in to our new science accommodation in November and by Easter 2021, the staff and students will also benefit from new teaching accommodation for History and refurbished areas linked to Art, Drama and Geography. “The support from Staffordshire County Council in providing 21st century facilities for our students and the partnership with the project team at Entrust has been hugely important to us. G F Tomlinson has undertaken a complex project, delivered while we have over 1500 students on site and we cannot speak highly enough of this working partnership. Our students and staff are looking forward to our new and improved working environment.” Staffordshire County Council is leading this project, with project management from ENTRUST, G F Tomlinson acting as main contractors and Arc partnership acting as architect and structural engineer.
RFM Group, the property maintenance company, is rolling out a high tech mobile workforce management system. Supplied by BigChange, the cloud-based system provides a complete business solution incorporating back office management software that synchronises in real time with rugged tablets used by RFM’s mobile workforce. BigChange provides is a single platform CRM, Job Scheduling, Mobile App Tracking and a Customer Portal. RFM are property experts that consult, build, manage and maintain all types of property and the company has built a reputation as a pioneer in the use of technology. The switch to BigChange has been timed to support ambitious expansion plans for the business. RFM had grown out of a server-based system and needed to overhaul their IT; over 12 months the company reviewed 15 different systems. “In the end only one met our needs and that was from BigChange,” says Mark Flanagan, Client Services Director, RFM Group. “We realised we could replace 4 separate systems with 1 completely integrated solution that was also very affordable. We were very impressed with how easily it could be customised and therefore meet our needs across the company now and in the future.” “BigChange gives us an IT solution that is completely scalable and it will make it relatively easy to bring new acquisitions onboard. Adoption is very straightforward as anyone will be able to go online and access the system instantly anytime from anywhere – plus it is very easy to use,” Flanagan adds. Initial implementation of the system is within social housing where RFM are the appointed maintenance contractor for Housing Associations Railway Housing and Habinteg Housing. BigChange provides an all in one system incorporating CRM, job booking and scheduling, mobile working and financial control and with planned integration with Sage, the company will have a single system replacing 4 disconnected systems. RFM’s mobile operatives, who provide a full range of services from plumbing to electrical and other trades, have been equipped with rugged tablet devices. These devices run the JobWatch app to replace all paperwork in the field with electronic job sheets, health and safety workflows, certifications, inspection reports, backed with job-linked photographs from site. BigChange vehicle tackers meanwhile give RFM a real time view of worker movements and tracking logs support job records. “Previously we had little insight into ongoing work and records were limited and not very accessible,” Flanagan comments. “With BigChange that’s all changed and the system is already having a big impact and we now have levels of management control, whether our own maintenance teams or those of our contractors.” Another key benefit for RFM was the way JobWatch mobile app can be used by contractors allowing third party operatives to simply access the app on their smartphones. It means contractor work is seamlessly integrated into RFM operations, reporting on jobs in the same way as their own operatives. Flanagan also sees BigChange providing a platform for expansion into new sectors. “With greatly improved and electronic reporting we can meet the stringent demands of the biggest operators in areas such as facilities management and insurance. It means we can expand to new areas and with such a powerful cloud and mobile working solution, there are no longer barriers to expanding nationally.”