This past month has seen the launch of a potentially game-changing new app for asbestos contractors: the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA). Developed over the course of 20 months with feedback from various parties, ALFA is designed to provide ARCA licensed contractors with a measure of operative performance, helping them
As warehouse and logistics operators continue to ramp up to handle the surge in online shopping, mitigating risk becomes ever more critical for a safer workplace, says Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager for impact protection specialists, Brandsafe. UK online retail sales have exploded in the wake of Covid 19,
Safeguard Europe’s Dryzone high-performance plasters collection is a range of breathable modern plasters designed to stop salt migration and aid drying on damp walls. All four variants in the plaster range have been scientifically developed and tested to provide excellent resistance to hygroscopic salts whilst providing a highly breathable surface.
Operations Team has been strengthened significantly with the hire of three new, experienced Operations Directors with immediate effect. Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the warehouse/industrial, logistics/distribution, life science, pharmaceutical, tech and manufacturing sectors has today announced the appointment of three new Operations Directors to its rapidly expanding team.
Former Service Reservoir With Planning Consent For Exceptional Home. Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has appointed Harvey Burns & Co to bring to market a former service reservoir with planning consent in place for the creation of a high
Using solar lights that have a motion sensor installed is an effective way to detect any activity outside of your home as it instantly shines a light on the person or object. But before making a choice there are certain things that need to be considered. Paying attention to the
Self-care is extremely important. It includes everything from how we move our bodies to how much time we take for self-care activities, like reading a book or taking a long bubble bath. Even though it’s important, and most of us know it’s important, taking care of ourselves is still really
Equinor, together with eleven other companies and organisations, has submitted a joint proposal to create a low carbon cluster in the Humber, the UK’s largest and most carbon-intensive industrial region. The application by the Zero Carbon Humber (ZCH) Partnership is a first step to creating the world’s first net zero
Seven of the UK’s most cutting-edge innovators in Smart, Zero Carbon Building Solutions have been selected for a rigorous business acceleration programme at Energy Systems Catapult. For its fourth ‘Innovator Challenge’, the Catapult is collaborating with Places for People, to help SMEs unlock new routes-to-market, secure investment and breakdown barriers to
Henley-in-Arden based commercial decoration company Harvey UK has won a contract to carry out the decorating and finishing of Birmingham’s tallest residential tower block. Harvey UK will carry out all of the painting, decorating and finishing work on 481 apartments in The Mercian 42-storey tower in Broad Street. The development
This past month has seen the launch of a potentially game-changing new app for asbestos contractors: the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA). Developed over the course of 20 months with feedback from various parties, ALFA is designed to provide ARCA licensed contractors with a measure of operative performance, helping them to improve industry standards. The introduction of the app could have a huge impact on the almost 50% of asbestos removal contractors licensed by ARCA – and more importantly, the operatives who work for them. Amid concerns from labour unions about the ramifications of the app, here’s everything you need to know about ALFA, and what it could mean for the asbestos removal industry. What is the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA)? The Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA) is a mobile app which allows ARCA licensed asbestos removal contractors to rate the performance of short-term operatives from labour suppliers. They can do this using nine key metrics covering employee performance and behaviour on a particular assignment. The ratings for each assignment undertaken by that operative are then averaged to produce an overall star rating. This rating is visible to ARCA member contractors when using the app, alongside an average rating for each of the nine categories. Contractors can then use this information to ensure competence and identify training needs. Why is the Asbestos Labour Feedback App necessary? With asbestos still present in huge quantities across the UK, demand for asbestos removal professionals is as high as ever. Yet many asbestos removal contractors have listed the quality of labour available to them as a primary concern, with contractors apparently lacking the competence, skills and behaviour needed to manage and remove asbestos safely. As a result, licensing body ARCA opened discussions with its members in the asbestos removal industry, with the aim of finding a way to improve performance and raise standards among operatives. The result of this process was the creation of the app, with the hope that widespread uptake would highlight areas for improvement, and motivate people to undertake training. What are the benefits of the Asbestos Labour Feedback App? The ALFA is designed to reassure asbestos removal contractors that the operatives they are receiving are competent, and have a good attitude towards their work. This will help to improve the quality of the work being done by contractors and ensure it is done safely, reducing their liabilities and protecting the operatives in the process. By rating operative performance, both operatives and contractors have the opportunity to encourage improvements, and identify where further training may be required. The app also allows operatives to manage their certificate information (helping to keep track of expiring certificates), as well as automating part of the supply agency process. What are the concerns around the Asbestos Labour Feedback App? Labour union Unite has been quick to raise concerns around the use of the app, claiming that the use of a ratings system for operatives could be abused. This system could lead to operatives receiving unfair ratings with little recourse, and being effectively blacklisted as a result of poor ratings, preventing them from gaining further work. Unite has called on ARCA to evidence any safeguards within the app against blacklisting and discrimination, and to suspend the rollout of the app if these do not currently exist. This is likely to be unwelcome news for ARCA, having gone through a 20-month development process and pilot scheme for the service. I’m an asbestos removal operative – what should I do? It’s likely that your agency will inform you if they are planning to adopt the app, and you may find that you are required to use it. In this instance, you may want to contact your union if you have one. However, it is important to note that the end goal of the app – improving safety standards and general quality of work – is an admirable one, and not something that should be opposed by default. ARCA is only one of the licensing authorities in the UK, with BOHS and ACAD being the other popular standards. If your agency is not ARCA registered and you do not work with ARCA registered removal firms, you will not need to worry about using the app. However, it may be helpful to familiarise yourself with it in case you ever consider changing roles. Ultimately, the best way to safeguard yourself against the potential for upheaval is to improve your level of training. This will not only provide you with qualifications that will undercut any accusations against you, but will also give you the skill set to more readily demonstrate your abilities, and build up credit with your agency and employers. This is likely to take the form of advanced training specific to asbestos removal, such as ARCA’s Industry Refresher for Operatives course or Use, Inspection and Routine Maintenance of RPE course. Other certifying bodies include UKATA (Asbestos Removal Operative Refresher Training) and the CITB (Asbestos Removal Operative). Asbestos removal continues to be a valued service across the UK and beyond, owing to the huge amount of asbestos that still exists in public and private buildings. As this asbestos degrades, the need for qualified operatives is likely to continue. This may either mean that the app falls by the wayside in the push for adequate numbers, or that the app continues to gain ground as a way to find the most qualified operatives. The best way to ensure a position in the industry is to continue learning and training yourself to the highest possible level. Anyone who is interested in becoming an asbestos operative – or entering the asbestos assessment and removal industries – may want to start with an online asbestos awareness course, helping you to learn about the substance, how to identify it and how to deal with it safely.
As warehouse and logistics operators continue to ramp up to handle the surge in online shopping, mitigating risk becomes ever more critical for a safer workplace, says Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager for impact protection specialists, Brandsafe. UK online retail sales have exploded in the wake of Covid 19, which has left high streets and out-of-town malls bereft of shoppers for months. Indeed, the surge in online sales shows no sign of abating. Sales are expected to grow 19% year-on-year, up from pre-pandemic estimates of 11% – rising from a total of £66bn in 2019 to almost £80bn this year. Some retail experts expect that 2020 will see domestic e-commerce trade increase in value by as much as £5.3bn. Supermarket supply chains also continue to see surges in demand, placing additional pressure on their distribution and supply chain links. Indeed, this summer online grocery sales grew 92% year-on-year in the four weeks up to 12 July 2020, increasing at a slightly faster pace than the previous four weeks despite the easing of lockdown restrictions, according to research by Kantar. Realigning operations So, as the UK’s warehouse and logistics industry responds on multiple fronts, realigning operations and investing in additional resources to meet the impact of extra demand, sector operators must work out how to balance the need to protect workers – and limit risk in what can be a hazardous working environment – while maximising productivity. The volume of people working under one roof to shift and store goods and load / unload vehicles means that warehouses and storage facilities can be particularly risky workplaces. Annually, dozens of injuries are reported to the Health & Safety Executive; so they’re clearly dangerous environments, with hazards and risks ranging from slips and trips to people colliding with equipment, racking, corner sections and walkways. It also highlights the critical need for workplace safety if incidents and accidents are to be avoided. In addition, protecting people entering / exiting premises during shift changes must be considered if serious harm or injury is to be prevented. It may be facile to say that safety may sometimes slip under the pressures and strains to realign operations and meet KPIs to accommodate expansion and growth, but under UK law, warehouse operators must observe a duty of care to their workforce. In short, they must identify the health and safety risks each person faces at work – even more so during these current times where additional risk comes as businesses recruit and bring in more resources to meet demand. A duty of care comes into force when a person or group of people do something that might reasonably harm somebody, which includes the possibility of physical injury. In the context of work, duty of care is legally binding on an employer. Simply put, owners and operators must abide by what the law refers to as a standard of reasonable care, and this applies to any work-related matter where injury can occur. It’s important that a site risk assessment should be undertaken to identify critical safety issues. If not, and an employer fails to abide by their obligations, an employee may be able to proceed with a claim of negligence if a problem occurs, with all the associated financial penalties, legal costs and reputational damage. Best practice What should be considered best practice when managing workplace risk? Success in managing risks is based on effective assessment: the process of evaluating the risks to workers from hazards to determine appropriate measures to eliminate, or at least reduce the level of incidents/accidents. An assessment should identify the key health and safety priorities within and around the warehouse so that efforts can be concentrated on these important areas. A thorough risk assessment will involve considering a raft of workplace factors, the dangers they may pose and who might be harmed by them. This work should involve gathering information such as current shift patterns, work arrangements and then evaluating it before an assessment to decide on the most appropriate measures and strategies to cut risk. For example, wheeled pallet trucks, racks, or trolleys can strike warehouse workers; so designated routes should be established wherever possible and marked by safety barriers and railings that are clearly visible. Here, a risk assessment will also identify what other hazards could be present. Vehicle movement in and around warehouses requires careful auditing and constant management to prevent accidents. This requires workplace traffic routes that allow pedestrians and vehicles to circulate safely. Where vehicles and pedestrians use the same traffic route, there should be adequate clearance between them and, if possible, complete separation of vehicles and pedestrians. The racking in aisles must be organised and protected to allow for safe access to goods and movement of FLTs. The aisles should be sufficiently wide, with adequate clearance room overhead. Pedestrians and vehicles must be able to circulate in a safe manner. The areas in which FLTs operate should, if possible, should be clearly separated and marked from the areas where pedestrians are likely to be. One area where workers can be at particular risk is during shift changes. People rushing to get home at the end of the working day, not looking where they are going or accidently knocking colleagues into rails or pylons in their haste to exit the premises, can all lead to injuries and should be considered as part of any risk audit. Good practice around managing the health and safety issues to do with shift-work should see employers carry out a suitable assessment of the associated risks as part of an organisation’s overall health and safety management procedure. You should record and review this periodically and whenever changes to working arrangements are considered or made. As well as a responsibility to the workforce, employers have a responsibility towards visitors, contractors and members of the general public. Everyone needs to be shielded as far as practically possible from accident and injury while on-site, inside and outside of buildings. Health and safety matters are not irreducible. Continuous improvement
Safeguard Europe’s Dryzone high-performance plasters collection is a range of breathable modern plasters designed to stop salt migration and aid drying on damp walls. All four variants in the plaster range have been scientifically developed and tested to provide excellent resistance to hygroscopic salts whilst providing a highly breathable surface. They have been shown to out-perform both competing renovation plasters and sand/cement renders. The pre-blended plasters – Dryzone Damp-Resistant Plaster, Fast-Set Plaster and Hi-Lime Renovation and Hi-Lime Finishing Plaster – form part of the Dryzone System for replastering after Dryzone Damp-Proofing Cream or Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods have been used to create a remedial damp proof course. The plasters are ideal for replacing existing plaster that has already deteriorated (having already also tackled the cause of the damp); or for use in new-build and conversion projects to limit potential damage caused by minor ingress of dampness during the lifetime of the building. They are also suitable for use in other situations where residual damp will be present, such as after treatment for penetrating damp or as part of a flood repair project. These highly effective Safeguard renovation plasters can be applied to walls while they are still damp and, by controlling salt migration and allowing walls to dry out by evaporation, the walls achieve a higher thermal resistance, reducing the risk of future condensation. New to the range is Dryzone Fast-Set Plaster, which cures in around two hours and is suitable where speed of application is crucial, such as where tenants may have to be decanted or where disruption needs to be minimised. It is also ideal for smaller areas, repairs and dubbing out uneven walls. Like its stablemates, Dryzone Damp-Resistant Plaster has a porous structure which controls salt migration, allows walls to dry out by evaporation. However, it provides enhanced salt protection compared with competing products and is so especially suited for use on highly salt and damp contaminated walls. The Hi-Lime Renovation Plaster and Hi-Lime Finishing Plaster are especially suitable in heritage situations. As, in the presence of rising or penetrating damp, lime plasters can start to fail and are not as breathable, modern hybrid materials such as the Hi-Lime Plaster pairing are far more effective. Tests have shown the hi-lime plasters allow up to 40% more water transmission than a traditional mix of 3:1 sand and lime and up to 240% more than 3:1 sand and cement over a 14-day period. Dryzone Damp-Resistant Plaster and Dryzone Fast-Set Plaster have been shown, also over two weeks, to diffuse over 80% and 70% more water vapour than 3:1 sand and lime, respectively too. Other properties include a low compressive strength, ensuring that the plaster can easily be removed later without damaging underlying brickwork. The Damp-Resistant Plaster, Hi-Lime Renovation Plaster and Hi-Lime Finishing Plaster also offer conformity to the EN998-1 CE Standard as ‘Renovation Mortars’. With a complete range of renovation plasters within the Dryzone System, Safeguard now offers a complete suite of products to deliver – post-damp cause diagnosis – permanent damp proofing solutions, from preventing moisture ingress through to specialist replastering and mould-resistant decorating materials.
Operations Team has been strengthened significantly with the hire of three new, experienced Operations Directors with immediate effect. Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the warehouse/industrial, logistics/distribution, life science, pharmaceutical, tech and manufacturing sectors has today announced the appointment of three new Operations Directors to its rapidly expanding team. Formerly with other leading industrial and logistics focussed contractors the experienced trio of Chris Looney, Darren Turner and Nick Lakin have been brought in to expand Glencar’s dynamic young team and to continue to deliver the highest standards for customers and end-users. All three appointments bring a considerable amount of experience and expertise from within the construction industry and are highly skilled in industrial and commercial construction and fit-out, value engineering, cost management, project control and programme management. Speaking about the appointments, Glencar Managing Director Eddie McGillycuddy Said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Chris, Darren and Nick into the business who come with an outstanding pedigree and will help us to reinforce our offering in core areas in which we operate and the type of projects we are delivering. With further controlled growth on the horizon and a strong order book for the next 18 months we are resourcing carefully for the future and happy to have recruited three outstanding individuals who very closely share our values and strong focus on customer service, best-in-class project delivery and growing our capability”. So far this year Glencar has secured and delivered new projects valued at more than £100 million for several new and valued repeat Blue Chip customers. This includes several high-profile projects including most notably the new £75M Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) in Harwell which Glencar has been entrusted to deliver and is being fast-tracked to bring the facility on line early so that it can provide an emergency response capability for the UK against the fight against Covid-19. For further information about VMIC visit: https://www.vmicuk.com/
Former Service Reservoir With Planning Consent For Exceptional Home. Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has appointed Harvey Burns & Co to bring to market a former service reservoir with planning consent in place for the creation of a high design home in Bardsey, West Yorkshire. Keyland has secured planning approval for the retention and conversion of the existing former service reservoir, which sits on 1 acre of brownfield land on Wike Ridge between the villages of Bardsey and East Keswick, into a single home. The proposed stunning residential property has been designed to sit discreetly within the existing footprint of the reservoir but to also offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. This ‘hidden home’ will be sold with planning permission in place. The former Yorkshire Water site is anticipated to attract high levels of interest due to its unique positioning and the scope for the creation of a unique design-led home. Sites such as these from Keyland’s residential portfolio offer buyers the chance to create a home unlike any other, with other exemplar projects including the conversion of the former water tower in Pannal. Beth McQue, Development Planner at Keyland Developments Ltd, said; “This site is an exciting opportunity to create a ‘Grand Designs’ style home which is truly unique in its construction and location. Blending into its surroundings, whilst also preserving the location through the repurposing of this former service reservoir, this property will provide its residents with breath-taking views alongside a contemporary style and finish. “Land such as this offers rare opportunities to create one-off homes in sought-after areas throughout Yorkshire. Acquiring sites from Yorkshire Water enables us to not only revitalise redundant land but to also create homes which are sensitive to the surrounding landscape with a minimal visual impact as well as offering a rare chance to own homes that are one-of-a-kind.” Lyndsay Burns, Managing Director at Harvey Burns & Co, said; “Opportunities of this nature in locations such as this are few and far between. With the right vision and creativity, this beautiful high design home offers the opportunity to create a truly bespoke property to suit the lifestyle and needs of prospective buyers. Accompanying planning permission is already in place making this an exciting redevelopment project and we expect a substantial amount of market interest.” Harvey Burns & Co is marketing this property for sale by informal tender. 0113 243 2400 / info@harveyburns.com /www.harveyburns.com
Using solar lights that have a motion sensor installed is an effective way to detect any activity outside of your home as it instantly shines a light on the person or object. But before making a choice there are certain things that need to be considered. Paying attention to the following things will help you in making the right choice. Range of Sensor: In order to enhance the security of your home, the Solar Motion Sensor Light are a good and cost-effective option. The motion sensor should be able to detect the movement of a person as far as possible. Not only this, the sensor should also be able to detect the motion in as many directions as possible. While making a buying choice, you should consider the range of motion sensor as it is an important factor to be considered. The good quality range of senor is considered to be between 10 feet to 40 feet. In order to detect the motion in all directions, the sensor should have 360 degrees detection angle. This helps in covering the entire area. The range and the angle capacity depend on the area you want to cover. Type and Strength of Battery: The type and capacity (or strength) of the battery is also an important factor to be considered. Lithium-ion battery having a higher capacity is a favorable choice. The user needs to make sure that the battery has enough capacity to supply power throughout the night. The intensity of Light: Another element of motion sensor which should be considered is its illumination capacity. The range of illumination depends on the lumens. Lumens are used to define the intensity of light produced by the bulb or LEDs. More lumens mean lighter. If you want to have more light on your driveway or on your front door then you should opt for higher lumens and a LED bulb. Type of Bulb Used: There are different types of bulbs used in motion sensor lights such as incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, etc. Among these choices, LED bulbs are widely preferred as they are energy efficient and can last for 20000 to 50000 hours. Other bulbs such as incandescent and fluorescent consume more energy and also have waste heat and require replacements at frequent intervals. Motion Sensor type: There are different variants of motion sensors that are being used in motion sensor lights. It depends on the user’s preference for the kind of sensor he wants to buy. Following are some of them Passive infrared type It turns the light on when it detects body heat within its area of operation. The sensor detects heat as infrared energy. The sensor gets warm-up and creates a movement detecting grid which keeps a track of the movements in the surrounding area. Upon sensing a movement, it activates by switching on the light. Microwave: The microwave motion sensor works on microwave pulses. The upside of using this sensor is that it covers more areas as compared to the infrared sensors, but there is one downside which is that it gets disrupted due to electrical interferences. Dual Technology: This technology uses a combination of both the infrared sensor and a microwave sensor. Advanced technology is used to reduce the occurrences of false alarms. This is achieved by using both sensors to trigger at the same time and activate an alarm instead of relying on just one sensor. for more information please visit LUXMAN LIGHT
Self-care is extremely important. It includes everything from how we move our bodies to how much time we take for self-care activities, like reading a book or taking a long bubble bath. Even though it’s important, and most of us know it’s important, taking care of ourselves is still really hard. Knowing how to start taking care of yourself better can be a challenge, but no other profession has a harder time than doctors. Although it’s true that not every doctor takes care of themselves quite like they should, there are things they are more likely to do than the general population that we can all learn from. They Take Care of Medical Problems Quickly It’s normal for many of us to live with pain and various symptoms for a long time before we get help. This often makes things worse. Doctors, on the other hand, are more likely to take care of medical problems as soon as they crop up. If they become injured, they are more likely to hire an attorney to help long-term disability benefits, and they are more likely to schedule an appointment with a specialist to assess their condition. It’s also important to note that they are more likely to say on top of their routine healthcare appointments too says this dentist who does high-quality dental implants in Chattanooga. That means scheduling mammograms and colonoscopies, but because they work with other medical professionals, they are often asking each other questions about new symptoms and whether they should see someone or not. Exercise Is Part of Their Daily Routine Doctors don’t have a lot of time for exercise, and it’s true that some doctors still don’t make time for movement, but many do. The ones that do exercise regularly are successful because they make it part of their daily routine. Among the doctors who exercise regularly, first thing in the morning is the most popular time to squeeze in a workout. Many doctors like to jog, but you’ll also find physicians lifting weights, going for walks, and doing yoga. This is important because doctors who exercise regularly are more likely to prescribe it to patients, and most patients would do well to get a little bit more exercise. If your doctor practices what they preach, you’ll be more likely to follow through with an exercise routine of your own. More Restraint Around Tobacco and Alcohol There are almost no doctors who smoke because they understand just how severe the health effects can be. Just a few of the health effects most commonly associated with smoking include: They also understand the dangers of drinking, but that doesn’t mean doctors don’t drink. They are actually more likely to drink, but licensed physicians are also more likely to drink moderately when they do drink. They are much more likely to have just a few drinks every week, and they are less likely to drink more than four drinks in one evening. More Mindful Eating Doctors are more likely to pay closer attention to what they eat. It’s true that doctors aren’t immune to eating on the run, which means driving through a fast food restaurant on the way home, but they are also more likely to squeeze in healthy meals and snacks throughout the week. Many doctors follow advice that includes things like eating heart healthy fats like nuts and avocados. They are more likely to limit their intake of red meat, and they squeeze a few servings of fish into their weekly diet, which has many health benefits. They Take Their Vitamins Doctors are busy. Most understand that they simply don’t have the time to eat well all the time, so they make sure to take their vitamins. They follow the advice from nutritionists which includes taking vitamins like vitamin D and calcium. You’re also more likely to find doctors taking vitamin C as a way to try and stay well throughout flu season, especially if they work closely with patients who are sick. Vitamin B-12 and E are popular too, as are multivitamins that can be taken without thinking about the specifics of each and every ingredient. Doctors are human, just like we are. That means they aren’t perfect, but because they are in the healthcare field, they understand the importance of taking care of themselves. Take a page from their self-care book and follow the tips on this list to take care of yourself the way they do.
Equinor, together with eleven other companies and organisations, has submitted a joint proposal to create a low carbon cluster in the Humber, the UK’s largest and most carbon-intensive industrial region. The application by the Zero Carbon Humber (ZCH) Partnership is a first step to creating the world’s first net zero industrial cluster by 2040 and will support clean growth in the north-east of England. The bid, announced recently, for Phase Two funding from the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, builds on a successful application for Phase One funding which was announced in April. The ZCH Partnership includes Equinor, Associated British Ports, British Steel, Centrica Storage Ltd, Drax Group, Mitsubishi, National Grid Ventures, px Group, SSE Thermal, Saltend Cogeneration Company Limited, Uniper, and the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMRC). “We are proud to be a leader of Zero Carbon Humber, partnering with a broad group of forward-looking companies. This proposal can bring tremendous benefits to the Humber region, protecting industries, creating jobs, promoting economic growth and reducing emissions. Our bid demonstrates the kind of ambitious action that is needed to for the UK to achieve its net zero carbon target by 2050,” says Al Cook, Equinor executive vice president and UK country manager. The bid centres around two elements, the first being the Equinor-led H2H Saltend (Hydrogen to Humber Saltend) hydrogen project at Saltend Chemicals Park near the city of Hull. H2H Saltend will be largest plant of its kind in the world to convert natural gas to hydrogen, combining a 600 megawatt autothermal reformer with carbon capture. From first production H2H Saltend will reduce industrial emissions by nearly 900,000 tonnes per year. The second element is the hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline network developed by National Grid Ventures that aims to link H2H Saltend to other industrial sites in the Humber region, enabling them in turn to fuel switch to hydrogen or capture their emissions. These sites include Drax Power station, SSE Thermal’s Keadby site, Uniper’s Killingholme site and British Steel at Scunthorpe. “We believe in the necessity of hydrogen and carbon capture to clean up heavy industry which is required to reach net zero targets. The technologies are proven and it’s now a question of putting them together. We and our partners have made great progress in our plans to decarbonise the Humber, through working with and learning from each other and also in engaging with national and local stakeholders. We are convinced that by continuing to work together we can make this happen,” says Grete Tveit, Equinor senior vice president for low carbon solutions. CO2 emissions from H2H Saltend and the other Humber sites will be transported by pipeline to Easington on the Yorkshire coast and then offshore to permanent storage under the Southern North Sea on the UK continental shelf. A consortium of world-class energy companies including Equinor is working to develop the offshore transport and storage infrastructure, and this network will be shared with the Teesside industrial cluster, where Equinor is also a partner in the Net Zero Teesside decarbonisation project. The total size of the ZCH proposal is GBP 75 million, comprising private and public funding. The funds will be used to progress work towards a final investment decision during 2023 with H2H Saltend and the associated infrastructure potentially coming online in 2026.
Seven of the UK’s most cutting-edge innovators in Smart, Zero Carbon Building Solutions have been selected for a rigorous business acceleration programme at Energy Systems Catapult. For its fourth ‘Innovator Challenge’, the Catapult is collaborating with Places for People, to help SMEs unlock new routes-to-market, secure investment and breakdown barriers to growth. The seven innovators that will get access to advanced energy system expertise from the Catapult plus specialist business support from a wider network of around 40 consultants, include: Amp X Atamate Clean Energy Prospector Pumped Heat Sero Studio Victoria Wondrwall The Zero Carbon Housing Solutions, Smart Buildings and Estates challenge called for innovators working in one or more of the following areas: Integrating innovative low carbon generation or infrastructure technologies into the building or estate fabric Zero carbon domestic heating solutions Leveraging data from end users, infrastructure and networks to create new services and business models that accelerate the transition to net zero Enabling active, interoperable control systems that delivers more efficient and flexible operation of the whole building & estate energy system Delivering better living environments. Paul Jordan, Business Lead for Innovator Support and International at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “Congratulations to the SMEs joining our 4th cohort for the ISP. Yet again we had our work cut out to select participants from the high number of quality applications. “To achieve Net Zero, we will need to fully decarbonise our ‘Buildings & Estates’ and the seven companies that we’ll now be working with, all have the potential to make a sizeable contribution. “I’m delighted to see such a range of solutions from digital platforms and building control, heat solutions and microgrids, to new business propositions like heat- as-a-service and digital twins. Our team is excited to be working with these promising innovators and helping them to accelerate towards full commercialisation.” Julie Alexander, Director of Technology and Innovation at Places for People, said: “The route to zero carbon is complicated, and with the huge variation in property types across the UK, the solutions will be varied, and in some cases, complex. “So much more needs to be done to understand how we can meet this challenge and how we can scale solutions that will be reliable and affordable. “Working with Energy Systems Catapult has allowed Places for People to gain access to SME’s that bring new and innovative approaches to this challenge, and to understand how we can work across the sector to deliver our own environmentally sustainable objectives. A Catapult panel robustly evaluated applications from across the UK. The seven companies chosen were: 1. Amp X Amp X is developing a transactive‐ready digital energy platform underpinned by autonomy, machine-learning, advanced data analytics and control systems ‐ aiming to provide flexibility services that can deliver cost and carbon savings for consumers, and to unlock new business models and revenue opportunities for different stakeholders across the system. Dr Irene Di Martino, Head of Amp X, said: “Amp X is addressing the challenges of the energy transition as our vision of the future moves smart energy from automated to autonomous, turning the edge of the grid into the locus of provision of grid flexibility, stability and resilience. “Consumer engagement is a key barrier to demand‐response as a scalable non‐wire‐alternative. The Amp X digital energy assistant will cater simultaneously for consumer preferences and grid needs, delivering demand‐side‐management at a very large scale through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Our solution will allow for optimal energy management and dynamic load shaping behind‐the-meter in residential and commercial/industrial premises, enabling cost and carbon savings, though with no adverse impact on the needs and lifestyle of the end users. “Part of what we are wanting to validate with Energy Systems Catapult is what features of our solution work best for different user‐types and properties (ecosystems). “Our ultimate goal is to deliver an inclusive, future‐proof, fully transactive grid, where virtualised local energy markets exemplify the full democratisation and decentralisation of the grid, with peer‐to‐peer trading through the active participation of every producer and consumer across the grid.” 2. Atamate Atamate has developed a smart building platform that focuses on precise automated control and continuous monitoring of the internal environment to reduce energy consumption, simplify building management and optimise maintenance – while increasing occupant comfort and security. Joe Miles, Managing Director at Atamate said: “Atamate offers value across a wide range of building types. This spans energy savings, security and building management, through to improving maintenance and the indoor environment. “We have produced a monitoring and control system that is: holistic with a common data platform to share information and control services; simple to install, live with and maintain; affordable with a quantifiable payback; and retrofittable. “We think Energy Systems Catapult can not only provide the independent verification and credibility that we want, but help us better understand which markets value which parts of our offering.” 3. Clean Energy Prospector Clean Energy Prospector (Cepro) design, build and operate ‘community microgrids’ for new build residential housing developments, allowing third-party providers to finance the cost of installing low carbon infrastructure, rather than the housing developer. Cepro’s innovative business model means the cost of technologies needed to create zero carbon homes – such as solar PV, heat pumps, battery storage and digital control systems – are financed via a community Energy Services Company, mitigating costs for developer and helping to maximise the market attractiveness for zero carbon homes for individual house-buyers. Damon Rand, Head of Product at Cepro, said: “The UK builds 130,000 homes a year and only a fraction have solar PV, never mind heat pumps. By 2025 new build homes cannot install gas boilers but home builders have not yet worked out how to finance low carbon heating systems. “What we do is form community microgrids to enable external investment to come in and fund low carbon infrastructure, taking the risk and the cost off the balance sheet of the housing developer. “We’re hoping Energy Systems Catapult can review our value proposition and business plan in preparation to take on investment and scale the business.”
Henley-in-Arden based commercial decoration company Harvey UK has won a contract to carry out the decorating and finishing of Birmingham’s tallest residential tower block. Harvey UK will carry out all of the painting, decorating and finishing work on 481 apartments in The Mercian 42-storey tower in Broad Street. The development is being carried out by Sisk on behalf of Yorkshire-based Moda Living. The tower, on the site of the former Tramps nightclub, will include shared lounges, health and sports facilities, a dining club with demonstration kitchen, and a 200-metre running track on the roof. Harvey UK managing director Tony Harvey said the new block would service the growing demand for city centre accommodation in Birmingham. “The Mercian is set to become an iconic building in the heart of Birmingham and we are delighted to have secured this prestigious contract. It will have excellent facilities and will be finished to a very high standard,” he said. Established in 1966, Harvey UK is a family-owned finishing and maintenance specialist, working on major projects in the industrial, education, health, local authority and residential sectors. With offices in Henley-in-Arden and London, the group has a wide portfolio of blue-chip client projects including JLR, Muller, the NHS, Kier, Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Lendlease and the Royal Air Force.