Bull Products, a manufacturer of life-saving fire protection equipment, is taking site safety to new heights during the expansion of the University of Brighton’s largest campus. Bull Products is helping to secure the safety of the workforce of leading construction company, Bouygues UK, as it delivers the multi-million development for
Henry Brothers Midlands has completed the refurbishment of a hangar at RAF Waddington to convert it into a joint training facility, on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). Simulators allow certain forms of training to be undertaken without the need for flying, which represents a significant cost saving. The
THE IMPACT of Covid-19 on every aspect of life is undeniable. As the pandemic began to spread throughout March 2020, no one could have foretold the ways in which this disease would change society. One industry that has remained open throughout lockdown and been forced to quickly innovate is construction
Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has today made a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s plans to protect jobs through the winter. The Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan includes a six month Job Support Scheme, an extension to the coronavirus loan schemes and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme,
Located on one of the most prominent and advantageous sites on the Southern M1, Panattoni Park Luton offers 414,000 sq. ft of prime logistics and manufacturing warehousing space. As the UK’s largest speculative developer, Panattoni continues to drive forward its commitment to producing smarter, faster developments that have the smallest
Half a billion pounds must be injected into the England’s planning system over the next four years to ensure the government’s objectives on housing, beauty, climate, the economy and health can be achieved, according to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). In its formal response to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR),
MediaCityUK has the highest cluster of net zero carbon buildings in the UK after a further six of its properties have been third party verified against the UK Green Building Council’s 2019 definition. White, Blue and Orange Towers, Tomorrow building as well as dock10 studios and The Garage, totalling over
The UK energy sector is the most at risk of experiencing cyber incidents, according to a new threat table built from a global study on cyber readiness. The sector saw a median loss of over £100,000 ($150,000) in the last 12 months on cyber events, having been impacted by phishing and virus
If it is the first time that you are buying a home, the process may seem increasingly tough. There are many things to keep in mind so that you can get the best. There are house and land packages that provide benefits for those buying a house for the first
Caddick Construction has secured a trio of accolades at the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme National Site Awards where three of its Northern sites were recognised. The high-profile £44m Emerald Headingley Stadium build was singled out for a Silver Award, along with the new £2.7m JCT600 Porsche Centre in Newcastle. Its 20,000
Bull Products, a manufacturer of life-saving fire protection equipment, is taking site safety to new heights during the expansion of the University of Brighton’s largest campus. Bull Products is helping to secure the safety of the workforce of leading construction company, Bouygues UK, as it delivers the multi-million development for Uliving, a student accommodation developer. The accommodation will provide over 800 student bedrooms and new fitness and social facilities at its Moulsecoomb campus. Bull is protecting the site with the Cygnus Wireless Alarms including the Fire Call Point & First Aid Alarm. This market-leader temporary fire alarm and evacuation system offers heightened site safety, ensuring workers can distinguish if a fire or first aid alarm is raised. In the case of a first aid alert, each device beeps intermittently every eight seconds. Matt Trigwell, Sales Director at Bull Products, says: “Our experience of installing our wireless fire alarms in high-rise buildings means we are well suited to protect the University of Brighton throughout the different stages of development. “A cause and effect functionality has been set up between zones which allows different personnel in each zone to escape in a controlled manner, therefore reducing accidents and trips during any evacuation.” Bull Products’ fire extinguisher trolleys, equipped with fire extinguishers and alarms, also ensure all safety equipment is stored in one convenient place. An ideal solution for larger sites, the equipment can be moved around as the site develops, offering maximum site protection where and when it is needed the most. Nicolas Amice, Site Manager at Bouygues UK, adds: “The Cygnus alarm system has been extremely efficient and reliable and has met the needs of what we required for this particular project. We are proud to be supporting Uliving, our student accommodation developer partner and sister company that is investing in the future of students by transforming its facilities and we are also delighted to be working with Bull to ensure health and safety is optimised.” For more information, contact Bull on 01432 371170, visit www.bullproducts.co.uk or email enquiries@bullproducts.co.uk
Henry Brothers Midlands has completed the refurbishment of a hangar at RAF Waddington to convert it into a joint training facility, on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). Simulators allow certain forms of training to be undertaken without the need for flying, which represents a significant cost saving. The new facility at RAF Waddington acts as a central hub which connects existing RAF simulators around the country, allowing multiple simulators to work together in daily repeatable exercises. The work has been undertaken by Henry Brothers Midlands at a cost of about £8m. The project team faced a number of challenges including working around RAF training periods and carefully timing noisy work to reduce disruption. RAF personnel were training only three metres away from parts of the work, so the team built a temporary wall and adapted their construction techniques and hours of work to make sure they did not interrupt training. A great relationship with the Air Battlespace Training Facility was vital to make sure they could continue training to maximum effect. Like everyone, the team also had to deal with the impact of COVID-19. Work halted in March for four weeks while steps were taken to ensure the project could continue safely. It also understandably caused a delay in delivery of materials needed for the project but a proactive attitude and close working relationships between DIO, Henry Brothers Midlands, the RAF and Boeing UK helped to reduce the impact. DIO’s Project Manager, Dan Wilmott, said: “I’m really pleased with how everyone pulled together not just to deal with the many challenges presented by construction in the age of COVID-19, but also throughout the rest of the project. The end result is a tremendous facility which will be of great benefit to the team at RAF Waddington and RAF aircrew community across the country.” Air Cdre David Bradshaw, Senior Responsible Owner for the Gladiator programme, said: “The completion of this infrastructure project is the first stage of a larger programme of the Royal Air Force’s future synthetic training capability. This new capability, known as Gladiator, will provide a step-change in the ability of our front-line Forces to train together in operationally realistic situations to meet an ever-increasing adversary threat. “The successful completion of this project is a shining example of collaboration between the Royal Air Force as an end user, DIO as the delivery agent and Henry Brothers Midlands as the construction partner to deliver a facility to meet the future requirements of collective synthetic training.” Wg Cdr David Williams, Officer Commanding the Air Battlespace Training Centre, said: “My team and I have been working closely with the Programme and DIO teams throughout the design and construction process to ensure our requirements were fully understood and met. I have been really impressed by the collaborative approach everyone involved has taken to work as one team to deliver this new facility. We are very excited to take over this facility and work towards the delivery of the next generation collective synthetic training exercises.” Managing Director at Henry Brothers Midlands, Ian Taylor, said: “This project is the latest in a number of defence projects undertaken by Henry Brothers Midlands in recent times and the third consecutive development at RAF Waddington. We are delighted to have handed over the facility and look forward to continuing our relationship with the base.” Nottingham-based Henry Brothers Midlands is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out. In partnership with clients, it has a proven track record in defence, along with education, accommodation, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors. The newly-refurbished hangar has now been handed over to RAF Waddington’s Air Battlespace Training Centre, who will run the facility and work with Boeing Defence UK, to co-ordinate the fit-out of the simulator equipment.
THE IMPACT of Covid-19 on every aspect of life is undeniable. As the pandemic began to spread throughout March 2020, no one could have foretold the ways in which this disease would change society. One industry that has remained open throughout lockdown and been forced to quickly innovate is construction – and Matt Linekar and Stephen Moore from contractor Willmott Dixon have been at the forefront. Gone are the days where you could enjoy a concert surrounded by tens of thousands of people, or hug those outside of your household as a friendly greeting. Instead, we now live in a world of social distancing and masked outings. But the impact of Covid-19 isn’t just those changes staring us in the face. There are more subtle, underlying ramifications that are yet to be explored completely – such as alterations in building design. The question is, are Covid-related changes we are now seeing in building design here to stay, or a passing trend as the industry attempts to guide itself back to normality when the pandemic is over? A change in requirements One of the biggest changes in building design is the importance that is now being placed on ventilation. The need for proper circulation and fresh air to reduce the risk of contamination has never been more prominent – especially in the education sector where large groups of students must move around the building during regular intervals. This requirement also means that designers must think about the importance of flexibility to be able to purge the air in classrooms, and also consider window patterns and wall fans and their impact on the acoustics of these rooms. The care sector is another one that must adapt to changing times and, again, consider the importance of ventilation in communal areas or corridors that could be the hub of cross contamination. Many care homes are now drawing on primary care regimes and lobbying rooms to protect infected patients, altering facilities to increase the safety of both staff and residents. But, with providers in these sectors already struggling to source funds and a potential vaccine set to hit the UK in 2021, many of these measures may not be instigated. Stephen Moore, preconstruction manager at Willmott Dixon, said: “We have seen a variety in responses from our customers, with some not wanting to make significant, long-term changes to a problem that is deemed to be short-term. Cost management is key when it comes to these alterations, but many businesses are struggling to weigh up the short-term benefits with the financial impact that it can have on the outgoings of a project. “This response is being reflected by local authorities. Spatial problems are undeniable when discussing social distancing in schools, but councils don’t have the money, space or desire to make long-term changes to facilitate social distancing measures, and we are seeing many private sector companies take a similar stance. There is a focus for adapting operational policy rather than a significant change to buildings and the way they are designed to function.” Perfecting the process It’s not just the elements of design that have been impacted by Covid-19, but also the process in which these designs are created. The informal nature of construction sites means that social distancing is often hard to maintain. With a mountain of competing factors to contend with – such as the need for team work, the variety of jobs that have to be completed simultaneously and strict time scales that have to be adhered to – contractors have had to make dramatic changes to ensure staff stay socially distant while working on projects. This has meant for many firms, including Willmott Dixon, that focusing on off-site fabrication has helped the design process. Matt Linekar, head of building services at Willmott Dixon, said: “One of the key things that the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated is off-site manufacturing and the different ways in which we might be able to utilise modern methods of construction (MMC). “MMC is already a hot topic for the industry and the pandemic has simply enhanced this – and the last few months has given us the opportunity to explore the options in more detail and will no doubt continue to play a part in construction projects in the longer-term.” Long-term or short-term The construction industry is one that has never stopped working, so very quickly firms were forced to adopt new ways of working to help protect their teams and prevent the spread of Covid-19, all while ensuring that essential building projects did not stall. Matt added: “Distancing on site – and within the wider community – is probably here to stay, so as an industry we are having to find ways to accommodate that, but whether or not there will actually be long-term design implications remains to be seen. “The short-term response has been one of meeting practical challenges on sites and moving forwards with a different way of working, but the reality is that the construction industry is a very competitive marketplace – potentially even more so as the government has positioned the built environment at the forefront of the recovery strategy. “The government is encouraging a ‘build back better’ approach but there are inevitably cost implications associated with that and without legislation to demand improved standards and a force for change.” Should we change the approach to building design? There are potentially significant positives associated with a change in design focus, especially when you consider the environmental targets the UK is working towards and the impact more sustainable building would have. Stephen added: “Moving towards a focus on whole life cost is an important first step – but that will rely heavily on customers adopting a shift in mindset, thinking about overall value rather than initial outlay. It’s challenging, especially against a backdrop of a damaged economy and already stretched budgets, especially within the public sector. “Sustainability will be key, but that is something that has been put somewhat on the backburner for
Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has today made a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s plans to protect jobs through the winter. The Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan includes a six month Job Support Scheme, an extension to the coronavirus loan schemes and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, and flexibility for VAT repayments. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt acutely by businesses operating in the built environment, with projects facing supply chain issues, a halt to planning and inspection timetables and new health and safety measures changing the way the industry works. The CIOB welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement of these measures, and particularly the extension of the coronavirus loan schemes, which have been an important lifeline to construction businesses over the past months. Small and medium sized enterprises make up around 99% of the construction industry, and support for these businesses is essential for their survival. Despite these challenges, construction professionals have remained optimistic throughout the crisis and have worked hard to adapt and operate safely to support the economy and provide vital infrastructure, including the NHS Nightingale field hospitals. The Construction Talent Retention Scheme is helping businesses to quickly recruit talented individuals and reduce skills shortages within the industry. The construction industry has a crucial role to play in safeguarding employment and supporting the economy through the coming winter months. While The CIOB recognises that now is not the time to outline long-term plans, it is important that thought is given to a stable pipeline of future work for the industry. The industry will need confidence if it is to retain its existing skills base, as well as attract new entrants and train or retrain them in the low carbon skills of the future. The CIOB is calling on the Government to build on its £2 billion Green Homes Grant scheme (GHG) and make progress towards its manifesto commitment of £9.2 billion to improve energy efficiency in homes, schools and hospitals. The CIOB also recommends that the Government implement a ‘Help to Fix’ interest-free loan scheme, predicated on energy efficiency, to improve the quality of the nation’s housing stock and encourage the uptake of retrofit measures by homeowners not covered by the GHG. This will help to protect existing employment and provide new, green jobs across all regions of the UK.
Located on one of the most prominent and advantageous sites on the Southern M1, Panattoni Park Luton offers 414,000 sq. ft of prime logistics and manufacturing warehousing space. As the UK’s largest speculative developer, Panattoni continues to drive forward its commitment to producing smarter, faster developments that have the smallest carbon footprint possible, with Panattoni Park Luton being one of its most recent examples. The state-of-the-art development comprises of two separate units, with Hörmann UK supplying a total of 44 Loading Bays, including both Standard and Double Deck Docks, to provide potential occupiers with flexible loading solutions that will continue to meet their future needs. 10 of Hörmann UK’s Level Access Doors, 20 Fire Exit Doors and a range of additional safety devices have also been installed across the two warehouses. The innovations were specified by Panattoni to ensure it provides the highest standards in efficiency and functionality for a diverse range of supply chain operators. The development’s prime location poses an attractive proposition for potential occupiers, with London only 36 miles away and Luton Airport just a seven mile drive. UK major ports, including Felixstowe, London Gateway, Southampton and Dover, are also within easy HGV drive times, while a proposal for a new link road from junction 11a of the M1 to the A6 has also been approved. Unit 1, Luton 346, is available for immediate occupation and spans 346,000 sq. ft of warehousing space, featuring a clear internal height of 15 metres and 12,839 sq. ft of office area located over two floors. Chosen by Panattoni to provide potential occupiers with a premium offering, 38 of Hörmann UK’s Standard and Double Deck Loading Bays are installed throughout the warehouse, with each of the 34 Standard Loading Bays featuring a 3500mm long Dock Leveller with a 1000mm telescopic lip. This innovative design provides a safe working range above and below dock for maximum operational efficiency, while the tail lift slot covers prevent debris from collecting underneath, for enhanced service life. The bays have also been installed with Hörmann UK’s DTS collapsible Frame Shelter and Vertica Lift Sectional Doors, which are constructed using a unique thermal frame system that provides enhanced U-value ratings and increased operational efficiency. The four Double Deck Loading Bays also feature a 4500mm DTS-G Dock Shelter to facilitate the loading and unloading process for a diverse fleet of vehicles. This enables occupiers to transport goods in and out of the warehouse using larger double deck trucks, as well as standard sized heavy goods vehicles for optimum operational efficiency. For improved thermal performance, the Double Deck Docks are fitted with secondary electric roller blind top flaps to provide an efficient seal on smaller vehicles when using the bay. Eight of Hörmann UK’s vertical lift Level Access Doors have also been installed throughout Unit 1, along with 13 of its heavy duty Fire Exit Doors. The combination of these industrial solutions are designed to provide the highest levels of safety, efficiency and security throughout the entire unit. Fergie Taylor, Head of Development Delivery at Panattoni, said: “Since October 2017, Panattoni has committed to more than 8.5 million sq. ft of new projects within the UK, with a development value of £1 billion. The recent completion of Panattoni Park Luton fulfils our ambitions in delivering only the very best in warehousing solutions at key locations across the UK. “Our latest contract with Hörmann UK, which will continue its supply of products to key Panattoni developments throughout 2020 and 2021, will further drive our dedication to delivering the highest standards in quality and innovation for logistics solutions.” The second unit, Luton 69, spans 69,000 sq. ft and has already been occupied by a leading electrical supplier. Four of Hörmann UK’s Standard Dock Bays and two Double Deck Dock Bays are installed throughout the site, along with seven Fire Exit Doors and two Level Access Doors. Across both units, Hörmann UK’s resilient LED Vehicle Loading Lights have also been installed on each bay, along with rayon reinforced recycled tyre rubber dock buffers with wrap around 15mm steel face plates. This ensures all of the 44 loading bays offer the highest standards in safety, whilst subsequently streamlining the loading and unloading process for operators. Phil Thorpe, Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK, said: “As the largest developer of logistics facilities in Europe, Panattoni sets the pace within the industry for delivering first class warehousing solutions. We are extremely proud to be one of its leading suppliers of loading solutions, providing our durable and reliable technologies for a range of its high profile sites across the UK, including the recently completed Panattoni Park Luton.” To view Hörmann UK’s complete offering for the industrial market, visit https://www.hormann.co.uk or call 01530 516868.
Half a billion pounds must be injected into the England’s planning system over the next four years to ensure the government’s objectives on housing, beauty, climate, the economy and health can be achieved, according to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). In its formal response to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), the Institute sets out the vital role planning plays in facilitating economic growth, providing affordable housing, tackling climate change, ensuring access to green space and improving wellbeing. It says without significant investment, the government’s ambitions for the planning system, set out in a white paper published earlier this month, cannot be realised. Victoria Hills, chief executive of the RTPI, said: “The drive for new infrastructure, housing and progress towards net zero will create major additional need for planning services in the coming years. The planning system has been severely under-resourced for decades which has had implications not just for efficiency of process, but for the capacity of professional planners to apply their knowledge and lead on strategic place-making. “The government has set out its ambitions to ‘radically overhaul’ the planning system, but to deliver on these ambitions they will need professional planners. The development sector is crying out for support. Without adequate investment, this simply will not be possible.” The response, which comes ahead of the RTPI’s Invest and Prosper report, due to be published in October, says a new Planning Delivery Fund of £500m is required to enable the planning system to deliver outcomes efficiently, effectively and equitably. It would replace the existing fund, which was announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in February 2017 in a white paper, Fixing our Broken Housing Market. It allocated £25m between 2017-18 and 2019-20 to ‘support ambitious authorities in areas of high housing need to plan for new homes and infrastructure’. But only £15.8m was awarded to successful bidder in the first wave of funding, with the remaining £10m not being spent. This compares to a £150m a year (figure adjusted for inflation) Planning Delivery Grant to support local planning authorities between 2004 and 2008. The RTPI’s proposals comprise of nine sub-funds to enable investment into specific government priorities. It also calls for the funding to be ring-fenced and to be distributed fairly across all local authorities according to the number of people who live there, the scale of the development pressure and current levels of resourcing: Plan Making fund – £170 million The government has has said all local authorities must have an up to date local plan by 2023 but has not made any additional funding available. The Planning Delivery Fund would fund 50% of the costs of doing this. Design quality fund – £81 million The RTPI has welcomed the Government’s renewed commitment to high quality design, exemplified in its support for the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission. This funding would enable the delivery of the government’s ambitions for Design Codes in every local authority. Monitoring and enforcement fund – £67 million To allow local authorities to do proper assessment of what is actually being delivered through the planning system and how well the local plan is being delivered and issue enforcement proceedings. Digital transformation fund – £46 million To help support the digital transformation of planning – saving money in the medium and long term and freeing up planners’ time to plan. The existing Innovation Fnd has provided limited support (£1m between 6 LAs and one charity) Wider placemaking fund – £100 million To bring a range of place-focused professionals to local authorities, such as architects, urban designers and ecologists, and to incentivise those outside of local planning authorities, such as public health colleagues, to engage with the planning process to enable the delivery of healthy communities. Joint working fund – £15 million To enable strategic reviews of green belt, waste management and housing targets. Community engagement fund – £50 million The government has repeatedly suggested it would like participation to happen upstream – with earlier engagement for communities at plan making stage. The Planning Delivery fund should provide grant for authorities to engage in rich community participation at the earliest possible stage, for example through deliberative panels. Climate Action – £67 million To deliver the equivalent of one FTE planner to work exclusively on climate proofing policy and development management in each local authority. The Committee on Climate Change’s Net Zero UK report demonstrated there had been little or no progress in reducing carbon emissions of buildings or surface transport. Planning is part of the solution. Capacity building fund – £17m District Councils report that planning roles are the most difficult to fill out of all roles. This fund would comprise of £4m to support talent development from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and 13m to enable the country’s 11,000 public sector planners to attend five one-day courses a year over a period of four years.
MediaCityUK has the highest cluster of net zero carbon buildings in the UK after a further six of its properties have been third party verified against the UK Green Building Council’s 2019 definition. White, Blue and Orange Towers, Tomorrow building as well as dock10 studios and The Garage, totalling over 1.4m square feet have all demonstrated net zero carbon status based on their operational carbon emissions, and action taken to reduce those emissions and increase their renewable energy use. During 2019/2020 alone, the MediaCityUK team implemented 26 energy saving projects, reducing electricity consumption by 800 MWh – the equivalent of 232 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This adds to actions taken across Peel L&P’s wider portfolio in 2018/2019, where a total of £859,000 was invested into 66 energy efficiency projects, reducing carbon emissions from energy by 13%. The latest verification now means half of the buildings at MediaCityUK, which was developed by Peel L&P and is now a joint venture partnership with Legal and General Capital, are net zero carbon. Remaining emissions will be offset through a Verified Carbon Standard project twinned with tree-planting in the North West, further supporting the #BuildBackBetter agenda, creation of the Northern Forest and ensuring that the benefits are kept as local as possible. Earlier this year, MediaCityUK’s newly refurbished The Vic was among 11 other Peel L&P buildings to become the first in the UK to achieve net zero carbon status. This included buildings at Liverpool Waters and offices in Glasgow and Greater Manchester bringing the company’s total net zero carbon portfolio to 17 properties. Peel L&P has also confirmed a new science-based target to reduce emissions intensity by 68% and energy use by 25% per square metre by 2030 in line with the Commission on Climate Change sectoral decarbonisation pathway. Jo Holden, Peel L&P’s Sustainability Director said: “Our new science-based target helps us to focus our action on achieving more ambitious international decarbonisation goals set out in the Paris Agreement to help keep climate change below 1.5°C. “The addition of more independently-verified net zero carbon buildings is a positive step in the right direction and shows that we’re not just all about pledges, we can demonstrate tangible results for how we’re improving the sustainability of our assets and supporting the transition to low-carbon communities.” Peel L&P’s work to reduce carbon emissions across its assets is part of the company’s first five-year sustainability plan which supports the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UN SDGs) to help create a fair and sustainable planet by 2030. Councillor Derek Antrobus, lead member for Salford City Council’s planning and sustainable neighbourhoods, said: “We are delighted that Peel L&P are rising to the challenge of the City Mayor’s ambition for net zero carbon. We hope that other developers will follow their lead and make similar declarations.” MediaCityUK buildings verified as Net Zero Carbon: dock10 White Tower Blue Tower Orange Tower The Vic The Alex Quay West Digital World Centre View the full list of Peel L&P’s Net Zero Carbon buildings and the science-based target methodology on our website. Further information on Peel L&P’s five-year sustainability business plan can be found at www.peellandp.co.uk/responsibility
The UK energy sector is the most at risk of experiencing cyber incidents, according to a new threat table built from a global study on cyber readiness. The sector saw a median loss of over £100,000 ($150,000) in the last 12 months on cyber events, having been impacted by phishing and virus infestation attempts. Out of the 15 sectors included in the analysis, energy was one of the industries most likely to experience one or more cyber events over the past year, despite 84% of firms having a dedicated cyber security role. The findings are part of Hiscox’s Cyber Threat Ranking Table, which uses data from the insurer’s 2020 Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report, now in its fourth year, to rate the comparative cyber risk levels of a range of sectors, from a representative sample of 1,039 UK businesses. Cyber protection was a key factor when it came to identifying the level of risk for the sector, with only 68% of firms in the energy sector having a cyber insurance policy. The mean budget allocated to cyber security was also 10% less than the UK average. The professional services sector, which includes lawyers, accountants and consultants, proved to be the most cyber-ready, receiving the lowest risk score overall. Businesses in the industry reported the least amount of cyber events and were among the sectors most able to measure cyber impact. The Cyber Threat Ranking Table also includes cyber risk based on company size. The biggest UK companies experienced the highest losses on cyber incidents, with a median cost of more than £270,000 ($360,000) in the last 12 months. Risk was also associated with a comparatively low cyber security budget and the highest record of cyber incidents. Despite some industries receiving relatively high threat ranking scores in the UK, the overall results from this year’s Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report showed a marked improvement (in comparison to previous years) in relation to cyber security readiness with the sectors achieving ‘expert’ status nearly doubling – from 10% to 18%. Sector risk scores (highest to lowest risk) Energy (45) Food and Drink (42) Business Services (41) Government and Non-Profit (41) Financial Services (39) Pharma and Healthcare (38) Travel and Leisure (38) Manufacturing (37) Retail and Wholesale (36) Technology, Media and Communications (36) Transport and Distribution (36) Property (35) Construction (33) Professional Services (30) Hiscox’s Cyber Threat Ranking Table can be found at the following URL: https://www.hiscox.co.uk/cyberreadiness Stephen Ridley, Hiscox UK Cyber Underwriting Manager, commented: “While firms appear to be upping their game when it comes to cyber security at a global level, this is by no means uniform across sectors or countries. The UK energy sector currently appears to be among the most vulnerable which, given the growing intensity of criminal activity across the globe, is a great concern. The high risk score associated with businesses in this sector highlights the importance of on-going investment in cyber defences to help minimise vulnerability and improve overall cyber security resilience.”
If it is the first time that you are buying a home, the process may seem increasingly tough. There are many things to keep in mind so that you can get the best. There are house and land packages that provide benefits for those buying a house for the first time. You will have more control concerning the design as well. You may save precious time because you will not have to begin by looking for land, then finding a builder, etc. Read on to find out why house and land packages may help you out. Convenient These packages are said to be convenient. Finding the best builder to build the perfect home can take much time. You will have to do a lot of research so that you can get the best. When you find someone, you may have to wait until they are available to do your work. This can be tiring. But, if you combine buying the land as well as the house, it will be fast and more effortless. Various websites offer different affordable home and land packages that you can use for sale. It is a challenge to get a genuine deal, whether online or in person. You can see our packages today at North Harbour, which has excellent home and land packages that you can exploit to get a good deal. Be sure to do your due diligence to get a reasonable profit margin when you sell your house. Please make sure you also check their payment options for convenience. Be sure to exercise your bargaining power to get a good compromise on the house. Can alter the design By getting the combined package, you will be able to influence certain design features so that it can be the best for you and your loved ones. This case is not present if you buy a present house. Certain changes can occur which will be perfect for your family as well as your lifestyle. It is possible to select floor plans as you want, for instance. Move-in soon By selecting the package, the house will be available to stay in when completed. It is the builder’s job to fulfill all customizable features which will be included in the package. Everything will be final and you can move in as soon as you wish. Planning options By getting an attractive house and land package, you will have increased control when it comes to planning. For instance, you will know for how much time you have to stay in the present home when will be the best time to get removers, the dates you will have to take time off work so that you can move into your new house. All these points help out buyers. Some people become involved in purchasing land, then having to wait till good builders are present to build the home. Time is required for this and if you do not have anywhere to stay, looking for temporary housing may be tough. Makes the loan procedure easier Buying the package makes the financing part easier as well. If you decide to purchase land and then hire a builder, there will be two financing requirements. One loan will be needed for the land and the other for building the home. If you get the house and land package, the procedure will be one only. The above are reasons why you should look for these packages such as the benefits of house and land packages at Mackay or where you stay. Overall the process of getting a home may become easier with them.
Caddick Construction has secured a trio of accolades at the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme National Site Awards where three of its Northern sites were recognised. The high-profile £44m Emerald Headingley Stadium build was singled out for a Silver Award, along with the new £2.7m JCT600 Porsche Centre in Newcastle. Its 20,000 sq. ft industrial unit for Ormazabal on behalf of Network Space, as part of the Mere Grange development, St Helens, received a Bronze commendation. Judges commenting on the Emerald Stadium Scheme said: “This Project demonstrated a fantastic level of consideration towards the public, its workforce and the environment, through adhering to the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice.” This included: care about appearance, respect to the community, protect the environment, secure everyone’s safety and value their workforce. The Knottingley-based company has been rewarded by the Scheme for its exceptional achievement and recognised that its sites have made the greatest contribution towards improving the image of construction. This year the awards were announced and presented virtually to the recipients. Adrian Dobson, Managing Director at Caddick Construction, said: “We are delighted to receive three awards this year – a great haul for us – and all for projects that offered very different challenges in terms of size, location and complexity. Caddick’s site team rightly deserve all the recognition here and we are proud that they continue to go above and beyond for each other and their neighbours during every build.”