Kenneth Booth

Field Service Management: 5 productive softwares

A reputable manager’s most valuable asset is their ability to skilfully organise the vast network of tasks and plans spread out before them and assign them to a crew according to their expertise and skills. All of these tasks require close supervision and can not be fulfilled successfully unless one

Read More »

Why good broadband is essential for your business

The internet is the most powerful and important business tool at your disposal. Without it, many firms would cease to exist, struggle to make a profit or even be noticed in a sea of small businesses all vying for their customers’ attention. But what’s even more essential is a good

Read More »

How to Stay Healthy While Running a Busy Business

Being your own boss has lots of advantages but running a busy business can leave you feeling tired and worn out from time to time. Self-employed business owners and entrepreneurs typically take a very hands-on role, which often results in them burning the candle at both ends. If running a

Read More »

The Most Common Things People Forget When Starting a New Business

Starting a business can be daunting because it involves a lot of different components. Getting a great start can drastically improve your chances of launching a successful business, but there are often a couple of things that entrepreneurs forget when setting up a new company. So in this post, we’re

Read More »

New Build Developments: Property Marketing Advice

The importance of marketing is often overlooked in the real estate sector, despite the impact that this can have in selling and promoting brand new developments. This is reflected by numerous statistics, which underline the importance of imagery and text when selling real estate to potential buyers. For example, listings

Read More »

Blythe Valley Park becomes testbed for new green technology

IM Properties has teamed up with an award-winning, global tech firm to create a regional testbed for a new energy-saving streetlight system at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) in Solihull. Designed to reduce the use of electricity by up to 62.5%, the innovative smart system has been designed by Enzen, an

Read More »

BIRMINGHAM BOYS SCHOOL ON TRACK FOR 2021 OPENING

Plans to deliver an essential new school for east Birmingham in 2021 remain on track, despite the challenges of one of the wettest winters on record and the recent Covid-19 crisis. The Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East is an 800-place multi-faith school being delivered by Wates Construction in the Alum Rock

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Latest Issue
Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Kenneth Booth

GRAHAM awarded £3.5m fit-out contract by international law firm CMS

GRAHAM has been awarded a £3.5m contract by CMS to complete the interior fit-out of the international law firm’s new Sheffield office, located at 1 Charter Square. The privately-owned contractor will undertake the CAT A and CAT B development of 47,500 sq ft of space across four floors within the landmark building, which is situated in Phase 1 of Sheffield City Council’s Heart of the City II regeneration project. Since March 2020, GRAHAM has worked collaboratively with CMS to develop the design to Stage 4 to ensure the dynamic new space meets the modern expectations of approximately 350 people, with the in-built flexibility to accommodate future growth in line with the firm’s strategy in the north of England. The construction programme began in August 2020 and is scheduled for completion in early December 2020. Discussing the detail of the fit-out project Sue Blanche, GRAHAM Development Director, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious contract with internationally renowned law firm, CMS. As part of a Pre-Construction Services Agreement, we have been working closely with CMS and its professional team to fine-tune the design so that it includes first-class facilities that promote a collaborative environment to enable CMS to continue to deliver exceptional services to its clients. “Some of the notable aspects of the complex fit-out include glazed and moveable partitions, state-of-the-art AV/IT systems, feature reception areas, bespoke joinery as well as wall and floor finishes throughout. It’s an exciting project, and we are confident that, once complete, 1 Charter House will perfectly represent CMS’s reputation as a global leader.” CMS has signed a 20-year lease for the new premises, with the relocation coinciding with the firm’s 30-year anniversary in Sheffield. Expertise GRAHAM continues to expand its interior fit-out presence across the north of England, and has recently completed projects for Apart Hotel (Liverpool) and (Leeds). Currently, it is delivering Leeds Building Society’s new headquarters in Leeds city centre, and has recently been selected to deliver a £10m interior fit-out development at Citylabs 2.0 – a world-leading precision medicine campus in Manchester. Notably, GRAHAM has built a strong reputation as a trusted partner for a range of leading corporate firms, counting KPMG and Grant Thornton among its prestigious clients.

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The Key to Successfully Managing Construction Projects? Delegation!

If you’re managing a construction project, delegation is going to be key to your success. At the end of the day, it’s your role to ensure that everyone knows what they are doing. This includes knowing who’s meant to be doing what, when the work needs to be completed and any other necessary information that will ensure the project is completed to perfection. However, so many project managers tend to shy away from delegation. Instead of putting trust in their team, they’ll try to take on the bulk of the work themselves and oversee as much as possible directly. THis is senseless. If you weren’t sure that the team you are using is capable of doing the work to a good standard, you wouldn’t have hired them in the first place. For success to ensue, it’s absolutely essential that you take a step back, pass the right projects on to the right people and trust them to meet your requirements and expectations! At the end of the day, one person or team focusing on one or two specific tasks will prove a lot more effective and efficient than one person pandering over everything. Here are a few different steps that you can take to delegate jobs properly for the best results! 1. Know your team First and foremost you must know your team and exactly what each individual member plays. This can be in-house team members, agencies or third party services. It could be architects, plumbers, plasterers, electricians, bricklayers or anyone else. If you need work to be carried out by anyone you need to know what they can provide and determine whether they’re the right fit for what you need. This will allow you to delegate tasks to the right people. 2. Set realistic deadlines If you’re going to delegate tasks, you need to account for sufficient time for the task to be done properly and to a good standard. Placing unrealistic deadlines on people will just lead to rushed and shoddy work, which will reflect badly on you. Make sure that tasks are delegated to individuals who do not have any other commitments that could impact the deadline being met  – for example, other projects that you may have delegated to them alongside this new project. 3. Provide in-depth information When briefing people on what you’re expecting of them, it’s better to be overly informative and detailed than to give a vague or wishy washy brief. If specific needs or points are important, place emphasis on them. 4. Be available for questions or clarification Sure, you should avoid overly interfering once tasks have been delegated. But you should still make sure that you’re available to answer any questions or provide any clarification. It’s much better to give precise answers to any doubts or queries than to leave people to guess for themselves – potentially making the wrong choice. As you can see, delegation really is essential if you’re going to manage any construction projects properly. The four steps outlined above should help the process to go as smoothly as possible!

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Field Service Management: 5 productive softwares

A reputable manager’s most valuable asset is their ability to skilfully organise the vast network of tasks and plans spread out before them and assign them to a crew according to their expertise and skills. All of these tasks require close supervision and can not be fulfilled successfully unless one dedicated all their time to close surveillance. However thanks to digital softwares and apps, now these tasks have become considerably easier and can be regulated using only the screen of your laptop. Further highlighting the solution we have compiled here an excellent software guide for field managers to profit from. WorkForce: This is an all-in-on solution for go-getters. WorkForce is the silver lining you need for your work. This is a simple but innovative software that is based on cloud technology. Comprising of many components, it offers a wide variety of digital and visual tools for assistance in almost all areas concerned with management. WorkForce is specialised for field service management owing to its unique set of functions that aid with: Communication: Whether you have a small team or a large crew, this software is optimised to make communication easier and quicker. Your office staff can easily stay connected with field staff and give prompt instructions. WorkForce also allows you to see their live locations and assign jobs using their drag-&-drop feature. Collaborate effortlessly using WorkForce’s quick and responsive functions. It eliminates wasted time and increases productivity by a large margin. The best part is you can even attach notes and plans while you assign a job to make the project easier to understand and get your idea conveyed. Productivity: WorkForce boosts sales and productivity by converting wasted time into work. This app eliminates all paperwork and excel spreadsheets and has digitalised everything from quoting, invoicing to project agreements and payments. All under your fingertips! Receive quick job notifications and progress updates in one touch and save photographs, pdfs and documents in one click for future references. You can even send updated job reports and follow-ups for unpaid invoices and incomplete projects. WorkForce is definitely a game-changer when it comes to management work and will make ease in your work by a large magnitude. 2. Eye On Task: This software makes co-ordination a walk in the part with its new and innovative concepts. Not only can you communicate with your team effectively and quickly but also form and dissolve teams as well. This app gives you autonomy to choose whatever option suits you best and is optimal for your work. Eye on task truly does keep a keen eye on your projects and will act as your virtual assistant by filing all your tasks, projects and jobs neatly for future references. 3. OptimoRoute : This is the optimum route for all field service managers. OptimoRoute is an extremely professional app that lets your formulate and send plans on the go. Not only can you mark and make editions to your plans but also make them better using their innovative functions. It creates ease for field workers as well as it allows you to send them routes with proper GPS directions and also allow you to track your workers and their orders. You can even request analytics for future projects! 4. FreshDesk: This software is specifically designed to fit the needs of field managers as it prioritises communication and coordination. It offers excellent customer engagement options so you can build trust and solid relationships with your customers. FreshDesk also reduces wasted time and offers handy solutions to resolve most of your problems. It even used no-code boys to simplify difficult workflows. 5. Field Motion: As the name suggests this app puts into motion all your tasks and projects and allows you to track them efficiently. Not only does it offer easy communication between your office and field staff but also makes job assignment a walk in the park. Field Motion is optimum for managers who prefer an easy to use, simple interface with complex and innovative tools. Conclusion: These softwares will not only track all your productivity progress but also increase it considerably so invest efficiently in the proper software for more fruitful results.

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Why good broadband is essential for your business

The internet is the most powerful and important business tool at your disposal. Without it, many firms would cease to exist, struggle to make a profit or even be noticed in a sea of small businesses all vying for their customers’ attention. But what’s even more essential is a good broadband connection and high speeds. Failure to have these established and you may struggle with the simple day to day running of your business. From cloud access services, file transfers, screen sharing, communication between clients and employees and more, without a good speed your business will be left floundering. The costs of poor broadband aren’t just felt in your business’ success, you may also feel them in your pocket. Getting the best deal for your broadband is essential for any business owner who is conscious of that bottom line and their expenses. You can check out the latest broadband deals here. Here we’ll outline why good broadband is essential for your business. Tech! Technological advances are happening every day and the best way your business can keep up is to invest in high-speed broadband. Most devices now require a certain broadband speed or bandwidth for them to work efficiently. Companies and clients alike will want to use the latest in technology to connect with you and make their working life easier, from smartphones and tablets to video conferencing, online payments and e-commerce. Ensuring you have high-speed broadband will allow you to cope with high volumes of traffic and requests both in your office and from your customers. Remote working Due to Covid-19, more of us are working from home than ever before. This means you need to provide a network that is flexible and easily accessed by those who work remotely. From data back up requirements to sharing projects, online meetings, chats and so on, your workforce needs to know that they can log onto a secure network that won’t hinder their productivity and their ability to do their job. Fast broadband will allow them to do this. Better customer service Providing outstanding customer service is essential for any business. You can provide your staff with excellent training and incentives and only hire those with good levels of experience in customer service. However, all of this means very little if your staff cannot implement their skills due to poor connectivity issues. If you can’t connect with clients online efficiently, then your customer retention numbers will start to suffer. Data back up Preserving your files, customer data and other online files safely are only possible with superfast broadband. Imagine losing all your customer data, your product information, vendor information and financial data for everyone you do business with. Automated cloud backups and confidence comes with high-speed broadband. And finally, increase those profit margins The better your broadband speed, the better for your budget. Not only could you potentially save money on your energy bills but with improved customer engagement and staff productivity, your profit margins will increase in no time.

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How to Stay Healthy While Running a Busy Business

Being your own boss has lots of advantages but running a busy business can leave you feeling tired and worn out from time to time. Self-employed business owners and entrepreneurs typically take a very hands-on role, which often results in them burning the candle at both ends. If running a busy business is top of the agenda, it’s important to consider the impact it’s having on other areas of your life. Working long hours or taking on too much can have a negative impact on your health, particularly if you’re feeling stressed or anxious. Fortunately, there are simple ways to take care of your health without affecting your work. To ensure you stay healthy while running your business empire, take a look at these top tips now: Eat a nutritious diet When you’re working all day, every day, it’s easy to forget to eat at regular times. Entrepreneurs may go for too long without consuming anything, only to binge on fast food when hunger takes hold and you simply cannot resist. If shopping and preparing nutritious meals every day sounds a little over-ambitious, why not try a much simpler established diet plan instead? When you use a nutrition plan as a basis for your healthy diet, you won’t have to think about what to eat or when to eat it – it’ll be almost effortless. Furthermore, a nutritious regime, like John Cena’s diet plan, can help you to get the right mix of macronutrients and vitamins. When you’re fuelling your body correctly, you have more energy and reduce your risk of developing health issues, so it’s a great way for business owners to stay healthy. Get regular exercise If a busy work schedule leaves you with limited time to spend with family and friends, you probably aren’t getting enough time to work out on a regular basis either. However, exercise is a critical part of a healthy lifestyle, so it’s important to find a way to fit it into your usual routine. If you work from home, why not take a brisk walk around the block every lunchtime or even jog around your garden? Alternatively, if you work away from home, why not switch commuting in the car to travelling by bike? When you really can’t spare the time to get outside to exercise, you can use office-friendly equipment to increase your heart rate. Innovative under-desk treadmills and exercise bikes give you the chance to stay fit while you’re working, and wearable weights help you to build muscle strength. You should also complement exercise with frequent visits to medical experts says this dentist in Melbourne. Focus on your mental health Running a business is inevitably stressful at times, which naturally has an impact on your mental health. Many entrepreneurs spend the majority of their time at work, which leaves little room for maintaining relationships. This can exacerbate mental health issues and leave you feeling isolated. If you feel your mental health is negatively affected by your work, or anything else, don’t hesitate to seek help from a medical professional. In addition to treating your symptoms with prescription medication, you could be referred for online therapy or counselling. In addition to this, there are numerous self-care options that can help you to minimize anxiety or stress. Yoga, meditation and mindfulness can be practised daily and in any location. You can even use them in the office to help you stay calm and focused. Maintain relationships No matter how hard you’re working, it’s important to make time for the people you love. Factor in time to spend with your partner and family on a regular basis and be sure to maintain friendships too. If you can’t attend as many social events as you’d like, why not host a virtual meet-up? Even checking in with friends via text or email will help you to maintain contact in busier times. Having fun, relaxing and laughing are all very good for the mind and body and will help you to de-stress naturally. Furthermore, getting out of the office and doing something different will help you to stay creative and motivated. As well as benefitting yourself, you’ll be enriching the lives of the people closest to you when you make them a priority. Cultivate a Health-First Workspace If you’re an employer or you regularly work with freelancers and subcontractors, you can encourage them to manage their health more effectively too. By giving people the time to take exercise breaks or providing access to healthy eating plans, for example, you can ensure that those around you are as focused on staying healthy as you are.

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The Most Common Things People Forget When Starting a New Business

Starting a business can be daunting because it involves a lot of different components. Getting a great start can drastically improve your chances of launching a successful business, but there are often a couple of things that entrepreneurs forget when setting up a new company. So in this post, we’re going to cover some of the most commonly neglected areas that you should really be focusing on as a priority when starting a new business. Marketing shouldn’t be an afterthought–it should take priority You could set up one of the best businesses ever but if you’re not willing to advertise then you’ll never get noticed. Marketing should take up a huge percentage of your initial capital since you want to make a big impact. Once the basic foundation of your business has been set up and you can start taking orders, you should focus on creating an accessible website. After that, you can pour the rest of your capital into marketing to get people to notice you. Your team needs to be strong and able to work together as a cohesive unit Far too many new businesses hire a mix of experienced individuals and fresh employees. This leads to a mixed team that is difficult to lead because the difference in knowledge and skill is far too much. You want to establish a team that has a strong bond instead of focusing only on their experience and expertise. Even if there’s a gap in knowledge, strong company culture can create powerful bonds that will uplift the entire team and help them work as a cohesive unit. Remembering all of the legal steps to take before you establish a business It’s important to remember that you need to register to do business in your state and you need to speak to a legal professional to ensure a solid foundation for your company. The last thing you want is someone taking you to court because your company name is too similar to theirs or because your products are infringing on their patents. Internalize all criticism and feedback so you can act on it One of the biggest mistakes that new businesses make is ignoring any initial criticism and feedback. The typical excuse is that your business isn’t “ready” yet or it’s not set up properly, so you might think you’re immune to any criticism. In reality, if you’re getting some kind of criticism early on, you should immediately listen to it and figure out how to solve those problems. Don’t forget to network at every opportunity Lastly, you’ll want to remember to network at every opportunity to build strong relationships with other businesses in your industry. If you ever attend a trade show or have the opportunity to do so, you should mingle with as many different groups as possible and try to absorb all the information and insider knowledge that you can. This will help you identify who the big names in the industry are and who you should befriend if you want to accelerate your business growth. Always stay in touch with other companies and use these events to learn more about your intended audience as well.

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New Build Developments: Property Marketing Advice

The importance of marketing is often overlooked in the real estate sector, despite the impact that this can have in selling and promoting brand new developments. This is reflected by numerous statistics, which underline the importance of imagery and text when selling real estate to potential buyers. For example, listings with sharp and attractive images sell at the list price or above 44% of the time, which is considerably higher than those without. In this post, we’ll explore this concept further while providing the best property marketing advice for new developments. Bring Developments to Life with CGI While clean and high-definition images can prove crucial in real estate marketing, often these aren’t enough to engage buyers in a competitive market. However, this may not be possible with new developments, where there’s a pressing need to sell units before they’ve been fully realised – in other words, you can’t take a picture of a property that doesn’t exist yet. This is where computer-generated imagery (CGI) can come into play, as this can be used to create new images or rendered pictures of how a development will look in the future. The main advantage of this is that it allows buyers to visualise the development in fine and accurate detail, creating a scenario where they’re ultimately encouraged to make a more informed and confident purchasing decision. In the modern age, CGI should serve as the starting point for all new build marketing, based on existing architectural plans and a clear aspirational vision. 2. Make the Physical Site Dominant and Hard to Miss When marketing your development, it’s also important that potential buyers are aware of the physical site and the stage that the work is at. This also helps them to build a connection between the development and your brand, potentially creating an organic marketing channel through which buyers can contact you. To achieve this, you’ll need to invest in durable and prominent signage, which can simultaneously thrive in outdoor elements and target passing traffic effectively. Aluminium and magnetic signs are great in these respects, while correx signage is also available in sizes ranging from A4 to A0. This highlights the need to create an integrated marketing approach, and one that targets customers through various different means. 3. Produce a Development Brochure With this point in mind, the next step is to produce a development brochure, which should be stylish, well-designed and capable or helping to convert interested parties into certified buyers. This can help with the conversion process and increase the number of sales over time, by combining high-quality imagery and detailed floor plans with active text that sells an aspirational lifestyle. This can also feature CGI and maps of the location and the surrounding amenities, creating a comprehensive guide that’s both informative and persuasive in equal measure. With the right distribution, this can create a great and insightful marketing tool, and one that has an impact at the most important stage of the consumer journey.

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£20M Plastic-to-hydrogen plant at Peel L&P’s Protos moves forward RD

The Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase has been completed on the UK’s first waste plastic to hydrogen facility. The facility, which is planned for Protos – Peel L&P Environmental’s strategic energy and resource hub in Cheshire – will create hydrogen from waste plastic which could be used to fuel cars, buses and HGVs. Completed during lockdown, the study assessed all the design and engineering aspects of the proposed facility. It also evaluated the total project costs – estimated at £20m – which will facilitate Peel L&P Environmental finalising the project financing. The ‘UK first’ facility which gained planning consent from Cheshire West & Chester Council in March 2020 will use pioneering DMG (Distributed Modular Generation) technology developed by Powerhouse Energy Group plc (AIM: PHE) at Thornton Science Park, next door to Protos. The facility will transform the way plastic is dealt with regionally, with the scheme also set to provide a blueprint for future projects to be rolled out nationally. Peel L&P Environmental will develop 11 facilities across the UK in the next few years and has the option of exclusive rights to the Powerhouse Energy technology in the UK leading to over 70 facilities in total. The plastic to hydrogen facility, is the first part of the ‘Plastic Park’ planned at Protos, which will revolutionise the way that plastic waste is currently handled. Envisaged to be one of many Plastic Parks across the UK, it will provide a comprehensive solution for the 4.9 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in the UK each year, preventing it ending up in landfill, exported overseas or in the ocean. A planning application for the first Plastic Park at Protos is expected before the end of the year. Richard Barker, Director at Peel L&P Environmental said: “This FEED phase is an important step forward in delivering this innovative technology at Protos. Working with Powerhouse Energy we’re creating a blueprint for this UK first plastic-to-hydrogen facility, with plans to roll out over 70 more across the UK. With hydrogen increasingly being seen as an important part of our journey to net zero the time is now.” Jayne Hennessy, Development Manager at Peel L&P Environmental said: “The Powerhouse Energy technology was developed right next door to Protos at Thornton Science Park which illustrates how the North West is leading on innovation around net zero. It’s great to see the project moving forward and paves the way for construction starting later this year.” David Ryan, CEO of Powerhouse Energy said: “I would like to congratulate Peel L&P on bringing the FEED phase for the DMG plant at Protos to a successful completion, especially during the lockdown period which is a significant achievement. Defining the application at Protos has provided further commercial and technical validation of our DMG technology. We are confident that the delivery of this first commercial plant will provide a community based distributed source of hydrogen to further the hydrogen economy in the UK.” Peel L&P Environmental is engaging with supply chain partners to support the project with construction expected to start later this year. The company is also in the process of applying for an Environmental Permit for the facility.

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Blythe Valley Park becomes testbed for new green technology

IM Properties has teamed up with an award-winning, global tech firm to create a regional testbed for a new energy-saving streetlight system at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) in Solihull. Designed to reduce the use of electricity by up to 62.5%, the innovative smart system has been designed by Enzen, an occupier at BVP and winner of  ‘Business of the Year’ at the  Birmingham Signature Awards 2020 for its excellence and innovation in utilities. The new system uses sensors to control the streetlights and dim them when the roads are not in use.  It incorporates wireless communication and an inbuilt app within the 63 smart LED streetlights to identify maintenance and repairs required to ensure optimum performance. It can also add a renewable energy source such as solar panels or smart battery power at a later date to drive further energy efficiencies. IM Properties invested in the £90,000 technology during the lockdown and reports that if successful, the system could not only be rolled out across its own portfolio but provide Enzen with a living lab to showcase the solution to other organisations, within the private and public sector, achieve their sustainability goals. Rob Hemus, asset director at IM Properties said they were pleased to be utilising the skills of one of BVP’s occupiers to create a more sustainable lighting system for the park and create real savings for occupiers. “Despite lockdown, we decided to proceed with the project as there are wider environmental and sustainability gains for the Park and it was a chance to carry out a major infrastructure project without disruption to our occupiers.  The new system should begin to deliver savings on the electricity used by the streetlighting immediately. “Since we bought Blythe Valley Park in 2014 we have invested steadily in the on-site infrastructure and this latest initiative is part of our ongoing strategy to add value for occupiers and create a high-quality working environment and sustainable best in class scheme for people to live, work and relax.” For Enzen, BVP provides an exciting new opportunity to collect live data and demonstrate the benefits of technology to new and existing customers. Harsha Anand from Enzen added: “Cities and communities will play a major role in making energy to be more available, affordable and sustainable. Smart technology and smart telecommunications will be enablers in this energy transition journey. We are very happy to be supported by IM Properties in making our base at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) in Solihull into a Living Lab Showcase for these Smart Technologies.” BVP near junction 4, M42,  is one of the Midlands first truly mixed-use schemes set amidst 122 acres of parkland, with 25 businesses employing 3500 people and combining commercial, industrial, leisure and residential.

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BIRMINGHAM BOYS SCHOOL ON TRACK FOR 2021 OPENING

Plans to deliver an essential new school for east Birmingham in 2021 remain on track, despite the challenges of one of the wettest winters on record and the recent Covid-19 crisis. The Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East is an 800-place multi-faith school being delivered by Wates Construction in the Alum Rock area of Birmingham, on behalf of Star Academies, one of the leading Multi Academy Trusts in the country. Construction work on the school started in January this year and is set to complete in April 2021, in time for the new academic year in September. John Carlin, Wates Construction’s Regional Managing Director for the Midlands, said that a combination of adapting working practices on site and a focus on using offsite manufacturing had ensured the project remained on programme. He said: “We commenced groundworks during a period of incredibly poor weather, followed almost immediately by the Covid-19 crisis, so it’s a real testament to the dedication of the team that the project remains very much on target for its completion date in 2021. “As with all our sites, there was a short period of lockdown in line with Government guidelines but we were then able to restart the site once we had established a series of protocols that would ensure the safety of everybody working on the project.” “We are now nearing the completion of the superstructure of the main building and over the next two months we will add the steel frame system and the façade. Importantly we are also working closely with our mechanical, electrical and plumbing partner, SES Engineering Services, to integrate a number of innovative offsite solutions that are driving significant efficiencies in the build programme and helping reduce the number of people we need on site.” The new school is situated on a 3.5 hectare site and includes a three-storey teaching block, a sports hall and winter and summer sports pitches. The site will also include space for 94 car parking spaces and 96 cycle spaces. Star Academies is one of the UK’s most successful academy trusts, with many of its schools topping the league tables in terms of progress for 11-16 year olds, and John believes the new school will provide a fantastic facility for the local community. He said: “Creating an enduring legacy is fundamental to our approach at Wates and we believe this school will not only provide great facilities for the local community today, but fantastic opportunities for generations to come.” David Holland, Executive Director of Capital Programmes & Estates at Star Academies, said: “Wates’ proactive approach to delivery and their desire to maintain programme despite the many challenges faced has been very impressive.  Staff and pupils are very much looking forward to the handover of the new school next year”

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