The day-to-day cost of running your business can work out to be far more expensive than it should or needs to be – but there are simple ways to reduce your overhead costs. From rethinking the space you work in, to auditing your stationery order you can cut costs while
~ Euramax releases infographic on benefits modular construction brings to housing market ~ Yorkshire based window and door manufacturer, Euramax, has released an infographic that outlines the UK’s current struggles to create enough affordable homes for first time buyers. Following the UK government’s recent creation of a First Homes scheme,
The Northern Ireland Protocol will take effect from 1 January 2021. New guidance provides support for businesses engaging in new processes under the Northern Ireland Protocol. The guidance outlines that, under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the UK Government will ensure that: Moving goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain should
British homeowners have spent an average of £4,035.70 each on renovations as they expect to stay home for the long term Home pub makes post-pandemic pad wish list alongside garden studio and indoor gym as emerging social areas look set to add value to homes Garden is the most popular lockdown refurb
Midlands-contractor G F Tomlinson is due to start highway infrastructure works this August as part of the £2.4million re-development of a mixed-use business park site in Skegness for Lincolnshire County Council, via the Scape Regional Construction framework. Works at the Skegness Industrial Estate located to the west of the town,
In the energy sector, there is so much resistance towards the construction of new pipelines. One of the major reasons is the adverse effects of these pipelines. For instance, in the last decade, the stats for oil spillage is alarming. Just so you know how bad it is, not less
The trucking industry is a necessary and vital part of American life. It is responsible for transporting retail items like food all across the country. Without those huge trucks and the people willing to drive them, there would barely be an economy to speak of. However, as necessary as trucks
Work Radar, a new platform connecting individual tradespeople, micro businesses and social enterprises with leading contractors, has launched today. The service will help thousands of construction workers find local work and supports the government’s plan to progress shovel-readyprojects in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Work Radar has
CBRE Global Investors Buys 3 Units At Leeds Logistics Park CBRE Global Investors has acquired 3 units totalling 119,500 sq ft from CDP Marshall at the flagship 62 Leeds logistics hub, demonstrating the continued high level of demand for prime mid-box units in the regional industrial sector. The acquisition includes
Charlie Carlton, Head of Digital at IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery, has commented on the UK economy entering a recession and the outlook for the construction industry: “The UK has now officially, and inevitably, entered a recession, with the economy shrinking by 20.4% between April and June, compared
The day-to-day cost of running your business can work out to be far more expensive than it should or needs to be – but there are simple ways to reduce your overhead costs. From rethinking the space you work in, to auditing your stationery order you can cut costs while pushing your business forward. Here are our 4 top tips for reducing the overhead costs of your business. 1. Think about your work space The cost of renting office space can be a huge drain on your business expenses. If working from an office is absolutely necessary, why not shop around for appropriate space close by with lower rates of rent? While it might be a big business decision to make, it might be worth reconsidering if you need a permanent office space at all? Of course, this is all dependent on your business type, culture and if the work you do can be carried out away from an office – but remote working is quickly emerging as the ‘new normal’. By way of compromise, you could consider utilizing a local coworking space. 2. Review supply orders If getting rid of your office space entirely isn’t something you could even begin to consider, then it’s time to have a look at cost-cutting within your office. Have you been putting in the same repeat order of office supplies for years without reviewing what you’re buying? It’s an easy thing to do – especially when your time is consumed with keeping clients happy and producing the best work possible. However, this is an essential part of reducing overhead costs – it’s imperative that you regularly review your orders. For instance, have you been ordering the same amount and brand of ink and toner cartridge since you bought your printer? If the answer is yes, branded ink and toner is notoriously expensive and you can actually buy compatible versions from reputable suppliers that work in exactly the same way. It’s little adjustments such as this that could make all the difference. 3. Reevaluate your accounting This is something that can absolutely work both ways. You need to figure out whether there’s more value in spending your time doing client work or can you spare some time/do you have the right amount of knowledge to do your own accounting? If you have an accountant and incur any penalties due to errors, they will usually pay those on your behalf. Accountants and professionals in the tax field are also more likely to find things you may have overlooked. Whichever way you choose to play it, you will need to calculate what will reduce your overheads the most over time. 4. Look at your marketing expenditure There are many different ways to reduce your sales and marketing costs. You’ll need to begin by doing an audit of all your current outgoings related to marketing and figure out what is the most effective method. There may be regular marketing expenses you’ve been paying for a really long time that no longer make sense and don’t result in generating you revenue. Have you been paying for printed materials that remain in cardboard boxes tucked under your desk? Does that radio advert still pay off? There’s lots you can look at and strip away the things that might cost a lot and yet not yield any valuable business. You’ll always be able to find ways to cut costs when you regularly reevaluate expenditure – hopefully, these tips set you on the path to successfully reducing your overheads.
~ Euramax releases infographic on benefits modular construction brings to housing market ~ Yorkshire based window and door manufacturer, Euramax, has released an infographic that outlines the UK’s current struggles to create enough affordable homes for first time buyers. Following the UK government’s recent creation of a First Homes scheme, many hopeful homeowners still remain uncertain that they will have enough funds to make it onto the property ladder. In order to create enough homes to meet demand, the government has predicted that over 300,000 homes must be built each year until 2025. A lack of housing is not the only factor affecting the UK housing market. Many first-time buyers are unable to get onto the property ladder due to the high cost of an initial deposit. To help first time buyers, the government announced the First Homes scheme in February 2020. The scheme, which has been prioritised for key workers such as those in the Armed Forces, police and teachers, will offer a 30 per cent discount on new homes. However, analysis by homeless charity Shelter has found that 96 per cent of average earners would still not be able to afford a home under this scheme. Modular construction has become a standout method in the construction industry. Builds can be completed quicker and because fewer resources are required in their construction, they are usually cheaper to build and buy. This could offer a more affordable solution for the first time buyers struggling to get onto the property ladder. Euramax originally supplied windows for narrow boats and the static and touring caravan market, before expanding into the modular and offsite construction sectors in 2019. “Though Euramax has not supplied into the modular sector as long as it has caravans, assessing the industry and connecting with professionals has helped us to gain a strong insight into the potential of modular construction”, said managing director, Nick Cowley. “We now supply our products to a number of modular home manufacturers across the country. “Modular constructions can be built up to 50 per cent faster than traditional brick and mortar homes. This quick completion time has recently helped to build emergency hospitals and additional wards, as well as school classrooms. Modular builds can be completed quicker because the build is prefabricated offsite, in a factory-controlled environment. “Unlike traditionally built homes that require extensive site preparation before construction can commence, fabrication of the modules can start right away. Because a modular build is predominantly constructed offsite, there is little disruption from factors such as the weather and quality checks can be carried out beforehand. “It’s clear to see that a lot more must be done to help more first-time buyers enter the property market. That’s why we are dedicated to supporting this industry and recently supplied modular home manufacturer Ilke Homes, with windows and doors for 2,000 of their modular homes,” added Cowley. To learn more about how Euramax’s range of PVCu windows and doors and composite doors can support the modular industry, visit the website.
The Northern Ireland Protocol will take effect from 1 January 2021. New guidance provides support for businesses engaging in new processes under the Northern Ireland Protocol. The guidance outlines that, under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the UK Government will ensure that: Moving goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain should take place as it does now – there will be no additional process, paperwork, or restrictions on Northern Ireland goods moving to Great Britain, delivering unfettered access. Changes for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be kept to an absolute minimum – with a new Trader Support Service, available to all traders at no cost, to be established to provide wraparound support, alongside guidance on the processes for food and agricultural products designed to uphold the longstanding status of the island of Ireland as a single epidemiological unit. Trade in goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and between Northern Ireland and EU Member States, will continue unaffected, with no change at the border, no new paperwork, and no tariffs or regulatory checks. For trade with the rest of the world, Northern Ireland will benefit from UK FTAs – ensuring the benefits of those agreements are felt right across the United Kingdom. If businesses are impacted by these changes, they may want to consider the Trader Support Service. It can help businesses if they: move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or bring goods into Northern Ireland from outside the UK; act on behalf of someone to move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or bring goods into Northern Ireland from outside the UK; are based in Northern Ireland and receive goods from outside of Northern Ireland; send parcels between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or bring parcels into Northern Ireland from outside the UK, using Royal Mail or an express operator. The Trader Support Service will be free to use and will guide businesses through any changes to the way goods move between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and into Northern Ireland from outside the UK. Businesses can also use it to get declarations completed on their behalf. Businesses can register an interest in the Trader Support Service here. Apply for grants if your business completes customs declarations Businesses can apply for 3 grants to help their business complete customs declarations. They can apply to get funding for: training that helps a business to complete customs declarations and processes; hiring new staff to help their business complete customs declarations; IT improvements to help their business complete customs declarations more efficiently. More information on the scheme and how to apply is available here.
British homeowners have spent an average of £4,035.70 each on renovations as they expect to stay home for the long term Home pub makes post-pandemic pad wish list alongside garden studio and indoor gym as emerging social areas look set to add value to homes Garden is the most popular lockdown refurb for homeowners and veg patches make a comeback With most of the nation stuck indoors due to lockdown restrictions, homeowners across the UK are investing in lockdown makeovers, new research reveals. The 2020 Renovation Nation Report, by mortgage comparison site money.co.uk, has found that UK’s homeowners have invested an average of £4,035.70 each on home renovations, since the lockdown began in March. And it seems that Brits are sacrificing more than ever for their perfect pad as the prospect of more time at home becomes the new normal. Garden upgrades (34%) top a list for the most popular lockdown renovation projects, closely followed by the living room (23%), bedroom (22%) and kitchen (22%) as together the nation’s homeowners invested £55bn* in their properties. The findings by the personal finance experts at money.co.uk, also suggest that homeowners have abandoned all hopes of a holiday. Almost a quarter (24%) stated they have used money originally intended for a holiday to finance their new home improvements, which is second only to general savings (26%). Some even admitted to sacrificing their ‘big day’ as 4% of Brits revealed they used savings originally intended for a wedding or engagement ring. When asked why they chose to invest in their home, over a quarter (27%) of homeowners cited adding value to their home as a reason. Zoom has also played its part. Approaching half (40%) of British homeowners admitted to ‘Zoombarrassement’ over the appearance of their homes. Keen to make the most of staying home, green-fingered Brits have also been turning their hand to growing their own vegetables, with just over one in five (21%) homeowners investing in a greenhouse or vegetable patch during the pandemic. Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said: “While many have struggled with the impact of lockdown restriction on their finances, our research found that having to spend more time at home has inspired almost two-thirds (65%) of homeowners to invest in renovations to their properties. “Almost three quarters (73%) of the property owners we spoke to said they will continue to stay home as much as possible even with lockdown easing, it looks like the trend for investing in homes looks set to continue. “For those looking to renovate or improve their homes, they will need to balance short term wishes with long term gain. The financial impact of investing in your home should always be a concern and ensuring you add value to your home through the work you do to the property is essential.” Pandemic changing Brits renovation dreams – but will they add value? When asked which home project Brits would consider investing in as a direct result of the pandemic, garden projects again reigned supreme: ● Over a third (34%) said they wanted a garden summerhouse/studio ● Over fifth (21%) are craving a greenhouse/vegetable patch ● 14% dream of raising their glass to their own pub. Inside the home, work and leisure are on the wish list: ● indoor gyms (17%) and bike storage (9%) ● offices (16%) ● leisure rooms (17%) ● and even classrooms (2%) making the list. Property expert, Adam Parson, Area Supervisor (SE) Andrews Property Group commented: “During these unprecedented times what has become immediately noticeable is the lack of attention people had previously given to the most social areas of the home i.e. garden and living room. “As we emerge from lockdown the perception of importance has changed, and the specialist areas will be seen as an asset rather than a novelty. Areas such as a garden studio, leisure area or pub/bar area that add a point of difference, escapism or an improvement to well-being will be seen as a necessity. Going forwards, we believe that the home buyers in today’s market will take more notice of these areas which increases their potential to add value to the overall property.” For more information on what post pandemic renovations will add value to your home and ways to finance them can be found in the 2020 Renovation Nation report at money.co.uk.
Midlands-contractor G F Tomlinson is due to start highway infrastructure works this August as part of the £2.4million re-development of a mixed-use business park site in Skegness for Lincolnshire County Council, via the Scape Regional Construction framework. Works at the Skegness Industrial Estate located to the west of the town, close to main routes such as the A52 include the construction of a new highway link to join up two parts of the existing industrial estate, which will allow for the expansion of the park site onto the surrounding agricultural land. The preparation works will enable the current site to be more easily accessible for multiple business functions in future, to accommodate speculative builds or purpose-built units for a range of private clients, including local seasonal companies in Skegness for storage needs. As well as a new 4,000m2 access road, there will also be a foul water pump station that will service the land, as well as water and electric service ducts to allow services to be easily brought onto the site in future and LED street lighting to current standards. Expected to be complete in spring 2021, the redeveloped business park site will span six hectares, which includes the current existing main industrial site and surrounding road infrastructure that is being opened up for future development. G F Tomlinson has worked on numerous projects for Lincolnshire County Council in the past, including heritage works for Lincoln Castle and in the education sector – the refurbishment of school buildings at Lincoln Castle Academy and Monks Abbey Primary School, the construction of a new two storey Science and ICT building at Walton High School in Grantham, as part of its expansion and transition from an all-girls school to a coeducational secondary school, and the refurbishment of the disused former Mablethorpe Tennyson High School, to create the Springwell Alternative Academy in Mablethorpe. Managing director of G F Tomlinson, Andy Sewards, said: “We’re delighted to announce the commencement of infrastructure works this August for the redevelopment of the existing business park site in Skegness. The works will ensure accessibility to the site and existing industrial estate and will facilitate potential for economic development for the town, providing quality space with access to agricultural land for a number of businesses in the vicinity, or for those looking to relocate to the Skegness area. “We have a solid, longstanding relationship with our client, Lincolnshire County Council, and have worked with them for numerous projects and developments since 2012 when we did the first of the waste transfer stations. We look forward to seeing this project through from its summer start to finish, which is expected at the beginning of next year.” Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The expansion of the business park is a big confidence boost for our coast. Diversifying the economy in the area will provide more year-round employment as well as allowing local businesses to expand or re-locate. “The site will be suitable for a wide range of business needs and usage, including purpose-built units for many different companies, and will encourage future investment. By boosting investment and creating jobs, there will be benefits throughout the wider area.” Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “G F Tomlinson has a long-standing relationship with Lincolnshire County Council and it is great to see that they are utilising the speed and efficiency of the Regional Construction framework for the infrastructure works at the Skegness Industrial Estate, ensuring it is fit for expansion will bring investment to the local area, helping with the town’s economic recovery and future development.”
In the energy sector, there is so much resistance towards the construction of new pipelines. One of the major reasons is the adverse effects of these pipelines. For instance, in the last decade, the stats for oil spillage is alarming. Just so you know how bad it is, not less than 34 million gallons have been lost to terrible pipe maintenance. Regardless of how it happens, when there is a spillage, there is a lot of strain on the environment. Aquatic life is affected, and so is every other thing within that location. This is not to mention the bad effects on the balance sheet. This is against the ideals of an eco-friendly environment and best business practices. In a bid therefore to prevent these environmental pollutions, there is so much resistance put up by some conservationists against the construction of these pipelines. Should Pipelines be Eradicated? Truth be told, most times, the problem is not the constructed pipes. These pipes are important for ensuring that the average household gets the needed gas, among other benefits. It is even the safest way to transport products in the energy industry. It is way better than rail or moving these highly flammable items through densely populated areas with large trucks. Based on this, the answer the question of whether or not they should be eradicated is a definite no! To know more about pipelines in the energy industry, you can click here. What Causes Oil Spillages? The problem of oil spillage is usually down to the attitude toward maintenance. These usually occur when key players in the energy sector fail to hire sufficient or qualified hands to handle potential problems on time. Actually, most spillages from these running pipes are proof of lapses in maintenance. With the right approach to maintaining these transport systems, we will all have the eco-friendly environment we desire. Pipeline Repair Services – The Way Forward for Pipe Maintenance As far as the energy sector is concerned, there is a need for pipe maintenance of the highest order. This is an area that cannot be left to chance. To ensure this, bringing on board a reputable pipeline repair company is particularly important. Industries That Need Pipeline Repair Companies While there is so much talk about offshore oil pipes, there are other industries that use a lot of pipelines. Here, we are talking about power plants, water plants, refineries, chemical plants, paper mills, steel mills, sewages, and a few others. These pipes act as a transport system for moving important items from one point to the other. As seen with offshore oil pipes, the distance covered can sometimes be very extensive. To ensure the smooth running of all the sectors listed above, the pipes must always be in good working condition. Hiring the right hands for the job is particularly important. It saves a lot of time, money, and prevents the possibility of accidents occurring. Frequently, a good pipeline repair company will carry out tests on all the pipes as well as equipment related to it. This will help them to effectively detect when repairs or an entire replacement of parts is necessary. Tips for Hiring the Right Pipeline Repair Company As seen above, the subject of pipe maintenance is important. As a result, every effort must be made to ensure that only sufficiently qualified companies are given this task. Below are some tips that can help make the right decision: A Tested and Trusted Company When searching for a pipeline repair company, you should take history seriously. What you need are people who have experience in this line of work with a remarkable success rate. Frankly, it does not have to be a fortune 500 company. An impressive startup with success stories can serve as well. To be certain that the company is not pulling a publicity stunt, you need to do your research. This is because anyone can make up a story about successful jobs that never took place. A Company with Capable Hands What you need is a company with a highly qualified team. People who have the experience, skill, and character to keep the pipes in good working conditions. You cannot just trust a company because they have a bunch of licenses and paperwork. How they employ their staff and the quality of people they recruit is of utmost importance as these are the people that will handle your job. It is better to spend quality time assessing than trying to pull the plug after a deal has been sealed. Good Response Time In the world of maintaining pipes, everything can happen so fast. There can be emergencies that call for prompt attention. To ensure you’ve got this covered, you need a company that is always on standby. Once they are alerted, they swing right into action. This is a non-negotiable attribute of a good pipeline repair company. You should therefore go for a company with effective hot-lines and platforms that give quick feedback. In this line of work, every minute counts. A Company with Diverse Specialty While this tip is not as important as the others, it can help improve the overall value that a company will be bringing to the table. It is strongly advised that you deal with a company with professional expertise in various pipeline fields. For example, a company like the RJ Stacey pipeline repair company that understands pipeline freeze craftshave, line stopping, hot tapping as well as other methods for fixing emergencies in this field will be your ideal choice. You will have rest of mind, knowing that they can deal with anything the situation throws at them. Many times, the knowledge and experience gained working on different job types can help a lot. You should therefore make this a yardstick for recruitment. A Company that Can Handle Difficult Moments So, the real intent is to avoid leaks and damages to the pipe. However, sometimes, things get out of hand even in the best hands. In such a situation,
The trucking industry is a necessary and vital part of American life. It is responsible for transporting retail items like food all across the country. Without those huge trucks and the people willing to drive them, there would barely be an economy to speak of. However, as necessary as trucks may be, they can also be extremely dangerous if they get into an accident. That is because the sheer mass of a truck dwarfs that of any other vehicle on the road. One of the more common kinds of truck accident is the jackknife accident and there are a lot of reasons why that kind of accident can happen. But if you are involved in that, or any other kind of truck accident, then you don’t care about the cause, you care more about how you will pay for the various expenses caused by the accident. An experienced injury attorney can help you to get the compensation you need from the trucking company that is responsible for the truck involved in the accident. So contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as you can after you have been in an accident. What is a Jackknife Accident? This kind of accident occurs when the trailer being towed by a semi-truck swings around so that it is to the side of the truck rather than behind it. The truck and the trailer end up creating a sort of V-shape, like a partially opened jackknife. This usually happens when either the truck or the trailer loses control. A jackknife incident can be very dangerous because the trailer swinging around could hit multiple cars and since the truck is practically impossible to control when the trailer goes out of control, the truck could end up colliding with other vehicles as well. Basically, a single jackknifing truck could end up being responsible for a multi-vehicle pileup. The Common Causes of a Jackknife Accident A jackknife accident usually occurs when a truck loses control and there can be many different reasons why that could happen. Speeding When a truck is going too fast and needs to stop suddenly, the driver will naturally jam on the brakes. The sudden deceleration can cause the trailer to lose control and swing around. This can lead to a jackknife accident on straight roads but it is far more likely to happen on a curved road since the trailer is already out at a slight angle. That is one of the many reasons why speeding is far more dangerous in a truck than it is in a car. Poor Vehicle Maintenance Every part of a truck and its trailer needs to be properly inspected and maintained on a regular basis. The brakes are especially important because they need to be correctly adjusted so that the vehicle comes to a smooth stop. If the brakes have not been properly adjusted, then the axles on the trailer could lock up before the axles on the rest of the truck. When that happens, the truck will end up dragging the trailer since the latter’s brakes are locked up, which could cause the trailer to swing around and cause a jackknife accident. Underinflated tires, balding tires, and fading brakes can also lead to the truck losing control and causing an accident. Bad Weather If the weather conditions have made the road slick and slippery, then that could increase the chances of a jackknife accident occurring. The truck and trailer could lose traction and that could cause the trailer to swing around towards the truck. All drivers should exhibit extra caution in slippery conditions and that is especially true for truck drivers. Overweight Cargo When a truck is pulling too much weight, it becomes much harder to control and takes a longer time to come to a stop when the brakes are applied. That is bad enough but the weight of the overloaded cargo can also shift around; if the truck is traveling too quickly when that happens, then a jackknife accident could happen when the truck loses control. Contact a Truck Accident Attorney If You Were Involved in a Jackknife Accident A jackknife accident can cause a lot of damage and as you can see, the causes are nearly always related to the driver or the trucking company. That is why you need the help of a truck accident attorney to take on the trucking company and hold them accountable for the accident. Your attorney will help you to get the compensation you need to take care of the expenses caused by the accident, such as repair bills and medical bills. Those expenses are likely to be high because of the potential damage a truck accident can cause. So contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Work Radar, a new platform connecting individual tradespeople, micro businesses and social enterprises with leading contractors, has launched today. The service will help thousands of construction workers find local work and supports the government’s plan to progress shovel-readyprojects in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Work Radar has been developed by Local Supply Chain, acloud-based supply chain platform, which is already used by thousands of organisations, including Work Radar founding partner Morgan Sindall Construction. The accessible and easy to use platform allows small businesses and individual operators to access work opportunities on specific projects in their region, while simultaneously enabling large construction firms to develop their local supply chains and improve their social value outputs. Contractors will instantly be able to review the health and safety certifications of potential supply chain members and regularly monitor KPIs. Work Radar’s aim is to contain the details of projects around the country being undertaken by large contractors, which will specify what services and trades are required on their schemes. Tradespeople, social enterprises and micro businesses (firms with less than ten employees and a turnover of less than £1.5 million annually) will receive alerts to opportunities in their area. When an opportunity matches they can then express an interest in delivering the work. The platform helps address some of the most pressing issues in construction such as the skills shortage and will support the reduction of unemployment through healthy supply chains. The platform’s ability to connect workers with local projects in an efficient and timely manner will enable the reduction of carbon emissions and will also improve the diversity of supply chains by creating a level playing field for all those seeking work Morgan Sindall Construction has launched the scheme with projects currently listed on Work Radar including the £18 million Eden Girls Leadership Academy and the £6 million Kings Heath Boys Secondary School, both in Birmingham. Work Radar is funded by subscriptions from contractors, and is free-to-use for all organisations registering interest in finding work. Richard Ratcliffe, CEO of Local Supply Chain, said: “We’re very proud to launch Work Radar, a high quality, innovative tool that will allow contractors to develop increased efficiencies in their procurement processes in a manner which will enhance their ability to support social value outputs within their wider operations. For microbusinesses, social enterprises and SMEs, it offers a streamlined way to register interest in work opportunities on their doorstep. “Through increased access to social enterprises through Work Radar, construction firms can ensure that their procurement processes are benefitting the communities in which they work – both through engaging with social enterprises that support the needs of local people, and by developing ties with local workers that will help create sustainable procurement practices in the long term.” Gavin Jamieson, Head of Supply Chain for Morgan Sindall Construction said: “At Morgan Sindall Construction, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our supply chain and helping communities improve their resilience in these challenging times. “As a founding partner of the Work Radar scheme, we see it as a refreshing and engaging way of helping tradespeople gain work on projects local to them. Many of these tradespeople have been disadvantaged by recent events, and we are now deploying Work Radar across our projects to help them to gain employment. “I’d like to encourage my colleagues across the built environment to join us on Work Radar. These are uncertain times for us all, and its incumbent upon us to work together to ensure not just a sustainable future for construction industry itself, but to improve outcomes across the economy and society – we believe Work Radar is an effective tool to help do just that.” Minister for Employment Mims Davies MP said: “Ensuring our workforce is agile and importantly can meet the needs of employers is vital to our pandemic recovery, so it’s great to see Morgan Sindall Construction and Local Supply Chain come together to provide an effective route into construction. “By providing integrated support in local communities, much like we’re doing across our nationwide network of jobcentres, we’re helping people get into key sectors and find new employment allowing us to build back better and stronger.” In addition to Morgan Sindall Construction, other registered firms already posting their projects on Work Radar include Chesterfield-based Melfort Construction Services Ltd and Derby’s M J Robinson Structures Ltd. Paul Goodwin, director at Melfort Construction Services Ltd said: “Melfort is looking forward to supporting this initiative. As a company we always strive to support local businesses and recruit local labour as we find this is always beneficial to the project, especially in helping to reduce carbon footprint and travel times for both labour and materials. Work Radar will help us to identify opportunities which will be mutually beneficial for all.” Richard Fry, commercial and sales director, MJ Robinson Structures Ltd said: “We’re are excited with the opportunity to work and support local projects, communities and micro businesses through Work Radar. Our use of Work Radar will allow us to integrate fully with local supply chains, social enterprises, reduce our carbon foot print and further strengthen our commitment to invest in local apprenticeship schemes and create work experience opportunities for local students.” In order to register or book a demonstration, please visit: https://www.localsupplychain.co.uk/work-radar.
CBRE Global Investors Buys 3 Units At Leeds Logistics Park CBRE Global Investors has acquired 3 units totalling 119,500 sq ft from CDP Marshall at the flagship 62 Leeds logistics hub, demonstrating the continued high level of demand for prime mid-box units in the regional industrial sector. The acquisition includes the investment of the 42,000 sq ft Unit 5 which is let to Johnsons Apparelmaster Ltd for 15 years, along with the 57,500 sq ft Unit 6 and the 20,000 sq ft Unit 7 which are both currently under construction and scheduled for completion in September 2020. 62 Leeds is an established industrial/warehouse development on Geldard Road by J27 of the M62 and is home to high-profile occupiers including Lidl, Unitrunk, Johnsons Dry Cleaners and Turners Accident Repair Centres. CBRE Global Investors was advised by Carrick Real Estate and the joint agency team of CBRE and Carter Towler represented CDP Marshall in the transaction. Sophie Angus, Associate Director at CBRE Leeds, said; “CBRE GI’s acquisition at 62 Leeds reflects the strength and confidence in the regional industrial and logistics market and prime detached warehouse units such as these are in very short supply. As such, the new units becoming available in September will be extremely well received by the occupier market.”
Charlie Carlton, Head of Digital at IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery, has commented on the UK economy entering a recession and the outlook for the construction industry: “The UK has now officially, and inevitably, entered a recession, with the economy shrinking by 20.4% between April and June, compared to the first three months of 2020. “The construction industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, with the lockdown causing output to plummet since March. In April, it fell by a staggering 40.2% – the highest monthly fall since such records began in 2010. “However, while construction output remains around a quarter (24.8%) lower than it was pre-lockdown, there are certainly signs of recovery. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that output increased by 23.5% between May and June, which was also a record. “The sectors which grew the most were repairs and maintenance of private housing (44%) and the building of private new houses (42.3%). “In other more positive news, the number of unemployed construction workers dropped by 3,000 in the months between April to June (compared with March to May), and this was joined by a rise in average weekly earnings, from £578 up to £590. While this is 9% lower than the equivalent period last year, it is the first increase in 2020, so hopefully it will continue to rise. “The slow, but visible signs of recovery are also evident in our sales figures, as IronmongeryDirect saw record numbers for both orders and revenue in June. We experienced an 80% year-on-year increase in web traffic and a 75% rise in transactions. “While there is undoubtedly still a long way to go before the construction industry fully recovers, it’s great to see that there are a few signs of progress after an incredibly challenging few months. While we are about to hit a hard time as a nation, there can be hope that we’ll recover in full force.” For more information about IronmongeryDirect, visit: www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/.