Scottish developers gain exclusive access to a turnkey solution including the Flygt Concertor pump – a state of the art waste water pump with energy savings of up to 70%. Scottish Water Horizons, a commercial subsidiary of Scottish Water, and Xylem Water Solutions, a world leading water technology company, have
Global industry leader will provide design, construction and project management services Bechtel to oversee and create resource-efficient utilities and a highly advanced transport system to connect NEOM’s cognitive cities. NEOM Co. has awarded a contract to U.S.-based Bechtel for executive project management work on the development of the primary, base
Building safety must be properly enforced if new measures are to protect people says chief executive Mike Robinson The British Safety Council has today welcomed the government’s draft Building Safety Bill. Many of the measures had previously been trailed and today marks the formal publication of a range of measures
When caring for your staff, it’s important to know that they aren’t machines. You can’t just throw money at a problem to make it go away, or to improve things. Of course, this can work to some degree, sometimes to a great degree, but if there are deeper problems, money
Being employable is something that most of us all want to be. No matter who we are, our backgrounds, or what industry we work in, you will always want to make sure that you are able to get the job that you want, when you want to get it. Yet,
Conveyor belt systems tend not to get a lot of credit, but choosing the wrong system could damage your productivity, cut your competitive edge and leave you with a large bill to pay to put your mistake right. Here are seven things that you should consider when sourcing a belt
Have you ever wondered whether your land may be of value to developers? And if so, how to make some money out of it? Whether you own farmland or a large garden, bought a plot of land as an investment or have come into an inheritance, you will be pleased
Home improvement projects can come in all shapes and sizes – from simple additions here and there to full-on extensions being added to the side of the house. However, while making any kind of change to your home may seem incredibly exciting on the surface, it’s important to bear in
Employee-owned packaging business Kite Packaging is constantly bringing solutions to market to support companies looking for high quality packaging. In recent years they have shown a commitment to increasing their range of environmental solutions, and their paper bubble dispenser box is their newest addition. 100% recyclable and the perfect solution
The shortlist for the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Construction Manager of the Year Awards 2020 has been revealed. A total of 60 of the very best construction managers in the UK have been named in the shortlists for nine categories. The Construction Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA), run by the CIOB every
Scottish developers gain exclusive access to a turnkey solution including the Flygt Concertor pump – a state of the art waste water pump with energy savings of up to 70%. Scottish Water Horizons, a commercial subsidiary of Scottish Water, and Xylem Water Solutions, a world leading water technology company, have announced an exciting new partnership that will help developers improve efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint. The two organisations have teamed up to provide the Scottish developer market with exclusive access to the world’s first waste water pump system with integrated intelligence, Xylem’s Flygt Concertor system. The Flygt Concertor system offers a host of significant benefits. The system’s smart technology can sense environmental operating conditions and adapt the pumps performance to ensure they always operate at the optimum level, whilst providing intelligent feedback to station operators. Compared to traditional pumps, the Flygt Concertor system offers up to a 70 per cent saving on energy consumption, drastically reducing carbon and running costs. All of these benefits have a positive impact on Scottish Water vesting the asset, making the process easier for developers. Previous installations of the Xylem technology have proven to be a huge success for Scottish Water. With the pumps working significantly more efficiently and with increased resilience compared to other technologies, Scottish Water saw both cost and carbon savings at two sites in Ayrshire. David Thompson, Capital Liaison Engineer for Scottish Water, said: “With the installation of Xylem pumps at two of our pumping stations, we saw reduced energy bills combined with savings made through fewer call outs, repairs, pump replacements and maintenance time, which amounted to Scottish Water making collective cost savings of just over £42,000 per annum. The increased efficiency of the pumps also meant that we saw energy savings of around 30 – 40 kilowatts per year.” Scottish Water Horizons’ Operations Manager, Colin Lindsay, said “Our new partnership will offer developers peace of mind whilst contributing to a greener future for Scotland. “In the midst of climate change, we’re committed to supporting Scotland’s journey to Net Zero Emissions. Scottish Water have pledged to Net Zero five years before the Scottish Government targets, so we want to do everything we can to drive efficiency and protect precious resources. The developer community is constantly looking for innovative systems that will help them reduce their carbon footprint whilst driving down costs. This partnership means they can choose the Flygt Concertor system, safe in the knowledge that installation will be managed and carried out by our team. “This agreement is exactly what Scottish Water Horizons is all about – bringing fresh thinking and innovative ideas together to help our customers, our environment and our economy thrive.” Scottish Water Horizons have years of experience in the developer market, providing a range of water and waste water services throughout Scotland. Their pumping station service starts at initial design and carries right through to vesting with Scottish Water. Chris Stewart, Xylem’s Regional Sales and Operations Manager for Scotland, said: “Xylem are delighted that Scottish Water Horizons have embraced the opportunity to drive innovation and efficiencies into this market. This collaboration will offer significant reductions in capital and operational costs to the housing developer, while contributing significant carbon reductions in line with the Scottish government’s carbon neutral strategy”. “Historically pump stations can be inefficient, expensive to install and maintain, with significant operational costs. Many of the problems that developers experience with pump stations, such as clogging and breakdowns can be alleviated through the use of innovative Xylem technology that has a proven track record within the Utilities market. With this agreement, Scottish Water Horizons and Xylem Water Solutions can offer a proven alternative from a trusted provider.” Two Scottish Water Horizons and Xylem projects in the Scottish developer market are already underway featuring the Flygt Concertor system at sites in Renfrewshire and Argyll & Bute. The projects, which were temporarily on hold due to Covid-19 restrictions and safety measures, are due for completion later this year. For more information about Xylem’s intelligent solutions and services, please visit https://www.xylem.com/en-uk/products-services/pumps–packaged-pump-systems/pumps/submersible-pumps/wastewater-pumps/flygt-concertor.
Global industry leader will provide design, construction and project management services Bechtel to oversee and create resource-efficient utilities and a highly advanced transport system to connect NEOM’s cognitive cities. NEOM Co. has awarded a contract to U.S.-based Bechtel for executive project management work on the development of the primary, base infrastructure for NEOM as the Giga-project advances work to create the world’s leading destination to attract talent and investment. NEOM, a beacon for the future of urban living, selected Bechtel to oversee and create resource-efficient utilities and a highly advanced transport system to connect NEOM’s cognitive cities. Integrating sustainable land use, intelligent urban design and multi-modal mobility, NEOM will deliver a community of exceptional liveability. Work will include simultaneous construction in multiple locations requiring extraordinary engineering solutions in challenging terrain. NEOM’s next generation cognitive cities will support its cutting-edge urban environments, improving the lives of residents and businesses far beyond the capabilities of today’s smart cities. NEOM’s infrastructure will utilize AI, robotics, and human-machine fusion to deliver greater predictive intelligence and enable faster decision making across all NEOM sectors. Commenting on the award, NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al Nasr said: “Built from the ground up as a model of future living, NEOM will be one of the largest, most sophisticated and advanced infrastructure projects ever undertaken globally, and we are delighted to have a major industry leader like Bechtel on board to work with us to realize our ambitions.” Bechtel Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Brendan Bechtel said: “NEOM is one of the most complex projects in living memory and we are proud to be part of it. The vision for a futuristic, innovative and sustainable ecosystem is unique and bold, and we believe NEOM will change the way new cities are developed by future generations. We have helped our customers shape the Kingdom’s history with many key projects and we are honored to be a partner in building its future.” Bechtel has deep experience of working in the Kingdom having been involved in many other high-profile Saudi projects, including Jubail Industrial City and the Riyadh metro. In its role as Executive Project Manager, Bechtel will draw on over 120 years of industry experience to deliver a lasting positive impact in NEOM. NEOM will be home to an economy and society oriented to the future with a technologically advanced, sustainable infrastructure powered by 100% renewable energy to support truly liveable cities. NEOM has accelerated work this year in many areas including a contract with Saudi telecom giant, stc, for the establishment of a 5G network infrastructure that will accelerate NEOM’s digital ambitions. It also signed a $5-billion partnership with US-based Air Products and Saudi Acwa Power to develop the world’s largest green hydrogen and green ammonia plant to be operational in 2025. About NEOM NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a New Future might look like. It is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory – a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses, and reinventing environmental conservation. NEOM will be the home and workplace to more than a million residents from around the world. It will include hyperconnected, cognitive towns and cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues, and tourist destinations. As a hub for innovation, entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies will come to research, incubate and commercialize new technologies and enterprises in ground-breaking ways. Residents of NEOM will embody an international ethos and embrace a culture of exploration, risk-taking and diversity – all supported by a progressive law compatible with international norms and conducive to economic growth. For further information email: media@neom.com or visit www.neom.com. About Bechtel Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers’ objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world’s infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place. Bechtel serves the Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Oil, Gas & Chemicals; and Mining & Metals markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com
Building safety must be properly enforced if new measures are to protect people says chief executive Mike Robinson The British Safety Council has today welcomed the government’s draft Building Safety Bill. Many of the measures had previously been trailed and today marks the formal publication of a range of measures outlined in the wake of the tragic fire at Grenfell tower three years ago. According the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, the bill takes forward the government’s commitment to fundamental reform of the building safety system. It includes measures to implement the principles and recommendations of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. The government has also today published a consultation on Fire Safety. The bill formally creates a new national regulator for the safety of buildings, working with local authorities and environmental health departments. The government has asked HSE to establish a new building safety regulator to oversee the safe design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings so that residents are safe and feel safe. It will be independent and give expert advice to local regulators, landlords and building owners, the construction and building design industry, and to residents. Last week, Mike Robinson, chief executive of the British Safety Council, wrote to the housing minister Chris Pincher MP asking for an urgent update on the building safety bill. He expressed his concern at the slow progress in removing dangerous ACM cladding from high-rise residential buildings saying: “While I know you share my frustration at the slow progress since 2017, I would be grateful if you could focus all the efforts of your officials in addressing this important issue of public safety.” Speaking today Mike Robinson, said: “I am glad that the bill has now been published, even if after such a long wait. The measures set out by the government in the Building Safety Bill should mean that building owners have nowhere to hide if they break the rules. But if that is to mean anything for residents and workers in potentially unsafe buildings then the government has got to stump up for it. The HSE has a great track record, but if they are to live up to the expectations of this bill then they must be properly resourced. The reality is that over the last decade funding has halved, and staff numbers cut by a third.” He went on to say: “Alongside establishing a sound financial basis for the new building safety regulator, we must see local authorities given the resources they need to inspect and enforce regulations. Enforcement must be able to make its presence felt – as I have said before, local authorities need hard cash as well as teeth.” About the British Safety Council The British Safety Council believes that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work. Since its foundation in 1957, the British Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to protect workers from accidents, hazards and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive role in the political process that has led to the adoption of landmark safety legislation in the UK. Its members in more than 60 countries are committed to protecting and improving the wellbeing of workers, believing that a healthy and safe work environment is also good for business. As part of its charitable work, the British Safety Council leads health and safety networking forums for all sectors, facilitates and promotes best practice in Britain and overseas. It also offers a range of services and products, including training, qualifications, publications, audits and awards. The British Safety Council works closely with organisations, charities and individuals who share its vision of ensuring that every worker goes home at the end of the day as healthy as they were when they went to work.
When caring for your staff, it’s important to know that they aren’t machines. You can’t just throw money at a problem to make it go away, or to improve things. Of course, this can work to some degree, sometimes to a great degree, but if there are deeper problems, money can’t solve it. For instance, you can’t guarantee that your staff will follow safety protocol more closely or work more productively by giving them more money to do so. That being said, investing in safety equipment and training can help these results come about more efficiently. So perhaps it’s not about throwing money at a problem, but rather knowing where to divert it, and use what you know about people management to aid you. Yet all of this is unimportant if you cannot look after your staff correctly. They require careful maintenance, and must be given the tools to succeed. More than that, looking after your staff isn’t just a nice thing to do to get into the ‘best employer awards’, it’s also something that you must practice to abide by employment law. So, let’s consider how we can improve in our approach: Give Them Regular Breaks Give your staff regular breaks. This is more than just being nice. It can be a statistic that you track in order to better understand how your staff are managed, and what changes you need to make. In any vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, the EU stipulates that a digital tachograph should be implemented to measure working time directive calculations and more. If working in a construction industry, this could be a vital new addition to ensure you’re abiding by the right rules, and helping your staff get the rest they need. Improve Your HR Department HR can sometimes be seen as a corporate tool of keeping staff in line, but that’s not the whole truth. From helping staff with mental health issues (as in referring them in the right location) to ensuring complains are dealt with, to offering a confidential space for staff to report issues within your firm, improving your HR department means investing in your people and ensuring they are cared for. This is more than a platitude. It’s a practical daily effort to increase your continual worth. Celebrate & Praise Their Progress Celebrate and praise the progress that they’re making. Furthermore, only give this praise when it’s due. Ironically, the more you do that, the more staff will trust it, and from there they will give you reasons to offer them praise. This serves as a means of both training and encouraging staff, as when you praise something you like to see, they will likely repeat that. For instance, if the safety equipment on site has been perfectly inventoried and tracked, complement the team the next day for it. This tool is free, and it gives you the chance to more easily develop your team and your relationship with them. With this advice, we hope you can look after your staff more easily.
Being employable is something that most of us all want to be. No matter who we are, our backgrounds, or what industry we work in, you will always want to make sure that you are able to get the job that you want, when you want to get it. Yet, it’s not always that easy. Even if you are a great person, you are someone that really cares about the work they do and puts the effort in, you may still not have an aura of employability about you. It could be that maybe your CV isn’t quite selling you, or that you don’t have some of the skills that people are looking for. It could even be that you can’t get across your skills enough. As much as you may not want it to, this could then actually hinder your chances of moving up in the industry or getting the job that you want. And so, you’re going to want to think about what you can do to make sure that you are more employable. It can be hard to work out what you need to do to be able to make that happen. Maybe you are a hard worker and you are already doing a great job? When that’s the case, you may not know what you need to do to stand out more. However, you’ll be glad to know that there are a handful of things that you can do that will really help you to stand out. Here are ten options to help you. 1. Get Some Coaching To star with, if what you really want is to be able to move up in your career and get into a management role, then maybe leadership coaching would be for you? You may find that once you get some accountability and guidance, you start to know exactly what it is that you need to do to grow. But, this can take time and it’s a learning curve. Either way, having a coach can really help you here. 2. Learn A New Skill Next up, it could be that you want to think about picking up a new skill. If you are worried about employability, one of the best things that you can do is learn something new. If your skillset is limited, trying your hand at a new skill that will help you to grow is exactly what you need. 3. Get Further Qualifications And then, you might even want to think about taking that to the next level by getting further qualifications. Maybe there is a professional qualification in your field that you can undertake? Or even a higher-level degree that you can study for? These can definitely help to boost your appeal to employers. 4. Speak To A Specialist The next thing that you might want to do here, is speak to a specialist in all things careers. It could be reading careers advice online or getting in touch with an HR expert. Either way, if you’re able to get all of the information you need about what would make you more employable, or what you can do to get a promotion, it’s going to help. Anything that is more personalised to your role and industry will allow you to implement changes and climb the career ladder. 5. Drill Down On Your Talents From here, you’re then going to want to make sure that you’re really harnessing your talents. We all have talents – no matter whether you’re a skilled worker, manager, or in the finance team. Everyone has strong points. Yet, do you know what yours are? If you don’t, it’s time to think about them. If your CV doesn’t show off who you are and what your talents are, then how would an employer know? 6. Improve Your Performance Then, you might want to think about what you can do to improve your performance. If you know that you could liaise with customers better or avoid errors more often, then you’d definitely stand out more. It could be as simple as minimizing distractions or using a good consumer guide to choose more effective eyewear. Anything you can do to help improve your performance will always be a great idea. 7. Go Above & Beyond From here, you’re also going to want to make sure that you’re doing more. If you just do the bare minimum of work then you may not stand out. Yet if you’re the one going above and beyond and looking to do more to drive the company forward, you’re going to stand out as an important employee. 8. Do Some Volunteer Work Another thing that you can do here is volunteer. Not everything you do should be centred around your current role. If you want to show that you are a great person to hire, give your skills, experience, and CV some depth. When you volunteer your time to a cause, it can allow you to grow your talents and broaden your horizons. And, not only that, it will show that you have another dimension to you. 9. Get Results The next thing that you can do, is to make sure that you are delivering results. This can sound really hard on face value, but if you can start to talk about your job and role in numbers and figures, you will suddenly look impressive. Employers want to know what you can do for them. If you can show how you’ve increased profit margins by X or lowered employee turnover by X, you’ll start to look like a more professional candidate. 10. Understand How You Add Value Finally, you’re then going to want to make sure that you are aware of exactly how you add value to a business. Great people really matter in a company, but if you’re not getting results or adding value, then you won’t stand out. But if you are fully aware of how you can benefit or enhance a business with your skills,
Conveyor belt systems tend not to get a lot of credit, but choosing the wrong system could damage your productivity, cut your competitive edge and leave you with a large bill to pay to put your mistake right. Here are seven things that you should consider when sourcing a belt conveyor system for your business. Whether you are shopping for a large or small conveyor belt, you need to take into consideration the length, width, height and weight of the product that your conveyer belt will be handling. In particular, the weight of your product will determine the motor sizing that you need and may also influence the curvature of the belt. 2. The production rate The production rate of most conveyor belts is measured per minute or per hour. Depending on the production rate that you need for your products, you may need to look at conveyor systems with a specific speed capability. Running your conveyer too slow could harm your productivity, but running it too fast could cause damage to your product and endanger your employees. 3. Process impact Part orientation is a significant concern in manufacturing and can dictate which conveyor belt you need or if you are going to require additional equipment to complete your material handling. A precision index converter is a good option to consider if part orientation is a key factor in your transportation process. If you are shifting pallets, then don’t forget to look into pallet conveyors that are outfitted with additional fixtures to help maintain a balanced orientation at all times. 4. The environment Not all conveyor belt systems are suitable for all manufacturing environments. For example, some belts may malfunction if they encounter metal shavings from metal parts. To avoid costly repairs and downtime, be sure to take the environmental conditions of your operation into consideration when choosing your conveyer belt system. Choosing the right belt material, can significantly impact performance and longevity. Companies like Wire Belt Company have specialized in engineered conveyor solutions like heavy-Duty metal modular conveyor belt for industries where precision and durability are critical, tailored to specific operational demands. 5. The layout you need The layout of your belt system will also impact the material of the belt used and could rule out certain types of systems. If you are operating your conveyor belt on an incline or a decline, then often you will need to choose a stronger belt material to accommodate the extra force. If your belt system includes a lot of corners, then again, you will need to consider corner sections and additional features to ensure that your products remain on the right course and in the right orientation. 6. Safety As with all equipment, another very important factor to consider is the safety of your belt system. Some belts come with built-in safety features, whereas others do not. To keep your employees safe, it is essential that you thoroughly research the relevant safety precautions and put safety measures in place to prevent accidents or injury. 7. Durability Last, but not least, having found the perfect belt system for your product, you need to ensure that it is durable and maintainable in the long term. There may be cheaper belt options out there, but these will ultimately cost you more in the long run to replace, so do not be afraid of spending more at the outset to source a belt that is strong and easy to maintain. So there you have it – seven things to consider when sourcing a belt conveyor system for your warehouse – do you have anything else to add?
Have you ever wondered whether your land may be of value to developers? And if so, how to make some money out of it? Whether you own farmland or a large garden, bought a plot of land as an investment or have come into an inheritance, you will be pleased to hear that housing development land has never been in greater demand. We all know why – there’s a national housing crisis on! This means that local councils are actively looking for more land for residential development, putting you in a great position to take advantage of the commercial opportunities of selling your land. Here are four things you need to know about selling land for housing development. Before you get carried away with the prospect of significant financial gain, the first question to get clarity on is whether you have the ‘right’ sort of land that developers might be interested in. Let’s just say that if you own a field in the middle of one of Britain’s 15 National Parks, the site is less likely to be suitable than if your asset is a disused urban plot. That said, cases are very rarely clear cut, so always double-check your assumptions by speaking to an industry expert. A planning consultancy or land development agency should be your first port of call. Some may offer free initial advice, others may charge you for a detailed planning appraisal. The latter can be a useful tool on a site where the suitability for development may not be that obvious and may first need to be established. 2. What are the first steps to sell your land? Whether you are selling your home or a plot of land, professional advice and guidance is a must. According to this property expert, there are 11 steps to getting your land sold, from the initial assessment of your land’s potential through to close cooperation with your land agent to close the deal. Put bluntly, when it comes to land sales, the layman simply doesn’t have the necessary commercial experience or technical knowledge to be a match for professional teams negotiating on behalf of seasoned housebuilders. In order to get the best deal for your land, you should find yourself a knowledgeable land agent that you can trust to represent your interests and who will guide you through the complex sales process with integrity and plenty of industry experience. Ask other landowners for references and recommendations and choose an agent who will work with you to create a marketing strategy that best suits your financial goals and the particular character of your land. 3. How much can you get for your land? This is where it gets interesting. While a surveyor can give you an informed valuation of your land as is, its real value clearly lies in its development potential. Basically, the site is worth as much as a developer is prepared to pay for it, meaning the value of your land is proportionate to the financial return the buyer can achieve. In practical terms, the value of a field with planning permission for residential development is calculated as the profit that can be made from selling the individual houses once they’re built. The trick to maximising the value of your land to you, the seller, therefore lies in working with highly experienced land professionals to identify the best land use and development that will be most lucrative for the developer and, by extension, for you. 4. How do you get planning permission for your land? For the seller, the biggest financial gains are made by transforming a piece of land without planning permission into one with planning permission. Getting consent for the right scheme is crucial to maximise the land’s value. Often, developers will want to control the planning process themselves so it can be tailored to the exact product specifications, but it is possible (though risky) to get your own. Below are the most commonly used mechanisms of sale for land transactions: The most straightforward way to dispose of your land and the quickest way to liquidise the asset is by way of an unconditional sale. That way, the land is sold without any conditions other than vacant possession on completion. However, selling the land without planning permission for the buyer to develop the site is unlikely to achieve the maximum value of the land for you. If you are confident that the buyer can make a profit, you may be able to negotiate an additional ‘hope value’, defined by the RICS as ‘an element of market value in excess of the existing use value, reflecting the prospect of some more valuable future use’. A conditional sale subject to planning permission involves a contract whereby the buyer is obliged to pay an agreed price but only when he has succeeded in obtaining planning consent for the land (at his own cost). The land price achieved is likely to be higher than with an unconditional deal since there is much less risk to the developer. Conditional contracts can be useful because they bind both parties to the deal early on. However, deals like this can literally take years to complete, and sometimes never are. If an uncertain wait is not a satisfactory solution for you, you should seek to structure the deal in a different way. Exploring financing options with a reliable private money lender in Singapore can provide alternative solutions to help you navigate through such property transactions with greater flexibility. Option agreements are the most common form of land transaction. It is a way for landowners to realise an increase in land value but without having to get involved in obtaining planning permission. That risk is taken by the developer who has the option to buy the site at any point during an agreed period, either for a pre-arranged price or at reduced market value. Typically, the sale will be triggered by planning permission being received. Negotiating an option agreement will include agreeing
Home improvement projects can come in all shapes and sizes – from simple additions here and there to full-on extensions being added to the side of the house. However, while making any kind of change to your home may seem incredibly exciting on the surface, it’s important to bear in mind some of the challenges and potential issues you could encounter along the way. Failure to properly prepare in advance or safeguard yourself against any potential issues could only leave you frustrated and out of pocket as a result, which is simply no good for anyone. So, we thought we should help. Join us as we run through some of the key things to look out for before starting any kind of home improvement project – whether it be something simple like installing the right type of skylight rooftop blind or something a lot more complex like checking for damp or asbestos before a loft conversion. 1. Stick To A Budget It’s all too easy to spend, spend, spend when it comes to improving your home, so try to stick to a budget. Before you head to the shops or start contacting tradesmen to do the work, take a look at your finances to see what you can actually afford. Ask yourself: what am I specifically looking for? And how much do I realistically want to spend? While it would be great to work with a builder with the best reputation in the world or fit an air-conditioning unit in your home office, if you can’t afford it then – unfortunately – you’ll only end shooting yourself in the foot in doing so. 2. You Won’t Always Meet Your Deadline While you may dream of having your home renovation done by a set time, as hard as it may be to come to terms with, this may not happen. Say, for example, you want to build an entirely new kitchen in your home – you’ve found the ideal design, the dream tiles and have even booked it in for a set date in the future. Just because it’s been booked in doesn’t mean there won’t be any hiccups along the way. From labour issues to stock problems, there are a lot of components to installing a kitchen, so it only takes one minor thing to go wrong for the deadline to be pushed back. Therefore, don’t rush getting your home renovations done. Take your time to look for the best price and supplier so that you can ensure whatever work you have done – or products you want to buy – are worth it in the end. 3. Get Everything In Writing Without meaning to cause any offence to contractors, they generally aren’t considered to have the best listening skills. Therefore, it’s important to really think about what you want to have done in advance so that you can get it in writing before the work starts. That way, your workmen will have a much better idea of what they’re doing and you’ll feel a lot more rest assured in the fact that the work they’re doing will match what you both agreed to. The last thing you want, after all, is to build a new swimming pool with the wrong sized tub or fit a new bathroom with a sink that doesn’t match your preferred colour scheme. Be upfront and honest with them about what you expect to achieve. 4. Keep The Number Of People Involved To A Minimum As the old saying goes, too many cooks spoil a broth and the same logic applies when it comes to home improvements. With project managers, builders, family members, friends, tradesmen and public planning officers often involved in home renovations or improvement projects, that is a lot of voices and opinions to listen to and work your own way of thinking around. Therefore, not only is it important to trust your own opinion – it’s your home improvement, after all – but it’s also generally considered a good idea to source one or two trusted people to take ownership of the renovation project. That way, you’ll know for definite that whatever it is you’re planning to do will be in the best hands available. Final Thoughts… Improving your home is one of the most exciting things you can do but, if you rush into it, you could end up feeling regretful. To prevent this from happening to you, plan as much as you can in advance and don’t be afraid to ask hard questions if you need to. You may just be thankful you did once the work has all been completed.
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The shortlist for the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Construction Manager of the Year Awards 2020 has been revealed. A total of 60 of the very best construction managers in the UK have been named in the shortlists for nine categories. The Construction Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA), run by the CIOB every year since 1978, celebrates extraordinary individuals who go above and beyond to deliver buildings that make a positive impact on the lives of the people who use them. The finalists will be whittled down to one winner in each category when the awards are presented at a glittering ceremony on 25 November 2020 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel. The overall Construction Manager of the Year winner is chosen from the category winners and is awarded the prestigious title and the trophy at the ceremony. Further details of the night and how to attend can be found here. The announcement of the finalists for each category follows a rigorous assessment process which sees the CMYA judges assess paper applications, as well as panel interviews. Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of the CIOB said: “These awards are the most rigorously judged in the industry and a unique barometer for management talent in our sector. To reach the final is a major achievement and a sure sign that the very highest level of professionalism is on show.” The finalists are: Residential under 10 storeys Tony Gallagher – Durkan Ltd Matt Hamilton – SEACON Ltd Dominic Jankowski – The Power House, Gunpowder Mill Paul Jeal – St George West London Tomasz Magiera – WRW Construction Ltd Michael Saunders – Lovell Partnerships Mark Woollen – Willmott Dixon Residential over 10 storeys Brendan Conway – McAleer and Rushe Caroline Heraghty – Ardmore Construction Ltd Terry Kirby – Berkeley Homes East Thames Alistair MacPartlin – JJ Rhatigan Building Contractors Anthony Mitchell – ISG Patrick Phillips – Durkan Limited Gerald Ward – Bennett Construction Ltd Primary education Laura Allison – Morgan Sindall Mike Castle – Knights Brown Mark McElwee – Morgan Sindall Michael Pyatt – Morgan Sindall Stephen Sear – Morgan Sindall Construction Thomas Prince – Willmott Dixon Construction Massimiliano Crea – MID Group Schools John Blundell – T J Evers Andrew Miles – Kier Construction Daniel Morrish – Morgan Sindall Mark Prince – Eric Wright Construction Graham Thompson – Willmott Dixon Higher education Neil Adams – Willmott Dixon Interiors David Clarke – Wates Construction Frank Connolly – Mace Ltd Anthony Cooper – Interserve Construction Karl Crisp – Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd Glyn Jones – Willmott Dixon Lee Mullett – Willmott Dixon Construction (Midlands) Adam Price – Beard Ian Rainbow – BAM Construct UK Lee Wayper – Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd Richard White – ISG Construction Ltd Leisure Jamie Beard – Willmott Dixon Construction Theresa McErlean – Heron Bros Danni Oliveira – VINCI Construction UK Jonathan Roberts – VINCI Construction UK Nick Stoyles – Willmott Dixon Construction Paul Turner – VINCI Construction UK Offices Kevin English – Lendlease Paul Epton – Robertson Construction Central East Richard Kirkpatrick – Skanska Daniel Miller – Wates Construction Ltd Ian Rowe – Oakmont Construction Limited Craig Stokes – Laing O’Rourke Public and infrastructure Kevin Alden – Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd Kristian Cartwright – Willmott Dixon Paul Clarke – Willmott Dixon Brian Hanlon – Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd Russ Parks – Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd John Stedman – Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd Simon Whittingham – Willmott Dixon Construction Healthcare Matt Gavin – Kier Construction Tom Millard – Willmott Dixon Construction Lewis Blake – Willmott Dixon Interiors Robert Palmer – Kier Regional Building London and South East