Leading UK boiler manufacturer, Worcester Bosch, has launched a new initiative to support installers and homeowners for work undertaken in the home. The ‘Safe in your Home Installer Commitment’ is a pledge for installers to sign-up for, enabling them to receive a pack of digital and physical tools to help
The sense of pride and security of owning land is quite satisfying. The financial incentive is also among the top reason people invest in land, as unlike other assets, its value doesn’t depreciate. The best part is that with the readily available vacant land for sale from reliable and reputable
As the technology grows, you can easily find a lot of different applications to communicate with the people outside you. Some of them are meant to help you sending text to your friends. Some others are meant for the video calling needs. Meanwhile, the others are meant to help you
Some tenants who are self-isolating because they are higher risk may face other challenges apart from the direct risk and impact of the virus, Agents are a key part of local communities and can provide housing and support to those in need. Propertymark has joined forces with the Alzheimer’s Society
NSM has been appointed by InfraRed Capital Partners to property and asset manage its Magna 34 Business Park. An industrial scheme near Sheffield, NSM will also provide agency services, helping to secure new tenants for the forthcoming multi-million pound development. Magna 34 Business Park comprises of a mixture of units
Technology reaches a tipping point in this time of crisis, explains Roy Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Buildots, which is revolutionising construction management through the use of artificial intelligence The Covid-19 pandemic has brought remote-working into sharp focus – and demonstrated clearly how when it comes to construction management, the
The new Sewers Code for Adoption guidance is the most significant change to below ground drainage practice in a generation, providing groundwork contractors and specialists with an opportunity to turn to a wider range of drainage products and systems, according to Polypipe Building Products. The Sewers Code for Adoption guidance
The UK Government has on the 1st June 2020, released guidance on the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. There are three sets of guidance with separate versions released for landlords, tenants, and local authorities in England. Private landlords must ensure: Electrical safety standards are
The British Safety Council has announced the individuals, teams, initiatives and organisations who have won awards as part of the 2020 International Safety Awards Scheme (ISAs). These awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements around the world amongst those who have made exceptional efforts to ensure peoples’ health, safety and wellbeing.
Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall UK has announced a restructure of its healthcare sector headed up by Partner, Stewart Binns as National Lead. Taking the role alongside his existing position as head of Project Management in Yorkshire and Humber, Binns will lead the sector that
Leading UK boiler manufacturer, Worcester Bosch, has launched a new initiative to support installers and homeowners for work undertaken in the home. The ‘Safe in your Home Installer Commitment’ is a pledge for installers to sign-up for, enabling them to receive a pack of digital and physical tools to help them undertake work in customers’ homes safely and securely. The Commitment intends to do two things: Give installers clarity on the correct social distancing and hygiene guidelines they need to be following when entering customers’ homes Give customers reassurance that any visiting installer who signs up to the commitment will have the knowledge and tools to take the right precautionary measures Every installer who signs up to the Safe in your Home Installer Commitment receives a digital pack of assets, with the first 5,000 also being sent a physical package of free goods. This consists of: Digital stamp for use on social pages and website, a clear indicator to show they have signed up to the initiative An email checklist for customers and installer to fill out pre-visit Guidance documents for installers and homeowners, an essential reminder of the precautions to follow Email footers, to work as a signature in customer comms Removable van vinyl of the Installer Commitment logo [First 5,000 only] ‘Installer at work’ sign, showing the precautionary measures being taken [First 5,000 only], to be displayed in company vehicles during call outs The new tools have been designed by Worcester Bosch to help installers, who carry out work in people’s homes, demonstrate that safety is the main focus for any boiler installation and home heating maintenance, particularly during these uncertain times. Victoria Billings, Director of Marketing at Worcester Bosch said; “As the UK Government starts to ease its lockdown measures, industries like ours are beginning to return to work. With this comes a constant need to adapt to the ever-changing climate. “We feel it is important to support installers at this time, enabling them to reassure customers about how they are safe working in their homes. This initiative intends to do just that and ensure that homeowners and installers are reassured and clear regarding safety considerations for an at-home visit, with a variety of digital and physical reminders putting safety front and centre of every visit.” Installers can pledge to be a part of the commitment here.
The sense of pride and security of owning land is quite satisfying. The financial incentive is also among the top reason people invest in land, as unlike other assets, its value doesn’t depreciate. The best part is that with the readily available vacant land for sale from reliable and reputable services, you can comfortably find a parcel that matches your needs. Buying raw property isn’t the end, as that doesn’t bring any income. Developing on vacant land requires due diligence, as it can quickly drown your finances and leave you stranded. If you are considering investing in land, here are a few tips to ease your endeavours and ensure that you embark on a profitable venture. Have a solid plan Why are you buying the land? Do you intend to build a single/multifamily property or a commercial structure? As you hit the market, establishing the “why” helps you to narrow the options based on your needs, ensuring that you don’t buy the first parcel that pops on your search. This also helps in financial planning, as you can research a little more, find out how much you need, and seek financing from institutions such as banks if necessary. With a solid development plan, getting financing is easier, not to mention that chances of making an impulse purchase are lower, enhancing the productivity of your investment quests. Find the land Finding the best vacant land isn’t simply considering the location. You’ll have to research a lot more, determine the growth potential, and establish if there are signs of hazardous waste and any other issue that might affect your investment value. Price is also a significant consideration while selecting a land parcel, but going for the cheapest available piece isn’t the most favourable approach. While considering the cost, don’t forget to factor considerations such as how much it would cost to develop the land following your plans, noting that it could significantly influence your investment’s profitability. From development forecasts, building costs and utility extensions costs, among other considerations, you need to be as thorough as possible to ensure you purchase a parcel worth your hard-earned cash and with the potential to deliver desirable returns within a reasonable period. Consider the Drawbacks Every investment has its drawbacks, and as lucrative as land is, it also has a set of challenges. Ignoring such concerns could cause significant problems along the way to the extent of frustrating your endeavours. Development plans don’t always go as planned, and if you fail to factor in such concerns, the chances are that the slightest hiccup will frustrate your progress. Even with thorough research, during the development phase, you might uncover concerns such as huge boulders under the surface that derails the process, or old wells, cemeteries and septic system to mention a few issues. Accounting for such drawbacks lets you devise a strategy to cope with the situation in a calculated way to enhance the development’s success rate. Developing raw land might be a demanding process, but the results are rewarding. With a keen eye and attention to details, you can find vacant land for sale and spot the right parcel matching your needs and with great potential.
As the technology grows, you can easily find a lot of different applications to communicate with the people outside you. Some of them are meant to help you sending text to your friends. Some others are meant for the video calling needs. Meanwhile, the others are meant to help you doing the online conference with your colleagues. However, what if you can find all of those features in one business phone system? Is not that will be one of the most revolutionary thing that you can get on this modern time? If you are also thinking about the same thing, you can try Nextiva. It is not only an application. Nextiva is a communication system that offers you a lot of amazing features such as follows. The first one is the standard calling function with the improved features. Calling is not only about the sound if you are using Nextiva. Calling is also about having a nice and clear video display. You can do the standard call or the video call based on what you need. Of course you can also text another person out there with no limitation at all. As an addition, you will not need to worry about the toll fee once you use Nextiva. There is nothing like that if you and the other person that you want to call is on the same Nextiva network. The second one is the great mobility function. Some people will say that Nextiva is an application. The reason is because they can download and install it on their smartphone. Yet, the real form of Nextiva is the system that will connect all of its users through many different platforms. It does not matter if you want to contact your friends who are using Android devices through your laptop. You can easily do that since you can find Nextiva in Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. The third one is the conferencing function. Almost all of the communication applications out there do not let you to have the conference video call or even conference call. Even if you are able to do that, those applications will limit the number of participants to a small number. For some people, that is enough. However, if you want to call your colleagues, you need something better. That is why Nextiva is the answer. You do not need any other application to do the conference call. You can do that with a lot of people around the world with Nextiva. The last but not least is the perfect collaboration feature. The collaboration feature lets you make groups inside the Nextiva. As an addition to that, the collaboration feature helps you to do more things in its simplest ways. That is why more and more people are using Nextiva nowadays. Considering the fact that technologies are developing at the fast pace, you can say that this communication system will be something big in the near future. So, if you can try this new communication system starting from now on, why should you wait much longer?
Some tenants who are self-isolating because they are higher risk may face other challenges apart from the direct risk and impact of the virus, Agents are a key part of local communities and can provide housing and support to those in need. Propertymark has joined forces with the Alzheimer’s Society to highlight issues those with dementia or vulnerable are facing aside from the unprecedented times the pandemic brings. Even before Coronavirus, those living alone or with cognitive difficulties such as dementia may not know how or be able to get the essentials they need, such as food and medication. Some people, unable to visit local stores and with not enough delivery slots to accommodate the need, are finding they are not able to get food at all. This puts people at high risk of malnutrition, starvation, or other health issues caused by missing medication. Many people live alone with no relatives nearby to support and many will not have internet access, meaning they can’t order a food delivery or search for other local support. These issues also greatly increase the risk of isolation and loneliness. Before Coronavirus, over a third of people with dementia said they felt lonely. Chronic loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Many people in self-isolation will not be having any social contact at all. The long-term effects of this could be devastating. How agents, even if self-isolating, can offer extra support for vulnerable tenants who are also self-isolating Considering the additional risks that vulnerable tenants may be facing, agents and landlords may wish to offer extra support to your tenants to help them keep safe and well during this time. While it is essential you make sure you are keeping safe yourself, you may be able to provide a lifeline to tenants who are isolated and scared. For many people, you might be their only local contact. Help could include: Assistance with receiving food and medicine Many people are volunteering to assist with deliveries of these items. If you wish to do this, you should reach out to your tenants to offer your assistance and liaise with them as to the best method of delivering items without physical contact. Agents and landlords can provide hands-off support by signposting them to other support. For example, they can make sure their tenants know about their local COVID Mutual-Aid community group or provide their tenants with the phone numbers for local shops and convenience stores so they can call up to place a delivery. Where tenants don’t feel confident placing their own deliveries, agents and landlords could offer to place the delivery on their behalf. Remember that communication can be challenging for people with other conditions, such as dementia. Think about whether the best way to get in contact is by phone, email, or letter, and remember that not everyone is online. Provide support by keeping in touch through regular phone calls, letters or emails just to touch base and have a chat Don’t underestimate the importance of social contact during this time. For some tenants, this could be the only social interaction they have and just to touch base and have a chat could mean an awful lot to someone as social interaction is essential to maintain wellbeing. Be proactive about getting in touch with your tenants as they may not approach you even if they need the help. But remember, it is essential that you are practicing social distancing through any of these activities. Signposting Agents and landlords can also signpost their tenants to other support, such as Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK, so they know who to call. Alzheimer’s Society is there to support anyone affected by dementia through this difficult time. If agents, landlords, or their tenants need advice, contact the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456 (open every day). For welsh speakers please call on 03300 947 400. Share this and other helplines with your tenants. #VolunteersWeek Propertymark Protected agencies across the UK have been pulling out all the stops and helping those in need during this difficult time. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as we share the amazing things others are doing or share your generous work with us by tagging us in your posts.
NSM has been appointed by InfraRed Capital Partners to property and asset manage its Magna 34 Business Park. An industrial scheme near Sheffield, NSM will also provide agency services, helping to secure new tenants for the forthcoming multi-million pound development. Magna 34 Business Park comprises of a mixture of units totalling in excess of 120,000 sq ft, which includes two existing units that are already occupied comprising 47,000 sq ft. A stand-alone 35,000 sq ft new build and a further 40,000 sq ft, which will be developed as a smaller multi-let industrial scheme providing units ranging in size from 2,000 to 4,500 sq ft, will soon be delivered. This is thought to be one of the only small to medium sized speculative industrial developments in the local area to come forwards in 2020, as the only other scheme underway provides in excess of 5,000 sq ft units. Helen Gordon, Associate Director at NSM, said: “Magna 34 is an established business park with a high profile location close to Sheffield and Rotherham, with easy access to the M1. There is a shortage of industrial land and with most developers focusing on larger units, there is significant demand for businesses seeking well-located space for small and medium sized enterprises. As a result, I expect this new development at Magna 34 will be very popular.” Planning has already been secured for the 35,000 sq ft unit and, subject to planning permission being secured for the smaller units, construction work will commence within the next three to six months. It is expected to be a nine month build programme. Magna 34 is a well-established business park on Sheffield Road close to Junction 34, M1 and offers easy access to Sheffield. It is already home to occupiers including Parcelforce, UK Mail and Element Materials Technology Sheffield Ltd. This additional 122,000 sq ft of space will be property and asset managed by the Yorkshire based NSM team, adding value to InfraRed’s portfolio. NSM already looks after £237.5 million of property assets across more than 4million sq ft of space comprising 669 industrial properties in the north of England.
Technology reaches a tipping point in this time of crisis, explains Roy Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Buildots, which is revolutionising construction management through the use of artificial intelligence The Covid-19 pandemic has brought remote-working into sharp focus – and demonstrated clearly how when it comes to construction management, the latest technology can not only make it possible for many to work from home, but simple and efficient as well. Until recently, the industry has lacked the technological solutions it has needed to evolve in the same way as, for example, publishing or finance. However, the unique use of wearable technology by the Buildots platform, combined with the need to keep as many people as possible working from home to beat the virus, is helping to kick-start a technological revolution that will produce measurable benefits long after the present difficult circumstances are a memory. The Buildots system works using 360-degree hardhat-mounted cameras that capture images of the construction site during routine site-walks. The same principle of AI-driven visual capture is well established in manufacturing environments, where a dedicated machine vision camera is deployed at fixed inspection points along a production line to continuously capture high-resolution imagery for defect detection, dimensional verification, and process monitoring. The same principle of AI-driven visual capture is well established in manufacturing environments, where a dedicated machine vision camera is deployed at fixed inspection points along a production line to continuously capture high-resolution imagery for defect detection, dimensional verification, and process monitoring. These are overlaid with the 3D model and analysed by artificial intelligence (AI) to provide continuously updated, accurate information about progress. Before the pandemic, this information was being used to improve efficiency and accuracy on site – but as we are entering the “new normal”, the need to maintain social distancing means that the fewer unnecessary site visits the better. By using Buildots, not all members of the management team need to be on site themselves, constantly checking on the build – they can let AI do it for them, in a far more efficient and thorough way than a single, hurried walk across site could possibly achieve. The information gathered by Buildots enables accurate predictions about when materials need to be delivered, cutting down delivery waiting time on site, as well as giving all the evidence to allow commercial teams to approve payments to subcontractors in minutes, helping avoid delays in a time of financial uncertainty. It can help planners to monitor construction from afar, and builds up a detailed profile of the building for maintenance use after hand-over. In the short term, using Buildots to limit the number of people visiting a site is a measure that will keep people safer; but in the longer term it is another, very welcome, step towards the 21st century concept of a connected jobsite, where wearable sensors, AI and big data all work together to revolutionise construction and turn it into a truly digitised environment. In fact, we are likely to look back on these days and see a tipping point in the use of technology. Just as business people the world over have found that the epidemic has helped them to understand that face-to-face meetings can be accomplished without jet lag and a massive carbon footprint, construction too will realise that technology is not just something new and tricky that takes too long to master and delivers little benefit – it can truly be a real game-changer for solving the pain points in the industry.
The new Sewers Code for Adoption guidance is the most significant change to below ground drainage practice in a generation, providing groundwork contractors and specialists with an opportunity to turn to a wider range of drainage products and systems, according to Polypipe Building Products. The Sewers Code for Adoption guidance includes a national standardised set of delivery procedures that all water companies in England are working to and a Design and Construction Guidance document that will affect the installation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and below ground drainage systems on all sites. As of April, it provides contractors with greater flexibility to work with new materials, water management systems and the latest technology. According to Richard Eddy, Product Manager, Below Ground Drainage, Polypipe Building Products, groundwork specialists have an opportunity to increase their range of skills and services: “The main focus of the new Sewers Code for Adoption is aimed at increasing the use of hard and soft SuDS at the outset of a development, in response to the rising rainfall in the country, and the recognition that distributing surplus water directly into sewers is unsustainable. “By placing water management and the control of surface water runoff as an integral part of the design process the new Sewers Code for Adoption offers an opportunity for groundworkers to offer engineering expertise on the overall management of water on a development site from waste water generated by housing units to surface water from rainfall and natural sources.” Polypipe has an extensive product portfolio of below ground drainage pipes including the UK’s largest range of sewer pipes, fittings and chambers for commercial and residential projects. The pipes are available in diameters from 110mm up to 3,000mm and make installation faster due to the flexibility, strength and easy handling properties. Polypipe has also been a pioneer in the development of sustainable drainage systems, with geocellular systems such as Polystorm and Permavoid designed to provide housing developers with water storage and attenuation solutions to keep developments safe from localised flooding and to sustainably manage surface water runoff, without increasing the burden on natural water courses and rivers. Richard Eddy added: “The changes will be most significant to contractors based in the South East where a number of different requirements have been streamlined into one document and one standard set of agreed practices across the water companies. “As the manufacturer of the most extensive range of plastic-based below ground drainage pipes, fittings and chambers, as well as significant technical expertise in the design, development and delivery of high specification SuDS systems, Polypipe is best placed to advise contractors on how they can work with the growing range of drainage systems and materials now at their disposal. Our below ground drainage technical experts are available to offer consultation and guidance on any project.”
The UK Government has on the 1st June 2020, released guidance on the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. There are three sets of guidance with separate versions released for landlords, tenants, and local authorities in England. Private landlords must ensure: Electrical safety standards are met when the property is occupied during a tenancy. Every fixed electrical installation at the property is inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person. The first inspection and testing are carried out before new tenancies commence on or after 1 July 2020 and by 1 April 2021 for existing tenancies. Key questions answered WHAT DOES ELECTRICAL SAFETY STANDARDS MEAN? Under the Regulations, electrical safety standards mean that the inspection and test of the installation is carried out in accordance with the eighteenth edition of the wiring regulations BS 7671:2018 (the national standard to which all domestic wiring must conform). WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE AN EXISTING REPORT? If the landlord has obtained a satisfactory Electrical Installation Safety Report which is less than five years old, they should review the report to see what was recommended on it and consider how the property has been let since it was carried out. If big differences to the property have occurred, then it would be wise to get another check done. If no changes have been made, then the report will remain valid until the next inspection date specified. WHAT TENANCY TYPES ARE COVERED BY THE REGULATIONS? The Regulations apply to all tenancies apart from those listed as excluded tenancies which are social housing, shared accommodation with a landlord or landlord’s family, long leases, student halls of residence, hostels and refuges, care homes, hospitals, and hospices as well as other accommodation relating to healthcare provision. DO THE REGULATIONS APPLY TO HOUSES OF MULTIPLE OCCUPATION (HMO)? Yes, if an HMO is a tenant’s only or main residence and they pay rent, then these regulations apply to the property. Furthermore, these Regulations repeal the previous legislation which set requirements on HMO landlords. WHAT ABOUT NEW BUILD PROPERTY? The Regulations stipulate that all rented properties – even new builds – should have their electrical installations tested every five years. The Electrical Installation Certificate will certify that electrics are safe when they are put into service, but it will not identify any damage, deterioration, or defects that take place subsequently. After five years of use as a rented property, the UK Government believes it is sensible to ask landlords (who have not been living in the property) to ensure that the electrical installation is still safe. WHO CAN CARRY OUT THE CHECKS? Any Electrical Inspector employed to undertake the electrical inspection and testing within the property must have: Adequate insurance. This should include at least £2 million public liability insurance and £250,000 professional indemnity insurance. A qualification covering the current version of the wiring regulations (BS 7671). A qualification covering the periodic inspection, testing, and certification of electrical installations. At least two years’ experience in carrying out periodic inspection and testing See www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk and www.napit.org.uk/member-search.aspx How do the rules interact with the guidance because of COVID-19? The UK Government recognise that the restrictions imposed by current measures to minimise the infection risks from COVID-19 may make carrying out electrical safety checks more difficult, for example where households are isolating or where an individual has been advised to shield. Under such circumstances, provided the landlord can demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to comply, they would not be in breach of their legal duties.
The British Safety Council has announced the individuals, teams, initiatives and organisations who have won awards as part of the 2020 International Safety Awards Scheme (ISAs). These awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements around the world amongst those who have made exceptional efforts to ensure peoples’ health, safety and wellbeing. The Young Health and Safety Champion of the Year awards recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals aged 16-24 in ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of their colleagues and others. The winner this year is: Shewale Aniket Prabhakar, EHS engineer, PVVNL IDPS Additional RMU PKG, Ghaziabad, India (winner) The Wellbeing Initiative Award recognises organisations that can demonstrate a proactive and effective approach to improving employee wellbeing. This must be through a new or unique objective with a clear and measurable outcome, over and above the organisation’s routine work. The award is sponsored by Vitality Healthy Workplace, which provides a variety of services to help businesses to build a healthier, more engaged and productive workforce. The winner this year is: Ashgal ‘Health and Wellness Campaign’, India The Health and Safety Transformation Award recognises organisations that have changed or transformed any aspect of health, safety or wellbeing to a significant extent through the use of information. Applicants were required to describe the transformation, how it was used and its positive impact. The award is sponsored by Croner-i, one of the leading providers of information and guidance for businesses in fields such as health and safety, the environment and human resources. The winner this year is: Chr.Hansen New for 2020, the CEO Award recognises the leadership and strategic vision of a CEO who has made a vital contribution to the health and safety of their business and to wider society in 2019. The winner this year is: Matt Brabin, ISS, UK For the second year running the Team of Year Award recognises outstanding achievements resulting in a significant improvement to health, safety or wellbeing, from a collaboration of stakeholders. The winner this year is: ASHGHAL-DW002-P03 Roads and Infrastructure in West Muaither (Al Manasser) Package 3 New for 2020, the James Tye Award honours the founder of the British Safety Council. James campaigned tirelessly to improve the health, safety and welfare of people at work. He founded the British Safety Council in 1957 and continued to support it until he died in 1996. The winner this year is: Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCIL) Sector winners Construction and property – Gas Call Services Ltd Education – ISS Education, Working in partnership with University of the West of Scotland Eco-Campus Healthcare – Sodexo Healthcare at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust – Oxford Road Campus Hospitality – Arsenal Football Club Local government – FCC Environment – Wychavon Collections Contract Manufacturing – (joint winners) Advanced Proteins / Flexitallic UK Ltd – Cleckheaton Not for profit – Plymouth Community Homes Oil and gas – SP Armada Oil Exploration Pvt. Ltd.- Armada Sterling II Onshore – GardaWorld Security Services. Middle East & Africa Power and utility – ENKA İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş – Nizhnekamsk 495 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Project Transport – Unipart Logistics Country/regional winners China – China Construction Engineering (Macau) Co. Ltd. – Macau LRT C385R (LRT Depot) India – SP Armada Oil Exploration Pvt. Ltd.- Armada Sterling II Jordan – Indo-Jordan Chemicals Co Ltd Kuwait – Kuwait National Petroleum Company – Head Office Pakistan – (joint winners) Engro Fertilizers Daharki Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited – Plant Site, Sadiqabad Qatar – Urbacon Trading & Contracting – Qatar Saudi Arabia – Sadara Chemical Company. Packaging Center – MdR Operations Sri Lanka – China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd-Construction of proposed ODEL Mall & Department Store – Colombo 07 Turkey – ENKA Insaat ve Sanayi – Nizhnekamsk 495 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Project UAE – (joint winners) Dubai Multi Commodities Centre China State Construction Engineering Corporation (Middle East) (L.L.C), R 1013/2D Improvement of Al Shindagha Corridor Phase 2 D ProjectSouth America – Planta San Miguel, Cementos Progreso UK/Ireland – Unipart Logistics Africa – Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited – Port Harcourt, Nigeria Southeast Asia (other) – Ed. Züblin AG, Singapore Branch Announcing the winners Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council said: “My warmest congratulations to all of the individuals, teams and organisations that have won awards within our prestigious International Safety Awards scheme. “The winners have made huge efforts to protect and enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone in their organisations. All the winners and those who were shortlisted went the extra mile by dedicating additional time, resources and commitment to ensuring that their work, teams and workplaces remained healthy and safe during the previous year.” He went on to say: “I would also like to say thank you to all of the organisations who took time to apply for these awards and to our panel of judges who volunteered to adjudicate them.” He concluded his remarks: “The British Safety Council’s vision is that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work, anywhere in the world. By publicising the achievements of the winners of these awards, we can encourage other employers everywhere to follow their lead and give workers’ health, safety and wellbeing the priority it rightly deserves.” Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak the British Safety Council took the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 International Safety Awards Gala Dinner. The winners will receive their trophies and certificates by courier at the earliest opportunity.
Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall UK has announced a restructure of its healthcare sector headed up by Partner, Stewart Binns as National Lead. Taking the role alongside his existing position as head of Project Management in Yorkshire and Humber, Binns will lead the sector that has been realigned into three key workstreams, with new leads appointed from within the business to manage each workstream: Capital programmes – James Costello Estate strategy and masterplanning – Adam Hurst Six Facet Surveys – Brook Smith The workstreams align with core healthcare sub-sectors Acute, Primary and Mental Health and are central to RLB’s national healthcare plan and strategy. Binns, who joined RLB in 2018 after heading up the health division at Turner and Townsend, commented, “Healthcare is a sector that has shown strong growth at RLB. It has therefore made sense to pause at this point and realign our structure and teams to ensure that we have the right expertise in the right place to be able to service our clients now and in the future.” “Healthcare continues to be one of our central areas of growth as a business,” continues Andrew Reynolds, Chief Executive of RLB UK. “If the last few months have shown us anything it is how crucial healthcare provision is to all our lives and ensuring that we have healthcare estates that are maintained, adapted and agile will continue to be of national importance. We believe our new structure will support the drive for best practice and to deliver the best outcomes within the sector.”