Kenneth Booth

ISS To Provide Soft Services At New Nightingale Hospital

The FM industry continues to step up to the challenge set by COVID-19, with ISS UK taking on the soft services contract at ExCeL exhibition centre. ISS will deliver cleaning, portering, waste management and other soft FM services at the new hospital which will provide support for thousands more patients with

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How Compact Equipment Is Making Big Changes In The Construction Industry

The market for Compact Construction Equipment is expected to reach 148 million pounds by 2025, according to Market Watch, with a 6.1% CAGR growth. This is not surprising given that there is a need for compact construction machines, such as Doosan’s E10 battery operated mini-excavator, these days especially in urban areas. With housing

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Suffolk distribution park wins consent

The second phase of developer Jaynic’s Suffolk Park in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has secured detailed planning consent from West Suffolk Council. The second phase of warehouse units at the 114-acre scheme totals 367,000 sq ft in four units of 37,000 sq ft, 80,000 sq ft, 100,000 sq ft and

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Engineering services bodies issue coronavirus site safety guides

Leading engineering services sector bodies BESA and ECA have jointly developed two new guides to help contractors to manage coronavirus-related issues on site. The new guides will be freely available to the wider industry during the current emergency. They provide sector-relevant guidance for engineering and building services contractors working across

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NHS Property Services insources Hard FM services

NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has today announced changes to the way it delivers hard facilities management services (‘Hard FM’), which will see the government-owned company take direct control of selected services. Responsible for the management and maintenance of 3,500 properties across England, encompassing 7,000 tenants, NHSPS has one of the

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Selco to reopen after coronavirus closure

One of the UK’s leading builders’ merchants will resume its online service to tradespeople on Wednesday. Selco Builders Warehouse’s 68 branches and all its delivery services have been closed since the UK officially entered lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak on Monday, March 23. A decision has now been taken

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Matt’s #BravetheShave Challenge for NHS!

Matthew Mackintosh, Managing Director of family business AM Surveying & Block Management is raising money to support the NHS by ‘Braving the Shave’.    AM Surveying & Block Management was started in the 1970’s and provides block management, building surveying and property maintenance services to 1,500 properties throughout London &

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Latest Issue
Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Kenneth Booth

Canmoor drives Scotland’s largest lockdown industrial deal with Malcolm Group at Westway Park, Renfrew

Canmoor is delighted to announce that Malcolm Group has agreed terms for 67,000 sq ft of warehouse space at Westway Park in Renfrew. The deal represents the largest lockdown industrial deal to be concluded in Scotland so far. Malcolm Group, one of the UK’s most successful logistics, construction and maintenance services companies, will use Block E3 for short-term storage requirements. Rob Large, director of Canmoor said: “Westway continues to offer the ideal property solution for prestigious occupiers like Malcolm. We always adopt a practical and ‘can do’ approach and were able to provide the right product and terms to meet Malcolm’s key business requirements.” Iain Davidson, of joint agent Colliers International added: “Malcolm has a long history with Westway and was attracted by the quality of space, as well as the great location and flexibility. The space requirement was time-sensitive and we were able to conclude the deal within six days of viewing.” Norman Pollock, of Pollock Property Advisors, who represented Malcolm, said: “Malcolm had an immediate need for storage space in a secure and well-connected location. Westway was quickly able to provide the perfect space solution, less than three miles from Malcolm’s headquarters at Linwood.” Westway offers excellent connectivity to the whole of Central Scotland, with Junction 27 of the M8 only 3 minutes drive away. The park is located in the heart of the Glasgow Airport Investment area, which is one of the key City Deal projects that will benefit from £39.1m of inward investment over the next 10 years. This will deliver significant infrastructure investment to the area including a new two-lane bridge over the White Cart, directly linking Westway with the investment area and airport. Other key occupiers at Westway include Doosan Babcock, AMG Group, JW Filshill, Malin Fabrication, the NHS and Strathclyde University. Westway joint agents are Colliers International and JLL. The Malcolm Group was represented by Pollock Property Advisors. 

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ISS To Provide Soft Services At New Nightingale Hospital

The FM industry continues to step up to the challenge set by COVID-19, with ISS UK taking on the soft services contract at ExCeL exhibition centre. ISS will deliver cleaning, portering, waste management and other soft FM services at the new hospital which will provide support for thousands more patients with Coronavirus at the end of March 2020.  Based at the ExCeL conference centre in East London, the hospital will initially provide up to 500 beds equipped with ventilators and oxygen. The capacity will then continue to increase, potentially up to 4,000 beds. On 24 March, it was announced that the exhibition centre was to be temporarily converted into a hospital, with the help of trade contractors and the military. Soft FM for Nightingale Hospital Matthew Brabin, CEO, ISS UK & Ireland commented, “We’re honoured to help our nation in these extraordinary times and I’m doubly proud of our great people who have made this possible.”  Craig Smith, Head of Corporate Affairs at ISS, said: “As market leaders in the provision of healthcare services, ISS is proud to have been asked to provide the Soft FM staffing for the Nightingale Hospital.  “ISS Healthcare professionals will be managing the cleaning, portering and waste management, whilst working with fellow FM providers to deliver a seamless service into the NHS. “At this stage the workforce is being drawn from around the country, starting with contracts the company holds with the NHS. Additional staff will be recruited from other areas that are currently on furlough.” FM Resource Bank During these challenging times, please consider contributing to our FM Resource Bank. As a leading voice in the facilities management, workplace and built environment industry, we have started this resource to facilitate an area for service providers to exchange details and ask for support. The aim of this is to help reuse or repurpose resources or labour, that would otherwise go to waste for the common good of the FM community and the country at large.Through this, we hope to create a flexible pool of additional resources.

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How Compact Equipment Is Making Big Changes In The Construction Industry

The market for Compact Construction Equipment is expected to reach 148 million pounds by 2025, according to Market Watch, with a 6.1% CAGR growth. This is not surprising given that there is a need for compact construction machines, such as Doosan’s E10 battery operated mini-excavator, these days especially in urban areas. With housing projects in the UK continuing to thrive, operators need more compact machines that will enable them to do their job even in tight spaces. Here’s how compact equipment is making big changes in the construction industry. Time Saving Through Multipurpose Compact equipment, like the Kubota svl95-2s, allows operators to continue with the construction project, even when they encounter compact spaces. With this machine equipped with the appropriate Kubota svl95 tracks, the operator can easily move around unique landscapes and terrains without losing traction. Add this to the fact that it comes with several attachments only shows that compact construction equipment can be a multipurpose machine.  Tech Availability   Technology plays a critical role regarding the efficiency and productivity in a construction project, while keeping both machine and operator connected safely. Telematics as well as grade control are no longer limited to heavy machines as compact equipment are featuring them as well. It is expected that the new generation of compact industrial vehicles will have improved performance, better productivity, enhanced fuel efficiency, and lower emissions among others.  Optimized Performance   The use of technology in compact construction equipment makes it easier for them to operate. The equipment can be adjusted to suit the skill level of the operator which can improve their performance without sacrificing their safety. Wheel loaders that come with hydrostatic emissions can be adjusted by pushing a button to customize traction on ice. New technology, such as the locator and geo-fencing devices allow operators and owners to maintain their fleet to understand their equipment’s usage and downtime.   Safer Job Sites Technology in compact equipment increases safety in the workplace. Features like the mounted cameras on the machine allow the operator to see if there are any workers or obstacles nearby that should be avoided. Other tech features that new compact machines will be sporting are object detection sensors, proximity sensors, and 360 degree cameras, which are geared to making a construction site safer when machines are being operated.  Proper Education And Training For Operators  Although these machines are easier to handle because of the technology featured, it is important that operators are trained to use them properly. The enhanced features and safety measures of compact construction equipment may have been added for safety purposes, but knowledge on how these machines work is critical. Training as well as site-safety practices must be conducted not only to operate machines safely but also to protect other workers on site.  Compact construction equipment is changing the construction industry by offering a more convenient way to handle tight spaces. Instead of thinking of a solution to get the larger excavators to squeeze into smaller spaces, compact vehicles can get the job done with ease.

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Suffolk distribution park wins consent

The second phase of developer Jaynic’s Suffolk Park in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has secured detailed planning consent from West Suffolk Council. The second phase of warehouse units at the 114-acre scheme totals 367,000 sq ft in four units of 37,000 sq ft, 80,000 sq ft, 100,000 sq ft and 150,000 sq ft, respectively. Jaynic has outline consent for up to 2 million sq ft of business, distribution and industrial space at the scheme The first phase saw the development of speculative two warehouse units totalling 357,000 sq ft. The 147,000 sq ft building was successfully let to Unipart acting as the provider for the NHS Supply Chain last Summer, and it is in detailed negotiations with occupiers on its second 206,000 sq ft unit. Ben Oughton, Jaynic development director, said: “Despite the current health crisis there is strong evidence that there is still significant demand for well-located logistics warehouses. We felt that as the first phase is proving successful with Unipart taking the first unit and the current strong demand for the second unit the time was right to go ahead with a further second phase of speculative units.” Suffolk Park is located immediately adjacent to the A14 trunk road providing a fast transport link from the east coast ports through East Anglia and into the national motorway network. A recent report from Savills on big shed supply highlighted the lack of new speculative units in East Anglia.  At the time the report commented that: “there are no speculative units scheduled for delivery in 2019” and pointed out that the first phase of units at Suffolk Park units were the first speculative warehouses to be delivered in the region for over a decade. Encouraged by this Jaynic has gained planning consent for this second phase. Letting agents are Hazells Chartered Surveyors, Bidwells and Savills

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Engineering services bodies issue coronavirus site safety guides

Leading engineering services sector bodies BESA and ECA have jointly developed two new guides to help contractors to manage coronavirus-related issues on site. The new guides will be freely available to the wider industry during the current emergency. They provide sector-relevant guidance for engineering and building services contractors working across construction and FM in two specific areas: ‘Specific Environments’ (where there may be higher risk of COVID-19 transmission); and ‘close proximity working’ (less than 2m). The new guides: – align with the hierarchy of preventative measures shown in the Construction Leadership Council Site Operating Procedures, based on guidance from Public Health England;   – do not recommend the deployment of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) for general site activities, most notably where social distancing is possible; and – recommend that any decision to deploy RPE in site-specific situations should be based on risk assessment. The guides have been drawn up with the support of a COVID-19 Expert Panel made up of BESA and ECA safety practitioners. The panel is also helping ECA and the BESA to provide informed, practical comments on site health and safety issues to the government and industry bodies who are generating overarching guidance in this area. BESA Health & Safety Advisor Rebecca Crosland said: “It is imperative that there is further guidance out there to help keep the industry safe. “The health, wellbeing and safety of everyone on site must be a priority during the COVID-19 health crisis. Businesses must exercise their duty of care under legislation to ensure all workers are protected and ensure that any critical information related to their health and safety is communicated clearly and then implemented.” Paul Reeve, ECA’s CSR Director and a member of the CLC’s working group on site safety measures said: “The CLC SOP is an overarching industry document, but it refers to the need for sector guidance. These two guides are the start of joint ECA and BESA activity to produce more detailed, sector-relevant information that’s desperately needed by many engineering services contractors. “They aim to help with the practical management of coronavirus-related issues on site, which may include the challenges associated with doing essential work in closer proximity than 2 metres.” The BESA and ECA welcome comments on the new guides from across the industry

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NHS Property Services insources Hard FM services

NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has today announced changes to the way it delivers hard facilities management services (‘Hard FM’), which will see the government-owned company take direct control of selected services. Responsible for the management and maintenance of 3,500 properties across England, encompassing 7,000 tenants, NHSPS has one of the largest portfolios in the UK, valued in excess of £3bn and representing approximately 10% of the total NHS estate. The move to insource Hard FM services, i.e. those that relate to the maintenance of the physical materials of a building, follows a detailed review by NHSPS. This has determined which services should be delivered directly by NHSPS instead of the current provider Mitie. These include plumbing, electrical, mechanical, water systems, fire safety systems, lighting and building inspections. Other selected services such as air conditioning, heating, and gas will continue to be provided by Mitie or transferred to trusted partners. The change will take place on 1 April 2020 when approximately 140 Mitie employees affected by the decision will transfer to NHSPS’s employment. Martin Steele, Chief Executive Officer of NHSPS, said, “This decision supports our business strategy to deliver improved value for the NHS and is part of a wider program to rebalance our service delivery model. By taking these elements of facilities management in-house, we will have greater control over the standard and flexibility of service we provide our NHS customers. Given the scale of this service nationally, we will also be able to achieve significant cost efficiencies, to be reinvested back into the NHS.”

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Selco to reopen after coronavirus closure

One of the UK’s leading builders’ merchants will resume its online service to tradespeople on Wednesday. Selco Builders Warehouse’s 68 branches and all its delivery services have been closed since the UK officially entered lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak on Monday, March 23. A decision has now been taken for Selco to re-open 42 branches to support the delivery of online orders – through Click & Collect and Click & Deliver – only. No customers will be permitted to enter branches and other social distancing measures will be in place for collections and deliveries. Any collections will be made from the car parks of those branches that are open. Chief executive Howard Luft said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult period for the whole country and it’s been no different for us at Selco. “We have been monitoring events and government guidance extremely closely and now everything is in place to enable us to offer our customers a revised service, while closely following the social distancing guidelines. “We are fully aware our customers offer a vital service to the communities in which they operate, providing essential maintenance and repairs to properties, and we are delighted we can once again begin to make at least part of our usual offering available to them. “The health and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues remains our No 1 priority.” Opening hours at those Selco branches opening will be limited to 7am-5pm, Monday to Friday. All branches will be closed at weekends. Customer numbers will be managed through collection time slots to collect their orders, to ensure that social distancing can be maintained. Howard added: “We would urge only people who have pre-ordered products and materials to visit branches – and then only at the time they have been allocated. “We will constantly monitor operations in all of our branches which are re-opening and make adjustments as and where we see fit. “We will provide a further update on the remaining 26 branches which remain closed in due course.” For more information on Selco visit www.selcobw.com The full list of Selco branches opening is: York, Ardwick, Leeds Elland Road, Coventry, Baguley, Stirchley, Tyburn, Tyseley, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Nottingham, Cardiff Hadfield Road, Swansea, Bristol Filton, Cricklewood, Kingsbury, Ruislip, Hanger Lane, Southall, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Camberley, Reading, Slough, Isleworth, Chessington, Poole, Southampton, Walthamstow, Barking, Tottenham, Romford, Thurrock, Chelmsford, Charlton, Catford, Old Kent Road, Sidcup, Croydon, Sutton, Wimbledon, Redhill.

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Matt’s #BravetheShave Challenge for NHS!

Matthew Mackintosh, Managing Director of family business AM Surveying & Block Management is raising money to support the NHS by ‘Braving the Shave’.    AM Surveying & Block Management was started in the 1970’s and provides block management, building surveying and property maintenance services to 1,500 properties throughout London & the South East.   During the current difficult times caused by COVID19 Matt would like to use the unusual circumstances many folks currently find themselves in – not being able to attend a barbers/hairdresser! – and have his wife shave his head in the name of raising funds for the NHS.   Matt has been inspired by fundraisers such as Capt. Thomas More, NHS staff and key workers and would like to do his bit! As part of Matt’s household, Matt’s wife Paris is the only person in the world currently permitted under lockdown restrictions to come within 2m of his head, and without any haircutting experience whatsoever Matt has opted just to go for the full chop!   Matt’s fundraising campaign started on 27th April, he would like to raise £1,000.00 for the NHS before the end of May 2020. Matt’s wife will be taking the clippers to his head on 11th May 2020 and will be posting results online.    Matt says “While my head shaving is by no means big news, helping out the NHS in a time of crisis certainly is! If able, please please donate, every little helps make a massive difference and after all, we’re all in it together!” To see more on Matt’s campaign and to donate please click here.

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GMI receives RoSPA President’s Award for consecutive health and safety achievements

The highly prestigious RoSPA Presidents Award is presented to those organisations who have received 10 consecutive RoSPA Gold awards for health and safety GMI Construction Group PLC, which has bases in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, has announced that it has been presented with an internationally recognised award for demonstrating high health and safety standards on a consistent and continual basis. GMI has received a RoSPA President’s (10 consecutive Gold Awards) Health and Safety Award for working hard to ensure its staff, clients and sub-contractors get home safely to their families at the end of every working day. Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety practice. Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running H&S industry awards. Andy Bruce, GMI Construction’s Group Managing Director, said: “Providing a safe working environment for our employees, operatives and visitors as well as the general public is our number one priority, the robust systems we have in place demonstrate our commitment towards that. We’re delighted that RoSPA has recognised GMI’s achievement over 10 years and the President’s Award is a real testament to our dedicated and hard working team. To achieve the President’s Award for 10 consecutive years of Gold medals is truly an outstanding achievement for the company. I would like to thank everyone involved in helping us achieve this accolade.” Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of qualifications, awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, but it receives entries from organisations around the world, making it one of the most sought-after global accolades in health and safety. “RoSPA wants every employee, wherever they are, to work safe in the knowledge that they will be going home unharmed and healthy at the end of every day. The RoSPA Award winners are vital to help achieve this goal, as by entering they are driving up standards and setting new benchmarks for organisations everywhere. Currently, around 7 million people are directly impacted by the RoSPA Awards, but the scheme’s influence is even wider.” The majority of awards are non-competitive and mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Gold medals, president’s awards, orders of distinction and the Patron’s Award are presented to organisations sustaining the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years. Competitive awards go to the best entries in 24 industry sectors including construction, healthcare, transport and logistics, engineering, manufacturing and education. There are specialist awards for health at work, environmental management, safety delivered outside of the workplace, and fleet safety, and excellence trophies for the best international organisation, new entry, workforce involvement, leisure organisation, and organisation operating or based in Scotland. RoSPA’s top accolade is the Sir George Earle Trophy. Headline sponsor of the RoSPA Awards 2020 is NEBOSH – the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health – for the 15th consecutive year. For more information about the RoSPA Awards visit www.rospa.com/awards

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Charterpoint and LNT celebrate as care home development given the go-ahead

Planning permission has been granted for a care home on a Lincolnshire development that forms part of a wider residential scheme delivered by Charterpoint Group. East Lindsey District Council has approved plans for the two-storey, 66-bed care home which will be built on a plot alongside the residential development at Westfield Park, off Grimsby Road, Louth. Presented by care home specialist LNT Care Home Developments Ltd, the plans for the purpose-built residential care home include individual rooms for residents, communal spaces for socialising, dining and recreational use, car parking, landscaping, and a secure bike store. It is anticipated that between 50 and 60 jobs will be created by the development. Work is expected to get started imminently on the 2.2 acre site. Adrian Goose, Chief Executive of the Charterpoint Group, said: “Houses built as part of the first phase of Westfield Park are proving popular, and we are delighted that East Lindsey District Council has now awarded planning permission for a modern new care home as part of the scheme. “When completed, Westfield Park will feature a total of 240 new homes, plus the care home, creating a super community on the northern edge of Louth and close to the key amenities and services offered by the town. “LNT Care Developments Ltd is a company with considerable experience in the operation and construction of care homes for older people and we are pleased that the green light has been given for this latest scheme.” Charterpoint, which is based at Edwalton near Nottingham, specialises in developing first-class senior living accommodation, sustainable housing schemes, and primary care premises. LNT Care Developments has a portfolio of care homes specifically for the care of older people in a number of locations across Yorkshire, the Midlands and the South. For more information about Charterpoint, visit www.charterpointgroup.co.uk For more information about LNT, visit www.LNTGroup.co.uk

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