With Homes England – the government’s housing accelerator – being tasked with generating a significant hike in the number of new homes of all kinds nationwide, notable beneficiaries of their Building Fund include off-site fabricators of modular buildings whose use is set to boom as the production of new homes
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has launched the IOSH Career Hub to provide much needed support at this difficult time for members who are looking for a new job or worried about their job security and keen to keep their development on track. The Career Hub is packed
Leading commercial real estate developer Network Space has completed the industrial scheme Central 23 located on the northern fringe of Liverpool City Centre. Constructed on behalf of global investors Infrared Capital Partners, the 1.75-acre brownfield site provides a single 23,500 sq. ft industrial unit complete with substantial office provision, significant
The construction industry in the UK is facing some unprecedented challenges. Whilst that might not be surprising given the global health pandemic that has consumed the planet in recent months, for the UK’s construction industry COVID-19 is just one more burden to bear. With a shrinking skills base, increasingly older
Residential property management specialist urbanbubble and mobile app developer Padoq have developed an interactive app to keep residents connected and engaged while living under COVID-19 lockdown. Designed to motivate and engage residents of apartments across Manchester managed by urbanbubble, the app provides a ‘cyber community’ tailored to the needs of
Thousands of facilities management professionals across the UK will have a fresh opportunity to learn about the business benefits of smart energy use in commercial buildings. A new partnership between The Climate Group and the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) will deliver a series of peer-to-peer events on
One of England’s most iconic venues is undergoing a huge £25m rebuild with help from Polypipe Building Services. The Grade II Listed Blackpool Winter Gardens is set to open a new conference centre this year in what is the first major development at the site since the construction of the
Kono, the Riga-based Authorised Dealer for the Bobcat range in Latvia, has completed a project to renovate a very rare and historic Bobcat M-600D skid-steer loader that is around 50 years old and now fully working again. The M-600D was first introduced to the Bobcat range in 1967 and what
HS2 takes steps to ensure that cash flow to suppliers at all tiers of the supply chain is expedited during the Covid-19 pandemic In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and concerns about the impact on the cash flow within the construction industry, HS2 supplier payment runs have been accelerated to
Birketts has advised McGee Trustee Limited in respect of the sale of 100 per cent of the McGee Group into an employee ownership trust (EOT) for the sole benefit of approximately 375 McGee Group employees. A family owned business by origin, McGee which has traded for more than 60 years
With Homes England – the government’s housing accelerator – being tasked with generating a significant hike in the number of new homes of all kinds nationwide, notable beneficiaries of their Building Fund include off-site fabricators of modular buildings whose use is set to boom as the production of new homes ramps up when the UK eases its way out of lockdown. But specialist development lawyer Zoe Stollard warns those involved all along the design, production and installation chain that because the number of variables involved in modular projects will be very different to traditional build projects they should seek expert legal advice at the outset, to avoid getting their fingers burnt further down the line. Zoe Stollard, who is a partner in Clarke Willmott LLP’s construction team, said: “Modular homes have been around for some time, but new technologies and the UK’s growing housing need are resulting in a boom in demand which is likely to change building methods across the board. “This will impact on the way the various parties work with each other, on build times, repairs and maintenance programmes, contract models, cooperation with utility providers and statutory undertakers to name but a few. “And so the increase in the use of modular buildings is likely to have a noticeable impact not just on building methods but on the required workforce, design control, contractual mechanism and cross-party interactions across the sector as a whole. “For this reason it is crucial that the parties involved do not rush into a modular build project before considering bespoke amendments to the agreements they use. “Modular projects are exciting, innovative and really promising if used on the right development in the right way but – particularly given the likely rapid pace once works commence – a well thought-out contract from the outset will assist in the ’low cost, high speed’ approach being a success.” Modular homes producer Ilke Homes, which received a £30m injection from Homes England at the end of 2019, recently welcomed Simone Protheroe who leads Clarke Willmott’s construction cases for Homes England, and members of the wider Clarke Willmott Construction Team to their factory in Flaxby, Yorkshire, for a tour of live modular operations which illustrated the issues and potential challenges surrounding the method of construction involved in modular building. The factory is expected to deliver 2,000 homes next year, and the recent investment is intended to help boost its annual capacity to 5,000 homes within the next five years. Following the visit, Simone Protheroe said: “There are most impressive steps forward being demonstrated in the sector but advance planning is key to modular contracting and solutions need to be found at pre-tender, not just before start on site or whilst on site as too much of the works will, in effect, be complete by this stage.” Parties involved in any part of the modular design, build and installation process can find a useful free analysis by Simone and Zoe of the most prominent benefits and challenges for modular homes and what this is likely to mean for construction contract and project relationships on Clarke Willmott’s website at https://www.clarkewillmott.com/news/modular-homes-rethinking-the-industry-means-rethinking-your-contracts/ Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with seven offices across the country in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton. For more information visit www.clarkewillmott.com .
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has launched the IOSH Career Hub to provide much needed support at this difficult time for members who are looking for a new job or worried about their job security and keen to keep their development on track. The Career Hub is packed with interactive tools and resources to help users write a standout CV or cover letter, practice aptitude tests and prepare for interview or an assessment centre. In addition, the huge library of e-learning content and resources helps users get ahead of the competition by boosting their business skills and keeping their professional development on track. Each item of content is accompanied by an estimated time for completion, making it easy for users to capture in their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record. Bev Messenger, Chief Executive, IOSH explains: “We understand how challenging this pandemic is for our members and as the professional body for occupational safety and health, we want to support them as much as we can, whether they are looking for a new job, furloughed and worried about job security or wanting to boost their development. “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring forward the launch of the Career Hub and add value to IOSH membership during this difficult time.” Chris Kurylec, Membership Engagement Manager, IOSH highlights the importance of professional development during the current climate: “Whilst working professionals across the globe find themselves at different stages of lockdown, e-learning has played a vital role in uniting like-minded individuals, to progress their professional development during these uncertain times. With tools and resources aimed at enhancing employability and professional development, the Career Hub offers something for all our members during this difficult time.” As well as e-learning and CPD course, The Career Hub also features a company directory of top employers. This unique feature enables users to filter job searches by location and industry sector, allowing you to move between searches as well as the IOSH jobs board with ease. To find out more about the IOSH Career Hub please visit www.iosh.com/careerhub To access official advice and guidance on Covid-19 from IOSH, The World Health Organisation and the ILO please visit www.iosh.com/covid-19
Leading commercial real estate developer Network Space has completed the industrial scheme Central 23 located on the northern fringe of Liverpool City Centre. Constructed on behalf of global investors Infrared Capital Partners, the 1.75-acre brownfield site provides a single 23,500 sq. ft industrial unit complete with substantial office provision, significant power capacity, fibre broadband and generous on-site car parking provision within a self-contained and secure yard. The site benefits from an additional service area to the rear offering rare additional parking and storage capacity. Ideally located for easy access to the City centre and surrounds, it sits off the junction with the A5038 Vauxhall Road and Leeds Street, adjacent to the City’s new creative district of Ten Streets and in close proximity to Liverpool Docks & L2 deep port to the north. Network Space Senior Development Manager Catherine Chilvers said: “Provision of prominent and accessible industrial warehouse space of this size and quality, so close to the city centre is a rarity. The scheme’s position on the fringe of the City Centre means the development is perfectly placed to appeal to a wide range of businesses and urban logistic operators who require access into the City and wider conurbation. “There is a known shortage of modern, high quality, self-contained and accessible industrial accommodation across the Liverpool City Region and the level of interest already been shown in Central 23 is extremely encouraging.” Dean Harrison, Investment Director from Infrared Capital Partners, added: “Upon completion of Central 23, its ownership transferred to InfraRed Capital Partners which acquired the site as part of a £93 million deal with Network Space in 2018. Since 2018, the portfolio has been materially expanded through a selective acquisition strategy targeting last mile delivery occupiers. The portfolio, located within the Northern Powerhouse cities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield, now extends to 1.4m sq ft in 32 urban logistics assets with construction having commenced on an additional two multi-let industrial estates.” Construction partners on Central 23 were Caddick Construction, Architectural and Engineering services were provided by WYG, with Quantity Surveyors Walker Sime. Agents for the scheme are CBRE and DTRE.
The construction industry in the UK is facing some unprecedented challenges. Whilst that might not be surprising given the global health pandemic that has consumed the planet in recent months, for the UK’s construction industry COVID-19 is just one more burden to bear. With a shrinking skills base, increasingly older workers and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit, is it really any wonder that the construction industry is weathering out its worst slump in living memory? Coronavirus is not going to disappear anytime soon and it is yet another invisible risk to front line workers in the building trade. Whilst the physical risks of the job are often abundantly clear, other personal and mental risks can be harder to spot. For example, suicide rates in the UK construction industry are an astonishing ten times higher than the national average, with the pressures of COVID-19 presenting additional dangers and further worsening the crisis. In these somewhat tumultuous times, the UK government has reiterated on multiple occasions how keen they are to reignite the construction, housing and infrastructure industries as soon as practically possible. However, it would be nonsensical and indeed dangerous for the government to overlook the fact that workers in the construction industry are among those worst affected by the virus and all of its implications. According to the Office of National Statistics, in a study of 2,500 deaths, builders were identified as most at risk of death from COVID-19, alongside taxi drivers, security guards and public transport drivers. Whilst the construction industry needs to get back on its feet sooner rather than later, that revival simply cannot come at the cost of so many lives. Well accustomed to spearheading pioneering solutions under pressure, the construction industry is one of the most innovative employment sectors in the UK. With worker safety consistently paramount anyway, Coronavirus is further complicating matters by limiting levels of interaction between workers on site. One of the key methods in tackling COVID-19 head on is through tracking technologies. In addition to this, Bluetooth device tags could also be making their way onto construction sites across the country, attached to ID badges or pieces of equipment. The hope being that these tags and trackers would be able to alert workers and trigger warnings when too many people were in one vicinity at a time, as well as monitoring worker interactions. Understanding these interactions could play a pivotal part in reducing the level of face to face contact actually required on each construction project. A number of existing innovations in the construction sector could be advantageous in tackling COVID-19 and its associated risks. Off site and modular construction techniques could help to facilitate the deployment of prefabricated critical care facilities. This would, in turn, increase the capacity of the healthcare industry, which has been under immense additional pressures; one of the largest challenges the pandemic has inflicted upon the UK and many other countries thus far. It is important to note that in order for something to be an innovative solution, it does not necessarily need to be newly invented. Often, research and developmental work focuses on progressing existing ideologies and procedures. Establishing ways for employees to interact with one another safely, or limiting their need to do so entirely could be highly beneficial long after the threat of COVID-19 dissipates. New processes and procedures to ensure all surfaces and tools are safe for workers are key in minimizing the risks facing people in the construction sector on a daily basis. In addition to this, access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is also essential, raising additional challenges to be solved with provision and distribution. “Innovative ideas always present some sort of risk, which is why it is vital to understand and utilise all of the support available,” says Sarah Collins, Head of R&D at RIFT Research & Development. “About more than just problem solving, financial incentives such as R&D tax credits work to encourage long term success, rather than merely surviving a business issue or challenge. The main objective is to make innovation less of a risk and more productive, with the hope that benefits of such actions will extend beyond any one sector or individual firm. Innovation can help everyone, and that is only becoming more apparent in the wake of COVID-19, which is why an emphasis on R&D financials in sectors like construction or engineering is more important now than ever.”
Residential property management specialist urbanbubble and mobile app developer Padoq have developed an interactive app to keep residents connected and engaged while living under COVID-19 lockdown. Designed to motivate and engage residents of apartments across Manchester managed by urbanbubble, the app provides a ‘cyber community’ tailored to the needs of people in specific residential developments. Described as a ‘place to connect with your community’, the app gives residents access to a wide range of lifestyle and work-related events and features including a weekly programme of events, with a positive message of: “Together, we have got this. We’re doing our utmost to make those long days and nights easier by creating virtual communities and hosting events.” The events include a virtual pub quiz, cooking classes, book club, family fun quiz and origami and other events for children. The app is available to residents living in 5,500 homes across Manchester where urbanbubble acts as block manager, including up to 80% Buy-to-Let properties where the firm doesn’t manage lettings but still engages with occupiers about important building related matters. It is also available to residents living in Private Rented Sector schemes managed by urbanbubble, including Local Blackfriars, Salford, developed by Salboy, and other developments delivered by Capital & Centric and Mulbury. This move to digitalise residential property management was created for urbanbubble by fellow Manchester-based business, mobile app development platform Padoq. Michael Howard, founder and managing director of urbanbubble, said: “In these unprecedented and testing times of people adapting to life under lockdown, the need to maintain a sense of being together and communication with your community is of paramount importance. “We’ve always been big on community building for our residents and now more than ever, so we built an app with Padoq allowing them to chat with neighbours, join virtual events, view key documents and much more.” Mike Anderson, CEO of Padoq, said: “It’s great seeing communities of residents come to life in the urbanbubble app. We built Padoq to give companies the tools to maximise their communities online and have found the property sector a perfect fit for our technology. “We’re excited to continue to evolve the platform with market leaders like urbanbubble, delivering world class online experiences to their residents.” Conscious of the need to also maintain and enhance its relationship with its landlord investors, UrbInfo Manchester, the data division of urbanbubble, is providing a weekly Covid-19 property market tracker newsletter including real time data on market activity and trends during the pandemic.
Thousands of facilities management professionals across the UK will have a fresh opportunity to learn about the business benefits of smart energy use in commercial buildings. A new partnership between The Climate Group and the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) will deliver a series of peer-to-peer events on smart energy management and LED lighting – showcasing best practice and giving tips for addressing common challenges. “IWFM believes that workplace and facilities management professionals are uniquely placed to make a difference to the sustainability agenda in its fullest sense,” says Peter Brogan, Head of Research and Insight, IWFM. “They are the lynchpin in organizations, marrying the needs of owners, occupiers and the supply chain to create energy efficient, productive and pleasant workplaces.” The business case Doing more with less energy is good for the bottom line, generating substantial financial savings and improving competitiveness, while increasing employee productivity and wellbeing. Last year, a report by The Climate Group and the Alliance to Save Energy found that 21 members of the EP100 initiative (which includes H&M, Hilton, and UltraTech Cement) had collectively saved US$131 million – capital that can be reinvested in clean growth. “We are excited to partner with IWFM to drive more companies to improve their energy productivity,” says Toby Morgan, LED Program Manager, The Climate Group. “Smart, connected LEDs offer unprecedented energy savings with little upfront cost. They also open up vast opportunities to use the data gathered to make even greater efficiencies, through smart building applications and the Internet of Things.” Lighting the way For the last decade, The Climate Group has worked closely with Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) to promote the benefits of energy efficient LED lighting. Darren Smith, Lighting Architect, Signify, says, “Saving energy with LEDs is only part of the story. When LEDs are used in conjunction with sensors and controls, that are then woven into the fabric of any design, they become connected and in turn contribute to the larger intelligence of any project. “Connected lighting is in effect an ongoing conversation – two-way communication that enables the optimised real-time monitoring, management and maintenance of lighting systems. It transforms environments with personalised and targeted, dynamic light while also tracking system performance.” Lowering emissions The International Energy Agency estimates that improvements in energy efficiency can deliver over 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions cuts needed to deliver on global climate goals. Buildings account for approximately 40% of global energy demand, mainly in commerce and retail. To keep global warming below 1.5˚C, building energy renovation rates need to be double the current rate, increasing to 3% per year. Facilities Managers have an important role to play. To find out how your company can join EP100 or get involved in peer-learning opportunities around smarter energy use, contact LED Program Manager Toby Morgan tmorgan@theclimategroup.org
One of England’s most iconic venues is undergoing a huge £25m rebuild with help from Polypipe Building Services. The Grade II Listed Blackpool Winter Gardens is set to open a new conference centre this year in what is the first major development at the site since the construction of the Opera House in 1939. This was a challenging project – with both a refurbishment of the existing building and a new-build as part of the complex – so Polypipe Building Services, the commercial building specialists, was called in to offer expertise on a drainage solution. Contractors McLaughlin and Harvey, and CMB Fylde Engineering needed an adaptable solution that would not reduce the available space in the two-storey, 3,890 square metre conference centre. Polypipe Building Services provided on-site support and their high performance Terrain Fuze drainage system. The HDPE system was used in the large commercial spaces such as the halls and theatre space due to the homogenous weld giving it maximum joint integrity. Johnathan Greenwood, Strategic Project Manager at Polypipe Building Services, said: “As well as being a very prestigious project this was also a complex one. Refurbishing a Grade II Listed building has a lot of complications to overcome. “One of the key benefits to using Fuze at the Winter Gardens was the malleable nature of the product and the fact that it can be cut and welded into delicate positions and angles to create a bespoke system. “The malleability allows for extra security against loss of useable space. “Fuze gives specifiers and installers maximum flexibility in the design process with this system and, as it is light in weight, it can be installed quickly and efficiently.” Funded by the Blackpool Regeneration project, the conference centre will have an exhibition space on first floor and a conference space with a seating capacity of 2,000 on the second floor. It will also be possible to use the space in conjunction with the other venues throughout the Winter Gardens giving a capacity of 7,000. The venue will feature state of the art amenities necessary for hosting modern conferences and exhibitions, including the latest audio and visual technology. Pictures courtesy of Blackpool Council
Kono, the Riga-based Authorised Dealer for the Bobcat range in Latvia, has completed a project to renovate a very rare and historic Bobcat M-600D skid-steer loader that is around 50 years old and now fully working again. The M-600D was first introduced to the Bobcat range in 1967 and what makes this refurbished M-600D such an incredibly rare find is that it was not manufactured at Bobcat’s traditional base in North Dakota in the USA, but instead under licence by Scheid Maschinenfabrik GmbH in Germany in the early 1970s. The M-600D could have been lost for all time, but was found by Ivars Gailums, a Director at Kono, buried on the internet, where it was being offered for sale by a used equipment supplier in Berlin. In 2018, Bobcat celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the compact loader and a sixty year legacy second to none in the worldwide construction equipment market. After its introduction in 1967, the M-600D model was a popular model and Bobcat carried on producing it until 1975. Bobcat Loader Manufactured in Germany in the Early 1970s In the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, the M-600D was first manufactured under a licensing agreement signed with Beltrami in Ravenna in Italy. In 1970, production of Bobcat loaders including the M-600D was transferred from Beltrami to Scheid Maschinenfabrik in Aumenau in Germany. The unit at Kono must have been made between 1970 and 1972, when the decision was made to transfer all manufacturing back to North Dakota in the USA. Several challenges had to be overcome to transfer the M-600D from Berlin to Riga and Ivars Gailums has paid great credit to the truck driver who finally brought the machine to Kono about two years ago, when work began on rebuilding the unit. Ivars Gailums commented: “Thanks to the efforts of the driver, we now had this M-600D delivered and it was my goal to rebuild it as authentically as we could, to keep its original parts intact as much as possible. Shortly after the M-600D arrived, I contacted Robby Bosch, who has recently retired from Bobcat in EMEA after nearly 40 years of service, hoping that his experience and knowledge would be of great use, which of course it has been.” Calling on Expert Advice In the EMEA region, there can be no better person to ask than Robby, who has carried out similar refurbishments himself. Prior to joining Bobcat as a Field Sales Trainer in 1981, Robby already had six years of experience as a Service Manager with a Bobcat dealer in his native Netherlands, where he worked with several customers with M-600Ds. Ivars Gailums continued: “The first thing Robby asked me was whether or not the rear counterweight was still present, as this tends to be the first component that disappears. Fortunately it was still in place. Over the last two years, Robby has generously continued to provide valuable advice, as has Jurgen Gremez, Bobcat Institute Director for Doosan Bobcat at the EMEA headquarters in Dobris in the Czech Republic.” The biggest challenge has been obtaining specific parts, which because of the age of the machine are obviously no longer available to order. It was also a challenge to find out what the M-600D really looked like, as there were several engine variations that affected how the overall machine appeared. Ivars Gailums added: “I have focused on every aspect – even whether the bottom of the seat was one piece or sewn together, as well as the colour of the bucket, they are all important to me. On the internet, the book published to celebrate Bobcat’s 50th anniversary had pictures of machines with buckets painted white. Again, thanks to Robby Bosch, who was able to answer questions like this about the M-600D.” Refurbishing in Busy Times The duration of the project has been just over two years, but it could have been shorter except for the last winter season, when it was much busier than usual at Kono and this delayed the renovation process. Ivars Gailums continued: “Because we were busy, we changed our plans and speeded up the process. The M-600D when it was disassembled into many parts, tended to take up a lot of space so we had to take account of this so it didn’t cause problems in our workshop. The work on the machine was mainly done by a team of three of our service engineers. “The team was led by our most experienced engineer, Juris Gailitis. The Deutz engine was brought back to life by our youngest service engineer, Davis Graustins, who can be assigned the finest and most accurate work tasks. Last but not least, the third member of the team was Dzintars Lorencs, who performed welding and repair work on the steel components. “Demonstrating Bobcat’s ‘One Tough Animal’ motto, several components such as the chaincase and chain had survived the years of service in pretty good condition. But the engine cooler on the Deutz engine presented a real problem as the original was heavily corroded and it was not available as a spare part. But we managed to get it from Deutz, where it was also one of the last parts of its type in their stock. “Sandblasting and powder coating services were outsourced and the leather seat was restored by a company which specializes in restoring old motor vehicles and rebuilding expensive modern cars. I also involved family members to get some unique spare parts – including a shaft, the air filter cap and authentic Melroe Bobcat and Clark stickers from the USA. In the period when our M-600D went into service, it would have carried stickers for Melroe Manufacturing Company, the forerunner to Bobcat Company, the Bobcat ‘animal’ logo as it was then and the logo for Clark Equipment, who bought the rights in 1968 to sell Bobcat loaders outside the USA.” Jaroslav Fišer, Product Line Director for the Bobcat compact loader range in EMEA, added: “We are very proud of what Ivars and the team
HS2 takes steps to ensure that cash flow to suppliers at all tiers of the supply chain is expedited during the Covid-19 pandemic In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and concerns about the impact on the cash flow within the construction industry, HS2 supplier payment runs have been accelerated to ensure that they are being made in a timely manner. HS2 is accelerating payments to all companies directly in its supply chain, processing approved payments immediately when funds are available, rather than on the contracted payment terms. Tier One contractors in the HS2 supply chain are to mirror this and have the duty to ensure the approach is followed through all tiers of the supply chain. HS2 has written to all its direct suppliers requiring that faster payments are made to all companies in its supply chain in all tiers reflecting HS2’s approach. This will provide reassurance to firms working on the project and should help ensure that stability remains within the HS2 supply chain. At a time of economic concern due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this should go some way to alleviate concerns about financial certainty for companies in, and aligned to, the construction sector. Government approval for the next stage of the HS2 project last month has meant HS2 contractors now have the go ahead to start building the new low carbon, high speed railway – provided they can maintain Public Health England (PHE) and industry guidelines. It marks the point in the Main Works Civils (MWC) contracts where the work transitions from scheme design and preparatory work, to full detailed design and construction, as well as unlocking a huge amounts of new contract opportunities for the construction sector. An estimated 400,000 supply chain contract opportunities for UK businesses will be created during Phase One of HS2, supporting thousands of jobs on site and many more around the country. It is estimated that around 95% of those contract opportunities will be won by UK based businesses and around two thirds of those will be small and medium sized businesses. HS2 Ltd’s Commercial and Procurement Director, David Poole, said: “As we emerge from the pandemic, HS2 will play a crucial role in the recovery of the UK economy and provide a much-needed boost to the construction industry and the many jobs that industry supports. By taking these steps to speed up supplier payments, and by requiring this to continue throughout the supply chain, businesses large or small within the whole HS2 supply chain can feel confident they will be supported by HS2 Ltd.” Progress is being made on HS2, with construction activities ongoing and procurement activity on the project continuing. Last week, HS2 launched the procurement of track contracts, and at the end of April began the search for stations lifts and escalators suppliers. Despite some disruption to regular business practices as a result of the pandemic, HS2 has continued to engage with the business community, participating in online supply chain engagement events organised through industry bodies. HS2 Ltd is committed to continue with this engagement and encourages businesses interested in winning work on HS2 to use resources available on the HS2 website, CompeteFor and through industry bodies to find out more information.
Birketts has advised McGee Trustee Limited in respect of the sale of 100 per cent of the McGee Group into an employee ownership trust (EOT) for the sole benefit of approximately 375 McGee Group employees. A family owned business by origin, McGee which has traded for more than 60 years is a respected name in the construction market. As a result of the transaction the McGee Group joins the ranks of the ever increasing number of employee-owned companies in the UK. Brian McGee commented: “It would have been relatively easy for us to sell McGee Group to a third party, but we did not want to do that. Michael, John and I, similar to our father, have always recognised the contribution of our employees, which is why the move to employee ownership in many ways, was the obvious next phase of the McGee journey.” The Birketts team was co-led by Ed Savory (Partner, Corporate) and Lisa Hayward (Legal Director, Head of Employee Incentives) who were supported by a number of colleagues including Kimberly Sayward, (Private Client), Kirsty Scripps (Employee Incentives) Laura Herbert (Employee Incentives) Lorraine Porter (Corporate) and Macauley Alsford (Corporate). Paul Hickey, McGee Group Finance Director commented: “Birketts demonstrated meaningful employee ownership experience, technical advisory skills and a practical approach when working alongside our accountant advisors BDO which we found to be extremely valuable.” Lisa Hayward added: “Employee Ownership is a solid option for family-owned businesses looking towards succession planning. We are delighted to continue to get exposure to working on Employee Ownership Trusts with clients such as McGee as a key part of our growing Employee Incentives practice.”