Balfour Beatty VINCI today announces the appointment of Michael Dyke as Managing Director, responsible for providing strategic leadership for the delivery of its HS2 main civil engineering contracts between the Long Itchington Wood Green tunnel to the West Coast Main Line tie-in, worth a combined total of c. £5 billion.
The latest job market data from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job board, reveals that job vacancies plummeted by 78.4% in the construction sector in April, when looking at month-on-month data. The study looks at job market activity throughout April, comparing the findings with the previous month and year to build an understanding of how the UK job
The development of new technologies has brought numerous innovations in the field of interior decoration. Epoxy resin-based 3D floors can be used in all interiors and space types, both commercial and residential. For ease of maintenance, they can also be found in production facilities. Whether you want to refresh your
Cushman & Wakefield has launched Indego, a new white label service for office landlords and investors looking to create bespoke flexible workspaces in the UK. Indego is a customisable service that encompasses design & build, marketing, sales and on-site operations offered under a management agreement with Cushman & Wakefield. The
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
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
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
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
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
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
Balfour Beatty VINCI today announces the appointment of Michael Dyke as Managing Director, responsible for providing strategic leadership for the delivery of its HS2 main civil engineering contracts between the Long Itchington Wood Green tunnel to the West Coast Main Line tie-in, worth a combined total of c. £5 billion. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Michael is a proven leader responsible for managing large infrastructure projects, programmes and businesses across multiple geographies and sectors. Most recently, he was Chief Executive Officer for eight2O, the water alliance that brought together Thames Water and seven other global contracting and consulting businesses. Michael Dyke, Balfour Beatty VINCI Managing Director HS2, said: “This is a particularly exciting time to be joining Balfour Beatty VINCI, having received Notice to Proceed for the main works civil engineering contracts last month. I look forward to working alongside HS2 and our expert people and supply chain partners, to safely and successfully deliver this critical piece of national infrastructure.” Balfour Beatty VINCI, a long-established joint venture between two global infrastructure leaders, was awarded two main works civil engineering contracts worth a combined total of c. £5 billion in July 2017. The joint venture subsequently received Notice to Proceed in April 2020, marking a major milestone in Britain’s largest regeneration project which will create thousands of employment opportunities, dramatically increase rail capacity and support the economic growth of the UK.
The latest job market data from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job board, reveals that job vacancies plummeted by 78.4% in the construction sector in April, when looking at month-on-month data. The study looks at job market activity throughout April, comparing the findings with the previous month and year to build an understanding of how the UK job market is fairing right now. The data shows that construction job numbers also dropped by a staggering 83.1% year-on-year. Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments: “We’re trying to support UK businesses as much as possible right now, but everyone is feeling the financial effects of the current crisis. Thousands of companies have put a pause on their hiring plans until there’s more certainty in the market and the pandemic is having an impact on the construction industry. “All we can do now is prepare for the recovery and hope that business confidence picks up over the next few months when lockdown restrictions eventually ease. Unfortunately, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel at this stage, especially as we move into the thick of the spring/summer period, which tends to be quieter for hiring anyway.” Despite more Brits being out of work or placed on furlough in April, CV-Library’s data shows that application numbers also dropped significantly last month; down 34.7% in the construction sector when looking at month-on-month data and by 36.5% year-on-year. In addition to these findings, the job board also explored the application to job ratio on its site and found that this increased by 276.7% in the construction industry in April, compared to the previous year. This means there is more competition amongst candidates for the roles that are available. In fact, CV-Library’s data shows that there were an average of 60 applications per construction role in April 2020, as opposed to just 16 in April 2019. Biggins concludes: “Unfortunately, organisations have had to make some tough decisions over the past six weeks, with ONS figures revealing that two thirds of businesses have placed staff on furlough. While these professionals might not be actively looking for work right now, especially at a time when there’s so much uncertainty, we do expect application figures to pick up in the coming months and clearly there is already increased competition for jobs.”
The development of new technologies has brought numerous innovations in the field of interior decoration. Epoxy resin-based 3D floors can be used in all interiors and space types, both commercial and residential. For ease of maintenance, they can also be found in production facilities. Whether you want to refresh your old floors or are in the process of building your home from scratch, epoxy coatings are one of the more and more prevalent trends in interior design. However, it is not just the beauty and quirky appearance that sets these floors apart. Although it may not be the cheapest solution, the epoxy surface has many advantages that make it worthwhile to install it in your house or office in the long run. You can find more on making this material on this web source. You can even use this type of coating on your walls and furniture (countertops, tables, beds). Durable Floor Protection Floors that have a 3D effect are not only beautiful but also very strong and sturdy. Epoxy as a material is wear-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about moving furniture or dropping things that can scratch the floor. Epoxy resin belongs to the category of warm surfaces (like parquet) and has all the characteristics of solid floors. It means that this material has a high degree of thermal insulation. You don’t have to put a rug or carpet on. That makes this resin-based material the right choice for rooms and facilities that require constant temperature (children’s room, bathroom, hospitals, labs, etc.). This 3D surface has smoothness and resistance to mechanical damage. When the epoxy is installed correctly, its color and shine will not fade over time. It’s also highly resistant to harsh chemicals, acids, and cleaning agents. It also has a high limit on compressive and flexural loads. You can freely place massive furniture or any heavy load on it. Attractive and Polished Look These floors owe their attractiveness to the chemical composition of the basic ingredient, which is resin. Its chemical composition is such that it permits the mixing of various pigments to obtain the desired color and structure of the surface. A floor structure can be done depending on aggregates in the mixture. Their proportion determines the final appearance, which can be a completely smooth surface with a high polish or a rough, matt covering. In most cases, industrial epoxy flooring reflects the light, so the room looks brighter. You can customize the color of the epoxy floor by painting the underlayment. Aggregates added to every layer provide it with the subtle and glossy finish, which gives the 3D effects and makes the surface look even more attractive. This process requires some hard work and some particular materials, so it is best to hire professionals to do the job right. Slip-Resistance Since this floor consists of several layers (from 4 to 6, although two are sufficient in residential buildings), the degree of protection of the concrete below is very high. Because concrete is abrasive, it can start to crumble over time. The epoxy surface prevents that from happening. Also, floors with resin-made coatings are not slippery, although, at first glance, they seem too polished. In fact, they have a relatively high degree of friction with a surface that touches it. These are safe to use in children’s rooms, kindergartens, schools, etc. Ease of Maintenance The reason why most commercial buildings have epoxy floors is that they are easy to clean and do not absorb fluids. When a large number of people are walking around, they bring all kinds of dirt. When mixed with moisture, it hardens and creates stubborn layers of debris. But that can’t happen on the polished surface of the epoxy floor. Any dust and dirt that gets caught in there are easy to wipe away with a damp mop. Also, epoxy surfaces do not absorb liquids. There’s not even a chance of oil or any greasy stains to stay on it. So think about installing this coating over the concrete or tiles in your garage or workshop. The liquid remains on the surface and is easily removed with a cloth. Floors made of this type of resin have no fugues, which makes them hygienic and resistant to the appearance of mold. For this reason, you can also incorporate epoxy coating into the shower cabin. It will create the effect of deepness, and bring you the feeling like you’re in a pool. It’s easy to maintain and does not change its appearance due to moisture exposure. Epoxy Installation Requires Flooring Experts Almost every construction job has a DIY form. However, not each of them is feasible to do without professional tools and expertise. Epoxy is quite demanding to install, so even seasoned DIY-ers seek help from experts. The primary reason is that they use professional equipment in their work that is necessary for floor installation. Also, knowledge of the material and experience are on the contractors’ side. Epoxy is not a finished product that can be purchased at the store and does not have its DIY option. This material takes at least one day to harden and dry. If you try to replace it with some cheaper alternative, you won’t get the same effect. This resin-based material is made up of multi-component systems that have their mixing and application rules, which is not something you can make at home. For a non-skilled person, this procedure would require a lot of learning and training, and this would take too long. On the page below, read why you should consider hiring contractors to install the epoxy floor in your facility: https://furnacefriend.com/benefits-of-hiring-epoxy-floor-contractors-oh-professionals/. Epoxy coatings can look amazing and bring warmth to the rooms. It’s available in a variety of styles; it all depends on your idea and requirements. Its sparkly look and sleekness can make space really stand out, especially when the resin is mixed with some attractive color. The deep shine, when the flooring is done professionally, gives a fantastic finish and a
Cushman & Wakefield has launched Indego, a new white label service for office landlords and investors looking to create bespoke flexible workspaces in the UK. Indego is a customisable service that encompasses design & build, marketing, sales and on-site operations offered under a management agreement with Cushman & Wakefield. The proposition is new for the office market but follows principles which are already well established in the hotel industry. It will meet the demand from office owners to create a flexible workspace solution without operational complexities. “Indego enables our clients to meet the rapidly growing demand for flexible workspace and the improved returns it offers – on their terms.” – Emma Swinnerton Head of Flexible Workspace EMEA, Cushman & Wakefield Indego lead Indego is led by flexible office sector expert, Emma Swinnerton, who joined Cushman & Wakefield in April 2018 to provide strategic advice to operators, landlords, investors and new entrants on how to respond to the changing dynamics of the flexible office market. Prior to this position, Swinnerton held the role of Global Commercial Director for Spaces & New Formats at serviced office giant, Regus. Swinnerton said: “Cushman & Wakefield has been at the forefront of the evolving office market for many years and our investment in Indego demonstrates where we believe this exciting sector is heading next.”
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.”