Specialist supplier AEI Cables has won support from a major industry body for its campaign highlighting the need for the highest quality of cabling for use in sprinkler systems. The Institution of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO) is supporting the call for the need to ensure reliable continuous power for sprinkler
Trying to run a business with an unhealthy workforce can be incredibly difficult. High levels of absenteeism, low productivity and a safety risk to the wellbeing of your employees will all have a knock-on effect on the sustainability of your company both in the short and long term. There are
If you’re looking to ensure your home looks its best from first glance, you need to work on its kerb appeal. The term ‘kerb appeal’ applies to the way your home looks from the front, as the first thing people will see from the street and you want it to
Employee-owned packaging company Kite Packaging have recently launched on their leading B2B website, packing benches and paper roll holders, both great additions to any pick, pack and despatch operation. Kite’s strong and sturdy packing benches are a great addition to their workstations and benches offering. Packing benches are the ideal
Key influencers within the UK construction industry have called upon the government to take action against cowboy building contractors by consulting on an industry-wide licensing/certification scheme to give end-users a recognisable mark of quality and trust. Each year more than £8 billion of building work fails to meet appropriate quality standards
Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall UK (RLB UK) announces the appointment of Sarah Draper as the firm’s new Head of People & Culture with immediate effect. Sarah joins RLB UK’s Senior Leadership Board to head up the firm’s people strategy and the delivery of its
Acclaimed Design Firm Appointed To Revamp Receptions Acclaimed Manchester architecture and interior design studio, Jasper Sanders + Partners, has been appointed by Exchange Quay, Manchester’s leading office development, to redesign the office receptions as part of the scheme’s ongoing commitment to its occupier experience. Buildings 8 and 5 will have
Keen to show their thanks for all the tremendous efforts of NHS front line workers during these unprecedented times, four construction specialists have united in a bid to raise as much money as possible, expressing their appreciation towards those risking their lives, to save ours. The Mick George Group, MJS
CBRE has strengthened its Leeds Building Consultancy team with the appointment of Matthew Kirkham as Associate Director. Matthew, a Chartered Engineer with circa 20 years experience of building services design and MEP project management in both consultancy and contracting industries, joins CBRE from AECOM where he was involved with various
Given the recent Coronavirus outbreak over the last few months, global property consultancy Knight Frank is now forecasting the UK’s housing market to decline 38 percent from 2019’s home sales, to an estimated 734,000 transactions for the full year (2020). Knight Frank also forecasts mainstream UK house prices to fall
Specialist supplier AEI Cables has won support from a major industry body for its campaign highlighting the need for the highest quality of cabling for use in sprinkler systems. The Institution of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO) is supporting the call for the need to ensure reliable continuous power for sprinkler systems. New blocks of flats of six storeys or higher could require sprinkler systems under new Government plans being considered in the wake of various fire disasters. Martin Dunne of the IFPO said: “We support the move towards increased use of sprinklers especially in tower blocks and the use of quality products including cables which ensure they will continue to operate in the event of a real fire. “The recent advances in fire alarm technology will continue to give an early warning of a fire in its initial stages giving everyone the opportunity to use valuable time to evacuate the building. However, we must always remember that even the best super designed fire alarm system will not extinguish a fire. “A sprinkler system always goes one step further as well as detecting a fire and raising the alarm it will also extinguish the fire to protect the structure by suppressing the fire developing further to protect the escape routes from the building even when unoccupied.” Under current guidelines, sprinkler systems are required for buildings of 30 metres – approximately 10 floors – or higher, but ministers are proposing to decrease this to 18 metres, approximately six floors and an announcement is expected soon. The IFPO is a professional fire safety membership body promoting the advancement of fire safety education which encourages the appraisal, evaluation, research and study in the field of fire safety. It represents the interests of members on bodies and committees dealing with statutory controls, regulations, standards and codes of practice and maintains an approved Competency Council Register of Fire Risk Assessors. The tried and tested generation of AEI Cables’ fire performance cabling ensure critical fire-safety circuits can continue to operate in the event of a fire from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes and often support systems which provide intelligence for the fire and rescue services. AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling is the only cable to be independently approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B) Category 3 Control for firefighting systems including sprinkler pumps, fire suppression water mist systems, water spray systems, wet riser pumps, wet riser valve and equipment monitoring under the Code of Practice.
Trying to run a business with an unhealthy workforce can be incredibly difficult. High levels of absenteeism, low productivity and a safety risk to the wellbeing of your employees will all have a knock-on effect on the sustainability of your company both in the short and long term. There are many different reasons that affect whether a person is fit to work, and these should always be looked at delicately and discreetly. However, making small changes to a working environment can have a significant impact on both your employees and your profits. Being mindful at work Whether someone is driving a forklift truck or dealing in stocks and shares, a person’s mental health greatly affects their ability to do their job. According to a report by the charity Mind, 60% of employees said that if their employer took positive action to “support their mental wellbeing” they’d feel more motivated. Depression can have deep and long-lasting effects on anyone and can hugely impact the way in which someone works. More and more companies are introducing mindfulness to the workplace with employees being able to attend sessions with qualified practitioners to talk about their work and their feelings. By removing the stigma of mental health issues, promoting dialogue and encouraging engagement, you can build higher levels of trust and respect between colleagues, thereby improving the overall morale. Substance abuse at work People can become reliant on drugs or alcohol for a number of wide-ranging reasons. Unfortunately, being under the influence of either at work can greatly affect the productivity of your company and can lead to issues such as theft, serious accidents and absenteeism. With a network that covers the UK, Matrix Diagnostics drug testing can help you to carry out pre-employment checks to make sure that you’re not hiring someone who already has a problem. Including clauses in employment contracts for consent to random testing can also help you to regularly check on your workforce and know if someone needs help before it’s too late. Fit as a fiddle Regardless of whether it’s a job that involves a lot of physical exertion or one that is desk-bound, injuries can happen. Creating a workplace that encourages good posture, correct safety measures and responsible working patterns can go a long way to ensuring the actual fitness of your team. With a lot of firms nowadays going one step further by offering in-house yoga sessions or gym memberships to help with overall fitness levels, if a serious or repetitive injury does occur, then an occupational therapist can assess individuals and provide practical help and advice on recovery. Access To Medical Support It’s highly important that staff have access to the right medical treatment and are encouraged to address any mental or physical health issues quickly. All too often, you’ll get a situation where people try to carry on and ignore a health issue. This means that minor, easily treatable problems can spiral into larger matters that require more complex and ongoing treatment. Plus, you have the added complication of secondary health issues development. Counter this by creating a company culture where employees are encouraged to book medical appointments as needed and use online services to access prescription medicines. If you have access to wellbeing services or things like telephone counselling, promote them widely and encourage staff to use them. Sometimes this kind of support in the early stages can make all the difference in catching and diagnosing any issues before they spiral. A brighter future Showing that you care about the health and wellbeing of your employees can also make your company a more desirable place to work, which, of course, has the added bonus of helping you to attract the highest calibre of candidates in the future.
If you’re looking to ensure your home looks its best from first glance, you need to work on its kerb appeal. The term ‘kerb appeal’ applies to the way your home looks from the front, as the first thing people will see from the street and you want it to stand out and look the part. From general tidying up tips to changes that can have a big impact, the following post will help you perfect your homes kerb appeal and create a warm and welcoming feel from the moment you reach the front door. The Front Garden First things first, having a neat and tidy front garden is essential. Whether it’s a long strip of grass that runs along the length of a wall or fence, or it’s the trees and bushes that are positioned around the front of your home, if these are untidy and overgrown your home will instantly look messy and uninviting. Start by ensuring your lawn has been cut, hedges and bushes are trimmed back and in shape and any weeds or overgrown plants are pulled or trimmed back to a neater length. If you struggle to get your garden looking its best, hire a gardener, which you can do online here, to make a start on the work for you, then you can simply keep up with the maintenance every few weeks to keep your home looking its best. Balance of Lighting Having the right lighting at the front of your home can have a huge impact on the overall kerb appeal. Not having enough lighting will leave your home looking dark and dingy through the evenings and into the night, whereas a touch of light in the right areas can really help to enhance your home and illuminate certain parts to create a really homely feel. Positioning lighting outside your front door is a great way to open up the front of your home and create a welcoming feel, with lighting dotted around the garden to help show off your beautiful outdoor area whilst also adding some security measures too. Lighting can help to deter thief’s too, as you’ll find they don’t want to be seen snooping around when the areas are lit and easily visible. You can find stylish and traditional outdoor lighting online at MY KNX, or alternatively you could pop to your local garden centre to see which styles they have available for your home’s exterior. Front Door Design From the moment someone steps foot outside your home the front door is the focal point that the eye is drawn to. With this in mind, you want your front door to stand out and welcome people to your home, in your own personal way. From a simple lick of paint to a bold brass knocker, which you can find at House of Brass, and beautiful house number plate, you can transform your front door in a few small steps and have a stunning entrance to your home. You can get away with almost anything when it comes to the front door, with so many vibrant colours to choose from that will enhance your home and take the overall aesthetic to the next level. The Perfect Pathway Paths are ideal for creating a clear entrance to the home, which can help enhance the overall warm, welcoming atmosphere that you want to create. From individual stone slabs, to subtle stones like these from Stone Warehouse that pave the way, you can create a lovely aesthetic with a path that will make the perfect finishing touch to your homes kerb appeal. Take your path to an even higher level by lining neatly with flowers and plants to bring some life and colour to the space.
Employee-owned packaging company Kite Packaging have recently launched on their leading B2B website, packing benches and paper roll holders, both great additions to any pick, pack and despatch operation. Kite’s strong and sturdy packing benches are a great addition to their workstations and benches offering. Packing benches are the ideal space-saving solution when packing items within an operation, they ensure efficiency and can be kitted out with all the required items for the process. Produced from strong steel with a Melamine Faced Chipboard worktop and supplied flat packed for ease of movement and transport, these strong sturdy benches have an excellent load-bearing capacity and are available in two configurations, with and without a shelf and extra roll holder. Kite’s recently launched paper roll holders with an integrated cutting blade, are another great essential product when packing items. Designed to be on the top of a counter or under a packing bench, they will ensure easy accessibility to materials as and when needed. They are commonly used by, ecommerce companies looking for an internal paper solution to wrap a wide range of goods, florists and, gift wrapping. For more information on Kite Packaging and their range of goods and services, please visit kitepackaging.co.uk
Key influencers within the UK construction industry have called upon the government to take action against cowboy building contractors by consulting on an industry-wide licensing/certification scheme to give end-users a recognisable mark of quality and trust. Each year more than £8 billion of building work fails to meet appropriate quality standards and has to be repeated or repaired. Anyone can set up as a builder and there is no requirement to register with recognised trade bodies or quality assurance schemes. It is this situation which the British Board of Agrément (BBA), working with Westminster Sustainable Building Forum (WSBF) wants addressed, with the organisations convening a ‘Stop the Cowboys: Certification in Construction’ roundtable at the House of Commons. Ken O’Sullivan, Head of Audit and Inspection at the BBA, outlined some of the issues at stake: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy highlighted the urgent requirement to improve standards. The Hackitt Review drew attention to the lack of skills and experience of those involved in the construction and maintenance of Higher Risk Residential Buildings. A licensing and/or certification scheme for all contractors would allow for a level playing field to avoid competent contractors being undercut by competitors that are not registered with a recognised scheme.” The BBA is the UK’s leading product certification, testing and inspection organisation and operates Approved Installer schemes across certain sectors of the construction industry, allowing companies to demonstrate compliance with industry standards. It is already working with the Federation of Masters Builders (FMB) – the largest UK trade body representing the interests of small and medium-sized construction firms – to vet new federation members. More than 75% of FMB members have given their backing to a licensing scheme to professionalise the industry, protect consumers and sideline unprofessional and incompetent building companies. The federation is also part of the ‘Construction Licensing Task Force’ which is examining how a scheme would work. “The proposed model is for a scheme governed by a single body but integrated within existing structures to minimize administrative burden,” said FMB Chief Executive Brian Berry. The roundtable, chaired by Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, made three recommendations: * Government should consult on an industry-wide licensing or certification scheme backed by a single body (such as Trustmark) or via existing Notified Bodies or UKAS-accredited organisations. * The scheme should adopt a ‘quality mark’ that consumers can look for. * Industry should work with lending/conveyancing sectors to back the scheme, with sales and home improvement loans tied to the use of a licensed contractor. In addition, attendees agreed that the Homes, Communities and Local Government committee should review proposals for a mandatory licensing or certification scheme and the government consult via a Green Paper. A roundtable spokesman said: “Consumers find the variety of competency frameworks currently on offer confusing. As a result around one third will enter the black market when commissioning home improvement projects. There should be a single, recognisable brand to demonstrate quality, with different trades covered beneath this. Trustmark is already working with key stakeholders such as the BBA, FMB and Homes England to put together a framework that supports this but consumer buy-in will be instrumental to making this viable. “The current system is layered and allows for passing of responsibility between developer, contractor and manufacturer. Consumers find it difficult to determine which party has responsibility and often have very little redress when things go wrong. Costs for joining a mandatory licensing/certification scheme could be as low as £150 for small companies and there has been little opposition from FMB members. However, there has been some reluctance from larger contractors as they wait for clarity on how the scheme would be executed.”
Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall UK (RLB UK) announces the appointment of Sarah Draper as the firm’s new Head of People & Culture with immediate effect. Sarah joins RLB UK’s Senior Leadership Board to head up the firm’s people strategy and the delivery of its best in class approach to people and culture in the UK. Sarah takes over the role from Hilary Richardson who is retiring from RLB UK having been with the business for 30 years. Sarah’s appointment as Head of People & Culture completes the restructure which RLB UK outlined in November 2019. This announced Andrew Reynolds as Chief Executive and the intention to introduce two new senior roles to the Senior Leadership Board to lead work on people & culture and digital transformation. Sarah’s appointment follows Matt Sharp joining in January 2020 as the company’s first Chief Digital Officer. With over 20 years of experience gained in senior HR roles across corporate and professional services, Sarah has extensive expertise leading successful people, diversity and inclusion and cultural change programmes in the built environment. Most recently she was HR Director at Gerald Eve LLP. Sarah is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is currently shortlisted for HR Champion at the British Diversity Awards 2020. Andrew Reynolds, Chief Executive at RLB UK said: “As an employee owned business, people and culture is at the very core of our success. I am very pleased to welcome Sarah Draper who joins the team to lead in this fundamental area. Sarah’s breadth of knowledge and experience will be a truly valuable asset as we drive the business forward during these unprecedented times. I would also like to thank Hilary Richardson who has been instrumental in embedding our people & culture ethos as we have grown our business.” Sarah Draper, Head of People & Culture, RLB UK added: “People and culture is so important in any organisation, but more so now than ever before. It’s great to be able to join a company that already fosters a best in class approach to their people and be part of their growth and success story.”
Acclaimed Design Firm Appointed To Revamp Receptions Acclaimed Manchester architecture and interior design studio, Jasper Sanders + Partners, has been appointed by Exchange Quay, Manchester’s leading office development, to redesign the office receptions as part of the scheme’s ongoing commitment to its occupier experience. Buildings 8 and 5 will have entirely remodelled receptions and the concept for Building 8 has now been unveiled. The design concept looks to carefully restore the design intent of the original buildings. The site sits close to two canal systems which the original architects used as inspiration for a maritime theme. The impressive buildings will have their grandeur restored with new wall panelling, beautiful joinery and finishes that bring the external materials and finishes from outside in. The intention is to give the buildings back their classic sense of identity, with added purpose appropriate to modern ways of working. North West contractor Aztec Interiors has been appointed to carry out the works. The contractor will commence the 6 week programme of works to upgrade the reception in Building 8 first before moving onto Building 5. Acting for Ekistics, Investment Manager at Exchange Quay, Till Asset Management, has announced the reception upgrades as part of the team’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the occupier experience at Exchange Quay, which at 435,000 sq ft is one of the largest office developments in the North West with over 4,000 workers. The investment into the reception remodelling works follows on from the delivery of the 26,000 sq ft ICE building which provides contemporary Grade A office accommodation together with a café bar, business lounge and communal meeting space and is already over 60% let. Exchange Quay, which has its own Metrolink tram stop, is located approximately 1.5 miles to the southwest of Manchester City Centre and is strategically located just off Trafford Road which links Salford Quays to both Manchester City Centre and the regional motorway network. Les Lang, Director at Till Asset Management, said; “Jasper has an excellent reputation as Manchester’s leading designer so we were keen to get his vision for how to revitalise the entrance areas of Buildings 8 and 5. We were delighted with his concepts and can already visualise what a difference the new areas will make to tenants working in the buildings and also to their visitors. We will have additional areas for occupiers to utilise, with breakout areas and booths for informal meetings and look forward to seeing works progress in the forthcoming weeks.” Jasper Sanders, Design Director at Jasper Sanders + Partners, said; “Exchange Quay is one of the North’s most impressive office developments and we were excited to have the opportunity to redesign the entrances for two of the prominent office buildings. Our focus was on function, purpose, activity and creating a sense of culture whilst allowing for alternative activities such as coffee break spaces and meeting areas to give greater space options for the occupiers. The result will be fresh, functional space that serves a purpose for the tenants while creating a lasting impression for visitors.” The quoting rent on Exchange Quay is £20 per sq ft plus car parking.
Keen to show their thanks for all the tremendous efforts of NHS front line workers during these unprecedented times, four construction specialists have united in a bid to raise as much money as possible, expressing their appreciation towards those risking their lives, to save ours. The Mick George Group, MJS construction (March) Ltd, MJS Projects (March) Ltd and Morgan Sindall Group plc. have combined in creating a crowdfunding page where willing donors can contribute to this fantastic cause – https://www.gofundme.com/f/thank-the-frontline-nhs-workers. To kick start the proceeds, the Mick George Group on behalf of employees and MJS have each gifted £10,000 to show their gratitude to all those courageous staff doing their part to improve the current conditions relating to Covid-19. Together, the efforts of the respective companies will present NHS workers at four specified hospitals with funds to benefit from a wide range of ‘Thank You’ activities; including a family meal, spa day, afternoon tea, red letter activities, plus much more. Two of the identified hospitals to date, include Peterborough City Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Michael George, Managing Director at the Mick George Group commented: ‘’These are unprecedented times, the likes of which I hope we never experience again. The impact is being felt worldwide, creating different challenges for everyone. Words cannot justify the genuine appreciation for our NHS staff and other Key Workers throughout the country that are doing all they can to protect us in such extreme conditions. It is pleasing to see that this is being recognised and those in a position to do so, are contributing to offer some reward to these individuals. The Construction Industry has undoubtedly felt the effect of Covid-19, yet, four separate companies have combined to do their part. We would urge others to follow suit, where feasible. A little contribution can go a long way.’’
CBRE has strengthened its Leeds Building Consultancy team with the appointment of Matthew Kirkham as Associate Director. Matthew, a Chartered Engineer with circa 20 years experience of building services design and MEP project management in both consultancy and contracting industries, joins CBRE from AECOM where he was involved with various enhancement and expansion schemes at Heathrow Airport. At CBRE, Matthew will offer professional MEP transactional services for both landlords and tenants including; design, feasibility studies, technical due diligence, planned preventative maintenance (PPM) reviews, dilapidations, schedules of condition, reinstatements, licences to alter and cost advice. The latest appointment continues a period of sustained growth for CBRE’s Building Surveying and Project Management service lines and forms part of a wider drive for the Northern Building Consultancy team which delivers an unrivalled market offer to its varied client base. Richard Bamford, MD of CBRE’s Leeds office and Head of National Building Consultancy, commented; “Matthew is an excellent addition to our growing Leeds team and we are delighted to welcome him on board. The division has enjoyed sustained growth due to our full-service northern offer and multi-sector approach with projects ranging from office fit-outs and healthcare projects to industrial refurbs and new builds. Matthew brings a wealth of industry experience to the team and further enhances our client offer.” Matthew Kirkham continues; “I am looking forward to bringing my experience from both consultancy and contracting industries to my new role at CBRE and to be joining a team with such an excellent track record.” Matthew.kirkham@cbre.com 0113 394 8807
Given the recent Coronavirus outbreak over the last few months, global property consultancy Knight Frank is now forecasting the UK’s housing market to decline 38 percent from 2019’s home sales, to an estimated 734,000 transactions for the full year (2020). Knight Frank also forecasts mainstream UK house prices to fall by 3% in 2020, with prices in prime central London remaining unchanged following a 25% repricing since 2014. The firm expects prices to recover sharply in 2021 – citing an 8% growth for prime central London prices for next year. Liam Bailey, Global Head of Research at Knight Frank reports, “The underlying economic forecast we have adopted points to a contraction of GDP of 4% in 2020 and growth of 4.5% in 2021. The actual outturn will be determined by the timeframe imposed by the lockdown. “The housing market was in a strong position in January and February. A sharp uptick in sales and price growth was seen across the UK, with even the prime central London market seeing a reversal of a five-year long price decline. While we expect a revival in activity to continue, with volumes next year expected to be 18% above the level seen in 2019, this expansion in sales in 2021 will not fully offset the losses seen this year. Meaning that of the nearly 526,000 sales we expect to be “lost” due to lockdown this year, less than half will be carried into 2021. “For the government to see a full recovery of the market, with all of these “lost” sales carried forward, there will be a need for substantial incentives to ease market liquidity – including a reduction in stamp duty.” In the lettings market, considering the net impact of a phased return to more normal levels of activity, Knight Frank believes that the number of tenancies agreed in the prime markets across London and the Home Counties in 2020 will be around 25% below the five-year average. Off the back of rental values in prime central London growing by 1.2%, and in prime outer London by 1.1%, in the year to March 2020; the firm’s view is that rental values in prime central and outer London will remain flat over the course of 2020, with some upwards pressure returning the second half the year. Bailey continues, “Once the current crisis passes and activity begins to resume, we have to expect weaker economic activity in the first half of 2020, the dislocation in the jobs market and weakened consumer sentiment will impact on prices, however the relatively finite timespan of the crisis means declines will be limited. Looking to the agricultural markets, based on the assumption that the farmland market will be back in business by the summer, Knight Frank is predicting land prices to fall during 2020 by 2%. This movement will take the average price of bare agricultural land to around £6,800. Bailey adds, “It is worth noting that Covid-19 is unlikely to be the key driver behind the agricultural land market over the next few years. The impact of Brexit in terms of the trade deal struck with the EU – delayed or not – will play a key role, as will the details of the government’s new environmental payment schemes. “Surprisingly, the current crisis could indirectly support the land market if investors shift towards more tangible assets and greater emphasis is placed on improving food security and localising food chains.”