Savills has today, (04 June 2019), announced the acquisition of London-based workplace consultancy and design studio KKS. The acquisition will create a new UK based client service for the international real estate advisor providing a strategic link to enhance its occupier services, landlord leasing, mixed-use development and building & project
Energy Assets Utilities (EAU) is generating growth in the peaking plant market, recently working alongside project managers Stag Energy, and Keekle Power, to bring a 20MW gas peaking plant online near Southampton to help National Grid balance its power requirements. The plant will enable Keekle Power to provide low cost,
The words ‘health & safety training’ do not fill bosses or staff with excitement, and why should they? The thought of sitting in a quiet room watching a never ending Powerpoint is no-one’s cup of tea. This is why SafetySmart has launched a new and unique interactive training platform which
BASF SE has kicked off a sale process for its construction chemical business, which could fetch about 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), people with knowledge of the matter said. The German company has started to contact select interested parties, a BASF representative said in response to Bloomberg queries, declining to
The Templeman Library at the University of Kent features multiple Kawneer systems. A multi award-winning redevelopment of a university library has used architectural glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer for their ability to combine aesthetics with performance and value for money. Kawneer’s aluminium AA®100 curtain walling, as zone-drained capped
There is excitement in the air as Nottinghamshire-based property services company, SDL Group, were named as ‘Company of the Year’ at this year’s Nottingham Post Business Awards. The ceremony, which took place at The East Midlands Conference Centre on Wednesday 22nd May 2019, was a culmination of months of nominations
Leading suppliers, manufacturers and merchants descended upon The Brewery, London earlier this month for one of the most hotly anticipated fixtures on the builder’s merchants’ calendar: the BMJ Industry Awards. Södra Wood had an excellent year, victorious in the Best Timber Brand category after receiving a great response in the
Successful topping out event for new 256 bed purpose-built student accommodation development, Stanhope House, Portsmouth, on track and on budget for opening September 2019 Crosslane Student Developments (“Crosslane”), part of the Crosslane Property Group, celebrated the topping out of its latest Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (“PBSA”) development in Portsmouth on 28
LEADING multi-disciplinary consultancies Pick Everard and Delta Simons, and agents Pygott & Crone, have secured a four-year appointment to Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation’s (ESPO) Estates Management Services framework. The framework provides a range of estate management professional services relating to the use, management, acquisition, disposal and development of land and
Kite Packaging, one of the UK’s leading packaging distributors have seen a hugely positive response to their 2019 initiative aimed at reducing the impact of plastics in the environment. At the end of May the company announced that they are well on their way to reaching their goal, with the
Savills has today, (04 June 2019), announced the acquisition of London-based workplace consultancy and design studio KKS. The acquisition will create a new UK based client service for the international real estate advisor providing a strategic link to enhance its occupier services, landlord leasing, mixed-use development and building & project management offering to deliver an all-encompassing solution focused on creating a better occupier experience. Established in 2004 by CEO Katrina Kostic Samen, alongside partner Caroline Pontifex, KKS now employs 26 members of staff. At Savills, Katrina will assume the role of director, head of workplace – strategy and design, in addition to continuing her position as President of the British Council for Offices (BCO) until July this year, remaining thereafter as BCO Immediate Past President. Caroline will be appointed as director, workplace experience. As a recognised and best in class leader in development & occupier strategy and interior architecture design, KKS provides innovative solutions based on detailed research and experience to major developers and tenants in the financial, legal, insurance, media and corporate sectors across the globe. James Sparrow, CEO of Savills UK and EMEA, comments: “This is an incredibly important and strategic acquisition for our business that will see Savills and KKS come together to create a new workplace centre of excellence, offering a comprehensive end-to-end solution for our clients from inception to completion.” Jeremy Bates, EMEA head of Occupational Markets at Savills, says: “This acquisition is directly driven by future workplace trends, challenges, opportunities and demands. There is an obvious synergy between the two businesses and we are thrilled to welcome Katrina and her team to Savills.” Simon Collett, head of Professional Services at Savills, adds: “By fusing best in class real-estate advice with a best in class design and delivery capability, this new service line will focus on providing superior client value and success, as well as giving Savills a market-leading competitive advantage in the workplace arena.” Katrina Kostic Samen, CEO of KKS, says: “The growth and success of KKS is a reflection of the passion of our team who are constantly driving to deliver a first class client service and push the boundaries to embrace new innovations. The occupier is the heart and soul of any building and, in Savills, we feel we have found like-minded people with the energy and motivation across a global network to take the occupier experience to the next level. We are very much looking forward to collaborating and innovating to redefine the workplace and build better performing communities for occupiers.”
Energy Assets Utilities (EAU) is generating growth in the peaking plant market, recently working alongside project managers Stag Energy, and Keekle Power, to bring a 20MW gas peaking plant online near Southampton to help National Grid balance its power requirements. The plant will enable Keekle Power to provide low cost, dispatchable power to the local distribution system and fulfil its Capacity Market obligation. Peaking plants are being created across Britain and come into operation when there is a peak in demand for power from the electricity grid. EAU is one of the leading utility network construction businesses working in the sector, having completed more than 40 such schemes. The latest project involved the design and construction of a particularly complex gas infrastructure, including a 140m directional drill under the main Southampton railway line to connect the site to the gas network. The 10 gas fired reciprocating engines generating the electricity required a gas load of 54MW at around 250mb inlet pressure. Dennis Habergham, EAU Design & Technical Manager, said that a root protection area meant open-trench digging works were not feasible, so a non-intrusive directional drilling approach was employed instead. “The undercrossing of the railway was another one of the major challenges,” said Dennis. “We originally planned a total drill length of 120m passing 7m below the track level, but we had to contend with an unforeseen World War II concrete structure, which meant going deeper and extending the drill length to 140m. The completed supply pipeline was then connected to an IP to LP gas regulator/ meter skid also installed by EAU.” Joe Grant, Project Manager at Stag Energy, said that peaking power plants were playing an increasingly important role in balancing the nation’s power requirements due to the increased volume of intermittent renewables which require balancing. “This plant will provide power to local homes and businesses at times of high demand or unexpected drops in supply,” he said. “The site was selected for its proximity to the nearby electricity sub-station and was originally going to be a diesel site, but regulatory change meant it was then developed as a gas operation. We spoke to a number of contractors, but Energy Assets had a wealth of experience in technically challenging projects and we are really pleased with the job they have done here.” EAU spotted an opportunity in the peaking plant market around four years ago and has since developed a specialist design and network construction team that has gone on to complete more than 40 schemes on behalf of operators. Nathan Schofield, Sales and Marketing Director at EAU, commented: “In addition to our established gas network construction and metering operations, we have also extended our in-house electrical design capability, so that we can deliver a true ‘end-to-end’ service for peaking plant customers. Today, we are one of the leading utility network design and construction companies in this sector in Britain.” Picture shows the peaking plant near Southampton (aerial image). www.energyassets.co.uk
The words ‘health & safety training’ do not fill bosses or staff with excitement, and why should they? The thought of sitting in a quiet room watching a never ending Powerpoint is no-one’s cup of tea. This is why SafetySmart has launched a new and unique interactive training platform which has injected a dose of fun in to what is normally a bland subject. And what better way to show this than through a humorous spoof, yet informative, video from the very talented Tim Oliver…. According to the Health and Safety Executive, 1.4million people suffered from a work-related illness from 2017/2018 which resulted in a total cost of £15 billion, so health & safety in the work place must be a priority. But if the training being delivered isn’t engaging and the information isn’t retained by staff then it’s not doing the job, e.g. it’s box ticking but not working! SafetySmart is an impactful learning platform that requires participants, split into teams, to play a giant board game, where they will come across different situations and scenarios as they play. Directly involving people and playing the game has numerous benefits, from creating discussion and debates, to having a lasting impact on the individuals. Plus, splitting the group into teams always develops some healthy competition, which again aids information retention as well as team building. With its updating ability, SafetySmart meets legal requirements and companies can choose the option of trainer or learner led, so individuals can teach themselves or learn in groups from four to 30! Preparing for sessions of this nature can often be very time consuming and tough, which is why on this function a lesson can be prepared in minutes, through quick shortcuts that take people through to specific and relevant information. Kevin McGrath, Founder and Company Director of SafetySmart, said: “With over 25 years’ experience in Health and Safety, I have been exposed to many serious incidents that could have easily been prevented through a change of attitude and behaviours. This was why I felt compelled to create this new fresh learning format as it actually engages the learner and increases the attention and retention of information, therefore creating a safer workplace!” SafetySmart already has credible test partners, in the form of Digital INnov8ors, which said it encourages teamwork and its competitive angle brings a positive new vibe to the training environment’ and Merlin Change Management Consultancy Ltd, which added it was ‘very impressed with its application and flexibility of use. The questions and exercises are skilfully crafted to get the best out of the product and maximise the learning potential for those interacting with it.’ The company is also currently working with Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull, Birmingham For those that enjoyed SafetySmart’s video, please feel free to head over to www.besafetysmart.co.uk for more information, or even better, give one of the team a call on 0121 661 6855, they will be more than happy to answer any questions.
BASF SE has kicked off a sale process for its construction chemical business, which could fetch about 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), people with knowledge of the matter said. The German company has started to contact select interested parties, a BASF representative said in response to Bloomberg queries, declining to comment further. Carlyle Group LP and building-materials maker Standard Industries Inc. are among potential suitors considering offers for the unit, the people said.It could also attract interest from other private equity firms including Bain Capital, Cinven and KKR & Co., according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. The BASF unit generated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of 245 million euros last year on 2.4 billion euros of sales, the people said. Potential bidders may seek to value the business at around 11 times earnings, according to two of the people. BASF expanded in construction chemicals through its 2006 acquisition of a Degussa AG unit. The German company has struggled with scale as well as the complexity of the market, since local construction techniques can differ even from country to country. Consolidation in the building-materials industry has strengthened the hand of enlarged companies when negotiating with suppliers of grouts, mortars and admixtures, which are added before or after mixing cement to enhance properties like drying times and water content. BASF Chief Executive Officer Martin Brudermueller announced a strategic review of the business in October, and the company has said it aims to reach an agreement by the end of this year. Any transaction would add to the $34 billion in acquisitions of European chemical and industrial companies announced this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. CVC Capital Partners agreed in January to sell Parex Group to Sika AG for 2.5 billion Swiss francs ($2.5 billion) including debt, valuing the French producer of construction chemicals at 12.8 times earnings. No final decisions have been made, and there’s no certainty the suitors will proceed to submit offers for the BASF business, the people said. Representatives for Bain, Carlyle, Cinven, KKR and Standard Industries declined to comment.
The Templeman Library at the University of Kent features multiple Kawneer systems. A multi award-winning redevelopment of a university library has used architectural glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer for their ability to combine aesthetics with performance and value for money. Kawneer’s aluminium AA®100 curtain walling, as zone-drained capped and mullion-drained SSG (Structurally Silicone Glazed) versions, is complemented by AA®100 concealed window vents, AA®541 top-hung casement window vents, AA®3610 vertical sliding windows and AA®3572 lift/slide doors. They were specified by regular Kawneer users Penoyre & Prasad architects for the £27 million redevelopment, involving a new extension to and refurbishment of the existing building, of the Templeman Library at the heart of the University of Kent in Canterbury. Designed by Lord Holford and constructed in three phases between 1965 and 1990, the new-look library was also constructed in three phases, with the 5,400m2 new-build completed first, and second and third phases of 12,500m2 refurbishment following. Penoyre & Prasad’s competition-winning design for the project creates a vibrant contemporary building for study, interaction and exploration, bringing together a variety of study and support spaces, versatile collection and exhibition space, and a teaching suite. Their approach was to reveal the original building’s hidden strengths by removing sections of floor structure at each level in the central core of the building to let in daylight and create views across the building, and replacing the glazing with the Kawneer curtain walling to weave the new extension and the existing building into one volume. The treatment of the external facade inverts the balance of the original Brutalist architecture of the building to create a strong and holistic contemporary architectural identity. The new north entrance was formed by glazing in a services/delivery undercroft with Kawneer curtain walling, while remodelling of the existing library included two entrance extensions, improved vertical circulation and re-glazing of the entire façade, again with Kawneer curtain walling. Penoyre & Prasad partner Suzi Winstanley said: “We specified the Kawneer products for their value for money and ability to combine aesthetics and construction quality at the price band, also their ability to achieve the performance requirements. “They are an extensive part of the façade system, helping to keep the building warm in winter and cool in summer, allowing natural ventilation to the library. A key reason for aluminium was value for money for the interior and robustness for the exterior.” She added: “The Kawneer products helped us achieve U-values for the external envelope, allowing sufficient daylight into the building whilst dealing with glare. They create a contemporary building of glass and concrete, combining the existing building with a new extension and upgraded façade. “The glazed elements allow much more daylight into the existing refurbished building and enable the concrete elements of the façade to hang lightly against the glass façade at the entrance to the existing building, inverting the weight of the brick buttresses of the existing building and creating a clear and welcoming entrance. At the junctions with new concrete, existing concrete and existing brickwork, the glazing is the glue that ties all these elements together.” The bronze anodised mesh veil of the extension façade forms a sophisticated, sustainable envelope that weaves the old and new to create a distinctive flagship building at the heart of the university campus. The new development provides a wide variety of learning and support spaces and opportunities to share knowledge through, including an open-access teaching floor with a distinctive resin-clad 250-seat lecture theatre, eight seminar rooms, group rooms, café, exhibition space and a conference catering and resource facility. Research included consultation with staff and students from a wide variety of courses, including students with disabilities, to design 1,800 individual, pair and group study spaces across informal, quiet and silent zones to suit contemporary learning styles. The redeveloped building has achieved a BREEAM “Excellent” rating, largely through the architect’s simple but elegant ventilation treatment, with Kawneer’s opening windows shielded by chain-like screens, stack effect in the double-height volume, and cross-ventilation to cool the inner spaces. Both the metal grillage and monumental external fins serve to shade what is otherwise a Kawneer glazed wall. Its complexity lies in the scale of investment and in dealing with an existing building that is pivotal to the university’s 15,000 students and needed to remain in use during construction. The Kawneer systems were installed over 15 months by a team of up to six from approved specialist sub-contractor/dealer Leay for main contractor Kier Construction. Leay’s business development manager Mike Watts said: “Hinged mesh panels were hung from the Kawneer curtain wall in front of the opening vents at varying heights to mimic the effect of icicles hanging from the roof level. The original design was to have these fixed but for cleaning strategies these had to be designed hinged to access the screen behind.” The university’s director of information services John Sotillo said: “The Templeman Library was the most impressive building on campus when the university was established in the 1960s and it is fitting that as the university celebrates its 50th anniversary we should have transformed it. “The 21st Century updated and refreshed Templeman Library has moved very significantly with the times to become an impressive modern building containing services and facilities that are equally modern, impressive and important to its current and prospective users.” The new-look Templeman Library won the 2017 Graphisoft UK BIM’s Public Sector Project of the Year award and was highly commended in the 2017 Concrete Society awards. It was also shortlisted for the 2018 AJ Specification Technology award, 2018 AJ Refurbishment over £20 million award, and 2018 AJ Retrofit Higher and Further Education award.
There is excitement in the air as Nottinghamshire-based property services company, SDL Group, were named as ‘Company of the Year’ at this year’s Nottingham Post Business Awards. The ceremony, which took place at The East Midlands Conference Centre on Wednesday 22nd May 2019, was a culmination of months of nominations and judging. SDL Group had been awarded with the top prize of the night, after being recognised for its remarkable growth, creating of new jobs within the local area and smashing its £150,000 fundraising target. Paul Gratton, SDL Group CEO, said: “Everybody works really hard in delivering our services, but occasionally it is nice if someone else realises that and gives the team a pat on the back. “We had a five-year plan and we are executing against that plan and so far so good. There are more opportunities, and more growth to come.” As well as winning Company of the Year, SDL Group were also a finalist for the ‘Contribution to the Community’ category, where its work with its chosen charity The Donna Louise (a midlands-based hospice for children and young people) and Think Forward (coaching young local people in schools with the highest risk of unemployment to enable them to transition into sustained work) were commended. This award win is not the only acknowledgement the SDL Group has had in recent months. This year it has been named one of Europe’s fastest growing companies in the Financial Times FT1000, which ranks the top 1,000 European companies in terms of revenue growth – SDL Group came 454. Paul Gratton is also a regional finalist for the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of of the Year UK. The winner will be announced Thursday 20th June.
Leading suppliers, manufacturers and merchants descended upon The Brewery, London earlier this month for one of the most hotly anticipated fixtures on the builder’s merchants’ calendar: the BMJ Industry Awards. Södra Wood had an excellent year, victorious in the Best Timber Brand category after receiving a great response in the industry voting stage. On winning the award, Södra Wood UK’s Managing Director, Simon Henry, commented: “To receive such recognition from the industry within only a couple of years of really investing in the UK market is testament to the type of business Södra is: focused on meeting industry needs, delivering sustainable timber supply and generating long-term partnerships with everyone we work with. “This award is fantastic recognition for all of the hard work and dedication of the Södra UK team. I was truly humbled at the ceremony, and I’d just like to again thank all of those who have supported Södra and voted for us. We really value the support.” The award caps off what has been a stellar 18 months for Södra. Last year, Södra celebrated its 80th anniversary and recently announced news of best-ever financial results and plans to expand its production of cross-laminated timber. Simon says this success is due, in part, to Södra’s “long-term approach.” He commented: “As a business, we’re committed to a continued focus on growth, sustainability and innovation. But central to all of that is the long-term relationships we build with the people we work with. It’s why this award is so special, because it’s voted for by those in the industry.” For more information, please visit www.sodra.uk
Successful topping out event for new 256 bed purpose-built student accommodation development, Stanhope House, Portsmouth, on track and on budget for opening September 2019 Crosslane Student Developments (“Crosslane”), part of the Crosslane Property Group, celebrated the topping out of its latest Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (“PBSA”) development in Portsmouth on 28 May 2019, which will open on time and on budget for the start of the 2019/20 academic year, following a tight construction timetable that began in October 2017. The new 256 bed scheme is Crosslane’s first development in Portsmouth with an expected gross development value of approximately £30 million upon practical completion, if you also want to start an investment and need some extra money, click here and find out how to get it. The ceremony was conducted by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and the Lady Mayoress, Councillor David Fuller and Mrs Leza Tremorin, Lisa Timberlake, Senior Development Manager for Crosslane StudentDevelopments and Neil Russell, Managing Director for the RGB Group. The event was attended by the team of agents, contractors and professional partners working on the project, as well as the Prime Student Living team – the student accommodation lettings and operational management arm of the Crosslane Property Group, who are responsible for achieving full occupancy prior to practical completion and will continue to manage the building thereafter. The new 19-storey development called ‘Stanhope House’ is is one of the tallest buildings in the city and the topping out event represents a key milestone in the construction progress of this high-specification scheme. Conveniently located on the corner of Stanhope Road and Commercial Road in the city centre, the property is less than ten minutes’ walk from the main campus of Portsmouth University, within the central shopping district, surrounded by city centre amenities and opposite Portsmouth and Southsea train station and Victoria Park. Portsmouth is a vibrant and cosmopolitan port city with a student population of over 20,000, including a high proportion of postgraduates and international students. Upon practical completion, the development will comprise of 138 studio apartments and 118 en-suite bedrooms in shared cluster-flats over 18 floors, providing impressive views across the city skyline and out towards the Solent, with a retail unit on the ground floor. Stanhope House will offer students a unique experience with high quality communal facilities across 15 floors, each of which will offer something different, from study spaces, a library and relaxing lounges, to a Karaoke room, TV room, games room and American diner style entertaining kitchen and dining facility for private dinner parties, celebrations and socialising. Students will also benefit from secure cycle storage and superfast 100Mbps broadband and Wi-Fi throughout the building to provide residents with a first-class experience. Stanhope House is one of five new PBSA schemes by Crosslane within the recently announced Joint Venture (“JV”) with Harrison Street Real Estate Capital LLC. In addition to Coventry, the JV also includes new PBSA developments in Leeds, Coventry, Swansea and Cardiff, delivering a combined total of 1,685 beds and gross development value of approximately £180 million. Lisa Timberlake, Senior Development Manager, Crosslane Student Developments, said: “We are delighted to be working with the RGB Group on our Stanhope House development and pleased to be on track and on budget. This development in a prime location, will satisfy some of the rapidly increasing demand for student accommodation in Portsmouth, freeing up homes which could be occupied by the city’s families. Whilst this is our first development in the exciting and vibrant city of Portsmouth, Crosslane is also working with the RGB Group on a 391 bed student development in Cardiff, and we continue to explore other sites in Portsmouth to develop purpose-built student accommodation, helping to meet the growing demand for this type of student housing to ease the imbalance in supply and demand.” The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor David Fuller, said: “I am delighted to be celebrating the topping out of Stanhope House, the first student accommodation property to be completed in Portsmouth by Crosslane. The building is one of the tallest in the city, providing students with amazing views across the city. Portsmouth’s lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere is popular with students and an attractive place to work and invest. With over 20,000 students from the UK and overseas, Portsmouth continues to see significant demand for quality student accommodation and I am thrilled Crosslane has chosen to invest in the city. In addition to meeting the team constructing the building, it was also delightful to become acquainted with the team from Prime Student Living who will be managing the building once complete and responsible for looking after those students lucky enough to choose Stanhope House as their home and I wish them the best of success.” Neil Russell, Managing Director, RGB Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with Crosslane on our first purpose-built student accommodation development we have constructed for them on what promises to be an exciting landmark building that will be a great addition to the Portsmouth skyline. The topping out ceremony is a key milestone in the project and we will continue to work collaboratively with Crosslane and the professional team to deliver the project, which is making excellent progress and will be completed to the highest modern construction standards on time and within budget for the start of the 2019/20 academic year.”
LEADING multi-disciplinary consultancies Pick Everard and Delta Simons, and agents Pygott & Crone, have secured a four-year appointment to Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation’s (ESPO) Estates Management Services framework. The framework provides a range of estate management professional services relating to the use, management, acquisition, disposal and development of land and property. It is available for use by any public sector body in the UK, including schools and academies, local authorities, police and emergency services, and central government departments. Now appointed, the firms will deliver a range of services – including valuations, commercial and agricultural agency, building surveying, property and estate management, and environmental planning – across projects nationally. Alex Hamilton-Jordan, head of strategic partnerships at Pick Everard, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to ESPO’s Estates Management Services framework, in partnership with Delta Simons and Pygott & Crone. “At Pick Everard, we place great importance on developing strong relationships with our supply chain and SME organisations, and this appointment shows us working in the true spirit of partnership. “We deliver a high number of projects through national frameworks and we understand the significant opportunities partnerships with Pick Everard present for our supply chain partners. Over the past two years, we have engaged with 196 supply chain partners and are proud that this figure is increasing as we continue to support and promote collaborative working to improve our service to clients and improve a project for end users. “SMEs aren’t always able to tender for major industry frameworks, despite having the relevant expertise to deliver the work. Due to our extensive experience in the delivery of frameworks, we are able to compete for, and secure, major national opportunities, which provides our valued supply chain partners the ability to win new clients and work via a robust and compliant procurement route. “In this instance, the three firms worked together to produce the bid under the Pick Everard banner, utilising our framework experience, combined with Delta Simons’ and Pygott & Crone’s specialist expertise.” Pick Everard, Pygott & Crone and Delta Simons have been appointed to five lots on the framework, these include: valuation services, commercial agency, agricultural agency, lease management and planning consultancy. Damian Robinson, divisional director of environmental planning at Delta-Simons, said: “We are delighted to be appointed onto ESPO’s Estate Management Services framework and believe that our strategic partnership will deliver great value outcomes for those procuring via the framework. As a partnership, we share strong business cultures founded on collaborative working, innovation and trust, having already worked together for many years.” Tim Downing, director at award-winning agency Pygott & Crone, said: “We’re really looking forward to working with Pick Everard and Delta Simons on this exciting new opportunity. As a multi-practice agency, we now also have UK coverage and have the ability to offer the public sector innovative and valuable advice on all aspects of their property requirements.” Pick Everard employs more than 500 staff across its 13 UK offices, providing a range of project, cost and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.
Kite Packaging, one of the UK’s leading packaging distributors have seen a hugely positive response to their 2019 initiative aimed at reducing the impact of plastics in the environment. At the end of May the company announced that they are well on their way to reaching their goal, with the initiative already delivering a 95 tonne plastic reduction. The team at Kite launched their 120 tonne challenge at the start of 2019, setting themselves and their customers the task of reducing plastic usage by a total of 120 tonnes by the end of the year. With a focus on ‘reduce, re-use, recycle and replace’ Kite have utilised a wide range of new eco-friendly products and their state of the art Mobile Test Facility to target opportunities for themselves and their customers. Part of the reduction includes Kite themselves no longer sending out any direct mailing in polythene mailing bags, as well as carrying out an ongoing review of its distribution process to minimise plastic wrapping around products. To support customers joining the initiative Kite’s new Mobile Test Facility, the first of its kind in the industry, has been despatched to customers premises all around the UK along with a team of packaging technologists and specialist engineers. The Kite team are able to utilise the Mobile Test Facility to work alongside customers and carry out waste minimising packaging audits, as well as exploring and testing more eco-friendly packaging alternatives. The initiative comes off the back of continued growth and success for the employee-owned business. The company recently extended its network of regional distribution centres opening a site in the North East of England. They also invested in expansion of warehousing capacity at their Swindon RDC with the installation of a new mezzanine floor. This followed several years of continued growth for Kite’s Swindon RDC since moving to their current location in June 2015. With the increased focus on the environment and the demand for effective, bespoke solutions, businesses are looking for the right packaging solutions that tick all the boxes. For advice and support on a wide range of packaging solutions, or to join Kite in their 120 tonne challenge, visit the Kite Packaging website. www.kitepackaging.co.uk.