As Travelodge continues its expansion across the Midlands, national property and construction consultancy Wakemans has completed work on the budget hotel chain’s latest development in Solihull. Wakemans acted as tenant’s agent on the £10million Solihull Travelodge, which has 82 rooms including SuperRooms, an on-site restaurant called the Bar Café and
PICK Everard – the national property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – has formed an alliance with WT Partnership to deliver the four-year Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Professional Services Providers Framework. The Framework will deliver prisons, courts, border crossing facilities, Home Office and government buildings across Wales and Central England and
Desk Buzz, a new office furniture company, is planning to use Clerkenwell Design Week to launch its exciting new range of office space management solutions in the UK. The pro standard furniture, which is being manufactured in Slovenia, is being imported and distributed by Desk Buzz, a new brand, established
The refurbishment of a ward at Bristol children’s hospital includes printed ceilings. Hospital stays for children striving against cancer in the Bristol area are now more positive and stimulating, thanks to Armstrong Ceiling Solutions and its chosen charity Rays of Sunshine, a charity that brightens the lives of recovering children
You can start a career in real estate while you’re still working a full-time job, even if you aren’t currently making big bucks. While it doesn’t require a college education, it does require careful research, planning, and sometimes sacrifice. The real estate market favors those who are resourceful, so always
OnlineDoorStore.co.uk launches a new collection of elegant doors inspired by modern takes on classic design OnlineDoorStore.co.uk, the UK’s leading door specialist, has launched a brand new collection of elegant doors. The styles are set to inspire architects, self builders, renovators and home improvers with options for all house styles, from
Brits travelling abroad reached a high in 2017 when 72.8 million left the UK for visits to other countries. This was a three per cent increase on the previous year. As a nation, we base our entire year around escaping from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and boarding
Some of us are natural born presenters, and when we stand up and take the mic, everyone knows to be silence. This is our time, and the audience listen, because they are confident that what is about to come is going to be the words that inspire a nation, inspire
Mechanical and electrical building services provider J S Wright has secured a £5m contract for the biggest phase of a £64m estate regeneration in London. The company, which has its head office in Birmingham and offices in Bristol and London, will design and build the mechanical services for no less
Bluestone National Park Resort today announces the opening date for its £7 million Dome – a groundbreaking ‘giant umbrella’ William McNamara CEO and Founder of Bluestone said: “This is the first of its kind in the UK which will create an additional 55 jobs and boost the local economy by
As Travelodge continues its expansion across the Midlands, national property and construction consultancy Wakemans has completed work on the budget hotel chain’s latest development in Solihull. Wakemans acted as tenant’s agent on the £10million Solihull Travelodge, which has 82 rooms including SuperRooms, an on-site restaurant called the Bar Café and free car parking. The new Solihull hotel joins the Birmingham Central Bull Ring Travelodge in offering SuperRooms, the company’s increasingly popular room designed around the ‘premium economy’ concept familiar to airline users. This new class of room is the first of its kind in the UK budget hotel market and enhances the comfort factor for business and leisure customers who want the extra choice of a more premium room. In a central location, the Solihull Travelodge is a few minutes’ walk from the railway station and close to local amenities, including two shopping centres and a cinema as well as bars and restaurants. It is also a short drive from Birmingham Airport. Wakemans Divisional Director Nigel Himpson said: “We’re delighted to support Travelodge in implementing its strategic growth plans in the West Midlands. As the region’s economy grows and Solihull, in particular, benefits from rising visitor numbers, this new hotel meets the need for good quality, affordable accommodation.” Travelodge operates 25 hotels across the West Midlands and Wakemans also played a key role in the development of its Dudley Town Centre, West Bromwich and Walsall properties.
PICK Everard – the national property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – has formed an alliance with WT Partnership to deliver the four-year Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Professional Services Providers Framework. The Framework will deliver prisons, courts, border crossing facilities, Home Office and government buildings across Wales and Central England and was procured via the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework. Andrew Seaman, national director at Pick Everard said: “Pick Everard has been delivering cost management services under the CCS framework since its inception. We’re delighted to be working in partnership with WT Partnership under this framework, delivering cost management services. “This is a significant custodial framework, which will support the MoJ in achieving its objectives to deliver capital and whole life cycle costs within value for money parameters, whilst ensuring timely project delivery and high quality outcomes.” WT Partnership – an international cost and project management consultancy – has been working with the MoJ for more than 15 years so has extensive experience in the sector and understands every type of project requirement. Andrew continued: “We work with more than 500 supply chain partners across the UK and, through the development of mutually beneficial relationships and the identification of sector specialisms, we’re able to provide alternative routes to market for our clients. “This partnership will benefit the client by ensuring that the most appropriate specialists are on the project team. The alliance also benefits WT Partnership by ensuring that it continues to deliver major projects for the MoJ, whilst utilising our experience on the CCS framework. “The MoJ provides essential public sector buildings and we’re incredibly proud to be working on such an important opportunity.” David Kendall, director at WT Partnership said: “We are delighted to be appointed to work with Pick Everard to deliver cost consultancy services to the MoJ on its new framework for the Wales and Central England region. “This provides continuity of delivery to an important client with whom we have been working since 2003 and builds on the professional working relationship we have had with Pick Everard over a similar period.” Over the last two years, Pick Everard has engaged with almost 200 supply chain partners, providing new routes to market and generating £1.3 million worth of spend in local economies across the UK. For more information visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk.
Desk Buzz, a new office furniture company, is planning to use Clerkenwell Design Week to launch its exciting new range of office space management solutions in the UK. The pro standard furniture, which is being manufactured in Slovenia, is being imported and distributed by Desk Buzz, a new brand, established in 2018 which has been appointed as the exclusive UK distributor for the Gonzaga range of furniture. Gongaza is an award-winning company that has been recognised by The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia for its outstanding business and entrepreneurial achievements. To launch the new company, Desk Buzz has taken a pop-up stand at Clerkenwell Design Week which is taking place in London between 21 and 23 May where it will showcase its full range of economy and executive desking, bench style desks, compatible modular storage systems, and innovative sound absorbing screens. Desk Buzz pop up showroom address: Design Fields DF51, Spa Fields, Northampton Road, EC1R 0DF Commenting on the launch of Desk Buzz, area sales manager Stephanie Hays said “We may be a new company, but the team has a wealth of knowledge of the office furniture market. We will be offering a wide range of furniture to suit every need, as well as providing quotations, space utilisation and floor planning advice, and an installation service.” All Desk Buzz products are bespoke and have been designed around the end user. Each design has been carefully crafted to help promote a healthy, productive and positive work space!
The refurbishment of a ward at Bristol children’s hospital includes printed ceilings. Hospital stays for children striving against cancer in the Bristol area are now more positive and stimulating, thanks to Armstrong Ceiling Solutions and its chosen charity Rays of Sunshine, a charity that brightens the lives of recovering children by granting their wishes and providing support in hospitals. A refurbishment of the oncology day beds unit at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, part of the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, includes acoustic ceilings featuring sky scenes and shoals of fish to reflect its new name as the Ocean Unit. The ceiling systems donated by Armstrong, totalling almost 300m2, were installed for free as a part of a ward wish by specialist sub-contractor H + L ceilings- a member of Armstrong’s approved national network of Omega contractors. The BioGuard ceiling tiles that feature anti-bacterial benefits for healthcare environments were finished with a coating of sky scenes in the recovery bay for older children, a school of fish swimming down a river in the reception/waiting area corridor, and a shoal of fish in a small treatment room. They were installed by a team of three from H + L over two weekends, with the old tiles from the 10-bed ward being sent to Armstrong’s factory in Gateshead for recycling and the company’s streamlined TLS grid, which is up to 20% faster to install, replacing the existing suspension system. Around 35% of the total tiles were white and screen-printed which Armstrong supplied with a number on the back so H+L could follow appropriate layout guidelines. Armstrong became involved in the project after its chosen charity Rays of Sunshine identified the refurbishment of the ward, which had not been updated for 15 years, under its Hospital Ward Wish programme. This works to, among other elements, decorate treatment rooms to transform sterile spaces into stimulating environments which provide a distraction and enable children to respond better to treatment. The refurbishment of the Ocean Unit, which has two six-bed bays and four single rooms as well as four consulting rooms, and looks after all oncology, haematology and bone marrow transplant children up to 19 years, also included new wall art and furniture. H+L director Darren Hopkins said: “When Armstrong asked us to install the project we were more than happy to get involved. It was treated like any other job but the installation team volunteered themselves for the weekend work.” And of the tile numbering system he added: “We have never had to work that way before but it was pretty easy to install by following the instructions Armstrong gave us.” Jane Sharpe, CEO of Rays of Sunshine, said: “A very big thank you to everyone involved in making this happen. The ceiling makeover will make such a massive difference to the children visiting the ward for treatment. It will make their time there so much more bearable and will put lots of smiles on lots of faces.” Jane Thomas, donations co-ordinator for the children’s services division of University Hospitals Bristol, thanked Armstrong for their support in “transforming” the ceilings for the patients and their families. She said: “The work completed by Armstrong Ceilings has made the area a brighter but still calm place for the children to be in, with the fish gently swimming through. Especially popular is the large bay under the tropical picture where the children can recover following treatment.” Isabel Blanco, Armstrong’s marketing communications manager, said: “Our latest exercise for Rays of Sunshine was particularly rewarding as it was easy to see the difference the bright, fun ceilings made to the children.” BioGuard tiles are cleanable and perform to Sound Absorption Class C and Clean Room Classification ISO 5. They are also 85% light reflecting and 95% humidity resistant and manufactured from 42% recycled content. More information is accessible via the Armstrong Ceilings website https://www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-gb/.
You can start a career in real estate while you’re still working a full-time job, even if you aren’t currently making big bucks. While it doesn’t require a college education, it does require careful research, planning, and sometimes sacrifice. The real estate market favors those who are resourceful, so always be on the lookout for things like reliable repair-people, affordable marketing services, and freebies to help you get the job done. Here are some other ways to get your real estate business started with limited capital. Starting with no capital There are a few different activities that can enable you to turn a profit over time: the most widely known is called “flipping”, but this is rarely as easy or profitable as some television shows would have you believe. Many investors take a more patient approach, keeping property over two years to reduce tax liabilities and earn more equity. This means they’ll become landlords in addition to renovators, which can be a steady and reliable way to accomplish your long-term goals. One of the hardest things to overcome is the lack of initial funds for a down-payment, but if you have the desire to become a real estate investor and are willing to live in a home that might not be your dream home at first, you can get to work. One way is by purchasing a multi-unit (a single building split into two to four units) using a state housing program. State housing programs offer low down-payment options, are typically offered in metro areas, have provisions for borrowing money for repairs, and are specially designed for buyers with a lower average income and credit score. Veterans can use a special program called a VA loan, which has a no down-payment option and other benefits as well. In rural areas, USDA RD loans offer buyers an affordable route to homeownership as well. Sweat equity and patience With the rise of YouTube, a person can get a crash-course on how to do almost anything, but it’s important to know when to call in a professional. Building codes must be followed and some activities, such as electrical or HVAC work must be performed by a licensed professional. Other activities, such as tile work, flooring, painting, and deck repair can be completed by people with no prior experience. Don’t worry if you don’t have skills at first; they come with practice, research, and learning from mistakes. In the beginning, you will likely have to prioritize repairs on a tight budget, but don’t forget that time can work in your favor. Over time, your property values may rise, giving you the equity you’ll need to pull cash out for repairs down the road, as long as you maintain the property adequately in the meantime. Marketing and screening tenants Taking the time and diligence to find dependable tenants can take as much elbow grease as re-caulking a bathroom, but it’s a top priority. While you might think listing your rental on Craigslist or in the paper is the easiest way to go, putting your rental information in the right places is one of the best ways to get reliable tenants. The first step is presentation: stage your rental and take high-quality photos, then work with a printer to create some branded materials like brochures and even custom pocket folders so you have quality handouts for your property. You can bring these to nearby businesses who might have employees looking to move closer to their place of employment, especially hospitals, restaurants, and retail stores. Highlight the benefits and conveniences of both your property and your process with things like a free tenant screening or maybe off-street parking, for example. Follow all Fair Housing laws but screen tenants carefully to reduce your potential liabilities. Though you may experience a slow-down at your day job, people will always need places to live, so investing in property and becoming a landlord is a virtually recession-proof career that can give you long-term income stability.
OnlineDoorStore.co.uk launches a new collection of elegant doors inspired by modern takes on classic design OnlineDoorStore.co.uk, the UK’s leading door specialist, has launched a brand new collection of elegant doors. The styles are set to inspire architects, self builders, renovators and home improvers with options for all house styles, from period designs though to on trend industrial-style internal glazed doors. OnlineDoorStore.co.uk has introduced the new collection to reflect the growing demand for designs that are a little out of the ordinary and make a bold statement. Available from May 2019, the new offerings will consist of 79 styles of internal and external doors, many of which can be made to bespoke sizes, all available for delivery across the UK. There’s an extensive collection of colour options available too, including Pearl Grey and Charcoal Black along with natural finishes such as Oak Wood Grain. All the doors are handcrafted from solid wood and benefit from heavy weight quality construction. In addition to the standard configuration, many of the designs have a glazed or fire door option as well. Highlights from the collection include: Knightsbridge This door has stately style and elegance, and is available in black or white. The Knightsbridge has a primed plus finish (a special lacquer to add lustre), and comes in a glazed option or as an FD30 fire door, too. Greenwich An Art-Deco inspired design with geometric glazed panels. This, almost completely glazed door, offers simple elegance and is the ideal choice to optimise light transfer between rooms. The door comes as a single, in pairs, or in various widths as room dividers. Tres A flush design that has three horizontal panels of woodgrain set in opposing directions to offer a calm and restful design. Choose from Pearl Grey, Charcoal Black or Walnut. Available as standard or as an FD30 fire door. Heta An intriguing design concept. A central panel with horizontal woodgrain is flanked on either side by curved vertical borders. Choose from modern Pearl Grey or a more traditional Oak Woodgrain. Available as standard or as an FD30 fire door. Vancouver Since its launch, the Vancouver has become a best-seller. There are two new additions to the Vancouver range with Charcoal Black and Pearl Grey finishes. There is a solid timber model and also a fully-glazed option for maximum light transfer between rooms. The solid door has an FD30 fire door variant, too. OnlineDoorStore.co.uk prides itself on not just being a website where you ‘click and collect’. Every potential customer can speak to a member of the team, on the phone or by email, where they will be given a personalised service no matter the requirements from style guidance to size and fitting recommendations. For more information visit www.onlinedoorstore.co.uk
Brits travelling abroad reached a high in 2017 when 72.8 million left the UK for visits to other countries. This was a three per cent increase on the previous year. As a nation, we base our entire year around escaping from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and boarding a plane. Whether it be for a weekend city break, a honeymoon, or that all-encompassing gap year – it is what we live for. In the UK, we often take for granted our ease in taking the opportunity to travel abroad, indulging in both foreign cuisine and constant sunshine. For some nationalities however, money isn’t the only factor which restricts them from hopping on a flight – their passport does. Did you know, some passports afford their holders more freedom and unrestricted international access than others? Donald J Trump slapping sanctions on Iran is only the tip of the iceberg, as throughout the world there are numerous countries, that due to international disputes do not allow access without a full visa. Making an assessment of how many countries a passport grants its holders visa free or visa on arrival access, Henley and Partners’ passport index is the official rank of the world’s most powerful passports. Here, with UK banner printing firm, Where the Trade Buys, we take a look at the world’s most valuable passports, and the agreements that have made them that way. Japan For the second consecutive time, Japan has claimed top spot, fighting off tough opposition from the likes of Singapore and South Korea. Citizens of the land of the rising sun are able to cross the border into 190 different countries, one more than their two aforementioned Asian counterparts. In 2017, Japanese citizens were granted visa-free travel to Myanmar, the state formerly known as Burma. The government in the state has requested however that tourists must have at least $1000 in the bank before entering. Approximately 100,000 Japanese visitors came to Myanmar, in most occasions the capital, Rangoon, in 2017. The most notable nations that Japan has visa-free access to that the UK doesn’t, are Iran, Mongolia and China. The latter of which, visitors must apply for visa on arrival. The UK Both Americans and Brit’s, who held joint-first position in 2015, have fell to sixth place. The two countries share the position with Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland, allowing visa-free access to 185 nations, five behind that of Japan. Henley Chairman, Christian Kalin, notes how, “an open-door policy has the potential to contribute billions to the global economy, as well as creating significant employment opportunities.” The UK’s European Union membership has provided citizens with the ability to move freely throughout member states since the agreement’s infancy, however with the current situation, circumstances could so easily change. Previously boasting visa-free access to 186 countries, the introduction of e-visas in Turkey, which are required prior to arrival, the UK has slipped overall. It must be noted however, that since the passport index began in 2006, the UK has dramatically increased in access numbers, from 126. Interestingly, current plans exist to revert from red back to the traditional blue passport that the UK used prior to joining the EU, and if they were to do so, printing of these passports will be carried out in France. France and Germany The two European states sit join third, ranking just below Singapore and South Korea. In terms of their comparison to the UK, both countries can apply for a visa on arrival in Iran. On the alternative passport index powered by Arton, Germany ranks slightly higher than France, offering the visa on arrival service in both Pakistan and Mongolia. Various aspects will be taken into a consideration when a country is deciding whether to allow other nations visa-free access. For Germany, they have placed a particular level of emphasis on building relationships with foreign countries. UAE Despite being ranked by Arton as having the world’s strongest passport, the UAE comes in at 21st on Henley’s scale. The oil rich state’s attitude towards foreign affairs has seen it significantly climb in recent years, with Kalin suggesting how ‘this is not only a benefit to the UAE’s citizens, but also the wider international community’. Afghanistan and Iraq Both Iraqi and Afghani nationals prop up the bottom of the index, with their passports only allowing access to 30 countries respectively. Meanwhile, if you were to follow the Arton index, Iraq ranks slightly higher than Afghanistan with a score of 33, as opposed to Afghanistan’s 30. Iraqi’s have visa-free access to Ecuador and Malaysia, that its counterpart does not. It comes a no surprise that some of the world’s richest countries rank the highest in terms of their passport’s worth, while similarly the countries torn apart by war at the lower end of the charts. The UAE is also a fine example of a country who is committed to establishing the wealth of its passport. Sources: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/powerful-passports-2018/ https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2157754/myanmar-allow-visa-free-entry-japanese-and-korean-tourists https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2017 https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/3120448/four-passport-colours-meaning/ https://frontier.ac.uk/blog/2018/09/12/top-5-strongest-and-weakest-passports-in-the-world https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/jan/14/uk-passport-drops-to-sixth-in-global-power-index https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/most-powerful-passport-henley-index-2018/index.html https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=uk&p2=fr&p3=de&fl=&s=yes
Some of us are natural born presenters, and when we stand up and take the mic, everyone knows to be silence. This is our time, and the audience listen, because they are confident that what is about to come is going to be the words that inspire a nation, inspire a generation, or help to start a revolution. Perhaps, as opposed to being like Mr Motivator, we are more like Mr Bean when we take the stage. For us, being asked to say a few words at a wedding is our idea of hell — slowly turning into a 2002 Marshal Mathers, ‘knees weak, arms heavy’. For those of us who are not natural-born presenters, a professional public speaking coach can help us develop the skills and confidence we need to command the attention of an audience. With the right guidance, anyone can learn to inspire, motivate, and persuade through public speaking. Standing up in front of a group of people and speaking doesn’t come naturally to most, but we are here to help. Here are your top ten tips to help you deliver the perfect presentation, without hearing the tumbleweed blow past. Seconds count Imagine you’re robbing a bank, you aren’t going to take the time to introduce yourself, you need to grab the attention of the teller and get out of there. A presentation is no different, get in, and with a piranha-like bite, you attack, ensuring your audience hones in. Often you are going to be using a digital presentation that will include your topic title, and they will already know your name. ‘Different’, in this circumstance, is detrimental. Understandable It may seem like a given, but the major failings of most speeches are that the audience simply cannot understand it. The best speeches in the history of time were delivered succinctly and weren’t overflowing with jargon. The biggest mistake one can make is to overcomplicate the language used — it doesn’t simply confuse the listener, but it will more than likely cause you to trip up as well. Why me? As much as we might not like to accept it, no one in life owes us anything — it is up to us to earn their attention. We cannot expect to warrant someone’s appreciation straight off the bat, simply because of who we are. They are going to give up their precious time to listen to us, but why should they? Tell them of your experience in the area, and reason why you are the one standing up to make the presentation as opposed to them. Attention If you are expecting your audience to pay attention to you, you need to pay attention to them. That said, learn your presentation, or at the very least, the basic structure beforehand. Yes, off-the-cuff might work for one in a thousand, but no one wants to listen to someone stumble their way through their presentation with Mr Blobby-like co-ordination. Rehearsing a handful of times in front of family, friends, or even the mirror, will give you the confidence to act upon their reactions, as opposed to aimlessly talking to a screen. Timing No one is here to suggest that a slide of a PowerPoint should take an hour, but if you try and rush through the first slide, by the second you will have lost all your audience in transit. Take a step back when you are initially planning your presentation: work out exactly how many ideas you wish to propose and assign an appropriate amount of time to each. Similarly, breathing can be incredibly under-rated — don’t starve yourself of oxygen. Emotion No one wants to walk out after a presentation and think, ‘well there goes half an hour of my life I’m never going to get back’. Therefore, add at least the tiniest portion of emotion. You don’t have to put in a performance deserving of an Oscar but showing your audience you are interested in what you’re speaking about is essential —if you don’t care, how can you expect them to? Obviously, we won’t always be tasked with speaking about a topic we would die for, but by racking your brain and coming up with why it’s important to you, you’ve certainly made a start. Gauge your audience Not many of us would have the same conversation with our mother and grandmother as we would do in the pub on a Saturday afternoon after football. The reason we don’t is because we can successfully take heed of our audience — and a presentation is no different. Jokes are often inappropriate in a presentation, but if you’re going to use them, at least make sure they are going to be understood. Imagery Using pictures and diagrams throughout your presentation can be a fantastic method of grabbing attention, as an overload of text can often prove to be challenging to divulge, particularly if it’s a large group. However, if you are going to go down the road of using images, make sure that they can be easily seen and interpreted. The sheer quality of a picture can act as a make or break for the entire success of your presentation. Tell a story This is something that many people will struggle to do — it requires a lot of creativity. Rather than telling jokes, this can be the perfect way to get your audience laughing, and for that, they will remember you. Your story can be whatever you want because it’s your story. Make the detail as extravagant as you like, just be confident that the content of the story relates to the purpose of your presentation. The end What the audience will hear at the end is the first thing they are going to remember afterwards. It is no surprise that the cliché of ‘going out with a bang’ has stuck around for so long — because if we don’t, we’ll be forgotten in a flash. Article provided by Where The Trade Buys, a print company offering professional
Mechanical and electrical building services provider J S Wright has secured a £5m contract for the biggest phase of a £64m estate regeneration in London. The company, which has its head office in Birmingham and offices in Bristol and London, will design and build the mechanical services for no less than 201 energy efficient affordable apartments within the latest fourth phase of New Union Wharf at Stewart Street on the Isle of Dogs. J S Wright was awarded the contract by developer Hill following its successful completion of the 114-home second and third phases of the new 399-home riverside development that will be managed by housing association L&Q. The design and build deal will involve installing a low-pressure hot water heating system and associated pipework to feed underfloor heating within each apartment, along with a cold-water plantroom and distribution network to deliver boosted cold water as part of the domestic hot and cold-water services. As accredited CIBSE Heat Network Consultants, J S Wright will also install a heat interface unit in each apartment to act as a bridge to deliver instant hot water on demand and hot water to the underfloor heating at low return temperatures. The company will also fit a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system that will use the outgoing air from each property to heat incoming fresh air, dry risers and sprinklers for fire protection, sanitary ware, and above-ground drainage. In addition, the company will provide building management controls including a pre-payment system for billing each apartment’s energy use. J S Wright will start work on site in August 2019 with completion scheduled for December 2021. J S Wright has equipped more than 1,500 new homes across London for Hill over the past three years. Current design and build projects for the developer include the first two phases of 580-home Fish Island Village in Hackney Wick, and Phase 1B of the 1,500-home Blackwall Reach development in Tower Hamlets. Phil Leech, the new Managing Director of J S Wright, said: “We are thrilled to have built up such an excellent partnership with a developer that is renowned for restoring vibrant communities with modern energy efficient housing.” Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. The company recently launched a new residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance Ltd, serving homeowners and property managers across London. The company was voted one of the UK’s Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards and was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards.
Bluestone National Park Resort today announces the opening date for its £7 million Dome – a groundbreaking ‘giant umbrella’ William McNamara CEO and Founder of Bluestone said: “This is the first of its kind in the UK which will create an additional 55 jobs and boost the local economy by more than £21m over 10 years”. Created with the help of a multitude of Welsh companies in line with Bluestone’s track record of supporting local suppliers and strengthening the Welsh economy. Serendome will open to guests at the family resort in Pembrokeshire, Wales on July 19th, 2019; representing a significant investment in the future of Wales’ tourism. The 7,000sqm area beneath the Dome, which measures 116m high and 77m wide, encompasses a massive playground for Free Range Fun for Bluestone’s guests. It will be a hub for entertainment; and at its heart will boast a 400-seat Amphitheatre, a live music and performance venue in a unique setting. Serendome will include exciting new activities for guests, including the impressive SkyWalk – a vertical adventure course like no other, built over seven towers and featuring 24 climbing stations. The build, which started in March 2018 has involved a number of contractors, overseen by the Bluestone Projects team. The umbrella itself is made from EFTE, a unique material used in some of the world’s most ambitious architectural projects. Liz Weedon, Head of Projects at Bluestone said: “Successful projects are delivered by great teams of people working together effectively and collaborating. “More than 300 people have been involved in the making of the Serendome from the architect to the bricklayers – each playing a vital role in the building of this innovative structure. William McNamara, added: “The biggest challenge has been to create a structure this size that isn’t actually a building. When you are under the Dome, it is an extraordinary place and like nothing else anyone has created before. We hope that Serendome proves to be another exciting draw for the thousands of visitors who stay with us and experience Pembrokeshire every year.” Roger Casey Associates Limited, Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers, said: “It’s been exciting working on such a unique project and great to have had the opportunity to work alongside other local companies.” William McNamara added: ”It has been a great privilege to have worked on this ground-breaking project with many multi-talented individuals. Our Bluestone guests are in for a real treat!”