Concrete brings both practicality and beauty to any garden, if used in the right way. While it’s primarily known for being a high-strength material that does the ‘grunt work’ of a garden, concrete can also be used in the creation of stunning statement pieces. In this article, we explore five
More than fifty students from Carshalton College and Merton College have taken up industry placements with national contractor United Living, to help build 68 new homes for the ex-service community. Since November last year, the construction site at Rhodes Moorhouse Court in Morden has had support from Level 2 and
Interserve has reached a rescue deal with its creditors to prevent its collapse, according to a statement issued by the group. Following its 21 December 2018 announcement, the board has provided further details on its deleveraging plan. The key commercial terms of the deleveraging plan have been agreed in principle
As temperatures plummet to the lowest we’ve seen in the UK for seven years, any responsible employer should ensure that their outdoor workers are well protected from the elements. By conducting comprehensive thermal risk assessments, you can determine if you have the necessary processes, equipment and protective clothing in place
IronmongeryDirect, and sister company ElectricalDirect has completed a major expansion project, to house 1000’s more new products whilst expanding its customer proposition. Part of the Manutan European Group, IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect is the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery and electrical products to the trade. A new 100,000 sq ft warehouse,
GBE Converge have been appointed by SES (Engineering Services) to design and install the Security systems for the new £40m York Community Stadium and Leisure Complex. The scheme is an exciting public and private funded mixed-use destination for York and will provide a new 8,000 capacity home for York City
Metsä Group and Business Finland are joining forces in building a wooden Metsä pavilion to be used in Tokyo during the Olympic games. The pavilion will be built on the grounds of the Finnish Embassy in the centre of Tokyo, Japan. The Metsä pavilion offers multifunctional facilities which lend themselves to
Tate Consulting is a well-established national building services engineering company that provides a strategic, flexible, experienced and innovative approach in delivering engineering and management consultancy services for its clients. Tate Consulting’s successful reputation has been built on master planning and managing the utility infrastructure requirements for development sites and their
Planning permission has been granted and works have commenced on Phase 1 of a new development of 36 high-quality homes, including eight affordable houses, in the charming East Yorkshire village of North Cave. Award-winning house builder Duchy Homes gained unanimous approval from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council at a
An iconic luxury waterside development in Lincoln is down to its last few apartments as 84% of dwellings are sold. The One The Brayford development from Jackson Living, part of Jackson & Jackson Developments, resides on the well-lit Brayford waterfront in the heart of Lincoln and boasts panoramic views of
Concrete brings both practicality and beauty to any garden, if used in the right way. While it’s primarily known for being a high-strength material that does the ‘grunt work’ of a garden, concrete can also be used in the creation of stunning statement pieces. In this article, we explore five uses of concrete in the garden – ranging from the expected to the unconventional. 1. Quirky furniture & features Concrete is commonly associated with practical purposes, but did you ever consider that it could be used to craft an elegant water feature, a decorative candle holder, or even an al fresco table and chairs? If you’re DIY savvy, you may want to have a go at being creative and making your very own pieces to suit your space. Concrete moulds are available online, helping homeowners across the country transform their spaces. The choices are endless – bird baths, benches, dining tables, clocks, wood burners, and more. Just get on Google and see what ideas are out there. 2. Sculpture Perhaps your garden could benefit from an artistic touch? One increasingly popular idea is to use imprinted stencils to create statement pieces or paving stones, such as leaf and flower designs or shaped stones. Whether left bare or painted, these can bring a decorative touch to any garden and become a talking point for visitors. Why not try crafting concrete globes using an inflated balloon? Simply put the wet concrete mix around as much of the balloon as you wish (leaving a gap can transform them from globes into planters), wait for it to set, and then pop the balloon. 3. Footpaths, paving & stepping stones The sturdy, durable nature of concrete makes it ideal for surfaces experiencing high foot and vehicle traffic. As concrete can be shaped easily in its liquid state, you can experiment with a range of different footpath, paving or stepping stone styles . You can keep it simple with evenly-sized stones, or create a mismatched, tumbledown look for a more quirky feel. Stepping stones don’t have to be plain, though; why not adorn yours with decorative jewels or stencilled patterns? 4. Driveways & parking spaces High-strength and robust, concrete is the ideal material to withstand your vehicle’s comings and goings. You may be tempted to opt for a gravel driveway, but the strength would not be at the same level – plus, gravel scatters easily. Concrete therefore has an edge when it comes to durability and longevity. 5. Raised beds & planters Concrete can play a big part in greening up your garden. Combining the urban character of concrete with the natural look of plants makes for a memorable contrast that adds a stylish touch to any garden. Planters and raised beds can be easily constructed from concrete, but the design and layout is totally up to you. Get your project off the ground and contact your reliable local concrete supplier.
More than fifty students from Carshalton College and Merton College have taken up industry placements with national contractor United Living, to help build 68 new homes for the ex-service community. Since November last year, the construction site at Rhodes Moorhouse Court in Morden has had support from Level 2 and Level 3 students who are learning construction skills at the College’s Merton Campus. They have taken up placements across a range of disciplines including plumbing, carpentry, electrical, drylining, bricklaying and plastering. The placements are being delivered and managed by United Living in partnership with Haig Housing Trust. Level 1 students based at South Thames College have also participated in site visits to the housing development and will attend an on-site presentation about opportunities in the construction industry. Farhan Mohamed, senior site manager at United Living, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to provide these young people with the support and encouragement to learn new skills and pursue a career in construction. Our team of professionals are enjoying sharing their own knowledge and experience, which will hopefully play a part in encouraging this next generation into the sector and ensure the construction industry continues to flourish and grow.” Brigadier James Richardson, chief executive of Haig Housing Trust, said: “We’re delighted that this major development project on our Morden estate not only delivers 68 much needed new homes for Veterans and their families but has also benefited students from our neighbouring College. Aside from the skills they gain it also reflects the importance of the Armed Forces Covenant in bringing Veterans and local communities closer together.” Bryan Smyth, who is studying for a Level 3 diploma in electrical installation, said: “I’ve had a fantastic time here, working with the team at United Living to gain some experience and understand what it’s actually like to work on a construction site. I’ve gained a lot of new skills and I want to thank them for this opportunity.” Nathan Williams, who is studying bricklaying, said “My experiences working on this site were amazing. Everyone was friendly and welcoming and I’ve genuinely learnt loads of new skills. I hope to come back to help with the completion of the project.”
Interserve has reached a rescue deal with its creditors to prevent its collapse, according to a statement issued by the group. Following its 21 December 2018 announcement, the board has provided further details on its deleveraging plan. The key commercial terms of the deleveraging plan have been agreed in principle with all of Interserve’s lenders, bonding providers and the Pension Trustee. The board believes the deleveraging plan will provide Interserve with “a strong balance sheet and the platform to deliver on its strategy”. Debbie White, CEO of Interserve, said: “Agreeing the key commercial terms of the deleveraging plan with our lenders, bonding providers and Pension Trustee is a significant step forward in our plans to strengthen the balance sheet. The board believes that this agreement will secure a strong future for Interserve. “This proposal has been achieved following a long period of intensive negotiation and has the support of our financial stakeholders and the government. Its successful implementation is critical to the Interserve Group’s future and all of its stakeholders. The deleveraging plan will, alongside our ‘Fit for Growth’ transformation programme, place us in a strong position to deliver our strategy, be competitive in the marketplace and provide a secure future for the Interserve Group’s employees, customers and suppliers.” The deleveraging plan is expected to result in Interserve Group’s “pro forma net debt reducing to circa £275 million achieved through issuing c.£480 million of new Interserve equity”. Interserve expects to launch the finalised deleveraging plan in the next few weeks. The deleveraging plan will be “subject to approval by Interserve’s shareholders”. The company’s statement added: “Whilst Interserve’s objective remains to implement a fully consensual transaction, Interserve is also actively preparing alternative plans to ensure the proposed transaction can be implemented in the event that shareholder approval is not forthcoming.”
As temperatures plummet to the lowest we’ve seen in the UK for seven years, any responsible employer should ensure that their outdoor workers are well protected from the elements. By conducting comprehensive thermal risk assessments, you can determine if you have the necessary processes, equipment and protective clothing in place to ensure your workforce remains motivated, productive, and above all, safe. What Are the Risks? The UK may not succumb to the harsh winters endured by many other countries, but temperatures certainly drop sufficiently low to lead to some unpleasant health conditions — the most common being hypothermia and frostbite. Even mild cases of hypothermia can lead to a worker becoming confused, disoriented and unsafe to work. Frostbite can cause exposed skin and the tissues beneath it to freeze — it is most commonly suffered in the fingers, toes, ears and nose. Both conditions may lead to more severe health complications. Additionally, icy surfaces and poor light increase the risk of slips and falls, which could put a worker out of action for some time. What Can I Do to Protect My Workers? First, it is important to assess the level of thermal comfort of your workers under existing work practices and procedures. Thermal comfort encompasses a range of environmental, work-related and personal factors, including the amount and type of clothing worn. A simple way to access the level of thermal comfort in your workplace is to use Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) thermal comfort checklist. If thermal comfort is lacking in your workplace, HSE recommends putting the following into place: Provide appropriate, high-quality protective workwear and PPE Provide mobile facilities for warming up Encourage drinking hot drinks and soup Allow more rest breaks so workers can warm up or change out of wet clothes Where possible, reschedule work for a warmer time of year Educate workers on recognising the early signs of cold stress What Workwear Should I Provide to Keep Workers Safe? One of the simplest and most effective ways to keep your workers protected in cold weather is to provide them with clothing and PPE appropriate for their role. Provide sufficient clothing to enable your workers to dress according to the three-layer principle. This will allow individuals to adapt their clothing to suit the weather and the activities being undertaken. Base Layer Base layers and thermals provide a wicking layer that moves moisture away from the skin and helps to regulate body temperature. This is one of the most essential pieces of clothing, enabling employees to stay warm and dry. Consider providing leggings, long johns and thermal tops. Workers undertaking physical tasks are likely to build up a sweat, even in arctic temperatures. Without a base layer, clothing becomes wet and body temperature lowers, resulting in an uncomfortable and unproductive employee. Mid Layer This “insulation layer” will keep workers warm. Depending on job role, consider providing fleeces, softshells, bodywarmers, sweatshirts or hoodies. Outer Layer This protects against the elements, including wind, rain and snow. An outer layer should ideally be lightweight, waterproof and breathable. Consider your employees’ role to determine if a hard or soft shell is most suitable. For outdoor workers where safety is paramount, we would recommend high visibility clothing, including hi-vis jackets and trousers. In addition to providing garments at all three layer levels, you should also consider sourcing appropriate boots, hats and gloves. For outdoor work, safety footwear should be waterproof with slip-resistant soles and highly durable to withstand repeated use in winter conditions. Hats help retain heat, but ensure that these do not interfere with protective headwear — a thermal hard hat liner may be a better option if worn with a safety helmet. Standard PPE gloves may not be designed for colder weather. Ensure that your workers are equipped with thermal gloves that also comply with safety guidelines. It’s a good idea to refer to the safety standards, particularly those relating to high visibility and waterproof clothing. Safety boots with S3 HRO WR and SRC ratings would be suited to outdoor winter working, while gloves that have been tested to EN511:2006 are designed to withstand temperatures as low as -50°C. By investing the time and money in properly assessing the working conditions of your employees, putting safe practices in place and providing protective clothing, you will increase the motivation, safety and productivity of your workforce.
IronmongeryDirect, and sister company ElectricalDirect has completed a major expansion project, to house 1000’s more new products whilst expanding its customer proposition. Part of the Manutan European Group, IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect is the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery and electrical products to the trade. A new 100,000 sq ft warehouse, which is the equivalent of two football pitches, will now house over 30,000 products for both IronmongeryDirect and its co-brand ElectricalDirect all available for next day delivery. The new facilities will also have 2,000 pallet storage locations. Managing Director of the Manutan Traders Division, Wayne Lysaght-Mason, commented: “We took the decision to double the size of our warehouse in order to continue our 20% year on year growth, cement our market leading proposition and drive ambitious range extension. Whilst giving our sister brand ElectricalDirect a strong base for growth. “At the same time, we have expanded our call centre, while all other departments have been moved into modern, purpose-built office space.” The new warehouse officially opened on Thursday 17th January by Xavier Guichard, Chief Executive Officer at Manutan Group and Wayne Lysaght-Mason. They were also joined by the rest of the Manutan Group Management Board, along with over 200 staff to celebrate this significant landmark. Wayne added: “IronmongeryDirect will now benefit from an upgraded and expanded distribution centre, enabling an improved customer experience. The expansion will improve all areas of the business, providing a major boost for our revenue and profitability growth.” The expansion also allows the organisation to bring in the fulfilment of ElectricalDirect orders under one roof, enabling the service and product range to be greatly improved. Wayne concluded: “Our customers can expect to receive the same great service, ordering up to 8.00pm 7 days a week for next day delivery, but with the addition of a number of new and exciting products which will further complement our already market leading range”. In 2019 IronmongeryDirect is also celebrating its 50th year supplying architectural ironmongery to tradespeople. Starting out as a traditional ironmongers, today customers can browse over 17,500 products in the catalogue and online. With the UK’s biggest range of quality products in stock for next day delivery as standard, an award-winning service and low trade prices, IronmongeryDirect is proud to be the masters of their trade. Orders can be placed as late as 8pm for next day delivery from Sunday through to Friday and by 4pm on Saturdays. Free, no quibble returns are available on all products. For more information, visit IronmongeryDirect.com or call their team of specialist advisors on 0800 168 28 28.
GBE Converge have been appointed by SES (Engineering Services) to design and install the Security systems for the new £40m York Community Stadium and Leisure Complex. The scheme is an exciting public and private funded mixed-use destination for York and will provide a new 8,000 capacity home for York City Football Club and York City Knights RLFC. It will also offer a swimming pool, fitness and active play facilities, as well as a new community hub providing health and wellbeing services and commercial leisure uses for the city and beyond. GBE Converge will be working with partners Honeywell for Intruder Detection Systems, HIK Vison for CCTV, and xPLAN for Access Control ensuring the facility has a fully integrated, bespoke and future-proofed security solution. GBE Converge are scheduled to complete their work in May 2019 with the complex opening during the summer. Andy Westgarth, GBE Converge’s Business Development Manager commented “We are delighted to be working with our long-standing client SES (Engineering Services) and to be part of this exciting project that will serve as a real asset to the York community”.
Metsä Group and Business Finland are joining forces in building a wooden Metsä pavilion to be used in Tokyo during the Olympic games. The pavilion will be built on the grounds of the Finnish Embassy in the centre of Tokyo, Japan. The Metsä pavilion offers multifunctional facilities which lend themselves to many kinds of events: exhibitions, seminars, celebrations and relaxation. It will serve as a meeting place for Finland’s Olympic team during the Summer Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. The Metsä pavilion is an excellent example of the advantages offered by industrially manufactured wood elements. The building uses Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber) products produced by Metsä Wood, part of Metsä Group. Building with Kerto® LVL elements is fast and the lightness of the material enables construction on top of existing buildings, as is the case in Tokyo. Similar elements can be used also in buildings of larger scale. “The pavilion takes advantage of high-quality wood products – which function as a long-term carbon store – in a variety of ways. The pavilion can be transported to the site as ready elements, unloaded, moved again, and re-assembled. This is in line with Metsä Group’s goal to replace fossil-based products with renewable and recyclable materials,” says Mikko Saavalainen, SVP, Business Development, at Metsä Wood. The Kerto LVL products to be used in the pavilion’s construction are ecologically sustainable and efficient in terms of their material. The production process of the materials and elements generates very little waste. The elements will be pre-assembled at the plant of Metsä Wood’s partner company and, thanks to this, assembly on site will be rapid. The architectural design of the Metsä pavilion will be carried out by Helin & Co Architects. The design is based on the Kerto® LVL-based elements freely available to everybody in Metsä Wood’s Open Source Wood service.
Tate Consulting is a well-established national building services engineering company that provides a strategic, flexible, experienced and innovative approach in delivering engineering and management consultancy services for its clients. Tate Consulting’s successful reputation has been built on master planning and managing the utility infrastructure requirements for development sites and their experience spans across every market sector; including logistics, industrial, residential and mixed use, commercial, education, retail and leisure. For more information please visit; https://www.tateconsulting.eu As engineering experts, Tate Consulting explain the five main challenges…. Developments in Technology Whilst new digital technology like BIM is changing the way we operate, the speed of innovation and implementation can be slow within teams that aren’t used to the idiosyncrasies of drawing in 3D compared with traditional 2D methods. And as the industry makes greater use of offsite construction methods such as pod bathrooms, offsite manufactured services cupboards and whole building offsite methods, there can be difficulties in front loading design processes to accommodate these techniques at an early stage. The use of smart technology is constantly evolving and therefore our knowledge and implementation needs to keep up. Smart Buildings can present real opportunities for the client to optimise the planning, usage and help them to manage the building more intelligently in order to make it more efficient, better maintained, improve living, working and leisure environments and to create a unique building experience tailored to individual needs. But technology developments within our sector are still largely a new and unfamiliar inclusion to the majority of contractors, so there is a requirement for educating contractors and clients of the benefits, disadvantages and realistic limitations of smart technology systems. Also, managing expectations is still difficult as some clients are generally unaware of exactly what they want to achieve and require detailed guidance on the best use of available technology. The key to successfully implementing smart technology is to discuss and understand the client’s needs and help to educate them on how this can be achieved. It’s important to remember that innovation and technology won’t succeed if they don’t fulfil the clients’ needs, smart technology is only a means to an end and while initial interest in a new product may initially peek the client’s interest, it will soon become a fad if they are stuck with a white elephant which offers little in the way of return. Offsite Construction There are often difficulties in adopting offsite construction methods although they are shown to be quicker for the contractor with less waste and associated carbon emissions compared with traditional building techniques. However, for the greatest value and cost efficiency to be achieved, buildings need to be designed from an early stage for offsite construction rather than late in the process after main contractor appointment. Payment Terms Another on-going problem within our industry is payment in terms of subcontractors. Most people will have seen the recent news headlines and social media posts that went viral after a mini-digger operator was filmed destroying the entrance to a new hotel in Liverpool – on the day it was due to be completed – allegedly because he had not been paid. This is not a scenario anyone within the industry wants to see but also not really a surprising one as it’s often the smaller firms and individuals who suffer. A good example of this was the demise of Carillion last year. Lessons need to be learnt from these mistakes by enforcing fair payment policy and legislation. Regulatory Changes The new revisions to The BS 7671 wiring regulations and the new BREEAM standards are now in effect, and whilst the changes are generally not too dramatic at these early stages there is still a lot of grey areas around their interpretation which will need clarifying and amending over the coming years. With the restructure of the BREEAM New Construction in particular we are now having to target a number of key criteria earlier in the project, which puts more onus on the client to involve a BREEAM advisor/consultant at the early stages of development. This is to prevent credits being missed and the need to then chase more difficult/costly credits later in the project. Also, as these amendments are new it is yet to be seen how the audit process will interpret the changes in evidence requirements. Therefore, assessors will have to be stricter whilst they get used to what will and won’t be accepted. Staff retention and shortage One of the major challenges within engineering is staff shortage and disappointingly it’s still much more a male-orientated role with just 12% of engineers being women, something the industry needs to actively help change. More needs to be done to educate young people on the marketability and benefits of a career in engineering, but for real change to happen this problem needs to be tackled within early education to push science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries. Retaining staff within construction and engineering is a constant headache and as a younger new breed enters our industry we need to acknowledge that we need to adapt a new approach in welcoming them and offering the same benefits and perks they’d receive within other industry sectors. This is an area we at Tate Consulting want to improve on in 2019 and are actively looking to recruit new people to join our team in Leeds and expand our London office by offering substantial career incentives as well as a very competitive salary package. If you’re interested in working with us please email; jeff.bearcroft@tateconsulting.eu
Planning permission has been granted and works have commenced on Phase 1 of a new development of 36 high-quality homes, including eight affordable houses, in the charming East Yorkshire village of North Cave. Award-winning house builder Duchy Homes gained unanimous approval from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council at a recent planning committee meeting for its proposal to build a sophisticated collection of houses and bungalows on vacant land off Fountains Way in North Cave. The new development will provide attractive detached family homes in a versatile mix of 3, 4 and 5-bedroom designs to suit a variety of residents’ needs and lifestyles, as well as delivering much-needed additional housing to the area. Many of the plots on the development, named Cricketers’ Walk, benefit from beautiful views across playing fields and the North Yorkshire Wolds. North Cave enjoys an active community with its own public house, newsagents, village hall, highly-regarded primary school and a wide variety of clubs, events and activities to embrace, including its own Women’s Institute, plus cricket, football and indoor bowls for sporting enthusiasts. Situated with easy access to the M62 as well as the A63, residents can quickly reach the larger cities of Hull, Leeds, York, Sheffield and Doncaster. Nearby Brough train station also runs regular services to these towns and cities, making it an ideal base for commuters. Duchy Homes is an award-winning home builder with a strong reputation for building luxury properties in premium locations, with many distinguished developments across Yorkshire, including the prestigious Cygnet Gardens in nearby Swanland and Roseberry Park in Hessle. Recently crowned ‘Best Residential Developer of the Year’ in the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards 2018, buyers can expect excellent build-quality with luxury fittings and generous, thoughtfully-designed interiors. Work has started on site, with a show home and sales launch due in July 2019. Prospective purchasers can register their interest online for further updates at www.duchyhomes.co.uk/north-cave Duchy Homes was established in December 2011 and is a multi-award-winning housebuilder. Awards include: YORKSHIRE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AWARDS 2018 Best Residential Developer of the Year WHATHOUSE? AWARDS 2018 Best Small Developer – Silver Award NHBC PRIDE IN THE JOB AWARDS: 2018 Regional Winner – The Ings, Wetherby 2018 Regional Winner – High Gables, Ranskill 2017 Seal of Excellence – Tower Gardens, Scawthorpe 2017 Quality Award – Tower Gardens, Scawthorpe 2016 Regional Winner – The Orchard, Braithwell 2015 Regional Winner – The Orchard, Braithwell 2015 Quality Award – Park Drive, Sprotbrough 2014 Quality Award – Handley Cross Mews, Cantley 2013 Quality Award – Plantation Grove, Sprotbrough NHBC HEALTH & SAFETY AWARDS: 2018 National Winner – The Ings, Wetherby 2018 National Runner Up – High Gables, Ranskill 2018 Highly Commended – The Grange, Bunbury 2017 National Winner – Tower Gardens, Scawthorpe 2017 National Runner Up – Watermill Gardens, Penistone 2016 National Winner – Thorpe Park Gardens, Colton 2016 National Runner Up – The Orchard, Braithwell 2015 Commended – The Orchard, Braithwell 2015 Commended – Park Drive, Sprotbrough 2014 Commended – Treeneuk Gardens, Chesterfield 2013 National Winner – Plantation Grove, Sprotbrough Details of all Duchy Homes new developments can be found at www.duchyhomes.co.uk
An iconic luxury waterside development in Lincoln is down to its last few apartments as 84% of dwellings are sold. The One The Brayford development from Jackson Living, part of Jackson & Jackson Developments, resides on the well-lit Brayford waterfront in the heart of Lincoln and boasts panoramic views of the marina, Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle. Located in the top five safest counties to live in England and Wales according to a recent ONS report, the development has high standards of security with a concierge service, monitored CCTV and a private car park for residents. Only 16 properties remain for sale at the development and these include one, two and three- bedroom apartments across all floors as well luxury double floor penthouses, with prices starting from £185,000. The premier location has so far attracted residents from all over the world and benefits from a central city location just a six-minute walk from Lincoln’s High Street. Lincolnshire was ranked in the top five safest UK counties and Lincoln city centre is number 14 in the UK’s most popular cities according to a recent YouGov report. With developments such as the £70 million regeneration of Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter, the city is set to see significant growth in the future. Dominik Jackson director at Jackson & Jackson Developments: “As Lincolnshire-based developers, we are very proud that our county has been ranked one of the safest places to live in the UK. People from outside the county are choosing to move into Lincoln with its reputation for safety, its historical significance and its streetscape with plenty of vibrant amenities on offer. “One The Brayford includes state-of-the-art security including monitored CCTV, secure parking and a concierge service. Coupled with a stunning waterfront location and close proximity to the High Street – the development is an ideal choice for city centre living.” Homes are available through local agent Pygott & Crone and for more information visit One The Brayford.