Buyviu launches a new website in the UK designed to be functional and intuitive, while providing a space for purchases for all inhabitants of the UK and who henceforth have their own space to acquire clothing, decorative items, DIY, for home and much more. It is like entering a giant
SIX NEW classrooms and a 690 m2 sports hall at Henlow Church of England Academy, Bedfordshire have now completed, completely reimagining the 600 pupil school’s teaching facilities and sports opportunities. PCMS Design designed the modern, new extension to the original school site, with Building Services Design (BSD) providing mechanical and
Makita UK has opened a third regional Factory Service Centre (FSC) in the busy London borough of Hounslow. This new FSC joins Makita’s HQ facility in Milton Keynes, which serves the whole of the country, as well as Glasgow, which supports the rapidly expanding market penetration of the brand in
A nationwide research survey of roofers revealed that ‘weeding out’ rogue roofers is the most pressing issue for those working in the roofing trade. Almost three quarters (72 percent) of all respondents, in a survey conducted by Chandlers Roofing Supplies say that work by unscrupulous roofers was the top issue
A lot of people have talked about how ecommerce is killing the world of physical retail. While the rise of online shopping has certainly triggered bankruptcies for certain companies, the true picture isn’t that simple. Ecommerce isn’t perfect in its current iteration. There are aspects to brick-and-mortar retail that are
For the construction industry, where does the land lie between print and digital? Some believe that the power of print has been dissolved, given that the world of online advertisement and digital platforms are exploding with activity. However, it’s hard to dispute that printed materials still offer a personal touch
Bureau Veritas is urging the construction industry to ensure that the practical ramifications of the latest government guidance on the amended Approved Document B are understood and implemented, in order to avoid costly delays or breach of building regulations. The technical changes regarding fire safety aspects now curtails the use
With the construction industry remaining one of the largest global markets, it is imperative that the advanced materials sector listens to the industry and observes what is needed to increase usage within the sector. Advanced Materials & Innovation has addressed this requirement and is pleased to announce the programme for
Vivalda, the UK’s largest independent supplier of cladding systems, has kicked off the new year with a campaign to encourage contractors to consider off-site fabrication as part of their dust management strategy. Called Breathe Easy, the initiative includes the production of a video – voiced by Vivalda staff from every
A new housing development in Edenbridge is set to throw open its showhome’s doors to home-hunters in the area. The Aldwych showhome at Bellway’s Oakley Park development, off St Johns Way, is being unveiled to the public on Saturday, February 2. This outstanding four-bedroom property will showcase all that’s best
Buyviu launches a new website in the UK designed to be functional and intuitive, while providing a space for purchases for all inhabitants of the UK and who henceforth have their own space to acquire clothing, decorative items, DIY, for home and much more. It is like entering a giant shopping center where there are shops of all kinds, offers, brands and a great variety; with the added advantage that there are no border barriers that prevent you from obtaining that product that you can’t get at a local store. New online shopping platform available to everyone Nothing better than having a website like buyviu.com uk that works according to your locality, where they will certainly offer that necessary space to those products that you are used to getting, only that here you can find them at very competitive prices. On the other hand, it is a very complete website that also offers users an unparalleled selection of highly organized articles by categories, sections and brands, which makes the shopping experience much more rewarding. The purchase process is very simple. When you select the item of your choice you buy it and you just have to wait for it to get home, being these simple steps that the consumer knows how to appreciate very well. The idea of this online shopping portal is to make it easier for customers to make purchases, of course, in the case of a platform as large as this one, where there are endless suppliers of brands, services and products, it is necessary to have an impeccable, friendly and intuitive design. In fact it is so easy to get what you are looking for, that once you are in the category that interests you, you will be able to count on a series of filters that minimize the search field, such as: The price ranges Gender (boys, men, unisex women, etc.) For the size For color By the type of manufacturing material By the brand By the seller Advantages of buying online After applying this filter we assure you that you will be able to easily find what you want to buy. It is clear that not all filters are useful in all cases, but without a doubt that when you are used to making purchases online, you know how to use them according to your convenience. Also each department consists of several categories that are very helpful to minimize the search field; everything is to know what you are looking for in such a way that you find it quickly. Compare before buying If there is something that adds value to your purchases is the ability to compare models, brands and of course prices, this being entirely possible when you use online shopping portals with the selection of products. You can even establish the advantages between buying in a physical store and in an online store. Buyviu UK has the best prices This is definitely a tremendous advantage, since not only do you have a wide variety of products, but you will always be able to get them at the best price, something that will allow you to make some extra purchases, like that belt that goes with the pants that you just bought and that was definitely not within your initial budget. Buying at the outlet is much cheaper If it is already very economical to buy in the store, buying at the Outlet is simply great, since here there are only products with discounts that can go over 70%. Best of all, they are quality products that for reasons seasonal, for the sizes or some other small detail are sold at crazy prices. Another of the particularities of these platforms for online purchases, is that they keep the stock of goods available continuously updated, which guarantees that if the product is there is because you will be able to buy it.
SIX NEW classrooms and a 690 m2 sports hall at Henlow Church of England Academy, Bedfordshire have now completed, completely reimagining the 600 pupil school’s teaching facilities and sports opportunities. PCMS Design designed the modern, new extension to the original school site, with Building Services Design (BSD) providing mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering support for the project. “The six classrooms and sports hall are a standalone block,” explained Adam Middleton, senior electrical engineer at the national M&E practice, BSD. Adam continued: “The new sports hall comprises four new Sport England compliant courts, which are to be used for both the school’s own netball, basketball and hockey teams as well as for community hire; making it an incredibly inclusive space – and one which will support not just the school but the wider Henlow population. “There are also attached changing rooms as well as a 88 m2 storage facility.” BSD provided technical support to PCMS Design to ensure that the delivery of the M&E engineering services for electricity, gas, water and the fire alarm system ran smoothly and to specification. “There were a couple of challenges on this project; time constraints meant that the scheme had to be completed for the beginning of term but, through working closely with the delivery team, we managed to complete the project on time and on budget. “The new building is a standalone building, separate to the main school. Services had to be provided to the new site and connected to existing services without impacting on the school’s day to day operations,” added Adam. The sports hall has a standing seam zinc roof, which is curved to the hall and pitched to the storage room, as well as architectural louvres which allows for air flow through the area. Alex Bond, PCMS design director and project manager said: “PCMS Design engaged BSD to advise on the performance specification for the mechanical and electrical installation on a large educational sports hall and classroom block project at Henlow Church of England Academy. “We found its services to be invaluable in the early planning stages, and throughout the specification process when specialised M&E skills and knowledge were needed.” Head teacher Caren Earp said: “Thanks to the incredible design team, we now have a fantastic new building which is going to be of huge benefit to our children, increasing the number and range of opportunities for sport that we can now offer.” The project was funded by Central Bedfordshire Council and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
Makita UK has opened a third regional Factory Service Centre (FSC) in the busy London borough of Hounslow. This new FSC joins Makita’s HQ facility in Milton Keynes, which serves the whole of the country, as well as Glasgow, which supports the rapidly expanding market penetration of the brand in Scotland and northern England. The London FSC will primarily service the essential London and South East region. In order to offer the best service levels in the industry Makita is committed to offering improved national coverage for the benefit of end user customers, as well as the network of Makita distributors, by building these dedicated FSC’s. While these facilities satisfy a vital role in providing technical repairs and maintenance services for all mains and cordless construction machines, and the rapidly expanding range of grounds care tools, including 2-stroke and 4-stroke petrol engine products, training remains the cornerstone of Makita’s marketing success. It ensures that both authorised distributors and operators are fully conversant with the power tools they own, or may purchase in the future; how to obtain the best and safest performance from these machines, and how to maintain them for efficiency and productivity. The first FSC to be opened is based at South Street, Glasgow, which offers Makita product training across the complete range of products; product servicing courses, as well as accredited courses such as the successful and certificated City & Guilds Correct & Safe Use of Handheld Power Tools. A user or instructor certificate is issued upon successful completion. Courses are available to meet individual needs and bespoke power tool training can be designed to meet specific requirements. At each location the theory elements of courses are held in a lecture theatre, followed by essential hands-on practical work which is carried out in specially adapted and fully equipped training demonstration rooms. Courses are of 1 or 2 day duration or tailored to specific needs. The CITB certificated course, which can include a combination of in-house and on-site training, relates to abrasive wheel training, and both instructor or user courses are available. Gas nailer user training, chainsaw cross cutting and service courses are also available. Tony Coleman, Technical Manager, Makita UK, says: “We are already receiving a very warm welcome from all sectors of the power tool industry in this heavily populated area of west London. If demand becomes similar to that we’ve established in Glasgow and Milton Keynes we will be looking for additional training personnel. Both employers and operators will benefit from this convenient location offering improved local services to all customers.” Makita has great experience in supporting worthwhile challenges as WorldSkills UK, APL Apprenticeships and Hire Association Europe Apprenticeship schemes to help support customers of the future with product and training support. Employees and employers can benefit from Makita’s outstanding training courses, which compliment high quality power tools used by professional trades’ people, raising ambitions and abilities for many. The Makita range is supported with an equally comprehensive range of over 4,500 accessories and consumables products. For more news and product information about Makita UK please visit www.makitauk.com. Follow us on Twitter @MakitaUK, Facebook.com/makitauk and google.com/+makitauk
A nationwide research survey of roofers revealed that ‘weeding out’ rogue roofers is the most pressing issue for those working in the roofing trade. Almost three quarters (72 percent) of all respondents, in a survey conducted by Chandlers Roofing Supplies say that work by unscrupulous roofers was the top issue facing the future of the roofing trade. A staggering 73 percent of roofers said they had been called upon to rectify ‘shoddy’ roofing work by a rogue roofer on at least one occasion in the last 12 months. The aging profile of the roofing trade was the second most pressing issue for the roofing trade with almost two thirds (58%) of respondents saying that the aging workforce was a critical issue for the trade. In addition, 95% of UK roofers feel they are the least appreciated among all trades people. According to a third of respondents, electricians attract the most appreciation from customers, followed by carpenters or chippys and in third place plumbers. Brickies and roofers were identified as the least appreciated trades. This is despite the fact that almost half (46%) of roofers report working a seven-day week at least once a month, with 20% working a seven-day week ‘more often than not.’ 70% of roofers rating their physical health as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, yet one fifth report being off work in the last two years due to an injury sustained on the job. Mental health also appears to be growing issue for roofers with 18% saying that they, or a work mate, had suffered from a mental health issue over the past 12 months. Notwithstanding the feelings of being ‘ambushed’ by rogue roofers and generally under-appreciated by customers, half of all roofers say they ‘always enjoy’ their job, 48% say they ‘sometimes enjoy’ their trade with only 2 percent saying they don’t enjoy being a roofer. 44% of roofers would even recommend roofing as a career to a friend or family member. When questioned about their earnings, almost half (47%) said they ‘are comfortable’, 22% say they are ‘doing well’ and a quarter say they ‘get by’. Sue McKinney, of Chandlers Roofing Supplies said: “Its not surprising that customers are somewhat unappreciative when subjected to the services of rogue roofers. Nevertheless, it needs to be highlighted that the vast majority of roofers work exceptionally hard and to a very high standard completing excellent projects for customers.” Asked how they became roofers, 35% of respondents said they ‘fell into’ the trade while in excess of a quarter reporting that the roofing trade has been in the family. Only 1 in 10 had been down the roofing apprenticeship route. Working at a height is reported as the biggest occupational risk according to 53% of roofers followed by 37 per cent saying that inclement weather is a high risk. However, the development of new materials and tools was identified by half of respondents as the key factor that has made the roofer’s job easier and safer. A further quarter of respondents say that training in health and safety has benefited the trade. Sue McKinney of Chandlers Roofing Supplies, said: “It is very clear that roofers work hard, putting in a seven day week on a regular basis and in often challenging conditions, so we do need to show them some appreciation. We want to hear about fantastic roofing projects and wonderful roofers. You can share your stories of appreciation on Facebook @ChandlersbuildingSupplies.” Chandlers Roofing Supplies is opening two new roofing stores shortly in Tonbridge and Harrow to add to its existing 12-store network. Www.chandlersbs.co.uk – ROOFERS MOST UNDER APPRECIATED TRADE, WORK 7-DAY WEEKS YET STILL ENJOY THE JOB – ELECTRICIANS MOST APPRECIATED TRADE – 7 OUT OF 10 ROOFERS HAVE HAD TO RECTIFY A ROGUE ROOFERS SHODDY JOB IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS ALONG
A lot of people have talked about how ecommerce is killing the world of physical retail. While the rise of online shopping has certainly triggered bankruptcies for certain companies, the true picture isn’t that simple. Ecommerce isn’t perfect in its current iteration. There are aspects to brick-and-mortar retail that are preferable to many consumers. Here how you can go about bringing offline experience online to sell more furniture. Personalization Is Key to Building an Ecommerce Brand In the past, online sales channels have been sterile by necessity. The world of ecommerce is still in its infancy. Technology has only recently started allowing for more fluid and intuitive user experience design. Not many people feel a particularly strong connection to a webpage—even if it’s branded to perfection. This is why it’s crucial for ecommerce store owners to give consumers a personalized experience. Customers lose their sense of human interaction when sales happen online. Sometimes this can be a good thing. Most people would rather have a straightforward transaction than one that’s made worse due to poor customer service. Having someone right there to answer your specific questions is one reason why many individuals still prefer in-store to online shopping. Furthermore, over 50 percent of consumers find it important to develop a rapport with in-store employees. But personalization goes beyond interaction. For online-first retailers, there are many ways to incorporate this philosophy into routine interactions. Make Retargeting Meaningful Most ecommerce entrepreneurs agree that cart abandonment is one of the most important metrics to consider when running an e-store. With an overall cart abandonment rate of about 75 percent, it makes sense why this is such a crucial number for online store owners. There are several factors that play into cart abandonment—some more straightforward than others. Successful brands overcome this phenomenon by implementing a retargeting strategy. Retargeting is essentially marketing to people who are already somewhere in your sales funnel. Marketing expert Neil Patel notes that retargeting is far more effective when it’s done with specificity. Don’t just serve the same ads to everyone who visits your site. That’s a waste of money, and won’t generate a meaningful level of conversions. Give people ads directly related to products they’ve already spent time looking at on your site. The same theory should be applied when trying to attract new customers. If you want to open a furniture store via Shopify, don’t just broadly market to people who have looked for couches online. Greater specificity yields greater results. Offer AR and VR Compatibility There has been a lot of talk about how augmented reality and virtual reality are going to increasingly become a part of daily life. But most people are still only using these things for niche purposes. However, there are huge applications for AR and VR in the ecommerce world. One of the biggest potential benefits is allowing people to “try on” items before they buy them. This is currently one of the major advantages of offline shopping: You actually get to hold things or put them on before making a purchase. Virtual reality can allow consumers to have this sensation without leaving their homes. People who want to purchase furniture can particularly benefit from AR and VR, as it can show exactly how an item will fit within a space. Implementing VR for your ecommerce store isn’t just a cool gimmick. It can potentially increase your margins by a significant amount. Return rates are much higher for ecommerce vendors than brick-and-mortar stores due to the fact that people can’t try things before they buy them. Bringing this offline experience to your ecommerce store can do a lot to reducing your returns. Using Artificial Intelligence How can artificial intelligence make ecommerce more like an offline experience? By providing consumers with unprecedented levels of personalization. People want personal shopping advisors, and curated selections that actually coincide with desires. AI can help ecommerce retailers deliver on both of these fronts. Even though it sounds counterintuitive, AI is actually giving a more personal feel to online shopping experiences. There’s currently no perfect way to sell things to people. That doesn’t seem like it’s going to change soon, even with so many advances in technology and marketing practices. Bringing offline experiences to the online world will help people selling physical goods like furniture make more conversions.
For the construction industry, where does the land lie between print and digital? Some believe that the power of print has been dissolved, given that the world of online advertisement and digital platforms are exploding with activity. However, it’s hard to dispute that printed materials still offer a personal touch that simply can’t be achieved by digital methods. Take a read through the guide below, which touches on how digital and print methods can work to complement one another in today’s world. The power of digital marketing Many campaigns today are lost without digital. With more consumers than ever before spending time on the internet, businesses would be foolish not to get involved with online marketing. Search engine marketing is one area of advertising that companies are becoming more involved with. As the name suggests, this side of digital marketing focuses on driving a business’ site to the top of the search results around relevant target phrases — from corporate keywords like ‘display panels’ to more fashion-focused targets like ‘dresses’. As a result, this can increase brand exposure and site traffic while improving sales figures. Social media marketing is another area of business activity that wasn’t popular a few years back. From paid adverts to viral campaigns, the digital world has opened up many doors for small and medium companies in particular — exposing themselves to an audience that may not have known they existed and in turn, generating mass interest. One way to do business is with Home Service Direct, they will get you what you need. The digital world has made room for businesses to begin analysing their audience, allowing them to gain a greater insight to their general behaviour and spending patterns. From tracking analytics, whether this is across social media platforms or the main website, marketing managers are able to identify key areas of interest and create campaigns around this to drive sales. There are many methods businesses can follow to hook an online audience and stay ahead of their competitors. Through a combination of search engine and social media marketing, many brands are beginning to run competitions and deals that are only exclusive to an online following. These low-cost campaigns will benefit from extensive reach. A recap: the importance of print advertising Although more businesses are beginning to take their focuses online, they shouldn’t neglect the power of print and the opportunities that can come off the back of it. Print very much has a place in modern advertising as it can offer a personal touch unlike no other and generally has a longer life cycle which is always beneficial for the exposure of your brand. Take printed leaflets for example, once they have been posted through the door, whoever picks them up will have to acknowledge your materials! As well as door-to-door print advertising, business merchandise has not taken a backseat since the sprout in popularity of online promotions. Brand image has never been more important for businesses and shouldn’t be ignored — as a result, more companies are making investments in personalised products that represent what they stand for. Whether this is to help them externally, with the likes of outdoor banners, or internally for your office with the likes of customised calendars. Although printed goods can often be higher in price, they can drive exceptional ROI to your campaign and create a memorable experience for the receiver which should be a core focus for your print campaign. This can be achieved through eye-catching designs and a choice of luxury materials which will lead to a meaningful engagement. Print and digital campaigns can work in tandem Although online and offline advertising are two entirely separate entities, they can work well together, and some brands are already utilising such methods. Take QR codes for example, more businesses are trying to audiences in the real world to their online solutions. As QR codes are unique and can entice people to be more inquisitive, they can drive immense traffic to online campaigns when printed on banners. Through this method of advertising, marketing departments can track success and gather data on users when they’re interacting with the code. With the data collected from campaigns like this, businesses can record contact information (such as email addresses) if users decide they want to opt-in. When looking closer to news publications, many of them still offer printed versions of their product — blurring the line between print and digital. With an understanding of the influence they have online, they’ve been able to merge two channels together and to distribute stories to a wider audience. Near field communication is another area that should be further looked into when it comes to the relationship between online and offline platforms. Essentially, near field communication is a type of technology that has the ability to connect two smart devices — often with the help of a print medium. For example, a section of a poster can be tapped with a mobile phone which will then take the user to the ecommerce site for a specific product. Digital companies employing print campaigns Online hospitality marketplace, Airbnb has made huge waves in the way that we now book our holidays. Predominantly a digital business with its own website and downloadable app, the company decided to launch its own magazine for registered hosts (those who advertise their property) which is around 18,000 people. This magazine included personal stories of hosts and their accommodation, encouraging interaction with the digital business through print. Although the magazine production has been put on hold since, it’s a good example of how an online business can promote its services elsewhere. Remember those iconic Coca Cola bottles that had labels with your name on? The printed labels for the Share A Coke campaign allowed the drink manufacturer to become more personal with its customers and as a result, buyers then shared their bottles on social media which made it an integrated campaign. As we can see, digital and print both play huge
Bureau Veritas is urging the construction industry to ensure that the practical ramifications of the latest government guidance on the amended Approved Document B are understood and implemented, in order to avoid costly delays or breach of building regulations. The technical changes regarding fire safety aspects now curtails the use of desktop studies and reinforces the need to ensure appropriate tests are carried out on products by independent, fully accredited bodies. It relates to building regulation applications lodged after 21st January 2019, with a requirement that applications made before that date have made a ‘meaningful’ start on site within two months – by 20th March 2019 – for the previous provisions to be valid. The guidance is aimed at all product testing but is a result of the government’s findings last year on cladding testing and fire door testing specifically. Andy Lowe, technical director of building control at Bureau Veritas, comments: “The government has demonstrated that they are determined to move quickly to enforce building regulation changes, with this latest update coming only a month after the 21st December implementation of the combustible materials ban in external walls in new buildings. That in itself surprised many in the industry, as it extended further than anticipated to include all parts of external cladding in new and change of use buildings with a floor over 18 metres and above and applies to residential buildings, hospitals, student accommodation and dormitories in boarding schools. “The latest guidance will have significant ramifications, as due to the nature of testing it is a more in-depth and costly process, notwithstanding the fact that current testing facilities are limited and often result in significant delays, without this extra requirement consideration. So this will have to be factored in to the construction programming process and assessments should not be regarded as a way to avoid a test where one is necessary, as this will be a serious breach of legislation.” The government has also reiterated its firm endorsement of the Hackitt report on the process of fire safety and building regulations and has committed to bring forward a series of consultations on the process of regulation in the spring. Calls for further evidence have already been instigated on technical aspects of building regulations, which will include additional enhancements on fire safety, considerations around thermal performance (Part L) and ventilation strategy (Part F), along with the need to update accessibility standards under Approved Document M to reflect the new BS8300 recently updated in January 2018. Andy adds: “Whilst this government action and tighter regulation control is certainly welcome, as change is certainly needed in order to adopt a best practice approach to fire safety, the degree and speed of change could prove a challenge. The coming months are going to be extremely busy and time critical and as such there is work to be done to understand how things will play out on a practical level, with tailored support available to those who need it in order to manage the changes and challenges ahead.” Bureau Veritas is a leading testing, inspection and certification company with a vast experience of the building control sector. Bureau Veritas Building Control UK combines technical expertise and market-leading systems with unrivalled industry experience to deliver building control services to some of the biggest names in construction. Bureau Veritas will be proving additional guidance on the amended regulations via a series of seminars and technical briefing notes. For further information, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk.
With the construction industry remaining one of the largest global markets, it is imperative that the advanced materials sector listens to the industry and observes what is needed to increase usage within the sector. Advanced Materials & Innovation has addressed this requirement and is pleased to announce the programme for its upcoming conference and exhibition ‘Advanced Materials for Construction featuring FRP for Infrastructure’ (AMCONF). The event, which will be held at the University of Manchester on 3rd-4th April 2019, incorporates a keynote address from the Rail Director of Transport for the North, Tim Wood, who is looking for innovators and collaborators to work with him on the ambitious investment plans for a transformed rail network at the heart of the new Northern Powerhouse Rail System. Speaking about the conference, Tim Wood encourages companies to attend; “Through innovation and collaboration, we will assess and remove barriers to create the conditions for accelerated growth. Collaboration with many delegates at the Advanced Materials for Construction conference for example will be essential to achieving this, combining expert knowledge and counsel to achieve the best results for businesses and the public.” The conference will address all aspects of the industry including what we as an industry can do to help the construction industry meet its targets. A special session is being presented by Gianluca Barletta & Paul Homan of IBM Services titled, ‘Digital Construction-What Does the Future Bring?’ AMI Director, Martin Halpin, said, “It is a very exciting time for Advanced Materials for Construction, with a number of large infrastructure clients realising the benefits that these materials can offer their projects. We are delighted to bring together senior figures from client organisations to describe the significant opportunities that exist moving forward, alongside other industry professionals who will demonstrate best practice in procurement and implementation of recent and relevant projects. This is a must-attend conference for all those interested in challenging traditional solutions with innovative alternatives.” Sue Halliwell, Operations Manager, Composites UK, said, “The potential for the use of advanced materials in construction applications is huge. As yet we’ve only scratched the surface in achieving their potential benefit to the sector. There’s a significant education piece to be done to ensure the construction industry has access to the right information they need to make informed decisions when it comes to choices of materials for specific projects. This conference is part of that piece and brings together materials experts and construction professionals so they can better understand the challenges and possible solutions.” Exhibitors and Sponsors will also be involved with Pecha-Kucha Sessions that provide the opportunity of further engagement with the audience by presenting comprehensive and visually stimulating summaries of their offering. Exhibition space is still available on a first come, first served basis, from basic space to bespoke 1-3m pods which create an impact with delegates and start those all-important conversations that lead to the best collaborations and future projects. AMI Director, Gemma Smith, said, “We are very proud to have a programme that not only represents material suppliers, but also end users, contractors and specifiers. We have taken the time to speak to people across the supply chain to ensure that we provide a thought-provoking conference programme designed to push existing boundaries, question our methods and progress the usage of advanced materials in the construction industry.” The overriding aim of AMCONF is to provide delegates with the information and contacts they need on the best possible opportunities and outcomes for the Advanced Materials industry. The complete programme can be viewed at https://www.amconf.com/programme.
Vivalda, the UK’s largest independent supplier of cladding systems, has kicked off the new year with a campaign to encourage contractors to consider off-site fabrication as part of their dust management strategy. Called Breathe Easy, the initiative includes the production of a video – voiced by Vivalda staff from every branch – highlighting the challenges faced by contractors. The campaign follows recent Health & Safety Executive (HSE) announcements highlighting the fact that every week, more than 10 construction workers die from dust inhalation. Moreover, Peter Baker, the HSE’s chief inspector of construction revealed recently that every year, 3,500 people in the industry die as a result of work-related cancers, mainly linked to asbestos and silica. A natural material found in rock, stone and clay, silica comprises tiny particulates that can become lodged in the respiratory system, causing lung cancer, tuberculosis (in those with silicosis), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, silica exposure has been linked to other illnesses including renal disease and even cancers. Ben Jayes, managing director of Vivalda group, said: “Despite guidance from the HSE on dealing with dust on-site, ignorance among both contractors and on-site workers remains remarkably high. In a recent construction industry survey, it was revealed that while only 12% of firms admitted to treating dust as a ‘serious issue’ at work, only 16% of employees were aware of the risks. What’s even more sobering is the fact that there is plenty of legislation – in the form of COSHH and the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) that mandates action here. “To help combat this issue, we are encouraging contractors to consider the adoption of off-site fabrication as part of the solution. While there are steps that can be taken to ensure workers cutting bricks, paviors, concrete and cladding material are following best practice, we think contractors should also consider transferring many potentially hazardous site operations upstream, using off-site fabrication to reduce their exposure to an HSE inspection. A good example of this idea in practice is the cutting of rainscreen cladding, which is typically made from concrete, rock, terracotta and mixed alloys.” Certainly, in recent months Vivalda has seen an increase in the number of contractors assessing the pros and cons of off-site fabrication as a way of minimising the amount of dust generated on-site. This benefit, along with the obvious improvements in productivity, accuracy and overall supply chain efficiency, will give extra impetus to the adoption of off-site construction techniques over the next few years. Jayes concludes: “All of our CNC machines deliver cutting accuracy down to the millimetre. But more importantly, each one is fitted with modern dust extraction filters, which are checked and replaced regularly. This means that we take on the responsibility of not only delivering cut to size panels – we also take away the headache of health and safety regulations which are quite rightly being enforced by the HSE.” To watch Vivalda’s Breathe Easy video, please see here:
A new housing development in Edenbridge is set to throw open its showhome’s doors to home-hunters in the area. The Aldwych showhome at Bellway’s Oakley Park development, off St Johns Way, is being unveiled to the public on Saturday, February 2. This outstanding four-bedroom property will showcase all that’s best about the spectacular mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses as well as one and two-bedroom apartments at the development. Work on Bellway’s landmark site began in late 2017 and will be made up of 300 homes. The development will also feature public open space featuring a children’s play area, walkways and wildlife areas. Mark Harrop, Sales Director for Bellway’s Kent division, said: “We are very excited to be opening our new showhome at Oakley Park on February 2. “It will give people seeking their dream home an excellent insight into the beautiful properties we are building here. “It looks set to be very busy on the launch day because there has been such intense interest in Oakley Park from people keen to move into the area and we’re gearing up to meet high demand. “Our development offers a wide range of homes to suit everyone from first-time buyers looking to get on to the property ladder to families who’d like more room and those looking for the ideal place to downsize. “Our properties at Oakley Park have already been going down well so I’d urge anyone interested in making this their home to come along and view our showhome so that they don’t miss out.” Bellway will be ploughing almost £1.5 million into local infrastructure and facilities as part of the Oakley Park planning agreement. There is currently a range of two-bedroom apartments and three, four and five-bedroom houses available to buy. Prices for two-bedroom apartments start at £264,995. More information on the homes being built at Oakley Park can be found at bellway.co.uk.