BAM Nuttall, the UK based supplier of civil engineering services, has just completed a deal to purchase a further thirty X-ECO LED lighting towers from the Cambridgeshire supplier, Trime (UK) Limited. The company now has fifty Trime X-ECO LED lighting sets in their rental fleet. BAM Nuttall’s Plant Manager, Andy
Earl Kendrick Associates are delighted to announce the appointment of two new Directors for the South and North regions respectively. Zoë Walheim MRICS and Andrew Banister MRICS have been spearheading Earl Kendrick’s expansion in the past two years, with new regional offices in Brighton and Manchester, which are now separate
Modern temporary structures are far more advanced than they were a few years ago. While older options weren’t so attractive and were often limited to certain use cases, today’s temporary buildings can be used for anything from setting up temporary structures after a disaster to quick business expansions. The demand
MSA Safety is spearheading the use of virtual reality (VR) in the safety market, enabling customers to experience its products in a truly immersive environment, without actual exposure to the potentially life-threatening hazards faced by people working at height. MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and
A Thermal Insulator has beaten off competition from all parts of the UK to win a major national apprenticeship award. Brand Energy and Infrastructure Service employee Adam Brophy scooped the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) Level 2 Apprentice of the Year Award at a recent ceremony held in London. Adam
Local school and college students were given an insight into the wide variety of career opportunities available in building maintenance and construction at a special event organised by Magenta Living, one of the North West’s leading housing providers, to encourage more young women into the industry. The Girls in Construction
With stress, depression and anxiety now the leading cause of workplace absences in the UK, leading compliance expert Bureau Veritas is calling on organisations to tackle the problem head-on by reviewing how they recognise, assess and manage work-related mental illness. It comes as annual figures released by the Health and
The construction industry is facing a crime epidemic that is costing more than £400 million per year. What can be done to combat the criminals? Every business needs to protect itself against the actions of criminals, but the sheer scale of crime within the construction sector makes this an industry
Nottingham’s SDL Group has been named as the fastest growing private equity backed business in the Midlands. The Chilwell-based property specialist took the top spot in the 2018 Private Equity Growth Barometer with an average growth rate of 69 per cent. The report was compiled by leading accountancy and business
The door and window hardware industry’s rising stars were celebrated at the 39th annual Guild of Architectural Ironmongers’ (GAI) Education Awards. Held at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London on 8 November, the awards celebrate the architectural ironmongery professionals who have achieved a GAI Diploma and recognise the highest achieving
BAM Nuttall, the UK based supplier of civil engineering services, has just completed a deal to purchase a further thirty X-ECO LED lighting towers from the Cambridgeshire supplier, Trime (UK) Limited. The company now has fifty Trime X-ECO LED lighting sets in their rental fleet. BAM Nuttall’s Plant Manager, Andy Haythorne said, “We placed an initial order for the X-ECO LED units back in September last year, following a successful trial. The Trime lights have performed excellently over the past twelve months, so it was an easy decision to invest in this new order.” “In all we have been impressed with the costs savings, reliability and the integral safety features of the X-ECO LED,” added Andy. The sourcing of more efficient plant and equipment remains a key part of the BAM Sustainability Strategy as they work towards challenging 2020 targets for carbon reduction. The sustainable qualities of the Trime X-ECO LED sets have aided BAM Nuttall to reach their objective. The X-ECO LED uses considerably less fuel when compared with many lighting sets currently available. This results in a corresponding reduction in C02 output, assessed by Trime engineers, to equate to approximately 888kg. In 2016, BAM Group UK (legal entity comprising of BAM Nuttall and BAM Construct UK) were awarded the CEMARS gold standard for achieving significant carbon savings year-on-year over a six-year period by following a systematic carbon reduction programme that have resulted in a reduction in emissions of 17.72% when compared with baseline data. CEMARS is the Carbon Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme and refers to ISO14064-1:2006. For 2017 and beyond BAM Nuttall has set even more challenging targets to reduce its energy consumption by a further 25% on a new 2015 baseline, and across its Scope 1, 2 & 3 emission classes by 2020. This target is in line with that of the parent company Royal BAM Group and works towards a climate positive future in the long term – a future in which construction is not a carbon emitter but one in which it is a carbon eliminator. Trime Group boasts over 50 years of experience in the development and marketing of environmentally sustainable lighting sets for the construction and rental markets. Their manufacturing plant is based in Cassinetta di Lugagnano, near Milan and Trime UK Limited is headquartered in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Earl Kendrick Associates are delighted to announce the appointment of two new Directors for the South and North regions respectively. Zoë Walheim MRICS and Andrew Banister MRICS have been spearheading Earl Kendrick’s expansion in the past two years, with new regional offices in Brighton and Manchester, which are now separate companies under the EKA umbrella. In recognition of their success, Zoë Walheim becomes our Regional Director – South, while Andrew Banister is our Regional Director – North. The Brighton office was established two years ago to serve Brighton and the South, and has gone from strength to strength. Headline projects have included work on the iconic Brighton Pier and the preparation of maintenance plans for converted mental hospitals. Zoë and her team have also assisted clients with the implementation of urgent Health & Safety works, a repairs and redecoration scheme on a property on Regency Square, and overseen a repair scheme on the prestigious High Street in Tunbridge Wells. The Manchester office followed soon after, serving the North region. Andy and his team quickly built up a new client base through word of mouth by taking on and simplifying major works processes for managing agents, leaseholders and freeholders, establishing Earl Kendrick as leading building surveyors in the region. Earl Kendrick’s Managing Director Julian Davies said, “Zoë and Andy have done a fantastic job heading up Earl Kendrick’s expansion to the South and North. They have more than earned their new roles as company Directors, and I look forward to working with them in the years to come.”
Modern temporary structures are far more advanced than they were a few years ago. While older options weren’t so attractive and were often limited to certain use cases, today’s temporary buildings can be used for anything from setting up temporary structures after a disaster to quick business expansions. The demand for temporary buildings is also on a steep rise. If you happen to drive across a commercial area, chances are you will come across one or two temporary buildings being used for different purposes. In fact, they don’t look temporary at all. Beneath the advanced technologies and gorgeous designs, temporary buildings offer five main benefits for business and personal users alike. A Quick Way to Expand The need for more space is often an urgent one to meet, which is why a temporary building is perfect as a solution. The structure can be erected in as little as seven days, even when you have specific requirements and you want a complex temporary building to suit your needs. This benefit makes temporary buildings very suitable for things such as business expansions, storage needs, showrooms, and workshops. Temporary buildings are also perfect for more specific use cases, including extending an existing structure. A Wealth of Options As mentioned before, temporary buildings are designed to be very flexible. You no longer have to stick with a boxy structure made from less durable materials. Modern temporary buildings now use steel, aluminium, and PVC, along with other materials for better flexibility. This means you can have a temporary building designed to perfectly meet your needs. You can add partitions to the interior of the building, add large glass windows for display purposes, and do so much more with the options available today. Extra Durability While temporary structures are designed to be used temporarily, they are extremely durable. You can choose different materials, insulation options, and even finishing touches to ensure it will be a suitable temporary fix. In fact, products from leading players in the business are also easy to maintain. If you want to know more about your options and the kind of durability you can expect from modern temporary buildings, simply visit Smart Space. They provide numerous building options where you can get double glazed window panels, a thermo-insulated roof and heavy structural floors to ensure your building provides a functional temporary solution. Superb Cost Efficiency There is another major benefit offered by temporary buildings, and that is the immense cost efficiency they bring to the table. We’re not just talking about the cost of the materials and design, but also the cost of getting the structure erected in a timely manner. Since temporary buildings are fast to erect, there are no extensive labour costs and other fees to worry about. With the design selected, the entire construction process can be completed without breaking the bank. A Low-Risk Option Since you don’t have to invest a fortune to get a temporary building set up, you also don’t have additional risks to bear. When it is time to move on to a more permanent solution, you can have the temporary building dismantled just as easily. The lack of risk is also a benefit that comes with the nature of temporary buildings themselves. The construction project is handled by a team of experienced specialists, which means accidents and mishaps can be reduced to a minimum. At the same time, the temporary building offers sufficient protection for its occupants once it is erected. With these five benefits waiting to be enjoyed, temporary buildings are becoming the preferred option. Businesses of different sizes now use temporary buildings as a way to quickly meet their need for space. If you have an immediate need for a new structure, don’t forget to consider temporary buildings as practical options.
MSA Safety is spearheading the use of virtual reality (VR) in the safety market, enabling customers to experience its products in a truly immersive environment, without actual exposure to the potentially life-threatening hazards faced by people working at height. MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and infrastructure. It is now capable of tangibly showcasing its solutions and effectively demonstrating the true value of highly engineered, superior quality fall protection, and the competitive advantage it holds over market alternatives. Evelyn Webb, MSA’s Customer Marketing Communications Manager, explained: “VR has undoubtedly been a gamechanger for MSA. It offers a new and innovative way to convey our suite of products to customers and transforms sales meetings. We’ve been using these technologies at trade shows and in presentations, with fantastic customer engagement and feedback. “We worked with immersive technology specialists, Render, to develop VR to showcase our fall protection products in a completely new, interactive way. The technology makes our products come to life for our customers. The VR scenarios can be accessed through HTC VIVE® headsets or through a mobile app on both iOS and Android. It has enabled us to truly showcase our fall protection expertise and the benefits that brings to customers.” Render’s Chief Executive, Mark Miles, added: “You’re not just seeing and hearing, you’re feeling. An immersive narrative gives customers the full sensory experience. “In the VR construction experience that Render and MSA has developed, users climb up to a virtual rooftop, using a controller to ‘clip on’ at every step before they reach the rooftop to carry out vital maintenance. By enabling customers to literally experience the products for themselves in a life-like hazardous environment, MSA can communicate the value of its products in seconds.” After selecting their choice of language for the simulation, users then select the correct equipment for working at height, including a full body harness and a personal fall limiter (PFL). After clipping on and scaling a ladder to the roof of a commercial unit, the user is required to remove an inspection cover from an air-conditioning unit. The worker is in a fall arrest position and the VR user virtually ‘falls’ backwards over the edge of the roof. MSA’s Latchways fall protection system successfully arrests the fall before gently lowering the user to the ground. The experience can be updated to feature new products, different working scenarios and additional instruction languages. A simulation for the oil and gas and aviation sectors has also been launched, offering a representative application. To try our MSA Safety’s virtual reality experience, visit www.msasafety.com/VR.
A Thermal Insulator has beaten off competition from all parts of the UK to win a major national apprenticeship award. Brand Energy and Infrastructure Service employee Adam Brophy scooped the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) Level 2 Apprentice of the Year Award at a recent ceremony held in London. Adam joined industrial access, insulation and painting specialist Brand in 2017, and now works on a major maintenance contract near Immingham. He overcame challenges from 7 other hopeful competitors who were representing various companies from different parts of the UK, to take the award. TICA’s 2018 Skills Test saw them undertake a rigorous practical assessment test, before Adam emerged as the outright winner to earn the Apprentice of the Year title. “The finalists were selected on the basis of their practical skills, their overall attitude to training and their behaviour and commitment at work.” explains Ronan Sheils, managing director of Brand Energy and Infrastructure Service UK & Ireland. “Adam had impressed people with his very professional approach to his work, as well as his outstanding skills and his great keenness to learn. Those attributes helped him gain a place in the competition, and ultimately to win the title. We’re extremely proud of his performance, and delighted that he’s achieved this success which he undoubtedly deserves.” “We place a great emphasis on training so that we can guarantee our customers will receive the high levels of quality, safety and service they have come to expect from us. The recognition that Adam’s success has earned is evidence of our strategy in action, and we really wish him well for the future.” For more details, visit www.beis.com/uk or call 0844 335 8860
Local school and college students were given an insight into the wide variety of career opportunities available in building maintenance and construction at a special event organised by Magenta Living, one of the North West’s leading housing providers, to encourage more young women into the industry. The Girls in Construction open day was held at Magenta Living’s Building Services Depot in Birkenhead, home to the housing provider’s team of more than 150 highly-skilled building services technicians. The team provides a broad range of specialist services to Magenta Living customers, across the 13,000 properties the organisation currently owns and manages in Wirral and throughout the North West. Services delivered include 24/7 emergency response repairs, refurbishments, maintenance, building renovations and conversions, electrical engineering, plumbing, joinery and decorating. Female students were invited to see the team in action, with a series of practical demonstrations and talks put on to increase awareness of the diverse career paths available to them across the building maintenance and construction industry. Plumbing, joinery, plastering and decorating were all showcased, and students heard from Magenta Living painter Cathy Jackson who shared her own personal development story, having originally joined the organisation ten years ago via an apprenticeship. The event was opened by Michelle Plimley, Magenta Living Head of Voids and Allocations, who explained her role in the organisation, along with Head of Business Development for Building Services, Mike Cliff, who talked about the vital part apprentices play in delivering excellent services for Magenta Living’s customers. Students were able to take a tour around the Building Services depot, which included a session with Leona Roper, assistant branch manager for Travis Perkins Managed Services, who explained what her role is and how her company manages Magenta Living’s repair and maintenance supplies. Leona gave her audience a sneak peek into the Travis Perkins dedicated store facility at Magenta Living’s Building Services Depot, which gives repair and maintenance staff instant access to the materials they require on a daily basis. Magenta Living also invited three of its IT high-fliers to talk to the young women attending the open day, to help illustrate that building and construction also encompasses a wide variety of business support roles. Jen Tyler and Anne Carr, who have reached the finals of this year’s Women in IT Excellence Awards, along with Paige Carr, ICT Apprentice, gave an insight into their day-to-day work and the opportunities available to women in STEM related areas of the industry. The event was designed in conjunction with Wirral Metropolitan College, a further and higher education college offering courses and diploma qualifications from entry level to degree. The college has been a source of local, talented apprentices for Magenta Living for some time and earlier this year, the two organisations formed a new mutually beneficial partnership. Under the agreement, the college provides insight and expertise to help Magenta Living strengthen the capabilities of its workforce whilst Magenta Living helps to shape the development of Wirral Met’s curriculum to ensure it meets the needs of its business. Magenta Living also provides work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for students. Students from Wirral Metropolitan College joined year 9 to 11 pupils from Birkenhead Park School and Bebington High at the open day. Joanne Francom, Director of HR & Organisational Development at Magenta Living said, “It was fantastic to engage with young women from our local schools and colleges through this event and, hopefully, to open their eyes to the exciting variety of careers avaliable within the building maintenance and construction industry. The housing sector relies heavily on skilled tradespeople and we need to tap into female talent to help ensure we have the right skills in place going forward. We have some outstanding female team members at Magenta Living but we recognise that our organisation, along with the rest of the industry needs to do more to encourage women into building and construction. “While there have been some positive changes in terms of gender diversity in building and construction in recent years – with more than a quarter of positions in the industry expected to be filled by women by 2020, we still have a long way to go. “Of course it’s important that women of all ages come to see building and construction as a viable career path, and Cathy Jackson who joined us as an apprentice in her 30s illustrates that age barriers aren’t an issue to entry, but a big part of making change happen is building awareness of opportunities from an early age and helping to break down the gender stereotypes by engaging with school children and actually demonstrating to girls that they can do what would have traditionally been male-dominated roles. This was a pilot event for us but, given its success, we look forward to holding similar events in future.” The event was sponsored by The Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Hub,and funded as part of the Employees Support in Skills Project funded by the European Social Fund / Education and Skills Funding Agency. Chris Eriksen, Hub Skills Broker from the Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Hub attended the open day and said, “It’s fantastic to see a local company opening up its business like this to help bring apprenticeships and career opportunities to life for young women.This was an excellent showcase of the types of sought after skills that can be acquired via an apprenticeship with organisations like Magenta Living.” Carmell Denton, a joinery student from Wirral Metropolitan College who went along to the open day added, “Pro-active events like this will help to shift the balance in what has been a very male-dominated environment and encourage more women like myself to pursue a skilled trade and make their mark in the industry.” Pictured: Wirral Met Students (right to left: Jenny Yarrow, Carmell Denton, Jamie-Lee Wockenforth, Zoe Martindale) and their tutor, Victoria Dann- Head of Construction, with Magenta Living Plumber Dave Stenhouse
With stress, depression and anxiety now the leading cause of workplace absences in the UK, leading compliance expert Bureau Veritas is calling on organisations to tackle the problem head-on by reviewing how they recognise, assess and manage work-related mental illness. It comes as annual figures released by the Health and Safety Executive show that in 2017/18, a total of 15.4 million working days were lost as a result of work-related stress, anxiety or depression, up from 12.5 million last year. Overall, this now equates to 57% of the 26.8 million work days lost to ill health in the UK during the same period. In light of this, Bureau Veritas has revealed that companies that are certified to 18001 will benefit from transitioning to ISO 45001, due to come into force March 2021, as for the first time ever, the new international standard for occupational health and safety, requires employers to put measures in place to improve employee mental health and well-being. Carol Robinson, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at Bureau Veritas, said: “The HSE statistics show that a record number of Britons now suffer from work-related stress, depression and anxiety, and as the leading cause of work place absences in the UK, employee work-related mental ill-health is said to cost UK employers up to £42bn a year1. “As such, it’s never been a more appropriate time for employers to take action and review how they recognise, assess and manage work-related mental ill-health. This will not only help to understand the root causes of stress, anxiety and depression in the workplace but will no doubt go a long way in reducing absenteeism. “For businesses unsure of where to begin, following the requirements of ISO 45001 from Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS 18001) will help to manage workplace mental health. The new international standard goes much further than just preventing workplace injuries and is the first-of-its-kind to put the onus on employers to improve employee health and well-being.” Overall, the HSE figures show that the rate of workplace injuries in the UK is in general decline and coincides with findings by Bureau Veritas that it has seen a 63% reduction in workplace accidents across the organisation. Carol adds: “This improvement is a result of organisations in recent years making a concerted effort, in terms of their values, attitudes and practices, to improve workplace safety. There’s always more that can be done to prevent employees being injured at work and our advice to businesses is to review their culture and processes on a regular basis and find ways to continually monitor and improve their overall health and safety strategy.” Bureau Veritas offers a wide range of services to help firms achieve ISO 45001 compliance, including implementation, management and certification of health and safety frameworks. For further information please visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk.
The construction industry is facing a crime epidemic that is costing more than £400 million per year. What can be done to combat the criminals? Every business needs to protect itself against the actions of criminals, but the sheer scale of crime within the construction sector makes this an industry where measures need to be taken urgently. Last year, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) surveyed construction firms up and down the country, and their findings make grim reading. 21 percent of those surveyed said they experience theft on a weekly basis, while that figure rose to a staggering 92 percent being the victims of crime weekly, monthly or yearly. In this age of rising insurance premiums and potential liability if intruders enter a site and injure themselves, these numbers seem all the more shocking. Clearly, the industry needs to take a closer look at its use of construction site security systems and procedures. Theft on every scale Theft is by far the most common form of crime to take place at construction sites, and it is rife at all levels. Career criminals working for organised gangs break into sites at night, removing plant and equipment such as mini diggers that can be worth thousands of pounds. Often, the stolen property has left the country in the back of a van by the time the theft has been discovered. Not all thefts are on such a large scale, however. Pilferage from within is also endemic within the industry. The survey revealed that 90 percent of construction sites had had tools and building materials pilfered, and of these more than half believed the crime was committed by staff and subcontractors. Crimefighting tools Modern video surveillance that is remotely monitored during the hours of darkness is an important tool in staving off the large scale crime, as is the fitting of tracking equipment to plant. Thieves are usually brazen and unsophisticated, typically adopting the “quick in and out” strategy, and taking minimal effort to conceal or disguise faces or vehicle registration numbers. They rely on the element of surprise, so taking this away from them could have a significant impact. Reducing the smaller, but equally damaging, bleed from internal pilfering demands a different approach. Tracking the whereabouts of tools using technological asset tagging is certainly one solution, and protects both employers and the honest employees and subcontractors who simply want to get the job done. It makes it quick and simple to book tools out and in, and provides the company with real time information that doesn’t only improve security, but also gives a picture of total inventory, making it easy to know when new tools are needed. It is more efficient and less time consuming than traditional manual paper-based methods, which only serve to increase operating costs and are typically ineffectual. An escalating problem Perhaps the most sobering conclusion of all to come out of the survey was that 40 percent of respondents feel that instances of theft are on the increase. The construction industry is facing enough economic difficulties, and these are likely intensify as Brexit takes effect. Now is the time to initiate some basic controls to turn the tide and reduce crime.
Nottingham’s SDL Group has been named as the fastest growing private equity backed business in the Midlands. The Chilwell-based property specialist took the top spot in the 2018 Private Equity Growth Barometer with an average growth rate of 69 per cent. The report was compiled by leading accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. According to the new study, the average annual growth rate across the top 50 fastest growing private equity backed Midlands businesses was 18.3 per cent, compared to a UK annual gross domestic product growth rate of 1.3 per cent, meaning SDL Group far surpassed the Midlands average. SDL Group has cemented its position as an industry leader in the property services sector, amassing an annual turnover of more than £100m. In the past two years, the firm has acquired a range of businesses including prominent auction specialists Graham Penny and CP Bigwood, expanding its services. Meanwhile, the firm has tripled its workforce since 2014, now employing over 600 people nationwide. Commenting on the Private Equity Growth Barometer, SDL Group’s chief financial officer, Colin Anderton said: “This is a major achievement for the Group and really demonstrates the strength of our people and services. “Our growth has come from our ability to adapt and identify new opportunities in what has been a challenging economic and political climate. In 2016, we acquired the prominent auction specialists CP Bigwood and Graham Penny, and we also launched our own Auction Partners network, capitalising on what we see as the growing mainstream popularity of auctions. “Our Property Partners franchise scheme for property management has also been a big success and recently celebrated its first birthday. “Organic growth remains a key focus for us in 2019. We will be continuing to place our customers at the heart of every decision we make, with the aim of revolutionising their experience of property services.” Andrew Mair, author of the report and partner at BDO, said: “Our analysis clearly demonstrates that private equity investment provides businesses with the support to exploit growth opportunities and it is fantastic to see so many taking advantage of these opportunities in the Midlands. “We are delighted to have recognised SDL as the fast growing PE-backed business in our 2018 private equity growth barometer and hope that they continue to thrive through 2019 and beyond.” For more information on SDL Group, visit www.sdlgroup.co.uk.
The door and window hardware industry’s rising stars were celebrated at the 39th annual Guild of Architectural Ironmongers’ (GAI) Education Awards. Held at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London on 8 November, the awards celebrate the architectural ironmongery professionals who have achieved a GAI Diploma and recognise the highest achieving students. This year, exams were sat by 355 learners across all three stages of the GAI online training programme. Learners came from 23 different countries, with 51% of them based outside the UK. There has been a particularly high number of learners in the UAE, China, India, Hong Kong and South Africa. Since 1980, the GAI Education Awards have included Gold, Silver and Bronze medal awards for the top students in the GAI Diploma and prize awards for the top three students in the Certificate in Architectural Hardware. The Pinnacle Award, sponsored by ASSA ABLOY, is also given to the student with the best aggregate results of the Certificate in Architectural Hardware and the Diploma programme. Eryl Jones, managing director of ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions, presented this year’s Pinnacle Award to Thennarasu Parimalam, former architectural sales consultant at dormakaba in Kuwait. Thennarasu Parimalam said: “I received the first prize award for the GAI Certificate last year, but working on the Diploma is actually much tougher because there’s so much more to learn about writing specifications. I’m so proud of this achievement now. “I recommend the Diploma to everyone I talk to who’s interested in working in the hardware industry – it teaches you the things you simply won’t just pick up from experience; it builds a career. I now go into meetings with consultants and contractors and I get their respect, even though I’m younger than them, because I have this qualification. It’s well recognised in Kuwait, and it’s everything I need for my future in this industry.” The winners and newly qualified Diploma holders were presented with their awards by David Stacey, president of the GAI, and the event’s keynote speaker and ex-England international football player, Graeme Le Saux. David Stacey, said: “It’s a difficult time within the construction industry, in the light of Grenfell, the Hackitt Review and high profile construction failures, and with so many damning criticisms of the professionalism of designers, contractors, product manufacturers and suppliers, installers, inspectors and every part of the construction supply chain, the Guild and Institute members can at least today hold our heads up high and say: No, we’re not like that. We don’t take shortcuts. We are genuinely committed to being the very best we can be.” “The new diploma holders and award winners, are part of a growing community of excellence spread around the world. Over almost four decades we have celebrated more than two and a half thousand diploma holders. The knowledge and qualification is transferrable internationally, and recognised globally. The GAI education syllabus is the only recognised programme in the world that leads to a qualification in architectural ironmongery to British and European standards.” The Certificate in Architectural Hardware is particularly useful for those working in warehouse and trade counter roles, procurement, scheduling and estimating, customer service, technical support, sales and administration. Comprised of two stages with 24 online education modules, the Certificate covers the product knowledge a practising architectural ironmonger is required to know. The modules include helpful explanations, animations and video clips, all geared to engage learners in easily digestible chunks. There are also unlimited self-tests. Following completion of the Certificate in Architectural Hardware, students can progress to the GAI Diploma. The Diploma builds on product knowledge and enables the writing of accurate hardware specifications and quotations. The qualification is particularly suited to those in customer service, contract management, scheduling and estimating, technical and sales. To become a full GAI member, a company must have at least one employee who has passed the GAI Diploma. dormakaba sponsored the GAI Education Awards, and ASSA ABLOY sponsored the Pinnacle Award. The full list of Education Awards winners in 2018 is: The Pinnacle Award: Thennarasu Parimalam, former architectural sales consultant at dormakaba in Kuwait GAI Diploma Gold – Reina Tangilon-Bautista, dormakaba Silver – Hanish Arora, dormakaba (India) Bronze – Chris Grimshaw, Allgood Certificate in Architectural Hardware Gold – Jessa Comia, dormakaba Silver – Dan Savage, HOPPE (UK) Bronze – Bala Vignesh, ASSA ABLOY www.gai.org.uk