One of the UK’s most successful regional theatre companies lifted the curtains on a brand-new era in its 90-year history tonight (Sep 26) following a £7.5m refurbishment project. Mayflower Theatre took a ‘dramatic pause’ as it turned off the lights for the multi-million pound project back in June. Tonight it
BE DESIGN, the multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering practice, has announced four new promotions across its technical team. With 40 years’ combined experience, Dan Edwards, Rhys Bevins, Shawn Loo and Rafail Tsartsaris will now support the senior team directly with project design and client management whilst mentoring and developing the next generation
Healthcare consultancy, Essentia Trading, has announced the winning contractors for two new energy saving frameworks that offer unique savings guarantees for NHS Trusts and other public sector organisations. They are the Essentia LED Lighting Framework and the Essentia Battery Storage Framework. NHS Trusts and other public sector organisations will now
A REFURBISHMENT at Lincoln’s Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has now reached completion, creating the Lincolnshire Open Research and Innovation Centre (LORIC) for local SMEs. Delivered by construction company Robert Woodhead Ltd. and architects LK2, the £4 million project has transformed the university’s 750 m2 Grade II listed St Hugh’s building
Aberdeen Standard Investment’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) today announces the acquisition of multinational car rental company, Sixt’s main Heathrow premises at Hatton Cross for just under £5 million. The 1.5 acre freehold site, which Sixt will continue to use for both car rental and maintenance operations, sits
Arthur Online – the cloud-based property management platform – has launched new integrations with Rightmove and Zoopla making property managers’ lives even easier. You can now list your vacant properties for let directly via the Arthur Online platform. Millions of prospective tenants browsing Rightmove and Zoopla will be informed as
Polypipe, the UK’s leading manufacturer of underfloor heating systems, has officially launched a £250,000 training facility to inspire the next generation of budding heating professionals. The Doncaster-based firm held the official opening of the state-of-the-art Polypipe Professional Development Centre (PDC) at Kirk Sandall in the town on Tuesday, September 25.
Regional contractor G F Tomlinson has started work on three new alternative provision Free School academies in Lincolnshire. The Springwell Alternative Academies project is being delivered in partnership with Wellspring Academy Trust and will create more than 180 places for students aged 4-16. The three academies consist of two brand
Watson Batty Architects has been appointed to design the new arrivals extension, departure pier and internal remodelling at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA). Last week LBA formally revealed plans for the £12.5 million investment with a three-storey new extension to its terminal building. This will include a transformed international arrivals process,
Tens of thousands of hard working British tradespeople are not being paid for the work they have done, according to a new national campaign which is gathering pace. Backed by safety workwear and footwear designers Scruffs, a petition has been launched as part of the #PayWhatYouOwe campaign, in order to
One of the UK’s most successful regional theatre companies lifted the curtains on a brand-new era in its 90-year history tonight (Sep 26) following a £7.5m refurbishment project. Mayflower Theatre took a ‘dramatic pause’ as it turned off the lights for the multi-million pound project back in June. Tonight it reopened its doors to the public for the first time to reveal the results of its biggest transformation of the last 30 years. The iconic Southampton venue has been completely repainted with a dramatic new red and gold colour scheme. All of the seats in the stall and circle have been removed and replaced with 1,659 brand-new, wider seats while the seats in the balcony have been reupholstered. The theatre has gained an extra seat, taking its total seat capacity to 2,274. New environmentally-friendly LED lighting has been installed, the orchestra pit has been moved beneath the stage and accessibility has been improved, with better facilities for people with disabilities. The multi-million pound project will ensure the theatre remains best in class and continues to draw in hundreds of thousands of people to the city. Every year more than 500,000 people visit Mayflower Theatre and the venue contributes an estimated £75m to the economy. Michael Ockwell, chief executive of Mayflower Theatre, said: “This is without doubt the most significant refurbishment project that the theatre has seen in the last three decades and we were thrilled to lift the curtains on the new look tonight. For us, this project is very much about ensuring Mayflower Theatre remains best in class not just for now, but long into the future.” The £7.5m investment has been welcomed by representatives from the public as well as the private sector. Southampton Cultural Development Trust Chairman Brad Roynon said: “Mayflower Theatre doesn’t just bring in huge shows and hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city every year. It also plays an important part in connecting new audiences with theatre and inspiring young people to get involved in the arts. It’s therefore absolutely vital that we preserve this historic and culturally important venue to ensure it remains, and develops further, as a catalyst for the growth of arts and culture.” Cabinet Member for Homes and Culture at Southampton City Council, Councillor Satvir Kaur said: “It’s fantastic to see the Mayflower theatre opening its doors again. This iconic building is an integral part of the extensive entertainment offering that can be found in Southampton. The theatre is one of the biggest outside of London and attracts people from a huge area. This essential refurbishment ensures that the venue itself lives up to the reputation that it has.” Mayflower Theatre is the biggest regional theatre outside of London and has seen the likes of Julie Andrews, Laurel and Hardy, Michael McIntyre, Take That and even The Beatles tread its boards over its 90-year history. The venue opened on December 22, 1928 as the Empire Theatre, becoming The Gaumont in 1950 and eventually Mayflower Theatre in 1987. It remains the largest theatre in the south of England and employs 230 staff. Its reopening was celebrated with a gala evening of music and entertainment, commemorating the theatre’s past and celebrating the future with some of the next generation of stage performers. The first official performance will be Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, which runs from September 28 and 29. Tickets can be booked online at www.mayflower.org.uk or by visiting the box office.
BE DESIGN, the multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering practice, has announced four new promotions across its technical team. With 40 years’ combined experience, Dan Edwards, Rhys Bevins, Shawn Loo and Rafail Tsartsaris will now support the senior team directly with project design and client management whilst mentoring and developing the next generation of engineers and architects at BE Design. Shawn is looking forward to helping to develop junior members of the team and enhancing client satisfaction as BE Design’s newly appointed associate. Dan has been part of the BE Design family for almost five years and has now been promoted to senior engineering coordinator and, during which time he worked on transforming a car park used during the London 2012 Olympic Games into an impressive structure. Rhys studied at Nottingham Trent University and, following a placement year at BE Design, returned to work there full time four years ago and is now the practice’s newest senior architectural technologist. Rafail is experienced in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Revit and Building Information Modelling (BIM) and is proud to see his work influencing others within BE Design in his new role as senior engineering BIM coordinator. “We’re a close family at BE Design – and one which supports one another and rewards hard work and dedication,” said Stephen Oakden, director at BE Design. “Dan, Rhys, Shawn and Rafail have all worked incredibly hard to get to where they are – showing enthusiasm, passion and technical expertise across every project they’ve designed and delivered. I’m proud to announce their promotions and wish them all the best of luck in their new roles,” continued Stephen. BE Design celebrated its fifth anniversary this year and works across numerous sectors – from retail and leisure to residential and industrial – designing projects across the UK and Europe. Find out more about BE Design at www.bedesign.co.uk or join the conversation on Twitter @B_E_Design.
Healthcare consultancy, Essentia Trading, has announced the winning contractors for two new energy saving frameworks that offer unique savings guarantees for NHS Trusts and other public sector organisations. They are the Essentia LED Lighting Framework and the Essentia Battery Storage Framework. NHS Trusts and other public sector organisations will now be able to use the frameworks to procure public sector compliant suppliers for their energy saving projects. Both frameworks guarantee that if the expected cost savings are not reached within the contract period, then the supplier will have to pay the difference. Suppliers have been appointed for up to four years after a rigorous selection process. Details of the frameworks and the winning contractors are as follows: Essentia LED Lighting Framework A free-to-use, UK-wide lighting framework that helps public sector clients to deliver cost, carbon and ongoing maintenance savings, as well as improve environments and lighting services. Flexible in its approach, contracts can be awarded via both direct award or mini-competition. This is the only lighting-specific framework to offer a savings guarantee. There are seven winning suppliers on this framework: E.ON Ecolite Thorlux Lighting Blackbourne Gamma Group Energy Saving Lighting (ESL) Energys Group Essentia Battery Storage Framework A free-to-access battery storage framework that supports public sector clients in procuring battery storage solutions to reduce fixed and variable charges. The framework has several suppliers on it that can implement computer-controlled battery storage solutions enabling organisations to reduce Triad charges, DUoS charges, Capacity Market Charges and utilise grid incentives such as Firm Frequency Response. There are six winning suppliers on this framework: Bouygues Energies and Services red T Energy Storage Centrica Business Solutions Powerstar EDF Energy Veolia Trusts and public sector bodies that choose to use the framework will be helped through the selection and contracts process by Essentia’s award-winning sustainability team. Since 2014, Essentia has helped deliver over £18m of energy savings for 19 NHS Trusts, 27 Acute Hospitals and over 30 community-based sites. Alexandra Hammond, Sustainability Director at Essentia, commented: “The NHS currently spends more than £540 million on energy every year, but could be making significant savings by installing technologies such as LED lighting and smart energy management systems”. “The major benefit of using an Essentia framework is that all projects come with a savings guarantee and built-in business case. We take away the complexity of energy saving procurement and provide a fast route to market and provide advice and guidance throughout the procurement process to ensure clients secure the best partners for their projects.” For further information on either of the Frameworks, contact sustainability@essentia.uk.com or call 0207188 6000. For more information on Essentia’s sustainability work visit: https://www.essentia.uk.com/
A REFURBISHMENT at Lincoln’s Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has now reached completion, creating the Lincolnshire Open Research and Innovation Centre (LORIC) for local SMEs. Delivered by construction company Robert Woodhead Ltd. and architects LK2, the £4 million project has transformed the university’s 750 m2 Grade II listed St Hugh’s building – which was formerly a ‘home for boys’ – into a cutting-edge support facility for SMEs in the region. The building will also now be home to BGU’s Business Inspiration scheme. The building has been refurbished to create a contemporary working environment whilst retaining original features, such as windows, fire places and decorative balustrades. The finished project has achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ with the addition of secondary glazing, additional thermal insulation and the use of an infra-red panel heating system which will reduce running costs as well as energy consumption. Andy Newman, associate at LK2 said: “We were delighted to work with BGU on this exciting project, which will truly have a positive effect on the local business community. We have a longstanding relationship with BGU and we were able to work alongside the university to refurbish the building in a sympathetic and modern way. “As a Lincoln-based company, we’re proud to be involved in this project, which will provide vital support services to help local small businesses thrive.” Juliet Slater, team leader for the Lincoln team at Robert Woodhead said: “We were delighted to work with BGU, along with LK2, in the early stages of this project to assist the securing of the European funding, and then to complete the process by building it out in the sympathetic manner required for the listed building that it is. Our team has really enjoyed the challenges that this historic building has thrown up and the holistic team ethos has been inspirational.” Conceived by BGU, the LORIC will provide support to businesses, public and third-sector organisations across Greater Lincolnshire by enabling connections with data specialists and researchers to bring new insights for businesses. The BGU Business Inspiration project at the LORIC will promote innovation and growth in small and medium sized businesses in Greater Lincolnshire with tailored support and grants towards specialist consultancy, graduate internship and first time attendance at trade fairs and exhibitions. Both it and LORIC highlight the commitment of BGU to developing the communities that have supported us for more than 155 years. Christopher Bridle, LORIC project manager, praised the advances the new facilities and the LORIC itself will offer: “The Lincolnshire Open Research & Innovation Centre promotes and enables data-driven innovation for Greater Lincolnshire businesses. The newly refurbished LORIC building provides a collaboration space for businesses and BGU researchers to interact, and for specialised training in the use of open data to inform decision making. LORIC links BGU researchers with relevant business and, in so doing, will drive business innovation and the translation of research into practice.” The project was awarded over £2.6 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund to support the works. Both Robert Woodhead and LK2 have previously worked on a number of projects for BGU, including a 7,770 sq ft extension to the university’s highly commended Constance Stewart Hall. Find out more at http://lk2.co.uk/ or join the conversation at @lk2_consultants
Aberdeen Standard Investment’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) today announces the acquisition of multinational car rental company, Sixt’s main Heathrow premises at Hatton Cross for just under £5 million. The 1.5 acre freehold site, which Sixt will continue to use for both car rental and maintenance operations, sits directly opposite Hatton Cross Underground and Bus Station on the A30 Great Southwest Road, immediately adjacent to the airport perimeter fence. Sixt, a new tenant for AIPUT, has occupied the site for nearly 20 years. Sixt plans to take the opportunity to further upgrade its facilities and operations at its Heathrow sites as it seeks to enhance the service and product offer it offers to its customers. Commenting on the deal, AIPUT Fund Manager, Nick Smith, said: “Our acquisition of this keystone site at Hatton Cross will enable AIPUT to work closely with Sixt in supporting the growth of their operations at Heathrow, benefitting from a site that enjoys ready access to all passenger terminals, central London and the rest of the South East. “Hatton Cross is a leading asset location for AIPUT and this new property will dovetail well with AIPUT’s neighbouring airport logistics facilities, particularly the Radius Park estate. One of the fastest growing areas serving Heathrow, Hatton Cross provides an important point of access to the airport, readily supported by public transport. “The Sixt site is an excellent strategic opportunity for us, with the potential to unlock further value for its investors in the near and long-term by enhancing the use of the site. We see that it will play a valuable contribution to AIPUT’s plan to shape our real estate strategy to facilitate the continued introduction of automation and driverless vehicles in a wide range of airport services to deliver cleaner, safer and more efficient environments, as set out in our recent Airport of the Future Report.” Aaron Kedward, Senior Property Manager at Sixt, commented: “Sixt rent a car are excited to be working with Aberdeen Standard Investments as part of our ambitious expansion and upgrade plans for the UK. ”Specifically at our Hatton Cross location, we will look to capitalise on the continuing success of Heathrow Airport as the UK’s No. 1 international transport hub and strive to find ways to impress our customers and serve them better than ever.” The Airport of the Future report was produced jointly on AIPUT’s behalf by specialist UK aviation real estate consultancy, ChappellKing and Dornier Consulting International GmbH. It highlighted the scale of progress and future potential for the adoption of automated transport and logistics technology at the UK’s airports, exploring the potential efficiency gains from automation across a plethora of airport-related functions such as cargo-handling, as well as passenger transportation both to and within airports. AIPUT was represented in the property transaction by Eversheds Sutherland and Martin Campbell.
Arthur Online – the cloud-based property management platform – has launched new integrations with Rightmove and Zoopla making property managers’ lives even easier. You can now list your vacant properties for let directly via the Arthur Online platform. Millions of prospective tenants browsing Rightmove and Zoopla will be informed as soon as your property is available, making long void periods a thing of the past. Trouble remembering when to upload vacant properties to Rightmove or Zoopla? No problem, with its intuitive automated events feature, Arthur Online will do this for you as soon as a property is marked as “available for let”. Rightmove and Zoopla automatically pulls all the information needed for a listing directly from Arthur Online’s database including images, description, location, price, etc. meaning you only have to upload this information once. Once your new tenant has moved in they can use Arthur Online’s tenant app and web portal so that both you and your tenant can track payments, view the tenancy agreement, flag and track the progress of maintenance issues and schedule convenient times with contractors (who also have their own Arthur Online app!). Speaking of the latest integrations, Marc Trup, founder of Arthur Online says: “We’re delighted to offer our customers an even higher level of service by partnering with Rightmove and Zoopla. As a property manager myself, I fully appreciate how hard it can be to manage a property portfolio and how much time it takes up – which is why Arthur Online uses an open API so it can easily integrate with market leading websites like Zoopla and Rightmove. “The rental market is moving faster than ever, and time lost literally means money lost. With the integration of Rightmove and Zoopla, you can significantly reduce your void periods. Not only that, vital documents and information like rental agreements, tenancy inventories and images are just a click or swipe away, so you can react quickly to those unexpected changes” Arthur Online gives property managers unprecedented control of their portfolio, whether dealing with tenants, contractors, accountants or agents. Arthur Online is available as an app and desktop platform available from www.arthuronline.co.uk with a 30-day free trial. Integration with Rightmove and Zoopla can be added for an additional £5 per month to an existing Rightmove or Zoopla account.
Polypipe, the UK’s leading manufacturer of underfloor heating systems, has officially launched a £250,000 training facility to inspire the next generation of budding heating professionals. The Doncaster-based firm held the official opening of the state-of-the-art Polypipe Professional Development Centre (PDC) at Kirk Sandall in the town on Tuesday, September 25. The facility features specially-designed training spaces to give trainee and experienced plumbing professionals the opportunity to improve their practical skills. It is set to become one of the UK’s leading training centres for professional heating engineers, installers, plumbers and merchants. The courses on offer at the PDC include BPEC-accredited courses on installing warm water underfloor heating, apprenticeship training and guides to domestic ventilation product installation. The PDC will also now be home to the technical design team and the new underfloor heating senior management team. Rachel Smith, Polypipe Underfloor Heating general manager, said: “We are naturally delighted to fully open this wonderful facility. We want to further strengthen our position as the market leader for underfloor heating solutions and a key part of that is the level of service and support we offer to our trade customers. Offering accredited training and development for heating professionals is a key part of that support. “The new PDC will also help us tackle the skills gap head on by working with schools and colleges to help train the plumbers of the future. It will also ensure that Polypipe continues to serve the local and national workforce by developing new talent. We hope that the centre will demonstrate just how much training plays a fundamental role in our business model for many years to come.” Dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony included Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dan Fell and Cllr Bill Mordue, Doncaster Council cabinet member for business, skills and economic development. Mr Fell said: “It was a pleasure to be at the opening of the Professional Development Centre with Mayor Ros Jones. A great facility that demonstrates Polypipe’s massive commitment to training and people.” Tracy Richardson, president of Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), presented a plaque to commemorate the centre being granted CIPHE-accredited status. Polypipe has a strong focus on investment in professional training and development, having relaunched its Registered Heating Engineer Network (RHEN) earlier this year, which provides heating engineers and plumbers with free access to training courses and events, and helps small firms generate new business. Rachel added: “Our partnership with heating engineers, is founded on the skills, expertise and professionalism within the plumbing and heating sector and we want to support that in the best way possible. “By making the RHEN free to join we want to open our training courses and aftercare business support to a wider demographic of professionals, helping them to achieve their business goals in 2018 by offering new services to their customers.”
Regional contractor G F Tomlinson has started work on three new alternative provision Free School academies in Lincolnshire. The Springwell Alternative Academies project is being delivered in partnership with Wellspring Academy Trust and will create more than 180 places for students aged 4-16. The three academies consist of two brand new facilities; on New Beacon Road, Grantham and Macauley Drive, Lincoln. The third is located in Mablethorpe at the former Monks Dyke Tennyson secondary school where three existing small teaching blocks are being refurbished, remodelled and extended to create the new Academy. The academies will provide learning opportunities for children and young people who are unable to attend mainstream schools for a variety of reasons ranging from mental or physical health difficulties to behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. Each academy will accommodate around 60 pupils and, in addition to specialised teaching spaces, will feature an assembly hall, SEN (Special Educational Needs) therapy room, sensory room, hygiene room, fitness suite, parents’ room and multiple use games area. Ian Dalby, framework manager at G F Tomlinson said: “G F Tomlinson has an outstanding track record in delivering educational projects for local communities under the ESFA Framework. “We are thrilled to have started on site and are looking forward to working with Wellspring Academy Trust over the coming months to deliver these new academies, giving students the chance to reach their full potential in an environment which suits their individual needs.” Josh Greaves, chief operating officer from Wellspring Academy Trust, said: “We are hugely excited that work is now underway across the three sites under G F Tomlinson’s curation, whose reputation speaks for itself. “These will be transformational facilities for the children of Lincolnshire, supporting the Wellspring’s aspiration to make a difference to the lives and life chances of all those within our care.” All three schools are expected to complete in summer 2019.
Watson Batty Architects has been appointed to design the new arrivals extension, departure pier and internal remodelling at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA). Last week LBA formally revealed plans for the £12.5 million investment with a three-storey new extension to its terminal building. This will include a transformed international arrivals process, including immigration, baggage reclaim and customs. The extension will also accommodate improved departure gates, seating areas and new retail and food and beverage outlets. Once completed in late 2019, works will then commence on re-modelling the existing terminal building to provide a new centralised security search area and a more intuitive departure lounge layout, with an expanded new retail offer. Work is scheduled for completion by summer 2020. A future phase will include the completion of the departure pier, replacing the current passenger walkway. The planned extension works will deliver additional job opportunities at the Airport for local people, including apprenticeship roles in key operational areas. The appointment follows an ongoing brief for Watson Batty to support extension works planned as part of the airports’ Route to 2030’ Strategic Development Plan. Peter White, Managing Director at Watson Batty said: “We are delighted to cement our partnership with Leeds Bradford Airport with our biggest project to date. We have worked closely with the team at LBA over the last six years, assisting with detailed collaboration and consultation, to support a series of enabling projects, both airside and landside. It is rewarding to know that our transport expertise is helping to build the future of a critical northern hub.” Watson Batty has previously assisted Leeds Bradford Airport to improve circulation and flow of passengers around the terminal. It designed the new departure lounge extension last year which provided an additional storey and mezzanine floor to Gate Five. It designed a 150-metre-long, 3-lane covered, external walkway from the terminal together with a major departure gate refurbishment. Watson Batty also re-planned the passenger scanning area, providing new feature lifts to help increase the efficiency of people movement and wheelchair access. Watson Batty has extensive transport and leisure sector experience. It has completed successful projects for West Yorkshire Combined Authority at Leeds Bus Station and Keighley Bus Station and is on the Manchester Airport Group Framework. Leisure projects also include Egham Leisure Centre, Haxby Road Sports Campus and Liverpool Hope University sports complex. Watson Batty Architects is a future focused business offering architectural, interior design and master planning solutions for all sectors. It is credited for a number of major public and private sector projects including schools, universities, leisure centres, distribution facilities, residential developments and transport hubs. For further details, visit: www.watsonbatty.com https://twitter.com/Watsonbatty
Tens of thousands of hard working British tradespeople are not being paid for the work they have done, according to a new national campaign which is gathering pace. Backed by safety workwear and footwear designers Scruffs, a petition has been launched as part of the #PayWhatYouOwe campaign, in order to highlight the crippling consequences of unpaid invoices in the construction industry. A spokesperson at Scruffs said: “Tradespeople are now increasingly at risk of severe financial burdens and pressure on their businesses, as invoices are delayed or disputed by customers. Imagine if your workplace refused to pay your salary. How would you pay your household bills, the mortgage and your general cost of living? “Our construction professionals work incredibly hard, through rain or shine, building our roads, fixing our homes and making our towns and cities nicer places to live – they deserve better than this.” The petition, which at the time of writing has 183 signatures and is growing, acknowledges the severity of the issue, reminding supporters of the industry’s worth, which equates to nearly £164bn in the UK alone. To enforce change, the petition seeks to provide tradespeople – particularly those who are self-employed – with more robust support. This could include establishing more rights for tradespeople, when it comes to chasing invoices long beyond their due date, and introducing enforceable fines for unpaid bills to deter any unnecessary late payments. The petition goes on to acknowledge that over the past 20 years the media has been flooded with stories of cowboy builders not completing work and letting people down. However, delve a little deeper and in the majority of cases the reality for tradespeople is completely the opposite. The spokesperson continued: “Our #PayWhatYouOwe campaign, which kicked off with a campaign video on Facebook, has already reached more than 800,000 people [21 September 2018]. It is about more than encouraging quicker payments. It’s about respect.” If you want to support the petition and help to give our tradespeople more rights, visit https://www.change.org/p/government-tradespeople-aren-t-being-paid-more-rights-as-they-appeal-to-people-to-paywhatyouowe. For more information about Scruffs and the #paywhatyouowe campaign, visit www.scruffs.com.