If your business is found to be employing illegal immigrants, you face significant civil and potentially criminal sanctions. Immigration solicitor Anne Morris shares insight into the steps construction businesses can take to avoid falling foul of UK immigration law. Over £11.5million in fines were issued to UK businesses for illegal
It is widely acknowledged that more homes need to be built in the UK. The government has been issuing (and revising) targets since 2015, and although numbers have increased during that period, the fact is the industry is still not building as many new houses as it did ten years
Makita, the UK’s number one professional power tool manufacturer, has introduced two new 18V LXT 5-piece brushless kits which represent a substantial saving by comparison with individual purchases. The new DLX5042PT kit contains a combi drill, impact driver, angle grinder, rotary hammer and a handy LED flashlight and is packaged
The RIAS/Saint-Gobain Emerging Architect Award recognises the crucial role architects play in delivering a better world and encourages the great architects of the future at the outset of their careers. This year, the award went to Eilidh Henderson of PagePark Architects for her inspiring work on St. Cecilia’s Chapel in
Shanco have completed the first stage of an interesting project for Yorkshire Water. The project presented numerous challenges in terms of logistics and health and safety. What, at a first glance, would seem to be a simple site clearance project, would in fact need some intelligent solutions to ensure success.
According to recent surveys and statistics, heavy equipment rentals are increasing across the nation, and the trend seems here to stay. Constructions make a dynamic landscape that can take everybody by surprise, especially in our current economy. Renting heavy equipment makes plenty of sense in this day and age, and
Flexenergy’s specialist prefabrication expertise has played a key role in a modular village providing a hotel-style living environment for workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site. The company, one of the UK’s leading pre-insulated polybutylene pipe specialists, has manufactured bespoke pipe components for heating and hot water
A group of highly influential Kent Ambassadors visited Ashford to find out about the dynamic developments that Ashford Borough Council (ABC) and its partners have been taking forward within the borough over the last few years, and the exciting plans for the future. As a finalist in this year’s Local
Riverside Inverclyde (Ri), the organisation delivering the economic redevelopment of Inverclyde in the west of Scotland, has welcomed another new tenant, Balmore Group, to its Kelburn Business Park development in Port Glasgow. A long-established business with a one-stop difficult access inspection, repair, maintenance and specialist cleaning services, its most recently
Aluminium manufacturing and installation company AB Glass has been appointed by Kier Construction to carry out works at a new school development based in Cwmbran. The £30 million redevelopment of Croesyceiliog School will accommodate 1200 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is linked to the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme. Swansea-based
If your business is found to be employing illegal immigrants, you face significant civil and potentially criminal sanctions. Immigration solicitor Anne Morris shares insight into the steps construction businesses can take to avoid falling foul of UK immigration law. Over £11.5million in fines were issued to UK businesses for illegal working between October and December 2017. 624 UK businesses were fined and 990 illegal workers were identified. These figures suggest employers are falling foul of their immigration compliance duties in their droves, and in doing so are creating a healthy income stream in fines for the Home Office. Construction companies in particular attract Home Office attention due to the high numbers of foreign workers; 7% of the sector’s workforce are EU27 nationals and 3% are non-EU. Immigration non-compliance remains an issue at both ends of the market. Smaller firms can struggle because of a lack of resource or lack of knowledge of the legislation. Whereas larger companies may have the resources, systems and policies in place to manage the immigration risks, but ensuring these are consistently implemented across all sites, employees and areas of their operations is challenging. What does the law say? Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 you may be liable for a civil penalty if you employ someone who does not have permission to be in the UK or undertake the work on offer. If you are found to be employing illegal immigrants, you may incur a fine of up to £20,000 per illegal worker. Employers could also face a custodial sentence if they knew, or had reasonable cause to believe, that an employee was disqualified from employment by reason of their immigration status. The term illegal immigrant applies to anyone who does not hold valid leave to enter or remain in the UK – regardless of how or when they entered, and if they had previously held lawful status. This may be due to visa curtailment, revocation, cancellation or expiry. It may also be because of a restriction preventing the person from performing the work in question. How to avoid employing illegal immigrants As an employer, you can take measures to avoid a Home Office fine by carrying out right to work document checks on all prospective and, where necessary, existing employees. By doing this correctly and on a consistent basis, you will be able to challenge Home Office allegations of non-compliance. A compliant approach to right to work requires you to: Obtain an original document, or combination of documents, in accordance with the Home Office approved list before an applicant can start work with you. Check the validity of the documentation in the presence of the applicant. If you are provided with a false document you will only face a penalty if it is reasonably apparent that the documentation checked was not genuine, did not rightfully belong to the holder or the work was not permitted. Copy the documentation electronically or in hardcopy. This should be in a format that cannot be manually altered, such as a jpeg/pdf document or photocopy. Make a contemporaneous record of the date you conducted the check. You should also keep a record of when any repeat checks will need to be made. Retain your copies and records for the duration of the individual’s employment, and for a further two years after they leave. In some cases you may also need to verify the employee’s right to work with the Home Office Employer Checking Service. For example, where an employee has an immigration appeal pending a decision. The Home Office will provide you with a Positive Verification Notice to confirm that the applicant has permission to work. Correct, consistent, compliant For full compliance, document checks are expected to be an integral part of your business’s recruitment and onboarding processes to help avoid illegal working fines – and adding to the Home Office coffers. Anne Morris is an immigration solicitor and Managing Director at UK immigration law firm DavidsonMorris. specialists in all areas of business immigration including right to work compliance, PBS licences and challenging civil penalties.
It is widely acknowledged that more homes need to be built in the UK. The government has been issuing (and revising) targets since 2015, and although numbers have increased during that period, the fact is the industry is still not building as many new houses as it did ten years ago. West Midlands based housing constructor Totally Modular believes it has the helping answer, or at least a major part of the puzzle solved. Volumetric modular construction of houses essentially enables homes to be built on a production line, in a factory, with all the inherent advantages of being an engineered product built in a controlled environment. Repeatability helps to speed up construction, while also allowing for the very latest construction methods and materials to be used. The materials are supplied to the production line as they are needed, ensuring everything is in place for a just in time (JIT) build process. Trained engineers and tradesmen work side-by-side to assemble the pre-fabricated steel structure, attach all the internal wall panels, insulation and external finishing’s such as bricks, renders or cladding and fully fit out the internal areas incorporating the necessary kitchen, bathrooms and central heating with all utilities connected ready for site erection. The whole process is fast, efficient and precise while also being compliant with the company’s ISO 9001, 18001, 14001 and 1090 CE certifications. All work is carried out in line with internally developed QA plans and controlled by QC inspectors who certify compliance at specific hold points. They liaise with both customers and third parties to witness and approve the key build stages as would a building inspector during a traditional development. As the build process is not subject to the outside elements it can carry on all year round, while lean manufacturing and purchasing procedures ensure minimal waste is created. In scaling up the process to the company’s planned levels of operation, a standard two-bedroom house can be manufactured in just 96 hours at either of the company’s West Midlands factory locations, resulting in the delivery of up to 900 homes per year at full capacity for the two sites. A scalable and repeatable solution The plan doesn’t end there though, the business model is infinitely scalable and according to company director Mick Pettitt, the company’s plans could help start modular building factories all over the UK, using vacant industrial units, creating local jobs, pulling-in education centres and developing new communities with a vested interest in where they live, having played a part in its construction. “This model is not only efficient, it is productive and sustainable. It is working extremely well in the West Midlands and so there is no reason why it wouldn’t work in any other industrial town in the UK and Ireland. We have done the hard work in developing the housing modules and the construction techniques, along with the management systems and even the marketing process. It’s a housing solution in-a-box and it is ready to go – we are also actively interested in supporting organisations and individuals that want to set-up their own Totally Modular community and factory.” Housing associations, according to the company are very much on-side, frustrated by the need for developers to maximise profitability, affordable housing is proving very difficult to create in anywhere near the numbers needed. Volumetric modular house building on the other hand lends itself to building affordable housing, with compact, high-quality living accommodation built to a modern optimised design being economically repeatable, in volume supported by an approved CML warranty. Once a factory is set-up and the necessary skills and training are put in place the plan is for the process to be self-fulfilling as it will generate local employment, wealth and much needed affordable housing, benefiting the community and society as a whole. The model has been established in the West Midlands where two factories are being fully converted into lean dynamic cellular manufacturing facilities specifically laid out for the production of housing modules. Both sites can build a wide range of housing solutions based on single modules or multiple units which simply lock together onsite and can be occupied within 4 days of positioning. The designs have been developed and refined over the last ten years so are tried and tested and offer a range of layouts. Training and communities The community aspect becomes far stronger when local education institutions are involved. In the West Midlands Totally Modular is currently working with Dudley College (DCFE), regarded as one of the country’s leading BIM, CAD and Volumetric educational facilities. The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institute for Apprenticeships and the new National Housing Academy are also involved and committed to creating an ‘Apprenticeship in Volumetric Engineering’ in order to provide the necessary workforce the industry will need to ensure sustainability of growth in the modular process going forwards. Totally Modular and its local supporters believe volumetrically engineered housing will enable the creation of a new skilled workforce to produce the houses required at an affordable cost in factories located near the places of demand. This reduces nuisance construction traffic in urban areas and the carbon footprint of the house build. Using the Totally Modular model, the scalability of the opportunity is easy to appreciate with a 40,000 sq. ft factory being able to produce 1200 modules annually resulting in the supply of 45,000 sqm of living space which equates to the equivalent of 600 houses being delivered per year. With a national requirement for an increase of an extra 120,000 homes per year (National Housing Federation and the homeless charity Crisis recent statistics) from what is being built now, no-one in the trade will be out of a job as a result. It will require 200 new factories and a newly trained semi and skilled workforce of 40,000 to meet this demand alone, alongside the increased jobs created within the supply chain to produce an estimated 250,000 tonnes of steel, 30,000,000 square metres of wooden panels, plaster board, insulation
Makita, the UK’s number one professional power tool manufacturer, has introduced two new 18V LXT 5-piece brushless kits which represent a substantial saving by comparison with individual purchases. The new DLX5042PT kit contains a combi drill, impact driver, angle grinder, rotary hammer and a handy LED flashlight and is packaged as the 5-piece construction kit. The Makita DHP484 combi drill will run up to 2,000rpm in high mode, 500rpm in low mode, with an impact performance of 30,000ipm in high and 7,500ipm in low modes, with a maximum torque of 54Nm with 21 settings and drill mode. This combi drill will punch a 13mm hole in masonry, and with all-metal gear box and aluminium gear housing is ideal for rugged site operations. The compact DTD153 single-speed impact driver produces 170 Nm of torque, 3,600ipm, with a no load speed up to 3,400 rpm. This model has a ¼” hex; one-touch chuck, an electric brake, variable speed control trigger, and as with all power tools in this kit, the DTD153 features a brushless motor for longer runtime, less friction and more torque. Also contained in this comprehensive kit is the DGA456 115mm angle grinder which will run up to 8,500 rpm with a maximum 6mm wheel thickness. It features Automatic Speed Control which changes the cutting speed according to the load condition. The powerful DHR242 SDS+ rotary hammer will punch a 24mm hole into concrete, 13mm in steel and 27mm in wood. It will run up to 950rpm and generates up to 4,700 blows per minute with 2.0 Joules of impact energy. The second kit is the DLX5043PT more suited to woodworking applications. This kit features the combi drill, impact driver and flashlight contained in the DLX5042PT kit together with a circular saw and jigsaw. The Makita DHS680 cordless circular saw produces 680 watts of motor power that will run the 165mm blade up to 5,000rpm without load and also features Automatic Speed Control. Maximum cutting depth at 0° is 57mm; 41mm at 45° and 37mm at 50°. A large lock-off lever fixes the cutting angle. In operation a blower function blows sawdust off the cutting line for a clear view of the blade path, and Makita recommends that a rear dust port should be connected to use a dust extraction system. The DJV182 jigsaw will run from 800 up to 3,500 strokes per minute with a 26mm stroke length giving a maximum cut in wood of 135mm, 10mm in steel and 20mm in aluminium. The rigid aluminium base bevels 0-45°, both left and right. For safety, after the trigger is released, the machine will lock automatically if the lock-on button is not pressed within 10 seconds. Both new Makita kits provide a financial saving over buying the products individually and are supplied complete with three 18V 5.0Ah Lithium-ion batteries and a twin-port fast charger. The tools are packaged in a rugged, flexible tool bag that has a shoulder strap, handgrip and very useful trolley wheels and an extendable handle for ease of transport of your tools whilst keeping them safe. 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
The RIAS/Saint-Gobain Emerging Architect Award recognises the crucial role architects play in delivering a better world and encourages the great architects of the future at the outset of their careers. This year, the award went to Eilidh Henderson of PagePark Architects for her inspiring work on St. Cecilia’s Chapel in Edinburgh. We spoke to Eilidh to find out a bit more about her winning project and her role at PagePark Architects. What were your first thoughts when you were announced the winner of the Saint-Gobain Emerging Architect Award? For me, this award recognises and reaffirms what we do at PagePark, work to the strengths of each of the individuals in our team and collaborate to craft special contributions to our built landscape. Each of our projects is a microcosm of that notion, and at St. Cecilia’s we had an incredible team who worked tirelessly, some for over 10 years, to imagine, design and deliver a building that has opened St. Cecilia’s up to a world of opportunity for the next 50 years. I was humbled to win the Emerging Architect Award on what was a really special evening, shared with everyone who contributed to the making of this project. You’ve seen some of your projects awarded in the past. Were you somehow expecting another distinction this year? In recent years we’ve grown to recognise the benefits of exposure gained through the architectural awards process. Not only is it an opportunity for our project, design and client teams to be recognised by our industry peers for successful project delivery, but it supports our growth in different sectors of work. Whilst the real measure of success is the satisfaction of the end users of the projects we deliver, and of course we never expect to be recognised at any of these events, awards are encouraging milestones along the journey of our projects. You’ve seen one project distinguished with the Emerging Architects Award: St. Cecilia’s Hall. What was your inspiration for this project? St. Cecilia’s hall has been home to the University of Edinburgh’s musical instrument collection since the 1960s. An ‘L’ shaped arrangement of galleries wraps round Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert room at the centre. We were appointed in 2012 to lead the project to transform St Cecilia’s hall to make it the centre for all musical instrument collections for the University of Edinburgh. As a place of teaching, research and importantly a publicly accessible museum and concert hall, there were a number of challenges to resolve. These included conservation of the existing category ‘A’ listed building. Consideration was also to be given to creating a more appropriate entrance which, combined with the unlocking of a new core, was to facilitate full access to the building. This space is an incredible grouping of rooms off the Cowgate in the Old Town of Edinburgh. However, what was apparent was that while these rooms held an internationally significant collection of instruments, there was no dialogue between building and collection. As a result it felt flat. What we imagined was the charging of the building with the collection to introduce a dialogue between the instruments and their container. We were inspired by the forms, textures and materiality of the collection and how that could influence the moves that we made to create a really special, and memorable, visitor experience. The triggering of all five of our senses played a significant role in that. Jacky MacBeath, the Head of Museums from the University of Edinburgh, tells a wonderful story of why the inside of many of the harpsichords in the collection are decorated – to trigger each of our senses; the peaches for taste, the parrots for sight, the smell of the flowers, the touch of fingers rippling across the keys and the sound of notes cascading around the room. A beautiful idea, and we sought to capture that essence in our architectural contribution. How has the design impacted the comfort and well-being for the end users? Feedback from visitors and end users has been overwhelmingly positive since the building re-opened following completion of the works. The protection of the collection was key though in this project and was a core reason for undertaking the works. Two humidity and temperature controlled galleries now provide a focus for visitors on the first floor of the building along with the newly refreshed concert room that sits proudly at the heart. A rich programme of events is planned throughout the year and particularly during the Edinburgh Festival season. The museum is free and open to the public five days a week allowing a new audience to engage with the collection. It’s really exciting to see the building thriving, and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing it buzz with a diverse range of people enjoying engaging with the arts. Are you working on any exciting projects at the moment? Is there a chance that you will submit them to next year’s RIAS Awards? We are working across the practice on a range of interesting projects from schools and medical centres to theatres and housing. Completing in the coming months is Woodside Health Centre in Glasgow, a new architecture department for Northumbria University, social housing in Shettleston and a new creative hub for Edinburgh Printmakers. I’ve no doubt we’ll consider entering a few of those into awards next year. To find out more about St. Cecilia’s Chapel please visit: www.stcecilias.ed.ac.uk Further information about PagePark Architects can be found here: www.pagepark.co.uk
Shanco have completed the first stage of an interesting project for Yorkshire Water. The project presented numerous challenges in terms of logistics and health and safety. What, at a first glance, would seem to be a simple site clearance project, would in fact need some intelligent solutions to ensure success. The Press House was once an active part of Yorkshire Water’s Waste Water Treatment Works and comprises of a beautifully decorative stone façade with inner brick walls and a large basement area beneath the ground level slab. The building was in something of a state of disrepair, with an enormous amount of vegetation growth throughout, including a number of large trees. Yorkshire Water required the careful removal of the vegetation to expose the concrete slabs and walls to decide if the building was in a suitable condition for restoration. The Key Challenges: Access was restricted within the Victorian building, and the ground level slab full of voids. During the initial survey stage, it became apparent that there were no suitable access points available for the larger plant and machinery, without carrying out demolition work or disrupting Yorkshire Water’s operations. After reviewing numerous options, a solution was developed to engage with a specialist crane company to lift the plant and equipment over the building’s external walls and lower them down through the roof void. The 50 tonne crane lifted numerous pieces of large plant, including two 1.5 tonne diggers and two 1 tonne dumpers. This solution required extensive planning and coordination by Shanco to ensure all lifts were carried out safely. The clearance of the heavy vegetation was then able to progress at a much faster rate. A potentially unstable ground floor slab, full of voids, presented significant health and safety risks. Managing works within a building that has been exposed to the elements for many years presented several health and safety challenges. The slab was full of voids and holes from the old press equipment and so the potential for operatives to fall from height was a very real risk. Barriers were installed around the voids to act as edge protection and to clearly identify them, and signage used to further highlight the hazards. Whilst plant and equipment were used in the basement, vegetation on the ground floor slab was carefully removed using hand tools to manage the risk. Operatives worked from within the safe barriered areas and used extended tools to clear mossy areas in inaccessible locations. The potential presence of a small amount of asbestos required constant assessment. The existing surveys of the building suggested that there was the potential for a small amount of asbestos to be present in the form of pieces of roofing sheet debris left over from the roof removal. Lucion Environmental provided a watching brief and deployed an experienced Asbestos Consultant to remain on site at all times. Their role was to ensure the risk management procedures were correctly observed and to provide advice and assistance. They also regularly monitored air quality and undertook tests for the presence of asbestos. Although the building surveys indicated that the severity and likelihood of any exposure to asbestos was low, all Shanco Operatives had Asbestos Awareness training and were given additional instructions to manage the risk as part of the bespoke site induction. Dust masks were worn at all times by everyone on the site, and Face Fit testing was carried out to ensure the respiratory equipment provided fitted correctly and was effective for each individual. Operatives wore disposable coveralls as an extra precaution. A solid understanding of the technical requirements leads to a successful outcome. Working as Principal Contractor gave Shanco complete control of the works and the site, which was essential in ensuring the right strategy was developed. All the technical and logistical challenges were met through effective planning and experienced management. By considering each individual element and identifying what impact the various challenges would have, the team were able to provide a total project solution. This initial phase of the overall project was completed in just 4 weeks in line with the customer requirements and will hopefully be the first stage in the preservation of a beautiful building with an interesting history.
According to recent surveys and statistics, heavy equipment rentals are increasing across the nation, and the trend seems here to stay. Constructions make a dynamic landscape that can take everybody by surprise, especially in our current economy. Renting heavy equipment makes plenty of sense in this day and age, and construction managers are always searching for the best and most reliable companies out there. Of course, along the years, some names stood out from the crowd as visionary brands ready to meet their clients’ needs and exceed their expectations. Today, we will see five such heavy equipment rental companies and discuss their features and benefits if you want to work with them. 1. Hertz Equipment Rental Hertz is a massive name in the car rental business and, since 2014 it became a model of good practices in the heavy equipment rental services as well. Make sure you read this guide on what to know before you rent construction equipment from Hertz, as you will learn plenty of information on what types of equipment (heavy, electric, construction, etc.) they offer, what truck and trailers they have for rent, what insurance policies they use, pick-up and delivery rules, prices, offers, and much more. In comparison to many of its competitors, Hertz also offers governmental services – state and federal authorities can now rent heavy and specialized equipment from Hertz when the situation asks for such strategies, and Hertz is happy to oblige. Such partnerships make Hertz somewhat unique in the heavy equipment rental business and guarantee that Hertz does an impeccable job. Here is some more information you might want to know about Hertz Rentals: Besides the rental services, Hertz offers you the possibility of buying the equipment you rented if you realize you need it in the long run; If you want new equipment, you can contact your Hertz representative, as they also sell brand-new heavy machinery for plenty of construction purposes. 2. Home Depot Equipment Rental Do not raise an eyebrow, as the giant home improvement company Home Depot made a name for itself in the equipment rental business in the past few years. In fact, it makes perfect sense to rent what you do not buy from Home Depot, as they are ready to offer you everything you need from small garden tools to massive construction machinery. The Home Depot Equipment Rental can provide you with tools and equipment in the following fields: Demolition; Cutting and concrete; Floor care and sanding; Fastening and welding; General constructions; Large equipment; Moving and lifting, and many more. To get a better idea of the facilities, Home Depot can provide you with equipment rental you should find a Home Depot store near you and make sure they deliver in your area. With more than 2,000 units across the country, you will surely find something to meet your needs. 3. CAT Construction Equipment Rental CAT – or Caterpillar as professional construction managers and workers know it – is a giant in the business. Traditionally, CAT sells some of the best-branded tools and equipment on the market, but it developed its construction rental business in the past years as well – and successfully for that matter. CAT’s global dealer network has 1,600 locations, and you will surely find one in the area you conduct your construction operations. However, you need to know that CAT heavy equipment rental prices may depend on your location. For this reason, it is better to get in touch with one of their representatives and make sure they can rent you what you need for the price that is comfortable for all parties. We think that as a construction manager, you already know that the overall U.S. construction spending fell about 1.1% in June this year, so it is better to revise your plans and see how to integrate rental equipment in your project best. CAT, while is not famous for its low prices, is renowned for its quality tools, equipment, and machinery, and you want to factor in such matters before you move along with your construction objectives. 4. United Rentals United Rentals is a name to remember if you’re going to rent industrial and construction machinery and equipment. The company, founded in 1997, became the largest equipment rental brand in the world. We have few things to say about United Rentals, in fact, as this leading firm’s results speak for themselves: They offer industry solutions and specialty solutions; in other words, if you know you need some equipment, but you are not sure it exists, or it works, talk to United Rentals first, they may help you faster than you imagine; They have stores in the U.S. and Canada, so you should not worry about finding someone to talk to; Their prices may not be small, but they do have the reputation of offering impeccable services and excellent customer support. If green building is your game, you will find backing for the construction of LEED-certified buildings and clean construction projects at United Rentals as well. 5. Sunbelt Rentals One of the Big Five heavy equipment renting companies, Sunbelt showed exponential growth from one year to the next. It expanded in Canada, besides the U.S. and now provides industries and contractors with equipment ranging from the most massive industrial machines to the smallest residential tools. Now a part of the UK-owned Ashtead Group, Sunbelt Rentals is a large company, with an unmatched reputation, and excellent offers for its commercial, residential, municipal, and industrial customers. Sunbelt also stands out from the crowd with its determination to turn customer service into art and deliver everything people need promptly. If your concerns are delays and unforeseen events, you can rely on Sunbelt to take some worries off your shoulders. Conclusion As you probably know for a few years now, white papers and surveys showed that tech innovations drive increases in heavy equipment leases and rentals. It is one of the primary motives for companies – not traditionally associated with heavy equipment rentals
Flexenergy’s specialist prefabrication expertise has played a key role in a modular village providing a hotel-style living environment for workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site. The company, one of the UK’s leading pre-insulated polybutylene pipe specialists, has manufactured bespoke pipe components for heating and hot water distribution systems for the 44 blocks of accommodation, with ensuite bedrooms, housing almost 1,500 operatives on the Hinkley Point C construction site and in Bridgewater, Somerset. For Flexenergy the project involved providing coiled pipe and prefabricated sections to connect air source heat pumps to the accommodation blocks on the two sites, supplying 110 ‘U’ shaped and 16 ‘L’ shaped fabrications as well as 400 metres of pipe. The sections were assembled and tested before being shipped in batches in line with construction schedules. Flexenergy’s Sales Director, Sandy Fairley commented: “This has been a significant project, underlining our capabilities for bespoke prefabrication, in this case linked to the provision of heating and hot water to the modular accommodation blocks. The ease of installation, coupled with the pipe’s high thermal efficiency and recyclability, made for an attractive and flexible proposition for the contractors.” www.flexenergy.co.uk
A group of highly influential Kent Ambassadors visited Ashford to find out about the dynamic developments that Ashford Borough Council (ABC) and its partners have been taking forward within the borough over the last few years, and the exciting plans for the future. As a finalist in this year’s Local Government Chronicle awards in the categories of Council of the Year and Entrepreneurial Council of the Year, ABC representatives showcased our innovative approach to becoming a commercial council, whilst delivering high performing services for our residents. Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “The Kent Ambassadors visit to Ashford gave us an opportunity to update some very influential people in the county on the successes we have achieved and our general approach to getting things done. “They were very impressed by the breadth of investment we have seen, the amount of schemes which are currently underway and the projects which are on the horizon.” The trip involved a tour of some of the £590 million worth of developments that are currently being delivered in Ashford town centre, including the Commercial Quarter, Elwick Place, Ashford College, Curious Brewery, The Coachworks and Ashford Designer Outlet. Kent Ambassadors are a grouping of highly successful and experienced people who either live or work in Kent and who have come together, by invitation, in a voluntary arrangement to help all aspects of life in Kent. Each year the Kent Ambassadors undertake a visit to a district/borough to learn more about an area and champion their findings around the County, as well as exploring other ways they could help, encourage and support projects. This year the Kent Ambassadors visited Ashford on Thursday 23rd August. Richard Collins, Chairman of Kent Ambassadors, said: “The Ambassadors had a very interesting and well organised visit to Ashford as part of their annual programme. “It was a great insight into the fantastic development that is going on in Ashford. The passion that everyone displayed was inspiring. We will definitely be watching with interest the progress of this very forward-thinking council.”
Riverside Inverclyde (Ri), the organisation delivering the economic redevelopment of Inverclyde in the west of Scotland, has welcomed another new tenant, Balmore Group, to its Kelburn Business Park development in Port Glasgow. A long-established business with a one-stop difficult access inspection, repair, maintenance and specialist cleaning services, its most recently formed arm is Balmore Aerial Services, which uses the latest Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology, more widely known as drones, to provide aerial inspection and surveying services throughout the UK. Victor MacKay Jnr, a divisional director of Balmore Group, said: “Using UAV technology replaces the immediate need to install expensive scaffolding to examine the fabric of difficult-to-access buildings. “We are only one of only a handful of contractors in the UK with enhanced permissions issued from the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to operate in congested areas. Its use enables the other arms of our business, namely Balmore Specialist Contracts and Balmore Contracting, to pinpoint exactly what inspection, repair, maintenance and cleaning tasks then need to be carried out.” Expansion and development of the business has prompted its relocation from Glasgow to larger, 3000 sq. ft. modern premises at Port Glasgow’s Kelburn Business Park. The move underpins 10 jobs at the new premises. Mr MacKay said: “We have worked closely with Riverside Inverclyde over the past 18 months and are very pleased with our move to a brand-new premises which are easy to access and spacious enough to let us grow. “Our latest growth plans are set to allow us to provide Health & Safety training including PASMA, IPAF, MIST & CSCS. We have partnered with Atlas Knowledge who hold a vast wealth of knowledge on training. We can now train our staff and keep their credentials tickets up to date, whilst providing current and new clients with highly competitive training costs.” Fiona Maguire, Chief Executive of Ri, said: “Riverside Inverclyde continues to successfully attract new companies to the area and help expand existing businesses, a vital role in the overall regeneration and economic development of Inverclyde. We are delighted to welcome Balmore Group to Kelburn Business Park. “Its expertise and specialism further add to the rich mix of companies at Kelburn and we very much hope that Inverclyde continues to be an excellent base to grow the firm. We wish the Balmore Group every success for the future.” Balmore Group joins existing tenants at the Kelburn Business Park including global life science’s engineering firm Peak Scientific, The New Chocolate Company and its most recent new tenant, The Start-Up Drinks Lab. Kelburn Business Park has one remaining 15k sq ft unit available with a number of interested parties.
Aluminium manufacturing and installation company AB Glass has been appointed by Kier Construction to carry out works at a new school development based in Cwmbran. The £30 million redevelopment of Croesyceiliog School will accommodate 1200 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is linked to the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme. Swansea-based AB Glass will manufacture and install a range of aluminum systems for the project, including Kawneer AA100 curtain walling, AA540 windows, and AA190 and AA720 doors. Vitral UK rooflights will also be used for the project. The company is due to start work on the new development this month (August 2018). Alan Brayley, managing director of AB Glass, said: “The education sector is a significant area of business for AB Glass and we are pleased to be adding to our portfolio with the Croesyceiliog School development. This project also showcases our continuing relationship with Kier Construction, with AB Glass having secured a number of contracts with this leading construction company. “We are keen to get started on this project imminently and look forward to seeing the development taking shape.” AB Glass boasts a robust reputation for delivering success on developments within the education sector, particularly in Wales. In addition to being contracted for the Croesyceiliog School project, the company has also provided its services to Swansea University’s Bay Campus; Briton Ferry School, Neath Port Talbot; Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, Neath Port Talbot; Ysgol Bae Baglan, Neath Port Talbot; and the new University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) campus being developed in Swansea Waterfront.