Bellway North East’s new finance director plans to help the division go from strength to strength as it builds new homes across the region. Based at the housebuilder’s regional head office in Gateshead, Joward Martin has been appointed to manage the financial decisions of the division as it seeks to
Calztec is pleased to announce Lucy Marshall has been appointed as a contracts manager. The new addition reflects the company’s exciting future growth plans. Lucy has over 30 years of site experience within the construction industry managing a range of projects up to the value of £4million. She is a
McCarthy Stone, the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, has appointed Shane Paull as its new Chief Operating Officer. Shane brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked at the business for the past 23 years. He joined McCarthy Stone in 2000 and progressed quickly, becoming
The National Federation of Demolition Contractors [NFDC] has today announced a change in officers at its Annual General Meeting [AGM], having appointed a new CEO, President, and 2nd Vice President. Established in 1941, the NFDC is the driving force behind the evolution of the demolition sector, uniting over 130 contractors
Five partners with over a century of combined experience in the international construction industry have decided to join forces to form Inframara, an advisory firm for the global construction sector. Inframara aims to help by sharing first-hand experience and best practice with clients to avoid the classic pitfalls of complex
Leeds-based ACS Stainless Steel Limited has announced eight promotions across its team – the result of a six-figure investment in its workforce this past year. The company is a leading manufacturer and designer of structural building components, providing patented innovative solutions, including masonry support and brick panel solutions – essential
Toni Wikberg, MBA has been appointed as Business Development Director at Nuuka Solutions. In the selection, we valued Toni’s long experience in building technology, building automation and facility management services. Toni has previously worked in international management and business development roles at CBRE, Honeywell, Trend and ISS. Toni will be
Design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist Paramount has strengthened its Bristol team with the appointment of Matt Prouse as Senior Project Manager. Matt will play a key role in overseeing the delivery of refurbishment and fit-out sector projects across the Paramount portfolio, acting as the client’s point of contact throughout the process. He has
Siemens has made another investment in its training programme for the Cerberus PRO fire alarm system with the appointment of Justin Leeks as a new trainer. Based out of the Siemens central training facility in Manchester, Justin brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked in the fire
Amit Oberoi has been appointed as the Executive Chairman of the Considerate Constructors Scheme – the organisation which works with the construction industry to improve its image – to help raise its standards and build public trust in construction. Amit takes on this role with effect from 1 March 2023,
Bellway North East’s new finance director plans to help the division go from strength to strength as it builds new homes across the region. Based at the housebuilder’s regional head office in Gateshead, Joward Martin has been appointed to manage the financial decisions of the division as it seeks to expand its portfolio of new housing developments across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. The 43-year-old father-of-two, who lives in Newcastle, started as finance director for the North East division in October in 2022 after eight years with Bellway Group. He said: “I will be responsible for managing the finances of the division which involves ensuring compliance with accounting standards and internal policies, cash management and the creation of a three-year business plan to help take us forward on a sound financial footing. “It is a very challenging role but it is one that I am delighted to be able to take on to allow Bellway North East to expand its portfolio in the region and to continue building top quality homes.” Joward, who hails from Leeds, has a degree in accountancy from Northumbria University in Newcastle and, after a number of accountancy roles, joined Bellway in 2014. “I originally joined the company, based at its headquarters in Newcastle, in a brand new role as a Financial Planning and Analyst Accountant,” he said. “My job was to analyse data, both internal and external, and to report on trends and identify what the company was doing well and what it could be doing better. “By the time I applied for my new role, I was leading a team of three senior accountants who worked closely with senior management across the business. It was a job I thoroughly enjoyed but when I was given the chance to take this promotion to the role of finance director at Bellway North East, it was an offer I could not refuse.” Emma Chesterton, Sales Director at Bellway North East, said: “It is great to be able to welcome Joward on board with the team here at Gateshead. It is always gratifying to see an internal promotion such as this because it illustrates the career progression that is open to employees at Bellway and is just reward for Joward’s sterling work with the company so far. “We anticipate that Joward’s years as an accountant with the company will enable him to bring that experience to bear in his new role, to ensure that Bellway North East remains on stable financial foundations and will make the right decisions to deliver greater success in the future.” Bellway North East is currently building new homes across Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. For more information, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/north-east. Details about careers at Bellway can be found at https://www.bellwaycareers.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Calztec is pleased to announce Lucy Marshall has been appointed as a contracts manager. The new addition reflects the company’s exciting future growth plans. Lucy has over 30 years of site experience within the construction industry managing a range of projects up to the value of £4million. She is a fully qualified Construction Site and Project Manager and holds and values her professional memberships with: IOSH, CIBSE and CIOB. Before joining Calztec, Lucy was a visiting lecturer within the faculty of computing, engineering and the built environment at Birmingham City University, teaching and supporting the next generation to achieve their aspirations within the construction industry. Speaking about the appointment, James Haslam, Calztec C.E.O, said: “I am delighted to welcome Lucy to the Project Management team. Her knowledge and experience, along with her background in accountancy, will be extremely valuable to our clients and supply chain. I am more than confident Lucy will help improve our project delivery across all our exciting, upcoming projects.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McCarthy Stone, the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, has appointed Shane Paull as its new Chief Operating Officer. Shane brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked at the business for the past 23 years. He joined McCarthy Stone in 2000 and progressed quickly, becoming land director in its Southern division in 2006 and then Divisional Managing Director (DMD) for Southern in 2012, a position he has held for the last 11 years. Shane has been responsible for the development of more than 100 retirement communities during his time as DMD. Shane will take on his new role from 3 April 2023 and will be responsible for McCarthy Stone’s strategic development functions, including land, planning, build, construction and health & safety, as well as group sales & marketing. He will report to the Group’s Chief Executive, John Tonkiss and will continue as a member of McCarthy Stone’s Executive Committee, supporting the company’s four DMDs. Shane’s replacement in Southern will be confirmed shortly. Commenting on the appointment, John Tonkiss, McCarthy Stone’s Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted that Shane will become our Chief Operating Officer as he knows our business inside out. He is hugely respected across the organisation and the sector, and his experience of developing high-quality retirement communities is second to none. Shane will play a key role in driving growth in the business to move us back to building and completing 2,000 units a year.” Shane added: “I am a passionate believer in the ability of retirement communities to improve the lives of older people, having seen this first hand for the past 23 years. I will use my experience at McCarthy Stone to continue to develop our product and its quality so it can support many more people in the future. My focus will be on helping us to innovate, drive consistency, control build costs, and develop our brand and proposition.” Shane will also be responsible for McCarthy Stone’s multi tenure strategy, following the launch of its rental offering in 2019, as well as delivering its strategy for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). McCarthy Stone is the only national housebuilder to have committed to building 50% of its future developments in full using MMC. McCarthy Stone is currently selling across c.100 developments in England and Wales. It completed 1,210 new units in FY22. Across the last decade it has been responsible for more than half of all retirement communities opened in the UK, and the company is known for its quality and high levels of customer service – it is the only housebuilder to have received the HBF Five Star award for customer service every year it has been run. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The National Federation of Demolition Contractors [NFDC] has today announced a change in officers at its Annual General Meeting [AGM], having appointed a new CEO, President, and 2nd Vice President. Established in 1941, the NFDC is the driving force behind the evolution of the demolition sector, uniting over 130 contractors to raise industry standards, ensure maximum safety on sites and promote peer to peer learning and engagement. Having led the federation for nearly 20 years, Howard Button will be officially stepping down as CEO of the NFDC from June 2023. During his impressive tenure, Howard has played an integral role for the progression of the Federation, where he has leveraged his own extensive onsite demolition career to spearhead multiple initiatives for the benefit of the entire industry. In stepping down as CEO, Howard will be continuing to support the Federation as National Secretary. Taking over Howard’s role as CEO is Duncan Rudall, previous London and Southern Counties Regional Chairman of the NFDC and President of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE). Boasting extensive experience within the demolition sector, Duncan has made significant contributions to building the image of demolition as a highly skilled, specialist trade, which he will continue to build on as new CEO while driving the Federation forwards. Joining Duncan in leading the NFDC will be John Lynch, newly appointed President, Gary Bishop, remaining Vice President, and Simon Barlow, newly appointed 2nd Vice President. With nearly 50 years of experience within the sector, John Lynch has seen the industry evolve significantly. Having already been integral in a number of important projects for the Federation during his time as 2nd Vice-President, John’s key priority for his presidency is to continue to raise the profile of the NFDC and see its membership grow. A proven and trusted business leader with extensive experience in the demolition sector, Simon is the Managing Director of Rye Group, a leading provider of demolition, remediation and ground and enabling works. Previously Chair of the London and Southern Counties region for NFDC, Simon now plans to champion the importance of sustainability in his new position as 2nd Vice President of the organisation, while also bringing to the forefront the talent and skills crisis and other key issues that sit across both the demolition and construction industries. Discussing the new change in officers, incoming President, John Lynch said: “I am honoured to have been appointed President of the NFDC. Having been part of the industry for 50 years, I have seen the Federation evolve significantly during this timeframe and play a vital role in shaping industry standards and ensuring maximum safety on sites throughout the UK. As the sector continues to evolve, respond to new challenges, and move into a new era, I look forward to working closely with Duncan, Gary, Simon, and the rest of the leadership team and in ensuring continued and positive progression for the Federation. Finally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Howard. His dedication to both the NFDC and demolition industry as a whole is nothing short of impressive and I am grateful that he will continue to support us as National Secretary in the coming years.” The NFDC’s AGM concluded with several important announcements including the donation of £100,000 to charitable causes over the last 12 months, together with an update of activity from the NDTG, which included a record intake of Trailblazer Demolition Apprentices. Held at the Royal Lancaster, the NFDC AGM was extremely well attended by both contractor members and industry service provider [ISP] members and was followed by its annual NFDC awards ceremony. For more information, visit: https://demolition-nfdc.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Five partners with over a century of combined experience in the international construction industry have decided to join forces to form Inframara, an advisory firm for the global construction sector. Inframara aims to help by sharing first-hand experience and best practice with clients to avoid the classic pitfalls of complex infrastructure projects and instead deliver them with better results in terms of time, budget and beneficial outcomes. Their recipe is: experience, early involvement, a collaborative attitude in an appropriate contractual environment, risk management, value engineering and sustainability. Improving Outcomes in the Global Construction Sector The global construction sector has long been plagued by disputes, delays, and cost blowouts. The root cause of these problems invariably lies in the early stage of a project. With Inframara’s involvement at an early stage and by providing a single point of contact for clients and acting as their trusted partner, Inframara is able to help select and de-risk the best solution for each project through early collaboration with key parties and stakeholders. “We are excited to launch Inframara, a company that aims to fundamentally change the traditional approach to project procurement in the global construction sector. Our focus on greater collaboration and increased supply chain transparency will bring a fresh perspective to the industry and drive better outcomes for all parties involved” said Kenneth Willems, Managing Director at Vuentica and co-founder of Inframara. Experienced team with international practical know-how The Inframara team consists of five partners, each with extensive experience in the construction industry: Kenneth Willems and Lieven Durt, based in Belgium; David Kinlan, based in Australia; Lukas Goemaere, based in Panama and Jasper Verstreepen, based in Mexico. The team has a wealth of international expertise in project management, tendering, project finance, contract management, sustainability and operational excellence and is ready to share its knowledge with the industry. “At Inframara, our goal is to break the conventional transactional and adversarial approach to construction management, ensuring that all parties involved work collaboratively from the outset and are satisfied with the end result,” said Jasper Verstreepen, co-founder at Inframara. He added “We believe that our approach for project preparation and collaborative contract management in the sector will foster innovation and sustainable solutions. We are confident we will be able to make a real difference in the global sector.” Inframara is committed to bringing a fresh approach to the construction industry, and the company is poised to make a significant impact for its clients in the coming years. With a focus on collaboration and operational excellence, Inframara is ready to tackle the challenges facing the construction sector and deliver better outcomes for all stakeholders. Join Inframara on the journey to transform the construction industry. Contact us today or have a look at our website at www.inframara.com
Leeds-based ACS Stainless Steel Limited has announced eight promotions across its team – the result of a six-figure investment in its workforce this past year. The company is a leading manufacturer and designer of structural building components, providing patented innovative solutions, including masonry support and brick panel solutions – essential construction components used in construction of the largest modern-day projects in the UK. Eight of the firm’s 118 colleagues will now take on new roles to help future growth, including newly-appointed Strategic Specification Director Paul Ruding, who moves on from his incumbent position as Head of Strategic Specification; Paul is also studying for a BA in Fire Safety Engineering – something that is being funded by ACS. Colleague Andrew Spencer is also promoted from Technical Engineer to Head of Research and Development, while Jason Hedge is promoted to Specification and Design Director. ACS Commercial Director Gareth Twohey explained: “Investing in the future of this industry is a priority for ACS right now; we hope we are seen as the vanguard of new ideas, with products that will help developers, architects and contractors create safer and more sustainable structures. “We achieve this by reinvesting huge percentages of our profits back into the business – that includes investing in colleagues like Paul, Jason and Andrew – each of whom is spearheading new ideas that support and educate clients.” Other promotions include Sales Operation Manager Tony Richman who becomes Operational Sales Director, with Richard Mathers, Sarah Cox and Robert Parkinson all promoted to Regional Director. Kate Robertson Hart who joined the team as Marketing Manager in 2022, is also promoted to Head of Marketing in an expanded brief that sees her collaborating with technical colleagues to amplify the work of ACS and the resources and training it is offering to the industry. Added Gareth: “These brilliant colleagues enable our ambitious plans for the future; their collective experience and passion for the sector is helping us reach more corners of the industry and I am supremely proud to call them colleagues.” Find out more about ACS here: https://acsstainless.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Toni Wikberg, MBA has been appointed as Business Development Director at Nuuka Solutions. In the selection, we valued Toni’s long experience in building technology, building automation and facility management services. Toni has previously worked in international management and business development roles at CBRE, Honeywell, Trend and ISS. Toni will be responsible for the development of the partner channel in accordance with the company’s new strategy. The new strategy is based on providing energy savings to building owners with AI optimization applications, in cooperation with Nuuka’s new partner network. The company’s previous business development director Olli Parkkonen is taking on new challenges in a new position outside the company. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist Paramount has strengthened its Bristol team with the appointment of Matt Prouse as Senior Project Manager. Matt will play a key role in overseeing the delivery of refurbishment and fit-out sector projects across the Paramount portfolio, acting as the client’s point of contact throughout the process. He has joined Paramount from Bath-based firm Interaction where he has spent the last nine years as a senior project manager. Commenting on his new role, Matt said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Paramount and helping my extremely talented and dedicated new colleagues maintain the momentum the company is building here in the South West of England. “These are exciting times for Paramount and I’m relishing the opportunity to play a key role in making sure we go from strength to strength by using my experience to ensure we continue to achieve exceptionally high standards of quality for our growing portfolio of clients.” Matt’s appointment underlines Paramount’s growth in the South West of England property sector and comes just six months after the formal opening of its new Bristol city centre office. Since then, the expanding Paramount team in Bristol has secured £12-million worth of new business with a strong pipeline for the next six months. Paul Jones, Paramount Projects Director, added: “We are all extremely excited to have Matt on board in Bristol and his appointment is a real statement of intent that signals our bold ambitions for the future. “Matt will bring infectious enthusiasm, in-depth expertise and a wealth of property industry experience to Paramount. We know he will prove to be a fantastic asset as we continue to expand our offering throughout the South of England marketplace.” Paramount, which is headquartered in Cardiff with a regional office located at Welsh Back in Bristol, is already well known across South West England where it has created high-quality inspirational space for a number of leading companies. These include former Wales and Real Madrid football star Gareth Bale’s Par 59 bar in Bristol, transformation of the landmark 360 Bristol office complex and acclaimed office revamps in Bath for American software company SmartBear and financial services consultancy Altus Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Siemens has made another investment in its training programme for the Cerberus PRO fire alarm system with the appointment of Justin Leeks as a new trainer. Based out of the Siemens central training facility in Manchester, Justin brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked in the fire industry since 2006. This includes positions with a number of Siemens partners, most recently GBE Converge, a third Party (LPCB and BAFE) accredited designer, installer, commissioner and maintainer of fire protection systems. Justin’s new title is Fire Product Trainer Cerberus PRO, drawing on his extensive experience of installing Cerberus PRO since 2011 which will be invaluable in training others on the Siemens open protocol, EN54-13 approved fire alarm system. Justin comments “having worked with Cerberus PRO for many years, I appreciate just what an excellent system it is. One of the central features of the Siemens offering is a guarantee against false alarms through its ASA detector technology. While the technology itself is obviously a vital contributor to that promise, ensuring that systems are installed correctly is equally important. I look forward to working with Siemens partners, particularly in exploring many of the exciting opportunities that cloud connectivity brings and the benefits this offers in terms of installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance through remote connectivity.” Commenting on Justin’s appointment, Rob Yates, Siemens Head of Building Products Fire Safety in the UK and Ireland, said – “we are delighted to welcome Justin to the team and to have somebody who brings such experience, knowledge and expertise to the role. Training has always been an important focus in our relationships with our partners, whether it is online or face-to-face. We are constantly looking at our training programmes to make them more customer-focused, ensuring that the full benefits of the Cerberus PRO system can be realised.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Amit Oberoi has been appointed as the Executive Chairman of the Considerate Constructors Scheme – the organisation which works with the construction industry to improve its image – to help raise its standards and build public trust in construction. Amit takes on this role with effect from 1 March 2023, having held the position of non-Executive Chairman from July 2022 and Board Director from January 2022. Amit will lead the organisation on an interim basis, while the Board resumes the recruitment of a new Chief Executive. Amit is a Global Risk Management Practitioner, with over 20 years cross-industry experience in leadership roles in construction, technology, management consulting and national authorities. Amit currently works as Chief Executive at yppah, a mental health technology organisation. He has previously worked for construction organisations including Lendlease and on large high profile infrastructure projects in locations across the UK, Middle East and Australia. Amit commented: “I am excited to take on this role and to be able to put my knowledge and experience to work in developing the organisation. “I will be guiding the efforts of the executive, upholding our values, and delivering a smooth transition to the new Chief Executive when we make this appointment.” Graham Watts, Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Council and Considerate Constructors Scheme Board Director added: “We welcome Amit to the position of Executive Chairman. His enthusiasm combined with first-hand industry experience will be a great asset for the Considerate Constructors Scheme and we look forward to working with him in this new capacity while the search for a new Chief Executive continues.” Chief Executive of the Construction Products Association and Considerate Constructors Scheme Board Director Peter Caplehorn commented: “In his previous role as non-Executive Chairman and a Board Director of the Scheme, Amit has shown huge energy and enthusiasm in the work of the Considerate Constructors Scheme to raise standards and build public trust. We are delighted to have him in the position of Executive Chairman and see his obvious talents make even more positive impact going forwards for the organisation, the community and wider industry.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
