The Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) was delighted to have returned to Coventry on the evening of Thursday 23rd October for the staging of its 6th Annual Awards Ceremony. With a record number of submissions across the seven categories, this year’s programme again produced some truly exceptional entries
With just a month to go until the doors open, UK Construction Week Birmingham will feature a dedicated focus to the sector on its very doorstep – the West Midlands. From 3rd-5th October, visitors to the NEC can expect to see the West Midlands’ finest construction and manufacturing companies, not
The Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) was delighted to support and raise awareness of sprinklers at the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) Built Environment Conference Series, taking place in Cardiff and Salford in June 2023. Following the theme of Performance, Compliance and Safety, CABE’s Built Environment England and Wales Conferences
Government ministers Lord Callanan and Nusrat Ghani, and MP Caroline Nokes, have all been announced as keynote speakers at this week’s UK Construction Week London, the UK’s largest event for the built environment, which makes a welcome return to London’s ExCeL from today, 2-4 May 2023. Registration is now live.
Nominations are now open for UK Construction Week’s Role Models 2023 campaign, which seeks to recognise the unsung heroes and talented professionals in the construction industry and showcase the many varied career opportunities within it. The prestigious campaign, now in its sixth year, invites nominations from all sectors of the
Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, Leo Quinn, has taken home the ‘Outstanding Industry Leadership’ award at London Build’s inaugural awards ceremony. The UK’s leading construction show, London Build – which welcomes over 35,000 attendees and more than 500 speakers each year – praised Leo for his significant contribution to the
The UK’s largest event for the built environment, UK Construction Week (UKCW) Birmingham, made a welcome return to the NEC last week, with visitor numbers up 19% from last year. The show drew over 23,900 visitors from as far afield as Turkey, Brazil, Australia and Canada, and included a host
The hub for sustainable design and building materials EDGE has announced its 1st year anniversary, which will be celebrated with a short talks programme and cocktail reception in collaboration with Futurebuild. The evening will feature a number of practitioners providing insight into why they have put sustainability and regenerative thinking
An industrywide survey has revealed low carbon composition and greater sustainability were the key factors for customers when specifying building products. The poll, which garnered responses from nearly 400 representatives from across the construction sector, was created to coincide with the launch of Futurebuild 2023. The responses were
James Latham, distributor of timber, panels and decorative surfaces (stand D55), today unveils its Futurebuild (March 1-3, Excel) activity which will showcase a suite of timber-based, sustainable construction and interiors options. James Latham’s stand will be subject to a “take-over” from Kiss House, the innovative homes company, and Passivhaus offsite-manufacturer.
The Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) was delighted to have returned to Coventry on the evening of Thursday 23rd October for the staging of its 6th Annual Awards Ceremony. With a record number of submissions across the seven categories, this year’s programme again produced some truly exceptional entries from right across the electro-mechanical arena. The Doubletree by Hilton, ideally situated at the M6/M69 intersection, once again played host to the gala presentation dinner, during which professional endeavour, product innovation, skills development, engineering prowess and service delivery were all acknowledged and celebrated. Operated by the AEMT and produced by Touchwave Media, the awards programme acknowledges the skill, effort and sheer dedication of the people and businesses serving today’s complex electrical and mechanical service, maintenance, and repair sector. With sponsorship provided by a host of leading industry names, well deserved industry-wide recognition was given to those businesses and individuals that are excelling in their professional endeavours. The 2023 AEMT Awards Winners are as follows: – PRODUCT OF THE YEAR Sponsored by DFA MEDIA GROUP Menzel Motors: Pressurized Explosion Proof Motors for Zone 1 Customers that operate larger Motors in Hazardous Areas, typically refineries and chemical plants need to prevent ignitable gasses from entering operating machines. The Menzel system allows large Modular Motor operation in Zone 1 CACA or CACW, normally from 450mm frames and larger at all voltage ratings, combining Menzel’s well known flexibility, expertise, and speed of response with the requirements for Zone 1 Operation. Custom built to site requirements and highest safety standards. Highly qualified staff ensure that Menzel can respond at very short notice: With EXP systems in stock readily adaptable and deployable at short notice this is a unique feature for a medium-sized motor manufacturer such as Menzel. PROJECT OF THE YEAR Sponsored by EMiR SOFTWARE MKE Engineering Group: Browndown Pumping Station The project took place at a water utility company pumping station that was experiencing frequent tripping of equipment. Originally commissioned in the 1970’s it was in desperate need of an upgrade. Using ABB Ultra Low Harmonic drives potential issues with harmonics have been mitigated, whilst providing a clean user-friendly operating system. Feedback from the customer has been excellent, not for just the elimination of the rogue tripping but also for the sizeable energy savings. SERVICE CENTRE OF THE YEAR Sponsored by ABB Avonmouth Engineering Services Avonmouth Engineering Services’ custom built 70,000 square foot site is the largest single workshop facility for electrical and mechanical repairs in the UK. Alongside its second 20,000 square foot division in Cheltenham, the company provides an extensive range of inhouse and onsite services for the repair, overhaul, and upgrade of electromechanical technologies across the entire rotodynamic industry, with a special focus on reliability services and the pump industry. SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by MEGGER TEC Electric Motors TEC motors currently hold over £16 million pounds worth of Power Transmission stock in the UK, all available for immediate same day shipping; whether the requirement is a 0.09kw or a 645kw motor, a compact frame, a B56 or Brake motor, as UK’s largest independent electric motor stockist, TEC has the product. In over 18 years the company has sold over 1.5 million motors providing 24 hour, 365 days a year emergency solution to all AEMT members. CONTRIBUTION TO SKILLS & TRAINING Sponsored by SULZER Ian Pattinson: The Faraday Centre Ian, a devoted member of the Faraday Centre Limited for 23 years, began his engineering journey at English Electric, honing his expertise before transitioning to impactful roles at British Steel. Passionate about Power Distribution and Transformers, he later became a High Voltage lecturer dedicating himself to safety and education globally. Ian’s legacy encompasses exceptional teaching, consultancy, and an enduring commitment to shaping engineers and fostering a safety driven industry culture. RISING STAR AWARD Sponsored by TEC ELECTRIC MOTORS Josh Bottomley: EMiR Josh Bottomley is Team Manager for Hosted Services and EMiR Support. Josh manages a team of support engineers who provide technical and maintenance support for EMiR Software and EMiR-Cloud, the electro-mechanical industry’s leading ERP software solution. Over the last 4 years, Josh has gone from unqualified apprentice to EMiR Support Team Leader and now heads up a team of support engineers, inspiring them to perform at the highest levels and trying hard to improve our service every day. DIVERSITY IN ENGINEERING AWARD Sponsored by PREFORMED WINDINGS Hidrostal: Incorporating Avonmouth Engineering Services, Bedford Pumps & Hidrostal At Hidrostal GB, ED&I is embedded into its culture. From recruitment to career development, alongside everyday life at work, the company ensures that its employees feel supported, valued, and accommodated whatever their individual needs. As part of the UK Home Office sponsorship scheme, Hidrostal has a strong focus on wellbeing with EAP Programmes, MHFAiders and Wellness rooms onsite. Its Diversity & Equal Opportunities policy has been adopted by the AEMT as a blueprint for others. SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD Sponsored by AEMT Dave Beresford: Preformed Windings This year, the AEMT is honoured to recognise Mr. Dave Beresford with the AEMT Special Recognition Award for his exemplary performance throughout his career. He started his career as a time served winder back in the sixties progressing to works manager and took responsibility for moving his then business to Newcastle. He has conducted various roles including technical manager, technical sales, and coil shop manager. His sense of community is highlighted by the positive connections made all over the world. Just by mentioning his name you are bound to bring a smile to those who he has worked with and known throughout the decades. His dedication to sustainability and quality has led him to innovate techniques such as press cooling and chiller insulation when forming coils. These improved processes have led to increased efficiency and reduced waste. Most of all, his enthusiasm to share knowledge and educate apprentices, colleagues and customers alike really resonated with the AEMT’s management committee. It exemplifies the values the AEMT holds true to its heart – education, community, and quality. Commenting on the awards
With just a month to go until the doors open, UK Construction Week Birmingham will feature a dedicated focus to the sector on its very doorstep – the West Midlands. From 3rd-5th October, visitors to the NEC can expect to see the West Midlands’ finest construction and manufacturing companies, not only exhibiting but hosting networking events, holding demonstrations and staging seminars. Nathan Garnett, show director commented: “We want to be able to give visitors and exhibitors as much access to education, resources and innovation as possible. The great thing about the Birmingham show is we have so many incredible businesses and professionals in the West Midlands, that we are able to shine a real spotlight on local authorities in the construction and manufacturing industries.” FinditinBirmingham are one of this year’s show partners; an online search engine that connects global organisations to local businesses allowing them to engage with the local supply chain. This year they will host two networking events that take place before doors open to UKCW Birmingham itself, allowing visitors and exhibitors to meet local contractors and specialists. The first event takes place on Wednesday 5th October in collaboration with Lendlease; a global construction and real estate company. The second event will take place on Thursday 6th October with West Midlands Housing. Both networking events will be held between 8-10am. Register your interest on the FinditinBirmingham website. The MTC (Manufacturing Technology Center), based in Coventry, will be holding live demonstrations of the work it has done with large-scale ground-penetrating radar (GPR). This yellow, wedged shaped object assists with infrastructure asset management and scanning structures such as bridges and rail tunnels to inspect for subsurface defects with the help of the automation of data processing. This aims to improve quality, speed, and safety of inspection which provides greater objective insight into asset conditions and reduces time spent by examiner in hazardous environments. In the Offsite Alliance Hub, Birmingham Housing Week will be launching the city-wide MOBIE Schools Challenge with TV presenter and architect, George Clarke. To coincide with this, they will be running Hackathon workshops across the day to get their creative thinking started. Professionals and students will work with each group to help them collate and present their ideas in short, group thinking and design workshops. They will be asking the city’s young people, as future designers and creators of Birmingham’s next generation of housing, ‘What do you want from the future homes and communities in Birmingham?’ and exploring a range of topics and questions including: UKCW has also announced an extensive seminar and speaker programme to take place over its six stages. Keynote speakers include Andy Street, Mayor of West Midlands, who is due to take the Main Stage on 5th October to discuss The West Midlands and Manchester devolution and rebirth, the devolved future for the respective regions and the impacts on the built environment. Also on the Main Stage will be Deborah Cadman OBE, Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, discussing the local authority’s collaboration with Birmingham Housing Week as she is interviewed by George Clarke about housing plans for the city. This will take place on opening day, Tuesday 3rd October. Coventry University will also be in attendance at UKCW Birmingham, offering visitors the chance to try their state-of-the-art training simulator. Here you can experience a virtual reality simulation of a real-life construction site, which can offer a range of scenarios to prepare future construction workers before entering the workforce. You will also find Midlands based exhibitors such as: Register for UKCW for free now UKCW Birmingham Registrations Follow us on social media @uk_cw #UKCW2023 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) was delighted to support and raise awareness of sprinklers at the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) Built Environment Conference Series, taking place in Cardiff and Salford in June 2023. Following the theme of Performance, Compliance and Safety, CABE’s Built Environment England and Wales Conferences were held at Salford University and Cardiff Metropolitan University on the 20th and 22nd June. Attracting expert panels interacting with a wide range of construction and property sector professionals, the technical leadership conferences cover the key issues within the sector today, including building safety, construction materials, quality, performance and zero carbon within the built environment and all tailored to the key issues for audiences the UK regions. In Salford, the keynote address from the recently appointed Deputy Chief Inspector of buildings, Chris Griffin-McTiernan, shared an insight into the setting up of the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) including the latest on the registration of high-rise residential buildings (HRBs), the new duty holding regimes, and the future regulation of the building control profession. A particular number that stuck out was that a third of consultations with the BSR over high rise buildings still raise a concern but this is an improvement over the past 12 months. It was perhaps reflected by the audience questions as to whether the market is changing or waiting for new instructions. Richard Harral, CABE’s Technical Director added to this by explaining the significant scope within the Building Safety Act, describing it as the largest piece of legislation since World War II. A fact that had not registered before now and signals the scale of the journey. The act brings clarity to the question of responsibility and emphasises the importance of understanding one’s role within the framework. Ray Quinn of BB7 gave an interesting insight into the role of the fire engineer and how that needs to progress. One element that caught the eye was how he highlighted the outcome of protecting people and property came together needed to be discussed and addressed. Perhaps more telling as people discussed safety was his strong line in that when all is said and done there is no point of “zero risk”. In both Salford and Cardiff there were sessions on the thorny subject of product regulation.The overriding sentiment was that products should deliver on their intended purpose when installed correctly, living up to their claims. Equally within that is the need for those selecting such products to understand their role within that process as designers. The mechanisms to deliver that are still developing. Other keynote speakers in Salford and Cardiff included Jon Vanstone (Chair of the Interim Competence Committee), Hanna Clarke (Digital and Policy Manager at CPA), Amanda Stubbs (Partner at Trowers & Hamlins) and Dr. Hywel Davies (Chief Technical Officer at CIBSE). Tom Roche, Secretary of the Business Sprinkler commented: “While continual progress was being made, the industry is still on a journey to the full implementation of regulatory change. The notion for waiting for everything to be clarified is just not practical in a sea of so much change. What we can see is how safeguarding people and property can form clear objectives.” Competency is central to the thinking on changing the construction and fire safety sectors, “it is essential to possess and maintain expertise in your area of specialism and acknowledge your limits.” These technical conferences gave the BSA the ideal platform to discuss the benefits of sprinklers to protect people and their property, and how active fire protection can play a role in sustainability. “We are delighted to lend our support to these regional events, where we can see education and knowledge are key,” said Tom Roche, Secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance. “It was very encouraging to see a greater understanding of the benefits and an increased adoption of sprinkler systems.” The Business Sprinkler Alliance advocates greater business resilience by enhancing protection against fire through the increased acceptance and use of fire sprinklers in commercial and industrial premises. For more information or to book a place at upcoming CABE regional events for Scotland on 6th September and Ireland on 19th September, visit https://www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org/events For more information about the Business Sprinkler Alliance visit www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Government ministers Lord Callanan and Nusrat Ghani, and MP Caroline Nokes, have all been announced as keynote speakers at this week’s UK Construction Week London, the UK’s largest event for the built environment, which makes a welcome return to London’s ExCeL from today, 2-4 May 2023. Registration is now live. Lord Callanan, who was appointed Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance earlier this year, will appear with TV presenter and architect George Clarke on the UKCW Main Stage at 10.45am on the first day (May 2nd) for Net Zero Countdown – Keynote Intro and Question Time. Nusrat Ghani MP, Construction Minister, will speak as part of a discussion on the UKCW Main Stage at 11.15am on May 2nd – The 5th CO2NSTRUCTZERO Report. Caroline Nokes MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, will be part of an Employment Panel appearing at the Culture Change Hub at 11.30am on May 3rd to discuss How To Identify Diverse Talent for Promotion – what does the industry need? Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, commented: “It’s testament to the show’s standing and reputation that UKCW London has been able to attract such a high calibre of speaker as these three politicians, who are part of a prestigious line-up of experts from across the sector who’ll be appearing at this year’s show. We can’t wait to hear what they all have to say.” With over 10,000 products on display from over 300 exciting exhibitors including Rointe Kingspan, Google, Sevadis, HP, Celsa UK, Houzz Pro, Hanson Plywood and many more, the multi award-winning show attracts a wealth of overseas exhibitors from as far afield as Australia, China, India, Norway, Turkey and the UAE. Celebrating Culture Change in Construction, UKCW London will host three days of debate and discussion from top speakers on how the industry can move forward to tackle its biggest issues, including quality, fire safety, sustainability, offsite manufacturing, mental health, and improving diversity and inclusion. Visitors will also be able to find sections dedicated to Digital Construction, Infrastructure, Offsite, Surfaces, Net Zero including Renewables, HVAC, Energy Management; Build Show including Roofing, Cladding and Insulation; Tools; Health & Safety; Fire Prevention; Future Lab; and a Careers Trail. Officially opened by architect and Channel 4 presenter George Clarke, UKCW London will also feature sessions and seminars led by industry experts across the show’s six stages; the show will feature an incredible 300 speakers, with over 150 hours of CPD seminars available. Register for UKCW London for free – ukcw-london-2023.reg.buzz/cab-campaign-pr Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nominations are now open for UK Construction Week’s Role Models 2023 campaign, which seeks to recognise the unsung heroes and talented professionals in the construction industry and showcase the many varied career opportunities within it. The prestigious campaign, now in its sixth year, invites nominations from all sectors of the industry including architecture, engineering, construction technology and property development. Its ultimate aim is to attract others into similar roles by sharing inspiring stories and career journeys. Nominations close on February 27th, with the winner announced at UKCW London, which makes a welcome return to London’s ExCeL from 2-4 May 2023. Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, commented: “Every year, the judges are both moved and inspired by nominees’ stories, and the quality is always incredible; we can’t wait to see this year’s entries and meet the shortlisted candidates at the show in May.” Last year’s UKCW Role Models winner was Andy Howe, managing director and founder of CareerForces, which was founded in 2019 as a unique Social Enterprise with the primary aim of helping veterans find work after leaving the Armed Forces. Andy commented: “This was a significant award for CareerForces, helping to raise awareness of the incredible talent pool of UK Service personnel. CareerForces have subsequently developed partnerships that offer the UK construction industry a unique one stop recruitment shop for some exceptional candidates. “UKCW has helped CareerForces support the construction industry recruitment challenges and some incredible veterans’ charities’ including Combat Stress and the On Course Foundation. 2023 looks like being an exceptional year as we help the industry to address the skills shortage and diversify the talent pool.” Other previous UKCW Role Models winners have included: Arleta Andreasik-Paton, Associate Project Manager, Ridge and Partners (2018); Anjali Pindoria, Project Surveyor, Avi Contracts Ltd (2019); Christina Leia Riley, Senior Planner, Quinn London Ltd (2020). Celebrating Culture Change in Construction, UKCW London will host three days of debate and discussion from top speakers on how the industry can move forward to tackle its biggest issues, including quality, fire safety, sustainability, offsite manufacturing, mental health, and improving diversity and inclusion. Visitors will also be able to find sections dedicated to Digital Construction, Infrastructure, Offsite, Surfaces, Net Zero including Renewables, HVAC, Energy Management; Build Show including Roofing, Cladding and Insulation; Tools; Health & Safety; Fire Prevention; Future Lab; and a Careers Trail. Officially opened by architect and Channel 4 presenter George Clarke, UKCW London will also feature sessions and seminars led by industry experts across the show’s six stages; the show will feature an incredible 300 speakers, with over 150 hours of CPD seminars available. Register for UKCW London for free – ukcw-london-2023.reg.buzz/cab-campaign-pr Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, Leo Quinn, has taken home the ‘Outstanding Industry Leadership’ award at London Build’s inaugural awards ceremony. The UK’s leading construction show, London Build – which welcomes over 35,000 attendees and more than 500 speakers each year – praised Leo for his significant contribution to the construction and infrastructure industry. Since Leo took the helm, Balfour Beatty has seen a dramatic transformation with a robust balance sheet supported by a £17.7 billion order book. In addition, the company saw its highest ever employee engagement score this year, which now sits at 79%, and is testament to the Group’s evolved culture. As well as reshaping Balfour Beatty and positioning the company to capitalise on the growing infrastructure market, the award also recognises Leo’s leadership of the sector. Leo represented the industry on the Government’s Build Back Better Council which ran throughout the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on unlocking investment, boosting job creation and levelling up the whole of the UK. During the pandemic, Leo also led the Tier One industry group and was instrumental in navigating Balfour Beatty and its stakeholders through the pandemic, keeping sites open for business as employees and supply chain partners continued to execute contracts safely with secure employment, whilst also ensuring maintained liquidity for the company’s valued supply chain partners. In addition, Leo was commended for founding The 5% Club in 2013, a dynamic movement of employers committed to providing ‘earn and learn’ positions. The movement now boasts over 750 member companies representing more than 1.6 million employees, 70,000 apprentices, 16,000 graduates and 7,500 sponsored students. Today, Balfour Beatty has over 6% of its UK workforce comprising apprentices, graduates and trainees. In recognition of his contribution to business, Leo was appointed as a Visiting Professor at the College of Business and Social Science at Aston University in Birmingham in 2021. Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, said: “Having started my career as a graduate at Balfour Beatty over 40 years ago on the New Haw Viaduct in Surrey, and now as Group Chief Executive, my career is an example of the prosperous, lifelong opportunities that our industry can generate. “But I would not be here today without the incredible people I work alongside every day, those who make up our company and our supply chain – those who work tirelessly every day to shape our skylines, connect communities and grow the great leaders of tomorrow.”Selena Moseley, London Build Event Director, said: “It’s our absolute pleasure to hand this award to Leo for his outstanding support in developing opportunities for young people across the industry and for driving the incredible transformation of the UK’s leading infrastructure group” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s largest event for the built environment, UK Construction Week (UKCW) Birmingham, made a welcome return to the NEC last week, with visitor numbers up 19% from last year. The show drew over 23,900 visitors from as far afield as Turkey, Brazil, Australia and Canada, and included a host of high-profile names including West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Channel 4 presenter George Clarke, and BBC journalist and presenter Simon Jack. UKCW Birmingham celebrated culture change in construction with three days of debate and discussion from top speakers across seven stages, with issues covered including Net Zero, sustainability, offsite manufacturing, mental health, and improving diversity and inclusion. Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street took time from his busy schedule to visit the show, where he was a keynote speaker on the Main Stage, facing a Question Time from an audience of industry professionals. Andy Howe, founder and managing director of CareersForce, was named UKCW Role Model 2022; CareersForce helps UK key workers such as those from the armed forces, police and NHS to forge a new career in a range of new sectors including construction. The winning exhibitors of this year’s Stand Awards included: Rolec (best 50m+ space stand), Harwoods (best space under 50m), Restec (best shell scheme), Tough CAD (best use of marketing), Zero Hub (most interactive) and Celsa (for innovation). Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, commented after the show: “There is so much happening in the construction industry right now that has put UK Construction Week into a unique position, whereby it can inform and educate the sector as it moves forward. There is a real sense of momentum now as we plan the next one, especially on meeting our next zero targets and creating long lasting culture change. A record number of companies have signed up for 2023 so we look forward to really growing the UKs largest trade show for construction” Chloe Donovan, Chief Exec of Natural Building Systems, said: “We’ve had an amazing time – met everyone from potential suppliers, industrial partners, contractors and investors; I can’t recommend it highly enough.” Gary Scott, managing director at Hanson Plywood, commented: “We were at UKCW Birmingham because it’s the hub of the UK construction industry. We get a lot out of it; we don’t do many shows, but UKCW Birmingham does work.” With over 6,000 products on display from over 300 exciting exhibitors including Bosch, Schneider Electric, Google, Graco Distribution, Wavin, Hanson Plywood and many more, the multi award-winning show attracted an abundance of overseas exhibitors from as far afield as Australia, India, Norway, Turkey and the UAE. Dates for next year’s two shows have already been announced: UKCW London will take place from 2-4 May 2023 at ExCeL; UKCW Birmingham will run from 3-5 October 2023 at the NEC.
The hub for sustainable design and building materials EDGE has announced its 1st year anniversary, which will be celebrated with a short talks programme and cocktail reception in collaboration with Futurebuild. The evening will feature a number of practitioners providing insight into why they have put sustainability and regenerative thinking at the heart of their professional lives. The short talks programme, delivered in the PechaKucha storytelling format, will include presentations, such as A legacy Reborn: 242 Marylebone Road project by Phillip Turner; Biophilic Design: Inspiring Happier, Healthier and More Productive Places to Live and Work by Kenneth Freeman; and Getting it right from Business /ESG for the future workplace by Ana Rita Barrera Martins. “It has been a tremendous year for EDGE in which we have grown from a handful of initial partners to over 60 brands with a rapidly expanding network of specifiers, sustainability enthusiasts and industry partners. The staging of events allowing for networking, discussions, and solutions for turnkey project solutions has been instrumental to our success and we look forward to the many projects the brands have been specified for coming to fruition,” commented Robynne Hammer, COO at EDGE. “Following the recent announcement setting out economic growth through investment in green energy and technology projects, we anticipate that there will also be more green schemes available supporting further sustainable build and design – EDGE being the perfect place to find solutions.” EDGE, an acronym for Eco Design Green Environment, was created in response to the tremendous impact the construction industry has on the environment, both in the building of structures and in their lifelong footprint. Its mission is to create a space, both on the high street and online, to connect sustainably-conscious material suppliers and specifiers while welcoming the general public and anyone dedicated to building and designing with the environment in mind. EDGE brings together many innovative, sustainable brands such as paint, heat recovery, wall finishes, flooring, carbon-neutral furniture and much more, all into one place where people can be given a clear vision of what the future of living and working environments looks like. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
An industrywide survey has revealed low carbon composition and greater sustainability were the key factors for customers when specifying building products. The poll, which garnered responses from nearly 400 representatives from across the construction sector, was created to coincide with the launch of Futurebuild 2023. The responses were among discussion points at an exclusive industry event, ‘Role of Specification in Meeting Net Zero’, which was held at the EDGE Showroom in London to promote next year’s Futurebuild – the premier showcase for product innovation in the construction industry. Designed to gain insights into people’s appetite for innovation in the building sector, the survey showed most respondents (61.5%) believed ‘resistance to switch from traditional technologies,’ was the main barrier to developing smarter, cleaner working practices. Martin Hurn, Futurebuild’s Event Director and host of the launch event that included presentations from a panel of building industry experts, said: “From my point of view, the take away from this fantastic event was the need for the building supply chain to come together and take a stand for a better built environment. The time for road maps is over. We need to take action now to really drive the built environment towards the government’s net zero goal.” Speakers at the Futurebuild launch event included Dr Gavin Dunn, CABE CEO and chair for Future Homes Standards; Dr Oliver Jones, Research Director, Ryder Architecture; Chaline Church, Founding Partner for 540 World; and Duncan Baker-Brown, Director at Baker-Brown Studio. The expert panel fielded questions from a host of specially-invited attendees from across the building sector. The findings from Futurebuild’s innovation survey proved a key discussion point, along with issues such as the Future Homes Standard, building material reuse and the circular economy.Poll respondents included input from senior architects, local government employees, housebuilders, manufacturers and contractors. Other results revealed most respondents (60%) were actively sourcing new innovations in renewables such as solar PV panels, heat pumps and biomass heating systems, as a way of achieving greater sustainability. In terms of developing clean technologies, 67% of respondents felt that government support was necessary to the process. By way of a conclusion to the panel’s discussion, it was agreed that better engagement between manufacturers, architects and specifiers was key to innovating products that led to a more sustainable built environment. “We’re all on a journey to achieving the government’s net zero goal by 2050,” Martin Hurn continued. “I believe forums, such as the one we provided for industry delegates are a vital part of that journey. The solutions exist within the supply chain to create a better built environment. It’s now about giving those innovative brands the platform to really showcase their products, solutions and innovations. Futurebuild 2023 will be that platform.” To download Futurebuild’s ‘Barriers of Specifying Innovation’ survey and view the full results, click here
James Latham, distributor of timber, panels and decorative surfaces (stand D55), today unveils its Futurebuild (March 1-3, Excel) activity which will showcase a suite of timber-based, sustainable construction and interiors options. James Latham’s stand will be subject to a “take-over” from Kiss House, the innovative homes company, and Passivhaus offsite-manufacturer. Central to the experience will be two 3 x 3 x 3 m sections from the Kiss House residential construction system which visitors can explore in their own time, and that will double as a seminar space. Bespoke tours will be available of this innovative and sustainable building system which has the potential to improve the quality and performance of residential housing. Experts will be on hand to outline the latest sustainable developments in timber and surfacing. The panel of specialists will include manufacturers Accsys Technologies and WISA along with Kiss House designers. In addition, the James Latham team will be on hand to showcase its innovative carbon impact calculator. Both carbon footprint and biogenic carbon content are now shown on key James Latham documentation such as quotations, delivery notes and invoices, meaning users can fully understand the carbon impact of the products they choose. The distributor will also be celebrating some of the most exciting, sustainable surfacing and timber options on the market, including: Accoya – a FSC modified timber, developed by Accsys Technologies, with properties that match those of the best tropical hardwoods Finish Line Cladding Collection – a Latham’s exclusive with 12 unique colour options including the highly contemporary Slate Grey, Apricot and Charcoal finishes WISA Birch Premium Plywood – made from Finnish Birch this offers a beautiful light look with good strength properties, it’s a good base for lacquering, varnishing and staining Garnica Ultralight Poplar Plywood – an ultralight sandwich panel with XPS core, made from 100% European poplar from sustainable plantations. Its light-coloured faces and premium quality internal sheets make it ideal for painting and laminating/film coating. Garnica Duraply Poplar Plywood Panels – these offer exceptional durability due to an innovative ply-to-ply treatment which delivers fungi and insect resistance even under the most adverse weather conditions. The panel’s core and faces are made from sustainable European poplar. This is a Marine Plywood alternative with a great environmental story Valchromat MDF panels – engineered coloured wood, a wood fibre panel which is coloured throughout and offers high physical performance. The fibres are individually impregnated with organic dyes and chemically bonded by specifically developed resins. Commenting on James Latham’s Futurebuild experience, Stuart Devoil, Group Head of Marketing, says “The climate crisis is the biggest challenge facing us, and so we’re using Futurebuild to focus on three key things. Firstly, sustainable innovation, with Kiss House bringing to life just what is possible to achieve on the low carbon front using timber to create wonderful homes. Secondly, we’re celebrating the very real materials innovation that is afoot within timber and surfacing. Lastly, to build more sustainably, data is absolutely fundamental and so we’re using Futurebuild as a way to introduce our carbon calculator to visitors.” He added, “We wanted to collaborate with Kiss House as its broadly wood-based solution uses several grades of timber to produce high-quality, very-low embodied carbon homes. This perfectly illustrates how important timber will be in ensuring a sustainable built-environment, along with how this most traditional of materials is increasingly being used as a lynchpin element to very real innovation.” You can find James Latham at stand D55. The distributor is also part of the Futurebuild Innovation trail which consists of 14 specially selected, future-focused exhibitors.