Winning a lottery prize of £1 million is a thrilling experience. But have you thought about what to do if you win the lottery? If not, then you have come to the right place. Here, we will tell you an investment strategy that can give you remarkable returns in 2020.
Blenheim Estate has created a series of new waymarked permissive paths that give access to its wider estate to help local residents enjoy their environment. To date, four circular walks varying from 30 minutes to two hours have been made available with start and finish points linked to their Hanborough
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the UK, tradespeople are among those who have been advised they are still able to work under the national restrictions that came into effect on 5 November, including working in and around people’s homes. The news is certainly positive for the construction industry
Experienced business development professional joins growing UK structural steel contractor Elland Steel, a growing structural steel contractor, are excited to welcome Simon Jones into the team to spearhead the planned growth at Elland Steel. Simon will be looking to grow the already expanding customer base, specifically in and around London.
COVID-19 has challenged us all, testing safety, resilience, finances, and wellbeing alike. At our IWFM Impact Awards 2020 virtual ceremony in September, we celebrated some amazing examples of the powerful influence of our profession and its ability to adapt to these extraordinary circumstances with ingenuity, skill and often compassion. Ahead of Workplace Week International (9 to 13 November), we sat down with IWFM’s Head of Workplace, Donna Walker (DW), for a
Diets that are low in carbohydrates have been gaining lots of traction all around the globe for years. This makes a lot of sense as well. That’s due to the fact that they are linked to a host of significant health advantages. If you don’t eat a lot of carbs
Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, has commented on the potential impact of a second lockdown on the construction industry: “With rising case numbers and hospital admissions, the announcement of a second national lockdown was perhaps inevitable, but businesses will be hit hard once again. However,
No matter where you are in the world, you have likely been impacted somehow by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe you know someone who contracted it. Maybe it’s impacted your job or the career of someone you love. While some parts of the globe are seeing yet another surge, there are
If you have created or work in a shop, then you will know that the appearance of the building is crucial to its success. A shop’s layout and windows can have a dramatic effect on whether potential customers decide to buy anything or possibly even enter the building. Potential customers
COVID-19 has had an undeniable impact on how we live – but how could the pandemic potentially change the way we approach ventilation within our healthcare facilities as we learn from the coronavirus and tackle potential airborne infection control? Mechanical engineer at Pick Everard, Simon Atkin, discusses how the pandemic
Winning a lottery prize of £1 million is a thrilling experience. But have you thought about what to do if you win the lottery? If not, then you have come to the right place. Here, we will tell you an investment strategy that can give you remarkable returns in 2020. The housing sector is one of the safest and profitable areas to invest your money. This sector has immense potential that has always paid good returns to people. In addition to buying a real estate property, there are several other ways in which you can park your money in the housing market. Let us explore these options. What to do if you win the Lottery Here are some of the ways you can do after you win a hefty amount in the Lottery. 1. Invest In A Property Whether you invest for the first time or an experienced investor who wishes to grow its investment portfolio, real estate investment is lucrative to enhance your potential.You will benefit from the increase in property prices every year and monthly rental income. Looking at the current rental prices, an investment of one million dollars in a rental property can earn you a rental income between 60,000 and 100,000 dollars annually. Along with that, your rental property price will also increase. Thus, it will give you dual benefits. To invest in the housing market, you need to perform a detailed neighborhood analysis to locate a good place to invest in a rental property. You can find several options to rent a property, such as Single-family commercial spaces, and multi-family. Analyze available investment real estate properties for sale to find the best offer. You can even take the help of real estate investment tools to help you find the best property in accordance with your preferred location, growth potential, and budget. 2. Investment In A Land Now the next option can be to buy a terrestrial area. Hold the land for some years and then sell it for massive profits. In a place, you can even buy a home and sell it later when the housing market is at its boom. If you want incredible returns and are in no hurry to make profits, we suggest purchasing land a little far from the major city.Hold it for the long term, i.e., around twenty years or so, and sell it later. Choosing far areas is beneficial because cities have become very populated, and the property price is high there. The place outside the city is growing at a constant rate. Developers and builders will soon be exploring their areas. Many corporations also choose distant locations to set up their units, such as business parks, IT centers, etc. So, if you are thinking about what to do if you win the lottery of £1 million, then buy land of that much worth and keep it for twenty years.The sale of that land would solidify your affluent status. Go for agricultural land that is far from commercial hubs. You can get such places at ten or twenty times lesser than the price. Soon, that place will develop with common amenities and utilities as available in the commercial sector. With a lesser investment, you are going to make a large sum of money in the future. 3. Property Investment Trusts Real estate investment trusts, also called REITs, are indirect ways to invest in residential areas. These specialized firms collect money from interested investors to build, purchase, or manage property assets.They trade in various trusted publicly-traded REITs funds that are into investing in real estate properties. There are a few advantages that this method provides real estate investors: • As you are not directly investing in real estate, it needs less time commitment than what you incur when owning properties. • This method spread your risk across hundreds and thousands of properties. So, a sudden hefty maintenance cost would not break you. • These are highly liquid investments that can easily be purchased or sold in a few minutes. • They invest your money in the housing market via a tax-advantaged retirement account and pays above-average dividend yields than what you would get by investing in house stocks. 4. Crowdfunded Real Estate Crowdfunding is another method to invest in the housing market.There are times when an experienced real estate investor finds a lucrative opportunity but do not have adequate finances to either purchase or renovate it. So, they list the financing opportunity on a crowdfunding portal intending to raise capital from individual investors. In return, they will offer an equity interest in this project. This method involves high risks but can give you high returns. Go for this method only when you have a high-risk tolerance ability, and don’t think much about what to do if you win the lottery. Only those investors should invest in this scheme who do not need money in the near future. 5. Homebuilder Stocks Homebuilders companies engage in buying and selling of housing properties. A few of them also publicly trade on key stock exchanges.You need to note that homebuilders are more economically sensitive than rental properties. So, if any world economic crisis hits, your tenant will keep on paying rent (rental properties) but can lead to a decline in home sales dramatically. It is a highly profitable long-term housing investment strategy but not for short-term yields. Conclusion Investment in the housing market is indeed a smart investment decision in 2020. These are some of the best ways to invest in homebuilders and the real estate sector. Based on your needs and preferences, you can find a perfect investment strategy. You can even choose a combination of strategies to accomplish your investment objective.
Blenheim Estate has created a series of new waymarked permissive paths that give access to its wider estate to help local residents enjoy their environment. To date, four circular walks varying from 30 minutes to two hours have been made available with start and finish points linked to their Hanborough Gate development. Roy Cox, Blenheim Estate’s Director, said: “Spending time in green space, taking exercise in the fresh air and communing with nature are all well-proven ways of reducing anxiety and depression. The aim of the permissive paths is to share the estate with others and to promote the benefits both of exercise and interacting with the countryside for mental and physical wellbeing. “Rarely has this access to the outdoors been more important than now. The spacious immediate surroundings of Hanborough Gate combined with the back-door access to country walks, is a big draw for potential purchasers. “Our Rural Team have been hard at work clearing the various routes and putting up way-markers and signage. We are planning to provide additional interpretation and information about the routes and local wildlife in the future to provide a richer experience. “One of the real pleasures of living in this area is its rich history and heritage, and the outstanding natural beauty. We hope that by opening up new areas of the estate to local residents we will be able to share these fantastic open spaces with as wide an audience as possible.” Pye Homes, in partnership with Blenheim Estate Homes, continues to release new homes at its Hanborough Gate development, just south west of the Blenheim Estate in Long Hanborough. A total of 169 homes will be built by May 2022, which include help to buy, shared ownership and affordable rent options. Interest in the development has been high with buyers particularly drawn by the village’s rural location combined with accessibility with mainline trains direct to both Oxford (10 mins) and London Paddington (1 hour, 5 mins). Its location on the edge of Long Hanborough village and just five miles from Witney and Woodstock makes it part of a wider local community with Blenheim Palace itself on the doorstep. The development will incorporate play parks, a new doctors’ surgery alongside other local amenities including a dentist, pharmacy and Post Office. All of the properties benefit from superfast broadband as standard allowing seamless, high speed communication, essential in today’s working-from-home climate. Property is an integral part of Blenheim’s 10-year development programme that includes tripling the Estate’s contribution to the local economy and creating a £45m endowment fund to ensure the long-term future of the World Heritage Site.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the UK, tradespeople are among those who have been advised they are still able to work under the national restrictions that came into effect on 5 November, including working in and around people’s homes. The news is certainly positive for the construction industry and homeowners in England, as it means people can take advantage of the new Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, which will see the Government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of energy-efficient home improvements. The scheme is a key part of the UK’s green economic recovery following the pandemic. However, only TrustMark Registered Businesses can do work under the Government’s new scheme, meaning tradespeople and businesses who are not registered could be missing out on work. Simon Ayers, Chief Executive of TrustMark, explains, “There are certain steps that must be completed in order to become a Green Homes Grant installer. Firstly, the businesses must hold a PAS 2030 certification and/or MCS certification for low carbon installations, which can be achieved through UKAS accredited certification bodies. “They must also register with TrustMark which in turn, will allow them to register with the Government’s scheme administrator as a Green Homes Grant installer. “There are thousands of UK customers looking for someone to carry out work under the scheme right now, so it’s most certainly worth businesses getting involved.” The levels of work that will be created over the next decade to improve the homes we live in means a sustainable and growth driven market for businesses to operate within, an investment with rewards. To communicate this message, TrustMark has created a number of assets to make it easier for businesses to become Green Homes Grant installers, outlining the steps in more detail at: www.trustmark.org.uk/ghgvsopp And, since the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, the Government and industry have worked hard to ensure written safety guidelines are in place. To keep everyone safe, TrustMark, has created Work Safe Safe Work: a three-part guide to help customersknow what to do before, while and after they have tradespeople working for them. “We know that many people have reservations about what is expected of them and what they need to do while the work is taking place to ensure it’s safe. That’s why we would recommend tradespeople send out the Work Safe Safe Work guide to their customers at least 48 hours prior to the work being done”, says Simon Ayers. “In providing such clear and simple information, the guide will keep both tradespeople and customers safe, while giving them confidence in this new reality we are finding ourselves in.” For further information, please visit TrustMark’s dedicated Green Homes Grant page for trades: www.trustmark.org.uk/ghgvsopp.
Experienced business development professional joins growing UK structural steel contractor Elland Steel, a growing structural steel contractor, are excited to welcome Simon Jones into the team to spearhead the planned growth at Elland Steel. Simon will be looking to grow the already expanding customer base, specifically in and around London. Simon had previously held business development and commercial positions at Bourne Construction Engineering and SCA Group. Mark Denham Elland Steel Chairman and MD comments: “Elland Steel has always punched above its weight as a structural steel contractor, driven primarily by our outstanding people and industry leading levels of expertise. As we look to further develop the business, I am personally delighted to add Simon to the team and look forward to working with him. He was the outstanding candidate and will no doubt bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and know-how into the business” Simon Jones, Business Development Manager comments: “The team’s expertise backed up by the existing client base means this is a really exciting time to join Elland Steel. The company’s ethos and vision make me confident that we are well positioned for further growth.”
COVID-19 has challenged us all, testing safety, resilience, finances, and wellbeing alike. At our IWFM Impact Awards 2020 virtual ceremony in September, we celebrated some amazing examples of the powerful influence of our profession and its ability to adapt to these extraordinary circumstances with ingenuity, skill and often compassion. Ahead of Workplace Week International (9 to 13 November), we sat down with IWFM’s Head of Workplace, Donna Walker (DW), for a social distanced chat about her experiences of managing IWFM’s team and head office during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you require any support in managing the impacts of COVID-19 and the return to work, we have a range of resources, including guidance, information and webinars, available here. 1. On 16 March – a week before the Government announced the first national lockdown – IWFM CEO Linda Hausmanis closed head office and moved all employees to remote working. Why did IWFM act at that stage and what were your immediate thoughts and actions in tackling the transition? DW: ‘We were keeping a close eye on developments and had already implemented 14-day self-isolation for anyone travelling internationally. Then I was notified by our landlord that another tenant in our building had sent home an employee who had flu like symptoms. After weighing up the potential risks and vulnerabilities of remaining in the office and reviewing our business continuity plans, we were able to make a decision quickly and act promptly. ‘Although we already had some in our team who regularly worked remotely, the technical infrastructure and system improvements we had invested in over the last two years enabled the whole organisation to work from home very successfully. The health, safety and wellbeing of our team is paramount and we were equipped to make the transition, so that’s why we acted as early as we did: we wanted to and we could.’ 2. What were your biggest challenges and successes when moving all employees to remote working? How well set up was IWFM for this transition? With uncertainty about the duration of the lockdown, what were your priorities in ensuring the maintenance, safety and preparedness of the building? DW: ‘We felt really well prepared, so the biggest challenges we faced were the factors outside of our control, particularly around connectivity: the reliability of our team’s home internet connections when millions were working from home and likewise for our key communication platform, Microsoft Teams. However, it all worked remarkably well and we were able to deliver the majority of our products and services with limited downtime or interruption. ‘Although our building was unoccupied, it remained open due to other tenants who faced different challenges and needed to access the building. We continued with our usual cleaning, maintenance and auditing with slight schedule changes to ensure we were working within the parameters enforced by lockdown. During the first national lockdown, we also had to undertake some repairs to our office space that were identified during an audit, so although everyone else was working from home, there were times we had to be in the office to resolve issues. Such is the non-stop nature of workplace and facilities management!’ 3. After the first UK national lockdown ended in June and organisations began welcoming people back into buildings, how did you go about ensuring that IWFM head office is a safe environment? DW: ‘We followed the guidance provided by government and tailored it to our situation. Our local BID (Business Improvement District) network provided free signage and touch-free devices for our team. We ensured our temperature control and air handling system was being maintained in line with new findings and worked with our cleaning providers to ensure they were operating in accordance with the new infection control guidance. We introduced a booking system for our people to work from the office where they needed to in line with official guidance that people ‘should’ work from home where possible. Seating arrangements remained at two metres throughout. Hand sanitiser stations were setup throughout the office. ‘People were advised not to visit the office if they displayed any symptoms and in any case to take their temperature before setting off. As an additional check, their temperature would be taken on arrival at the office. We also ensured that our team mainly accessed the office to collect equipment or complete a task that required office use, which resulted in minimal occupancy and reduced our risk considerably. When people use the word ‘safe’ or the term ‘COVID-safe’, I wince because how can anyone guarantee a 100% safe environment? You can implement measures with what is reasonably practicable, but you can’t account for behaviours being in line all of the time.’ 4. This year has been marked by uncertainty: we’ve experienced a three-month national lockdown, relaxed social distancing measures, local lockdowns, and now national lockdown again. What have been your biggest challenges and successes throughout this changing situation? DW: ‘Keeping teams motivated during the pandemic has to be one of the biggest challenges for any manager who would normally engage teams through physical and social interactions that help to bring about a familiar and tangible culture. The usual in-person conversations and moods that would take place or be picked up in the office can be missed when working remotely. ‘However, we have been able to maintain engagement levels through a variety of tactics, including regular all-team surveys and risk assessments, fortnightly all-team briefings, CEO coffee catch-up sessions, celebrating events like Mental Health Awareness Week, continuing with our quarterly training window, offering flexible working arrangements for those who care for the vulnerable, and celebrating personal anniversaries and achievements. We have also had a programme delivered through our social committee with activities like a virtual running club via Strava, virtual yoga and meditation, and ‘pub’ quizzes.’ 5. Beyond the immediate health risks of COVID-19, the subject of wellbeing has been a major concern throughout the pandemic. How has IWFM managed and monitored wellbeing during mass remote working? DW: ‘It was fortuitous that I had delivered health, safety and wellbeing recap training to our entire management team in January, so it was at the forefront of their minds when communicating with their teams. These conversations helped us to be proactive in supporting team members who were considered vulnerable in line with pandemic guidance. As a management team, we made it a priority to have regular interactions with team members via our virtual platforms and in person when lockdown rules were eased through socially distanced meetings in open spaces. ‘During remote working, the team were and continue to be surveyed at regular intervals by way of risk assessment and any concerning findings are addressed, managed and controlled in a timely manner. The team were given regular opportunities to collect furniture or order equipment through our Business Support team, who arranged to have items delivered to their homes. Team members who struggled to work from home due to childcare arrangements had the ability to work flexibly. Once lockdown eased, those who needed a break from their home space were given the option to book spaces to work in the office.’ 6. What lessons will you draw from this year? Have you learned anything that has surprised you? DW: ‘As workplace and facilities professionals, we sometimes don’t give ourselves enough credit for the things we do as normally we’re behind the scenes dealing with issues no one really thinks about until it becomes a problem. However, this unforeseen global crisis propelled our profession into the spotlight and we have managed extremely well considering the circumstances. I have learnt that communicating in different ways, even if it’s the same message, is key (and to repeat it a few times doesn’t hurt either) as
Diets that are low in carbohydrates have been gaining lots of traction all around the globe for years. This makes a lot of sense as well. That’s due to the fact that they are linked to a host of significant health advantages. If you don’t eat a lot of carbs at all, then it may help you shed excess pounds. It may help you keep your weight in check. If you don’t consume many carbs day in and day out, then it may benefit your blood pressure. It may even do a lot for your HDL cholesterol amounts. Remember, HDL cholesterol is the “positive” kind of cholesterol. If you want to come up with six tasty low carb lunch options, these can all work like a charm. Yummy Salads There are numerous mouthwatering salad options that can do a lot for people who do not want to chow down on many carbs at all. You can nosh on an Asian noodle salad. Making this salad requires roughly 25 minutes. Round up soba noodles, chopped red bell peppers, crunchy rice noodles, sliced green onions, peeled carrots and cooked edamame beans out of their shells. You should pair this salad up with a peanut dressing that’s spicy. You can make this dressing by combining black sesame seeds, extra virgin olive oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sambal oelek and peanut butter. Veggie quinoa salad calls for ingredients such as red bell pepper, quinoa, shredded red cabbage, chopped green onions, edamame, peeled carrots, chopped basil, chopped cilantro, chopped peanuts and chopped cucumbers. If you combine all of these elements in a large salad bowl, you’re totally good to go. Cold peanut noodle salad is another low carb option for lunch. You can make this delectable salad come to life by combining red bell peppers, spaghetti, roasted and salted peanuts, cilantro, carrots, cucumber and sesame seeds. If you want to add some flair with a delightful dressing, mix lime juice, sesame oil, garlic, sriracha, ginger, honey, sauce sauce, water and peanut butter. If you’re strapped for time, you don’t have to make this salad on your own. Just take the time to explore your choices in meal delivery services such as Home Chef. Learn more about Home Chef here. Other Low Carb Pleasures for Lunch Salads aren’t the only amazing lunch options for people who simply want to steer clear of carbohydrate consumption. Try your hand at summer rolls. If you want to make these rolls, you need to gather a carrot, rice paper wrappers, sliced purple cabbage, red peppers, a cucumber, cilantro, a sliced avocado, sesame seeds, cooked shrimp and green lettuce leaves. Put your rolls in a baking pan that’s round. Immerse the paper wrappers into water that’s warm for a maximum of 20 seconds total. Put these rolls on a classic serving plate. Chicken satay lettuce wraps also are ideal for fans of food items that are low in the carb department. Be sure to get your hands on chicken breasts, three garlic cloves that are minced, sweet chili sauce, lime juice, fresh ginger, soy sauce and, finally, sriracha. The actual wraps call for bell peppers, lettuce, sliced cucumber and sliced carrot. Preheat your oven to roughly 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the breasts inside. Bake them for a maximum of 25 full minutes or so. You can do so until the breasts get to 165 degrees. Give the chicken breasts the chance to cool down for a bit prior to cutting them up into strips. Zucchini boats are yet another top-notch choice for people who are keen on avoiding carbs during their daily lunches. If you want to relish this lunch pathway, then it’s up to you to secure ingredients such as zucchini, corn kernels, black beans, red bell peppers, brown rice, chili powder, cumin, olive oil, shredded cheddar cheese, jalapeno peppers, salsa, salt and chopped cilantro. Once you assemble these ingredients into “boat” form, you can preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. After that, you can blend in a bit of cilantro. Add some salt, too. You should bake these boats inside of your oven for a total of 25 minutes. Switch the oven to “broil” mode. Cook the boats for five additional minutes. Wait for the cheese to take on a light brown appearance for optimal results. Give your zucchini boats the opportunity to cool down for approximately 10 minutes. Once you wait, you can “conceal” the boats using fresh cilantro. You’re ready to nosh on these nutritious lunch delights. Explore All of Your Choices The world is basically brimming with fantastic lunch options that also do not happen to have high amounts of carbohydrates. If you want to take charge of your health and physique, then a diet that doesn’t include many carbs may be ideal for you.
Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, has commented on the potential impact of a second lockdown on the construction industry: “With rising case numbers and hospital admissions, the announcement of a second national lockdown was perhaps inevitable, but businesses will be hit hard once again. However, the construction industry is exempt from workplace closures and this will hopefully allow recent signs of recovery to continue. “Driven by increases in new work (17.5%), construction output rose by 3% in August (the latest data available) to nearly £12,500 million, marking the fourth successive month of growth for the industry. Such sustained growth is a healthy indicator of confidence returning to the sector, with companies across the UK willing to commission fresh projects. New private housing has been performing particularly well and will be boosted by the news that such work is unaffected by a second lockdown. “The Prime Minister also announced that the furlough scheme will be extended until December, with employees still receiving 80% of their salary. While the number of construction workers on furlough has been dropping rapidly each month – the quickest proportionate decrease across all sectors – the latest data shows that there were still over 275,000 people on the scheme in July. Therefore, the extension of the funding will be greatly welcomed by many in the industry. “Despite being able to continue operations, the second national lockdown will undoubtedly put extra strain on the construction industry and we may see the rate of recovery slow down further. “However, the sector is proving to be incredibly resilient and has shown this year that it can rebound strongly after challenging setbacks. The government’s announcement at the weekend has given the industry a chance to continue its growth and hopefully it can end the year in a strong position.” For more information about IronmongeryDirect, visit: www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/
No matter where you are in the world, you have likely been impacted somehow by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe you know someone who contracted it. Maybe it’s impacted your job or the career of someone you love. While some parts of the globe are seeing yet another surge, there are certain industries that have to keep going in order to maintain some sense of normalcy. So far, the construction industry has been considered ‘essential’ in many different areas of the world. Things still need to get built. Deadlines and schedules need to be kept. Unfortunately, one recent study in the U.S. has found that construction workers might be at a greater risk of developing COVID-19. So, why the increased risk within the construction industry, and what can you do to keep your team safe? Why Are Workers at Risk? At the height of the pandemic, the BESA released new COVID-19 guidelines to keep engineering and construction firms safe. Like many other industries are discovering, however, no safety plan is foolproof. One of the biggest reasons why construction workers remain at high risk is because the industry remained in demand throughout the pandemic. Again, many construction projects needed to keep going and workers were considered essential. Whether a buyer needed a property report or actual building needed to be completed, the commercial real estate, construction, and design industries haven’t stopped. In many places across the globe, things have been so uncertain for so long that it has been hard to keep up with changes in rules, regulations, and policies. Amidst that confusion, it has likely been easy for those in the construction field to make a few missteps in keeping themselves safe. Close Confines on Construction Sites If you work in the industry, or you’ve been on a job site before, it’s easy to think you’re safe from the threat of any virus, considering you spend the majority of your time outside. But, think about how close you can get throughout the day to your fellow workers. You might need to give them instructions or receive some from someone else. You may be touching the same tools and building materials as someone else. Construction workers often go from job to job, too. That can easily increase the spread of the virus, even if just one worker is carrying it from site to site. Simply put, there are plenty of ways in which the virus can be passed at a job site, which may also be contributing to the greater risk for those in construction. What Can Be Done Now? Thankfully, the precautions necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 haven’t changed much over the last few months. If you are in charge of a job site, you should make it your top priority to keep everyone safe. If you are a worker, it is your own responsibility to take precautions and keep yourself safe while doing what you can to reduce the spread to others. The most important thing you can do is to make sure everyone on the site is practicing social distancing as much as possible. That may not always feel realistic when working on a job. But, if it means extending a deadline to keep your workers safe, that’s what needs to be done. Having fewer people on the site is a great place to start. Additionally, anyone who is there should be wearing a mask at all times. This is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce the spread of COVID, and it’s a small price to pay for keeping everyone healthy. Contract tracing should also be done among workers. If one employee is exposed to the virus, everyone needs to be made aware and the right procedures need to be put in place. That’s especially important for workers who go to different job sites to work. Does that mean some of your workers will have to quarantine for a while? It’s likely. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Not putting these precautions in place could trigger an outbreak among your employees. Information like this isn’t meant to scare anyone. The construction industry certainly isn’t the only one facing these ‘surges’ and rising case numbers. Almost any profession that requires people to work closely with one another is at a greater risk of spreading the virus. But, if the construction industry wants to stay afloat, guidelines need to be taken seriously and construction firms need to have their own sets of rules in place that are designed to keep everyone safe.
If you have created or work in a shop, then you will know that the appearance of the building is crucial to its success. A shop’s layout and windows can have a dramatic effect on whether potential customers decide to buy anything or possibly even enter the building. Potential customers need to be enticed in with the promise that it is going to be worth their while, so how do you encourage customers to browse through your business? Choose the Right Floor Plan A floor plan is essential for ensuring a steady flow within your shop that will allow customers to browse without bumping into other customers and will let them browse all that your store has to offer. Choosing the right floor plan will depend upon the size and shape of your shop, but you can try out a range of floor plans by changing the way you position your product. For example, if you wanted to try out the straight floor plan, you need only move your products into rows of straight lines. This creates an easy layout for customers to manoeuvre and is very popular. Create an Imaginative Window Display A window display is probably the easiest way to encourage a potential customer to enter your shop. It is important to really spend some time thinking about what you would like to include in your window display, as this is your opportunity to showcase your products and business. At this point, you may need to hire a professional window dresser to construct your window display for you, such as VM & Window Displays, as they know best how to make busy shoppers stop and stare at your shop windows. Use the Space Wisely It is important to make the most out of every inch of your business premises. You should use items such as furniture to guide shoppers around the space in a way that exposes them to as many products and as much of the store as possible. But, make sure that customers do not just walk aimlessly through your shop. It would help if you created breaks within the empty spaces of your shop to slow customers down. These breaks tend to be special displays that the customer will want to pause to examine. You may need to enlist the help of an interior designer to help you construct a shop floor that makes the most of the space you have. Decorate the Exterior If you have a shop that is based on a long street where all the buildings look very similar, it can be difficult to stand out from the rest. You do not need to do anything extravagant to resolve this issue; it can really be as simple as just painting your shop door a bright and mesmerising colour, or placing a flower pot outside that customers will notice. These small adjustments to your shop’s exterior will help you to stand out from the crowd – the little details matter. Making just these small changes to your shop will not only help you gain more customers, but it will also construct the perfect shopping experience for them.
COVID-19 has had an undeniable impact on how we live – but how could the pandemic potentially change the way we approach ventilation within our healthcare facilities as we learn from the coronavirus and tackle potential airborne infection control? Mechanical engineer at Pick Everard, Simon Atkin, discusses how the pandemic could shape ventilation systems moving forwards. He said: “Sustainability and energy efficiency has long been high on the agenda for the construction industry as we all look to move towards Net Zero Carbon and to deliver the most environmentally sound infrastructure – but COVID-19 has introduced a new focus for many; ventilation. More importantly, how we can ensure that the systems we use within our buildings keep end users safe and prevent the spread of airborne diseases such as coronavirus? “Historically, ventilation has been related to the thermal comfort of end users, particularly in commercial settings. However, the way in which we handle air circulation within our buildings has become a key point of discussion in relation to infection control, whether that be within new builds or what options there are to retrofit older buildings to help improve the role of ventilation in bacterial control within our buildings – especially those with healthcare purposes.” Adapting to changing scientific advice Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, building services engineers have had to pay close attention to the scientific advice on the disease to ensure that clients can be advised on their systems appropriately – whether this be a commercial office space or a medical facility. Simon added: “Several months into the pandemic in the UK, the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledged that there was emerging evidence that the virus could be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air, and that such airborne transmission could not be ruled out in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated settings. “With many patients needing critical treatment for other conditions throughout the pandemic it is of critical importance that we adapt quickly and efficiently within healthcare facilities to ensure that patients are still able to receive potentially life-saving treatment without being put at risk of contracting coronavirus. “High-performance ventilation systems are already commonplace within the healthcare sector, with systems including negative pressure air handling and fresh air exchangers utilised effectively in hospitals – but are we likely to see these types of systems integrated into other sectors as we move out of the pandemic? It could be that hospital grade ventilation systems become the norm across all varieties of buildings as consumers become more focussed on how we ventilate spaces to prevent the spread of disease. “There is an inevitable cost implication to utilising higher performance ventilation systems as well as a potential compromise on other sustainability credentials within the build, both of which may make clients think twice about how far they are willing to go – especially given the evolving ways in which we are all using spaces as a result of social distancing. “We may also see changes to the maintenance and cleaning of ventilation systems. In the past, this is something that has been carried out infrequently – if at all – but as increasing focus is placed on germ control, it may be that we see pressure being applied on building owners and occupiers to illustrate these measures are being taken, possibly even via legislation and certification.” The future of ventilation At Pick Everard, we have been keeping abreast of the latest scientific data and advice from the WHO, to make sure we provide our clients with the best possible service in what has been undoubtedly one of the toughest years for the healthcare sector. As well as the obvious pressures the coronavirus placed on services directly, there have been huge ripples of indirect pressures as well. “One hospital with whom we at Pick Everard have a working relationship has sought consultancy services on its ventilation systems due to one such indirect pressure – a forced reduction in the number of patients served,” said Simon. “Following the WHO acknowledgement of potential airborne transmission in enclosed spaces, the hospital had to introduce a process of leaving a minimum of one hour between patients in its consultancy rooms to avoid cross-contamination issues. This of course has a significant impact on the number of patients that can be treated each day, increasing the waiting lists for treatments and has a very real human impact on those patients waiting for treatment. “We have never seen such a focus on air circulation and ventilation, but whether or not there will be a long-term change in approach when it comes to designing systems in our buildings is not yet clear. There will undoubtedly be cost implications associated with higher grade ventilation systems, as well as considerations around performance and energy efficiencies, which will potentially require clients to find additional funding to see projects come to fruition. “As we move through the pandemic and with a vaccine potentially on the horizon, any longer-term shift towards high-performance heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems may not be obvious as changes take their time to filter through. Without legislation it is likely that progress will be slow across the board, but there are certainly many learnings to take forward from 2020, and opportunity for forward-thinking organisations to deliver better, more hygienic, and sustainable buildings.” Pick Everard employs more than 500 staff across its 13 offices, providing a range of project, cost and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.
