Tradespeople are working longer hours and extra shifts because of the cost of living crisis, with almost a quarter (23%) saying they can’t afford to take any time off.  The new research by ElectricalDirect, a specialist retailer of electrical products, surveyed workers across the nation to reveal how many are at risk of burnout, and found that almost two in five (39%) have upped their hours in recent months.  A similar number (43%) now regularly work more than eight-hour days, nearly a fifth (18%) do more than five days a week, and over a quarter (26%) even work while feeling unwell.  Furthermore, tradespeople are taking very few days of annual leave, largely for financial reasons. On average, they take just 11 days off a year, but almost a third (32%) take less than a week of holiday every 12 months.  In fact, a staggering 92% take less than 28 days off a year, which is the statutory annual leave requirement.  Broken down by trade, roofers take the fewest days off, averaging just four days of leave a year. In contrast, painter and decorators take the most holiday, but still take less than two weeks off (12).  The trades which take the most and least annual leave are:  #  Trade  Mean  1  Painter Decorator  13  2  Landscaper  12  3  Plumber  12  4  Joiner  12  5  Builder  11  6  Electrician  11  7  Caretaker/Maintenance  11  8  Window Fabricator  11  9  Locksmith  11  10  Carpenter  10  11  Building Surveyor  9  12  Plasterer  9  13  Bricklayer  9  14  Scaffolder  8  15  Roofer  4  Self-employed tradespeople are the most overworked. They are considerably more likely than employed individuals to work long days (51% vs 40%), work while ill (34% vs 23%) and work at weekends (38% vs 18%). They are also nearly twice as likely to work over five days a week (27% vs 14%).  To help tradespeople avoid or deal with burnout, ElectricalDirect has partnered with Liz Sebag-Montefiore, director and co-founder of HR consultancy 10Eighty, to share some expert advice.  Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “With the country still fighting the cost of living crisis, it’s completely understandable that many tradespeople feel the need to put in extra hours to increase their level of income.  “However, overworking can have serious consequences, physically, mentally and professionally, and that’s why we’ve partnered with Liz to share some expert advice. Hopefully her tips can help tradespeople deal with the recent increase in workload, so that they can avoid or manage any burnout.”  For more expert advice on how to deal with burnout, visit: https://www.electricaldirect.co.uk/blog/how-to-avoid-burnout   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

INVESTMENT in East Midlands commercial real estate is set to bounce back in 2023 after transaction volumes dropped at the end of last year amid the UK’s economic uncertainty. Total investment volume in the region was £1.356 billion in 2022 – significantly down and nearly half (44%) of the previous year’s record-breaking volume, according to the annual market review by leading commercial property agents Innes England. However, the figure was only slightly down (11.5%) on the five-year rolling average and just 6.75% down on the ten-year rolling average, said Ben Robinson, head of the company’s investment consultancy. Ben said 2022 had been ‘a year of two halves’ but added: “As we begin 2023 we are cautiously optimistic that despite the re-rating of commercial property yields at the end of last year, transaction activity will return as investors quickly become acclimatised to the new norm.” The figures were revealed in Innes England’s 16th Market Insite report – presented virtually to an audience of hundreds of industry professionals – which monitors trends in the regional property market, focusing on Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, as well as Birmingham for the first time this year. The webinar featured specially filmed interviews with the senior team on location and included a live Q&A. Across the East Midlands in 2022, the report highlighted: Transaction activity across the region in the first half of 2022 continued at much the same level as the previous year, when volumes ended at record highs, said Ben. “However, this strong investor momentum started to fade in the second half of the year as the market began to absorb the effects of the first significant rises in interest rates since the financial crisis, before falling away sharply following the further shock of ‘Trussonomics’,” said Ben.  “As the era of cheap money came to a rather abrupt end towards the latter part of the year many investors adopted a wait-and-see approach whilst commercial property yields re-rated across all sectors.” That was reflected in the drop in transaction volumes in the second half, with only £239 million pounds worth of deals transacted across the whole East Midlands market. “However, we expect the market to recover following a quiet start to the year as investors look to take the opportunities of a thinner market while it lasts,” said Ben. In the logistics market, record levels of take-up in the first half of last year gave way to a decline in the second half, said director Peter Doleman. Whilst the political instability was clearly a factor, there was no crisis in the East Midlands industrial sector performance. Leicester’s increased take-up of 39% was primarily due to its location and greater exposure to the national distribution market, with notable sites including Magna Park and the Leicester Distribution Park. Derbyshire saw a substantial increase, from 891,000 to over 1.2 million sq ft. “Whilst the distribution sector is obviously an increasingly important part of both the local and national property market, there are many other sectors that drive our market locally, and the feel-good factor here in the East Midlands is better than some pundits have forecast,” said Peter. “Rental values and prices continued to rise last year, off the back of the speculative market, where prices have had to rise in view of increased costs. This has had a knock-on effect within the second-hand market, as occupiers look for suitable and cheaper alternatives. Prime rents are in the region of £8.50 per sq ft.” Director Craig Straw, head of Innes England’s business space agency team, said office take-up transactions were down across the region by about 25% but this followed a bumper post-pandemic 2021. Nottingham’s office take-up was the most robust with a strong focus on the city centre. Activity in Leicester and Derby was high in the edge of city and out of town market but overall the region had a lack of larger transactions. One emerging trend was occupiers upgrading at lease events while also downsizing their requirements. In some sectors this upgrading led to rental inflation, said Craig. New ways of working will continue to impact space requirements, with growing indications that some employers are starting to push for a more office-focused base. “It will be interesting to see how things develop as in many sectors there is still a labour shortage with employers looking to secure those scarce resources on terms which suit the employee,” said Craig. “No doubt the best approach is to create a workplace which employees wish to visit and spend time in out of choice.” In the retail sector, landlords and tenants had needed to adjust to the economic climate and the challenge of inflation, said Innes England managing director Matt Hannah, who highlighted the UK’s 17,000 shop closures in 2022 – the highest in the past five years. “A third of all closures came from a reduction in branch networks by the nationals and a further third, unfortunately, from the independent sector,” said Matt. “The East Midlands had the third lowest net decline in these numbers which reflect a 50% increase across the country over 2021. The reduction of government support and removal of the rent moratorium played significant roles.” Despite the closures, city centre landlords and stakeholders are repurposing spaces at pace, such as Marks and Spencer’s plan for 20 new stores over the next two years, creating 3,400 jobs, and the future of the region’s former Debenhams stores. The most significant boost to city centres is the much-awaited rating reassessment which impacts this April and is an immediate reduction of retailers’ occupancy costs, said Matt. “Some units we are marketing are showing a 65% drop in the rates payable or, for example, a reduction on one unit from £70,000 a year to £25,000,” he added. The retail warehouse market has made a swifter recovery, with investment yields between five and six per cent, and discount food operators continue on an aggressive expansion. The food and beverage roadside sector is attracting new entrants, where strong rents are

Lothian Pension Fund has acquired Corstorphine Retail Park from Hunter Real Estate Investment Management for £16.265 million. The park has recently undergone extensive redevelopment with new lettings secured to Lidl and The Gym Group, with further lease re-gears to McDonalds, Pets at Home and Cancer Research giving an average lease length in excess of 18 years. Lothian Pension Fund was advised by Lismore Real Estate Advisors, Hunter was advised by Sheridan Keane. Commenting on the retail warehousing sector, Chris Macfarlane, director of Lismore said: “Towards the end of 2022 and into this year we have seen retail warehousing yields soften, but those parks anchored by food stores and also with an element of drive-thru, located in strong urban catchments, remain robust and still offer good value.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The John F Hunt Group is pleased to confirm that it has secured a majority shareholding in RKD Consultant Ltd. Specialists in geotechnical and structural engineering design, RKD has a reputation for being one of London’s leading designers of Temporary Works schemes. The award-winning company has worked on some of the most iconic and complex projects in the capital, including Battersea Power Station, Chelsea Barracks, Kensington Odeon, and recently but very topically, the basement extension of Claridge’s. Mark Blackmore and Dr Adam Pellew’s management remains unchanged, together with their engineering team, who will continue to operate out of their existing offices in East London. John F Hunt Directors, Davinder Rehal CEng, and Dr Adam Fisher, who have over 25 years’ experience in the rail sector and ground engineering respectively, will ensure the adoption of a collaborative approach between the two Engineering Design disciplines and that RKD’s client interests are not conflicted.    Mark Blackmore, RKD’s Managing Director, commented, “It will be ‘business as usual’ for us, as we will still work independently with our existing clients. We have combined forces and delivered many projects with John F Hunt in the past, and we appreciate their excellent reputation within the construction industry. The amalgamation of technical engineering minds and the support the Group can offer is an exciting prospect for all of us.” John Hall, John F Hunt Group Chairman, said, “The incorporation of the highly regarded RKD business within the Group will greatly strengthen John F Hunt’s geotechnical and structural capabilities. However, we recognise the importance of RKD retaining their autonomy and existing client base; this, I am sure they will achieve whilst being able to expand the business through our network of regional offices.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals