Prologis UK, a leading logistics property owner, developer and investor, alongside its principal contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick has been working on an expansion of Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead since March 2024. Delivering long-term employability The development is already delivering for the town, providing job opportunities for local people as well as training to boost long-term employability. Since the start of construction, working with training provider Goodwill Solutions, two Hemel residents have been hired and received Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards – an industry-wide seal of approval and transferrable to future roles. One local resident, Maura, who completed training to work on the site, said: “My time at the site has proven immensely valuable to me personally. At Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead, every day is dynamic and fast-paced, allowing me to develop a host of new skills on the job and helping to boost my confidence. It’s been both a challenging and rewarding opportunity so far and I’m excited to continue growing in my role.” On completion, the expansion of Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead is anticipated to create many more additional jobs, as businesses setup their new operations. Inspiring the next generation Prologis actively engages in initiatives to inspire the future workforce to increase their understanding of the logistics and real estate sectors. Working closely with VolkerFitzpatrick, numerous educational visits have been conducted at the site for a number of schools, colleges and universities. Students from Nottingham Trent University’s Built Environment School were given insight into the inner workings of a construction site through detailed tours, sessions with the commercial team and team building exercises. Site visits and career talks have similarly been held with Hertford Regional College, where its T-level students gained insight into key elements of the development including in design, surveying and planning. Students and graduates have also been involved with work experience placements at Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead, during which they were able to work closely across departments with site engineers, trainee site managers and designers, gaining first-hand insight into these career routes. Giving back to the Hemel Hempstead community Prologis has pledged to deliver £7 million of social value for Hemel – supporting initiatives that directly benefit and strengthen the local community. One example is the contributions being made to Hemel Hempstead’s local food bank, DENS, for its Christmas wish list, providing vital support for the area’s vulnerable individuals. Matt Goodier, Senior Project Manager, at Volker Fitzpatrick said: “Bringing a net positive to Hemel Hempstead has been a key aim of this project. With the help of Prologis and Goodwill Solutions, the tangible benefit of providing job opportunities and career insights has been significant. Our recent contributions to the local food bank, DENS, has also demonstrated the type of support that we set out to bring to the community.” Martin Cooper, Vice President of the Development Management team at Prologis UK, said: “At the start of this project we set out to deliver real benefit to the local community and it’s exciting to see our social value coming to life. Our approach to supporting the local job market has been deliberate and purposeful, aiming to boost prospects for those wanting to enter construction, engineering or logistics. The social value goals initially set for this development will allow us to continue improving our contributions to communities, in both Hemel Hempstead and across our portfolio.” Introducing Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead Prologis announced the expansion to Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead in early 2024. Since then, work onsite has made significant progress, with the development on course to be completed in Q1 2025. The site, at Green Lane, will house five new logistics facilities ranging between 19,000 – 75,000 sq ft and push the boundaries with market-leading design features focused on sustainability, customer and community needs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Lovell has gone a fair way to supporting the local sporting community by signing a sponsorship deal with Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club. The housebuilder, which is delivering 42 new homes at Saints Green at Peggy’s Field in South Otterington, has donated £500 to the golf club. The sponsorship money will be used to help with its day-to-day running costs. The club, which is in Thornton-le-Street, was established in 1914 and its parkland course was extended from nine holes to 18 holes in 1997. Club manager Matt Creighton said: “Many thanks to Lovell for their sponsorship of Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club for 2025. We’re a family-friendly golf club and take pride in welcoming more people into the sport. We look forward to working with Lovell in the future helping to promote golf in the local community.” Phil Jones, Head of Land and Partnerships for Lovell, said: “Our ethos as a developer is not just to build new homes but also to reach out to form relationships with organisations which play a prominent role in the life of the local community. “We are proud to be a sponsor of Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club which offers a sporting challenge to golfers of all levels and aptitudes. Moreover, the club has a genuine family feel and has been awarded the R&A Women in Golf Charter which is given to clubs who work to attract more women, girls and families to the sport.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has announced a new partnership venture with Derby County Community Trust (DCCT), marking the company as an Associate Trust Partner for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025. As part of this exciting collaboration, G F Tomlinson has made a donation to support the vital work DCCT delivers throughout the local community and, in return the contractor’s own employees can benefit from the Trust’s extensive mental health programmes which include tailored workshops and seminars that promote well-being and mental health support within the workplace. As part of the partnership, G F Tomlinson will be the Front Shirt Sponsor for Derby County’s U14 Female Team and this sponsorship forms part of Derby County’s Female Talent Pathway, providing valuable opportunities for young female footballers from the local area. As part of the support, the contractor will contribute to the cost of their training programme which has faced cuts in funding from the FA in recent years, alongside supplying the U14 team with kits for the 2024/2025 season. G F Tomlinson has also committed to sponsoring Harrison’s Hub Community Meals, a key DCCT initiative that provides hot meals and drinks to the homeless, elderly, and other vulnerable members of society. The team will actively participate by providing volunteers for two of these meal events—one in January 2025 and another in April 2025—offering not only a helping hand but a listening ear to those in need. Andy Sewards, Group Chairman at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are proud to partner with Derby County Community Trust to support them in the invaluable work they do for the local community. As a business deeply rooted in Derby for over 130 years, we clearly see the trust’s initiatives make a real difference to daily lives, something of which is incredibly close to our hearts. “We’re delighted to contribute to both the future of young talent and the well-being of the wider community, and this partnership aligns perfectly with our values as a business.” Pete Collins, Fundraising and Partnerships Manager at Derby County Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome G F Tomlinson as an Associate Trust Partner. Their support will be instrumental in helping us continue our vital community programmes. Sponsorship of the U14 Female Team and their involvement with Harrison’s Hub Community Meals demonstrates a deep commitment to making a tangible difference and we look forward to building a strong relationship and seeing the positive impact of their involvement.” G F Tomlinson is also exploring ways to collaborate with Derby County’s Female Talent Pathway educational programmes, to promote careers in construction to young women. As part of the initiative, the company is keen to provide valuable insights into the wide range of opportunities within the industry, aiming to inspire the next generation of female talent to consider construction as a viable and rewarding career path. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Quintain, the asset manager and development company behind London’s renowned culture and entertainment hub, Wembley Park, is showcasing its commitment to biodiversity and natural capital this National Tree Week. Aligned with the start of the UK’s annual tree planting season, National Tree Week runs from 23rd November to 1st December 2024, bringing the conservation sector, volunteers and dendrophiles together.  This National Tree Week, Quintain is celebrating the planting of over 1,000 trees across Wembley Park’s public realm and resident podium gardens in accordance with its award-winning, site-wide tree planting strategy. This strategy has been in place since 2005, at which time there were just a few dozen trees dotted across the entire 85-acre Wembley Park site. Now, there are 1,333 trees flourishing in the neighbourhood, with an impressive survival rate of 99.5% following the implementation of a careful management approach. The trees are spread across the entire estate, including public areas and the gardens of those living with Quintain’s management company, Quintain Living. Trees play a key role in Quintain’s placemaking strategy, not simply for aesthetic purposes but for their role in delivering a sense of connection to nature (with a resulting boost to visitors’ and residents’ mental wellbeing) and in enhancing local air quality. Wembley Park’s trees span an impressive 103 species. They include Snowy Mespilus, English Oak, Pin Oak, London Plane, Lime, Double White Cherry, Japanese Flowering Cherry, Dogwood, Hop-Hornbeam, Japanese Stewartia, Japanese Maple, Birch, Silver Birch, Sweetgum, Ginkgo and many more. Different species are used to create distinctly different vibes across the neighbourhood, boosting the distinctive character of its various public and residential areas. One of the most recent new species in 2024 is the Tupelo Tree with stunning Autumn foliage.  You can see them in Union Park. Tree-lined Olympic Way is a notable example of this, with pairs of trees used to draw the eye along the promenade towards Wembley Stadium. Trees from temperate zones around the globe are used to create a sense of arrival and destination, while celebrating different cultures and enhancing biodiversity as part of the neighbourhood’s overall tree matrix. The avenue of ‘champion trees’ uses height, texture and colour to create a heightened sense of interest along the boulevard. In total, 62 trees of 25 species line the famous pedestrian zone leading up to the stadium, including 24 matched pairs. Quintain’s tree-planting strategy extends to ensuring residents and visitors have ample opportunities to enjoy the leafy Wembley Park neighbourhood. The firm has a dedicated Wembley Park hub on the Greentalk platform, which shares a selection of mapped walking routes that take in some of the area’s most notable and impressive trees. Walkers can also devise their own routes, focused on passing specific green points of interest along the way. Guided walks also take place, with Julian Tollast, Head of Masterplanning and Design at Quintain, on hand to talk participants through the technical aspects involved in urban tree planting and maintenance at such a scale. Tree maintenance is a priority for the Quintain team. With some trees decades old and an average canopy size of 20 sqm, tree health is excellent across the neighbourhood, from the extensive planting in Union Park and the many residents’ gardens and pocket parks, to the trees along the wide boulevards. The character of the latter changes in line with the seasons, serving as welcome shade in the summer to beautiful creations adorned with twinkling lights throughout the festive period. Across the neighbourhood, Wembley Park’s design teams have measurable targets for Biodiversity Net Gain and Urban Green Factor, providing encouragement to boost wildlife-friendly planting and maintain the existing glorious greenery. In 2022 alone, an additional 380 sqm of tree cover was added to the neighbourhood, while the total amount of public realm delivered at Wembley Park to date runs to 98,324 sqm. That equates to 38.75 trees per hectare across the entire estate.  “The abundant, flourishing growth of the greenery around Wembley Park delivers a huge range of benefits as part of Quintain’s sustainability strategy. National Tree Week serves as an excellent reminder of the importance of such greenery and we are delighted to be celebrating the planting and survival of more than 1,000 trees across Wembley Park. From headline environmental benefits and enhancement to air quality to positively impacting the mental wellbeing of all those who spend time in the neighbourhood, Wembley Park’s trees provide much to celebrate. Every tree is logged on a publicly accessible online tree map – Greentalk – accessible through the Wembley Park Website.  Treemendous!” Julian Tollast, Head of Masterplanning and Design, Quintain Moving forward, Quintain’s tree-planting strategy will continue to centre on three key areas: biodiversity, natural capital and pollution prevention, with an overarching objective of preserving, protecting and improving biodiversity across all of the asset manager’s developments. Within Wembley Park, the focus is on reconnecting the surrounding network of natural ecosystems and wildlife corridors and providing open space within the heart of Wembley. This will encompass further planting over the coming years, not only as part of the opening of a new section of Union Park, but within podium gardens for new residential developments and across other areas of public realm.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leading national builders’ merchant Jewson has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with Shetland Girls & Women’s Football Club, providing new kits for more than 140 players and donations to fund the Club’s place at the 2025 Orkney Island Games. As the first club in Shetland to achieve the Scottish Football Association Quality Mark Bronze Award this year, Shetland Girls & Women’s FC has teams ranging from under nine years old up to the adult team, which recently secured a spot at the 2025 Orkney Island Games. Jewson’s sponsorship deal will help towards the cost of attending the Games, as well as ongoing running costs and a new kit for all players.  Wayne Uren, Branch Manager at Jewson Lerwick, says: “As an active member of the Shetland community, we are always looking for new ways to give something back, ranging from product donations to lending our time and expertise to construction projects in the region.  “We’ve been following the journey of Shetland Girls & Women’s FC for some time and we are all incredibly proud of their recent achievements, so it felt like the right time to step up our support and agree the sponsorship deal that will provide vital funds to the club over the next three years.”  Kay Anderson, Club Chairperson at Shetland Girls & Women’s FC, said: “We are very grateful to Jewson Lerwick for their generous sponsorship deal, which will enable us to continue reaching our ambitious goals for the club and look ahead to the 2025 Orkney Island Games. “The club was formed in 2017 with just a handful of players and we now have more than 140 girls and women playing with us, as well as almost 50 volunteers. We recently appointed a new management team and feel confident that – with the support of our sponsors – we have a bright future ahead.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A five-figure donation from the Highlands’ leading roofing company has provided a welcome boost for a charity supporting children and young people with severe, profound and multiple learning disabilities. Macleod Roofing has donated £10,000 to the Elsie Normington Foundation’s upcoming Dragons’ Den fundraiser, set to take place on April 25, 2025. Following this commitment, the company is now calling on other local businesses to join them in supporting this impactful event, which aims to empower Highland charities and foster community development. Elizabeth Mackintosh, who has been patron of the Foundation for three years, explained: “Next year we are holding a Dragon’s Den dinner, raising money not just for the Elsie Normington Foundation but also five local charities that might not otherwise have access to funding. “Charities will have the opportunity to put their case forward to our panel of ‘Dragons’ who will decide how the money will be divided up. “Macleod Roofing has kindly started this off with a very generous £10,000 donation. We are so grateful for their support, and hope that other businesses in the area will follow their example and support great local causes.” Sandy Macleod, managing director of Macleod Roofing, echoed Elizabeth’s sentiments, saying, “The work that the Elsie Normington Foundation does for people and families in the north of Scotland is extraordinary, so we are proud to support them in their mission to provide vital facilities in Inverness. Both Elizabeth and Elsie are true inspirations, dedicating their time and efforts to make a difference in our community. “At Macleod Roofing, we believe that supporting local charities not only strengthens the fabric of our community but also fosters a sense of connection and belonging. By investing in our neighbours, we can tackle the unique challenges we face together and create sustainable solutions that benefit everyone.  “For this reason, I’m calling on other local businesses to join the Elsie Normington Foundation in this important mission. When we come together to support local causes, we can amplify our efforts and drive meaningful change in the Highlands.” The Elsie Normington Foundation was founded 11 years ago by disability campaigner and author Elsie Normington, whose son Andrew was diagnosed with a severe and intractable form of epilepsy when he was just four years old. Realising the need for specialist services and facilities for children and young people in similar situations, and their families, she spearheaded the construction of the Haven Centre in Smithton, just outside Inverness. Over the past ten years, Elsie and a team of dedicated trustees, staff and volunteers have raised over £4 million to turn this into a reality. The Haven Centre is Scotland’s first multi-purpose centre for children and young people with severe learning disabilities, comprising a specialist play centre which is run by partners, SNAP, and includes sensory and art spaces. The Haven Centre includes 3 respite suites for short breaks, overnight stays and emergency respite. The Haven Café, which is also situated on site, is open to all and provides teas, coffees, breakfast, lunches and delicious home baking.  Elsie Normington, Chair and Visionary of the Elsie Normington Foundation said: “We decided to think out of the box to deliver a new fundraising event and came up with the Dragon’s Den format.   “This event will not only benefit the Elsie Normington Foundation but also other local charities, who will pitch to the dragons for a share of the prize pot.  Each charity taking part will receive a share of the prize pot.   “We are very excited to be launching this event and look forward to working with our sponsors and partners in the coming months to orchestrate an unforgettable event, which will not only provide a funding boost to the charities involved but also greater awareness of these fantastic local charities who do so much good in our local community.” Macleod Roofing has provided exceptional roofing services in the Highlands and the north of Scotland for over 30 years. Founded by Sandy Macleod, the firm provides a one-stop roofing service – bringing roofers, slaters, joiners, builders, plumbers and painters under the same umbrella. For more information, visit www.macleodroofing.co.uk. For more information about the Elsie Normington Foundation’s Dragons’ Charity Den, visit www.havencentre.org/dragons-charity-den-inverness and for information about the Haven Centre, visit www.havecentre.org.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Pirtek UK and Ireland, a market leading hydraulics specialist, has launched its Under the Hard Hat campaign to raise awareness of mental health in the hard hat industries. The campaign follows the company’s recent research, which showed that 94% of hard hat workers have struggled with their mental health. The Under the Hard Hat launch event took place at Pirtek’s National Training Centre in Birmingham on the 17th of October, with keynotes delivered by its partners Ollie Ollerton; best known for Channel 4’s ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’ and author of The Sunday Times bestselling book ‘Break Point’; and Lucas Whitehead, spokesperson at suicide prevention charity, Andy’s Man Club. Given that hard hat industries are often heavily male-dominated, the event emphasised the importance of breaking stigmas associated with men’s mental health. It also provided advice and resources to support mental health awareness on a broader level, regardless of gender. Adam Burrows, Managing Director of Pirtek UK and Ireland, said: “Pirtek provides services to a wide range of hard hat industries, meaning that we are in a unique position to open up more positive conversations surrounding mental health. We are also providing internal support to our network and now have mental health ambassadors in place to help do this”. The event started with Ollie Ollerton, founder of The BreakPoint Academy, sharing his personal experiences with mental health struggles and the steps he has taken to transform his life. This was followed by a presentation by Lucas Whitehead at Andy’s Man Club, which told the story of why the charity was formed and how its groups are helping thousands of men across the country. Ollie Ollerton commented: “I’m passionate about turning my experiences into a force for good by helping people transform their lives, turning mental health into mental wealth. To do this, individuals need to understand the significance of poor mental health, whether they are struggling themselves or not. This starts with spreading awareness and providing a safe space for family, friends, and colleagues to talk. Here is where businesses like Pirtek have the power to make a difference”. This sentiment supports Pirtek’s research on mental health in the hard hat industries as over half of respondents reported feeling uncomfortable or awkward talking about their mental health; four out of ten have taken time off work for mental health reasons; and 41% believe that their workplaces don’t have sufficient mental health support in place. To close the event, a panel discussion was held involving Ollerton and Whitehead along with Pirtek’s QHSE Manager, Martyn Smart and one of Pirtek’s franchise owners, Stuart Brown. Brown was chosen as a panel guest as he runs weekly group sessions on behalf of Andy’s Man Club. For more info about Under the Hard Hat, head to: https://www.pirtek.co.uk/under-the-hard-hat/ To find an Andy’s Man Club support group near you, please visit: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals