Costa Clyde on a sunny Saturday was the setting for the Five Ferries Challenge, a 52-mile-long cycle ride undertaken by a team of East Kilbride-based engineers on behalf of the Beatson Cancer Charity. The team, made up of ten cyclists and two support crew, from Dougall Baillie Associates, one of
A time capsule has been buried at the construction site of Manchester’s brand-new adult mental health inpatient unit, North View. North View is the £105.9 million state-of-the-art unit, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), that will replace the current Park House adult mental health inpatient unit on
A star of the BBC’s DIY SOS programme will be joining one of the Actis team and other industry specialists at an open day to mark the 50th anniversary of timber frame company Scandia-Hus later this month. Electrician Billy Byrne, who has featured in the popular TV show since its
The Chichester depot of Covers Timber & Builders Merchants is continuing its sponsorship of the city’s vibrant and inclusive Pride event for the third consecutive year. Taking place on Saturday 25th May, Chichester Pride promises to be a celebration of love and diversity, welcoming the LGBTQ+ community and allies for
More than £16 million has been invested in community and business projects bordering HS2’s route, helping to drive the local economy, enhance the environment and boost wellbeing. New figures show that £2.56m was allocated via the HS2 community and business funds programme over the last 12 months – taking the
The Sovini Group Golf Day brought together 80 golfers from the housing and commercial sector at Childwall Golf Club to compete in the sold-out event, which was hosted by local comedian Willie Millar. The guests and 20 sponsors in attendance collectively raised £19,000 for Zoe’s Place Cycle India Challenge. Zoe’s
LEADING regional procurement specialist EN:Procure, part of Efficiency North Holdings consortium of social housing providers, has continued its support of communities in Yorkshire through its Social Value Credits scheme for members. Efficiency North members who use EN:Procure’s frameworks can accrue the credits to be used for local community investment or
On Wednesday 10th April 1st Shipley Scouts in Sussex held a celebratory event to mark the completion of its brand-new accessible shower block. The new facilities were made possible by Willmott Dixon, together with generous contributions from local businesses and the community. Chairman of 1st Shipley Scouts, Peter Sutton, welcomed
This collaboration strengthens Building Heroes’ mission to support the reskilling and redeployment of military veterans into the construction industry. Building Heroes, the leading military-to-construction charity is excited to unveil its latest partnership with AmeyBriggs, which proudly joins as a Bronze Sponsoring Partner. This collaboration strengthens Building Heroes’ mission to support
Barratt Homes has donated £1,500 to Buckinghamshire’s homeless and foodbank charity, Jedidiah. The housebuilder, which is currently selling new homes at the nearby St Rumbold’s Fields development in Buckingham, has donated to the charity in support of their efforts providing food support to struggling families. With food prices on the
Costa Clyde on a sunny Saturday was the setting for the Five Ferries Challenge, a 52-mile-long cycle ride undertaken by a team of East Kilbride-based engineers on behalf of the Beatson Cancer Charity. The team, made up of ten cyclists and two support crew, from Dougall Baillie Associates, one of the largest independent engineering consultancy firms in Scotland, tackled the demanding uphill and down dale cycle on Saturday 11 May. The challenge, which gets under way from Ardrossan, then takes the ferry to Brodick on Arran, then a ferry from Lochranza, Arran, to Clonaig in Kintyre, another ferry from Tarbert on Kintyre to Portavadie on the Cowal Peninsula, a fourth ferry from Colintraive on Cowal to the Isle of Bute, then a final ferry from Bute to Wemyss Bay and the nearest public house for a well-deserved refreshment. Fergus Adams, Managing Director of Dougall Baillie Associates, said: “I didn’t realise there were quite so many hills on the route, but we supported each other all the way, made the most of our recovery times on the ferries and got back to Wemyss Bay pretty much on the timetable we set ourselves. “And happily, all five ferries were running smoothly and dropped us off us where we needed to be when we needed to be there. “It was great also to be able to undertake the challenge on a beautiful, sunny day since the team had been training throughout the late winter and early spring in some pretty appalling weather conditions. “We’ve been training hard with a weekly cycle club taking place plus some extra regular weekend cycles also. The team also looked the part with our DBA-branded cycling tops. “The upshot is that we have raised £4500 so far for one of Scotland’s most worthy charities and we would like to thank our many colleagues, clients, suppliers, families and friends who have contributed to this magnificent sum.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A time capsule has been buried at the construction site of Manchester’s brand-new adult mental health inpatient unit, North View. North View is the £105.9 million state-of-the-art unit, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), that will replace the current Park House adult mental health inpatient unit on the North Manchester General Hospital site. The time capsule was created to preserve the history of Park House, and memories of the North Manchester area, before North View opens later this year. It contains contributions and memorabilia from Park House patients, staff, local schools and contractors, including: The time capsule was officially buried at a special ceremony on 07th May 2024 and was attended by: After the ceremony, attendees were given a site tour of the North View building site, to see progress of the construction and ask any questions about the exciting new unit. Momina, 10, from Abraham Moss Community School said: “I made a poster for the time capsule. I drew a book because I love reading books; it is my passion and my hobby. I also drew a doctor because I want to be a doctor when I grow up. “Burying the time capsule today has been very fun and interesting because we are going to be a part of history. Finding this time capsule in 100 years’ time will hopefully make people very happy. “I really enjoyed the tour around North View – it looks more like a mansion than a hospital!” Tony Warne, Chair at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “This really is a historic moment for North Manchester, as we preserve information and relics about and from our wonderful, diverse community. With everything from poems to artwork, photographs, videos and day-to-day items, our time capsule portrays a snapshot in time which captures the spirit of our people, mental health services, history and aspirations, for future generations to one day look back on. Who knows how different their lives may be.” Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession for NHS Estates and Facilities at NHS England, said: “It was a real privilege to be part of this event. It’s important to celebrate these new developments, which will make such a difference for people needing inpatient mental health services across the country, and the creation of a time capsule is a really great way to do that. “It was impressive to see the progress on the North View site and the pace by which this project has been delivered to replace outdated and unsuitable dormitory accommodation with a new unit containing single en suite rooms in Manchester. “There’s been great collaboration between GMMH, the contractor, architects and service users, which has been absolutely critical and demonstrates the true partnership approach of the Procure programme – one I’m very proud to be part of.” Gary Bowker, Regional Managing Director at VINCI Building said: “It’s been wonderful to see all the brilliant contributions to the time capsule event, meet members of the community and tell them all about the exciting work we are doing at North View. “Social value is a huge part of what we do. As part of this, we have set up a community skills centre to support local 16-24 year olds through training and accredited qualifications. The aim of the centre is to support those furthest from the labour market into employment and help close the future construction skills gap for North Manchester. So far we have provided 7,200 training hours and 965 hours of work experience. Everyone who takes part also has the opportunity to move into paid employment, and we have already seen a number of learners progress to this.” Work on North View, a 150-bedroom specialist mental health inpatient unit, started in August 2022 with the new unit anticipated to be built and operational by 2024. The unit will help improve the region’s mental health services and make sure patients can access the care they need in an environment designed to enhance and aid therapeutic recovery. This forms part of the government’s commitment to deliver over 70 major hospital upgrades, helping improve patient care and ultimately save more lives. Once completed, the upgrade will see improvements to patient experience, with spacious single bedrooms, each with a private en-suite shower room, as well as a variety of indoor activity areas, meeting rooms for family visiting, multiple gardens, spaces for therapeutic artwork and a café. It will house a purpose-built Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), an older adults ward, seven adult acute wards, and a treatment suite. North View will be the first all-electric mental health unit in the country, which supports the NHS goal of becoming net zero; and will use energy efficient heat pump technology to provide heating, cooling and the generation of hot water. The building will also incorporate thermally efficient materials throughout, and solar panels to self-generate electricity. This new development is part of an exciting vision for North Manchester General Hospital to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years. GMMH is working with its Principal Supply Chain Partner, Integrated Health Projects (the joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine) to deliver the project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A star of the BBC’s DIY SOS programme will be joining one of the Actis team and other industry specialists at an open day to mark the 50th anniversary of timber frame company Scandia-Hus later this month. Electrician Billy Byrne, who has featured in the popular TV show since its inception, will address a lunchtime champagne reception for around 250 guests at the Scandia-Hus show centre in East Grinstead on Saturday May 18. As well as having the chance to see a TV personality in the flesh, visitors will be able to discuss their projects and ask advice from the Scandia-Hus team and specialist suppliers whose products and expertise is used in the company’s various designs – including Actis South East and South London area sales manager Liane Bayliss. Scandia-Hus has used the Actis Hybrid range in all four of its show homes, with the grand opening of its latest design – a single storey 1,915 sq ft property, the Lodge – taking place at the event, with guided tours on offer throughout the afternoon. The three other Actis-insulated show homes will house materials suppliers and experts, with Liane on hand to chat to would-be Scandia-Hus customers and builders from the first floor of The Mulberry, where she will be stationed overlooking the dramatic double height sitting room. Find out more information about the open day here. Find out more about the latest Actis-insulated Scandia-Hus show home here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Chichester depot of Covers Timber & Builders Merchants is continuing its sponsorship of the city’s vibrant and inclusive Pride event for the third consecutive year. Taking place on Saturday 25th May, Chichester Pride promises to be a celebration of love and diversity, welcoming the LGBTQ+ community and allies for a day of live entertainment, food and drink, stalls, and family-friendly activities. New for 2024 is the introduction of the Chichester Pride Parade through the city centre which will officially open the festivities and promote the event’s core values of inclusivity, individuality, respect, and unity. Jonny Clines, Sponsorship Coordinator for Chichester Pride, commented: “The backing of local businesses like Covers Timber & Builders Merchants is crucial in ensuring the success and sustainability of Chichester Pride. Their continued commitment demonstrates a shared vision of creating a community where everyone feels valued and accepted. Building on the success of Chichester Pride 2023, we anticipate an even more remarkable celebration this year.” Henry Green, Managing Director of Covers, added: “Covers has long been committed to supporting local events and initiatives that enrich the lives of residents. Our sponsorship of Chichester Pride underscores our dedication to encouraging positive change and making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. Our Chichester depot will be actively promoting what promises to be an unforgettable day of celebration and inclusivity.” Further information about Chichester Pride can be found on its website – https://www.chichesterpride.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
More than £16 million has been invested in community and business projects bordering HS2’s route, helping to drive the local economy, enhance the environment and boost wellbeing. New figures show that £2.56m was allocated via the HS2 community and business funds programme over the last 12 months – taking the total above £16m since they were launched seven years ago. The investment has been made in 285 separate projects to date, including upgrades to community buildings, improved sporting and play facilities, activities for young people, wildlife enhancements and the creation of community gardens. The total has been swelled by a further £55m-worth of matched funding, including volunteer time and cash resources, underlining the extent to which the funds act as a catalyst to drive community projects. The latest figures were revealed in an annual report published by Groundwork UK, independent administrators of the funds, on behalf of HS2 Ltd. According to the report, funding over the last 12 months has been concentrated on “priority” geographical areas to ensure that all communities along the line of route receive a fair share of the funding. The report sets out how investments will further pivot over the coming year, with funds continuing to be concentrated on priority areas as well as schemes that support local economies and deliver environmental and biodiversity enhancements. Two funding streams – the Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) – were launched in 2017 to aid communities affected by construction of the new high-speed line. This is over and above other statutory compensation to individuals, businesses and local economies facing direct disruption as a result of Britain’s biggest infrastructure programme. In the last year, 49 awards have been made in total, including: Cathy Elliott, Independent Chair of the HS2 funds, said: “We’re delighted to report that support for communities along HS2’s route has now exceeded £16m, with some outstanding examples of the tangible benefits enjoyed by locally-led projects. “In the last year we have invested in vital schemes to improve local people’s health and wellbeing, support children and young people, enhance the environment, and improve buildings and facilities – bringing communities together across rural and urban areas.” Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: “During a turbulent year for the HS2 project, it’s fantastic that communities have been provided with continuous and stable support through the funds, which are ensuring a rich variety of community assets and activities are being created for those effected by the works.” A £40m funding pot was created when the schemes were launched, covering Phase One from London to the West Midlands. The investment will cover the entire construction timeline of HS2, which is expected to start operating between 2029 and 2033. In addition, a further £5m of funding was made available for Phase 2a between the West Midlands and Crewe when this part of the line was approved by Parliament in early 2021. This closed to applications in November last year following the government decision to cancel the northern legs of HS2. Please visit the funds’ website for more information – including how to apply for funding – here: https://hs2funds.org.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Sovini Group Golf Day brought together 80 golfers from the housing and commercial sector at Childwall Golf Club to compete in the sold-out event, which was hosted by local comedian Willie Millar. The guests and 20 sponsors in attendance collectively raised £19,000 for Zoe’s Place Cycle India Challenge. Zoe’s Place cares for babies and young children with life-limiting, life-threatening or complex conditions. Their hospice in Liverpool has been on the same site for the last 28 years, but they now need to raise enough capital to ensure that their new hospice can facilitate their current services, providing the home away from home environment that the babies and families deserve. During the event, players had the opportunity to win a variety of prizes kindly donated by local companies and were also able to bid on auction items, including Peter Kay tickets and Liverpool Football Club signed shirts, to raise valuable funds. Gina Earnshaw from the Zoe’s Place said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with The Sovini Group so we can collectively raise funds to secure a new hospice and future home in Liverpool for our children and their families.” The Sovini Group’s annual golf day will focus on raising money for the Cycle India challenge in aid of Zoe’s Place. A team of seven colleagues will be pedalling 450 km through majestic Rajasthan, in aid of this great cause. Gina added “It’s our aspiration to raise enough capital to ensure that our new hospice can facilitate our current services, providing the home away from home environment that our babies and families deserve. We are so grateful for everyone who generously donated at today’s golf day, and we’ll look forward to more partnership opportunities with The Sovini Group in future.” The Sovini Group CEO Roy Williams said: “Our annual golf day is a great opportunity to raise valuable funds for Zoe’s Place, a very worthy local cause and one close to our hearts. I would like to thank our sponsors and guests who helped to make this event such a success, and for making a difference to the children and their families, as we strive to create opportunities and change lives.” To find out more about Zoe’s Place visit their website here. To find out more about The Sovini Group click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING regional procurement specialist EN:Procure, part of Efficiency North Holdings consortium of social housing providers, has continued its support of communities in Yorkshire through its Social Value Credits scheme for members. Efficiency North members who use EN:Procure’s frameworks can accrue the credits to be used for local community investment or creating new jobs and apprenticeships. The scheme’s latest £1,500 total was accumulated by 54North Homes, a member that builds and manages more than 3,000 affordable homes across Yorkshire. It decided to share the proceeds equally between walking buddy project Move Mates and Leeds-based community service The Pantry. Lee Parkinson, chief executive of Efficiency North, said: “Social value is the beating heart of Efficiency North and the foundation stone of our vision, values and mission. The Social Value Credits model was created as a response to our members wanting a more flexible way of delivering real impacts to the communities they serve, and that is evidenced by these donations made by 54North Homes. “Whether the money is going towards apprenticeships, jobs in the community or great causes, it’s all about building resilient communities for the north of England.” Since launching the scheme in 2019, Efficiency North has delivered £564k in Social Value Credits to its membership for them to target support in the communities they serve. Move Mates, based in North Yorkshire, helps make getting out for a walk a reality for people who have difficulty leaving their homes, training volunteers to offer one-to-one support to members of the community. Becci Blues, Move Mates CEO, said: “The donation from Efficiency North and 54North Homes has been a huge help in supporting our projects to continue to run throughout North Yorkshire, allowing us to continue to offer our services from volunteer walking buddies to help get people active, improve their wellbeing and reduce isolation. “On average it costs us £75 to recruit and train a new volunteer, so this donation will mean we can recruit ten new volunteers and support ten new beneficiaries from our waiting list. Thank you to Efficiency North and 54North Homes for their support and generosity.” The Pantry at Kirkstall Valley Development Trust provides residents in the Kirkstall area with access to groceries and fresh produce at an affordable price, reducing their shopping bills. The trust’s CEO, Adele Rae, said: “Without the support of organisations such as Efficiency North and 54North Homes, the pantry would not be sustainable, so this generous donation is greatly appreciated. “The funds have gone directly towards food for the pantry, which supports between 30 and 40 households each week that may be struggling financially, or with their physical or mental health. “It’s a lifeline for many people in the community so this donation will help us serve even more.” To find out more about Efficiency North, please visit https://www.efficiencynorth.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On Wednesday 10th April 1st Shipley Scouts in Sussex held a celebratory event to mark the completion of its brand-new accessible shower block. The new facilities were made possible by Willmott Dixon, together with generous contributions from local businesses and the community. Chairman of 1st Shipley Scouts, Peter Sutton, welcomed and gave thanks to contributors and explained that the new facilities present extended opportunities for Scouts both now and for generations to come. Officially opening the new shower block were Jeremy Quin MP and Chairman of Horsham Council, Cllr David Skipp who jointly cut a ceremonial ribbon alongside Explorers, Scouts, Cubs, and Beavers from the group. After all the showers had their inaugural test-run, attendees enjoyed a barbecue lunch and explored the facilities together. Pete Sutton, Chairman of 1st Shipley Scouts, remarked how the project was made possible with significant input from both Willmott Dixon and local contributors: “Initially, the project got underway with thanks to local generosity from Billingshurst Lions, Saxon Weald, Dudman Group and Tugwell Heating Co who either gave donations, materials, or got stuck in with physical hard work. When we’d got as far as we could, we then reached out to the team at Willmott Dixon for their help, and I am bowled over by what they have achieved for us. “We’re extremely grateful to Project Manager Rob Douglas and Managing Director of the South Richard Poulter who have been absolutely fundamental to getting this completed. The build team included final year management trainees Caitlyn Greenwell and Callum Cronin who have now completed their training and represented Willmott Dixon at the event. They enlisted further help from 17 supply chain partners and worked tirelessly to finish the DDA compliant shower block. Everything was taken care of, from installing a new boiler, right down to the smallest of details of fixing towel hooks and supplying shower curtains. “What’s more impressive is that this all happened whilst navigating the restrictions of COVID. As such a big company, Willmott Dixon could have easily forgotten us, but they didn’t. They delivered on every single promise and more. “Showing such dedication to following through on a local community project like ours is truly humbling. We previously had a shell of a building – I never imagined we’d have something finished to this standard. It’s with thanks to Willmott Dixon and local support that more people are now able to enjoy the experiences to be had here.” Richard Poulter, Managing Director of the South from Willmott Dixon, commented on the project success: “Being able to provide community facilities such as these is one of the commitments we make at Willmott Dixon, as we understand the value of the opportunities it can create for people. With tough restrictions in place during the COVID pandemic, we had a lot of challenges to overcome, but we take great pride in delivering on our promises and are honoured to have been able to support 1st Shipley Scouts.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This collaboration strengthens Building Heroes’ mission to support the reskilling and redeployment of military veterans into the construction industry. Building Heroes, the leading military-to-construction charity is excited to unveil its latest partnership with AmeyBriggs, which proudly joins as a Bronze Sponsoring Partner. This collaboration strengthens Building Heroes’ mission to support the reskilling and redeployment of military veterans into the construction industry. Building Heroes provides comprehensive support to military personnel, reservists, and their families during their transition from military to civilian life. Participants receive support which encompasses essential skills, training, and guidance to facilitate successful careers in the construction sector. AmeyBriggs are recognised for supplying vehicles and equipment to ensure the safety of our military and managing the Ministry of Defence’s construction and material handling fleet, playing a crucial role in supporting the British Armed Forces on operations at home and overseas. Commenting on the collaboration, AmeyBriggs Managing Director Phil Crick said, “We are delighted to be a Bronze sponsoring partner with Building Heroes. As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we have pledged our support to the Armed Forces Community, both past and present, and are delighted that our support will help train ex-force personnel to support their future employment opportunities.” Building Heroes is actively working with training providers in both the North and South of England to identify suitable Plant training programmes for launch later this year. These funded training programmes will cater to former military community members and service leavers in their resettlement process. The collaboration with Amey Briggs will help to provide graduates with potential employment opportunities upon completion of these specialised plant training programmes. Nicola Schneider, Head of Corporate Partnerships, expressed her enthusiasm, stating: “We are delighted to welcome AmeyBriggs as a sponsoring partner of the Building Heroes Education Foundation. The forthcoming launch of plant training programmes, with employment outcomes supported by AmeyBriggs, signifies a key step in identifying employment pathways for our graduates within the construction industry. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact this collaboration will have on our Armed Forces community.” For those interested in pursuing a career in the construction and infrastructure sector, Building Heroes invites you to explore future course details, timings, and application processes. Contact info@buildingheroes.org.uk for more information. Organisations looking to enhance their teams and contribute to ESG objectives, social value, equality, diversity, and inclusion are encouraged to partner with Building Heroes. Learn more about becoming an academy, corporate charity, or employer partner at https://www.buildingheroes.org.uk/our-partners. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barratt Homes has donated £1,500 to Buckinghamshire’s homeless and foodbank charity, Jedidiah. The housebuilder, which is currently selling new homes at the nearby St Rumbold’s Fields development in Buckingham, has donated to the charity in support of their efforts providing food support to struggling families. With food prices on the rise since 2021, thinktank Food Foundation has stated that food poverty amongst families is increasing, with almost 4 million UK children in food poverty in 2023, with one in five households to be skipping meals or not eating for a whole day1. Driven by a calling to feed those in need since 2020, Jedidiah has been on a mission to ensure no one should go hungry. With the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis further intensifying their calling, its team of volunteers now regularly support an increasing number of families each week across three branches, delivering thousands of meals, and hoping to ensure families do not feel alone2. Barratt North Thames’ donation will continue Jedidiah’s support to local families in Buckingham. Marc Woolfe, Director of Sales & Marketing at Barratt North Thames, comments: “Food insecurity is becoming an increasing concern for many, and for Buckingham to have a brilliant charity right at its doorstep is ever-so reassuring. We are so honoured to support Jedidiah, and hope that our donation will keep up their efforts in ensuring no one’s sleep hungry.” Cynthia Stroud MBE, Founder of Jedidiah adds: “We have seen a rise in demand for our services in the last few years and want to ensure we never let anyone feel alone. It is with the support from businesses like Barratt North Thames, who are a massive support in upholding our aims and ensuring the local community is always supported.” For further details about Barratt David Wilson North Thames or the new homes at St Rumbold’s Fields, visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/ / www.dwh.co.uk or call 0330 828 0133 / 0330 1627 757 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
