A collection of three office buildings along Bristol’s waterfront have been sold in a deal worth £27.75 million. Legal & General’s UK Property Fund purchased the Quayside Bristol properties from DAS and ERGO. This deal follows the recent acquisition of the Iron self-storage portfolio, its landmark self-storage deal as the
No matter how carefully you drive or how much attention you pay, the risk of you being involved in a car accident is highly probable due to the increased number of road users. If you have been injured in a car accident, then this guideline should offer the support you
NBS, the leading technology platform for the construction industry has announced the appointment of Chris Slinn as its new Chief Revenue Officer. Chris joins as the fourth executive director at NBS and will support the existing board. In the newly created role of Chief Revenue Officer at NBS, Chris will lead
Thinking of adding a commercial property to your portfolio? Here are some of the things you should consider before making an offer. Choosing to buy retail space, whether it is to be let out by you or to be used in your own business, can be risky if you don’t
PICK Everard – the national property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – has formed an alliance with WT Partnership to deliver the four-year Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Professional Services Providers Framework. The Framework will deliver prisons, courts, border crossing facilities, Home Office and government buildings across Wales and Central England and
Property guardians must have a “bedrock of rights” so that their legal rights are adequately protected, according to a discussion in the House of Lords last month. Baroness Grender posed the question of “what steps they are taking to ensure that property guardians are legally protected” to the House. Property
Interserve has reached a rescue deal with its creditors to prevent its collapse, according to a statement issued by the group. Following its 21 December 2018 announcement, the board has provided further details on its deleveraging plan. The key commercial terms of the deleveraging plan have been agreed in principle
Bureau Veritas is urging the construction industry to ensure that the practical ramifications of the latest government guidance on the amended Approved Document B are understood and implemented, in order to avoid costly delays or breach of building regulations. The technical changes regarding fire safety aspects now curtails the use
Brethertons LLP has again been recommended in practice areas in both the Chambers & Partners UK 2019 and the Legal 500 2018, with a notable seven lawyers receiving individual rankings. This year Brethertons has been ranked in the practice areas of Family, Personal Injury, Employment, Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate,
If your business is found to be employing illegal immigrants, you face significant civil and potentially criminal sanctions. Immigration solicitor Anne Morris shares insight into the steps construction businesses can take to avoid falling foul of UK immigration law. Over £11.5million in fines were issued to UK businesses for illegal
A collection of three office buildings along Bristol’s waterfront have been sold in a deal worth £27.75 million. Legal & General’s UK Property Fund purchased the Quayside Bristol properties from DAS and ERGO. This deal follows the recent acquisition of the Iron self-storage portfolio, its landmark self-storage deal as the Fund continues to diversify its holdings and recycle its capital into more operational and alternative assets. Situated in the established office location of Temple Quarter, the Quayside buildings are just a short walk from Temple Meads station, an increasingly important draw to occupiers. “This is an excellent buy for the Fund. The Bristol office market is currently undersupplied and has strong rental growth prospects as a result of this undersupply. The building also benefits from flexible floor plates which are in demand in the City. The combination of these strong property fundamentals and good micro-location will make this a strong performing asset for our investors as we refurbish and upgrade them over time. We have recently undertaken a similar exercise at The Landing in Redcliff Quay and have been very pleased with the level of tenant interest for modern, stylish, well connected assets in attractive city centre settings,” commented Matt Jarvis, Senior Fund Manager of the UK Property Fund at Legal & General.
No matter how carefully you drive or how much attention you pay, the risk of you being involved in a car accident is highly probable due to the increased number of road users. If you have been injured in a car accident, then this guideline should offer the support you need whether you are a passenger, driver, motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian. What Should Be Done At The Scene Of A Car Accident? When involved in car accident you have a legal duty to stop at the scene, as well as your legal duty, it is also beneficial for you to stop to make sure you can assess the situation effectively, making sure no one is injured, what (if any) damage has been caused to the vehicles involved and if any other property has been damaged. Being involved in an accident is not something someone starts their day predicting, therefore, if an unfortunate event happens, it is likely you will be left in a state of shock and could struggle to process what has happened. It is important to try to remain calm and collect all the necessary details you may need, especially if you pursue to make a car accident claim for the loss and suffering you have experienced. Important information to collect at this stage would be: Vehicle Damage Evidence – this can be obtained by taking photographs via your phone, but try not just to gather evidence of your own vehicle, try to obtain pictures of any damage caused to the other parties’ vehicle as well. If the vehicle is heavily damaged, you need to get professional advice from your car insurer. Obtain The Other Driver’s Information – details including name, address, and contact details. If they are not the owner of the vehicle, then be sure to get the owner’s information to Vehicle Information – including registration, model of the vehicle and the colour Insurance Information – including the name of the insurance company and the driver policy number. Again if the driver is not the owner of that particular vehicle, try to obtain their insurance information also Independent Witness Details – this means someone who has not been involved in but has witnessed the accident and can give a clear statement if needed. They also must be unknown to either party involved to ensure they can be classed as independent. While gaining independent witness details, ensure you have gained their full name, contact number and address Photographs That Can Help Explain What Has Happened, e.g. taking photographs of road markings, how the vehicles have positioned themselves after the accident etc. It is important to try and remain calm and keep yourself and any passengers you may have safe, therefore if you feel your safety is at risk or someone has been badly injured then call the emergency services and seek immediate medical attention. If the police were involved, make sure all information given by them is kept safe, most importantly the reference number they provide you Gaining The Medical Attention You Need After An Accident However minor or major your injuries feel due to the accident, it is important you seek the appropriate medical attention to ensure there is no underlying condition caused and to ensure you have received all the treatment you need. Depending on the severity of your injuries will depend on what type of medical attention you seek, if your injuries are severe you may want to call the emergency services to get an ambulance, however, if they seem minor in nature you could attend your GP or a local NHS walk-in centre. A common occurring injury brought on by RTAs (Road Traffic Accidents) is known as whiplash. This type of injury is caused by a sudden forceful movement which is caused by the impact of your vehicle colliding into something. Common tell-tale signs of having whiplash are discomfort and stiffness in your neck area when moving, along with headaches. Who Is Eligible To Make A Claim? All road users have a legal right to make a claim when they have been injured in an accident that isn’t their fault, this includes: Vehicle drivers Passengers – whether you are a passenger on public or private transport Pedestrians Motorcyclists Bicyclists A passenger can start a claim regardless of whether it is the driver of the vehicle they were in who is at fault. If you were in a passenger in your family member’s or friend’s vehicle, in a taxi or on a bus/coach, whether it was your driver who has caused the accident or not you could be eligible to claim. A passenger could also be eligible to make a claim if they have sustained an injury due to careless driving. The driver owes their passengers a duty of care to ensure they do not drive carelessly causing anyone to fall, they should also ensure care is taken when passengers are entering or exiting the bus. Making A Claim For A Car Accident Starting a claim for compensation for your injuries and other losses sustained in an accident can be quick and easy, simply contact specialist solicitors, and they will guide you through the entire process. Often as a passenger, it is confusing to know if you are eligible to claim and who from, especially if you feel the driver of the vehicle you were in may be at fault. This is where your solicitors will be able to help you, letting you know from the first point of contact if you have a claim and whose insurance you would be claiming from. Starting Your Claim Starting a claim is quick and easy, once you have begun speaking with a solicitor you will find out if you have a valid claim and be able to gain tailored advice that will best suit your situation. After gaining the advice, if you wish to make a claim, the setup will require the following details: Your personal details – e.g. Name, Address, Phone Number, DOB, National
NBS, the leading technology platform for the construction industry has announced the appointment of Chris Slinn as its new Chief Revenue Officer. Chris joins as the fourth executive director at NBS and will support the existing board. In the newly created role of Chief Revenue Officer at NBS, Chris will lead on NBS’s ambitious sales growth, in the UK and globally. Chris has extensive experience of global sales and marketing strategy achievement within the construction sector, experience that has spanned a number of transformational years for the industry, including the move to cloud based offerings. Pair this knowledge and experience with NBS’s leading platform with its unrivalled reputation for supporting customers around the world, NBS is well positioned to achieve its growth. The appointment is a further extension of the continued investment in NBS, following the £31.8m investment in the business by LDC in 2018, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group. I am delighted to be able to welcome Chris to the team and look forward to working with him to drive our business forward. Chris brings a wealth of experience with him which will be invaluable in supporting continued growth in our core UK markets, as well as building our businesses in Canada, Australia and the Asia Pacific region. On starting his new role, Chris said: When I was approached to join NBS, I could immediately see the opportunity for growth both in the UK and Internationally. Our market leading software for specification and collaboration in the construction process, combined with the unparalleled exposure we can provide building product manufacturers – means we are uniquely placed to enable support efficient digital construction. I am genuinely looking forward to working with the NBS team and LDC as we look to take this business to the next level. Formerly in the role of Sales Director for EMEA at Trimble, Chris was accountable for direct sales in Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Romania, France, UK and the Middle East. In 2017 NBS acquired Canada based Digicon a well-established specification content business in this territory, and at the same time set-up a team in Australia. Since then, NBS has collaborated with specifiers, manufacturers and the wider construction sector, to develop the Canadian and Australian content sets. The result being a platform what the industry wants and needs, NBS Chorus, a cloud -based specification platform supporting global design and construction. The use of cloud technology, ensures that those using the new platform have the latest software and global content at all times, improving collaboration and efficiencies across whole teams. Minimising risk and maximising efficiency with access on all devices, any time anywhere. To find out more about NBS Chorus, please visit www.theNBS.com
Thinking of adding a commercial property to your portfolio? Here are some of the things you should consider before making an offer. Choosing to buy retail space, whether it is to be let out by you or to be used in your own business, can be risky if you don’t entirely know what you are doing. Here are some of the things which you need to know about if you are considering buying commercial property in 2019. Find the Right Solicitor If you are thinking about starting a property portfolio, you should search for a firm of commercial property solicitors to help you out. They will be the legal experts you need to find the perfect property. With the help of the right firm, you may even find legal advice for a whole range of different topics. You could find people willing to help with commercial taxation or even acquiring any permits or licenses your commercial space needs. Building a legal team who can help you out with all your legal needs from within the same firm will prove invaluable, as you know that all your concerns can be handled internally by a group of colleagues. Is It in a Good Location? Location is everything for a business. Is it located on a high street or in some other commercial zone? You can guess that this will get it the traffic it needs to support a business. Buying a commercial property which is a little out the way can be risky, unless you plan to open a business which would suit this type of location. Finally, you should always take a look at the building’s access. What are the streets around the property like, and is there good access to major roads? These are all questions you need to ask. Look at the Building’s Amenities When you have a property in mind, you should take a look at what else you can get with it. Does it have a designated parking area your customers can use? If it is part of a wider retail complex, what benefits do you get as an owner? You should also check out whether or not the property has any licenses or permits and whether you need to apply for them. For example, a cafe might need a certification of hygiene from the local council before they are able to open for business. How Much Renovation Does It Need? Obviously, either you or your tenant will renovate the property to best suit the business going in there. However, you should make sure that all the basic amenities are in place before the renovation begins. If it is an older business you have purchased, how safe is the wiring? When was the last time that a complete refit took place? These are the questions you need answers to before you commit to buying a property for commercial purposes. If it does not match the local building regulations then you will need to fix this before you allow a business to occupy the space. Follow these tips and it won’t be long before you have found the perfect business to add to your property portfolio!
PICK Everard – the national property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – has formed an alliance with WT Partnership to deliver the four-year Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Professional Services Providers Framework. The Framework will deliver prisons, courts, border crossing facilities, Home Office and government buildings across Wales and Central England and was procured via the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework. Andrew Seaman, national director at Pick Everard said: “Pick Everard has been delivering cost management services under the CCS framework since its inception. We’re delighted to be working in partnership with WT Partnership under this framework, delivering cost management services. “This is a significant custodial framework, which will support the MoJ in achieving its objectives to deliver capital and whole life cycle costs within value for money parameters, whilst ensuring timely project delivery and high quality outcomes.” WT Partnership – an international cost and project management consultancy – has been working with the MoJ for more than 15 years so has extensive experience in the sector and understands every type of project requirement. Andrew continued: “We work with more than 500 supply chain partners across the UK and, through the development of mutually beneficial relationships and the identification of sector specialisms, we’re able to provide alternative routes to market for our clients. “This partnership will benefit the client by ensuring that the most appropriate specialists are on the project team. The alliance also benefits WT Partnership by ensuring that it continues to deliver major projects for the MoJ, whilst utilising our experience on the CCS framework. “The MoJ provides essential public sector buildings and we’re incredibly proud to be working on such an important opportunity.” David Kendall, director at WT Partnership said: “We are delighted to be appointed to work with Pick Everard to deliver cost consultancy services to the MoJ on its new framework for the Wales and Central England region. “This provides continuity of delivery to an important client with whom we have been working since 2003 and builds on the professional working relationship we have had with Pick Everard over a similar period.” Over the last two years, Pick Everard has engaged with almost 200 supply chain partners, providing new routes to market and generating £1.3 million worth of spend in local economies across the UK. For more information visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk.
Property guardians must have a “bedrock of rights” so that their legal rights are adequately protected, according to a discussion in the House of Lords last month. Baroness Grender posed the question of “what steps they are taking to ensure that property guardians are legally protected” to the House. Property guardians have some legal protections – but depending on the arrangements in place, these protections are often fewer than those of tenants. Lord Best, who is the chair of a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government working group for the regulation of property agents, said he “would be very happy to look at the regulation of property guardian providers, alongside his current portfolio of estate agents, letting agents and managers of leasehold properties”. Lord Bourne added that there had to be a drive “ensuring that property guardians have a bedrock of rights in all situations so that people are properly protected. That is the key.” The issues often encountered include disrepair including penetrating damp or condensation mould growth, through to unmanaged compliance issues such asbestos, faults with fire alarm panels, lack of electrical and gas safety certificates. Suggestions put forward include a ‘kite-marking’ scheme and non-disclosure agreements in contracts.
Interserve has reached a rescue deal with its creditors to prevent its collapse, according to a statement issued by the group. Following its 21 December 2018 announcement, the board has provided further details on its deleveraging plan. The key commercial terms of the deleveraging plan have been agreed in principle with all of Interserve’s lenders, bonding providers and the Pension Trustee. The board believes the deleveraging plan will provide Interserve with “a strong balance sheet and the platform to deliver on its strategy”. Debbie White, CEO of Interserve, said: “Agreeing the key commercial terms of the deleveraging plan with our lenders, bonding providers and Pension Trustee is a significant step forward in our plans to strengthen the balance sheet. The board believes that this agreement will secure a strong future for Interserve. “This proposal has been achieved following a long period of intensive negotiation and has the support of our financial stakeholders and the government. Its successful implementation is critical to the Interserve Group’s future and all of its stakeholders. The deleveraging plan will, alongside our ‘Fit for Growth’ transformation programme, place us in a strong position to deliver our strategy, be competitive in the marketplace and provide a secure future for the Interserve Group’s employees, customers and suppliers.” The deleveraging plan is expected to result in Interserve Group’s “pro forma net debt reducing to circa £275 million achieved through issuing c.£480 million of new Interserve equity”. Interserve expects to launch the finalised deleveraging plan in the next few weeks. The deleveraging plan will be “subject to approval by Interserve’s shareholders”. The company’s statement added: “Whilst Interserve’s objective remains to implement a fully consensual transaction, Interserve is also actively preparing alternative plans to ensure the proposed transaction can be implemented in the event that shareholder approval is not forthcoming.”
Bureau Veritas is urging the construction industry to ensure that the practical ramifications of the latest government guidance on the amended Approved Document B are understood and implemented, in order to avoid costly delays or breach of building regulations. The technical changes regarding fire safety aspects now curtails the use of desktop studies and reinforces the need to ensure appropriate tests are carried out on products by independent, fully accredited bodies. It relates to building regulation applications lodged after 21st January 2019, with a requirement that applications made before that date have made a ‘meaningful’ start on site within two months – by 20th March 2019 – for the previous provisions to be valid. The guidance is aimed at all product testing but is a result of the government’s findings last year on cladding testing and fire door testing specifically. Andy Lowe, technical director of building control at Bureau Veritas, comments: “The government has demonstrated that they are determined to move quickly to enforce building regulation changes, with this latest update coming only a month after the 21st December implementation of the combustible materials ban in external walls in new buildings. That in itself surprised many in the industry, as it extended further than anticipated to include all parts of external cladding in new and change of use buildings with a floor over 18 metres and above and applies to residential buildings, hospitals, student accommodation and dormitories in boarding schools. “The latest guidance will have significant ramifications, as due to the nature of testing it is a more in-depth and costly process, notwithstanding the fact that current testing facilities are limited and often result in significant delays, without this extra requirement consideration. So this will have to be factored in to the construction programming process and assessments should not be regarded as a way to avoid a test where one is necessary, as this will be a serious breach of legislation.” The government has also reiterated its firm endorsement of the Hackitt report on the process of fire safety and building regulations and has committed to bring forward a series of consultations on the process of regulation in the spring. Calls for further evidence have already been instigated on technical aspects of building regulations, which will include additional enhancements on fire safety, considerations around thermal performance (Part L) and ventilation strategy (Part F), along with the need to update accessibility standards under Approved Document M to reflect the new BS8300 recently updated in January 2018. Andy adds: “Whilst this government action and tighter regulation control is certainly welcome, as change is certainly needed in order to adopt a best practice approach to fire safety, the degree and speed of change could prove a challenge. The coming months are going to be extremely busy and time critical and as such there is work to be done to understand how things will play out on a practical level, with tailored support available to those who need it in order to manage the changes and challenges ahead.” Bureau Veritas is a leading testing, inspection and certification company with a vast experience of the building control sector. Bureau Veritas Building Control UK combines technical expertise and market-leading systems with unrivalled industry experience to deliver building control services to some of the biggest names in construction. Bureau Veritas will be proving additional guidance on the amended regulations via a series of seminars and technical briefing notes. For further information, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk.
Brethertons LLP has again been recommended in practice areas in both the Chambers & Partners UK 2019 and the Legal 500 2018, with a notable seven lawyers receiving individual rankings. This year Brethertons has been ranked in the practice areas of Family, Personal Injury, Employment, Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Property, Real Estate, Real Estate Litigation, Debt Recovery, Property Litigation, IT and Telecoms and Intellectual Property. Along with the recognition of our practice areas, several of our outstanding Lawyers have also been ranked by the directories; Linda Jones, Simon Craddock, Tom Lawrence, Roger Hardwick, Jon Rees, Gemma Kelsey and Rachel Adams. These rankings demonstrate the positive experience clients have and the remarkable work of the specialist teams. One of Brethertons clients commented “Brethertons gave me more confidence than other firms. They are extremely knowledgeable, very proactive, efficient and attentive”, whilst another noted “all members of the team have been friendly and approachable while maintaining a reassuring level of professionalism.” Shaun Jardine, CEO of Brethertons explains the importance of these guides for clients and staff, “The Legal Directories are independent publications which reflect the state of the legal industry today. Law firms are peer reviewed and recommended and therefore provide clients with an unbiased overview of the market. It is really helpful for clients to see how we are benchmarked against competitors and take an informed decision on which solicitor to use.”
If your business is found to be employing illegal immigrants, you face significant civil and potentially criminal sanctions. Immigration solicitor Anne Morris shares insight into the steps construction businesses can take to avoid falling foul of UK immigration law. Over £11.5million in fines were issued to UK businesses for illegal working between October and December 2017. 624 UK businesses were fined and 990 illegal workers were identified. These figures suggest employers are falling foul of their immigration compliance duties in their droves, and in doing so are creating a healthy income stream in fines for the Home Office. Construction companies in particular attract Home Office attention due to the high numbers of foreign workers; 7% of the sector’s workforce are EU27 nationals and 3% are non-EU. Immigration non-compliance remains an issue at both ends of the market. Smaller firms can struggle because of a lack of resource or lack of knowledge of the legislation. Whereas larger companies may have the resources, systems and policies in place to manage the immigration risks, but ensuring these are consistently implemented across all sites, employees and areas of their operations is challenging. What does the law say? Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 you may be liable for a civil penalty if you employ someone who does not have permission to be in the UK or undertake the work on offer. If you are found to be employing illegal immigrants, you may incur a fine of up to £20,000 per illegal worker. Employers could also face a custodial sentence if they knew, or had reasonable cause to believe, that an employee was disqualified from employment by reason of their immigration status. The term illegal immigrant applies to anyone who does not hold valid leave to enter or remain in the UK – regardless of how or when they entered, and if they had previously held lawful status. This may be due to visa curtailment, revocation, cancellation or expiry. It may also be because of a restriction preventing the person from performing the work in question. How to avoid employing illegal immigrants As an employer, you can take measures to avoid a Home Office fine by carrying out right to work document checks on all prospective and, where necessary, existing employees. By doing this correctly and on a consistent basis, you will be able to challenge Home Office allegations of non-compliance. A compliant approach to right to work requires you to: Obtain an original document, or combination of documents, in accordance with the Home Office approved list before an applicant can start work with you. Check the validity of the documentation in the presence of the applicant. If you are provided with a false document you will only face a penalty if it is reasonably apparent that the documentation checked was not genuine, did not rightfully belong to the holder or the work was not permitted. Copy the documentation electronically or in hardcopy. This should be in a format that cannot be manually altered, such as a jpeg/pdf document or photocopy. Make a contemporaneous record of the date you conducted the check. You should also keep a record of when any repeat checks will need to be made. Retain your copies and records for the duration of the individual’s employment, and for a further two years after they leave. In some cases you may also need to verify the employee’s right to work with the Home Office Employer Checking Service. For example, where an employee has an immigration appeal pending a decision. The Home Office will provide you with a Positive Verification Notice to confirm that the applicant has permission to work. Correct, consistent, compliant For full compliance, document checks are expected to be an integral part of your business’s recruitment and onboarding processes to help avoid illegal working fines – and adding to the Home Office coffers. Anne Morris is an immigration solicitor and Managing Director at UK immigration law firm DavidsonMorris. specialists in all areas of business immigration including right to work compliance, PBS licences and challenging civil penalties.
