A renewable energy installation specialist has received national recognition for its efforts to tackle fuel poverty across the UK. UK Energy Management (UKEM) last week [11 Oct] won the ‘Fuel Poverty and Vulnerable Customer Support of the Year’ award, at the National Energy Efficiency Awards. Taking place at Birmingham’s Hilton
Announcement comes as group strengthens market-leading position following successful start to 2024. Assent Building Control will now be known as Assent Building Compliance, part of the Assent Building Compliance and Safety Group, aligning itself to the changing needs of the broader construction industry. This change signifies the group’s evolution and
Recognition for digital rehearsal services that are cutting costs, reducing project delivery durations and assuring safety compliance at Sellafield SRP construction site. Digital construction consultancy Proicere has won a prestigious Bentley Systems – Going Digital Award, in the Construction category. The award recognises Proicere’s development of an advanced 4D digital twin,
Investment in people, encouraging more females into the sector and putting in proactive wellbeing support have all played a role in helping two Tara Group companies make the 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Construction, Engineering & Property™ list. Cameron Homes and Keon Homes have both made the prestigious rankings, reaffirming
Winvic Construction Ltd’s Talent Development Manager, Kayleigh Merritt, has won a Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Top 100 Influential Women in Construction Award. Kayleigh scooped the Midlands Local Hero accolade – which recognises exceptional women that are working at an operational or site level in construction – and collected her
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has launched a new Best Practice Guide – Walls as a System – to help specifiers, designers, installers and building owners ensure compatibility of compliant test evidence across building components assembled into larger supersystems. The guide addresses a critical issue in modern construction: the
Considerate Constructors Scheme, the independent champion for change in construction, has partnered with compliance and risk management leader Veriforce CHAS to broaden its inspection monitoring services across the UK. As public and government scrutiny on build quality intensifies, the collaboration marks a major step forward in both organisations’ missions to
Bellway South London is celebrating after winning a prestigious award for a house which sets the standard for what a modern sustainable home of the future could look like. The four-bedroom Reedmaker at Fallow Wood View, in the West Sussex town of Burgess Hill, has won the ‘Best House’ category
Cutting-edge design elements and construction techniques set project apart from national competitors. A Cambridgeshire based construction firm that places sustainable practices at the heart of its work has been shortlisted for the prestigious National Building and Construction Awards (NBCA) 2024. Spacemaker Developments Ltd, Trading as SMD Ltd, whose Headquarters is
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the shortlist for The Fleming Centre competition at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington on behalf of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The Centre will be at the heart of the global Fleming Initiative, an innovative and collaborative approach led by the Trust
A renewable energy installation specialist has received national recognition for its efforts to tackle fuel poverty across the UK. UK Energy Management (UKEM) last week [11 Oct] won the ‘Fuel Poverty and Vulnerable Customer Support of the Year’ award, at the National Energy Efficiency Awards. Taking place at Birmingham’s Hilton Metropole, the glittering award ceremony brought businesses and experts from across the energy efficiency industry together under one roof. Comedian Jason Manford hosted the event and presented UKEM directors Steven Copeland and Chris Snaith with the award, which recognised ‘those organisations going the extra mile to help people in difficult circumstances.’ UKEM beat eight other finalists to the award, having helped install energy saving solutions in over 9,000 homes over the past 12 months. Speaking after receiving the accolade, Steven Copeland, UKEM CEO, said: “We are beyond proud to have been presented with this prestigious award. “We have invested heavily in our marketing and advertising efforts over the past couple of years to target those in traditionally hard to reach communities who may be experiencing fuel poverty. We are now seeing those efforts really bear fruit. “Over the past 12 months, we’ve installed energy efficiency solutions in thousands of homes, the vast majority which have been on behalf of people struggling with rising energy prices, so to receive such an award is testament to the fantastic work our team do week-in, week-out, to help those most in-need.” All of UKEM’s installations during the period were delivered via the Government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation (GBIS) Schemes, aimed specifically at reducing fuel poverty through the installation of renewable and low-carbon technologies. The solutions installed by UKEM, including heat pumps, solar panels and loft and wall insulation, have a real environmental as well as economic impact, with the firm’s latest impact report concluding that its installations also prevented over 57,000 tonnes of CO2 from escaping into the earth’s atmosphere. “Poorly insulated homes not only come at a huge financial burden to residents, but also at a significant environmental cost to the planet, and the judges reserved special praise for how our solutions are helping to directly address both challenges,” Steven added. “The Government has set a target for around 6.5million fuel-poor homes to be at least band C by 2030 and for as many as possible homes to be band C by 2035, which is why support schemes such as ECO4, which make it more affordable for those struggling to make their homes more energy efficient, are so important. “By breaking down the barriers preventing those most in-need from improving the energy efficiency of their homes, it is helping retrofit the UK’s housing stock at pace, while helping the nation meet its ambitious Net Zero targets. “However, we know there are still millions of households out there who are eligible and very much in-need of such support, so we’d recommend anyone to check their eligibility for funded measures via our website.” For more information on UKEM, visit: https://ukem.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Announcement comes as group strengthens market-leading position following successful start to 2024. Assent Building Control will now be known as Assent Building Compliance, part of the Assent Building Compliance and Safety Group, aligning itself to the changing needs of the broader construction industry. This change signifies the group’s evolution and its commitment to providing a comprehensive set of services to the ever-changing construction industry. The renaming reflects the group’s growth into new areas of expertise, making them the only group consisting of five specialist companies with solutions that address the needs of fire safety, building control and compliance. These include: The new name, Assent Building Compliance, demonstrates the group’s focus on compliance and safety and the dynamic nature of the built environment following the Building Safety Act 2022, with a dedication to adding value to all client relationships. The company’s heritage in building control will continue under LB Building Control, Oculus Building Consultancy and Clarke Banks, all of which are Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCAs) under the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and Building Safety Act. In addition to these services, Assent Building Compliance is also able to offer specialist Building Regulation advisory services designed to support the Principal Designer under the BSA ‘Gateway’ submission process. Thanks to recent acquisitions of Clarke Banks and Xact Consultancy and Training, the group is also equipped to provide expert fire safety engineering solutions and fire safety training qualifications and apprenticeships. Iain Thomson, CEO of the Assent group, commented: “Our evolution into Assent Building Compliance is evidence of our on-going commitment to adapt and grow in response to the ever-changing needs of the sector. “We are proud to offer a wide range of services that can meet the needs of our clients within the built environment. This is an exciting time for our business, and we are well-positioned to contribute significantly to shaping the future of the built environment,” he added. If you would like to find out more about the new Assent Building Compliance and its wide range of services, please visit https://www.assentbc.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Recognition for digital rehearsal services that are cutting costs, reducing project delivery durations and assuring safety compliance at Sellafield SRP construction site. Digital construction consultancy Proicere has won a prestigious Bentley Systems – Going Digital Award, in the Construction category. The award recognises Proicere’s development of an advanced 4D digital twin, as well as its other digital solutions, for the Sellafield Products and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) Project in Cumbria, UK. Proicere’s digital services, such as its 4D planning, powered by Benley’s SYNCHRO, have achieved millions of pounds in cost savings, over 500 days in time savings, as well as environmental impact benefits for the Sellafield site. Leveraging SYNCHRO’s 4D, Control and Field technologies, Proicere overcame project complexities to deliver exceptional results within SRP. Through the creation of dynamic models that integrate time and space, Proicere is enabling stakeholders to visualise project progress in real-time, and to identify potential conflicts or bottlenecks. The Proicere solution allows the project team, as well as stakeholders at SRP, to visualise, plan and execute the site works, de-risking delivery years ahead of build time. Leveraging SYNCHRO’s 4D, Control and Field technologies, Proicere overcame project complexities to deliver exceptional results within SRP, through the creation of dynamic models that integrated time and space. By April 2024, its service had already saved £80 million in costs, avoided over 500 days of rework, and enabled site teams to identify over 160 risks. Thanks to Proicere’s advanced 4D planning approach, using SYNCHRO software as its foundation, construction teams can seamlessly coordinate complex tasks under tight schedules while ensuring full compliance with the rigorous safety protocols required at the Sellafield nuclear site. This integration enhances efficiency and safety, streamlining project management in one of the most regulated environments. Established in 2004, the Bentley Systems Year In Infrastructure Awards honour extraordinary examples of Bentley software users advancing infrastructure design, construction, and operations around the world. Daniel Ashton, technical director, Proicere, comments: “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious Bentley Systems award in the Construction category. The award recognises the tangible benefits our 4D Planning and Digital Implementation is delivering at the Sellafield Retreatment Plant. It also emphasises the essential role that virtual rehearsals and immersive planning play, not only in driving performance, but in assuring safety and environmental compliance, in increasingly regulated construction environments.” The Sellafield Retreatment Plant (SRP) is part of the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s initiative to gradually transfer, repackage and safely store 140 tons of separated plutonium for 100 years. Managing the world’s largest civil stockpile of plutonium, the plant will be crucial for protecting the environment, safeguarding public health, and advancing scientific knowledge. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Investment in people, encouraging more females into the sector and putting in proactive wellbeing support have all played a role in helping two Tara Group companies make the 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Construction, Engineering & Property™ list. Cameron Homes and Keon Homes have both made the prestigious rankings, reaffirming the group-wide commitment to its industry-leading ‘Tara Academy’ and how it strives to creates a positive working environment for its 300 plus staff. The list is created using anonymous feedback from employees and covers flexible working environments and how company culture aligns with trust, pride and camaraderie. Julie Caudle, People and Performance Director at the Tara Group, commented: “While bricks and mortar tend to be our main tools, people will always remain the heartbeat of what we do and that’s why we invest so much in their development and in creating the right conditions for them to grow and prosper. “That’s why we are pleased to see Cameron and Keon both feature in the Best Workplaces ranking, scoring highly in pretty much every category. This is even more impressive when you consider that we don’t influence the scores – this is completely in the hands of our team to give their honest feedback of how they feel working for us.” She continued: “The last twelve months have been very impressive. In addition to the latest list, we have also seen Keon Homes secure the highest placing for a construction company in the UK’s Best Workplaces for Development list and Cameron Homes highly placed in the Best Workplaces for Women.” Getting more females into construction has been a priority for the Tara Group, with new measures in place to work with all girl schools to help them understand the roles within the sector. Sutton Grammar School and Newport Girls High School are the first two to take part, in order to help their pupils explore potential courses and qualifications that can be used to pursue a career in the industry. Working with Instep, the group has also launched its first ever female leadership programme, a programme designed by women from a female perspective. It combines group workshops, peer learning, personalised coaching and guest speakers to harness strengths and equip rising stars with the essential skills and capability they will need to lead in the future. Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK, added his support: “The UK’s Best Workplaces focus on ensuring sufficient opportunities for upskilling and reskilling wherever possible – recognising that employee growth spurs organisational growth. “We’ve seen the companies in our UK’s Best Workplaces for Construction, Engineering & Property list proactively introducing development-based investment for their greatest asset, their employees. It’s great to see Keon Homes and Cameron Homes leading from the front.” For further information, please visit www.keonhomes.co.uk or www.cameronhomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic Construction Ltd’s Talent Development Manager, Kayleigh Merritt, has won a Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Top 100 Influential Women in Construction Award. Kayleigh scooped the Midlands Local Hero accolade – which recognises exceptional women that are working at an operational or site level in construction – and collected her trophy at the awards ceremony in Birmingham last week. Kayleigh’s passion to drive more meaningful on-site interactions and her collaboration with colleges led her to devise the award-winning Winvic Enrichment Programme (WEP). Five days of on-site sessions – tailored to the students’ discipline – are delivered by the Winvic team and subcontractors to showcase roles, skillsets, technology and teach CV-writing and interview skills. Students are benefitting from seeing more on-site activities, learning about the varied roles available and speaking to team members who can provide a greater depth of information. Student and tutor feedback is excellent and the WEP is inspiring the next generation of construction professionals and helping them to make informed career choices. Kayleigh works closely with the Winvic social value team to identify opportunities with schools and colleges that are located near projects. The whole team gets involved in presenting in schools and welcoming students to sites to learn about modern construction culture, site experiences and careers. Winvic’s focus on using the power of female role models has been successful in encouraging young women to consider a construction career and increasing female representation in the industry. Talent Development Manager at Winvic, Kayleigh Merritt, commented: “I’m honoured to have won the Midlands Local Hero award, and I think what we’ve been able to achieve with the Winvic Enrichment Programme and hundreds of other educational outreach activities is very special. I’d like to dedicate this award to all the schools and colleges we collaborate with and the whole Winvic team because I couldn’t do my job without their support.” Rebecca Schwarz, Head of HR and Training, added: “We see Kayleigh as a hero every day, so I’m delighted that she has been publicly recognised for her innovative and tenacious work to engage with young people and support them on their construction career journeys. We’re proud to always listen, learn and be flexible in our approach and this ensures students in local communities gain valuable on-site experiences. Congratulations, Kayleigh, this accolade is well deserved.” Danny Clarke, Engagement Director, England at CITB, said: “Congratulations to our award winners and to all of those who were shortlisted for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction. We are delighted to recognise the incredible women and allies who are driving real change in the construction industry. “The award ceremony and Top 100 shortlist celebrate the women that work at every level within the sector and their phenomenal achievements, while inspiring others and encouraging the next generation to pursue careers in this field. We are proud to showcase those who are leading in our industry and hope to see more even more applicants next year.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (formerly Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has launched a new Best Practice Guide – Walls as a System – to help specifiers, designers, installers and building owners ensure compatibility of compliant test evidence across building components assembled into larger supersystems. The guide addresses a critical issue in modern construction: the tendency to design and specify building components in isolation, without considering how they interact as part of larger systems. By introducing the concept of ‘Walls as a System’, FIS is promoting a more holistic approach to building design and construction, ensuring interfaces, penetrations, glazing and doors have compatible and compliant test evidence. Developed with input from technical experts and wider group of peer reviewers across the sector, including ASDMA, DHF, GIRI, GAI, GPDA and PFKG, this guide represents a collaborative effort to provide clear, relevant, and concise design guidance. It aligns with the RIBA Plan of Work and the Building Safety Act Gateways for Higher Risk Buildings, emphasising early engagement with manufacturers and contractors. This new guide highlights the importance of early planning and clear communication in the design process. It introduces the term ‘fire wall’ to emphasise the critical protective function of certain walls, aligning with existing terms like fire doors and fire glass. The guide includes up to date guidance on maintaining the compartment lines below raised access floors and above glazed fire walls with drop bulkheads, as well as addressing how the imposed load from the walls, glazing and doors will be supported. The appendix includes a list of all relevant standards and a list of further reading. Commenting on the guide, Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of FIS said: “This new walls as a system guide represents a significant step forward in how we approach wall design and construction. By considering walls as integrated systems, we can enhance building safety, performance and compliance across the industry. “It shows the sector coming together to provide clear, relevant and concise guidance. The core message being early engagement with manufacturers and contractors to ensure that what is designed can be compliantly delivered.” Michael Skelding, General Manager and Secretary, DHF added: “DHF is proud to have contributed to this important initiative. Our work on the guide ensures that doors and hardware are considered as integral parts of the wall system, ensuring their performance is compatible with the overall design. This collaborative approach is essential to achieving safer, compliant buildings.” You can download the Best Practice Guide – Walls as a System here https://www.thefis.org/membership-hub/publications/best-practice-guides/walls-as-a-system For further information or for any questions please contact the FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121-707-0077. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Considerate Constructors Scheme, the independent champion for change in construction, has partnered with compliance and risk management leader Veriforce CHAS to broaden its inspection monitoring services across the UK. As public and government scrutiny on build quality intensifies, the collaboration marks a major step forward in both organisations’ missions to raise standards in the construction industry. The Considerate Constructors monitoring service assesses members’ adherence to the Code of Considerate Practice, helping identify opportunities for improvement. This service, conducted by Considerate Constructors’ expert Monitors, is now strengthened by the partnership with Veriforce CHAS. Benefits of the partnership include: Amit Oberoi, Executive Chairman for Considerate Constructors, said: “Veriforce CHAS leverages its business expertise and investments in technology to consistently deliver high quality services across the UK’s built environment. Our partnership enables us to streamline our operations, scale faster and more impactfully and enhance overall efficiency for contractors and developer partners.” Alex Minett, Head of Products & Markets for Veriforce CHAS, added: “Partnering with CCS reinforces Veriforce CHAS’s dedication to making the UK construction sector safer, higher quality and more successful. We’re excited to collaborate and broaden our impact.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bellway South London is celebrating after winning a prestigious award for a house which sets the standard for what a modern sustainable home of the future could look like. The four-bedroom Reedmaker at Fallow Wood View, in the West Sussex town of Burgess Hill, has won the ‘Best House’ category in the Evening Standard New Homes Awards 2024. The four-bedroom detached home, which is part of the company’s flagship Artisan Collection, has been adapted to incorporate low-carbon features including an air source heat pump, PV panels and a sustainable FSC-certified timber frame instead of traditional blockwork. A team from Bellway South London accepted the award at a ceremony held at the Dorchester Hotel in London’s Park Lane on Friday (27 September). Daniel Williamson, Sales Director at Bellway South London, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award at this prestigious event in the UK’s property calendar. Our team put a great deal of thought and effort into the design of the Reedmaker at Fallow Wood View and it is very satisfying to see their work recognised by this coveted accolade. “The Reedmaker is not a bespoke eco-home but an attainable low-carbon property for ordinary families which can be rolled out at scale, helping to provide a possible template for how the industry as a whole can meet the challenge of moving towards net zero. “As part of our Better with Bellway sustainability strategy we have used timber, a renewable material, in place of carbon-intensive block construction methods, and included technologies such as an air source heat pump, solar PV panels and wastewater heat recovery to help further reduce carbon emissions.” The Evening Standard New Homes Awards, which were set up more than 30 years ago, recognise, celebrate and commend innovation and excellence in the construction industry. An independent team of industry experts carried out the judging over four stages, from initial assessments and site visits to shortlisting and deciding on a category winner. In choosing the winners, the judges were looking for homes and developments that reflect, or exceed, current best practice in the housebuilding industry in a number of areas including quality of design, value for money, energy-efficiency and innovation. The Best House category states that homes should be in a well-located, attractive setting, offer an impressive sense of arrival and have imaginatively designed yet functional interiors for modern living. Daniel said: “The Reedmaker is an energy-efficient home with enviable green credentials yet offers the flexible space that is demanded by modern family life. The layout downstairs offers an open-plan kitchen and dining room across the rear of the property, with French doors out to the back garden, plus a utility room and a light-filled front-facing living room. Upstairs, there are two double bedrooms which benefit from en suite facilities while the other two bedrooms are big enough for space for play or study as well as storage. “Fallow Wood View has a wonderful location close to both the South Downs National Park and the High Weald, and the exterior of the Reedmaker has also been carefully designed to complement the architecture found in this attractive part of Sussex. “What is particularly pleasing is that the Reedmaker is part of our Artisan Collection – a range of homes designed after decades of customer feedback, which combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary methods of construction. We have opened a Reedmaker showhome at Fallow Wood View so people can come along see inside this award-winning family home.” Fallow Wood View features a range of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cutting-edge design elements and construction techniques set project apart from national competitors. A Cambridgeshire based construction firm that places sustainable practices at the heart of its work has been shortlisted for the prestigious National Building and Construction Awards (NBCA) 2024. Spacemaker Developments Ltd, Trading as SMD Ltd, whose Headquarters is in St Neots, is in the running to win the Project of the Year (£10 million to £25 million) at the NBCA Awards 2024 that will be held at the Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge Hotel later this year. SMD, who deliver projects across the East of England, have constructed Oak Field Gardens, a new Crematorium in Bedfordshire which uses sustainable systems, has minimal environmental impact and implements innovative resources. The project also delivers a positive impact on the local community, by creating jobs, improving infrastructure and providing a sensitive public amenity. “We are both honoured and delighted to be shortlisted for the prestigious National Building and Construction Awards.” said Moomith Ullah, Operations Director at SMD. “The whole SMD team is committed to building long-term relationships with our clients and using our wealth of experience to bring construction visions to life.” “Our ethos is to leave a lasting legacy,” Moomith Ullah continued, “and that is why we are so proud to be in with the opportunity to win at what is recognised as one of the most prestigious building and construction awards in the UK.” The National Building and Construction Awards 2024 lead the national vision to raise the profile of industrious, hardworking and enterprising building and construction businesses from across the UK. The Awards are made up of 21 categories with entries being judged by a panel of independent and professional judges. “Sustainability is one of our passions and our processes ensure we do our utmost to minimise our impact on the environment.” said Jon Wren, Commercial Director at SMD. Oakfield Gardens Crematorium provides a tranquil and open space with a range of memorial options that make the most of the open landscaping and setting within the Bedfordshire countryside. It is a place where bereaved families are at the heart of everything with options that reflect the choices of the local community. “Being shortlisted for such a prestigious Award is a massive vote of confidence in the work that everyone at SMD undertakes.” Jon Wren, Commercial Director at SMD said. “We are very grateful for everyone’s efforts and feel honoured for the continued commitment our clients continue to make in us.” “We are hopeful to bring the Award home later this year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the shortlist for The Fleming Centre competition at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington on behalf of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The Centre will be at the heart of the global Fleming Initiative, an innovative and collaborative approach led by the Trust and Imperial College London, with HRH Prince of Wales as its Patron, to tackle Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR). The Fleming Centre will be part of a global network of centres in strategic locations around the world, aiming to catalyse worldwide action. Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of the Fleming Initiative, last week announced it had raised an initial £100m, supported by three new partners, LifeArc, Cepheid and Optum, alongside founding partner, GSK, and other philanthropists. The Centre itself is due to open at St Mary’s Hospital in 2028, helping to mark the centenary of the discovery of penicillin at the hospital by Sir Alexander Fleming. It will be the first new building to open on the St Mary’s site as part of a planned full redevelopment of the site. The evaluation panel selected the following practices to proceed to the next phase of the competition: The shortlisted teams will now enter the next phase of the process, with a final decision is expected to be announced in January 2025. Professor Tim Orchard, Chief Executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are excited by the prospect of plans for the Fleming Centre that incorporate creative ways to honour the legacy of Sir Alexander Fleming. We will be engaging with staff, patients and local communities to ensure that the Fleming Centre brings real impact, locally and globally, as a visionary space for collaboration, groundbreaking science and engagement to drive change.” Lord Ara Darzi, Executive Chair of the Fleming Initiative, said: “Science alone will not solve the global threat of antimicrobial resistance, we have to change human behaviour. The Fleming Centre is an embodiment of our commitment to making public engagement and behavioural science the cornerstones of the innovative solutions we need. I look forward to reviewing plans for the Fleming Centre that will make this vision a reality.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
