Engineering students at UTC Heathrow got the rare opportunity to tour an operational CyrusOne data centre, seeing for themselves the racks of servers used to store computer data (email, website, online transactions, etc) for some of the biggest companies in the world, along with the electrical and mechanical equipment needed
As the construction industry is responsible for 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, national practice GSSArchitecture is continually striving to help reduce these statistics and as part of a wider sustainability strategy, have appointed an in-house SKA Assessor. Eleanor Lee has been appointed as the SKA assessor for the
Two companies have created a unique partnership to acquire long-established training company Expedient Training, to develop the UK’s green skills ahead of 2050. The owners of UK National and Simply Certification have come together to create a partnership which sees UK National acquire 100% of the land and buildings at
NIBE Energy Systems is delighted to have contributed to the opening of a new mobile heat pump facility as part of a collaborative effort to unlock essential training opportunities in Scotland, with a particular focus on addressing training gaps in remote and rural areas where there isn’t college training provision.
One of the UK’s leading construction skills training companies The Skills Centre, which is currently running specialist cladding skills bootcamps in London, welcomes the announcement that the UK government will be providing more funding for cladding removal. Jon Howlin, CEO The Skills Centre, says: “This is great step for building
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has called for a major injection of funding and planning into addressing the skills shortage which is preventing the refurbishment and retrofitting of buildings in line with the government’s carbon reduction targets. A study by the recruitment firm Reed Environment estimated that current rates
Latest statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that there were one hundred and thirty-five workers killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain compared with one hundred and twenty-three last year. The annual data published by Great Britain’s workplace regulator, HSE, covers the period from April 2022
Elevation Training Academy has partnered with recruitment agency, Secure & Recruit. This partnership aims to bring new talent into the fire and security industry and drive the next generation of fire and security engineers. The skills shortage and aging workforce within the industry has received significant attention, and as the
McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) and Miller Developments have announced a partnership with Martin Murray ThinkFAST academy, to provide support and development for young people through the discipline and ethos of boxing. Donating a total of £30,000 to the St. Helens-based Martin Murray Academy, McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) and
An annual women in STEAM careers open day, held at the construction site of Belfast Grand Central Station, has brought together 60 female students from three schools in the city for an interactive experience event designed to inspire the next generation of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) talent.
Engineering students at UTC Heathrow got the rare opportunity to tour an operational CyrusOne data centre, seeing for themselves the racks of servers used to store computer data (email, website, online transactions, etc) for some of the biggest companies in the world, along with the electrical and mechanical equipment needed to support such important infrastructure. Shortly before school broke for the holidays, seven engineering students visited CyrusOne’s LON1 site based in Slough, where they met Jacob Dowsett, Regional Operations Director, and Steve Hayward, Vice President European Operations. Jacob was especially inspirational, telling the students about his unconventional path into his role: “What we are hoping to do is shed light on this industry and make the route for your generation more straight forward,” he said. The purpose of the tour was to support the learning these students have been doing on the data services industry as part of their Engineering BTEC course through the Digital Futures Programme. This programme, unique to UTC Heathrow, is designed to open opportunities for students to explore an array of careers within the data services industry, as well as equipping them for other technical careers. Although the programme has been running since 2021, this is the first time any of the students have visited a fully operational data centre. Having made sure that their clients were happy with the students being shown around, CyrusOne were delighted to offer the inaugural tour. CyrusOne’s Jacob Dowsett explained how vital it is for students to be able to see the workings of the data centre in person. “It’s so important for the students to be able to visualise these data centres and see for themselves. Obviously, it’s data sensitive, really high security, but without these experiences – showing the students what’s actually inside the data centre and what engineering roles there are, they’re not going to want to join the industry. They need to see things up and running and see themselves doing it.” On the day, students were shown a short presentation on what happened at the data centre (which the students were already pretty clued up on), before starting the ‘electrical tour’. Much to the students’ delight, this involved the big switch on of a power generator. It was big and loud – the boys loved it naturally! They were shown how it worked by an engineer – but it wasn’t a passive watch. Like all good school trips, the students were armed with a clipboard containing questions they were required to answer. This meant they were actively engaged, listening to the engineers and most importantly learning. The second part of the tour looked at the mechanical side – the cooling system. Data centre servers generate a lot of heat, so all require some kind of cooling mechanism, in this case an Adiabatic* cooling system. Kitted out with boots, hi-vis and lanyards, the students got to really visualise how a data centre works. They spoke to some of the engineers, asking intelligent questions about how the equipment works and what engineers at CyrusOne do – and what the earning potential is. Something that really gave the students food for thought was the company’s vision of a sustainable future and what they could do to be a part of that. CyrusOne’s Hanna Chegrouche, Marketing Coordinator said: “I think the younger generation need to feel valued in industry and feel like they’re part of a bigger impact. So while we were talking about the now of being an engineer, we were also talking about the headwinds that we face and how engineers have a big part to play. We looked at our new facility, LON6, through a VR headset experience and I think they were surprised – it looks so different to what you perceive a data centre to look like, with the biodiverse surrounding areas and timber framed interior, you won’t even think that was a data centre city at all.” For many of the students who were already considering a career in the sector after school, this tour made them even more determined! ALET Project Coordinator Candace Rose Kumi, who is based at UTC Heathrow said: “The advice given to students was fantastic, they left feeling inspired and wanting to know more about the industry. They gained a better understanding of electrical and mechanical equipment within a data centre as well as the future works.” One of the students, Lucas, went on: “This was a great opportunity and has helped me to decide that I would love to start a career in the data centre industry. Everyone was very enthusiastic and informative, and I am very grateful to the CyrusOne team for this experience.” Summing up, another of the visiting students, Yaseen, said: “I found the trip to be fascinating because of the orderliness of such a complex operation. Everything was so under control to the point where any issue they have is predictable and resolvable in seconds, if not minutes, and I found this to be an inspiration for how I should maximise efficiency in my day-to-day life. I was surprised to see how relaxed everyone was given that if the servers were to go down it would cost them thousands of pounds, but I think they are so organised that they never need to worry. They were very welcoming and willing to explain any questions we had and went out of their way to make it a great day for us.” . Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As the construction industry is responsible for 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, national practice GSSArchitecture is continually striving to help reduce these statistics and as part of a wider sustainability strategy, have appointed an in-house SKA Assessor. Eleanor Lee has been appointed as the SKA assessor for the Practice, having successfully completed her SKA training and assessment modules earlier this month. SKA assessments are a sustainable initiative focused on the refurbishment and remodelling of existing buildings, which is a crucial part of the sustainability strategy that GSS promote with their clients. The assessments themselves help building owners, landlords and tenants assess remodelling and refurbishment projects against a series of sustainability best practice criteria. As an organisation, GSS is committed to promoting the efficiencies and sustainable outcomes that can be achieved by reusing or repurposing existing built assets. The practice would like to see an increase the current 11% of UK construction spending on fitouts and refurbishments, rather than building new. GSS are involved in numerous fit-out and refurbishment projects across the country, and, because of the appointment of an in-house SKA Assessor, they can enhance their client offer by supporting sustainable assessments whilst also delivering effective designs. The SKA assessment has a strong focus on realistic steps to improve environmental impact, as well as health and wellbeing measures, and is a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors initiative. Eleanor has already led the client and design team at Durham University through two schemes, successfully achieving a bronze and silver certification respectively. Jonathan Hunter, Partner at GSS, said, “We are proud to have Eleanor as part of our team and our clients are already benefitting from the skills she has gained from the SKA Assessment training. At GSS, we are proud to encourage and empower the next generation of designers to lead a more sustainable future and we are looking forward to seeing where else we can drive improvements in the sustainability of the construction industry.” Eleanor Lee said,“When 80% of buildings which will be occupied in 2050 already exist, it’s becoming increasingly important that we review and improve existing buildings. Having interacted with the SKA Assessment from the designer’s perspective, it’s inspiring to see an assessment methodology encourage realistic steps towards sustainability, in a way that works with designers, clients, and contractors alike. I’m really pleased to have had this opportunity and I’m excited to take this forward in future projects.” To find out more about GSSArchitecture, and their research and stance on sustainability and net zero, or to view their extensive range of projects in a variety of projects across the UK, please visit www.gssarchitecture.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Two companies have created a unique partnership to acquire long-established training company Expedient Training, to develop the UK’s green skills ahead of 2050. The owners of UK National and Simply Certification have come together to create a partnership which sees UK National acquire 100% of the land and buildings at Quay Corner Training Centre and a 70% share of the business, with the owners of Simply Certification acquiring 30% of the business. Facilities Management company UK National and certification body Simply Certification have joined forces to create the unique partnership to acquire Expedient Training, which specialises in built environment training and qualifications. The deal, which completed on 28th July will allow the two companies to bring their areas of expertise to the senior management team, following retirement of the current Managing Director Malcolm Atkinson who set the business up in 2002. Expedient Training based in Jarrow, has developed a reputation for excellence within the built environment sector and offers over 200 training courses alongside NVQ qualifications. Under the new business structure, Alex Gates will take on a dual Managing Director (MD) role leading Expedient whilst also continuing to be MD for Simply Certification. Sonny Parker, MD at UK National will lead the Facilities and Operations side of the Expedient business. The deal will allow the new team to further expand the existing training service offering, and in addition support companies to reach the government’s net zero targets through the delivery of services under funding schemes and commercial contracts. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NIBE Energy Systems is delighted to have contributed to the opening of a new mobile heat pump facility as part of a collaborative effort to unlock essential training opportunities in Scotland, with a particular focus on addressing training gaps in remote and rural areas where there isn’t college training provision. The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Energy Saving Trust, Energy Skills Partnership (ESP), South Lanarkshire College and NIBE Energy Systems, and has been fully funded by the Scottish Government. The facility was officially launched by Mr Graeme Dey, Minister for Higher Education, Further Education and Minister for Veterans at South Lanarkshire College on 2nd August. Hosted by South Lanarkshire College, the BPEC approved training and assessment centre will be a shared resource available to all Scottish colleges. Installers can visit the centre to undergo training and certification on heat pumps, as well as obtain their Water Byelaws/Regulations and Domestic Vented and Unvented Hot Water Storage qualifications. It is designed to provide flexible training opportunities across the country and encourage the industry to gain the skills needed to decarbonise homes and buildings in line with Scotland’s plans to become Net Zero by 2045. The Scottish Government has stated that the availability of an inclusive, diverse and capable supply chain will be key to delivering on their ambition for the decarbonisation of heat in buildings. They estimate that an additional 16,400 jobs will be supported across the economy in 2030 as a result of investment in the deployment of zero emissions heat in new and existing buildings. This initiative will play a key part in achieving these objectives. NIBE Energy Systems is proud to have assisted with the design of the centre and to have provided the facility with some of its latest air source and ground source heat pumps so that installers can gain hands-on-experience with innovative, low carbon heating technologies. Phil Hurley, Managing Director of NIBE Energy Systems said: “We’re so pleased to have been a part of this project. We have made it our mission at NIBE to do as much as we can to empower installers through removing barriers to training and unlocking opportunities. Heat pumps will play a key role in decarbonising homes and buildings in Scotland, and we can’t roll them out without installers. “The Climate Change Committee has outlined that net zero has the potential to create between 135,000 and 725,000 jobs by 2030, but that the availability of workers in the sector must increase to meet the demand for low carbon technology. Flexible training facilities like this will be fundamental in making sure they can access the skills and qualifications they need, and we’re honoured to have provided the facility with NIBE heat pumps so that they can get to grips with the technology as they learn.”
One of the UK’s leading construction skills training companies The Skills Centre, which is currently running specialist cladding skills bootcamps in London, welcomes the announcement that the UK government will be providing more funding for cladding removal. Jon Howlin, CEO The Skills Centre, says: “This is great step for building safety in the UK and will hopefully bring some comfort to those whose properties are affected by removing burden of funding remedial works.. “However, there is still a huge shortfall in trained personnel to complete the works safely. Continued investment in building the workforce is required to ensure remedial works are completed by individuals with the correct training and experience. For those interested in entering construction, this is a great opportunity to specialise from the start, and with funding in place, and 30 years of buildings to retrofit, there are great career opportunities in cladding. “To open the doors to these opportunities, The Skills Centre has led a collaboration with The Greater London Authority, CITB and leading employers to design a bespoke, 7-week bootcamp. Delivered from our specialist facility near Stratford, the newly launched programme provides learners with the specialist skills, knowledge and, crucially, site experience they need to start making the UK’s buildings safer for everyone. “Employers or learners interested in taking part can learn more online or get in touch with the team: https://theskillscentre.co.uk/courses-services/rainscreen-cladding-bootcamp” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has called for a major injection of funding and planning into addressing the skills shortage which is preventing the refurbishment and retrofitting of buildings in line with the government’s carbon reduction targets. A study by the recruitment firm Reed Environment estimated that current rates of recruitment for professions carrying out building retrofit work would have to triple if the country was to meet its 2050 Net Zero target. It concluded that the UK is currently on track to miss the required number of building energy efficiency upgrades by 55 years – only reaching it in 2105 – due to “a serious shortage of retrofit training and recruitment pathways”. BESA said building retrofits should be “a main policy and business pillar of Net Zero”, but that the country was falling behind its targets due to the lack of a comprehensive plan for how the 2050 target could be delivered. “Retrofitting homes and commercial buildings needs to be a main building block of Net Zero,” said the Association’s director of training and skills Helen Yeulet. “This requires a serious acceleration in recruitment of the necessary skills, which will also underpin business growth and job creation in the sector.” LaggingThe UK is also lagging comparable European countries when it comes to retrofit work, according to research from the MCS Charitable Foundation, which revealed it was installing less than a tenth of the number of heat pumps as France despite having a similar heating market. Only 55,000 heat pumps were sold in the UK last year, compared with 621,000 in France. 20 other European countries also had higher installation rates than the UK, which is being held back by the lack of a comprehensive and consistent plan for ‘green skills’, according to BESA. The MCS report said that there was currently “little chance” of the UK meeting the government’s target of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028. However, with a proper skills strategy it should be possible to create 50,000 new jobs in this market, up from just 2,000 today. BESA welcomed the launch of the government’s £5m Heat Training Grant which offers £500 towards heat pump training for self-employed installers, the unemployed and those working for a business with 250 employees or less. It is expected to help upskill around 6,000 heating engineers, but the Association said it was important that the government made long-term policy commitments and abandoned its ‘stop-start’ approach to funding. “Employers need to have the confidence to invest in their workforces and diversify their businesses,” said Yeulet. “We need to take a leaf out of France’s book.” She also called for the government to give a clear commitment to the Future Homes and Building Standard, which is due to come into force in 2025 and would set energy efficiency benchmarks that could drive retrofit work. France has benefited from energy efficiency and electrification of heat being political priorities for more than a decade underpinned by generous financial incentives. The installation market grew from 100,000 a year in 2010 to over 600,000 last year and France now has more than 30,000 people employed full time in heat pumps. “There is no mystery about why other countries are doing better than us,” said Yeulet. “They have clear policy commitments and long-term, properly funded training programmes in place that give employers the confidence to invest and grow their businesses. “We have been talking about this for years, but this is not just about government. We all need to step up and do what we promise by investing in our workforces. Not just because it is the right thing to do for the planet, but also because the potential for business growth is huge.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Latest statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that there were one hundred and thirty-five workers killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain compared with one hundred and twenty-three last year. The annual data published by Great Britain’s workplace regulator, HSE, covers the period from April 2022 to March 2023. The industry with the highest number of workplace fatalities was construction which accounted for 45% of deaths. The three most common causes of fatal injuries from across all business sectors were reported as falls from height (40), being struck by a moving object (29), and being struck by a moving vehicle (20). The statistics have been published only weeks after the government indicated its intention to abandon plans to scrap thousands of EU-era laws which were due to expire at the end of the year. These included Working at Height Regulations (WAHR). Robert Candy, Chief Executive, Scaffolding Association said; “There is no doubt that since WAHR were introduced, they have helped to improve safety and reduce fatalities within the workplace. These latest statistics emphasise their importance and whilst common sense prevailed in May when the government sighted their intention to keep them, one workplace fatality is one too many so there is much work to do”. You can see the HSE statistics and statement in full here: Work-related fatality figures published | HSE Media Centre Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Elevation Training Academy has partnered with recruitment agency, Secure & Recruit. This partnership aims to bring new talent into the fire and security industry and drive the next generation of fire and security engineers. The skills shortage and aging workforce within the industry has received significant attention, and as the number of companies securing apprenticeships continues to increase, it has become a long-term investment for their company growth. Secure & Recruit has a continuous flow of entry-level candidates who are eager to obtain their place in the sector. These candidates have connections to the industry through friends and family, or they have already completed self-funded industry courses, proving their dedication to their chosen career path. Elevation Training Academy, an apprenticeship training specialist in fire and security, says it is confident that this partnership can address the skills shortage and provide the industry with the skilled workforce it requires. Secure & Recruit believes its success in placing fire and security tutors for the apprentice scheme also gives its team a good understanding of the full cycle. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Secure & Recruit in our efforts to bridge the skills gap within the industry and provide the next generation of engineers with the training and opportunities they need to learn, grow and evolve,” says Jolene Taylor, Managing Director of Elevation Training Academy. “Our partnership with Secure & Recruit aligns with our commitment to developing a highly-skilled workforce within the fire and security industry. We are confident that with the help of Secure & Recruit, we can make a significant impact in addressing the skills shortage and supporting the industry’s growth.” Sophie Hallam, Managing Director at Secure & Recruit, adds: “Secure & Recruit are proud to be supporting Elevation Training Academy with their award-winning training of bringing in new talent to the fire and security industry. “As an acclaimed provider of skilled candidates within the fire and security sector, we are well placed to understand what it takes for the making of an accomplished fire and security engineer. “This new drive for the next generation of Fire and Security Engineers resonates with Secure & Recruit’s ethos and we’re extremely excited to be a part of this.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) and Miller Developments have announced a partnership with Martin Murray ThinkFAST academy, to provide support and development for young people through the discipline and ethos of boxing. Donating a total of £30,000 to the St. Helens-based Martin Murray Academy, McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) and Miller Developments have joined forces to help hard-to-reach young people with high quality social support and development through the academy’s ThinkFAST programme. The six-week programme, which is supported by schools and parents, involves offering guidance to students of the academy through the teaching of coping mechanisms, keep fit and boxing. The ThinkFAST student benefits include working alongside boxing coaches as strong and inspiring role models, where they are taught fitness, teamwork, anger management and discipline skills, alongside how to improve concentration and confidence through positive engagement and empowerment. McLaren Construction Midlands and North has a long-standing relationship with Martin Murray and he has supported the contractor with past charitable events such as the Broughton project, which in partnership with British Land, engaged in a successful initiative to help ex-offenders back into employment. Miller Developments and McLaren have collaborated previously to deliver a joint venture project at OMEGA Warrington and through introductions, the partnership and opportunity to support the Martin Murray academy was formed. Gary Cramp, managing director of McLaren Construction (Midlands and North), said: “We are incredibly proud to be supporting Martin and the boxing community at the academy with their exceptional hard work and dedication to this fantastic programme. “Enriching so many lives in the St. Helens and Warrington community, the ThinkFAST programme really inspires and supports young people, shaping lives for the better by introducing skillsets to nurture and grow confidence. We look forward to continuing our support to ThinkFAST with future events and initiatives.” David Milloy, managing director of Miller Developments, said: “We are delighted to assist ThinkFAST in continuing the superb work they do to support and encourage vulnerable young people, to ensure that they have a better future.” Martin Murray, founder of the Think Fast Academy, said: “We would like to thank Gary Cramp and the excellent teams at McLaren Construction and Miller Developments for all of their help and support with Think FAST Academy. “The money that they have kindly donated will help us to continue to be able to deliver our crime prevention programmes to the young people of Merseyside and Cheshire. As well as working closely with the Youth Justice Service, we have also worked with the majority of high schools in both boroughs. This has meant that we have managed to help over 300 young vulnerable young people so far. “Our vision is to continue to run as many programmes as possible in order to make the future brighter for our young people and in order to do this we need financial support, so we would like to thank you again for your faith and belief in our Academy.” McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) and Miller Developments are planning to further support the academy with a future charity event and details will be released in due course. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An annual women in STEAM careers open day, held at the construction site of Belfast Grand Central Station, has brought together 60 female students from three schools in the city for an interactive experience event designed to inspire the next generation of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) talent. Farrans Sacyr, the main works contractor for Belfast Grand Central Station, hosted the day in collaboration with Translink, Babcock, W5, CITB, Engineers Ireland and their sponsors McAdam Design and Design ID to mark International Women in Engineering Day (Today – 23rd June 2023). Students aged 11-13 from St Louise’s Comprehensive College, Hunterhouse College and Victoria College engaged in a range of engineering challenges, gained hands on experience of using equipment and took part in interactive workshops on the commercial aspects of building, Minecraft and a virtual reality experience. Belfast Grand Central Station will deliver a modern, world-class integrated transport hub to enhance local and international connectivity with bus, coach and rail links across Northern Ireland and beyond. It will offer greater capacity with an increase to 26 bus stands, 8 railway platforms, enhanced walking and cycling connectivity, greater comfort and accessibility encouraging greener, active travel for a healthier, smarter city. The Weavers Cross development delivered as part of the project will regenerate the lands around Belfast Grand Central Station and facilitate economic growth and urban regeneration. Gemma Thompson, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Manager for Translink commented: “This exciting new fully integrated transport hub will represent a step change for public transport. As a fully multi-modal transport facility it will improve connectivity for everyone in Northern Ireland and beyond and act as a highly impressive gateway. It is the largest construction project undertaken by Translink to date and has required significant engineering works from building and bridge construction, road upgrade works through to extensive railway and signalling works and we have been delighted to showcase this important project to these female students today. “As an organisation we are committed to actively encouraging more females to apply for public transport jobs. Being part of this event is a great opportunity to demonstrate the many opportunities open to females within the engineering and construction side of our business and show how a career in public transport can help play amajor part in tackling the climate crisis and enhance air quality, for a healthier, smarter and more sustainable city for everyone.” Sarah Fearon, Community Engagement and PR Manager for Farrans Sacyr, said: “One of our key priorities while delivering this important project is to have a positive and long-lasting societal impact by bringing economic, social and environmental benefits to the communities in which we operate. This event has brought the students on a tour through the skills that are needed on construction sites and demonstrated the array of opportunities that this industry has for their future. We thank all of our partner organisations on their support in bringing this event to fruition and to each of the schools for participating.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
