PICK Everard has added two key public sector frameworks to its portfolio following a successful appointment to two of Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) frameworks, allowing it to expand and diversify its service offering for the public sector. Both the Management Consultancy Framework Three RM6187 (MCF3) and the Estate Management Services
The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is to offer installers easy and affordable access to apprentices with a ground-breaking employer package for the new Apprenticeship programme. The KBB Fitted Interiors Apprenticeship programme is set to provide hundreds of youngsters with career opportunities within the KBB installation
Housebuilder Bellway has relocated its Eastern Counties divisional office to Building 2030 at Cambourne Business Park as it targets significant growth over the next five years. The division is one of Bellway’s newest, having been established in 2018. Its first office opened in Huntingdon early in 2019. Bellway Eastern Counties
Travis Perkins plc, which is the largest supplier of building materials and equipment, and a leading partner to the construction industry, has appointed Nick Pinney as the Group’s new Property Director from 1st November 2021. Nick will be replacing Martin Meech, who is retiring from the Group at the end
The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mrs Terri Beer, was among those celebrating the achievements of a group of veterans who have retrained in construction thanks to a partnership between City College Plymouth, Sherford Skills Training Centre, and Building Heroes. The veterans were joined by College staff and local dignitaries
The Shore Group are delighted to announce the appointment of Will Keenan as Regional Director of their new West & Wales region. Will has extensive experience in Construction Recruitment, Logistics and Site Services. After an extensive recruitment search the company have appointed Will to develop and grow their West country
Study Inn Group, the luxury hotel-style student accommodation owner, developer, and operator, are pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Liversage to head up the development arm of the group’s business. Simon brings over thirty years’ residential and student sector experience in hands-on delivery of development projects specialising in overall
James Abbott has been appointed Land and Partnerships Director at the Keepmoat Homes South Midlands region. James joins the national housebuilder with 16 years of experience in the construction industry, having previously worked as Land Director at Morris Homes Eastern, where he worked for four years after joining them as
Rising costs and a shortage of skilled people are giving building services contractors sleepless nights, according to a new business survey. Members of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) said they were facing “major challenges” due to a combination of rising labour and material costs, growing lead times, shortage of
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, announced today that it has appointed Natali Cooper as Head of Portfolio, Asset Management and ESG, Europe. Natali has played a lead role in the development of GLP’s ESG strategy across its European portfolio and through its funds.
PICK Everard has added two key public sector frameworks to its portfolio following a successful appointment to two of Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) frameworks, allowing it to expand and diversify its service offering for the public sector. Both the Management Consultancy Framework Three RM6187 (MCF3) and the Estate Management Services (EMS) framework from CCS are accessible to all public sector organisations in the UK. Pick Everard has been appointed to two lots on the MCF3, covering Business (Lot 1) and Environmental Sustainability and Socio-Economic Development (Lot 9). This framework agreement will run for four years. Lot 1 covers a diverse range of business services provision and will see Pick Everard delivering services including – but not limited to – business case development, business processes, change management, operational planning and improvement, programme and project management, and value for money reviews. Meanwhile Lot 9 will cover a wide range of environmental sustainability and socio-economic services, such as climate change adaptation, carbon management and reporting, natural resource management, pollution control, policy development, and social value. CCS supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21 CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04bn – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers. Alastair Hamilton, partner at Pick Everard, said: “We are thrilled to have secured these appointments and to be able to support the public sector through these key, central government-led frameworks that will undoubtedly benefit communities around the country. “Our appointment to MCF3, which is utilised by big players in the market and household names like HS2, will see us acting as cost and project managers in a much wider context, diversifying and expanding the services we offer beyond the property realm in which we have historically worked. “This secures us among the top project management suppliers in the UK – something we are very proud of – and opens new doors to us as a firm, along with the opportunity to bring the decades of public sector experience within the team to a new portion of the market. “Using this framework as a delivery vehicle for environmental sustainability services helps secure our continual commitment to sustainability and work towards net carbon zero. We understand how important this is to the public sector at the moment and look forward to supporting those clients in achieving their sustainability goals.” The firm has also secured Lot 4 of the Estate Management Services framework, namely ‘surveying and strategic advice’ with a term of three years (36 months) with an option to extend by a further 12 months. This multi-lot framework supports UK public sector bodies and future successor organisations, which includes central government departments. It is also available for use for the bodies and agencies connected with those departments as well as the wider public sector, including, but not limited to local government, health, education, emergency services, housing associations and charities. Services will be delivered primarily within the UK, with some limited requirements overseas. David Harris, partner at Pick Everard, said: “This marks a significant development in our on-going partnership with CCS, being the first time we have been selected to the Estate Management Services framework. It will allow us to maintain and develop existing relationships within CCS while building new ones within this specific area. “As well as extending our portfolio of work, these appointments will also solidify Pick Everard’s position in the market and will allow us to continue the growth in the strategic advisory, surveying and asset management areas of the business too. Our multi-disciplinary nature as a firm allows us to provide added value, being able to draw on our in-house expertise for all the commissions we deliver. And ultimately, this allows us to save costs, while maintaining a diamond standard of delivery.” Pick Everard employs more than 600 staff across its 13 offices, providing a range of project, cost, and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.
The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is to offer installers easy and affordable access to apprentices with a ground-breaking employer package for the new Apprenticeship programme. The KBB Fitted Interiors Apprenticeship programme is set to provide hundreds of youngsters with career opportunities within the KBB installation sector, tackling immediate worker shortages and longer-term skills gap challenge. New national network of BiKBBI approved Centres of Excellence to ensure apprentices will receive a first class foundation to their installation career; Compelling package of support that enables installers take on apprentices without having to deal with recruitment, employment or training complication; Promotional campaign backed by six figure support set to drive interest in taking up apprenticeships among young people across the country. The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is today calling on the industry and installation businesses of all sizes to support the long-term future of the industry’s workforce by promoting the apprenticeship programme and ultimately supporting businesses to take on an apprentice, safe in the knowledge that doing so will be hassle-free with support from BiKBBI. The invitation comes thanks to a ground-breaking package of tailored support for installation businesses that the Institute has developed in collaboration with strategic partners. With demand for installation higher than ever, the new BiKBBI support package offers installation businesses a fast track to the workers they need for their businesses to continue to deliver and grow during these times of unprecedented demand. The apprenticeship package that BIKBBI has developed comprehensively addresses: The recruitment of high-quality apprentices, including advertising vacancies, vetting applicants and carrying out all eligibility checks; All employment administration, including contracts and paperwork, health and safety checks, and running payroll for the apprentice; All of the training requirements, including placing the apprentice with an accredited training provider (BiKBBI Centre of Excellence), monitoring the apprentice’s progress and arranging for the end point assessment needed to complete the apprenticeship; All performance management and support for the apprentice – freeing up the installation business to focus on the work itself; The process to complete the apprenticeship, ensuring that the apprentice is ready to transition into the next phase of their career. Backed by a three-year funding pledge from Quooker, BIKBBI expects this to lead to over 500 new apprentices per year entering our industry. Campaign activity will include working closely with the college recruitment departments and visiting schools to generate interest in KBB installation careers. BIKBBI is also in discussions with a number of charities and community groups to develop recruitment campaigns within underrepresented communities, helping to ensure that the people from all backgrounds take up the opportunities of a KBB installation apprenticeship.
Housebuilder Bellway has relocated its Eastern Counties divisional office to Building 2030 at Cambourne Business Park as it targets significant growth over the next five years. The division is one of Bellway’s newest, having been established in 2018. Its first office opened in Huntingdon early in 2019. Bellway Eastern Counties now employs 64 people and supports hundreds of contractor jobs across the East of England. Directly employed staff cover a range of disciplines, from land and planning to technical, commercial, finance and sales. The team also includes apprentices and graduate trainees. “Our move to larger premises is an immensely positive step forward for the division, which reflects the continued high demand for new homes in this part of the country. We did not expect to outgrow our previous office space so soon. The fact that we did so demonstrates how quickly we have scaled this new division,” said Phil Standen, Managing Director of Bellway Eastern Counties. “A series of new developments will launch to the public over the next year and our land buyers are busy securing more sites for future growth. Cambourne Business Park has everything we need locally, and the office is a first-class environment which will enable us to innovate and expand further.” The division is working on 13 current and future housing developments, with more to be announced soon. Work is underway on its second development in Fordham, to be followed by homes in locations including Peterborough, Stilton, Godmanchester and Bacton in Suffolk. Bellway Eastern Counties has also been announced as a joint venture partner with Latimer to build 1,200 homes in Cherry Hinton, near Cambridge. “The search for a new office was extensive and we are pleased to have found somewhere that ticked every box. In just three months, we have agreed the lease, organised the office fit-out and moved in. The team are delighted to be settling into their new surroundings,” added Phil.
Travis Perkins plc, which is the largest supplier of building materials and equipment, and a leading partner to the construction industry, has appointed Nick Pinney as the Group’s new Property Director from 1st November 2021. Nick will be replacing Martin Meech, who is retiring from the Group at the end of 2021 in a move that has been planned carefully for some time, and after 16 years of distinguished service. Martin’s retirement brings an end to a period of 35 years where he held the role of Property Director but will be continuing in his Non Executive and advisory roles. Nick first joined the Group as Divisional Property Director in 2014 before being promoted to Property Director for the Group’s Merchant businesses in 2019. As the new Group Property Director Nick will oversee the Group’s £1bn property business with a portfolio of more than 1300 buildings, and be responsible for the continued growth and development of the Group’s estate. He will be reporting to the Group’s CFO, Alan Williams. “I am really pleased to announce the promotion of Nick, who is a fantastic asset to our team and who has grown with us since he joined the business seven years ago. This appointment is a testament to his talent and skills, and also of our commitment to the development of our own colleague pipeline. “Nick has already played a key role in developing the property strategy that supports the ambitious growth we have for our businesses, and he will now be responsible for the long term plan to maintain and improve our estate, to make sure it is fit for the future in terms of driving the digital agenda, and that we lead the way on sustainable construction,” explained Alan Williams. Prior to joining Travis Perkins, Nick worked as a Retail Partner for Strutt & Parker and as an analyst at Morgan Stanley. He is a language graduate from Oxford and has an MA in Property Valuation & Law from Cass Business School at City University. Nick lives in the Banbury area with his wife and four young children, and when time allows, he’s a keen tennis player and enjoys golf.
The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mrs Terri Beer, was among those celebrating the achievements of a group of veterans who have retrained in construction thanks to a partnership between City College Plymouth, Sherford Skills Training Centre, and Building Heroes. The veterans were joined by College staff and local dignitaries for the Building Heroes graduation ceremony on Friday 15 October. The ceremony took place at Sherford’s revolutionary £370,000 Skills Training Centre, which was created to address the region’s skills shortage. It was funded by the Sherford Consortium – a partnership between Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Partnerships – and opened its doors in 2018. The centre has supported the training and development of hundreds of apprentices and armed service leavers, created hundreds of jobs, and enabled users to retrain and upskill across trades. The Building Heroes course teaches construction skills to veterans, service leavers and direct family members, offering them the training they need to start new careers whilst also providing new talent to an industry that is experiencing a shortage in new workers. Steven Ricketts, Sherford Skills Training Coordinator, said: “I would first like to congratulate all of the students who have worked extremely hard to complete their course. It is never easy to start over, especially for those whose previous careers were in the Armed Forces as it can sometimes be challenging to adjust to civilian life. “They have all excelled in their training and shown real dedication to learning the skills that will help them start new careers. I’m pleased they are able to mark their achievements with their families as it is the first graduation ceremony we have been able to hold since the COVID-19 pandemic.” The students – a combination of military personnel in a resettlement period and unemployed veterans – took part in the fully-funded construction skills course over five weeks, with the aim of securing future careers in construction. They received tuition and hands-on instruction in various areas of construction and safety and can now progress to a higher level of study or find employment working on construction sites. The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Terri Beer, said: “It was a real joy to preside over today’s celebrations and acknowledge the achievements of a group who have a genuine determination to learn new skills. “Construction is such a vital industry for Plymouth and a pillar of resurgam; all those who complete a Building Heroes course will be essential to our city’s development and growth. I wish them all every success in the future.” Karen Jefford, Chief Operations Officer of Building Heroes, said: “The charity’s focus has always been to support these men and women by offering them new opportunities for successful, long-term careers. “Building Heroes is also helping to meet the local skills shortage in construction, so it is great to know we are also supporting this essential industry.” Building Heroes first started delivering the courses at Sherford in 2019 and it was the first in the country to run on a live construction site. City College joined the partnership in 2020 when its staff took over teaching the students, in line with the College’s strategic plans for supporting the local construction industry through training new tradespeople, and also improving health and wellbeing by providing routes into fulfilling careers. The charity reports that there are around 120,000 unemployed military veterans of working age in Britain today. Figures also reveal the UK construction industry is facing a massive skills shortage, with 217,000 new construction workers needed by 2025. With Plymouth known for its considerable military population; this is an especially appropriate place for veterans to be given a new opportunity. For more information about Building Heroes and how to register for a Building Heroes course, please visit www.buildingheroes.org.uk.
The Shore Group are delighted to announce the appointment of Will Keenan as Regional Director of their new West & Wales region. Will has extensive experience in Construction Recruitment, Logistics and Site Services. After an extensive recruitment search the company have appointed Will to develop and grow their West country presence, working with both new and existing clients. “On behalf of the whole company and the owners we are thrilled to have Will on board. With his obvious passion for the role, his experience, coupled with a focus on social value and excellent customer service, I am excited for our clients in Wales & the West Country,” commented on the appointment Shore Group managing director Richard Woodbridge. “Will has made a huge impression already in the short time he has been with us and we all look forward to working with him and seeing him, the team and our clients all benefit. This is an exciting moment for the Shore Group and being a West Country man myself I’m particularly excited to see us expand our reach and expertise further in this area.” Will Keenan also commented on his appointment: “I’m extremely excited to be on board, it’s going to be fantastic working with old and new clients and is an excellent opportunity to join an ever-expanding business that has a serious passion for outstanding client delivery, right across the United Kingdom. I’m really looking forward to not only developing our new West & Wales region, but to also help push the business nationally through all of our service offerings.”
Study Inn Group, the luxury hotel-style student accommodation owner, developer, and operator, are pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Liversage to head up the development arm of the group’s business. Simon brings over thirty years’ residential and student sector experience in hands-on delivery of development projects specialising in overall commercial management, procurement, contractual arrangements, and handover to operating teams. Commenting on the appointment, Kieran Leahy, director at Study Inn, said: “We created the Study Inn platform to deliver secure asset backed investments with strong and resilient income streams. This Senior Management Board have been specifically selected to cover our in-house activities of: Research, Acquisitions, Finance, Design, Development, and Operations, and substantially increase our capacity to deliver the Group’s objectives. We couldn’t be happier with Simon’s appointment to complete the team”. Simon added: “I am delighted to have joined such a forward-thinking company with an exceptional track record, a successful business strategy, and clear potential for growth. The Management Board are empowered to deliver and will continue the group’s objective of creating and maturing ‘best in class portfolios’ in prime UK locations.
James Abbott has been appointed Land and Partnerships Director at the Keepmoat Homes South Midlands region. James joins the national housebuilder with 16 years of experience in the construction industry, having previously worked as Land Director at Morris Homes Eastern, where he worked for four years after joining them as Head of Land. James will lead the Keepmoat Homes South Midlands Land and Partnerships team, supporting land acquisition and development projects in the region. The role will see James manage land acquisition strategy for the top ten housebuilder, ensuring the business meets its five-year plan within the region. This will include maintaining existing relationships with key land agents, local authorities and affordable housing providers, as well as forming new connections to expand opportunities in the area. Mick O’Farrell, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: “It’s great to have James onboard, he will be a fantastic asset to the team. He brings to our business a wealth of experience and the kind of attitude which aligns with our regional aspiration for continued growth, and has a clear remit to support us in meeting our development targets.” James Abbott, Land and Partnerships Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: “I’m thrilled to join the team at Keepmoat, as they have an established reputation for entering into partnerships to deliver much-needed quality homes at affordable prices. This is reinforced by our 5-star Home Builders Federation rating, which we are rightly proud of. “I’m excited about building strong relationships with key land partners, registered providers and local authorities, and to be working alongside a dynamic team to deliver the forecast growth for the region.”
Rising costs and a shortage of skilled people are giving building services contractors sleepless nights, according to a new business survey. Members of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) said they were facing “major challenges” due to a combination of rising labour and material costs, growing lead times, shortage of equipment and delivery delays. Many respondents said they expected the situation to get worse before it gets better, although 80% said they expected to see growing or stable turnover levels through to the end of the year. There is a particular shortage of m&e engineers, pipe fitters, plumbers, and service technicians, according to BESA members responding to the quarterly survey, which is carried out in partnership with the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA), the Scottish Electrical Trade Body (SELECT) and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer’s Federation (SNIPEF). The survey, which covered the three months from April to June and asked business owners to look ahead at their prospects for the rest of the year, found that small firms are facing particular challenges. Recruiting 41% reported problems recruiting the staff they needed to keep projects going. 66% expected the situation to deteriorate during the current quarter and 13% expected the situation to remain the same. However, 32% of survey respondents did say they expected to see some improvement before the end of the year. One fallout from the current crisis is that many businesses will employ fewer direct staff, agency workers and apprentices over the next six months despite the urgent need to increase the flow of skilled people into the industry. “That is probably the most worrying message from the survey,” said BESA’s director of legal and commercial Debbie Petford. “We already have a serious skills shortage across construction and related sectors like building engineering, but it seems some employers are reacting by pulling in their recruitment horns. “This will only serve to build up longer term shortages. Without a large enough and suitably skilled workforce we will not be able to deliver on the government’s decarbonisation plans or keep the economic recovery on track. This is a global issue and I hope it will be high on the agenda at next month’s COP26 climate conference in Glasgow,” she added. www.theBESA.com
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, announced today that it has appointed Natali Cooper as Head of Portfolio, Asset Management and ESG, Europe. Natali has played a lead role in the development of GLP’s ESG strategy across its European portfolio and through its funds. Through the new role, Natali will be responsible for the ongoing implementation and evolution of the strategy across the European business. In addition, Natali will remain in charge of the portfolio and asset management functions as an ongoing strategic priority for the business. GLP has established a broad range of environmental, social and governance commitments that elevate the business and create value for its stakeholders. These cover a number of areas including developing and managing sustainable assets and promoting the well-being of its people, partners and communities. GLP has pioneered market-leading sustainability initiatives in the logistics real estate sector including the development of Magnitude at Magna Park, Milton Keynes which is one of the first designated net-zero logistics building in the UK. Nick Cook, President, GLP Europe, said: “Our approach to sustainability and ESG sits at the heart of our decision-making process. Natali has led the way in developing our long-term ESG strategy and we are thrilled that she will be leading on its execution over the coming years. We have made great strides in integrating ESG considerations across our business but recognise that we, and the industry as a whole, have a long way to go. I look forward to working closely with Natali to further develop our sustainability credentials.” Natali Cooper added: “The logistics sector’s stratospheric growth and increasingly important role in the global economy has already placed the industry in the spotlight. It is essential for the long-term success of our business that we take meaningful action to reduce our carbon footprint and create a blueprint for integrating these buildings into communities. This is both a moral and commercial imperative. The whole team is committed to delivering on our ambitious strategy and I look forward to implementing it in the years to come.”
