Open Doors gives visitors a unique insight into working in construction, seeking to inspire young people and career changers of all ages by letting them go behind the site hoardings and explore construction sites, offices, factories, and training centres across Great Britain, alongside a range of virtual events, panel discussions,
AITT’s webinar is now available to watch online. Following the success of last year’s webinar, the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers recently hosted another illuminating online conference earlier this month. Speakers from across the sector shared case histories revealing their experience and successes as well as a series of practical
Never one to rest on their laurels, the Mick George Group have signalled further intent to expand their ever-impressive Contracting Division following the appointment of William East to their Contracting Board, as Managing Director. Considered an integral part of the growth achieved by the Mick George Group in recent times,
Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading modular building specialists, has appointed Mark Rooney as Divisional Director for its Hire operations. Mark joins the business with 15 years’ experience in leadership roles, 10 years of which have been spent in the construction hire space. He now takes responsibility for Premier’s
East Midlands-based Franklin Ellis Architects has welcomed a host of new hires to its interior design and architectural teams at its Nottingham office. The firm, which also has an office in Leicester, has hired five new team members in a short space of time over the summer. The flurry of
Today, exam results are unveiled in Scotland after over a year of disruption to education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those considering their career options, construction might not be the obvious choice. Historically the sector painted a low-paid, low- skilled picture. However, this is a sector that
In response to the increasing requirement by organisations in the datacentre, commercial, media and high-tech sectors to upgrade, modernise and expand their mission critical facilities and infrastructure, BCS Group (Business Critical Solutions), the specialist services provider to the digital infrastructure industry, has appointed an experienced Head of Critical Infrastructure. Simon
Pagabo, Sypro and Social Profit Calculator, three Hull-based businesses synonymous with construction expertise, have been recognised for their attitudes to flexible working that set the organisations as front runners in the industry, which will be further facilitated by their move to new premises to accompany a new way of working
St Modwen, an expert in housebuilding and residential development, is sponsoring the WorldSkills UK Bricklaying Competition for 2021, which sees young people compete to become the UK’s best bricklayer. The competition assesses an individual’s technical, personal and employability skills against set criteria in a competitive timed environment. Run in partnership
PERMAGROUP – which houses innovative brands that provide permanent solutions to age-old problems – has appointed an apprentice and area sales manager as the firm continues to grow its team and well-established brands. Nicole Parkes has joined PermaGroup, which has its head office in Alfreton, Derbyshire, as an apprentice in internal sales, while Tony
Open Doors gives visitors a unique insight into working in construction, seeking to inspire young people and career changers of all ages by letting them go behind the site hoardings and explore construction sites, offices, factories, and training centres across Great Britain, alongside a range of virtual events, panel discussions, and Q&As. Bookings for Open Doors 2021 will open to the public on 23 August, with visits taking place throughout Open Doors Week between Monday 4 – Saturday 9 October. Companies can get involved now by registering their details, creating an account, and beginning to upload their sites across the country. Since 2016, over 1,000 sites across the UK have been listed through Open Doors. Last year the event went virtual due to coronavirus, with digital content showcasing major projects – such as ISG’s tour of Lord’s cricket ground, Balfour Beatty’s Luncarty to Pass of Birnam project, and Willmott Dixon’s Riverside House site – and attracting more than 20,000 visitors to the Open Doors website. The current skills shortage in construction is one of the most pressing issues within the industry with over 216,800 new construction jobs to be created by 2025*, and Open Doors provides a fantastic opportunity to inspire and recruit the next generation and career changers to choose a career in construction. Open Doors is delivered by Build UK and supported by CITB, Go Construct, Considerate Constructors Scheme, Construction Skills Certification Scheme, Black Professionals in Construction, Skylapse, the Home Builders Federation, the Careers Enterprise Company, Department for Work & Pensions, STEM Learning, New Futures Network, and media partner Building Magazine. Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive of Build UK, said: “There is nothing quite like visiting a construction site, whether it is a major project you have seen on the news or one in your local area, to get an idea of just how exciting a career in construction can be. Open Doors gives everyone the opportunity to go through the site gates to see just what goes on and perhaps even spot their ideal job! Whether you are a client, contractor, manufacturer, merchant, logistics centre, specialist, designer, or consultant, you can play your part in recruiting the next generation by participating in Open Doors.”
AITT’s webinar is now available to watch online. Following the success of last year’s webinar, the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers recently hosted another illuminating online conference earlier this month. Speakers from across the sector shared case histories revealing their experience and successes as well as a series of practical tips for improving training for operatives of workplace transport. AITT Managing Director Adam Smith said: “Insights into the methods and techniques employed by our speakers will prove invaluable to anyone involved in any capacity in the areas of both training and safety. All of our speakers were very candid about the issues they faced and were extremely generous in revealing details of the journey they took to reach highly successful outcomes. “Each speaker contributed hugely to what was a truly exceptional event; reflected in the feedback from our attendees, with 90% of them rating the conference either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’.” Drawn from different backgrounds, those speaking included employers in leading manufacturers and wholesalers, technical experts from accrediting bodies as well as a spokesperson from the HSE. The webinar also included real-world case histories from companies that have significantly improved their MHE safety through a combination of honest appraisal, careful scrutiny and comprehensive, standardised training. Gary Rowland, Group Compliance Training Manager at nationwide food distributor Greencore, shared details of how the company reduced site impacts by 50 percent thanks to a new in-depth training programme. Simon Ambridge, Risk and Compliance Manager at drinks wholesaler Matthew Clark also discussed the proactive ways to engage a workforce and the benefits of partnering with an accrediting body. The importance of training was reinforced by David Lee of the HSE, who delivered a compelling talk about how the process of accident investigations plays out… and the consequences for business who fail to meet their training obligations. Summing up, Adam Smith added: “I’m delighted to have hosted an event that shared so much thought-provoking yet practical guidance. There was something for everyone with content relevant to a broad spectrum of attendees, from training providers and recruitment agencies to workplace transport operators. “As with any live event, we know that some of those who were keen to attend were unable to do so because of other work commitments which is why we have acted quickly to make the presentations available online.” AITT’s webinar is available on-demand at www.aitt.co.uk/news/the-key-to-essential-training-panellists-presentations. The 2020 online conference is also available to watch at www.aitt.co.uk/news/aitt-webinar-the-future-of-operator-training-the-presentations.
Never one to rest on their laurels, the Mick George Group have signalled further intent to expand their ever-impressive Contracting Division following the appointment of William East to their Contracting Board, as Managing Director. Considered an integral part of the growth achieved by the Mick George Group in recent times, William has been duly rewarded for his efforts, promoted from Projects Director, a position which he formally occupied within the business for the previous 3-years. Projected to deliver Circa £55m this year, across it’s Earthworks, Demolition and Environmental provisions, the Mick George brand now takes pride of place within the Construction Industries elite; and this recent Organisation change is anticipated to further establish their status. While serving their existing loyal client base with agile, pioneering and innovative working solutions has been pivotal in the Groups upward trajectory, concerted strides have been made to strategically increase involvement with Highways, Industrial and Government funded schemes; most notably their contribution towards Highways England’s delivery of the M1 Smart Motorway scheme. The former development is recognition of the scale and profile of where Mick George’s Contracting Division currently resides, and with an impressive pipeline of projects with similar stature imminent, things continue to look bright for the business.
Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading modular building specialists, has appointed Mark Rooney as Divisional Director for its Hire operations. Mark joins the business with 15 years’ experience in leadership roles, 10 years of which have been spent in the construction hire space. He now takes responsibility for Premier’s highly successful Hire Division, from business development and project delivery to managing and developing the company’s expanding fleet of modular buildings for hire. According to David Harris, Managing Director of Premier Modular, “The Covid-19 pandemic has really put the modular industry in the spotlight. It has given us the opportunity to demonstrate the responsiveness of modular construction and in particular of our hire solutions. We have worked on some really high-profile projects in the past year, to incredibly challenging programmes to help the Government in its response to the pandemic.” “To help meet the increasing demand for our temporary building solutions in every sector, we invested £12m in our hire fleet in just 12 months and have an extremely high degree of fleet utilisation. As the economy is starting to return to normal levels, we are pleased to report a very strong order pipeline.” Mark Rooney, Divisional Director – Hire, added, “This is a really exciting time to join the business, which has made tremendous progress in the past year. There is enormous growth potential for Premier’s hire solutions, particularly in healthcare and education, where we are well placed to provide larger, more complex temporary buildings which may be on hire for a number of years. These projects range from decant education facilities for use during school redevelopment works to acute healthcare buildings to help NHS trusts rapidly increase capacity – from specialist ward buildings to theatre blocks.” “We also have ambitious plans to increase our market share in the provision of high quality project offices for major construction and infrastructure projects, not just in the South East but across the UK.” “Our aim is to provide additional space very quickly and with levels of quality, fitout, and comfort that make every building feel bespoke.” Premier is currently working on a number of multi-million pound contracts to provide project offices for HS2 in the South East and a £3m hire project for Kier is nearing completion at Royal Cornwall Hospital to rapidly increase ward capacity. The hiring of modular accommodation is a fast, flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective way for organisations to expand capacity or relocate services, particularly on constrained sites. The approach also gives customers greater flexibility as the facilities can be dismantled and removed for use on other sites if local needs or business requirements change. Premier specialises in more complex hire building solutions which can include facilities spanning six storeys and built on gantries on constrained city centre sites. David Harris previously held the position of Divisional Director for Hire until he was appointed Managing Director of Premier Modular in 2020, following the retirement of Eugenio de Sa. For further information, visit www.premiermodular.co.uk, call 0800 316 0888 or email info@premiermodular.co.uk.
East Midlands-based Franklin Ellis Architects has welcomed a host of new hires to its interior design and architectural teams at its Nottingham office. The firm, which also has an office in Leicester, has hired five new team members in a short space of time over the summer. The flurry of new hires comes as a result of a buoyant first half of 2021 for Franklin Ellis, and following the easing of lockdown restrictions, the company has set its sights on expanding its interior design department. This will accommodate a significant increase in client work in the hotel, restaurant and bar sectors. Joining the practice as senior interior designers are Laura Carruthers and Viktorija Perry, with more than 18 years of combined industry experience between them. Laura, who studied BA (Hons) Interior Design at the University of Huddersfield, brings more than seven years of experience with her to the new role. Her specialisms include hospitality Bar and Restaurant design and she will be responsible for handling concept and detailed designs, layouts, furniture, fixings and equipment selection and client presentations. With more than 12 years’ experience, Viktorija Perry will lead interior design projects including hotels, spas, offices and residential communal spaces. As an ‘all-rounder’ with design experience ranging from concept development and visualisation through to delivery on site, Viktorija will utilise her skills on a number of large-scale hospitality, commercial and residential projects in her new role. Three more hires were made to Franklin Ellis’ architectural and technical departments following an influx of work in the company’s pipeline – Sam Taylor and Angela Scott-Parkin who both join as architectural technologists, and Sandra Petkute as a BIM coordinator. Sam, who recently graduated from the University of Derby with a BSc (Hons) degree in Architectural Technology and Practice, has returned to Franklin Ellis after completing his placement year at the firm in 2020. Angela also graduated from the University of Derby having previously worked at an international engineering company based in South Africa, and completing three years’ work experience in the UK before joining Franklin Ellis. As architectural technologists, both Sam and Angela’s main responsibilities will include producing architectural drawings for schemes in their early stages, and managing the company’s 3D printer to manufacture physical to-scale models of building projects. Sandra Petkute joins the team as a BIM coordinator to oversee the company’s architectural building information management, adoption of digital architectural tools, development of workflow optimisation and assisting the rest of the team with BIM training. “We’re pleased to welcome Laura, Viktorija, Sam, Angela and Sandra to the team. Each bring specialist, in-depth knowledge and skills to Franklin Ellis, which I’m sure will prove to be a huge asset for the company,” said Matthew Branton, managing partner at Franklin Ellis Architects. “After the challenges of 2020 and the beginning of this year, we are experiencing substantial growth as the property and construction industries pick up speed once again following COVID-19 and it is exciting to be progressing with several large-scale projects for both our existing, repeat clients and new ones. This is a positive time for the firm as we have a strong pipeline of work and a rapidly expanding team that allows us to continue delivering excellent, high-quality service for our clients. Best of luck to all of our new starters in their roles.”
Today, exam results are unveiled in Scotland after over a year of disruption to education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those considering their career options, construction might not be the obvious choice. Historically the sector painted a low-paid, low- skilled picture. However, this is a sector that is thriving, innovating, highly rewarding and driving change. It is possible to build your dream career in the construction sector and there are a wide range of career paths available to young people, irrespective of their exam results. I did not follow a straight, predictable, or traditional path into the sector. I left school at 16 and worked in hospitality before joining the construction sector, which led to me taking up a post at the Akela Group, a multi-disciplinary construction services and civil engineering company. After seven years of working as a civil engineering groundworker, I was offered training to help me progress to the next phase of my career, and I seized the opportunity to become the Health and Safety Advisor at Akela Group. Their guidance and support was crucial in helping me advance my career. It is fitting that I am now able to help young people on their career journey. The Akela Group has been recruiting, training and retaining apprentices since its inception. Most recently, we have also partnered with the charity Action for Children on an Apprenticeship Programme that is designed to help young people secure and sustain employment by giving them industry recognised training and certification. This year, Akela Group has welcomed 22 apprentices in total. Apprentices receive a mix of on the job and classroom training, and by the end of their two or three year apprenticeship they receive a SVQ Level 2 in Construction and Civil Engineering Operations. Our aim is to provide ongoing support and encouragement, and to equip them with the essential tools and experience that they need to develop and realise a successful career in the sector. The remarkable success rate of these young people who are progressing into opportunities within the Akela Group is testament to the commitment of the site managers and teams and their recognition of what young people can bring to the sector. These success stories make a solid case for apprenticeship schemes in their own right, but they are not just nice to have. In reality, many of these schemes have emerged to address a key challenge that the construction industry is facing right now – the chronic shortage of skills. At present, the entire industry suffers from an image problem and construction based roles – particularly in civil engineering – are not seen as desirable career paths for young people. There is an urgent need to challenge traditional perceptions of construction roles as low-skilled and to showcase the diversity and richness of career paths that the sector has to offer – from the university graduate level roles like quantity surveying, to the site-based civil engineering roles which are labour intensive and place a great deal of importance on work ethic and attitude. If the sector is to stand any chance of plugging the skills gap, it is imperative that these perceptions are challenged, not least in classrooms – but also, that the sector itself remains committed to investing in young people and providing opportunities to realise a rewarding career in this thriving industry. Schemes like the Apprenticeship Programme offered by the Akela Group will go some way towards unlocking opportunities for young people and addressing the skills gap. More importantly, they also help to ensure that we have a solid pipeline of talent that will be equipped to deal with the challenges of modernising the construction sector and creating new opportunities in the future.
In response to the increasing requirement by organisations in the datacentre, commercial, media and high-tech sectors to upgrade, modernise and expand their mission critical facilities and infrastructure, BCS Group (Business Critical Solutions), the specialist services provider to the digital infrastructure industry, has appointed an experienced Head of Critical Infrastructure. Simon Harris will take up the role bringing with him over 20 years’ experience of delivering specialist mission critical systems and data centre consultancy across international markets. He has previously held senior roles at construction consultancy Currie & Brown and Sweett Group. His new role will include project management, cost management, procurement and construction contract administration services, tailored to clients’ specific needs. In addition, advice and guidance will be provided regarding capital allowances to support these types of initiatives. He will work closely with Chris Coward, BCS’ Head of Project Management and James Carmillet, Head of Cost Management. James Hart, CEO at BCS Group, said: “In recent months we have seen this area of our business grow substantially so we have taken the decision to have a dedicated specialist team to support this. Simon will lead this team and his knowledge and experience will bring a fresh perspective and really complement the skillsets that we already have in the business.” Commenting, Simon Harris said: “Critical infrastructure projects often face a unique and challenging collection of objectives and constraints but there is no doubt that legacy infrastructure can be refurbished to increase capacity, support new and emerging business services and reduce operating costs. With many clients also keen to deliver on their ESG commitments, this sustainable approach is increasingly appealing.”
Pagabo, Sypro and Social Profit Calculator, three Hull-based businesses synonymous with construction expertise, have been recognised for their attitudes to flexible working that set the organisations as front runners in the industry, which will be further facilitated by their move to new premises to accompany a new way of working post-pandemic. Like many other businesses, both in Hull and across the country, the major change has been balancing working from home with working from the company office. This has led to discussions on what facilities are needed to be added or adapted, and which are no longer required for a modern way of working, all of which has been incorporated in the designs for the organisations’ new offices in central Hull. The former HSBC building on Whitefriargate is set to be home to the three businesses, and create a thriving home for creative, digital and tech businesses. The refurbished building will feature individual and shared workspaces, excellent broadband connectivity, meeting room facilities suitable for video conferencing and podcast sound booths. Gerard Toplass, who heads up the three companies, said: “The pandemic has been a humbling period for all of us, but one of the reminders it has given us is that our employees will always be our greatest asset and we respect that everyone’s preferences are unique. We must continue to facilitate flexible working conditions that will allow individuals to lead fulfilling professional and personal lives – something we urge other businesses to remember are not mutually exclusive. “We have to also ensure that we are adapting to meet the expectations around flexible working. We know that it is more important to most employees than ever before – and especially so for younger team members. These people are ultimately the future of our workforce, so it is crucial that we meet their expectations to keep the talent we need, where we need it. “Flexible working is not just about working from home, which is why we have invested in new offices in the heart of Hull. Our new home has a mix of high-tech workspaces and relaxed social spaces so that we can interact in the appropriate environment when we are choosing to not work from home. We believe that it is particularly fitting that one of Hull’s oldest streets is now leading the way in the future of working and putting the great people of this city first.” The successful commitment to flexible working has attracted national attention, with the team welcoming Labour’s Deputy Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work, Angela Rayner, visiting the soon-to-open new office space. She spoke with staff from Pagabo, Sypro and Social Profit Calculator on the key learnings and takeaways from how they have been working throughout the pandemic and in the days since social distancing restrictions were lifted. The visit formed part of the Labour Party’s unveiling of plans to make flexible working a force for good and fundamentally change working practices for the better through the right to flexible working, which includes flexible hours, compressed hours, staggered hours and flexibility around childcare and caring responsibilities. Emma Hardy MP, who represents Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle, said: “Labour’s new flexible working plans are a breath of fresh air and ones which will improve people’s work life balance. “I have been speaking in Parliament for some time now about the potential we have here in Hull and East Riding and how remote working means people can work from home and online without having to leave the area. The possibility of someone working in Hull for companies across the UK has never been better. “No longer will we need to leaving family, friends, and the area to pursue better careers, and with greater affordability than in other cities such as London means a far better quality of life can be had here in Hull and the surrounding area. “These plans will also enhance gender equality by allowing parents to work at home without losing out by not being in the workplace. This, alongside calls for flexible hours to work around school runs and other family responsibilities will bring much-needed improvements to people’s work life balance.”
St Modwen, an expert in housebuilding and residential development, is sponsoring the WorldSkills UK Bricklaying Competition for 2021, which sees young people compete to become the UK’s best bricklayer. The competition assesses an individual’s technical, personal and employability skills against set criteria in a competitive timed environment. Run in partnership with SkillBuild, part of CITB, WorldSkills UK Competition-based training programmes are designed by industry experts to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education. Apprentices and students who excel in the WorldSkills UK National Qualifiers in Bricklaying will be invited to take part in the National Finals, which will take place in November. The winner of the National Final will be crowned the UK’s best Bricklayer at a national celebration event. WorldSkills UK’s Head of National Competitions and Careers, Dee Aylett-Smith, said: “St. Modwen’s commitment to helping young people starting in the construction industry to develop the skills needed for today’s rapidly changing workplace requirements is a perfect match with our Bricklaying competition. We believe that by working together we can help more young people in the construction industry achieve excellence at work.” Dee added: “It’s not just the technical skills the training programme and competition addresses, it’s also about developing the employability skills such as reliability, teamwork, time management and communications that employers value so highly.” Individuals who excel at the WorldSkills UK National Finals can be selected to join the WorldSkills UK International Training and Development programme with the possibility of being selected for Team UK and the chance to represent their country on the global stage at WorldSkills also known as the ‘skills olympics’, where they will compete with rivals from over 80 countries. Speaking for St. Modwen, Dave Smith, Managing Director of St. Modwen Homes, commented: “As a business we strive for excellence in everything we do and have a strong track record of promoting skills during people’s early careers. That’s why we are proud to be supporting this important competition, getting the message out there to apprenticeships and students across the UK that our industry celebrates brilliance and offers great opportunities.” About WorldSkills UK: WorldSkills UK is an independent charity and a partnership between employers, education and governments. Together, we are using international best practice to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education so more young people and employers succeed. www.worldskillsuk.org
PERMAGROUP – which houses innovative brands that provide permanent solutions to age-old problems – has appointed an apprentice and area sales manager as the firm continues to grow its team and well-established brands. Nicole Parkes has joined PermaGroup, which has its head office in Alfreton, Derbyshire, as an apprentice in internal sales, while Tony Pitts has become part of the firm’s ever-expanding sales team. The apprentice role appealed to Nicole, who has a passion for learning and developing others, due to PermaGroup’s commitment to training its team members and its strong progression scheme. She said: “PermaGroup is a growing business, which has repeatedly hit targets and achieved its growth plans even throughout the pandemic. I also love that the staff here speak so highly of each other and the firm as a whole; everyone respects one another, and it makes a great place to work.” Tony has joined PermaGroup with an impressive portfolio and has five years’ managerial experience to bring to the team. PermaGroup’s well-known product ranges peaked Tony’s interest in the job, as well as PermaRoof’s one-of-a-kind roofing system. He said: “Joining PermaGroup has been really interesting and I’m really enjoying learning about all the fantastic brands and products within the umbrella company. The PermaGroup team are a great support and I’m delighted to be here as I further my career.” PermaGroup has grown rapidly since it started trading in 1999, currently employing more than 50 people. The firm started as a felt roof company, before setting up PermaRoof – one of the largest importers and distributors of the revolutionary Firestone RubberCover and single ply EPDM rubber roofing systems. Since then, the company has expanded into a growing group of brands all operating under the PermaGroup umbrella, including: PermaFinance, PermaFence, PermaLawn, PermaKit, PermaRoom, PermaRoof and The Skylight Company. Managing director Adrian Buttress said: “Nicole and Tony’s appointments reflect the growth we have experienced in the past year, with demand still remaining high for our products even after the pandemic. We are so pleased to have onboarded both exceptional team members and we’re looking forward to seeing them grow and develop with the company.” For further information on PermaGroup, please visit www.permaroof.co.uk.
