Manchester based Nikal Group has welcomed Darren Jones, previously Managing Director of Himor Group and Director of Economic Development at Oldham Council, as Development Director. “We are delighted that Darren has joined us. He brings to the team 30 years’ of private and public sector experience in regeneration, development and
PSI stands for Personal Style Indicator, a personality assessment based on Carl Jung’s personality theory. It can be used as a learning and communication tool, for individual purposes, but also for organizational purposes. This assessment helps people understand their dominant personality, as well as their preferences towards work tasks, situations
For the first time, UK construction workers seeking to obtain the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Labourer card will now be able to complete a course online. Operated by COSAC, the work-focussed training academy based in Runcorn, Safe2Site is the first online course approved by CSCS as a route to
The Mayor of Huntingdon, Cllr Jay Dyne, was on hand last month to officially open the new Forklift Truck Training Centre at Cambridge Regional College’s Huntingdon Campus, designed to be used by apprentices, local companies and jobseekers. A welcome addition to the Huntingdon Campus range of facilities, the training centre
Buildings to be made but not enough workers to build them: this is apparently the scene recently set by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in a report which states that the UK construction industry must find at least 157,000 new recruits by 2021 in order to keep up with
Selco Builders Warehouse is planning an expansion programme that will enhance its presence over the country, with the opening of eight new outlets and the creation of 400 new jobs this year. The branches in Solihull, York and Milton Keynes have already been opened and the ones in Leicester, Chelmsford,
Sean Langton has been announced as director at Manchester’s Building Services Design (BSD). His presence in the North West’s engineering and construction industry has spanned almost 35 years, with experience delivering hundreds of national and international projects. “I studied building services engineering at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) but
Building and civil engineering business, Britcon, has appointed Heath Williamson as Regional Manager at its base in Wakefield. The appointment follows strong performance from the Yorkshire team which has doubled in size to 12 members in the last 12 months. Heath, who is a Chartered Construction Manager, brings particular expertise
Energy Assets Group, one of the UK’s leading independent metering services, asset management and utility network construction companies, has appointed Margaret Maclean as the Head of HR and Compliance. This new role has been created to support the company’s growth plans and is recognition that Energy Assets places people and
Albion Water, the water and waste water services provider, has appointed a new managing director – Luke de Vial. Luke is a former Wessex Water employee who has worked in the water industry for more than 30 years. He first came into contact with Albion in 2017 when the two
Manchester based Nikal Group has welcomed Darren Jones, previously Managing Director of Himor Group and Director of Economic Development at Oldham Council, as Development Director. “We are delighted that Darren has joined us. He brings to the team 30 years’ of private and public sector experience in regeneration, development and management. He will provide strategic advice, help deliver complex brownfield projects where we work in partnership with landowners, Local Planning Authorities and community groups across the UK and help us focus on expanding the activities of our home builder brand, Hillcrest Homes,” said Nick Payne, Nikal co-founder and Managing Director. Darren Jones managed a number of public and private joint ventures, capital programmes, residential developments, asset, FM, marketing and sales functions, as part of his role within Oldham Council. He also implemented and delivered the Town’s strategic investment framework, its regeneration strategy and major placemaking projects, including the award winning Old Town Hall and The Independent Quarter. Moreover, Jones ran his own development company, called Reflect Developments, for five years and spent 18 successful years at Orbit Developments. Talking about his new role, Jones said: “I have known Nick for 35 years and greatly admired the achievements of the Nikal Group so was delighted when he asked me to come on board. I look forward to working closely with Nick and the Nikal and Hillcrest Homes teams to deliver some fantastic new projects.” The Nikal Group is a dynamic and progressive force within the property industry that specialises in both the imaginative redevelopment and regeneration of strategic sites across the UK, such as Masshouse in Birmingham and Altair in Altrincham. Within the group is leading luxury homebuilder Hillcrest Homes which recently expanded into the Ribble Valley with a development of 30 new homes in Hurst Green, near Whalley.
PSI stands for Personal Style Indicator, a personality assessment based on Carl Jung’s personality theory. It can be used as a learning and communication tool, for individual purposes, but also for organizational purposes. This assessment helps people understand their dominant personality, as well as their preferences towards work tasks, situations and people. It is a great self-discovery tool that helps people learn their strengths and weaknesses, so that they can be more efficient in achieving their personal and professional goals. Who can benefit from the PSI? A self-discovery journey is valuable for any individual, as the lessons that you learn from this assessment can assist you in both your personal and your professional life. However, few individuals are aware of the benefits of this personality test, so the PSI is mainly used by schools, organizations and psychologists. The people who are more likely to come in contact with this personality tool are employees and potential employees, students, business partners, families, and leaders/managers. Main uses of the PSI As we mentioned this tool is mostly used in organizations, mostly for professional purposes. It is mainly used by trainers, supervisors, HR consultants and carrier guidance counselors. It can be used in numerous work-related situations. For example, it can be a part of a hiring process, as a way to clarify careers, as a tool for building team spirit or as a training instrument for improving leadership and communication skills. In personal contexts, it is mainly used to enhance communication between partners. This tool can be the main instrument for a leadership development program, as a diagnostic tool for career planning, as an ice-breaker for personal counseling or even as an instrument for improving group dynamics. How it works While there are several personality tools based on Carl Jung’s theory, we advise you to opt for the HRDQ’s Personal Style Inventory, as it is the most efficient personality assessment tool. The HRDQ tool is also very easy to use. The assessment can be taken online, or it can be printed. It contains a series of 32 statements that individuals must complete according to their preferences. The statements are meant to interpret personality styles based on 4 major dimensions: extroversion or introversion, sensing or intuition,thinking or feeling and perceiving or judging. The results will consist in a personality profile, defined by the abbreviation of four letters which symbolize each dimension. The test only takes 15 minutes to complete, after which the assessment facilitator will interpret the results of the profile with the test participants. The test can be used with one individual at a time, or it can be used as part of a team exercise. It can also be a part of a longer training program. Real benefits of the PSI We already established that the PSI can be used in numerous situations, but to know how your organization can benefit from it, you must understand the clear learning outcomes that you can expect after the assessment. Identify the dominant personality style of any individual – this helps individuals understand themselves better, and it also helps superiors understand their teams better. Understand the 16 different personality styles – understanding yourself is important, but to improve relationships with the people around you, it is essential to understand the different personalities that people have. Learn the main traits, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each style – a great skill for recognizing different personalities, and for knowing the right way to interact with each style. Learn how different personality styles interact with one another – an ideal skill for putting together the perfect teams Learn what tasks are best suited for each personality – ideal for improving work performance Make a plan to improve work performance and group dynamics As you can see, the personally style indicator helps people understand themselves better, and it equips them with the right tools and knowledge to efficiently grow and improve their performance.
For the first time, UK construction workers seeking to obtain the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Labourer card will now be able to complete a course online. Operated by COSAC, the work-focussed training academy based in Runcorn, Safe2Site is the first online course approved by CSCS as a route to the Labourer Card. The Labourer card was introduced to help site managers verify that people working in Labouring occupations have achieved the RQF Level 1 (Level 4 in Scotland) Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, or an approved alternative course, such as Safe2Site. In a move that aims to revolutionise the way that construction health and safety courses are delivered, those seeking the CSCS Labourer card will be able to take the Safe2Site course at a place and time that suits them – using a computer or laptop. CSCS cards provide proof that individuals working on construction sites have the required training and qualifications for the type of work they carry out. By ensuring workers hold the appropriate qualifications and training, the CSCS card plays its part in improving standards and safety of UK construction sites. Although not a legislative requirement, most contractors and major house builders require construction workers to hold a valid CSCS card before permitting them on their site. Last year alone, there were approximately 140,000 green Labourer cards issued. Andy Mason, managing director of COSAC, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this new, more convenient method of gaining the CSCS Labourer card. “One of the main challenges currently being faced in the construction industry is getting workers qualified to the required standards for their occupation. However, our Safe2Site course allows Labourers to study in short, interactive bursts which maximises knowledge retention and helps them get the necessary skills to obtain the CSCS Labourer card. “In addition, this new initiative will also deliver many benefits for the wider company that the individuals work for, saving both time and money as staff will have less time off-site. “In line with Theresa May’s bid to prioritise house building in the UK, the need for fully trained construction workers has never been more pertinent. We are committed to providing new, innovative and convenient training options to help even more workers get the safety training they need.” Using the power of remote invigilation technology, the online course allows a course supervisor the ability to monitor candidates as they take part in the exam using audio, video and remote screen share tools. CSCS scheme manager, Angeleen Hill, added: “Ensuring the integrity of the examination process is absolutely paramount to CSCS and we work closely with our partners in the industry to tackle fraudulent behaviour “I am pleased to confirm that Safe2Site is the first course to adhere to CSCS’s strict e-assessment policy. COSAC has demonstrated that learners can sit their exam online while being monitored in real-time by TestReach supervisors, who fully maintain the security of the exam process. This is the first time a course has met all the Regulatory Principles contained within CSCS’s e-assessment policy.” COSAC delivers courses in a range of specialities, including one to five-day classroom programmes and online self-study courses for the construction, retail and utilities industries. Find out more about COSAC at www.cosac.co.uk
The Mayor of Huntingdon, Cllr Jay Dyne, was on hand last month to officially open the new Forklift Truck Training Centre at Cambridge Regional College’s Huntingdon Campus, designed to be used by apprentices, local companies and jobseekers. A welcome addition to the Huntingdon Campus range of facilities, the training centre will allow Cambridge Regional College to offer RTITB accredited training and licencing, an in-demand skill for businesses across the county and region. In attendance on opening day were a number of local businesses, jobcentre representatives and recruitment professionals, along with members of the college staff who have played a part in the creation process, including Forklift Instructor Simon Hunt. Cambridge Regional College Principal and Chief Executive Mark Robertson introduced the Mayor and took a moment to thank those who had helped make the opening possible. Mayor Jay Dyne then took centre stage, and expressed his delight at opening a key new resource for the region, “It is great to be back at the Campus to see the developments, investments and improvements that the leadership team at Cambridge Regional College have been implementing over these last few months” he said. “Our region needs a variety of skills and this college offers a great range of specialist training and vocational courses. These industry specific licences are an essential part of what local employers are looking for new recruits to hold, making this a hugely useful new service for the local community”. Cambridge Regional College Head of Employment Services, Maureen Horan, was also present for the opening celebrations, she said, “When we embarked on the journey to merge Cambridge Regional College with Huntingdonshire Regional College into one college with two great campuses, we knew it would require investment and new thinking. I would like to say a huge thank you to the staff that worked very hard and collaboratively to get the facility ready for accreditation, which we received first time with no actions”. After a ribbon cutting ceremony set to a round of applause, the Forklift Truck Training Centre was officially open to the public. The Mayor then took a tour of the facility and the rest of the Huntingdon campus. Cambridge Regional College offers a wide range of full-time, part-time and Higher Education courses from Construction and Engineering to Media and Computing Technologies, with campuses in Huntingdon and Cambridge. It is one of the top 10 colleges in the country and the largest Apprenticeship provider in the Eastern Region, with many opportunities to join great companies. The opening of the centre represents the latest in a line of successes the college has achieved in recent times. Key performance figures released recently place it first in the country (out of 198 colleges) in 19+ GCSE Maths A* – C pass rates. A centre of vocational excellence, Cambridge Regional College continues to grow and expand its role as a major seat of learning in the East of England.
Buildings to be made but not enough workers to build them: this is apparently the scene recently set by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in a report which states that the UK construction industry must find at least 157,000 new recruits by 2021 in order to keep up with demand. This comes at a time when the government has committed to fund 3,000,000 new apprenticeships across every sector in England by 2020. However, these aren’t the only issues currently facing the construction sector, as there are also the matters of gender pay gap and use of new robotic technology to discuss. It has transpired that some building firms are paying women a staggering 62% less per hour than men and that more discrepancies with pay are likely to be revealed in the coming months. This is due to new government regulations that businesses with 250 employees or more should have filed details of their gender pay gap before the 4th April 2018, with a fine forthcoming should details not be submitted. Fresh off the heels of the Women In Construction Campaign launched in the UK, managing director of Constructing Equality, Chrissi McCarthy, said that the gender pay gap needs to close if the sector wants to encourage a positive image and to help promote recruitment. “While the pay gap in construction is embarrassing it should not be surprising given the stories women are still telling about their time in the industry”, said McCarthy. “Importantly until companies recognise that the gender pay gap is a symptom of poor people management and a real challenge to the longer term business bottom line, we are unlikely to see the resource and thinking that needs to be employed to really challenge these statistics.” Despite new recruiting software considerably reducing the challenge many businesses face in finding good candidates, it appears a bigger test is on the horizon: the rise of the machines. Whilst not at Terminator levels of awareness just yet, the use of robotics in construction is significantly increasing, spearheaded primarily by tech startups in the U.S. A company named Built Robotics is at the forefront of using robots, drones, and software in a bid to improve safety, speed and productivity. Bricklaying robots are already in use on some worksites across the world, notably one named SAM (Semi-Automated Mason), which costs $400,000 (£282,300) and can lay around 3,000 bricks in eight hours – hundreds and hundreds more than a human. Although there is some fear of a robotic revolution in the construction industry, 88% of industry professionals believe we still won’t see human-free worksites in the next 10 years. It’s thought that robots can be used to assist humans rather than replace them on sites. Job losses are understandably a huge issue to keep in mind with the seemingly unavoidable use of more robotics on construction sites, as it’s clearly a boon that many firms would not be limited to typical working hours or health and safety regulations with the use of machines. However, on-site maintenance and the use of particular materials still require a human presence.
Selco Builders Warehouse is planning an expansion programme that will enhance its presence over the country, with the opening of eight new outlets and the creation of 400 new jobs this year. The branches in Solihull, York and Milton Keynes have already been opened and the ones in Leicester, Chelmsford, Leeds and Bristol are set to follow. Each new branch will create 50 jobs, which are a combination of management, in-branch and delivery positions, marking the fastest expansion period in the company’s history. “Selco has undergone huge and rapid growth over the last five years, rising from 34 branches in 2014 to 66 by the middle of 2018 – and the plan is for that to continue. As well as having an exceptionally strong base in London and around the M25 corridor, we are focused on strengthening our presence in other areas of the UK,” said Howard Luft, chief executive of Selco Builders Warehouse. “With each branch opening, our recruitment policy has always been to employ people from the branch’s local community and that will continue. We pride ourselves on giving people genuine career opportunities, recruiting for a wide variety of positions and roles, with the chance to climb through the ranks at Selco,” he added. Selco’s branches across the UK are focused on helping tradespeople complete their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible. As well as offering trade services, Selco Hire and a café in branch, Selco also has a strong digital presence including a 30 minute Click & Collect service and a free Project List app which allows tradespeople to plan, manage and quote for all jobs through their smartphone. “Selco Builders Warehouse is enjoying fantastic success, which is particularly pleasing given the tough economic conditions that have faced the building industry in recent times. Our approach is focussed, our commitment to tradesmen is paramount and we ensure we offer genuine trade prices, huge availability of products in branch and always put our customer first,” concluded Howard.
Sean Langton has been announced as director at Manchester’s Building Services Design (BSD). His presence in the North West’s engineering and construction industry has spanned almost 35 years, with experience delivering hundreds of national and international projects. “I studied building services engineering at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) but my first introduction to engineering was when I was 17-years-old and managed to secure my first job with DSSR,” said Sean. Sean moved across departments and DSSR’s joint ventures, working his way up the ranks to become an associate before joining BSD in 2013. He has been an associate director at BSD for five years and is delighted to have been promoted, following a long and varied career in the industry to become the Manchester office’s new director. “I’ve worked on all manner of projects – if you think of a building, it’s likely I’ve worked on it; or at least something similar. My work has taken me to the Sudan and Iraq completing schemes varying in size and value,” said Sean. “My varied experience – which has seen me work on completing atomic weapons research facilities, police HQs, higher education and commercial facilities, care homes and laboratories – has meant that I’ve had a really solid grounding in the industry and can tackle almost anything that’s thrown at me.” Sean will continue his work at BSD and build upon the relationships the company had been forming over the years with its clients and drive the company’s growth further. “Sean’s commitment, drive and hard work have been recognised by many across the business during his time at BSD. He’s an expert in his field, has pushed the Manchester office to become a leader in its field and continues to develop lasting relationships with key clients which are crucial to the survival of our business,” commented on Sean’s new position David White, managing director at BSD.
Building and civil engineering business, Britcon, has appointed Heath Williamson as Regional Manager at its base in Wakefield. The appointment follows strong performance from the Yorkshire team which has doubled in size to 12 members in the last 12 months. Heath, who is a Chartered Construction Manager, brings particular expertise in heavy engineering with over 27 years’ experience working in senior management roles for a number of leading regional and national building and civil engineering operators. He was most recently responsible for overseeing pre-construction activities for a £65 million biomass import terminal for Lynemouth Power Limited, at the Port of Tyne. The appointment reflects continuous growth in Yorkshire for Britcon with major client instructions from York University, BASF, Eddie Stobart, Cepac and Vickers Oils. It is also on the contractors’ framework for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust with a project underway. Paul Clarkson, Managing Director at Britcon said, “We are delighted to bring Heath on board to lead the team at Wakefield. A substantial amount of our business is now managed from this office and Heath has the depth of expertise in procurement and management to lead our growth strategy. Established for more than 26 years, Britcon is £50 million turnover business headquartered in Scunthorpe and directly employs over 100 people on its project sites across the UK. Key contracts secured in the last 12 month includes a £13.5 million contract to deliver a new anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in Dagenham for food waste recycler ReFood (UK) Ltd, a series of new developments, extensions and refurbishment projects valued over £10 million for Lidl, and contracts worth over £4 million for global chemicals business Kemira. Britcon is listed by the London Stock Exchange in its report of ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Europe’.
Energy Assets Group, one of the UK’s leading independent metering services, asset management and utility network construction companies, has appointed Margaret Maclean as the Head of HR and Compliance. This new role has been created to support the company’s growth plans and is recognition that Energy Assets places people and culture at the heart of organisational success. Margaret will be reporting directly to the Chief Executive and she is bringing to the company over 20 years of senior management experience in human resources and finance across multiple sectors, including working as Assistant Chief Executive for a successful employability organisation. “Energy Assets has grown significantly in recent years organically and through acquisition, so this is a great time to be joining the company and to play a role in shaping a culture that will drive business success. I will be accountable directly to the Chief Executive, which speaks volumes for the value that Energy Assets places on harnessing the potential of its people,” said Margaret Maclean. “Margaret brings the skills we need to ensure that governance, culture and the development of our people are all aligned as we plan for further growth. We now have an executive team in place that is balanced and diverse, sharing values that will shape our future success,” commented on the appointment Colin Lynch, Energy Assets Chief Executive. Energy Assets Group offers utility suppliers, developers, contractors and industrial and commercial end-users a broad spectrum of expert multi-utility metering and energy-related services, including the provision and management of new and replacement meters through its Meter Asset Management division; design and construction of multi-utility networks; OFGEM approved local energy network (final mile) ownership and management; full MOP, MAP DC/DA & AMR data management services; and holistic downstream and upstream utility network engineering support, including complex meter module design and build.
Albion Water, the water and waste water services provider, has appointed a new managing director – Luke de Vial. Luke is a former Wessex Water employee who has worked in the water industry for more than 30 years. He first came into contact with Albion in 2017 when the two companies formed a joint venture and Luke was part of the team. “I have joined Albion Water at an exciting time for the business. With the backing of Wessex Water, Albion is looking to grow its portfolio of housing developments and this year we’re launching a new website and developing our offer,” commented Mr de Vial. “We understand the issues and constraints faced by developers and house builders and we’re leading the industry in exploring new ways of providing water, waste water and environmental services in a flexible package that offers increased value.” Luke started his career at Wessex Water as a hydrogeologist and then proceeded into water resources management, environmental strategy and more recently catchment management. His experience will strengthen Albion’s senior management team. Victoria Ashton will also be joining the team as a technical manager. She holds an MSc in water resources technology and management, has 15 years of experience across the industry, and is an active water industry professional with expertise in the areas of water resources planning, demand management, metering, water efficiency, conservation and optimisation. “I am looking forward to a new challenge at Albion Water and the opportunity to learn new skills. There is a promising and exciting future for us and competition in the water industry and I am looking forward to being a part of it,” commented Victoria. When Albion Water was licensed by the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) in 1999, it was the first new entrant to compete against the monopoly water companies in England. As well as providing water and wastewater services to housing developers and builders it offers environmentally focused services that can enhance developments, making them attractive places to live or work.