A new app can deliver more than 40,000 decorating, plumbing, heating, electrical and general building products to tradespeople’s doors in just two hours, with the average delivery time in central London being 57 minutes. The TradeKart app was launched in December 2021, with a mission to bring convenience and flexibility
Aggregate Industries is proud to announce that its market-leading carbon-saving concrete, ECOPact Prime AS, has been named Product Innovation of the Year at the 16th edie Awards, held Thursday 30th March at the iconic Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London hotel. ECOPact Prime AS is the latest addition to Aggregate Industries’
Following a stern letter to insulation manufacturer Kingspan, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, Michael Gove has now written to the products firm Arconic demanding it to pay for fire safety defects at dangerous high-rise buildings. The manufacturing company supplied the aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding panels
Kingspan Group, the world leader in high-performance insulation and building envelopes, has further demonstrated its commitment to decarbonising the built environment, unveiling its lowest-ever embodied carbon raised access floor panel Kingspan RMG600+ — designed specifically for UK & Ireland’s commercial office industry – as part of the group’s new Lower
Keystone has picked up an impressive 12 industry award wins in the past six months, resulting in a record-breaking year for the Group. Keystone Group brands Keystone Lintels, Keylite Roof Windows, IG Lintels and Keyfix have all come away victorious at recent industry award events, with multiple nominations and shortlist
Reynaers has launched an updated RIBA approved CPD on sustainability to reflect changes in legislation and increasing requirements for better thermal efficiency. Drawing on the company’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, Reynaers Act, the updated CPD ‘Sustainability and its Implications for Specifying Aluminium Systems’ provides architects, specifiers and contractors with the most
The Chief Executive Officer of Ibstock plc has been recognised for championing sustainability at this year’s East Midlands Leaders Awards (EMLA). The EMLA category of Green Leader recognises regional business figures who are committed to being a ‘force for good’ and use their position to respond positively to climate change
City Electrical Factors, Huws Gray, Jewson, NMBS, Travis Perkins and Wolseley are among 13 merchants to have secured spots on a large-scale materials framework for UK housing associations and local authorities, worth up to £1.42bn over four years. Launched by Procurement for Housing (PfH), the sixth generation of this framework
As an employment trends survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveals three-quarters of UK businesses are experiencing difficulties filling vacancies, Kent-based drainage system company Polypipe Building Services is celebrating strong staff retention figures with several workers holding 40-years of service – or more. Among them is Keith Goodhew
Leading sustainable construction innovators, Dura Products, has announced that its pioneering recycled plastic kerbing solution Durakerb, has been installed in a range of projects by Fife Council in Scotland. The construction work, part of the Council’s sustainable energy and climate action plan, involved the installation of 4km of Durakerb on
A new app can deliver more than 40,000 decorating, plumbing, heating, electrical and general building products to tradespeople’s doors in just two hours, with the average delivery time in central London being 57 minutes. The TradeKart app was launched in December 2021, with a mission to bring convenience and flexibility to tradespeople by making it easier to order from local builders’ merchants in their area. Just over one year on, TradeKart can now deliver to more than 900 postcodes throughout north and Central London, with more being added all the time. The rapid delivery app for tradespeople was founded by Alistair McAuley, previously Managing Director at AkzoNobel. He started TradeKart to give tradespeople back their valuable time, while also offering local merchants a valuable last-mile delivery solution to attract new customers and delight existing ones. Alistair explains: “Tradespeople lose an average of 3-4 hours each week from having to leave the site to collect materials. That’s a staggering two days every month and a huge financial and time cost. Working closely with a number of contractors, TradeKart has been able to help them reduce the cost of getting materials to site by 80%, saving them each more than £50,000 a year. “We’re passionate about supporting the thriving building and trade communities right across the UK. That’s why we created TradeKart, to follow in the footsteps of other well-known delivery apps that offer convenience and flexibility. TradeKart is our opportunity to take the hassle out of collecting materials, giving tradespeople back that all-important gift of time.” TradeKart is partnering with local merchants including MP Moran, London Decorators Merchants, Paint Centre, Topdec Decorating Supplies, Nicholls & Clarke and Paint Stop. Through the app, tradespeople get to see live stock availability with access to competitive trade prices across all major brands. To use TradeKart, simply download the app for free and create an account, then the app will connect you with available local merchants in your area. You simply choose the products you need, then select a convenient delivery slot from within the next two hours if you need the items in a hurry, right through to the following week. A flat £5 fee is charged for every delivery and, once payment is made, the order is sent straight to the merchant to prepare the items for dispatch. A TradeKart delivery driver will then bring the products directly to your door, with the app allowing you to follow the delivery’s progress in real time. “I use TradeKart for all of my orders. It’s so quick and simple and it saves me so much time. It’s brilliant…my last order arrived in 25 minutes!”, says Nick Dean of InsideOut Decorating. TradeKart is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. For more information, or to find out if TradeKart delivers in your area, visit www.tradekart.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aggregate Industries is proud to announce that its market-leading carbon-saving concrete, ECOPact Prime AS, has been named Product Innovation of the Year at the 16th edie Awards, held Thursday 30th March at the iconic Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London hotel. ECOPact Prime AS is the latest addition to Aggregate Industries’ low carbon concrete product range – a unique active setting, carbon-saving concrete with enhanced carbon reduction. Launched in 2022, it is the UK’s first concrete to offer high levels of carbon reduction without compromising on performance, offering over 50% carbon reduction compared with industry standard Portland cement CEMI solution. Both Aggregate Industries and colleagues from Holcim were present to accept the award. Lee Sleight, Managing Director for Aggregate Industries Ready Mixed Concrete Division comments: “With concrete being the second most used resource after water, getting the concrete industry to net zero is vital in supporting global climate change commitments. To this end, we have invested heavily in a range of low-carbon solutions that assist in meeting the sustainability goals of the construction industry. “The most recent of these solutions is ECOPact Prime AS, giving the industry a much lower carbon alternative to standard concrete. Seeing this latest innovation of ours recognised within the edie Awards’ coveted product innovation category validates the endeavours of all at Aggregate Industries who have been involved in its development. I would like to say a big thank you to the judges; the recognition means a great deal to our people and strengthens our firm desire to embed sustainability in the future of construction.” The edie Awards are the world’s largest sustainable business awards scheme. They showcase excellence across the spectrum of green businesses, from the most ambitious net-zero carbon programmes through to cutting-edge green innovations. The edie Awards judges said of ECOPact Prime AS: “This is what sustainability innovation is all about. The product shows great potential to reduce emissions in the cement industry, and the initial results are promising. If scaled up, this innovation could be a real gamechanger on the path to a net-zero construction sector.” ECOPact Prime AS – as with other ECOPact products before it – is already helping to reduce the carbon footprint of projects in which it is used, delivering greater carbon reduction with the same setting time, plus active development of compressive strength to support carbon reduction objectives in the construction industry. For more information on ECOPact Prime AS or to find out about the technical and dedicated support available to ensure the provided solution meets the necessary industry standards, requirements and schedule, visit www.aggregate.com/ecopact. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following a stern letter to insulation manufacturer Kingspan, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, Michael Gove has now written to the products firm Arconic demanding it to pay for fire safety defects at dangerous high-rise buildings. The manufacturing company supplied the aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding panels that were part of the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower prior to the tragic fire that broke out in 2017. It is believed that the same combustible cladding material has also been used on many other buildings across the UK. During the Inquiry, Arconic faced much criticism, with the Counsel hearing that the firm had allegedly misled the market about the fire performance of its products. The firm’s lawyers countered these accusations by saying that the sale of ACM in the UK had been “entirely lawful” at the time of use and that the firm had been turned into a victim of “an agenda” to blame Arconic for the fire spread at Grenfell. In his letter directed at Arconic’s chief executive, Timothy Myers, Gove condemns the cladding firm’s lack of “meaningful” engagement with the remediation plans for dangerous high-rises. Sharing the letter on Twitter, Gove confirmed: “I have written to Arconic who have not taken any responsibility – moral or financial – for their role in the Grenfell tragedy & building safety crisis. They’ve instead spent around £9m per year on lawyers to defend themselves. I will use all tools at my disposal to make them pay.” Gove has given Myers a strict deadline – 12 April – in which to respond and arrange a meeting with government officials to explain how the company intends to “scope, identify, and pay for remediation work”. He reiterates that those companies that refuse to engage with remediation plans will face “commercial consequences”. In the letter, Gove states: “I have long argued that those who manufactured and sold flammable cladding and insulation products have a moral and financial obligation to acknowledge their role in the legacy of unsafe buildings in the United Kingdom. “The testimony at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry uncovered shameful practices and an abhorrent culture of disregard for the safety of residents in their homes. I was appalled by the evidence heard by the Inquiry about the extent that your employees went to so as to conceal the flammable nature of your products, and to avoid promoting fire-retardant products to customers – because doing so would reduce your profits. “I note with interest your annual reports, which reveal that Arconic spent an average of $11m USD (£8.9m) per year on legal advice and representation on Grenfell-related matters between 2017 and 2022. In stark contrast, you have not contributed any funding – not a single dollar or cent – towards the cost of fixing dangerous buildings, despite the fact that your flammable products continue to put lives at risk in the United Kingdom today.” Offering the company an opportunity to rectify its failings, Gove adds: “I invite you to meet my officials to explain how you intend to scope, identify, and pay for remediation works. This would go some way to restoring confidence in the sector. “Others in the industry, including Kingspan, and to some extent Saint-Gobain, have made tentative steps to acknowledge their responsibility and role in paying for remediation. Whilst this change in position is a positive step, I have made clear what is required: a comprehensive package of financial support from construction product manufacturers. Closing the letter, Gove reiterates: “My department will continue to be driven solely by our commitment to protect people in their homes: people who bought or rented homes in good faith, whose safety continues to be threatened by your products, and who deserve better from the companies who have exploited their basic need for a home. Those companies that do not share our commitment to righting wrongs of the past must expect to face commercial consequences.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kingspan Group, the world leader in high-performance insulation and building envelopes, has further demonstrated its commitment to decarbonising the built environment, unveiling its lowest-ever embodied carbon raised access floor panel Kingspan RMG600+ — designed specifically for UK & Ireland’s commercial office industry – as part of the group’s new Lower Embodied Carbon (LEC) range. The materials and construction phase of buildings is responsible for 11% of all global energy-related carbon emissions. These emissions are known as embodied carbon. Reducing emissions in the built environment is critical to limiting warming to 1.5 ºC by 2050, as laid out by the IPCC. Kingspan’s new RMG600+, developed by its Data & Flooring division, has -3.04kg of CO2e (A1-A3) showing a 57% reduction in embodied carbon (A1-C) when compared to the standard range*. Independently assessed by One Click LCA, this advancement from Kingspan to reduce embodied carbon in raised access floor panels, can be attributed to several key factors including the procurement of low-carbon steel, a focus on renewable energy and the use of a minimum of 86% recycled material. The low-carbon steel used in Kingspan’s New RMG600+ is produced using an electric arc furnace (EAF) that uses electricity, as opposed to coke used in a traditional blast-furnace, as its energy source. Additionally, the EAF production process uses 90% recycled steel. The new product is of part of a groupwide decarbonisation strategy which includes Kingspan’s commitment to Net Zero Carbon manufacturing by 2030, a 50% reduction in carbon intensity in its primary supply chain, the introduction of an internal carbon charge of €70/ tCo2 and the investment in H2 Green Steel – a company pioneering the manufacture of steel using hydrogen instead of fossil fuels. “Existing buildings and construction are responsible for 39% of annual energy and process -related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions globally. At Kingspan we aim to contribute to a net zero carbon built environment by minimising our climate – related impacts across our value chain, with the launch of our new Kingspan RMG600+ as part of our Lower Embodied Carbon range.” says Debra Smith Kingspan Data & Flooring’s Divisional Head of Sustainability. As part of its ten-year Planet Passionate sustainability strategy and science-based targets, Kingspan is committed to developing solutions that will reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. Two of the targets in Planet Passionate will directly impact this by 2030: Net Zero Carbon manufacturing by 2030 and a 50% reduction in carbon intensity in its primary supply chain. Donagh Nolan, Kingspan Data and Flooring’s Divisional Operations Director adds: “We have been manufacturing for 120 years and this is one of those truly important advances, which we think will be transformative both for our business and for our clients’ projects. As part of our broader sustainability commitments, we continuously enhance and upgrade our products. To deliver this, we employ a dedicated team of expert BIM (Building Information Modelling) engineers, advanced technical professionals, sustainability experts and manufacturing specialists.” Embodied carbon in materials is however only part of the solution to dramatically reducing carbon in buildings. This can only be achieved by developing products which not only save on the operational day-to-day carbon emissions of a building, but also save on carbon during manufacturing and offer options for recycling. Kingspan is focused on creating products that deliver carbon reductions for buildings on all of these fronts. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keystone has picked up an impressive 12 industry award wins in the past six months, resulting in a record-breaking year for the Group. Keystone Group brands Keystone Lintels, Keylite Roof Windows, IG Lintels and Keyfix have all come away victorious at recent industry award events, with multiple nominations and shortlist successes in addition to the wins. Keystone Lintels In recognition of its outstanding customer service, Keystone Lintels was delighted to be awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’ by Buildbase for the second year in a row; an accolade that has never been achieved before in the history of the Buildbase Supplier Awards. The award win came shortly after the brand’s success at the BMJ Industry Awards, where Keystone Lintels was crowned ‘Heavyside Supplier of the Year’ by builders’ merchants across the UK and at the Builders’ Merchants Awards where the brand was shortlisted as one of three finalists for ‘Supplier of Year’ alongside Keylite. More recently, Keystone’s customer excellence has been celebrated at the Fortis Supplier Awards, where the company was honoured with the title of ‘Civils and Groundworks Supplier of the Year’. Keylite Roof Windows In December, Keylite triumphed at the BMJ Industry Awards, picking up ‘Roofing Supplier of the Year’ for the fourth consecutive year. This was shortly followed by the brand’s unique Integrated Expanding Thermal Collar being crowned ‘Best Roofing System or Product’ at the 2021 Build It Awards. Keylite also came away victorious at this year’s Builders’ Merchants Awards, taking home the title of ‘Supplier of the Year’ at the 20th-anniversary event. Then in the 2022 Housebuilder Product Awards, the brand was awarded ‘Best Building Fabric Product’ for its Integrated Expanding Thermal Collar. Most recently, Keylite was crowned ‘Joinery Supplier of the Year’ at the Fortis Building & Timber Conference Supplier Awards, which are designed to recognise excellence within the Fortis supplier base. Keylite was also selected as a finalist in the 2022 Irish Construction Excellence (ICE) Awards, for its Integrated Expanding Thermal Collar in the ‘Product Innovation’ category. IG Lintels IG Lintels took home the coveted title of ‘Supplier of the Year’ at the Bradfords Awards for Excellence 2022, demonstrating its outstanding professionalism and commitment to its customers. Keyfix Celebrating excellence in the provision of products and services to the housebuilding industry, Keyfix has been awarded ‘Best Site Product’ in the Housebuilder Product Awards and is also a finalist for Housebuilder’s 2022 ‘Product of the Year’ award. Just this month, Keyfix was delighted to have been awarded ‘Manufacturing Innovation’ by the Made in Northern Ireland Awards and the ‘Construction Product Innovation’ award at the ICE Awards for its Non-combustible Cavity Tray system. IG Masonry Support IG Masonry Support was also shortlisted in the ‘Product Innovation’ category at this year’s Irish Construction Excellence Awards. Up against both Keylite and Keyfix, the brand’s B.O.S.S. A1 solution was a successful finalist. Sean Og Coyle, Keystone Group Commercial Director, said: “For over 30 years, Keystone Group has been synonymous with excellent customer service and has put its partners at the heart of the Group’s ethos. We are absolutely thrilled that our dedication to forming strong customer bonds has been rewarded with a staggering amount of recent award wins. “As well as prioritising service, we are continuously investing in research and development to provide our customers with sector-leading solutions. It’s fantastic to see our product innovations being recognised and celebrated by the industry as a whole.” For more information on the Keystone Group and its award-winning brands, please visit www.keystonegroup.co.uk, call 028 8676 2184 or email Info@TheKeystoneGroup.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Reynaers has launched an updated RIBA approved CPD on sustainability to reflect changes in legislation and increasing requirements for better thermal efficiency. Drawing on the company’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, Reynaers Act, the updated CPD ‘Sustainability and its Implications for Specifying Aluminium Systems’ provides architects, specifiers and contractors with the most up to date information in relation to key sustainability criteria that is essential when specifying aluminium systems. The CPD builds on the company’s commitment to take a leading stance on sustainability within the glazing industry, and in the build-up to further changes to regulations being introduced in 2025 to continue to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. In particular, the CPD looks at the evolution of window design and thermal performance, considering the impact on design and manufacture the need for lower U-values has had, and how this is incorporated into aluminium frames. Ultimately the CPD supports the correct specification of frames to achieve optimal thermal performance, providing an insight into developments in the design of aluminium frames that help to trap in heat and maintain a comfortable living environment to cut energy emissions. Head of Marketing Samantha Hill said: “Reynaers recognises the important role that CPDs play in supporting high standards in the industry and we welcome the opportunity to share our expertise in the manufacture and application of aluminium systems. “Sustainability is an important consideration across the entire value chain in the built environment and we take our role extremely seriously in ensuring we can meet our own environmental targets. We’re also committed to demonstrating and supporting best practice in relation to thermal efficiency targets, and through sharing the specialist knowledge that supports that – so we can equip specifiers with the right information when choosing aluminium systems. “Reynaers’ technical teams are invested in cutting carbon across our operations, and in our products and the buildings they are used in. As innovations and targets continue to change to support sustainable practices, clarity into product performance and what to look for is essential, including ensuring that CPDs focused on sustainability are frequently updated to capture the latest changes.” The update follows the introduction of three additional RIBA CPDs last year, all of which are available as seminars or can be accessed online: Reynaers now offers seven RIBA approved CPDs, all of which meet core curriculum criteria. In the last year more than 95 companies have participated in the CPD accredited training – with members of Reynaers’ project consult team going out to deliver training directly to architects in their offices, as well as providing the option to host training at the company headquarters in Birmingham. Further RIBA CPDs available from Reynaers are: An Introduction to Specifying Aluminium Curtain Walling, Accessible Solutions for Aluminium Windows and Doors, Specifying Fire Resistant Aluminium and Steel Systems. To find out more about the CPDs offered by Reynaers go to www.reynaers.co.uk/inspiration/stories/reynaers-cpd Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Chief Executive Officer of Ibstock plc has been recognised for championing sustainability at this year’s East Midlands Leaders Awards (EMLA). The EMLA category of Green Leader recognises regional business figures who are committed to being a ‘force for good’ and use their position to respond positively to climate change and environmental issues. Joe Hudson was rewarded for his demonstration of leadership on the green agenda as well as his encouragement of positive change within Ibstock’s supply chain and the wider construction industry. Having worked for the leading building products manufacturer since 2018, Joe Hudson has taken Ibstock on a journey towards greater sustainability, ensuring it evolves responsibly. Judges noted Mr Hudson’s role in driving change at Ibstock and the contribution this makes to minimising the environmental impacts of the construction sector as a whole. The award also recognises the many steps he has taken to build a sustainable future for the business. Under Joe Hudson’s leadership as CEO of the FTSE250 listed Ibstock business, the company has benefited from a significant investment programme. This has resulted in the successful delivery of several significant decarbonisation projects. These projects have led to production efficiencies and the adoption of new technologies that will accelerate Ibstock’s path to Net Zero. With Mr Hudson at the helm, Ibstock achieved its Sustainability Roadmap to 2025 ahead of time. As such, the company published its ESG 2030 Strategy in 2022, which has defined a new era of responsible business and serves as an important accelerator in speeding up the pace of positive change. Over the last 5 years, the company has been widely credited for its commitment to raising the bar for sustainable performance across its sector. As such, Ibstock can claim several ‘industry firsts’ and transformational investment projects including: Under Joe’s leadership, Ibstock is now widely credited as leading the way in sustainability within the construction products industry. Emily Landsborough, Head of ESG at Ibstock PLC, commented: “We are all absolutely delighted about this award win for our CEO Joe Hudson. The East Midlands Leaders Award for ‘Green Leader’ is all about strong leadership and the ways in which businesses can act as a ‘force for good’ – this resonates precisely with the way Joe leads Ibstock. Although Joe would be the first to say that this award would not be possible without the wider Ibstock team we all know – and recognise – the enormous role he has played on an individual basis. He has worked so hard to lead different groups of people and inspire others to share his vision for a more sustainable, decarbonised future. “I know that Joe would want to make a particular mention of our long serving Group Sustainability Manager Michael McGowan who retires, after 47 years in the industry, at the end of this week. Michael has pushed relentlessly and worked tirelessly on the green agenda finally finding, with Joe’s leadership, that the business can move quickly to make the changes we need to make positive, transformational change to address climate change. Leadership comes from many places, and we have been lucky at Ibstock to have both Michael and Joe banging the drum!” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City Electrical Factors, Huws Gray, Jewson, NMBS, Travis Perkins and Wolseley are among 13 merchants to have secured spots on a large-scale materials framework for UK housing associations and local authorities, worth up to £1.42bn over four years. Launched by Procurement for Housing (PfH), the sixth generation of this framework sees a complete restructure with sixteen different lots allowing housing providers to procure plumbing, heating and gas, electrical and building materials, aids and adaptations, through either specialist merchants, managed stores (set up for their sole use) or branch networks. The framework has a number of regional lots, enabling Scottish and Welsh housing providers to procure from suppliers local to them and it also offers self-serve options, so operatives can pick up materials even when branches are closed. An ‘on-demand’ category enables housing associations and councils to use merchant branch networks for ad hoc purchases, when needed. Social landlords can also procure a tech platform that allows direct labour organisations (DLOs) and subcontractors to manage van stock, source products locally and have oversight of all spend across the framework. The framework links with PfH’s widespread support for social landlords around asset management, which includes spend analytics reporting and a range of procurement insights delivered through its customer portal. For a significant proportion of the social housing sector, buying materials for repairs, planned maintenance and retrofit accounts for over half their total spend. More than 450 housing providers used PfH’s previous materials framework. Judy Ashcroft, materials category manager at PfH said: “Rising costs and severe shortages have made the last few years pretty turbulent for social landlords procuring materials. The cost of living crisis is compounding this with housing associations and councils seeing a spike both in demand for homes and their own costs. More than ever, certainty is needed so the sector can meet tough targets on improving stock, but social landlords also need flexible, forward-thinking ways to source materials and deliver insights so they can manage their spend effectively.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As an employment trends survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveals three-quarters of UK businesses are experiencing difficulties filling vacancies, Kent-based drainage system company Polypipe Building Services is celebrating strong staff retention figures with several workers holding 40-years of service – or more. Among them is Keith Goodhew who began at Polypipe Building Services as an engineering apprentice 37 years ago and has worked in several parts of the business from production to technical as a CAD operator, before taking up his current post as an engineer and health and safety representative within fabrication. “I’d wanted to become an engineer since I left school in the 80s and decided to do an apprenticeship scheme, and I’ve made a lot of friends. “There are lots of people here I’ve known since I started so they’re like family to me, and we’ve always had social things going on and it’s things like that and the fact my role has kept changing which is why I really enjoy working here.” Rashmihant Desai has just taken retirement having worked at Polypipe Building Services for 47 years where he was an assembly team leader. Originally from Tanzania, he joined after family members already working at the company alerted him to a vacancy. “I came for interview, and they asked if he could start right away,” he says, “and I joined as a machine operator before going to work in mixing then in injection moulding where I worked as a cell leader overseeing seven machines. “While I was there a manager asked if I could help in assembly, and they were so impressed by my work that when that manager left, I was asked to stay and run the whole department. “I’m 67 now and I stayed because they treat people well, like if your health isn’t good the team are 100% behind you and if people are treating you well then why would you leave? I also do a lot of charity work helping supply food to children in places like Thailand and India and the company always supported me with that.” Clare Hawkes, Head of Human Resources at Polypipe Building Services, said more than 10 per cent of their workforce have been with the company for 10 years or more, and believes this high rate of retention is due to the investment in people’s continuous learning and development which allows staff to progress throughout the business, together with a workplace culture of teamwork embedded in a series of staff social events. She said: “We work very hard to make sure people here feel valued and supported in their roles, and that there is a clear structure of development and training opportunities so people can develop into new roles if they want to. “Our managers and leaders take time to develop relationships with their teams, and these elements combined with ensuring we have things like Mental Health First Aiders present in all areas of the business, charity days and family social events, all help to create a workplace where people want to work and to stay.” For more information about careers at Polypipe Building Services go to https://www.polypipe.com/careers-hub Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading sustainable construction innovators, Dura Products, has announced that its pioneering recycled plastic kerbing solution Durakerb, has been installed in a range of projects by Fife Council in Scotland. The construction work, part of the Council’s sustainable energy and climate action plan, involved the installation of 4km of Durakerb on the A909 Fife Highway, Cowdenbeath. Made from 88% recycled polymers, Durakerb offers a lightweight solution providing a safer, greener and faster method of kerbing. The use of Durakerb by Fife Council has saved over 120,000kg of embodied carbon entering the environment. Over recent years, Dura Products has been selected for a range of construction projects on a residential and regional scale by Fife Council. In 2020, 1km of Durakerb was installed in Kirkcaldy and Rosyth, as part of residential pavement upgrades, and in 2022, 4km of Durakerb was supplied to the A909 project, as well as residential upgrades on Dewar Drive, Leven. For two decades, Dura Products has supplied its green innovations to a range of projects to increase sustainability credentials and lower the impact of construction on the environment. Durakerb is designed as a sustainable alternative to traditional kerbing methods, which do not offer the same environmental benefits. Every 6kg unit of Durakerb has the potential to be reclaimed, reused or recycled at the demolition stage. Fife Council is leading the way by choosing SME’s that focus on green construction to reduce carbon emissions. The Council has implemented a Low Carbon Sustainability Checklist to facilitate sustainable construction, to reach the Scottish goal of net zero emissions by 2045. To meet environmental targets embedded within legislation, adopting low carbon solutions with high recycled content makes a significant difference to the environment. Steve Bennett, Managing Director at Dura Products, commented: “Since 2003 we have worked hard to deliver over 500,000 units of our pioneering project, Durakerb. We would like to thank Fife Council for the widespread installation of Durakerb, and for leading the way in sustainable construction on a regional scale. We hope to work with more and more local authorities looking to plan and action similar strategies regarding energy and climate change.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
