Site tours at the Akaal Primary School in Derby, led by local contractor G F Tomlinson, allowed its pupils to have an exclusive look at their brand new school building. In total, 98 children were welcomed on the site over two days as construction work progresses and were given a
The former hall of residence, Thwaite Hall, situated on the corner of Thwaite Street and New Village Road in Cottingham, will be put on the market by the University of Hull. The over 200-years-old property was closed as a hall of residence in August 2017 because of changes in students’
Contractor Henry Brothers has been appointed to build a new £23m engineering facility for Nottingham Trent University. The two-storey development, in the heart of the Clifton Campus, will feature a range of engineering, teaching and research spaces, together with a large design suite, IT suite, offices and amenity facilities –
As part of their continuous support towards the training and development of future roofers, Midland Lead has been supplying thousands of pounds of raw materials and tools to colleges, all for free. Now, the independent lead manufacturer has added five new institutions to the portfolio of colleges they support across
Construction company Pave Aways handed over, between April 2017 and April 2018, projects worth more than £15 million to private schools, universities, colleges and local education authorities in England and Wales. During the previous financial year, the company worked on education schemes worth £12.6 million. Oswestry-based contractor carried out refurbishment
Primary Engineer was first started in 2005, and has throughout the company’s lifetime worked to promote the inclusion of engineering in education from the earliest possible age. Susan Scurlock is the Chief Executive of Primary Engineer and was released an explanation of the company’s success as well as offering schoolchildren
Site tours at the Akaal Primary School in Derby, led by local contractor G F Tomlinson, allowed its pupils to have an exclusive look at their brand new school building. In total, 98 children were welcomed on the site over two days as construction work progresses and were given a ‘behind the scenes’ tour to see the classrooms, library and main hall as they take shape. The new school will have enough space for 420 pupils aged four to 11 to meet the educational needs for children in Normanton and surrounding areas. They will have access to 14 classrooms, SEN provision and a new library area, as well as to more than 7,000 m2 of outdoor playing and learning space and 2,200 m2 of habitat areas. “Moving into our new school is an important milestone in our journey. Children make the best progress when they are inspired to learn and the school that G F Tomlinson has built for us provides that,” said Julie Fellowes, head teacher at Akaal Primary School. “After our first visit in March, the children were able to see the shape of their new school for the first time and I was inundated with ideas from them about the amazing learning opportunities we could provide. Our whole community feels truly blessed to have been given this opportunity and we give thanks to all those who have supported us this far,” she added. Akaal Primary School is Derby’s first Sikh school that opened in September 2015. Currently enrolling pupils from Reception to Year 3, the new facilities will allow the school to almost quadruple its student intake. “Work on site at Akaal Primary is progressing well with both the external and internal works now at an advanced stage,” said Andy Sewards, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson. “Delivering projects that have a lasting and positive impact on the local community is at the heart of our ethos at G F Tomlinson. This new building will allow the school to flourish and provide more school places in the coming years.” The building is located on Grange Avenue and it will be ready later this summer, in order to open its doors to pupils in September 2018.
The former hall of residence, Thwaite Hall, situated on the corner of Thwaite Street and New Village Road in Cottingham, will be put on the market by the University of Hull. The over 200-years-old property was closed as a hall of residence in August 2017 because of changes in students’ accommodation preferences. “Accommodation is a deciding factor for many when choosing where to study and the University has experienced a shift in demand towards high-quality, on-campus accommodation,” said Stephen Dale, director of estates at the University of Hull. “We have been investing in out accommodation portfolio as part of our ongoing commitment to provide an outstanding experience for students, which includes The Courtyard and Westfield Court on our Cottingham Road campus.” Handling the sale would be commercial estate agent Cushman & Wakefield. “Although the University no longer has a use for the building, we are keen to see a long term plan for its future be put in place and have been working closely with the local authority planning department to discuss the potential future use of the site,” added Stephen. The eventual purchaser and their intended use for the building will determine the nature and extent of work carried out on the site. Any proposal would be subject to relevant planning processes and legislation. “Thwaite Hall presents a rare and exciting opportunity to revitalise a high-profile building within a popular village location,” said Oliver Salisbury, senior surveyor in Cushman & Wakefield’s residential development team. “Discussions with the local authority have been positive and indicate that a number of uses are considered appropriate, subject to a high quality design which takes into account the conservation area setting and adjoining Grade II listed botanical gardens. We look forward to engaging with parties and maximising the site’s future potential,” he continued. Until a purchaser is found, the University will continue to ensure the site is secure.
Contractor Henry Brothers has been appointed to build a new £23m engineering facility for Nottingham Trent University. The two-storey development, in the heart of the Clifton Campus, will feature a range of engineering, teaching and research spaces, together with a large design suite, IT suite, offices and amenity facilities – and has been designed to be in the top 10% of sustainable buildings in the UK, when it comes to energy efficiency. The contract is the latest appointment for Henry Brothers at an East Midlands university and follows the completion last year of the £12.5m STEMLab project at Loughborough University, which recently won the Design Through Innovation Award at the regional RICS Awards. It is the company’s first major Nottingham contract and cements Henry Brothers’ position as a key player in the city’s construction sector. Ian Taylor, Managing Director of Henry Brothers Midlands, said: “As a company, Henry Brothers has significant experience of partnering with universities to create inspiring buildings. Following the award-winning STEMLab project at Loughborough University, our team is currently on site with the same client delivering the £30m refurbishment of a 1960s building which houses science labs and teaching spaces. “We are delighted to now be working with another major university in the East Midlands, Nottingham Trent University. The prestigious new engineering building at NTU will enhance the already excellent facilities at the Clifton Campus, and we are very pleased to be part of the team delivering it.” Work on the engineering facility, which will also include the creation of a new ‘Institute of Industrial Digitalisation, Robotics and Automation’ is due to get under way in early June, with completion expected in time for the start of the 2019/2020 academic year. A strong Nottingham-based team has been appointed for the design and build contract and, along with Henry Brothers, includes project manager Edge, quantity surveyor Gleeds, architect Maber and civil and structural engineer Curtins. Henry Brothers is recognised as a leading construction company with a turnover in excess of £80m per annum and more than 200 direct employees. The business works across the UK, with offices in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Midlands office was set up in January 2015 and from its Nottingham base, the team delivers projects from £2m to £30m in value and has a turnover approaching £40m. The firm’s contract at NTU is the latest investment by the university at the Clifton Campus, and will provide an energy efficient facility with an EPC A rating and a BREEAM excellent accreditation. Only the top 10% of new non-domestic buildings are built to a BREEAM excellent rating, with the accreditation being regarded as ‘best practice’. Nottingham Trent University is one of the most environmentally-friendly universities. “We want to create inspirational, state-of-the-art facilities that inspire staff and students and demonstrate our commitment to being a major player in the STEM education of engineers,” said Professor Mary O’Neill, the Dean of Nottingham Trent University’s School of Science and Technology. She said: “This development will facilitate a culture of innovation and excellence to support project-based, industry-focused learning and highly-rated research. “It will enable us to be at the heart of developments in the emerging ‘Industry 4.0’ agenda in terms of education and skills training, as well as knowledge transfer and knowledge development and research. “The anticipated skills shortages represent a serious concern for major industries, and we want to play a lead role in training current and future workers with the digitalisation skills required for this arena, which is being called the next industrial revolution.” The development at the Clifton Campus comes after the university launched a new Department of Engineering and a range of innovative engineering courses designed in conjunction with major industry employers and experts. Henry Brothers Midlands, based at Priory Court, Derby Road, Beeston, is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out. In partnership with clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, accommodation, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors. For more information, visit https://henrybrothers.co.uk/
As part of their continuous support towards the training and development of future roofers, Midland Lead has been supplying thousands of pounds of raw materials and tools to colleges, all for free. Now, the independent lead manufacturer has added five new institutions to the portfolio of colleges they support across the country. Over the last six year, Midland Lead has built a successful rapport with Leeds College of Building (LCB) and realised it was time to create more relationships. As of March, the company has committed to supporting six colleges across the country, including Leeds College of Building, Newcastle College, South Devon College, Eastern Region Roof Training Group, Dudley College and the South Coast Roof Training Group. Midland Lead will be supplying colleges with up to a metric tonne of rolled lead, at the current market value of £2,200. On top of that, the company provides lead working tools, tool belts and other ancillary products, such as sealant and patination oil, all free of charge. “Without the support we receive from Midland Lead our apprentice students wouldn’t be able to work with lead itself,” said Chris Messenger, tutor at LCB. To keep costs at a minimum, many colleges tend to use plastic alternative-lead products, but this has its downsides. “It is only by using the actual material that apprentices can learn best practice when it comes to working with lead itself,” added Chris. Moreover, at the end of the term, Midland Lead collects and recycles the lead that has been used, making sure that nothing goes to waste. Since its successful relationship with LCB, the manufacturer has been welcoming student groups to their site for factory tours; an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about the various processes behind lead manufacture. “As a national supplier of lead it is vital that companies like Midland Lead are doing their bit to bridge the skills gap and help the construction industry as a whole. Making these links between companies and institutions helps to do just that. As the future buyers of construction materials, forming relationships with the prospective workforce, and making them aware of lead as a sustainable and durable product, is so worthwhile for the future of our trade,” concluded Lynn Street, marketing and sales manager, as well as the person behind the initiative since the start of the year.
Construction company Pave Aways handed over, between April 2017 and April 2018, projects worth more than £15 million to private schools, universities, colleges and local education authorities in England and Wales. During the previous financial year, the company worked on education schemes worth £12.6 million. Oswestry-based contractor carried out refurbishment work for schools in Dolgellau, Wales, for Gwynedd Council and extensions and refurbishments for Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council. It also finished four projects for Concord College near Shrewsbury including extra student accommodation, a new science block and dining hall extension, and the new Agritech Innovation Hub at Harper Adams University. “Our experience in this field has made us the informed choice for many organisations when it comes to major infrastructure projects as our team – from on site to back office staff – understand the issues and constraints of working on projects in this industry and offer the flexible approach to ensure that teaching facilities are maintained,” said managing director Steven Owen about the firm’s success in education. For the 2018-2019 financial year, the future looks promising, with the company already reaching more than £3.9 million on projects at Severndale Academy in Shrewsbury, work for Shropshire Council at Stoke on Tern, Long Mountain Primary and Shifnal Primary Schools, an extension and remodelling work for Tarporley C of E Primary in Cheshire and redevelopment of Castle Block, the former science building, at Concord College. “Since 2007, we have completed 19 projects worth £19.8 million at Concord College near Shrewsbury. We also have an historic relationship with Harper Adams University near Newport where we have completed 20 builds since 2006 worth £20.1 million,” said Steven. “We pride ourselves on creating long-term relationships with our clients by offering a local solution, combined with the highest standard of construction and exemplary after service.” Pave Aways carries out construction work across a range of sectors including industrial, healthcare, residential, retail and commercial.
Primary Engineer was first started in 2005, and has throughout the company’s lifetime worked to promote the inclusion of engineering in education from the earliest possible age. Susan Scurlock is the Chief Executive of Primary Engineer and was released an explanation of the company’s success as well as offering schoolchildren a more hands on experience for engineering. The methods that have been used by the business to train teachers and link them to the industry while also working to bring engineers in to the classroom have been described by some as a nice initiative. However, over the course of 2017, Primary Engineer has been working to grow up, and become more than just a little initiative, and get more and more of a following. In January, the University of Strathclyde accredited Primary Engineer Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering STEM, which is a part-time master’s level course that takes a year to complete. As part of the company’s work, teachers interview engineers in order to develop a range of strategies that can then embed engineering in to the classroom and then work to evaluate the impact of these changes. This form of impact research has allowed Primary Engineer to develop their own base and has, as a knock on led to a continued improvement of all of their activities. Teachers have been working together as a part of this research and development from all areas of education, preschool, primary, secondary and college lecturers included. Primary Engineer has also had an amazing year as it has also featured in the Scottish government’s skills plans and has also begun to work with the Advanced Forming Research Centre at Strathclyde University as well as trade associations, universities, councils and blue chip companies. Primary Engineer is based in Burnley has is also working to develop connections with councils and schools in this area, giving the work carried out by the company a national impact.
