The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has issued revised guidance for Home Improvement companies and sub-contractors operating in England during the current National Lockdown, following confirmation from Government officials of a new interpretation of the guidance for in-house selling during the pandemic. The general Guidance on the subject of sales,
Tom Bowtell, CEO of the British Coatings Federation, has taken over as Chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Surface Coatings Interest Group. The group now has over 300 members, with a very active committee organising events and outreach to help bring together the industrial and academic communities with an
SCAPE – the UK’s leading public sector procurement authority – has announced the winners of its £1bn Consultancy frameworks today (Friday 18th 2020). Together, the new suite of frameworks is designed to help the public sector achieve better project outcomes, from individual assets through to major town and city centre
There is no doubt that the construction sector endured a torrid time through the pandemic in 2020. As a survey by Glenigan* released at the end of 2020 showed, the value of underlying project starts (with a construction value of less than £100 million) dropped by 46 per cent during the second
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) ‘Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards’, showcases the businesses and innovators breaking ground for sustainable buildings. One of this year’s categories, Women in Green Building Leadership Award, celebrates the inspiring female leaders from the movement. Other awards categories include: The Business Leadership in
The World Green Building Council joins nine international organisations to sign a letter to COP26 President, Alok Sharma, requesting a Built Environment Day at the climate summit in November 2021. The day at COP26 would be dedicated to the action pathways to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment, and
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has responded to the Housing, Communities & Local Government Committee’s (HCLG) report released today (24 November 2020) on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill. The report states that “the Government must improve on the detail if it is to demonstrate that its
New 12,000 sq. ft. office building to be built in South Shields will become the towns new relocated Jobcentre Plus. GMI Construction Group has announced that it has been awarded a contract by long-time customer and urban regeneration specialist Muse Developments to construct a new 12,000 sq. ft. office for
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has published new guidance to help engineering and construction firms keep their staff safe in the light of new government restrictions. The Association’s Covid-19 Panel has produced two new guidance documents providing clear and practical information about how to reduce the risk of virus transmission
Halifax’s The Piece Hall Trust has secured almost £1 million from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. 445 organisations will share £103 million, including The Piece Hall, to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on heritage sites, keeping venues open and
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has issued revised guidance for Home Improvement companies and sub-contractors operating in England during the current National Lockdown, following confirmation from Government officials of a new interpretation of the guidance for in-house selling during the pandemic. The general Guidance on the subject of sales, published on the Government’s website, as detailed below remains the same and is unlikely to change for the next few weeks. “Door-to-door sales should not take place, and sales activities should be conducted remotely (such as by phone, online, or mail).” The slightly more relaxed interpretation of the rules around the restrictions may allow for sales people to enter the home, if necessary but it is vital for all individuals who are entering a property to ensure they are following the Safe Guidance and social distancing guidelines. John Agnew, GGF Managing Director commented on the change, “Government officials have recently confirmed directly to the GGF that if selling and surveying in England cannot be done remotely, then companies and their sub-contractors can conduct pre-booked in-house sales and surveys, if carried out within the Safe Guidance.” The GGF recommends that consumers are offered a remote appointment in the first instance and that advises companies, who cannot sell or survey remotely to ensure they do so, in a controlled and measured manner. John Agnew added, “The GGF recommends that any in-house selling activity should start in February to ensure a responsible and gradual industry approach.” The GGF also advises that all individuals entering a home to carry out work should use the NHS Test and Trace App which can be downloaded from the NHIS website https://covid19.nhs.uk/. On the subject of door to door canvassing, the Government is clear that this activity should not be undertaken at present and this has been underlined by the GGF. In a statement issued to its Membership, the GGF highlights that local authorities in England can issue a prohibition notice on businesses. The GGF’s Primary Authority Partnership confirmed “the (current) level of risk to public health met the requirements for local authorities to be able to issue prohibition notices to businesses as allowed by the regulations”. Companies should be mindful of this possible sanction if they ignore the advice and continue to canvass. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcing COVID secure guidance in terms of how you are working. The HSE has the power to issue an enforcement notice on any business that is not operating in accordance with COVID secure guidance creating a potential risk to public health and safety. With the restriction on in-house selling slightly relaxed, and if the pandemic health statistics show the situation is improving, the GGF expects the Government to ease the restrictions gradually over the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, the GGF has urged companies who can continue to operate, to do so responsibly and within the spirit of the guidance. John Agnew summarised, “The published GGF and Government Safe Guidance has not changed, all companies who can continue to operate should ensure they follow the safe guidance to safeguard their employees and customers, and to protect the NHS and save lives.” To access the very latest GGF and Government guidance please click on the links below: GGF COVID Latest News Page GGF COVID Guidance Table GGF COVID Guide for Manufacturers and the Supply Chain GGF COVID Guide for Installers GGF COVID Guide for Homeowners
Tom Bowtell, CEO of the British Coatings Federation, has taken over as Chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Surface Coatings Interest Group. The group now has over 300 members, with a very active committee organising events and outreach to help bring together the industrial and academic communities with an interest in surface coatings. The first meeting in 2021 was held remotely earlier in January, and has led to two events planned for the Spring – Raising the Standard of Standards for the Coatings Community in March, and a ChemCareers webinar in April on Careers in Coatings. On his new role, Tom Bowtell commented, “I am pleased to have taken over the role of Chair at the RSC Surface Coatings Interest Group. Inspiring the future generation of chemists and highlighting the benefits of working in the coatings industry are imperative to the sustainability of our industry, which will be one of the drivers during my period in the Chair. I’m looking forward to helping develop and expand many of the excellent initiatives the group has worked on in the last couple of years under the guidance of outgoing chair Jonathan Bourne, secretary Andrew Milton Thomson and treasurer Jeff Kelsey.” The new team includes Laura Merritt, who has taken over as secretary and Ian Hay from PRA as treasurer, with Stuart Clark from Cambridge University continuing to chair the technical committee.
SCAPE – the UK’s leading public sector procurement authority – has announced the winners of its £1bn Consultancy frameworks today (Friday 18th 2020). Together, the new suite of frameworks is designed to help the public sector achieve better project outcomes, from individual assets through to major town and city centre regeneration initiatives, whilst embedding sustainability and zero carbon options that help effectively respond to the climate emergency. Covering six lots across two direct-award frameworks – the SCAPE Consultancy framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the SCAPE Scotland Consultancy framework – the new agreements will run from January 2021 until 2025, with the option of a two-year extension. SCAPE Scotland, which is based in Edinburgh, has established its consultancy framework under a separate legal structure to reflect Scottish law and procurement regulation. Accessible to any public sector organisation, the SCAPE Consultancy frameworks will offer the broadest range of professional services available in the construction industry under three distinct lots providing specialist support in each area. SCAPE Consultancy, Built Environment will include surveying and design, project management and quantity surveying for new projects and current assets. SCAPE Consultancy, Infrastructure will provide dedicated consultancy services to support the design, delivery and maintenance of infrastructure across the United Kingdom. SCAPE Consultancy, Place Shaping will offer a unique and specialist suite of strategic advisory services ranging from funding advice, policy development, estate rationalisation, as well as asset, risk and development management. The results of this procurement are as follows: Lot Geography Service Value Organisation Lot 1 England, Wales & NI SCAPE Consultancy, Built Environment £350m Perfect Circle (a company jointly owned by Pick Everard, Gleeds, Aecom) Lot 2 England, Wales & NI SCAPE Consultancy, Infrastructure £250m Perfect Circle (a company jointly owned by Pick Everard, Gleeds, Aecom) Lot 3 England, Wales & NI SCAPE Consultancy, Place Shaping £100m Mace Lot 1 Scotland SCAPE Scotland Consultancy, Built Environment £150m Faithful+Gould Lot 2 Scotland SCAPE Scotland Consultancy, Infrastructure £100m Triskelion ( Arcadis, Sweco and Fairhurst) Lot 3 Scotland SCAPE Scotland Consultancy, Place Shaping £50m Arup Each consultancy partner will be appointed by SCAPE’s direct award approach and supported by an extensive local supply chain to help accelerate projects and amplify the local economic, environmental and social impact on every project. The new frameworks are an evolution of the SCAPE Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework, which was operated with a quantum value of £350m and launched in 2016. Led by Perfect Circle (a company jointly owned by Pick Everard, Gleeds, Aecom), the BECS framework was widely embraced by the public sector, delivering more than 1,000 commissions and engaging with more than 335 SMEs through its local supply chains. Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “The quality of the bids we received was simply outstanding. Our new partners for these frameworks have the capacity to be transformative for our colleagues in the public sector seeking specialist consultancy support for projects in their communities. “We’ve evolved these services and applied the lessons learned from the hugely successful BECS framework following extensive client and industry consultation, analysis, as well as expanding the range of services clients can access. It means our new frameworks are not only hugely comprehensive but incredibly pertinent to a public sector now leading the UK’s push to build back better, build back greener and that is eager to help accelerate the economic recovery. “A core commitment to community enrichment, job creation, apprenticeships and tangible social value runs through every lot. The enhanced goals set in these frameworks and the fact that their breadth and scale is greater than what’s gone before will ensure they set a new benchmark for positive social and economic impact from professional services in construction.” Duncan Green, chair at Perfect Circle, said: “We are absolutely delighted that both the SCAPE Consultancy, Built Environment and the SCAPE Consultancy, Infrastructure frameworks have been awarded to Perfect Circle. Our impressive partnership with SCAPE is now set to further strengthen and we look forward to continuing the involvement, growth and collaboration with our extensive and diverse supply chain. “We will share and engage the industry ambition, expertise and innovation to build back better. Our teams will continue to provide value driven services with a dynamic and digital approach to meet the most challenging of needs of our public sector clients. We will be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution crucially promoting projects that underpin the country’s economic recovery and deliver a lasting legacy.” Jason Millett, chief executive for consultancy at Mace, said: “I am delighted that Mace has been appointed to deliver SCAPE Consultancy, Place Shaping. These are particularly challenging times for the public sector when budgets are under great pressure to deliver more with less. We will draw upon our decades of experience and expertise, working with our expert supply chain to successfully unlock the potential of our clients’ projects to create a lasting legacy and societal value for the long-term.” Jon Sealy, UK & Europe managing director at Faithful+Gould, said: “Our team is delighted to once again be part of the SCAPE family of frameworks. SCAPE’s commitment to social value and excellence is something that we share and are extremely passionate about. We are looking forward to collaborating with our framework partners and identifying opportunities to enable investment into Scottish communities and create a national-scale SCAPE legacy in Scotland.” Mark Cowlard, CEO – UK & Ireland at Arcadis (on behalf of Triskelion), said: “Triskelion has brought together the best Scotland can offer in a team of Arcadis, Sweco and Fairhurst, combining our collective strengths in terms of technical expertise, existing client relationships and market intelligence. We believe supporting training, education and community projects can make a real difference to society and we are delighted to have been appointed to this nationally significant framework. “Covid-19 recovery will see a drive to rebuild the Scottish economy which will provide a major boost for the Scottish Infrastructure market. We regard the SCAPE framework as being integral to delivering high quality
There is no doubt that the construction sector endured a torrid time through the pandemic in 2020. As a survey by Glenigan* released at the end of 2020 showed, the value of underlying project starts (with a construction value of less than £100 million) dropped by 46 per cent during the second quarter compared with a year earlier. But the decline in quarterly starts was not as great as initially feared. As Glenigan noted: “Contractors were quick to adjust site working practices and suspended sites in England and Wales were re-opened more rapidly than initially anticipated, with a revival in new project-starts following in their wake.” We can expect a more gradual, but sustained recovery for the next two years; subject of course to the vagaries of the ebb and flow of the pandemic whilst also facing Brexit-related disruption to trade and growth. Existing major infrastructure schemes, including Thames Tideway, HS2 and Hinckley Point, are also forecast to lift civil engineering output over the forecast period. Much of this will be turbocharged by increasing use of modern methods of construction and better use of data analytics, but addressing the skills capacity issue remains a key constituent of delivering project success in construction. But the Government signalled its intent before Christmas with the publication of its plan for infrastructure, and the launch of the Construction Playbook as well as the start of the reforms of the planning process. All these elements point towards a commitment to a greater focus on construction as part of its ‘building back better’ focus. Fundamental to this process will be the capacity to deliver this. And never has it been more important to have the right skills and capacity to deliver a sustained and innovative construction pipeline. And we believe that the project profession has an increasingly vital role in delivering this. In an era of unprecedented technological, social and environmental change, the need for project -based skills and working is set to increase, and as we look towards 2021, the project profession will play a pivotal role in delivering such change in construction. APM, the chartered body for the project profession,carried out a year-long conversation with its members and the wider project community, the conclusions of which inform the latest Projecting the Futurereport, The Adaptive Project Professional. The report sets out a series of ideas and insights to help shape the future of project management, and highlights that now is the time to focus on the ‘adaptive’ project professional. Being adaptive is vital. It means embracing change and recognising its implications for projects. It means striking the right balance between clarity about goals and benefits, and flexibility between the use of best practices and innovating to meet unique circumstances. Adaptivity also means knowing that we as individuals need to develop throughout our careers, continually learning to keep pace with a fast-changing world. A recent APM and Censuswide survey, supports the Projecting the Future report, revealing that a quarter (25 per cent) of project managers in the construction industry think becoming more adaptive and responsive to changeis the most important way in which the project profession could change over the next five years. Keeping up with the pace of change Project management contributes an estimated £156.6 billion of Gross Value Added to the UK economy, according to APM’s research report The Golden Thread. It’s therefore important that the profession’s pipeline continues to develop in order to keep up with the pace of change, from starter to chartered: providing new routes into the profession both for young entrants and more mature professionals and provide greater mobility between career stages. The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated how adaption across all industry is essential in delivering at speed. Whether it’s the building of the NHS Nightingale hospitals, the government’s furlough scheme, or the race to find a find a vaccine for Covid-19, project professionals have been at the heart of making these innovative changes happen. Project professionals must take centre stage in the continued recovery from the pandemic and adapt to the challenges and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution, climate change and increasing human longevity. To find out more about APM, recent research, and the benefits of membership visit www.apm.org.uk *Glenigan have published a construction industry forecast for 2021-2022. The forecast can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/38gggrr
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) ‘Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards’, showcases the businesses and innovators breaking ground for sustainable buildings. One of this year’s categories, Women in Green Building Leadership Award, celebrates the inspiring female leaders from the movement. Other awards categories include: The Business Leadership in Sustainability Award presented to Cundall, and The Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award presented to CoEvolve Northern Star by CoEvolve Estates, Chai Wan Campus for the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong by Ronald Lu & Partners, Paramit Factory in the Forest by Paramit Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and Special Recognition to Arthaland Century Pacific Tower by Arthaland Corporation. Women in Green Building Leadership Award In a traditionally male-dominated industry, the Women in Green Building Leadership Award represents a significant step to encourage women and diversity in leadership. WorldGBC recognises the increasingly important role that women have to play as sustainability champions and is proud that almost half of the CEOs from its 40 Established Green Building Councils are women. This award was designed with the support of WorldGBC’s regional partner, AkzoNobel. Ye Qing, winner of the Women in Green Building Leadership Award, is a renowned green building leader from China. She is acknowledged for her 20 years’ service as an ardent advocate for sustainability in the built environment. As President at the Shenzhen Institute of Building Research (IBR), Ye Qing has driven the design of over 60 million square metres of green buildings, and the planning of 6,000 square kilometres of green cities in China. In 2005, Ye Qing initiated Shared Design, a methodology to bring the project owner and design team together to ensure a balance between people, nature, buildings and cities. Shared Design has now been incorporated into national standards, following its proven impact. In 2019 Ye Qing also helped to develop the China Assessment Standard for Green Building. Ye Qing, said: “Women have a natural affinity with Green buildings. Green means nature and embodies our living world, our mother earth. Women are an icon for all life and love. With the symbiosis and sustainability in nature, women can instil the essence of love in the development of green building. So as global society recognises the importance of green buildings to protect our world, it is also a fitting platform for the promotion of diversity, gender equality and for women’s social status and career development”. Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards 2020 The biennial event, first held in 2014, celebrates Asia Pacific’s brightest achievements towards a more sustainable built environment. An independent panel of high-profile judges assessed nominations from Asia Pacific Green Building Councils and selected winners in three awards categories: The Women in Green Building Leadership Award The Business Leadership in Sustainability Award The Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award (Residential, Institutional, Commercial) Other winners: Business Leadership in Sustainability Award Winner: Cundall (Australia) – awarded for Cundall’s commitment to reducing its impact on the planet by developing a sustainability policy with impressive targets and action plans, from zero carbon energy to ethics and equity. David Clark, Director & Partner, Cundall: “Climate change, health and wellbeing and the biodiversity crisis are just some challenges we face as a global society. Is there any moral alternative other than taking action? This humbling recognition is an opportunity to share our journey and highlight the initiatives we’ve implemented so far. If we can inspire others to embrace sustainable approaches, that would be the best result to come from winning the Business Leadership in Sustainability Award.” Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award (Residential) Winner: CoEvolve Northern Star by CoEvolve Estates (India) – the highest rated green building in the state of Karnataka. Spokesperson, CoEvolve: “It is a great honour to be recognized by the World Green Building Council. This is our second nomination after Asset Aura (2016). Our relentless efforts in building sustainable communities has been validated by this award. Sustainable living is not only the right way forward but THE ONLY way forward. We hope this recognition will motivate others to go green. CoEvolve Estates remains committed to a sustainable future.” (Institutional) Winner: Chai Wan Campus for the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) by Ronald Lu & Partners (Hong Kong) – a campus designed as a vertical community-centric green space. Spokesperson, Ronald Lu & Partners: “We salute WorldGBC who recognises the THEi New Campus at ChaiWan as a new benchmark for high-density-low-carbon sustainable campus, and our client – the Vocational Training Council who is committed to such vision at the outset. The Campus is the making of a community for learning, innovation and knowledge creation, where urban climate is harnessed, sky-rise biodiversity is nurtured, social inclusiveness and wellness are fostered”. (Commercial) Winner: Paramit, Factory in the Forest by Paramit Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) – a case study of industrial biophilic design, integrating nature with complex climate-control systems. Spokesperson, Paramit: “Industrial Buildings conceived and oriented in ‘sustainable thinking’ will reduce operational cost, meet functional goals and uplift human spirits. Our mission was to urgently make this point in a rapidly developing region with hundreds of large factories coming up every year. This award helps us make that point and we are honored to have received it.” Special Recognition for Advancing Net Zero goes to Arthaland Corporation (Philippines) for its net zero carbon Arthaland Century Pacific Tower. Jaime C. González, Vice-Chairman and President, Arthaland Corporation: “As a real estate company fully committed to the development of green and sustainable properties, we are delighted that our efforts have been recognized. We are particularly proud of the Arthaland Century Pacific Tower, the first certified net zero carbon building in the Philippines. I wish the World Green Building Council – Asia Pacific Network and its members more power and thank you for this very much appreciated recognition.” Read more information about each winner.
The World Green Building Council joins nine international organisations to sign a letter to COP26 President, Alok Sharma, requesting a Built Environment Day at the climate summit in November 2021. The day at COP26 would be dedicated to the action pathways to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment, and it will demonstrate how business and governments are catalysing solutions to the climate crisis. This comes a few days after WorldGBC took part in the UN’s Race To Zero Dialogues, discussing how policy, finance and industry leadership can accelerate decarbonisation and ensure the resilience of built environment assets. Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council: “It is essential to have a full day to recognise the building and construction industry at COP26. The sector accounts for nearly 40% of global energy and process-related emissions, up to 10% of global employment and around 50% of global wealth. Despite this, our sector often remains a blind spot in global climate negotiations. WorldGBC has signed a letter to COP26 President, Alok Sharma, together with nine fellow international organisations which are working to decarbonise and make more sustainable the built environment across the world. We look forward to his reply and discussing how we can work together to make COP26 the success it needs to be.” The letter argues that a Built Environment Day at COP26 would spotlight the sector’s unique capability to deliver powerful zero carbon solutions and serve as a rallying point for the sector’s diverse stakeholders. The day would allow the sector to collaborate with governments and policymakers and catalyse action towards ambitious targets for 2030 and beyond. List of signatories: Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat, Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group Andrew Higham, Chief Executive, MISSION 2020 Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council Peter Bakker, CEO, World Business Council Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Maria Mendiluce, CEO, We Mean Business Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute Julie Hirigoyen, CEO, UK Green Building Council Marco Caffi, Executive Director, Green Building Council Italia The letter urges the COP26 organisers to recognise the central role the buildings and construction sector can play in overcoming the key societal challenges we face: The sector can offer solutions to the climate and economic crisis caused by COVID-19 by driving a green recovery and support a climate-resilient future. It can deliver short-term jobs and growth by improving and retrofitting existing built assets, as well as ensuring new ones do not contribute high levels of greenhouse gasses. Read the full letter.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has responded to the Housing, Communities & Local Government Committee’s (HCLG) report released today (24 November 2020) on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill. The report states that “the Government must improve on the detail if it is to demonstrate that its new building safety proposals will drive much needed reform in the sector…and that in its current form, the draft legislation fails to provide sufficient protection against leaseholders paying the bill for work to remedy existing fire safety defects.” The CIOB formally responded to the call for evidence and are supportive of the Committee’s recommendations. It is particularly pleased to see the Committee call for more detail around the yet unpublished secondary legislation to remove any doubt on the scope of the legislation and the responsibilities on building operators. Additionally, it is positive that the Committee have acknowledged the importance of accreditation to ensure that stakeholders have the confidence in the competence of persons undertaking the new building safety manager role. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure the Bill drives forward reform and remedies the flaws in the existing system as identified in the Hackitt review. The Committee’s report can be accessed here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmcomloc/466/466.pdf
New 12,000 sq. ft. office building to be built in South Shields will become the towns new relocated Jobcentre Plus. GMI Construction Group has announced that it has been awarded a contract by long-time customer and urban regeneration specialist Muse Developments to construct a new 12,000 sq. ft. office for the Department for Work and Pensions in South Shields. The contract will see construction of a new purpose-built BREEAM ‘Very good’ rated building which will serve as the town’s new relocated Jobcentre Plus. Approved by South Tyneside Council It will feature as part of the wider repurposing of South Shields town centre. The scheme will see the current branch in Barrington Street moved to the new purpose-built facility on Mile End Road. Talking about the instruction Lee Powell GMI Divisional Managing Director said: “We are pleased to have been awarded this important new build contract by Muse Developments and to continue GMI’s successful partnership and affinity with them. We are also pleased to be working with the DWP for the first time and to be delivering for South Tyneside Council. This project compliments our portfolio of completed public sector office buildings including the successful delivery of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s 200,000 sq ft state of the art civic centre and offices, as well as the award winning 33 Wellington Street office building in Leeds for our client Lancashire County Council, a building that is more noticeable as law firm Walker Morris’ headquarters. We look forward to delivering the project on time and on budget and working with the full project team.” Muse – one of the UK’s best at delivering transformational town and city centre regeneration – has been working with South Tyneside Council to deliver the council’s 365 Regeneration masterplan, which has brought forward two statement schemes; the South Shields Interchange, and the National Centre for the Written Word – The Word. David Wells, regional director at Muse Developments, said: “Everyone involved with the South Shields scheme has been working tirelessly to make sure the scheme delivers for our partners at the council and the DWP and we’re delighted to get approval for the new facilities. “This building is key to our collective ambition to deliver a new repurposed town centre. Working collaboratively with South Tyneside Council, we’ll continue to transform the town centre, driving both economic and social prosperity for all and importantly bringing a new vibrancy to South Shields. We look forward to once again working with our trusted partner GMI” The scheme is anticipated to start on site later in the year, with a 12-month build programme.
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has published new guidance to help engineering and construction firms keep their staff safe in the light of new government restrictions. The Association’s Covid-19 Panel has produced two new guidance documents providing clear and practical information about how to reduce the risk of virus transmission on site and methods for carrying out risk assessments for workers who have to stay away from home. The guidance is freely available and downloadable from the BESA website: www.theBESA.com/covid19. “The new guides are all about prioritising workers and customer/client safety,” said BESA health & safety advisor Becky Crosland. “As we see a rise in the R number across the country, it is clear that the threat of infection from Covid-19 remains very much alive. It is, therefore, vital that businesses have robust procedures to safeguard against the risks employees face on site and in domestic settings.” She also reiterated the warning that the two-metre social distancing restriction remains in place on construction sites. “Some people seem to think the two metre restriction has been reduced to one metre – it has not. Infection risk is between and two and 10 times higher at one metre,” said Crosland. “If it is impossible to remain two metres apart, you should apply other controls like reducing the duration of time you spend together or avoiding face-to-face contact.” The BESA Covid-19 panel has produced a comprehensive suite of guidance documents specifically for engineering and building services contractors since the start of the crisis delivering clear, concise information that prioritises worker and customer safety. “Being able to work safely and reduce the risk of Covid-19 during any work is vital to stop the spread of the virus,” said Crosland. “The health, wellbeing and safety of both workers and customers must be a priority during the pandemic.” All of the panel’s documents have been thoroughly researched, taking into account current government guidance, and providing a series of steps that any employer can put into practice. “In uncertain times, it can often feel that your personal contribution is not making a difference,” said BESA Covid-19 panel member Rosie Newcombe from Royston Group. “However by working with BESA and our partners across our sector, individual health and safety professionals have been able to collaborate and contribute positively by interpreting the latest government guidance to produce effective guidance notes and risk assessments.”www.theBESA.com/covid19
Halifax’s The Piece Hall Trust has secured almost £1 million from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. 445 organisations will share £103 million, including The Piece Hall, to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on heritage sites, keeping venues open and supporting those working in the sector. The £995,000 funding for Piece Hall will be used to ensure that the building can continue be safely operated and open to visitors, support its community and allow the trust to invest in equipment and skills which can help to generate income. “2020 has been a year which has posed unprecedented challenges for venues across the UK, particularly those with an offering focussed around heritage, retail and events. The response we’ve already received from a range of partners and also the public has been absolutely amazing, giving us great confidence for a bright and successful future. We’ve already seen fantastic demand for the live events we’re putting on in 2021, and while we are continuing to manage footfall in a sensible and effective way, things are moving in the right direction,” said Nicky Chance-Thompson, chief executive at The Piece Hall Trust. “This Culture Recovery Fund grant is brilliant for The Piece Hall and is something we are extremely grateful to receive. It allows us to safeguard our activities and plan effectively for the future, alongside funding already committed from our local partners such as Calderdale Council. These funding streams will allow us to plan for the long-term, and we believe this will make a huge impact on the local economy,” Nicky added. The Culture Recovery Fund is financed by government and administered at arm’s length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
