The steel framework for a new city centre college campus has been completed as part of the council’s transformational Phase Two City Learning Quarter masterplan. Situated around the Old Hall Street and St George’s Parade area, incorporating a site on the corner of Garrick Street and Bilston Street where the
Contractor trains up STEM ‘Careers Champions’ to roll out North East Ambition Programme in region’s schools. Esh Construction has partnered with the North East Combined Authority to enhance STEM provision in schools across the region. Working collaboratively through the Combined Authority’s North East Ambition Programme, which aims to champion the
GMI Construction Group has launched its Construction Cares programmes, bringing all its community, employability and wellbeing projects under one banner. Led by GMI’s Responsible Business Team, Construction Cares will deliver and support a range of activities in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Midlands where the construction company operates.
Wates has been appointed by one of the UK’s foremost not-for-profit housing groups, Orbit, to undertake a retrofit programme for 410 homes over two years, marking the start of a long-term partnership to help decarbonise Orbit’s homes. The appointment will see Wates deliver energy efficiency improvements to 160 homes through
Contractor Clegg Construction is celebrating Yorkshire Day by reflecting on how the company is helping to shape the county. The Clegg Construction team has delivered multiple new build and refurbishment projects in Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield, York and other parts of Yorkshire over the past ten to 15 years. And the
Construction of 229-bedroom Premier Inn on Rochdale Road to the north of the Northern Quarter is anticipated to commence in Sept 2024 Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel business and owner of Premier Inn, has appointed GMI Construction Group as principal contractor for its latest development in Manchester City Centre.
A successful event at Castle Meadow Campus hosted by G F Tomlinson and Henry Brothers Construction provided an opportunity for Fbe and ProCon members and guests to look at the new University of Nottingham city centre redevelopment site. The collaborative event was held at the Grade II Listed site where
On Wednesday last week, Alliance Leisure was joined by construction company, ISG; architects, Pozzoni and project managers, Axiom on the site of the £12 million new build sport and leisure complex at Wilson’s Playing Fields, Clayton- le-Moors to mark the completion of the buildings steel structure. The event coincided with
Balfour Beatty has become the first Tier One contractor to mandate human recognition cameras on certain items of plant and machinery across all its UK operations. According to the latest Work-related fatal injuries report by the Health and Safety Executive, the construction sector continues to account for the greatest number
One of the largest privately-owned contractors in the North of England has posted a 50 per cent increase in pre-tax profit for 2023 as its robust business model continues to yield results. While the construction industry continued to wrestle with a range of challenges during the year, Esh Group reported
The steel framework for a new city centre college campus has been completed as part of the council’s transformational Phase Two City Learning Quarter masterplan. Situated around the Old Hall Street and St George’s Parade area, incorporating a site on the corner of Garrick Street and Bilston Street where the former Faces nightclub building once stood, the development is also utilising City of Wolverhampton College’s existing Metro One building. McLaughlin & Harvey has now moved onto the next stage of works – which includes floor decking installation and concrete pour on all levels, façade works and roofing – and remain on course to deliver the new state-of-the-art facility in time for the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Alongside improved Adult Education Wolverhampton and Central Library facilities, the £61 million scheme – supported by Government funding – will establish new educational provision that enhance skills and employment outcomes for residents across the city and wider region. Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “The City Learning Quarter has been a long-held ambition of the city council and fantastic progress is being made by the contractors in the creation of a vibrant education hub that will unlock future opportunities for all in the city. “We are working hard with City of Wolverhampton College to ensure we improve the city’s learning, apprenticeship and employment offers, and retain our best talent. “The steel framework alone is impressive and gives us a taste of how these new facilities will provide a vital facelift to our city centre. It will be an inspirational environment for people to learn in, also offering excellent connectivity to rail, bus, tram and cycle routes. “We will be delivering an environment where everyone can flourish, demonstrating the commitment we have to investing in our residents.” Paul Davies, Director of Finance at the college, said: “The completion of the steelwork is a significant milestone in the construction of the new city centre site which will enable us to move from the Paget Road site and welcome students to the new campus in the 2025/26 academic year. “The City Learning Quarter, including the new Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre which is due to open at the Wellington Road campus this September, will transform the learning environment for thousands of students and apprentices, provide modern teaching facilities for staff, and ensure the workforce of the future is equipped with the skills and knowledge that employers need their staff to have.” Warinder Juss, MP for Wolverhampton West, said: “The development of the City Learning Quarter to include Wolverhampton College provides exciting opportunities to not only the students of the college but will also help with the regeneration of the city centre. It is great to see the progress that has been made.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor trains up STEM ‘Careers Champions’ to roll out North East Ambition Programme in region’s schools. Esh Construction has partnered with the North East Combined Authority to enhance STEM provision in schools across the region. Working collaboratively through the Combined Authority’s North East Ambition Programme, which aims to champion the full potential of the region by connecting communities and giving people the skills to succeed, Esh has provided six bespoke kits to support a wider understanding of STEM-related construction careers. Through the programme, Esh is currently training up six Careers Champions, who will then host a ‘Get into STEM’ session in participating schools, with the kits available for schools to book out and use for extra-curricular sessions that will promote STEM careers. Already, 55 primary schools have expressed interest in getting involved. Esh’s award winning ‘Get into STEM’ programme is designed to positively shape career aspirations whilst developing skill sets essential for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Since 2015, Esh has delivered the programme to more than 16,900 primary school students across the North East, Tees Valley and Yorkshire. Kate Marshall, Social Value Manager for the North East at Esh Construction said: “Our team has been working closely with the Careers Champions to demonstrate programme delivery of the STEM kits, so that they can train up teachers and classroom assistants to use the kits within their own schools. The initiative to enhance STEM understanding to more students across our region will ultimately raise awareness of a range of career options in the construction and built environment sector. “At a time when our industry is dealing with a skills shortage, engaging with students from a young age will provide opportunities as we move into the 2030s and beyond. Our relationship with the North East Combined Authority continues to prosper to bring through the next generation of STEM workers, and we’re excited to watch as this programme develops over the coming months.” Two Careers Champions are based in Northumberland, as well as one covering Newcastle and North Tyneside, one for Sunderland and South Tyneside, one for Gateshead and one for County Durham schools. Each STEM kit contains bright and vibrant resources such as foam bricks, measuring equipment, literature and personal protective equipment, with a vision to raise student awareness of the world around them, consider STEM topics and reinforce important construction health and safety messages. Through its North East Ambition programme, the Combined Authority is supporting schools to broaden horizons, raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes and help children connect their learning to the world around them. Experience of real-world careers such as those demonstrated through the use of the STEM kits and Careers Champions is a key part of meeting these aims. Councillor Tracey Dixon, North East Combined Authority Cabinet member for Education, Inclusion and Skills, said: “This STEM kit rollout will support our work delivering careers related learning for primary schools in the region, by providing an opportunity for meaningful employer engagement within a key sector. The kit will help challenge gender stereotyping, support numeracy and literacy, and give the children a chance to learn about different progression pathways that will be available for them in the future, including apprenticeships and T Levels.” The school rollout will commence in autumn, with a system being set up for schools to contact the Career Champions to book the kit out through a booking and collection point. Schools may then deliver their own sessions as per the lesson plan outlined, or may choose to use the kit alongside other STEM-related lessons. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group has launched its Construction Cares programmes, bringing all its community, employability and wellbeing projects under one banner. Led by GMI’s Responsible Business Team, Construction Cares will deliver and support a range of activities in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Midlands where the construction company operates. It will also encompass its existing support for the Care Leaver Covenant and the 5% Club, which promotes ‘earn and learn’ opportunities. The Care Leaver Covenant, the second Government Covenant, is a national inclusion programme launched in 2018 that supports care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently by creating meaningful opportunities. GMI became a signatory of the Covenant in 2023, and, as part of Construction Cares, it is committed to advertising job roles to care leavers first and has established a guaranteed interview scheme. The company offers work experience, work trials, employability sessions, and one-to-one mentoring to help participants develop their skills and gain valuable experience in the sector. Recent programmes include DIY skills for care leavers, which have taken place, to date, in Yorkshire, North West and Midlands, with GMI supply chain partners leading sessions for students to gain valuable life skills for those transitioning into independent living and to give them a taster of career opportunities in construction. All attendees are provided with travel and lunch expenses and given a GMI home toolkit to take home with them upon completion of the three-day course. The sessions are already delivering positive outcomes with two participants gaining full-time construction apprenticeships and four have chosen to sign up to full-time constructions courses at college, which is getting them back into education. GMI also runs ‘Constructive Kickabouts’ sessions for care leavers, organising monthly football matches to provide a social and sporting setting and meet new people. This was launched in Manchester in 2023 and monthly sessions are now taking place in Birmingham. The 5% Club is a UK employer-led charity, which inspires and educates businesses and organisations to take positive action for increased, inclusive, and accessible workplace training for all. GMI currently holds Gold accredited membership of the club in recognition of the significant contribution it has made to the continued development of its employees through ‘earn and learn’ schemes. Community outreach forms a key element of Construction Cares with GMI regularly supporting causes and organisations local to its schemes. This has included the construction of an extension to a SEND school, a kitchen in a community centre and woodland play and learning area at primary school. Through ‘Constructing Communities’, GMI also supports the Daniel Baird Foundation charity, by installing bleed kits at its city centre sites, in locations such as Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, York and Bristol. The kits improve the survival chances of those who might have been stabbed or suffered traumatic injuries close to the sites. Claire Preston, Head of Responsible Business at GMI, said: “We believe in helping shape more than the built environment in the regions we operate, but having a positive impact on those communities. Construction Cares is an amalgamation of a variety of initiatives we have been running, bringing them under one banner that will allow us to give a greater focus to our CSR activities. “We have built strong partnerships with local authorities, charities, education establishments and organisations, like the Care Leavers Covenant, which is helping to create opportunities for people from all backgrounds. Through Construction Cares we will be making a positive difference to individuals and communities, supported by our dedicated team and supply chain partners.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wates has been appointed by one of the UK’s foremost not-for-profit housing groups, Orbit, to undertake a retrofit programme for 410 homes over two years, marking the start of a long-term partnership to help decarbonise Orbit’s homes. The appointment will see Wates deliver energy efficiency improvements to 160 homes through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund’s (SHDF) Wave 2.1 with the remaining 250 properties funded by Orbit and the Government’s ECO4 programme. The PAS3025-compliant contract will comprise a range of building fabric improvements to enhance efficiency, including external, internal, cavity wall and loft insulation as well as traditional capital works such as roof, window and door replacements. Wates and Orbit will also explore digital and renewable solutions, including smart thermostats, ventilation upgrades, air and ground source heat pumps, night storage heating systems and photovoltaic panels. Completion is expected by September 2025 with an option to extend the contract for a further four years. The work forms part of Orbit’s long-term Decarbonisation Retrofit strategy as it works towards the Government’s target for all social housing to reach Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of C by 2030. The new contract adds to Wates’ extensive portfolio of social housing retrofit projects, which to-date has included PAS2035-compliant energy efficiency improvements to over 2,000 properties across the UK through a mixture of Government and self-funded programmes. David Morgan, Executive Managing Director of Wates Property Services, commented: “Our work in social housing retrofit to date has given us a wealth of experience and best practice to support our customers in delivering vital energy efficiency improvements while also planning ahead for their long-term decarbonisation targets. Our collective journey towards Net Zero is reliant on working in partnership in this way, and enables us to efficiently design and deliver the best possible measures for each property, improving efficiency, supporting Orbit in its Net Zero strategy and helping to address fuel poverty for residents.” Jeanette Hodges, Strategic Asset Management Director at Orbit, commented: “We are committed to ensuring our customers enjoy the benefits of a more energy efficient home which is warmer and more affordable, as well as further our important collective journey towards decarbonising our homes. We have already been working at pace, but look forward to working with Wates to further deliver on our commitments and provide our customers with more energy efficient homes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor Clegg Construction is celebrating Yorkshire Day by reflecting on how the company is helping to shape the county. The Clegg Construction team has delivered multiple new build and refurbishment projects in Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield, York and other parts of Yorkshire over the past ten to 15 years. And the company continues to work on high profile schemes across the county. Managing Director at Clegg Construction, Michael Sims, said: “On Yorkshire Day 2024, I’m proud to look back at the projects that we have completed in Yorkshire and to shine the spotlight on those that we are currently delivering. “Yorkshire Day is the perfect time to celebrate the county’s investment and economic development which is shaping the towns, cities and rural areas that we see today. “Clegg Construction is delighted to have partnered with a wide range of organisations to play a part in Yorkshire’s development and we look forward to continuing this in the future.” The company is currently working on three significant schemes in Leeds – the multi-million pound refurbishment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, the £35m, 402-studio student accommodation scheme known as The Fabric Works, and Spinners Yard, a 185-apartment, 11-storey build-to-rent apartment development for Rise Homes. Notable past projects in Yorkshire which the company is proud to highlight include two commercial schemes at Calder Park, Wakefield, Hollis Croft student accommodation in Sheffield, and the refurbishment of Minerva House, a landmark building in the main business district of Leeds. More recently Clegg Construction has completed the Ironworks, a £28.7m, 11-storey apartment scheme in Sheffield, which recently won Regional New Build of the Year at the Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Awards; an exciting £5.9m renovation scheme to transform Maltby Grammar School near Rotherham into a community resource and education centre; Highfield Care Home near Tadcaster, a £9m, 65-bedroom new-build care home for Barchester Health; and a new four-storey, 188-bedroomed, Premier Inn in York on behalf of CBRE Investment Management. “Our experience of working in Yorkshire has included projects across a wide range of sectors such as commercial, leisure, education, residential, offices and student accommodation, and it’s pleasing to see how swiftly these developments have become an integral part of their communities,” added Michael Sims. Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction of 229-bedroom Premier Inn on Rochdale Road to the north of the Northern Quarter is anticipated to commence in Sept 2024 Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel business and owner of Premier Inn, has appointed GMI Construction Group as principal contractor for its latest development in Manchester City Centre. GMI will lead the construction of Whitbread’s development site on Rochdale Road on the edge of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. The location has planning permission for a 229-bedroom Premier Inn hotel set over ten storeys with an integrated restaurant, bar, and check-in area on the ground floor. Whitbread acquired the site from Premcor in February 2024 as part of the company’s ongoing strategy of investing in strategic locations across Manchester. The company intends to bring its very latest bedroom product to the Rochdale Road hotel including its popular Premier Plus rooms. Will Steward, Project and Programme Manager for Whitbread, said: “Whitbread acquired the Rochdale Road development site in February 2024 with the premise of bringing about a speedy transformation of the location into a latest format Premier Inn hotel. Appointing GMI as principal contractor continues this positive momentum, and we hope to break ground and start building our latest Manchester hotel this autumn.” Rochdale Road is the latest investment by Whitbread in Central Manchester in recent years. In May 2021 the company opened a 157-bedroom Premier Inn at Princess Street to the south of the city centre. The opening paved the way for the redevelopment of the Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Deansgate Locks) hotel a short distance away which served the same catchment. The Deansgate Locks location was subsequently sold to Student Roost for redevelopment into a purpose-built student accommodation development of more than 1,000 student beds in July 2024. Anthony Judge, Regional director for GMI Construction, said: “Following on from GMI and Whitbread’s collaboration in delivery of the nationally recognised and impressive Premier Inn development in Keswick, its brilliant to see our partnership go from strength to strength. “This latest development in the iconic Northern Quarter of Manchester will be a striking new addition to the skyline with its remarkable brickwork façade. We are delighted to be a part of this major project and greatly look forward to progressing with this scheme.” On opening, the Premier Inn at Rochdale Road will be Whitbread’s seventh hotel in central Manchester and one of its largest in the city. As it continues to expand, the business is currently focused on fulfilling its network target to the east of the city and at Manchester Airport. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A successful event at Castle Meadow Campus hosted by G F Tomlinson and Henry Brothers Construction provided an opportunity for Fbe and ProCon members and guests to look at the new University of Nottingham city centre redevelopment site. The collaborative event was held at the Grade II Listed site where current works include the transformation of the former HMRC headquarters – the Central Building being delivered by G F Tomlinson, and the remodelling of Buildings D and F, by Henry Brothers, into modern office spaces. Encompassing seven buildings, the complete redevelopment is set to establish the Castle Meadow Campus as a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, featuring state-of-the-art facilities for its community of students, academics, and industry partners. 60 members of the Fbe (Forum for the Built Environment) East Midlands and ProCon Nottinghamshire – both of which are professional regional construction and property groups – attended the event, and were treated to a morning of insightful presentations, networking opportunities and firsthand experiences of the ongoing redevelopment works. While enjoying breakfast sandwiches and hot refreshments, representatives from the University of Nottingham, Arup, and Bond Bryan provided detailed site plans, offering a comprehensive overview of the campus scope and objectives. Visitors were given guided tours of the current works by G F Tomlinson and Henry Brothers, providing a unique insight into the intricate renovation processes. A highlight of the event was the demonstration of the large-scale Projection Augmented Relief Model (PARM) by Dr. Gary Priestnall from the University’s School of Geography. The interactive 3D model of Nottingham city centre showcased the innovative use of digital and data tools in urban planning and development. Led by Director, Prof. Paul Grainge, University of Nottingham, ‘City as Lab’ also presented work on leveraging digital and data innovation to address real-world challenges in the Nottingham city region, emphasising the role of the campus as a catalyst for technological advancement and community engagement. G F Tomlinson, a longstanding partner of the University of Nottingham, is leading the refurbishment of the Central Building, including the complex replacement of the tensile fabric roof and the addition of a new mezzanine level, designed to enhance the building’s functionality and sustainability. Adrian Grocock, Managing Director of G F Tomlinson, said: “The event at Castle Meadow Campus was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the extensive work being done to transform the Central Building. “We were delighted to share our progress with the community and our industry peers and we are extremely proud to contribute our expertise to such a landmark project. “We have a long-standing working relationship with the University of Nottingham, with this being our 8th scheme working together. It is a real pleasure to combine our university and heritage experience to help the university to deliver another world class facility.” Henry Brothers Construction, alongside a consortium of leading industry experts, is nearing completion of the remodelling works on Buildings D and F. Managing Director of Nottingham-based Henry Brothers Construction Ian Taylor said: “The Castle Meadow Campus is a hugely exciting project for the University of Nottingham and for the city as a whole and we are proud to be playing a part in it. “Henry Brothers has extensive experience of working with universities across the Midlands to improve their facilities. This is our first contract with the University of Nottingham, and we are really pleased to see the partnership creating such fantastic new facilities in our home city. They will be a tremendous asset to the community, and we are honoured to have jointly hosted this event for our peers in the local construction and property sector.” James Hale, Building and Design Lead for Castle Meadow Campus, University of Nottingham, said: “We’re pleased to be working together with our partners on the Castle Meadow Campus development. The chance to welcome ProCon and Fbe members and guests to showcase the great work that’s already happening to transform the site was excellent. “We’re pleased that members and guests showed a keen interest in this historically significant site. With more work to come, we are determined to create an accessible and sustainable world-class campus environment.” The event underscored the importance of fostering partnerships in technological advancement and sustainable development. With the University of Nottingham, G F Tomlinson and Henry Brothers at the forefront, the Castle Meadow Campus is poised to make a lasting impact on the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On Wednesday last week, Alliance Leisure was joined by construction company, ISG; architects, Pozzoni and project managers, Axiom on the site of the £12 million new build sport and leisure complex at Wilson’s Playing Fields, Clayton- le-Moors to mark the completion of the buildings steel structure. The event coincided with the unveiling of the Borough’s plans to launch an Active Environment Strategy which saw a number of local Place Partners including Hyndburn Leisure and Sport England at the new build development site. “It’s absolutely fantastic to see this development taking shape” says Tom Gardner, Business Development Manager, Alliance Leisure. “Now that the steel frame is in place, you can visualise the size of the building and how it will complement the surrounding active spaces. “Once completed, the facility will further enhance the sport and physical activity opportunities for the community, making it a fitting location to share plans of the new Active Environment Strategy, designed to encourage more people to adopt active lifestyles.” Councillor Munsif Dad, Leader of the Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, adds: “Wilson Sports Village is the result of a £12 million investment by the Council, including £2.4 million contribution from Sport England via its Strategic Facilities Fund to deliver leisure facilities and services that are inclusive and diverse in their appeal. “Our vision is to create opportunities for everyone in our community to be able to access and enjoy an active lifestyle. Working with Alliance Leisure through the UK Leisure Framework, has enabled us to employ expertise at every stage of the design and development to create a physical activity hub that fully complements the surrounding pitches, woodland and athletics track.” The build project in Clayton-le Moors is set to complete in Spring 2025. James Watson, Project Manager at ISG, says: “Wilson Sports Village is an excellent example of how local authorities can transform health, wellbeing and fitness outcomes in a community. Through detailed design, planning and engagement, the village seeks to encourage movement and has been designed with the local community in mind. Many people who stop to watch the progress on site tell me that they are excited to see it open. “Not only will the project deliver for the community once it opens, we have also worked closely with the council to ensure we deliver social value legacy, through job creation, training and development, and local supply chain spend.” Wilson Sports Village will offer a range of targeted facilities including a 25-metre swimming pool, a fitness suite, sauna & steam room, multi-purpose studio, café, large changing village and dedicated changing facilities that will service the outdoor sports facilities. Lyndsey Sims, Chief Executive, Hyndburn Leisure, says: “Wilson Sports Village has been designed to accommodate everyone. The facilities, housed within a single storey building, reflect the Council’s ambition to support all individuals, including those with a disability and/or long-term health conditions. The Leisure Trust are working alongside the Together an Active Future, Place Partnership and the Activity Alliance, to appoint a team, of ‘Let Me Move’ champions to enhance our engagement with people with a disability and/or additional needs. Sims continues: “Hyndburn has some of the worst levels of inactivity and obesity in England resulting in lower health expectancy rates and poor quality of health and wellbeing for residents. We are working closely with the council and local partners to tackle these statistics. This is what the development of the Wilson Sports Village and the new ‘Active Environment Strategy’ is all about so it is fantastic to be able to bring partners together, here on site, and get a real feel for how our vision for change is playing out into reality.” Speaking of the development, Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director for Place at Sport England, says: “The Wilson Sports Village is a testament to both the Council’s and Sport England’s commitment to health and wellbeing. “With the help of £2.4m of Sport England funding via the National Lottery, this is genuinely a landmark development for Hyndburn, with the ambition for the Sports village to be a catalyst to help more people, of all abilities, get physically active for the benefit of their wellbeing. It is particularly pleasing to see the development of their Active Environment Strategy alongside the facility to ensure people have the opportunity to move in their outdoor places and spaces. For more information about Alliance Leisure visit: allianceleisure.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty has become the first Tier One contractor to mandate human recognition cameras on certain items of plant and machinery across all its UK operations. According to the latest Work-related fatal injuries report by the Health and Safety Executive, the construction sector continues to account for the greatest number of workers involved in fatal incidents in the UK every year. Among these incidents, 18% of the injuries were from workers being struck by moving vehicles. As part of its Zero Harm mission, Balfour Beatty has mandated human recognition technology to improve the people and plant interface risk.This latest technology is designed to proactively cover the “Blind Spots” around the plant. The cameras detect the human form and will trigger an alarm to alert pedestrians and the operator of the plant to the potential risk. In addition to the camera, a ‘digital thumbs up’ system has also been introduced so plant operators can temporarily disable the machine to allow individuals to approach – creating a no entry sign outside the machine which turns into a green thumbs up symbol, when the operator signals that it is safe to approach. Alongside the on-site alarms, data collection and sharing of hazards and incursions from the technology will enable site discussions and change individual and site behaviours. Balfour Beatty will mandate human form recognition cameras on excavators above 13 tonnes, forward tipping dumpers over 6 tonnes, articulated dump trucks weighing more than 9 tonnes, rollers of 13 tonnes and above as well as telehandlers, dozers,and wheeled loaders. Discussing the Group’s commitment to leveraging technology for safety, Balfour Beatty Chief Technology Officer Chris Johnson said: “At Balfour Beatty, we believe that our long-term success is dependent upon our ability to keep our workforce, suppliers, subcontractors and members of the public safe. It is of utmost importance and our biggest priority. “Today’s announcement is another important step towards eliminating harm across all Balfour Beatty projects. By mandating these new strident measures, we will continue this positive trajectory and ensure that everyone gets home safe, everyday.” The human form recognition requirement for plants on Balfour Beatty projects across the UK came into effect in June this year and will be rolled out to supply chain partners as a standard in 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of the largest privately-owned contractors in the North of England has posted a 50 per cent increase in pre-tax profit for 2023 as its robust business model continues to yield results. While the construction industry continued to wrestle with a range of challenges during the year, Esh Group reported pre-tax profits of £3.1 million, up from £2 million the previous year. The firm’s portfolio centres on work for local authorities, utility and environmental companies, registered affordable housing providers, as well as the private housing sector, and Chief Executive Andy Radcliffe is looking to the future with the largest forward order book in its 25-year history on the horizon. He said: “Our strategically designed business model stands out for its inbuilt resilience. At its core is the ability to even out the peaks and troughs of the construction industry’s demand profile over the economic cycle – this design has proven a success and seen us through the challenging times that the industry has experienced over the last few years. “Our headline order book figure is substantial, and crucially it provides over 10 years of pipeline visibility for the group. Having invested heavily in capacity, resources and technology, we are equipped to execute our strategic growth plans and are actively seeking further opportunities within our core markets, and so expect to see both turnover growth and margin expansion over the coming years. Despite the broader economic picture demonstrating a degree of volatility, we remain optimistic about the future.” Esh Group continued its focus on driving capital efficiency across all operations, leading to an increase in liquidity to £23 million, up £4 million from the previous year, whilst remaining debt free with nothing drawn on its £6 million credit line. Whilst turnover remained at £261 million, improvements in both its contracting and development performance resulted in the reported increase in pre-tax profits. Radcliffe added: “During the year, we concluded a wide range of projects that were heavily impacted by post-pandemic supply chain and inflationary pressures, which was no mean feat and a major milestone which gives rise to a more favourable back drop for 2024. These negative factors were more than offset by stronger performances on newer contracts, which were supported by considerable improvements in operational execution. “Coupled with the inflationary environment remaining relatively benign, we are continuing to see buoyancy in our target sectors. The desire to rebalance economic prosperity across the country is driving funding for major infrastructure and regeneration schemes, whilst the ongoing demand for new social housing stock and retrofitting of existing stock in line with decarbonisation targets has continued to fuel growth. “We are also confident that the core policy agendas for the new Government will provide a favourable back drop for our chosen market segments, and therefore see only positives for our business on the back of the election result.” Esh Group’s forward order book across its civil engineering, affordable housing, commercial build, and private housebuilding divisions has seen a remarkable increase in the year. The investment programmes for improving wastewater and flood management infrastructure have skyrocketed – the AMP 8 period will be the biggest programme of work the sector has seen – and Esh has secured its place on five capital delivery frameworks with Northumbrian Water Group and the Environment Agency. The 750-strong contractor has seen considerable market share growth within the affordable housing sector, most notably the Seaham Garden Village development where work has begun on the first phase of 750 affordable homes in partnership with Karbon Homes. The pivot towards increasing land led developments is also paying dividends, with Esh having the largest pipeline of this route-to-market since embarking on the strategy. In the private housing market, Esh’s private housebuilding division, Homes by Esh, is on course to nearly double its number of live developments in the North East before the end of 2024. Flagship schemes including the landmark restoration of the Tyne Bridge – one of the most complex and challenging engineering projects the North East has seen in recent years – and the ‘transformational’ Stockton Waterfront Urban Park feature in Esh’s civil engineering major projects portfolio. Radcliffe concluded: “We will strive to become the trusted expert for our clients, with a laser focus on quality, health and safety, dependability, and innovation, whilst continuing to deliver one of the most comprehensive social value offerings in the industry. “In April this year, we held an event which brought the whole group together to learn about our overarching strategy and divisional business plans. We did this because we are a business of many parts, specialities and expertise, and a key factor in delivering the next stage of our strategy is our team of highly skilled and dedicated colleagues, each of whom have a part to play in this exciting journey – and as always, we are enormously grateful to our valued clients and our loyal supply chains for their continued support.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
