Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has announced the winners of its prestigious Contractors Awards at a gala lunch held at Royal Lancaster Hotel in the heart of London. The 8 June ceremony honoured the remarkable craftmanship, exceptional collaboration and exemplary adherence to best practices within the finishes and interiors community.
Paramount has won a prestigious £11-million contract to transform a Bristol city centre office complex for global investment bank, Credit Suisse. The design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist has been tasked with providing a high-spec refurbishment of the building on Temple Quay, with the view of creating one of Bristol’s greenest
Hotel fitout specialist, Polcom Furniture by Volumetric Building Companies, has delivered its 15th contract for Whitbread’s hub by Premier Inn hotel brand. This latest project for main contractor Gilbert Ash was to manufacture and install the guest room furniture for the new hub by Premier Inn hotel in Clerkenwell, London.
QIC Trims’ bespoke new product manufacture and design expertise proved crucial to a ceiling installation that was integral to a multi-million-pound city hall development. The company supplied more than 11,500 lin/m of trim for nearly 350 raft ceilings that were installed at the former Vaux Brewery in Sunderland. The site,
Orega, the flexible workspace provider is expanding its high spec flexible workspace at The Capitol Building, 431 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11. Orega originally signed a Management Agreement with landlords M&G Real Estate for 10,000 sq feet but given its success in filling this space, it has now embarked on a
A Yorkshire based commercial interiors specialist, with a strong market presence in the North of England, has been acquired in a management buyout by six members of its senior team. Ultimate (Commercial Interiors) Ltd specialises in fit-out, furniture, design and consultancy, with a particular focus on office spaces and hotels.
International property and construction consultancy Gleeds has recently completed the transformation of its Manchester office. The project was undertaken by workplace consultancy and interior fit-out specialists, Blueprint interiors and will allow the business to remain in its city centre location. Situated at Abbey House on Mosely Street, Gleeds opted for renovation as
Fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors has been chosen to lead the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Sanctuary Buildings in London. The Department for Education (DfE) has appointed the contractor to deliver the phased CAT B fit out of 12,850m2 across floors of the property in Victoria.
When Designer Contracts was asked to develop two very different show home interiors for a new development within striking distance of Edinburgh airport, the team passed the challenge with flying colours. The Barratt Homes development at West Craigs in eastern Scotland involved creating two unique show house schemes marketed toward
New leadership team will spearhead company’s core ‘Build’ service Design, fit-out and refurbishment specialist Paramount has strengthened its position in the property sector by adding construction to its set of core services. In a move that “signals the start of an exciting new era”, commercial and residential construction activity will
BDC 322 : Nov 2024
Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has announced the winners of its prestigious Contractors Awards at a gala lunch held at Royal Lancaster Hotel in the heart of London. The 8 June ceremony honoured the remarkable craftmanship, exceptional collaboration and exemplary adherence to best practices within the finishes and interiors community. Showcasing a diverse array of fantastic projects, the event recognised the outstanding achievements of FIS members in fourteen categories. Guest architect Robert Fry, International and Executive Director of Aukett Swanke Group plc, announced Indeglas for its work at Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, as the winner of the 2023 Project of the Year, which he selected from the award-winning projects.Commenting Robert Fry said: “Choosing a single project for the prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ award was an incredibly difficult task due to the exceptional calibre of the winners in the award category. The excellence displayed by numerous trades and skillsets, working together in a collaborative effort to serve clients, made the selection process even more challenging. The remarkable quality exhibited by these projects was truly outstanding.” WinnersInterior Fit-Out** – Tapper Interiors (JCT 600 Ferrari, Leeds)Interior Fit-Out* – Domino Commercial Interiors (1 Knightsbridge Green, London)Partitioning** – Optima (Mazars, London)Partitioning– Indeglas (Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow) Operable Walls – Style Moveable Partition Specialists (Project Mosaic, Reckitt Benckiser, Berkshire) Drylining Commercial – Phoenix Drywall UK (Faculty of Social Sciences, Univ of Sheffield) Drylining Residential – Measom Dryline (Knightsbridge Gardens, London) Ceilings* – ARM Concepts (102 Finsbury Square, London)Ceilings* – Integra Contracts (Battersea Power Station, Halo Bridge and Turbine Hall, London)Steel Framed Systems*– Drywall Contracts DCL (Molecular Science, University of Birmingham) Steel Framed Systems– Drywall Contracts DCL (Kenilworth School and 6th Form Relocation Project, Warwickshire)Plastering Heritage – Locker and Riley (Koko, London)Plastering Fibrous and GRG – Fine Art Mouldings (The Peninsular London, 1 Grosvenor Place, London)Specialist Joinery – Veitchi Interiors (Boclair Academy, Scotland) Commenting on this year’s nominees, Independent FIS Award Judges, Tony Pieri and Colin Hunter said: “As judges, we take our responsibilities very seriously as we fully understand the hard work and endeavour everyone has applied to the project they have entered for the awards process. We recognise the pride you feel in your work as that is fundamentally why you have entered your project in the first place. FIS contractor members continue to produce excellent work against the increasing pressure of tight budgets and challenging time constraints. That characterises the spirit of FIS members, who consistently demonstrate the resolve to do a good job on time and within budget. It has been a real pleasure for Colin and me to witness such outstanding and varied work”. The awards were supported and presented by esteemed sponsors Minster, SIG, British Gypsum, CCF, Nevill Long, Protektor, Euroform, Zentia and SpecFinish whilst guest speaker, impressionist and stand-up comedian Alistair McGowan added an extra layer of enjoyment to the event. The FIS Contractors Awards are held annually to encourage and promote high levels of craftsmanship and design. Not only does the FIS member who installed the contract win an award, but the architect or interior designer of an award-winning project is also awarded. For further information about FIS or information on next year’s awards which will open for submission in July, please contact the FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121-707-0077. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Paramount has won a prestigious £11-million contract to transform a Bristol city centre office complex for global investment bank, Credit Suisse. The design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist has been tasked with providing a high-spec refurbishment of the building on Temple Quay, with the view of creating one of Bristol’s greenest commercial buildings. Paramount will undertake the refurbishment alongside architect and design firm AWW and property consultants CBRE as project manager for clients Credit Suisse in a major boost for the South West economy. Together, the project team will target the highest construction industry standards for sustainability and wellness, working towards securing the coveted BREEAM Excellent, Wiredscore Platinum and 3-star Fitwel 3 certification. Kevin Mashford, the Paramount Sales Director who heads up the company’s Bristol team, said: “We are all delighted to have been handed responsibility for transforming 3 Rivergate and creating a truly inspiring workplace. “We have developed a strong reputation for using our expertise to create spaces that are truly special, and we will ensure 3 Rivergate has a striking transformation and is an outstanding place to work. “We look forward to working in close collaboration with CBRE and AWW on behalf of Credit Suisse to ensure 3 Rivergate is also one of Bristol’s greenest commercial buildings with sustainability and wellness at its heart.” The year-long refurbishment project, which is now under way, will see the seven-storey, fully serviced Grade A office complex undergo a comprehensive refurbishment which will pave the way for 75,000 sq ft of available, flexible workspace via agents Lambert Smith Hampton and CBRE. A range of new features will include a new striking façade, generous landscaping, amongst best-in-class end of journey facilities. Paramount will introduce the latest energy-efficient systems, new building management system, solar energy panels, upgraded fire alarm, new security system, CCTV, access control, access barriers and a cycle-store. Jack Sawbridge, Credit Suisse Asset Manager, said: “3 Rivergate is an exemplary project demonstrating our ability to adapt and recycle existing real estate for the modern occupier. “We are delivering a modern workspace with a commitment to both occupier well-being and environmental sensitivity. “Sustainable and renewable elements have been meticulously integrated, and the newly enhanced building will offer adaptable floor plates, best-in-class facilities and considerable new public and dedicated landscaping. “Our chosen contractor, Paramount, has demonstrated a deep understanding of our vision and we look forward to delivering this ambitious project together.” Paramount, whose turnover currently stands at £38.5 million, is well known across Wales and England where it has created high-quality space for a number of leading companies. These include football legend Gareth Bale’s Par 59 bars, multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hodge House in Cardiff, Development Bank of Wales HQ refurbishment, transformation of the landmark 360 Bristol office complex and office revamps in Bath for American software SmartBear and financial services consultancy Altus. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hotel fitout specialist, Polcom Furniture by Volumetric Building Companies, has delivered its 15th contract for Whitbread’s hub by Premier Inn hotel brand. This latest project for main contractor Gilbert Ash was to manufacture and install the guest room furniture for the new hub by Premier Inn hotel in Clerkenwell, London. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the 180-bed hotel is part of a £38m mixed use development on the site of a former carpark in central London. It is one of 15 hub by Premier Inn hotels now in operation across central London and Edinburgh – all fitted out by Polcom. The project managers for the scheme were Cumming Group. Polcom manufactured around 1,700 items of furniture for the new four-storey hotel and for three hub by Premier Inn room designs – standard, bigger, and accessible rooms. Paul Quinn, Associate Director of Cumming Group, said, “We have worked on a number of Whitbread hotel projects with Polcom. The quality of their furniture and fitout on the Clerkenwell project was exactly as expected. The furniture is manufactured to a consistently high standard and optimises the space really well.” Fitted furniture was provided for the bedrooms in a matt ecru finish and included a closet with mirror, coat panel, bed base with integrated storage, headboard with recesses, pull-out table, and partition between the bedroom and ensuite. The bigger rooms feature a king-sized bed, headboard, desk and closet. Polcom also provided a vanity unit for each of the ensuites in an ecru finish with a contrasting wood-effect trim. Polcom is now working with Gilbert Ash on two other hub by Premier Inn projects in London – Camden High Street and Old Marylebone Road. Its team has worked on Whitbread hotel projects for over a decade. Acquired by Volumetric Building Companies in 2022, Polcom Furniture has more than 20 years’ experience in the hotel sector and has delivered bespoke furniture and fitout contracts for a wide range of hospitality brands including Premier Inn, Holiday Inn Express, citizenM and Marriott International. Polcom offers high quality and flexible furniture solutions for bedrooms and ensuites which are manufactured in Europe and can meet any brand specification for hotel customers across the globe. This gives operators in the hospitality space the benefits of shorter lead times, greater certainty of supply, and stringent quality standards – from materials sourcing to production and installation. Polcom Furniture also has strong logistics and project management to meet contractors’ scheduling and programmes, particularly on constrained urban sites. For further information, visit www.vbc.co/polcomfurniture. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
QIC Trims’ bespoke new product manufacture and design expertise proved crucial to a ceiling installation that was integral to a multi-million-pound city hall development. The company supplied more than 11,500 lin/m of trim for nearly 350 raft ceilings that were installed at the former Vaux Brewery in Sunderland. The site, which had laid dormant since the brewery’s demolition in 1999, was redeveloped in order to house the new city hall. Sunderland City Council is expected to transfer around 1,200 employees to the seven-storey building in a move that will save the authority an estimated £22million in operational costs over the next 25 years.The council will be one of several tenants within the 17,755m² building, which includes a large amount of office space, a fitness room and an employment centre. For its repurposing, which was designed by Faulkner Browns Architects, the building’s interior required a contemporary aesthetic. This meant being creative with the design of elements of the building fabric. Hence, the specification of a Troldtekt ‘floating cloud’ circular ceiling system, which makes for a stylish, acoustic-friendly addition to large, open plan workspaces.To provide each ceiling with a smart, contemporary finish, QIC Trims was selected by the project’s main contractor, Bowmer and Kirkland, to design and manufacture a trim solution. Its ‘US Ceiling Raft’ range was originated for such purpose, with QIC Trim’s technical team able to assist in the ceiling’s design coordination in several communications held with the architect and sub-contractor prior to installation. After many discussions and prototypes the new US04 aluminium extrusion was chosen for its aesthetics and straight forward install method.The ceiling’s superb design aspect contributed to Sunderland City Hall’s regeneration earning a BCO award. The annual contest recognises projects that set ‘a benchmark for excellence in creativity and functionality.’ The City Hall programme, which won the award for the northern region, earned judges praise for its innovative creation of an uplifting, light-filled, engaged workspace. QIC Trims was proud to have supplied the innovation and solution to ensure a centrepiece feature of this stunning redevelopment has a superbly designed finishing touch. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Orega, the flexible workspace provider is expanding its high spec flexible workspace at The Capitol Building, 431 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11. Orega originally signed a Management Agreement with landlords M&G Real Estate for 10,000 sq feet but given its success in filling this space, it has now embarked on a second phase, taking a further 5,000 sq ft which has now been launched. The flexible workspace has been newly refurbished to provide a total of 276 workstations on the first and fourth floors of the building for companies between 1 and 100+ employees. The Capitol Building is home to high end office space located in a city centre location with an attractive Art Deco grand entrance and reception area. There are breathtaking citywide views. It is near to the shops, hotels, and restaurants of Central Aberdeen and only a 10-minute walk from Aberdeen Railway station and 20 minutes from Aberdeen Airport. Funded by M&G Real Estate, the former theatre hall was comprehensively refurbished and extended in 2016 by Knight Real Estate and was subsequently recognised as City Regeneration Project of the Year in 2018 by the Scottish Property Awards, celebrating the positive impact on the city. It also won the British Council of Offices best commercial workspace in Scotland award in 2017. The listed façade and 1920s entrance halls were retained and incorporated into the new building, which has been awarded a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating for its exceptional green credentials. These include an automatic building management system for energy efficiency control and the provision of internal bike racks and changing facilities to encourage green commuting. Orega’s new workspace is designed to be a modern, flexible base catering for Aberdeen’s oil, professional and financial businesses, offering: • Design-led space focusing on hospitality. • A wide choice of different working zones • A large meeting room suite • More space per person than the industry norm • On-site shower and changing facilities. • Unlimited barista-quality coffee • Secure bike parking • Carparking It is the third flexible workspace for Orega in Scotland, where the company also offers space in George Street and Vincent Street in Glasgow. The company now offers flex space from 23 locations across the UK and is the UK’s leading provider of flexible workspace under Management Agreements (as opposed to leases). Lynsey O’Keefe Chief Operating Officer at Orega, commented: “Orega already had a strong presence in Aberdeen; we opened Phase 1 of The Capitol Building 100% occupied and this has led to us taking additional space. We are attracting much interest from a wide range of businesses who are increasingly looking for a flexible way to occupy very high-quality space that is also value for money, in support of the return to the office to work. This is a trend which shows no sign of abating in Scotland, as in the rest of the UK. John Duxbury, Head of UK Portfolio Asset Management at M&G Real Estate, added: “Through our refurbishment of The Capitol Building we have created much-needed Grade A, sustainability-led office space in Aberdeen that has led to new leases with Orega and Ryden in recent months. Our work at The Capitol Building continues our strategy of developing assets of scale in prime locations where we are able to enhance the built environment by delivering buildings with best-in-class ESG credentials that attract leading occupiers, enabling us the potential to deliver compelling returns for our investors.” M&G Real Estate is part of M&G plc’s £76.6 billion private assets and alternatives division*. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A Yorkshire based commercial interiors specialist, with a strong market presence in the North of England, has been acquired in a management buyout by six members of its senior team. Ultimate (Commercial Interiors) Ltd specialises in fit-out, furniture, design and consultancy, with a particular focus on office spaces and hotels. The company is headquartered in Cross Hills near Skipton, where it has a vast 16,000 sq ft workplace experience showroom, known as ‘The Hive’. This unique and vibrant facility, which opened in 2020, is one of the largest resources of its kind in the UK. The MBO team comprises of long-standing co-owner Dan Platt who now takes up the role of CEO, along with Vici Plunkett as finance director, Steve Broadbent as pre-construction director, Steve Cowley as director, Bobby Murriero as contracts director and Paul Alexander as sales and brand director. The team have taken over the running of the company from Mark Hickey and Mark Naisbitt who founded Ultimate in 2002 and who are now stepping down. However, the pair will maintain a minority shareholding in the business. In addition to its Yorkshire headquarters and showroom, Ultimate has offices in Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle, and employs more than 40 people, as well as working with dozens of consultants, specialist contractors and a wide-spanning supply chain. The buyers were advised by Susan Clark and Steven Silver, from the Leeds office of Yorkshire law firm, LCF Law and KM Business Advisory provided accountancy and financial advice. The sellers were advised by Christian Hunt and Nick Thackray from Bevan Brittan and Victoria Court Private Clients. In addition, Claritas Tax provided specialist tax advice to both parties and Paul Dolyniuk, of SME Capital, provided the funding facility. In its latest financial year, Ultimate grew turnover by 15% to more than £23million and plans to grow its pre-construction and delivery teams further this year. In addition, the firm is currently looking to recruit a new estimator and contracts manager. Dan Platt, who joined Ultimate in 2007 as joint owner and director, said: “For the past 21 years Mark and Mark have worked hard to build a resilient and formidable business, which is highly respected in the market by clients, suppliers and competitors alike. During that time, Ultimate has enjoyed steady, progressive growth and has earned vast amounts of trust with clients, which means we enjoy a high volume of repeat business and recommendation and have lots of clients that have been with us since day one. “In recent years we’ve all worked extremely hard to take the business to the next level. Our state-of-the-art showroom is a must visit for any business looking to relocate or refurbish their premises. The Hive’s launch has also coincided with lots of businesses remodelling and investing in their premises following the pandemic. Their desire to create attractive and productive workspaces, where people want to work, is exactly why they come in.” Dan added: “This MBO comes on the back of another record year, we’re currently working on a wide range of exciting projects throughout the UK, ranging from single office units to 20,000 sq ft schemes. All this combines to make it a very exciting time for the Ultimate team, our clients, and our supply chain.” Susan Clark, partner at LCF Law, added: “Ultimate is an ambitious business and a leading player in the commercial interiors market, with a vast portfolio of innovative and impressive projects throughout the UK. “Crucially the previous owners had focussed on creating an experienced and accomplished management team who were ideally placed to take the business over when the time was right. It’s been a pleasure to guide Dan and his fellow directors through this MBO and we look forward to seeing them continuing to build on Ultimate’s name and superb reputation.” SME Capital regional director, Paul Dolyniuk, added: “We are delighted to have supported Dan and the very impressive senior management team at Ultimate with their MBO. This is a long-standing, high-quality business with a loyal customer base underpinning the quality of its service proposition. We’ve spent a good deal of time with the team and are thrilled to be backing the next stage of their growth journey.” Ultimate has a large and impressive customer portfolio that includes lots of well recognised brands. They have completed many projects for clients such as Quorn, Bettys & Taylors Group, BET365, Stoke Football Club, Spa Medica, Savills, PepsiCo, Skipton Building Society, National Trust, Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, CEG, the NHS and Arup. Ultimate has also delivered thousands of hotel bedrooms, alongside communal and front of house areas, for leading hotel groups such as Holiday Inn, Mercure and Marriot, as well as numerous independent establishments. This year Ultimate was awarded the ‘Platinum Partner’ certificate of excellence from global office furniture giant Steelcase. You can find out more about Ultimate and the team at www.ultimategroup.uk.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
International property and construction consultancy Gleeds has recently completed the transformation of its Manchester office. The project was undertaken by workplace consultancy and interior fit-out specialists, Blueprint interiors and will allow the business to remain in its city centre location. Situated at Abbey House on Mosely Street, Gleeds opted for renovation as opposed to relocation in order to retain its connectivity, giving its 80-strong staff more options to walk, cycle, or use public transport to get to work. The refurbishment forms part of a wider strategy to create a unified yet unique style for all Gleeds UK sites, delivering offices that reflect regional cultures and traditions. The new layout incorporates a relaxed, welcoming area for visitors, collaboration and break out spaces, relaxation zones, and a workplace café to promote healthy eating and wellbeing. Versatile desk, seating, and meeting room arrangements with access to the latest high specification video conferencing and digital technology enable collaboration on a global basis. Brian McArdle, director at Gleeds said, “Blueprint Interiors has helped us to create a showcase office in Manchester. We now have a sustainable, fit for purpose space that has boosted morale and increased levels of employee engagement, making embracing hybrid working easier for all. By embedding more technology, we’re also enabling teams to collaborate more effectively across the UK and on international projects. This renovation has set a new corporate benchmark that will attract professionals to join us, impress our clients and be enjoyed by our employees.” Andy Sawyer, project director from Blueprint Interiors added, “The design principles were driven by a desire to provide a more open plan hybrid work environment that reflects the way people prefer to work has significantly changed. The office has also been designed to embrace the Gleeds vision and values in all areas to create an office space that inspires people to be happy and motivated to deliver their best work.” Blueprint Interiors has been working with senior leaders at Gleeds UK to achieve a unified yet unique style nationwide, starting with offices in Bristol and Manchester. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors has been chosen to lead the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Sanctuary Buildings in London. The Department for Education (DfE) has appointed the contractor to deliver the phased CAT B fit out of 12,850m2 across floors of the property in Victoria. The project has been designed to create a more modern, sustainable and streamlined office environment, which reflects the Department’s adoption of hybrid working practices. Willmott Dixon Interiors will deliver collaborative and open plan workspaces, including hot desking facilities and staff breakout areas, as well as new meeting rooms with state-of-the-art conferencing technology. The design is characterised by its focus on diversity and inclusion, with features that directly cater for those with sensory, cognitive, physical or developmental needs. They include the availability of sensory spaces, improved lighting and acoustic properties and a muted colour palette. Existing plant facilities will be upgraded as part of DfE’s decarbonisation agenda, while the infrastructure will be put in place to support the future use of photovoltaic solar panelling. Works will be carried out in a live environment, with staff decanted to alternative floors during separate phases of the project. The project is expected to be completed by autumn 2024. Graham Shaw, managing director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “This important project will allow the DfE to facilitate hybrid working and consolidate its existing footprint within the Sanctuary Buildings. We’ll be refurbishing the building to modern standards and future proofing its plant facilities, to deliver a sustainable workplace environment that promotes wellbeing and inclusivity. It is the second significant project we have been appointed to deliver on behalf of the customer and we’ll be working in close collaboration to ensure everything is completed on time and with minimal disruption to occupants.” The contract was awarded to Willmott Dixon Interiors via the Southern Construction Framework. The project team includes Arcadis, which is delivering principal design, project management and cost consultancy services. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
When Designer Contracts was asked to develop two very different show home interiors for a new development within striking distance of Edinburgh airport, the team passed the challenge with flying colours. The Barratt Homes development at West Craigs in eastern Scotland involved creating two unique show house schemes marketed toward first and second time ‘move up’ buyers, for its four bedroomed show homes – The Crombie and The Campbell. The Crombie house type is aimed at a second move up family with two older children (a teenage child and a child at university). They love the outdoors, have a dog and the father is a keen golfer. The Campbell is aimed at a first move up family with much younger children – toddler twins and another young child. Said Abbie Lockett, design sales manager for Designer Contracts: “The brief was both challenging but very exciting and gave us an opportunity to incorporate some local touches and develop a sustainability story. We did some real out-of-the-box thinking to come up with two very different stories for house types with a similar footprint.” For The Crombie, a four-bed home with separate study, the chosen colour scheme was ochre, tan and creams with darker woods and gold finishes. The lounge has a neutral base with pops of rich colour in the soft furnishings. The design team also worked alongside an artist to create abstracts of Edinburgh which are showcased above the cream sofa. The second bedroom was themed towards a young girl who plays football for the local team and so features a wraparound football net headboard on the four-poster bed. The oldest child is studying engineering at Edinburgh university which inspired the team to incorporate a nod to structural form and the environment within the design which includes a wallpaper mural of the Forth Bridge, a popular local attraction. Said Abbie: “We worked with our suppliers to source sustainable, recyclable fabrics and used these for the cushions on the bed. Barratt Homes installed a small monitor screen to the desk wall which streams a video showing their Zed House. This is the first Zero Carbon Home built by a major housebuilder that goes substantially beyond the future home’s standard.”
New leadership team will spearhead company’s core ‘Build’ service Design, fit-out and refurbishment specialist Paramount has strengthened its position in the property sector by adding construction to its set of core services. In a move that “signals the start of an exciting new era”, commercial and residential construction activity will propel Paramount towards the £40-million turnover mark. To drive forward the new ‘Build’ offering, which heralds a new phase in Paramount’s exceptional growth, the company’s leadership team has been boosted by key appointments. Paramount’s board of directors has been bolstered with Paul Thomas in a new post as Construction Director and in conjunction with Commercial Director Dimitri Tsakiris will focus on ‘Build’. Paul Jones has moved into the newly-formed post of Projects Director, to support the ‘Build’ expansion, in addition to ongoing fit-out and refurbishment works carried out by Paramount. They now form part of a senior leadership team alongside Richard Jones, Helen Bartlett and Kevin Mashford. Richard Jones, Paramount Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our move into construction signals the start of an exciting new era for Paramount, as we pursue ambitious aspirations for our dynamic company. “After focusing on high-quality interiors comprising fit-out and refurbishment for more than 30 years, encouraged by our clients, Paramount is broadening horizons with a comprehensive construction service which represents natural progression for our company. “I’m proud of the enviable reputation Paramount has earned across the property market thanks to our brilliant leadership team and in-house expertise that will ensure we strengthen our position at the forefront of the construction sector, based on our commitment to quality and professionalism.” As part of the Cardiff-headquartered company’s new service, Paramount has underlined its ambitions by winning two major contracts, commencing construction work on a £18-million contract on the Tene Living project in Salford, Greater Manchester, and a £3-million social housing scheme in the South Wales town of Porthcawl. The Manchester project is in the middle of a total redevelopment, with Paramount converting former offices into 151 high-end luxury apartments, complete with communal roof terrace, BBQ area and plans for an outdoor cinema, expected to be completed this autumn. The Porthcawl project in mid-Glamorgan, which is expected to be complete in summer 2024, will create 20 EPC ‘A’ flats, with an emphasis placed on energy-efficiency with solar PV, EV charging points and will not contain gas. Paul Thomas, Paramount Construction Director, said: “Our leadership team has the ideal blend of experience and expertise to successfully expand our core offering and place the company on a higher growth trajectory. “That experience and expertise across the company will provide us with the versatility to undertake diverse projects, from complex refurbishments and regeneration schemes to new-build developments, which will see Paramount go from strength to strength.” Dimitri Tsakiris, Paramount Commercial Director (Construction), added: “We have hit the ground running in South Wales and Greater Manchester and all our build projects will be planned with precision, managed tightly and ultimately delivered in partnership with our clients. “We approach every project with the same openness and transparency that has been the cornerstone of Paramount’s success, aiming from day one to establish a collaborative relationship with clients and partners to deliver buildings that not only meet expectations but exceed them.” Paramount, whose turnover currently stands at £38.5 million, employs 61 people who still own a majority shareholding of the business – 51 per cent – following completion of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) scheme, in May 2021, a deal which marked a major milestone for Paramount after a period of sustained growth. The company is already well known across Wales and England where it has created high-quality inspirational space for a number of leading companies. These include former Wales and Real Madrid football star Gareth Bale’s Par 59 bars in Cardiff and Bristol, multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hodge House in Cardiff, refurbishment of the Development Bank of Wales HQ, transformation of the landmark 360 Bristol office complex and acclaimed office revamps in Bath for American software company SmartBear and financial services consultancy Altus.
