Civic, a team of system thinkers in the built environment, has appointed Rob Harris as Director of Building Services and Sustainability at its London studio. In this role, he will lead the expansion of Civic’s building services team across London and the South East. His focus will be on creating
Electrical Safety First is proud to champion the launch of ACE:Electrical (the Apprentice Channel of Excellence), a groundbreaking new platform offering free, high-quality teaching and learning resources for all UK electrical apprentices. This innovative channel, hosted on Learning Lounge, aims to empower the next generation of electricians with the skills
ABB has launched the ACS8080, its newest medium voltage air-cooled drive. The new drive represents an evolution, building on over 50 years of experience in delivering drives to industrial applications and bringing reliability, performance, and flexibility to the next level thanks to innovative motor control, versatile design, and digital capabilities.
EMCOR UK has launched its new comprehensive asset management service that draws on its engineering expertise – both its heritage and its people – to deliver exceptional asset management. Asset Dynamics is a standalone, highly adaptable service developed following a rigorous process that included customer feedback and market research. Where
Balfour Beatty has invested over £5 million in new overhead line strategic assets to support the substantial growth in its Power Transmission & Distribution business. The company has the UK’s largest overhead line equipment fleet and over the last 18 months, has acquired eight new Puller-Tensioner machines to support the
Polypipe Building Services secured an order for more than 4,000 prefabricated drainage stacks to help transform an historic London site which is being redeveloped by Telford Homes. Mechanical and electrical contractor I-MEX (M&E) Ltd selected Terrain FUZE Stax for the Alperton Bus Depot site, a mixed-use development in Brent comprising of three
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has launched a training programme to help building services firms work more closely with schools and inspire future generations of building services engineers. The BESA School Engagement and Engineering Discovery (SEED) Programme is fully funded by the Association and was developed by the schools
Bradford Council has awarded mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) service provider, G&H Group, the maintenance contract for its new state-of-the-art, energy efficient Darley Street Market building. The 12-month contract, awarded to G&H Group’s Maintenance division, will commence September 2024. A dedicated team including a contract manager and specialist skilled
Partnership modernises TSG’s telephony and IT infrastructure for 200-strong employee base TSG Building Services Plc, a multi-disciplined building services and construction company, has successfully accelerated its digital innovation by partnering with managed workplace services (MWS) provider Apogee Corporation. The collaboration has modernised TSG’s telephony and legacy IT infrastructure to better
Specialist utilities services provider, Ipsum, has announced its acquisition of Stoke-on-Trent based electrical installation and maintenance contractor, Site Energy Limited, together with its associated training business SES Training Solutions. It marks the seventh acquisition in its Power division and ninth overall. The addition will complement Ipsum’s existing capabilities of electrical and
Civic, a team of system thinkers in the built environment, has appointed Rob Harris as Director of Building Services and Sustainability at its London studio. In this role, he will lead the expansion of Civic’s building services team across London and the South East. His focus will be on creating a fully integrated engineering service that bridges disciplines to deliver high performing, cohesive, next-generation sustainable projects tailored to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market. With over twenty five years of technical, performance and leadership experience in the built environment, Rob brings an impressive track record to Civic. He has held senior roles at respected firm Elementa Consulting, now known as Introba, where his work earned industry recognition for innovation in sustainable engineering and design. His achievements include leading the detailed production design of 2 Trafalgar Way in London, which will become Europe’s tallest PassivHaus-certified tower, optimising energy efficiency and buildability while reducing complexity for the client in this next generation of tall tower ambient loop projects. At the W Hotel in Edinburgh, situated in Edinburgh St James Quarter, he delivered high-profile, mixed-use developments, and his work alongside Civic on net zero and whole-life carbon at the Shugborough Estate for the National Trust highlights his ability to align sustainability with heritage conservation, a feature that has been a theme throughout his career. As a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), Rob is known for driving technical excellence and real world performance, while fostering a collaborative, people-focused work environment, which aligns with Civic’s values and conscience which prioritises people, planet and purpose. Speaking about his appointment, Rob said: “What excites me most about this opportunity is the chance to build an integrated engineering and consultancy team that challenges conventional approaches to building services and aligns with today’s new ways of working, data, research, building and thinking. Civic’s ethos of system thinking aligns perfectly with my belief in breaking down silos and designing projects that truly deliver value—whether that’s technical, operational, environmental, social or economic. I’m looking forward to helping Civic make an even greater impact across London and beyond.” Welcoming Rob to the team, Stephen O’Malley, CEO at Civic, commented: “Rob understands the importance of integrating engineering and sustainability disciplines to create seamless, efficient projects that benefit our communities and clients. His leadership will further Civic’s ability to take on larger and more complex regeneration projects, particularly in London, where his expertise will help deliver tangible social and environmental benefits. This appointment demonstrates Civic’s commitment to being system thinkers and having an even greater impact while remaining true to our values and conscience.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Electrical Safety First is proud to champion the launch of ACE:Electrical (the Apprentice Channel of Excellence), a groundbreaking new platform offering free, high-quality teaching and learning resources for all UK electrical apprentices. This innovative channel, hosted on Learning Lounge, aims to empower the next generation of electricians with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their careers. Accessible excellence for apprentices From January 10, UK electrical apprentices enrolled with approved training providers will have access to an ever-expanding library of modular, bite-sized content at no cost. Designed to complement hands-on learning, ACE:Electrical delivers expert-led modules covering key industry topics, from electrical protection systems to health and safety legislation. New content will be added weekly, ensuring apprentices always have fresh resources to enhance their understanding and technical skills. Industry icons and rising stars ACE:Electrical is brought to life by a team of exceptional presenters, with Dave Austin, a revered figure in the electrical industry being joined by two rising stars: Veronica Jennings, winner of the Electrical Apprentice of the Year in 2022, and James Whelehan, a qualified electrician and QS. Together, they offer an engaging mix of experience and relatability, making the content both inspiring and accessible. Tutor support and licensing options ACE:Electrical isn’t just for apprentices. Electrical tutors at approved training centres can access a suite of tools to elevate their teaching. With a centre licence, tutors can monitor student progress, direct learners to specific modules, and seamlessly integrate ACE content into classroom lessons. This dual approach ensures that both apprentices and educators benefit from the platform’s extensive resources. Building outstanding electricians The mission of ACE:Electrical is clear: to help create a new generation of outstanding electricians. By offering free, expert-led resources to apprentices and invaluable teaching tools to tutors, the platform bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. What’s coming throughout January and FebruaryThe initial content roll-out for ACE:Electrical includes: Enrol today Apprentices and tutors can enrol now by visiting ace.learninglounge.com. Don’t miss this opportunity to access a transformative learning resource that is shaping the next generation of electrical professionals. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ABB has launched the ACS8080, its newest medium voltage air-cooled drive. The new drive represents an evolution, building on over 50 years of experience in delivering drives to industrial applications and bringing reliability, performance, and flexibility to the next level thanks to innovative motor control, versatile design, and digital capabilities. The converter can achieve up to 98% efficiency, targeting optimal performance for the entire drive system. The new motor control technology MP3C pushes efficiency and motor friendliness to the limit, while preserving the dynamic performance and robustness of the predecessor DTC. It also reduces harmonic distortions by around 50% compared to classic control and modulation schemes, thereby extending equipment lifetime and achieving energy savings. Designed for versatility and ease of integration, the new ACS8080 easily adapts to a wide range of applications and industries. The modular and flexible design includes the possibility of utilizing an external transformer and selecting a sine filter option, making it an optimal match not only for new applications, but also for retrofitting existing drive systems or direct online (DOL) machines. A high degree of flexibility is also possible due to the advanced digital features: the integration of the open software platform, Crealizer™, into the ABB drive operating system allows for advanced programming capabilities that enable the rapid development and deployment of innovative application-specific functionalities, reducing reliance on external controllers. “At ABB, we invest in R&D to deliver new solutions that enhance productivity while reducing emissions and operating costs. With over 50 years of experience in mission-critical applications, we recognize the importance of reliability and flexibility. This is why we continue to evolve—integrating clean, adaptable designs, stepping up our testing capabilities, and embedding the latest digital technologies. This product reflects our commitment to advancing reliability, performance, and flexibility to help the industries outrun- leaner and cleaner,” says Chris Poynter, President of Systems Drives Division, ABB Motion. The leaner design of the ACS8080 translates into a lower number of components than its predecessors, increasing reliability but also simplifying maintenance and service processes. For this new drive, being reliable also means being able to withstand extreme conditions, and this has been tested through rigorous accelerated lifetime tests carried out in the ABB Drives testing facility in Estonia, simulating 20 years of operations. Enhanced sensing capabilities and a next generation control hardware enable the collection of up to 10 times more diagnostic data for better and faster monitoring solutions. The new ABB Connectivity Edge Gateway allows connectivity whether on premises or to the cloud, making it an optimal fit for many digital needs. The built-in sensing solutions enable Asset Health and Performance Management (AHPM) capabilities, reliability monitoring, and data supported inspection for faster troubleshooting and failure detection. Fully embedded in the new drive are advanced safety and protection systems designed to prevent foreseeable hazardous situations and effectively manage unexpected ones. The new ACS8080 is developed to protect against unauthenticated access, malicious firmware, data breaches, and insecure connectivity allowing customers to benefit from all modern digital capabilities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
EMCOR UK has launched its new comprehensive asset management service that draws on its engineering expertise – both its heritage and its people – to deliver exceptional asset management. Asset Dynamics is a standalone, highly adaptable service developed following a rigorous process that included customer feedback and market research. Where other asset management systems are often integrated as part of another service, Asset Dynamics will be delivered by a dedicated team of industry experts. It will combine advanced asset data management and rigorous safety, compliance and quality assurance standards so that EMCOR UK’s expert asset management team can tailor customer strategies, maintenance and management plans to balance cost, efficiency, criticality, risk, and environmental impact. Asset Dynamics offers a modular approach to support customers wherever they are in their asset management journey. The modules are: The service has been developed to respond to market trends, including improving operational efficiency, providing greater budget and cost certainty, and demand for more sustainable practices, as well as to address customer needs such as meeting compliance standards and operating smart buildings. Asset Dynamics is part of EMCOR UK’s five key areas of customer-centric services; the others are Carbon Transformation, Insight Intelligence, Facilities Management, and Workplace Evolution. Jessica Rauf-Thomas, head of operational asset management at EMCOR UK, said: “This launch is the culmination of research and conversations with customers to understand exactly what they need from an asset management system in facilities management. Asset Dynamics will be underpinned by our engineering excellence and innovative nature, ensuring that our customers have access to the one of the industry’s most comprehensive asset management system. It will be particularly beneficial for our customers in business-critical sectors such as defence, government, utilities and life sciences, and the early feedback we’ve had has been fantastic.” For more information on EMCOR UK’s Asset Dynamics service, visit www.emcoruk.com/our-services/asset-dynamics. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty has invested over £5 million in new overhead line strategic assets to support the substantial growth in its Power Transmission & Distribution business. The company has the UK’s largest overhead line equipment fleet and over the last 18 months, has acquired eight new Puller-Tensioner machines to support the delivery of major projects including the Bramford to Twinstead Electricity Network Reinforcement Scheme and the Isle of Skye Reinforcement Project. The industry-leading machines will support the installation and replacement of overhead lines and are fitted with the latest technology such as radio remote controls and onboard telematics. Four quad and four twin Puller-Tensioners have already been delivered, with another ten machines scheduled for delivery over the next 12 to 24 months. Balfour Beatty’s UK Power Transmission and Distribution Operational Manager, Neil Johnson, said: “Our ongoing investment in power transmission assets further demonstrates our commitment to supporting both the UK electricity network and our clients in achieving greater efficiency and delivering exceptional quality. “We stand ready to meet the demands of the market and play our part in helping the UK reach its ambitious goal of achieving net zero by 2050.” Balfour Beatty has also invested in 20 new Massey Ferguson winch tractors, used for various lifting and carrying activities, which are set for delivery at the start of 2025. With the largest fleet of bespoke overhead line equipment in the UK and a commitment to advancing technology and capacity, this strategic investment affirms Balfour Beatty’s position as the industry leader in Power Transmission & Distribution. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Polypipe Building Services secured an order for more than 4,000 prefabricated drainage stacks to help transform an historic London site which is being redeveloped by Telford Homes. Mechanical and electrical contractor I-MEX (M&E) Ltd selected Terrain FUZE Stax for the Alperton Bus Depot site, a mixed-use development in Brent comprising of three high-rise blocks of commercial, residential, and affordable housing providing 461 homes. The development is due to be completed by June 2025. Terrain FUZE Stax significantly reduces installation times in large-scale drainage stack projects. This is because as a prefabricated solution covering the most common configurations of kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms, it removes the time spent on repetitive cutting and welding jobs or assembling loose components. Being available to order through distributors meant I-MEX (M&E) Ltd were able to order product and have it delivered within a month of them starting work on site. Robert Bruce, Polypipe Building Services Technical Sales Manager for London, said: “I-MEX (M&E) Ltd were looking for a versatile drainage stack, and liked the fact that Terrain FUZE Stax offers two four-way bosses on the same stack and can be used in multiple situations. “The fast turnaround needed to keep up with the build program made Terrain FUZE Stax an ideal choice because we keep these in stock with our distributors so there’s a short lead time. “We also worked out a complete delivery schedule with them which means their installation team can call down so many floors for delivery to site at a time through their distributor as they need them. “The fact Stax come in two parts makes them easy to install, especially where fire collars are already fitted into the slab. Previously I-MEX (M&E) Ltd had been cutting stacks in two to fit them then fabricate them back together. “Now they are installing Stax so quickly at a level per day that we’ve had to speed up their delivery schedule. Our Advantage team has also helped adapt the Terrain FUZE Stax being used in the bathrooms because I-MEX (M&E) Ltd needed a ring seal fitting to one of the outlets.” To give the installation team complete peace of mind Polypipe Building Services were able to conduct a site visit to check the standard of the drainage product installation and produce a report for I-MEX (M&E) Ltd to present to Telford Homes. This is increasingly being requested by responsible contractors from construction product manufacturers following the implementation of the Building Safety Act. Dan Smailes, Commercial Director Prefabrication at I-MEX (M&E) Ltd, said: “Prefabrication is at the forefront of what I-MEX (M&E) Ltd have been doing over the last seven years, and the introduction of Polypipe FUZE Stax came at the perfect time for us to be able to utilise it on this project. “We have previously worked alongside Polypipe Building Services to complete traditional prefabrication pieces on other projects using their standard drainage stacks and had adjusted them to make installation easier, but moving forward we will continue to use the two-part FUZE Stax on all our sites.” For more information about the commercial drainage products and prefabrication service at Polypipe Building Services go to www.polypipe.com/this-is-our-terrain Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has launched a training programme to help building services firms work more closely with schools and inspire future generations of building services engineers. The BESA School Engagement and Engineering Discovery (SEED) Programme is fully funded by the Association and was developed by the schools engagement specialists Built Environment Skills in Schools (BESS) which has worked with more than 4,000 schools across the UK. The 12-week programme is designed to give engineers and business owners the skills and knowledge they need to engage effectively with their local schools and promote career opportunities in the building services industry. The training will be delivered in three tranches with eight places available on the September intake with another eight in January 2025 and a third cohort setting out on their engagement journey in April. Full details can be found here. BESA members regularly cite long-term skills shortages as the biggest challenge to their businesses and this new fully funded scheme is part of the Association’s response. Members will now have the chance to work with experienced educators to gain insights into engaging the interest of school children and inspiring them to want to work in a sector that can make a huge difference to major social issues like climate change, air quality, and health & wellbeing. ConfidenceAs well as helping to shape a future generation of engineers and improve the flow of skilled workers into the sector, this exercise can also have major benefits for existing staff who gain valuable communication and presentation skills – not to mention improved confidence. “This is a groundbreaking exercise for our industry and an opportunity not to be missed,” said BESA’s head of skills & policy Stuart Rattray. “Early adopters can demonstrate their commitment to education and community involvement which will boost their reputation. “It also gives them the opportunity to spot and nurture young talent early, creating a direct pipeline of future apprentices and employees who are already familiar with the company and the work opportunities available in our sector.” BESA also pointed out that working with schools aligns with corporate social responsibility goals, demonstrating a company’s commitment to giving back to the community and supporting local education. “By helping to educate and inspire future engineers today, employers are investing in the long-term success and sustainability of their companies and the broader building engineering services industry,” said Rattray. “They will be sowing the SEEDS for the future of skills in our industry.” Topics covered in the training include understanding the National Curriculum, OFSTED requirements, safeguarding issues, and best practices for engaging with schools safely and effectively. The programme also shows employers how to build partnerships with local educators. Adam Taylor, chair of BESA’s Indoor Air Quality group, has already completed several engagement projects with schools focused on the topic of air quality. He said the adults working with the children also gained valuable, and sometimes surprising, insights. “The children were clearly engaged and had a lot of fun building the air filter boxes we used as a practical exercise,” said Taylor who is CEO of ARM Environments. “The exercise ended up being one third educational (about air quality), one third just having fun building the boxes, and the other third was all about demonstrating you can do this kind of thing for a living and make a difference to people’s lives. “As an example of how to engage school children in activities with a building services connection, it shows the importance of giving them something visual and interesting to work with,” said Taylor. Sign up for the free BESA School Engagement and Engineering Discovery (SEED) Programme and become part of this major new initiative to inspire future generations of building services engineers and secure your skills pipeline. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bradford Council has awarded mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) service provider, G&H Group, the maintenance contract for its new state-of-the-art, energy efficient Darley Street Market building. The 12-month contract, awarded to G&H Group’s Maintenance division, will commence September 2024. A dedicated team including a contract manager and specialist skilled engineers will deliver a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programme, to ensure the optimum performance and compliance of the building. As part of G&H Group’s commitment to training the next generation, apprentices will also have the opportunity to attend site visits with the engineers. G&H Group’s Maintenance team’s responsibilities include maintaining the heat pump and boiler systems, ventilation, EV chargers, air conditioning, heat recovery unit, solar PV, rainwater harvesting, and fire safety systems. Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This is another piece of the jigsaw in place as we move toward Darley Street Market opening in Spring next year. We’re pleased G&H Group shares our enthusiasm for the building and its future and warmly welcome them to the Darley Street Market team.” David Ridsdale, G&H Group’s Maintenance Director said: “G&H Group has been involved with Darley Street Market since main contractor Kier appointed our Building Services division to deliver an extensive MEP package. To be appointed to deliver the maintenance contract too, and service all aspects of the building installed by Building Services, reinforces our position as a complete MEP service provider. “Darley Street Market is a magnificent, low carbon building and we are looking forward to working with Bradford Council in ensuring it performs optimally, all year round, for the comfort of traders and visitors alike.” Established in 1998, G&H Group is an innovative MEP provider. Its 180-strong experienced team design, manage, deliver and maintain every aspect of MEP schemes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Partnership modernises TSG’s telephony and IT infrastructure for 200-strong employee base TSG Building Services Plc, a multi-disciplined building services and construction company, has successfully accelerated its digital innovation by partnering with managed workplace services (MWS) provider Apogee Corporation. The collaboration has modernised TSG’s telephony and legacy IT infrastructure to better support its more than 200 staff as well as customers. The modernisation follows a period of rapid growth for TSG and the opening of two new offices in Potters Bar and Cambridge, which highlighted the need for digital innovation to overcome inefficiencies owing to its outdated PTSN-based telephony system and complex IT infrastructure. Apogee has overhauled the company’s telephony and IT infrastructure, replacing TSG’s on-premises setup with a cloud-based telephony system that has improved remote working capabilities and streamlined call handling. The new system includes softphone and mobile app functionality, disaster recovery options, and features for remote work, compliance, and training. As a data processor for local authorities, the family-run business also needed to improve document security and reduce printing costs. Apogee’s managed print services have cut running costs by 12% and enhanced document security, ensuring GDPR compliance. “Apogee’s commitment to IT service management has made a significant difference. There has to be that sufficient level of customer service to ensure we get the best from our technology implementations. The communication promises made prior to the signing of the contract have been adhered to, and that really outweighs any financial gain we’ve made from the project,” says Marc Terenzio, Head of IT, TSG. TSG has also become the latest organisation to join Apogee’s Affinity+ Partner Programme, thereby boosting its ESG credentials by upcycling old devices for donation to schools and non-profits. This marks the first phase on an ongoing collaboration, with TSG and Apogee currently exploring further innovations to enhance TSG’s digital capabilities and operational efficiency, including hybrid cloud network infrastructure, IT service management, and cloud cybersecurity. “TSG’s business is going from strength to strength, and we’re there every step of the way to ensure they can have confidence that their IT infrastructure meets the evolving needs of both their employees and customers. This is just the start of our journey together,” added Jason Barnard, Sales Specialist Telecoms and Cloud Solutions, Apogee. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Specialist utilities services provider, Ipsum, has announced its acquisition of Stoke-on-Trent based electrical installation and maintenance contractor, Site Energy Limited, together with its associated training business SES Training Solutions. It marks the seventh acquisition in its Power division and ninth overall. The addition will complement Ipsum’s existing capabilities of electrical and mechanical design, installation and maintenance of low and high voltage installations across the UK. The acquisition of the training facility also shows Ipsum’s commitment to developing its existing and new employees, while continuing to provide high quality training to the wider industry. Richard Thomas, CEO at Ipsum, said: “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of Site Energy Limited and SES Training Solutions. Not only does it broaden our capabilities and geographical reach in the Power industry, but it also allows us to support the development of current and future talent. We warmly welcome our new colleagues to Ipsum, and we look forward to working with Simon and Carl who are remaining with the business.” Simon Blundred, MD at Site Energy Limited, said: “We’re looking forward to this new and exciting period. We have been working closely with Ipsum over the last few months to ensure a seamless transition so that we can continue to deliver for our customers. This acquisition gives us the opportunity to further enhance our offering and tap into Ipsum’s delivery at scale.” Carl Thompson, MD at SES Training Solutions, continued: “The acquisition will allow us to further tap into the Power sector and work with some key players in the industry to provide essential training to the current and new workforce. Times are challenging and Power as an industry is facing the mammoth task of attracting new talent, however the acquisition presents a great opportunity to engage with people across the UK and show them how exciting it is to be in this sector.” Ipsum is a leading provider of specialist utility and infrastructure services. It works in partnership with customers across regulated and non-regulated environments to optimise asset performance, supporting the security, resiliency of critical networks. Read more here. The transaction was advised upon by Luke Rae, Corporate Deal Executive at KBS Corporate, the UK’s No.1-ranked mid-market company sales adviser (source: LSEG). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
