LONDONERS are turning their backs on the bright lights of the city in favour of the dark skies of Northumberland. Leading North East holiday lettings agency, Cottages in Northumberland – which lets out more than 180 coastal, countryside and city properties in the region – has recorded a rise in
You’ll be forgiven for thinking that giving your bathroom a makeover requires a complete remodel with a new bathroom suite, a change of tiles and a lot of expense. It’s the reason why so many household bathrooms gradually fall into a sorry state. If your bathroom is looking like it
Catering trade association ceda have offered their support to foodservice sector companies affected by the liquidation of construction giant Carillion, announced on Monday. The news sent shockwaves through the construction industry, its supply chain and the nation. Build UK, the leading representative organisation for the UK construction industry, has thrown
TEOCO, the leading provider of analytics, assurance, and engineering solutions, has announced the launch of a new indoor wireless planning tool, ASSET Indoor, created in partnership with UK based technology company Ranplan Wireless. The product is an all in one solution for coordinated HetNet planning, optimisation, and simulation, which allows
The largest trade association in Scotland, SELECT, demands lower threshold on Project Bank Accounts in the wake of the Carillion collapse. The disaster that rocked the construction industry has led to renewed calls for increased regulation regarding payment security from SELECT. The Scottish association is not the only one voicing
NATIONAL mechanical and electrical engineering (M&E) consultancy, Building Services Design (BSD), has welcomed three new engineers at its Kettering and Birmingham offices, reinforcing its representation of women across the business. With almost 15 years’ experience between them, Charu Gupta, Christina Iona and Dominika Ruszkowska have added a wealth of experience
SELECT, the campaigning trade body for Scotland’s electrical sector, is going live on YouTube to help FICA apprentices and the electricians of the future. On behalf of SJIB, they have created a series of detailed instructional videos that will benefit young people during the apprenticeship training. The videos, which can
Neil Foundations, the specialist piling contractor, has chosen Hatz GB, the UK division of the German diesel engine manufacturer, as its supplier for a new project development. The contractor’s workshop manager, Barry Bond has built and designed a prototype mini piling rig, which has been given the model number B
Managing contractors on a construction site can be a difficult process, especially where workplace health and safety is concerned. While they are still not technically your employees, you will still have a responsibility for these people, so you will need to brush up on the rules and regulations regarding contractors.
Trackunit, a leader in the design, development and deployment of fleet management systems, has introduced an advanced version of its Trackunit On smartphone app, enabling equipment rental companies and fleet owners to stay right on top of machine and operator health. The new Trackunit app provides a smart solution to log
LONDONERS are turning their backs on the bright lights of the city in favour of the dark skies of Northumberland. Leading North East holiday lettings agency, Cottages in Northumberland – which lets out more than 180 coastal, countryside and city properties in the region – has recorded a rise in the number of bookings from London-based leisure and corporate guests. And some are so impressed with the region that they are snapping up properties of their own with a view to renting them out. Figures revealed by Cottages in Northumberland show a 19% per cent increase in London bookings from last year, giving the capital an 11.5 per cent share of the agency’s current client base. These figures are borne out by Northumberland Tourism’s findings which indicate that during 2016, around 40% of people visiting the region came from the midlands and south of England areas. Cottages in Northumberland’s Director of Operations, Angela Mazingham, believes the increase can be attributed to a number of factors, but particularly our county’s wide open spaces, tranquil, natural beauty and the sense of freedom you can feel from just being here. “In many ways Northumberland is the perfect antidote to life in the capital and the feedback we’re receiving from visitors bears that out,” she said. “Obviously the clean air, the beaches and the combination of good countryside and interesting heritage sites, play a huge part in the county’s appeal to city dwellers. “But what many are also commenting on is the quality of the restaurants and local produce here. When they come on holiday they want to enjoy the same lifestyle standards as they do at home – and Northumberland provides them. “We have also been approached by several London visitors who are now keen to invest in properties in the North East with a view to letting them out to other holidaymakers Jude Leitch, Director of Northumberland Tourism, said: “We are seeing an increase in the number of visitors from the south and even more encouragingly, all year round. The dark skies of the International Dark Skies Park and throughout the whole of Northumberland, means that people visiting from city areas can experience the joys of the night skies that our lucky residents enjoy every night.” Further details about Cottages in Northumberland’s properties can be found at www.cottagesinnorthumberland.co.uk or by calling 0191 231 3020. Read more at http://neconnected.co.uk/londoners-head-north/
You’ll be forgiven for thinking that giving your bathroom a makeover requires a complete remodel with a new bathroom suite, a change of tiles and a lot of expense. It’s the reason why so many household bathrooms gradually fall into a sorry state. If your bathroom is looking like it could do with freshening up, but you can’t afford the luxury of a complete remodel with an expensive bathroom designer on board, read on for some brilliant tips. With just a few simple changes, you could breathe new life into your bathroom for years to come. Here are 11 little extras that will give your bathroom a new look: The deep clean The bathroom, along with the kitchen, is probably one of the few rooms in the home that gets more than its fair share of cleaning. As a result of regular cleaning, a deep clean in the bathroom often gets overlooked. It’s easy for limescale to build slowly around the base of taps, for grouting to become blighted by unsightly mould, and for blinds to become tainted with grubby marks. Begin your bathroom refresh with a deep clean. It’s a great way to make some small but effective changes. Here are a few tips to get you started: Use a limescale remover or try a natural alternative if you prefer to get your basin, bath, tiles and taps shining like new. Use a fabric cleaner to give your blinds a new lease of life. Soak your showerhead in white vinegar overnight. Wash your shower curtain in the washing machine. Clean grout with bleach and a grout brush (an old toothbrush will do, but dispose of afterwards!), or if you want to avoid using bleach try a natural alternative. Wipe down paintwork, tiles and woodwork with anti-bacterial cleaner. Thoroughly clean windows. Wash floor with gusto. Vigorously clean the toilet; use a cup of baking soda to remove stains. A lick of paint Most bathrooms aren’t particularly large in size so can easily be redecorated in a short space of time. Be sure to prep wood carefully. With a little bit of effort, a coat of paint can lift your bathroom from tired to fresh in little more than a day or two. A treat for the windows If cleaning hasn’t breathed new life into your bathroom blind, consider a replacement. You can change up the colour scheme for a modern funky splash, or stay neutral if you’re going for a more elegant theme. New fluffy towels and a sumptuous bath mat This is such an easy trick. Tired, threadbare, washed-out towels make any bathroom look sad. Whether you go for luxury towels exuding understated elegance, or you choose bright towels to match your colour scheme, new bath linens are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to change the bathroom’s landscape. Indulgent spa-style bath and body products It’s time to splash out and upgrade your bathroom products. Invest in a luxury handwash and handcream set, a refined French soap and an expensive scented candle. Whatever luxury brand is your favourite, go for it. A modern sleek shower curtain If your bathroom has an over-the-bath shower or a separate shower cubicle with a shower curtain, a new curtain is a great way to shake up the the style of your bathroom. Whether you want to make an artistic statement, or just bring simple, clean style to your bathroom, replacing your old shower curtain will transform your bathroom space in an instant. Re-grout the bathroom tiles It’s a job most of us shy away from, but regrouting your bathroom tiles really can lift your bathroom from ‘uncared for’ to ‘clean and fresh.’ New taps You will be surprised at how much difference new bath taps can make to the look and feel of your bath and basin, and to the overall ambience of the bathroom. Modernising taps or adding a vintage twist can really lift your bathroom and change the style of the room. A new piece of art It goes without saying that a new piece of art can add interest to your bathroom. Pick something that makes you smile and you’ll love your new-look bathroom all the more. Upgrade your towel rail and toilet roll holder Fixed accessories are something we rarely get around to changing. If your towel rail and toilet roll holder look out of date, upgrade them to bring a more modern feel to your bathroom. Add or update your bathroom storage When we lose sight of the bathroom aesthetic, and our eye for detail slips, we let half used bathroom products pile up on every vacant surface. Use up or get rid of old products and give your bathroom storage a revamp. Add a bathroom cabinet or a storage tower, and replace tired accessories. Your uncluttered bathroom will look all the better for it.
Catering trade association ceda have offered their support to foodservice sector companies affected by the liquidation of construction giant Carillion, announced on Monday. The news sent shockwaves through the construction industry, its supply chain and the nation. Build UK, the leading representative organisation for the UK construction industry, has thrown its weight behind the Carillion supply chain and is representing their needs in on-going talks directly with Government, attending a meeting with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Monday. As a founding member of Build UK, and the only Association member specific to the foodservice industry, ceda are able to feed into these discussions and represent those companies in the foodservice sector affected by Carillion’s collapse. In pledging his organisation’s assistance, ceda Director General Adam Mason said, “As the fallout from the Carillion collapse dominates the political agenda, our unique position within the Build UK membership, places us at the forefront for any foodservice business now facing uncertain times. We are a direct route to help and support and this week to date we have been in regular communication with Members, but we call on any business in the sector, ceda Members or not, who are, or feel they may be, affected by the Carillion crisis, to get in touch. “The immediate concerns and actions are with those businesses in our sector directly affected by the Carillion liquidation, but beyond that we will continue to work with Build UK to highlight that the construction business model needs to change as current conditions, payment terms and operating margins are not sustainable.”
TEOCO, the leading provider of analytics, assurance, and engineering solutions, has announced the launch of a new indoor wireless planning tool, ASSET Indoor, created in partnership with UK based technology company Ranplan Wireless. The product is an all in one solution for coordinated HetNet planning, optimisation, and simulation, which allows communication service providers (CSPs) to design better mobile connectivity in and around buildings. “We are very excited to partner with Ranplan, leveraging their innovative indoor wireless expertise that offers significant benefits to the market while solving a number of historical issues,” said Aloke Paskar, Executive Vice President. “As technology has developed, in-building connectivity has become a crucial part of day-to-day life, whether that is at home, in an office or even at a stadium. Users want better connectivity, good quality service and high data rates – and ASSET Indoor will allow our customers to plan for just that.” ASSET Indoor comes with a few unique capabilities, including the Smart CAD (Computer Aided Design) extract tool that helps reduce design planning and optimisation time by up to 50% by automatically recognising and extracting features in a CAD drawing to create a 3D building environment in minutes; a true HetNet design tool that can model simultaneously the indoor and outdoor environments; accurate coverage predictions given by 3D multi-path ray tracing algorithms, which result in precise high performing designs and ensure systems are future proofed; and capacity planning and simulation to UE level that considers user density, distribution, and application or service types when planning network capacity requirements. “ASSET Indoor solves a number of in-building planning pain points including the length of the planning process, inability to analyse both interior and exterior network coverage, and accurately predicting network coverage and simulating capacity,” said Alastair Williamson, CEO of Ranplan. “As we continue to commercialize our suite of tools and having won a significant number of customers globally, our partnership with TEOCO provides an excellent platform where we can expand our footprint globally. This is a significant step for the market.” The ASSET Indoor offering includes ASSET Indoor for detailed planning and design optimization, ASSET Indoor tablet for site surveys and simple designs and ASSET Indoor Manager for in-building system workflow and project management.
The largest trade association in Scotland, SELECT, demands lower threshold on Project Bank Accounts in the wake of the Carillion collapse. The disaster that rocked the construction industry has led to renewed calls for increased regulation regarding payment security from SELECT. The Scottish association is not the only one voicing its opinion. Others, such as the Specialist Engineering Contractors (SEC) Group, are also calling for the dropping of the threshold at which Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) become mandatory and for PBAs to be universally required. “The crisis which has surrounded the construction industry since the collapse of Carillion illustrates perfectly why payment protection is required,” mentioned Newell McGuiness, Managing Director of SELECT. “The Scottish Government had the foresight to introduce Project Bank Accounts 2 years ago and now is the time for them to reinforce that foresight with a proactive, forward-looking legislative agenda and to provide a safety net for the SMEs which are building Scotland’s future infrastructure,” he added. All Scottish Government bodies are required to include a PBA for all building projects that are over £4.1 million. A PBA is a retained account earmarked for the payment of contractors and ring fenced from spending. However, what SELECT and SEC would like to see is a lowering in the threshold of applicability to projects valued at £2 million. Newell explained that the advantages of having a PBA in place are that it “would provide peace of mind, not just for our members, but for all of Scotland’s SMEs, who work in the construction industry in Scotland. This legislation could arrest the ‘domino effect’ that can devastate an industry in the event of another collapse like Carillion”. SELECT is the largest trade association in Scotland, with 1,250 member companies that account for around 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland. Its collective turnover is around £1 billion and it provides employment for 15,000 people.
NATIONAL mechanical and electrical engineering (M&E) consultancy, Building Services Design (BSD), has welcomed three new engineers at its Kettering and Birmingham offices, reinforcing its representation of women across the business. With almost 15 years’ experience between them, Charu Gupta, Christina Iona and Dominika Ruszkowska have added a wealth of experience to the expanding M&E firm. Charu, who is the Birmingham office’s newest energy and sustainability engineer, is a qualified level five building simulation expert. She said: “I specialise in carbon reductions and assisting in supporting required zero carbon targets and I really hope to make my mark at BSD, making a difference at the business and supporting our clients. “I’m looking forward to working closely with the BSD team to deliver a range of exciting schemes across the West Midlands and beyond.” BSD has eight offices across the UK, turning over more than £6 million and, at its Kettering headquarters, Christina has joined as an energy and sustainability engineer She said: “Engineering and construction is a fascinating industry and I’m very excited to have joined BSD as I have a real passion for sustainable design. Christina hopes to dispel the misconception that engineering is ‘just for boys’ and believes that more women should be encouraged to take up STEM subjects. “I started pursuing engineering in Cyprus and, as a woman, I wasn’t encouraged at all – it was a very difficult start. However, being in a male-dominated industry has actually helped improve my confidence,” Christina added. “I think we need to focus on encouraging the next generation of women so they become more self-confident, in turn thriving in not only the construction industry, but other sectors as well.” Also at the firm’s Kettering office, Dominika has been appointed as a junior mechanical engineer after completing a training placement at BSD. “Last year, I started training with BSD for a week each month before joining the company permanently. This allowed me to see what engineering is all about and find out how interesting it is, inspiring me to move from contracting into design,” said Dominika. “There are not many women in the construction environment, especially on the mechanical engineering and estimating side. I do think women should be encouraged more as it brings new skill sets – like problem solving and organisation – opinions and experiences to the table,” she continued. Last year, Jo Jones became the first woman at BSD to be promoted to associate director. She said: “Construction is a great career path – it’s not all about being on a building site in a hard hat. People need to realise the opportunities available to them because development and infrastructure is important for the whole country. “BSD is not a gender specific company. You are judged on your abilities and dedication to the job, not on whether you are male or female. We’re working hard to achieve a gender balance in the business and our experienced new hires are a testament to this.”
SELECT, the campaigning trade body for Scotland’s electrical sector, is going live on YouTube to help FICA apprentices and the electricians of the future. On behalf of SJIB, they have created a series of detailed instructional videos that will benefit young people during the apprenticeship training. The videos, which can be found on YouTube or on SJIB’s website, are particularly aimed at those facing the Final Integrated Competence Assessment (FICA) to help them join the ranks of qualified electrician. However, the information that the videos provide is of value to existing electrical professionals as well. The series of ten videos focus on the test sequence and specific tests required to verify that a new electrical installation complies with BS 7671:2008 (as amended). “Inspection and Testing is vital. It is about verifying that an electrical installation is safe before it goes into use, and the regulations require that the person verifying it is suitably competent,” explained Fiona Harper from SELECT. According to SJIB, Inspection and Testing is one of the most difficult FICA part to learn and young people have been looking on YouTube for help; “that was when we decided to use that medium to provide clear, accurate, accessible and authorised guidance for our candidates,” said Fiona. Candidates can use the training videos before they are subjected to a regime in which they face a gruelling two days of practical simulations of various aspects of electrical installation in a modern and up to date environment. They also have a written test that consists of a series of multiple choice questions, which will help assess their ability to safely and effectively carry out their future profession. The assessment centres for the FICA in Scotland are located in Aberdeen, Cambuslang, and Edinburgh. SELECT has 1200 member companies, which account for around 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland. Their collective turnover is approximately £1 billion and they provide employment for 15,000 people.
Neil Foundations, the specialist piling contractor, has chosen Hatz GB, the UK division of the German diesel engine manufacturer, as its supplier for a new project development. The contractor’s workshop manager, Barry Bond has built and designed a prototype mini piling rig, which has been given the model number B 15000. “We identified a requirement for a mini piling rig to put piles into commercial warehouses and domestic dwellings, so I set about developing a bespoke product entirely for our own use. The machine is currently undergoing extensive field testing prior to being made ready for production,” explained Barry Bond. The reason why the company chose the Hatz 4H50TIC engine is because it meets all the latest emissions regulations. With a variety of other Hatz engines in its fleet, Neil Foundations knew they were trustworthy and reliable. The Hatz 4H50TIC is a 4-cylinder diesel engine fully compliant with the stringent emissions regulations both in the UK and in the USA and it comes with a unique feature that allows compliance to be achieved without the use of a diesel particulate filter. With over 35 years of experience, Neil Foundations are experts in piling services and foundation engineering. They provide a complete service, including site investigation, design, implementation, and testing. It operates throughout Berkshire, Farnborough, Hampshire, and Surrey. The Hatz diesel engines have existed for more than a hundred years and from their manufacturing base in Ruhstorf, Germany, they produce a range of modern diesel engines from 3 to 55 kW. Hatz GB Limited is a subsidiary with its facilities located in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
Managing contractors on a construction site can be a difficult process, especially where workplace health and safety is concerned. While they are still not technically your employees, you will still have a responsibility for these people, so you will need to brush up on the rules and regulations regarding contractors. It is essential that both you and the contractor are working together to make sure that safety is priority. Here are some helpful tips for you to ensure your work with any contractors goes as successfully and smoothly as possible. Properly Explain the Job When you bring the contractor in, the first thing you will need to do is identify exactly what work it is they will have to carry out, including any health and safety protocols that go with it. If you include all this information within your job specification you can let the contractors know early exactly what is it they are signing up for and what is expected of them, so both parties have a better understanding. Find the Right Person for the Job Making sure you properly vet all candidates for the job will ensure you will secure yourself a capable worker. Obviously, the skill level and risk involved for the job required will tailor exactly how strict your vetting process is. It is a good idea to get a sense of their previous experience and also getting written evidence of their health and safety policy, including past risk assessments they may have completed. Complete a Risk Assessment A risk assessment is vital to ensure everybody is aware of the dangers of the job and how to prevent unnecessary danger to anyone within the workforce. Ask yourself three key questions when you carry out the risk assessment: 1) What could possibly endanger people? 2) Who could this endanger and how would they get injured? 3) What can be done to ensure risk is kept to a minimum? Both you and the contractor should complete an assessment independently and then compare the two, so you are both on the same wavelength. Provide Them with Key Information Once the risk assessment has been completed and you are both happy with the agreed upon procedures, provide it to them as information within a form that is easy to read and understand. This will include health and safety information, procedures in place to deal with risks as per your risk assessment and finally the emergency protocol – make sure you let them know where you keep the medical supplies so they are prepared for a first aid emergency. Keep Your Workforce in the Loop It’s not just you who will have to work with the contractors, your entire workforce will as well. Make sure that they have been properly briefed on exactly how bringing the contractors in will affect them and that they are more than welcome to highlight any issues they have about the contractors and the work they are doing. They may raise an important issue that you had not considered. Have Regular Meetings Communication is key to a job successfully completed. Regularly checking back with the contractor is the best way to ensure all is running smoothly as well as the job being completed within the agreed time. It is crucial to pay close attention for any ‘near misses’ that may have occurred, because it’s a clear sign you will need to put additional safety measures in to prevent this happening again.
Trackunit, a leader in the design, development and deployment of fleet management systems, has introduced an advanced version of its Trackunit On smartphone app, enabling equipment rental companies and fleet owners to stay right on top of machine and operator health. The new Trackunit app provides a smart solution to log and track start-up routines together with service and maintenance requirements. Trackunit On provides a smartphone-driven checklist so operators can ensure equipment passes all pre-checks, service requirements are up to date, and submit reports of any visual damage – including providing photographic evidence. For rental companies Trackunit On can be a tool for making pre-checks before rented equipment is handed over and final checks when equipment is returned. On-site safety is a major concern, and Trackunit On will help protect equipment operators by reducing the chance of faulty and unsafe equipment being used. By connecting man and machine in a single app, Trackunit On keeps track of hours worked and equipment operated. Using Trackunit On to highlight faults and damage enables the repair process to be streamlined so service technicians can bring machines to full operational condition quickly and conveniently. In turn, this will cut costs associated with downtime, delayed servicing and repair. An intelligent management dashboard service provides rental companies, fleet supervisors and managers with key equipment metrics and utilization, customisable using dynamic widgets. Used proactively, monitoring the condition and use of machines can have a beneficial effect on lifecycle, cost of ownership and residual value. Trackunit CEO, Joergen Raguse said; “Trackunit On shows how telematics can help the digitization of the construction industry in a convenient and intelligent way, using the smartphones in everyone’s pockets. Our technology links equipment rental companies and fleet owners to operators and equipment to increase safety and productivity while reducing downtime and costs.” Available as a subscription service, Trackunit On provides the machine owner and rental company increased operational control of every piece of equipment, together with an instantly available digital record of use, repair and service. Used together with Trackunit Raw and Trackunit’s industry-leading cloud environment – Iris – Trackunit provides a complete and comprehensive fleet management system for the construction industry. For more details please click here , or visit www.trackunit.com/services/on About Trackunit A/S Trackunit is among the world’s leading companies in the Industrial Internet of Things with a focus on innovative solutions to players within building, construction and industry. Trackunit develops and provides solutions for the entire value chain, from machine manufacturers, machine dealers, machine landlords, contractors for operators. Trackunit services its customers directly from its headquarters in Denmark and through subsidiaries in Sweden, Norway, France, Holland, Germany, England and the United States of America. www.trackunit.com
