Gill Group House – Delivering Excellence (The Following is a Promoted Article) An end-to-end service is highly regarded in the construction industry. If businesses are able to carry out all works in singular rather than necessitate the cooperation of multiple parties, it represents the significant de-risking of a contract from
The majority of UK construction industry workers are concerned about the effects of alcohol and drugs on the industry’s workforce, according to the results of the Considerate Construction Scheme’s (CCS) latest survey. In a bid to increase awareness of the effects of alcohol and drugs on the industry workforce, the
The Builders’ Conference Trade Association has reported steady progress for the construction industry for the last month, a continuation of the previous month’s figures. The group’s Contracts League table for May this year collaborated data on nearly 700 new contract awards with a combined value of just under £4 billion
Savills has strengthened its UK management team with the acquisition of Chainbow Ltd, a specialist residential management business. The company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Roger Southam, established Chainbow in 1989 and now employs 28 staff members, all of whom will now move to Savills with immediate effect. Among those
The heats for the 2016 Skill Electric competition have got off to a flying start with three of the most talented electricians in the country taking the top spots in England and Wales. In a test of the competitors’ full range of electrical abilities, the following three electricians came out
A joint venture between leading door, window and safety control systems manufacturer, GEZE UK, and leading architectural aluminium systems supplier, Kawneer, has resulted in a partnership that will deliver superior automated ventilation for a variety of projects. The deal sees Kawneer’s AA720 parallel opening window combine with GEZE’s award winning
The UK’s decision to leave the European Union is bad news for the proposed transition to smarter grids, warns a leading academic. Phil Taylor, Siemen’s professor of energy systems at Newcastle University, has said that the UK has made it harder to de-carbonise our energy system by “diminishing its ability
A farm safety chief has pleaded for farmers to wear helmets when riding quad bikes. Rick Brunt, an agricultural safety boss, has told farmers to take heed of the simple life saving advice to wear helmets while riding quad bikes. The call comes following the emergence in court proceedings of
Jail sentences have become the standard punishment for anyone found in breach of gas safety regulations. Once again, a plumber has been hit with a suspended prison term for carrying out gas fitting work when he was not on the Gas Safe Register. We have now seen two of these
Sales of ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) heating devices have risen by 3,000% in the last six years, with volumes set to keep rising by 40% this year, according to the latest report. MTW Research carried out the study into the UK smart heating market which suggests that smart heating controls
Gill Group House – Delivering Excellence (The Following is a Promoted Article) An end-to-end service is highly regarded in the construction industry. If businesses are able to carry out all works in singular rather than necessitate the cooperation of multiple parties, it represents the significant de-risking of a contract from the perspective of the client – both financially and in terms of health and safety. Founded in 1988 with just one civil division, Gill Group House has since grown into a multidimensional (and multimillion pound) organisation with no less than eight different companies under its group header, including: Gill Civil, Cello Aviation, Titan Plant Hire and Gill Aggregates. Each strand compliments the next and, indeed, Gill Group House carries out most projects without the help of subcontractors owing to the sheer breadth of its expertise and competencies. One such area of expertise and competence in which Gill Group House is well-versed is health and safety and, in view of both the frequency and urgency with which health and safety issues arise within the construction industry specifically, such emphasis is to be lauded. In terms of what that drive translates as, the company places priority on training, employing a complex training matrix in order to identity specific training requirements and keep up-to-date with renewals. With so many companies and divisions, the matrix spans across anything from traffic management and Rubber Duck training (Wheeled Excavator360 Above 10 Tonnes) for HGV operators to working at height and site supervisor training. Mark Jordan, HSQE Manager at Gill Group House stresses the importance of having mechanisms which are both proactive and ongoing, specifically highlighting the value of strong communication. “Providing that linkage between supervisors and operatives is essential,” he says. “To get the best out of the team and achieve the greatest results, you have to maintain strong communication every day: reinforcing what’s required and also highlighting the specifics of each job and each client.” Those aims are realised by regular, on site toolbox talks led by project managers and contracts managers as well as daily briefings on the day’s itinerary and its accompanying procedures and hazards. On the rare occasions where Gill Group House works alongside sub-contractors, such as a recent 24-month project at Felixstowe where multiple parties were appointed by the principal contractor, the company extends briefings to all operatives on site, endeavouring to promote collaboration rather than separatism. Whilst such interest in health and safety is primarily concerned with improving the working environment of operatives and mitigating risk to the public, Mark Jordan highlights that strong corporate ethics can dramatically improve the attractiveness of a firm as well as speeding up the tendering process. Talking specifically about accreditation, he insists, “Strong health and safety values and practices are frequently becoming a key part of customers’ method statements and CHAS and ISO accreditation are a means of evidencing those ethics.” With ISO14001 and BS OHSAS 18001 as well as ISO9001, there is little question as to Gill Group House’s keen ethics on not such health and safety but quality and the environment, too. And continuing to go much further than simply compliance, the company only grows in stature and, in many respects, represents the pinnacle of excellence to which all should strive.
The majority of UK construction industry workers are concerned about the effects of alcohol and drugs on the industry’s workforce, according to the results of the Considerate Construction Scheme’s (CCS) latest survey. In a bid to increase awareness of the effects of alcohol and drugs on the industry workforce, the CSS launched a new ‘Spotlight on…’ campaign which included conducting a survey of over 1,300 people who work in the industry which found that 59% have concerns on the issues. Conducted last month, the survey also discovered that 35% of industry workers have witnessed their colleagues working under the influence of alcohol or drugs, while a quarter believe that the consumption of alcohol or drugs has caused people to be tired in the workplace. 65% of respondents said that they have never been tested for any substances, while almost 40% think that their workplace should be tacking the issues in a better way. A number of contractors, industry clients and suppliers undertake regular and thorough measures to get to grips with the issue including random testing and a zero tolerance policy, as well as providing information on the effects of alcohol and drugs at work through toolbox talks, on-site posters and site inductions. Several scheme-registered contractors, including Mick George, Interserve and Ardmore Construction Ltd, have put forward case studies on the ways they tackle the issue, which are all available to view on the CCS Best Practice Hub. CCS Chief Executive, Edward Hardy, said that the maintenance of a safe workplace is of pivotal importance for all employers and is something that applies to both the workforce and the surrounding public who may also be affected. He added that the ‘Spotlight on…alcohol and drugs’ is essential reading for everyone and, given that almost 60% of survey respondents agree that it is a problem, it is clearly a pressing issue of concern.
The Builders’ Conference Trade Association has reported steady progress for the construction industry for the last month, a continuation of the previous month’s figures. The group’s Contracts League table for May this year collaborated data on nearly 700 new contract awards with a combined value of just under £4 billion won by almost 400 contractors, a figure that maintains the norm after the recession. However, if we look at the data in more detail it is now clear that the industry is in a holding pattern as it is now usual for each of the top 10 firms in the Contracts League table to top the £100 million mark in the award of new contracts every month. Although in May only the top seven companies in the table passed that figure. Laing O’Rourke claimed top spot, while Galliford Try came in second, with a combined 28 contracts between them. This relatively big amount of modestly valued contracts throws into some relief the absence of major landmark contracts in the current environment. In terms of work being put out to tender, the statistics show a £4.5 billion fall on the monthly average from May 2015 to just £1.8 billion this year. This has had a sizeable impact on the Contracts League table for the yearly rolling total, as the figure has decreased from the high of £56.6 billion at the end of December last year to £50.41 billion last month, which is a fall of more than 12%. Despite this general trend, Laing O’Rourke emerged as the most successful contractor in last month’s table as the firm secured no fewer than nine contracts worth £207.7 million between them. Among the nine contracts, one of the most crucial was the £76.2 million contract to construct a new 192 unit residential tower for London’s Imperial College in the White City Campus in North London.
Savills has strengthened its UK management team with the acquisition of Chainbow Ltd, a specialist residential management business. The company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Roger Southam, established Chainbow in 1989 and now employs 28 staff members, all of whom will now move to Savills with immediate effect. Among those are Nigel Bosworth, the firm’s managing director, and Niccie Storr and Gail Lawrence, both of whom are associate directors. Chainbow specialises in the build to rent, private rented and residential block management sectors, and provides consultancy services and property management services to a number of clients including Westrock, Englander Group and Taylor Wimpey. CEO of Savills UK and Europe, Mark Ridley, commented that Chainbow has a well-respected and established reputation throughout the property management sector, specifically in the estate and residential areas, which will both enhance and compliment their existing offer. Savills’ Head of Property Management, Nick Herward, commented that property management is an important service line for the company and the integration of Mr Southam, Mr Bosworth and the whole Chainbow team will go a long way in augmenting their leading offer in Central London, along with the wider national management sector. Mr Herward added that the acquisition also shows Savills’ long term commitment to providing a top class, diverse service for its clients. Meanwhile, Mr Southam commented that Chainbow is delighted to join forces with Savills and is now anticipating a positive move in the expansion of the service it already offers as part of a national team. He believes that the wealth of experience of both companies in the property management sector will combine to form a formidable force in the industry. As well as Chainbow, Savills has also secured a deal to acquire Collier & Madge, a specialist London commercial property management company. They secured this deal in May of last year.
The heats for the 2016 Skill Electric competition have got off to a flying start with three of the most talented electricians in the country taking the top spots in England and Wales. In a test of the competitors’ full range of electrical abilities, the following three electricians came out on top of the challenging five hour mock installation test: Ben Brookes (24) English Midlands – Stoke on Trent College/Hanning, Garin Long (19) Wales – Coleg Gwent/CTE Electrical, Michael Pemberton (22) Southern England – Petroc Tiverton Campus. After the completion of all the regional heats, the competitors who score the highest throughout the UK will progress to the grand final at ‘The Skills Show’ at the Birmingham NEC from November 16-19. The event will see competitors take on a gruelling three day challenge as they all bid to be crowned Skill Electric UK Champion. Industry charity NET are an official competition partner of World Skills 2016 and their Chief Executive Officer, Iain Macdonald said that the Skills Electric scheme gives a great chance for the industry’s top performers to show off their abilities and technical skill levels needed to work as an electrician. He commented that this is even more important at a time when the industry needs fresh blood and more young people to consider the vocational route when they finish school, adding his congratulations to Michael, Garin and Ben for their brilliant work so far in winning their regional heats and wished them well in their future careers in the industry. Dr Neil Bentley spoke on behalf of the World Skills UK Competitions and also congratulated Michael, Garin and Ben for their top work thus far and he too wished them the best for the future. He added that it has been proven that the World Skills UK Competitions can enhance the training scheme or apprenticeship for a young person by helping them develop crucial employability skills and character traits.
A joint venture between leading door, window and safety control systems manufacturer, GEZE UK, and leading architectural aluminium systems supplier, Kawneer, has resulted in a partnership that will deliver superior automated ventilation for a variety of projects. The deal sees Kawneer’s AA720 parallel opening window combine with GEZE’s award winning Slimchain window drive system, providing effective ventilation throughout the entire perimeter of the window without compromising safety or security in all sectors, including retail and leisure, commercial, education, healthcare and residential. The AA720 window system has already proved is thermal performance by achieving U values of 1.5 W/m2K for a CEN sized window with a warm edge spacer, which offers the very best natural ventilation levels and air exchange, with a clear 86mm opening restriction fitted as standard. Now, the innovative and new CE Marked assisted operating system has been tested to the full remit of the PAS 24: 2012 enhanced standard of security performance as well as BS 6375 Part 2 (strength) and Part 1 (weather). Slimchain is part of the range of window drives manufactured by GEZE, which share a discreet, uniform design with an innovative Smart fix installation system. It can adapt to fulfil a fully diverse range of requirements relating to the wides range of installation types, opening widths up to 2400mm high and 1500mm wide, upstroke lengths of up to 800mm and a range of load types. This new system for refurbishment and new build projects will offer more versatile options for design in comparison with other solutions as the Slimchain system can be used on windows up to 400kg, which is a considerable weight handling advantage over the products of its competitors. Individual speeds and continuously adjustable drive strokes are permitted thanks to its intellingent electronics system. The Slimchain and AA720 window is fully backed by GEZE and Kawneer’s design, estimating and technical teams.
The UK’s decision to leave the European Union is bad news for the proposed transition to smarter grids, warns a leading academic. Phil Taylor, Siemen’s professor of energy systems at Newcastle University, has said that the UK has made it harder to de-carbonise our energy system by “diminishing its ability to use inter connectors” for balancing systems. Taylor commented that the decision to leave the EU will reduce the UK’s ability to negotiate prices of goods, while our use of inter connectors will be more expensive and less flexible. He added that the decision is bad for system balancing and prices, while the UK is moving towards an energy system with less capacity margin and less spinning reserve which is carbon rich and expensive by replacing it with flexibility of all kinds. He continued that we have nearly diminished our ability to use inter connectors to aid the act of balancing. The National Grid’s head of strategy, markets and regulation, European business development, told the Energy and Climate Change Committee earlier in the year that the UK must try even harder to be more influential, but that it is possible to achieve looking at the example of the non-EU country Norway. Taylor also commented that it has been proved that smaller power systems and island power systems are more difficult to de-carbonise while maintaining the stability of the grid. He also said that he anticipates the out vote to result in a reduction of the incomes of academic institutions by up to 20%, while access to the vibrant European research community will be more difficult. Newcastle University is one of 13 universities around the world which has ‘global principle partner status’ with multinational firm Siemens. Taylor also warned that the UK is now in a less strong position that it was prior to the vote to convince such organisations that it is a good place to invest in development and energy research.
A farm safety chief has pleaded for farmers to wear helmets when riding quad bikes. Rick Brunt, an agricultural safety boss, has told farmers to take heed of the simple life saving advice to wear helmets while riding quad bikes. The call comes following the emergence in court proceedings of an horrific incident in which a teenager suffered serious head injuries. The 17 year old farm worker from Shap, Cumbria, was trapped for an hour underneath an overturned quad bike, resulting in a head wound that required 17 stitches. On June 20, Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard that the family partnership JF & M Bland had contracted the worker to carry out general duties in agriculture and he was given instruction to use the company’s quad bike to reach a large sloping field. He did this without any prior training and no helmet provided for him to wear and after the vehicle overturned it is estimated that it took around an hour before one of the partners of the firm found him. Following an investigation of the incident’s circumstances, which happened in April 2014, the Health and Safety Executive made the decision to prosecute JF & M Bland, of Dacre, Penrith, for breaching laws of health and safety. The company pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 9 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, resulting in a fine of £6,000 and an order to pay costs of £4,693. HSE’s Head of Agriculture, Rick Brunt, said that accidents relating to vehicles are a major problem in the agricultural sector and are one of the biggest causes of death. He added that only those who have received adequate training should operate all terrain vehicles such as quad bikes. Meanwhile, HSE inspector Matthew Tinsley, commented that this incident should serve as a timely reminder to all farm workers that such risks are not worth taking.
Jail sentences have become the standard punishment for anyone found in breach of gas safety regulations. Once again, a plumber has been hit with a suspended prison term for carrying out gas fitting work when he was not on the Gas Safe Register. We have now seen two of these cases in the last two weeks and it seems evident that the courts are showing no leniency to people who choose to ignore the regulations of gas safety. Christoher Dignam is the latest to face the consequences of breaching the law, as his advertisements in local publications were accompanied by a Gas Safe Register logo and a fraudulent registration number. He was trading in the Manchester area under the name ‘Blue Flame Plumbing & Heating Services.’ Some of the work he carried out was found to be faulty and he is not registered on the Gas Safe Register and never has been. Living in Middleton, Dignam pleaded guilty to two breaches of Regulations 3 (3), and also for being in breach of 3 (7) and 26 (1) of the Gas Safety (Instillation and Use) Regulations 1998. His sentence was 12 months in custody, suspended for two years, as well as being ordered to pay £460 and £400 in compensation to two home owners along with £3,000 in costs. This latest case comes just a week after Alan Nicholas Price, a plumber from Walsall, was sentenced to a nine month prison term, suspended for two years, also for carrying out work when not registered by Gas Safe. Earlier in the year, a man from Darlington was sentenced to an 18 month jail term for pretending to be a Gas Safe engineer, as well as signing official records in the name of a registered gas engineer. The Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as Great Britain’s gas registration body in April 2009.
Sales of ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) heating devices have risen by 3,000% in the last six years, with volumes set to keep rising by 40% this year, according to the latest report. MTW Research carried out the study into the UK smart heating market which suggests that smart heating controls are leading the rise. Growing consumer demand and development of new products have boosted IoT heating market sales and offers positive opportunities for manufacturers and distributors this year. The new report highlights the extensive growth in the sector over the last few years, with a rise in demand for smart controls, connected TRVs, smart boilers along with a number of heating related IoT applications and devices. Mark Waddy, a director at MTW, said that they have seen unprecedented growth in the smart heating sector across a range of products this year, with more manufacturers expanding their range each month and making the most of the smart heating market opportunities. The 120 page report declared that in terms of trends and size of a number of smart heating sectors, the market will become characterised by increasing connectivity and speculation as end users will require increased control and monitoring of their home heating appliances. MTW has identified features such as enhanced efficiencies, remote operation and geofencing as some of the primary benefits of smart heating that will drive growth in demand this year. Mr Waddy also commented that the findings indicate half of consumers say they will be looking to install smart heating systems in their homes over the next five year period, which highlights massive growth in the market that will drive growth demand this year. The report also reviewed the full UK IoT market and found that there are currently nearly 900 million IoT devices being used in the UK at present, with growth in connected devices rising by 13% this year.
