Trades & Services : Property & Facilities Management News

Double Glazing and Heating at the Top of Homebuyer’s Interests

In a new piece of research put together by Gocompare, it has been highlighted that double glazing and also central heating presently sit at the fore of the traditional homebuyer’s list for must-have property features; then following these come secure doors, windows and a garden. Other key areas of concern

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Featuring WT Jenkins: Interview with Steve Murray, Joint MD

At the height of accreditation and qualification, WT Jenkins takes a firm stance on best practice. Striving to provide an electrical contracting service that excels from start to finish and is guaranteed to last, the company takes customer satisfaction to the nth degree. Established in 1971, WT Jenkins has quickly

Read More »

Home Efficiencies – Where does Environmental Responsibility Lie?

Environmental efficiencies and core areas of sustainability are of increasing import, both from a social and commercial perspective. Yet, within the realm of property, where considerable energy savings and efficiencies can be seen, where does the responsibility truly lie? Increasingly, new homes are indeed being developed with environmental concerns in

Read More »

Homes for Scotland Announces Awards Shortlist

Most recently, Homes for Scotland’s shortlist has recently been announced for Scotland’s premier industry awards, coming at a time when the organisation is in preparation of its biggest celebratory event yet and highlighting great achievement within the sector. As a reflection of the vast range of organisation archetypes maintained within

Read More »

Considerate Constructors Scheme’s 2016 National Site Awards to be This Month

This month, the Considerate Constructors Scheme will be running its 2016 National Site Awards, the very awards which reward organisations acting in a “considerate” manner; effectively being those organisations working towards improving the image of the greater construction industry through responsible conduct and a considerate approach to any and all

Read More »

Debate Ensues Over Future of Lakehouse Board

Pictured: Founder, Steve Rawlings In recent business news, it has been announced that Steve Rawlings, the Lakehouse Founder, has recently reached out to company shareholders to explain to them why he should return to the Lakehouse board; a move which may see Steve Rawlings, alongside shareholder Slater Investments (combined, owning

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SummitSkills Branches out into FM Certification

Perhaps serving as a nod to the organisation’s hard work in the building services engineering sector, SummitSkills has recently been announced to have secured the management of facilities management apprenticeship certification. The organisation, which presently serves as the Standard Setting Organisation for the building services engineering industry, will now see

Read More »

The 10 Dos and Don’ts of Concrete Water on Site

Whether it’s through washing down wagons, shutes, skips and equipment, hydrodemolition, grouting, tunnelling or dealing with surface run-off – cementitious water (water with concrete in it) is one of the most common and challenging waters the construction sites have to contend with. Dr Richard Coulton, CEO of Siltbuster, and a

Read More »

UK Tenants Able to Gain Consent for Energy Efficient Improvements

Starting this month, increased pressure will be laid upon property landlords to have energy improvements maid to their properties, with UK tenants offered the ability to request improvements, only refutable with good given reason. Although the change will not see additional costs for landlords (unless agreed otherwise), consent for improvements

Read More »

Featuring DCM Surfaces: Interview with Beverley Holden, Director

“So often, an approach to health and safety is characterised by compliance and audits can be seen as a major headache for contractors,” says Beverley Holden, Director of DCM Surfaces. “I’m of the opinion that I’d rather know if something is unsafe than not and auditing is very much a

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Latest Issue
Issue 330 : Jul 2025

Trades : Property & Facilities Management News

Double Glazing and Heating at the Top of Homebuyer’s Interests

In a new piece of research put together by Gocompare, it has been highlighted that double glazing and also central heating presently sit at the fore of the traditional homebuyer’s list for must-have property features; then following these come secure doors, windows and a garden. Other key areas of concern for homebuyers are that of broadband single, which is of no real surprise given the improved reliability on cloud services and internet access for all manner of personal or professional use – yet it has been surprising to note that this actually comes before finding schools with high ratings, which has always traditionally been one of the most important concerns. Additionally, off-road parking came above that of garages, and period features behind that of a large living room for more comprehensive entertainment fittings (such as a large flat-screen television). Surprisingly, only 15% now rated the provision of a good, local school as entirely essential in securing a new home, and instead have been focusing on more core areas of capability within the property itself – areas such as more considerable bathroom and showering facilities. Yet, as highlighted in those interests at the top in the list, it is very promising to see areas of energy efficiency sitting very high up on the list. In fact, 53% of people highlighted the importance of energy efficiency measures, such as cavity wall insulation and 74% highlighted the importance of double glazing. This consideration of something which does intrinsically effect the environment in the long-term, is certainly a good sign from the perspective of pushing the environmental envelope yet further. In addition, 79% of individuals commented on central heating being their number one priority, with gardens at 71%, secure doors and windows being at a notable 70%, off-road parking then sitting at 58%, and baths being at 57%.

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Featuring WT Jenkins: Interview with Steve Murray, Joint MD

At the height of accreditation and qualification, WT Jenkins takes a firm stance on best practice. Striving to provide an electrical contracting service that excels from start to finish and is guaranteed to last, the company takes customer satisfaction to the nth degree. Established in 1971, WT Jenkins has quickly become one of the leading electrical contractors in the North West following prolonged expansion and diversification since its début. The company now specialises in the supply, installation and maintenance of floodlighting, road lighting, public realm lighting and traffic signage, and prides itself on a consumer-facing outlook. A great part of achieving such a positive working relationship with clients is the care WT Jenkins takes to not only source the best people, but retain the best people. Subscribing to the company’s ethos of “the customers is always right” is the first requisite but all operatives are also JIB-Graded, and assessed under the HEA (formerly ASLEC) competent persons scheme, as well enjoying opportunities for regular training and development well beyond that which is expected. In fact, WT Jenkins boasts a workforce of qualified electricians from top to bottom, a unique quality that Steve Murray, Joint Managing Director, is keen to stress provides a leading-edge: “Between myself, Tony King (joint MD) our two contracts managers, general foreman and site supervisors, we have over 200 years of combined experience in the electrical industry. That provides us the ground on which to educate our staff and inspire a shared vision of good quality, on time workmanship, carried out in the safest possible manner.” And in the electrical contracting industry, safety is of course paramount. Over the last six years, WT Jenkins has worked closely with two of biggest innovators in health and safety, Laing O’Rourke and MPT during the regeneration of Manchester’s rail network. The company has undertaken all electrical works on Manchester Metrolink’s newly-formed platforms, as well as completing road lighting works in the surrounding towns of Oldham and Rochdale as part of the region’s major regeneration. Working for such a high-profile, public sector client bears great expectations though WT Jenkins continues to prove itself more than capable of the challenge. As Steve explains, “During the process we’ve been set challenging targets to complete all works to a high standard and also deliver a target zero safe project. Not only have we achieved this but we’ve been awarded for our efforts at the MPT supply chain award evenings.” It was during those ceremonies that WT Jenkins picked up a phenomenal 11 awards in testament to not only its quality or exceptional health and safety record, but also for innovation. Since its inception, the company has been keen to lead by example and one of the first to invest in accreditation and trade affiliation. Having been a member of the Electrical Contractors’ Association for over 40 years, WT Jenkins has remained at the forefront of the latest in policy and practice, utilising the association as a technical educational resource, as well as marketing tool with which to gain new leads. As Northwest Regional Chairman and National Council member of ECA, Steve is unequivocal about the benefits of membership; the company has had assistance with everything from debt recovery and contract disputes, as well enjoying ECA’s specialist BIM seminars. And with a relocation to larger premises and a rapidly-filling order book, WT Jenkins’ pioneering identity in the sector is only to get more pronounced. The overarching ambition however, will remain much the same and, irrespective of expansion or diversification, the company will continue to place customers at the heart of its business.

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Home Efficiencies – Where does Environmental Responsibility Lie?

Environmental efficiencies and core areas of sustainability are of increasing import, both from a social and commercial perspective. Yet, within the realm of property, where considerable energy savings and efficiencies can be seen, where does the responsibility truly lie? Increasingly, new homes are indeed being developed with environmental concerns in mind, which certainly does paint a good picture for the future of the housing sector, yet, notable is the lack of efficiencies that can be seen across older properties, as well as a concerning deficit in the number of homes (as a proportion) which incorporate local power generation. As has been previously highlighted, one of the core areas within which improvements can be made from an energy perspective is through renewable generation techniques, primarily solar. Yet, while Germany has shown great example within Europe for progress in the realm of renewable energy generation and similar plans, thus far, it is concerning to see that the UK simply hasn’t achieved anywhere near as much success. But why is this? Previously, even with the Green Deal in existence, numerous industry contractors had reported a concerning lack of interest in pursuing home energy improvements, and now without even that provision available, incentivisation for sustainable techniques now seemingly all boils down to the conscience of the homeowner, or renter; but should it? Especially in the case of rented properties, concerns can, and have been raised as to the viability of installing renewable energy generation mediums such as solar PV, yet it is also something increasingly seen as a step in the right direction from a social perspective. And while it has recently been announced that tenants can indeed petition their respective landlords for permission to make sure improvements to their properties, the question could be raised – is this truly the responsibility of the tenant alone, or should responsibility fall on the landlord, or both parties together?

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Homes for Scotland Announces Awards Shortlist

Most recently, Homes for Scotland’s shortlist has recently been announced for Scotland’s premier industry awards, coming at a time when the organisation is in preparation of its biggest celebratory event yet and highlighting great achievement within the sector. As a reflection of the vast range of organisation archetypes maintained within the Homes for Scotland membership portfolio, this year’s awards feature a realignment of the categories so as best to highlight the core membership activity – the building of homes to tie in with a range of differing needs, aspirations and requirements. As such, the event is far more targeted and relevant to the interests and operations of the member base than ever before. Of all those entries shortlisted this year, the entirely revamped programme is to involve site-visits for all those shortlisted within the Private and Affordable Housing Development award categories. This will be done by a wholly independent judging panel. Additionally, those in the shortlist for the Private “Development of the Year” category are also to be put up for consideration for the “Home Builder of the Year” award, which will also incorporate interviews and a great deal of scrutiny to best ensure that the winner truly does represent the best in the industry. Those wishing to keep a close eye on the winners of the awards are advised that winners are to be announced on the 20th of May, at the Homes for Scotland Annual Lunch. The event will be at the EICC and will, in fact, be hosted by Hugh Dennis, renowned comedian and actor. Now enjoying a 14th year in operation, this year’s event is expected to build upon the last, with the event thus far achieving yearly growth. In fact, for this year’s event, it has already been reported that greater than 1000 guests, all key industry representatives, have confirmed attendance for the upcoming event.

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Considerate Constructors Scheme’s 2016 National Site Awards to be This Month

This month, the Considerate Constructors Scheme will be running its 2016 National Site Awards, the very awards which reward organisations acting in a “considerate” manner; effectively being those organisations working towards improving the image of the greater construction industry through responsible conduct and a considerate approach to any and all works performed. Key areas highlighted as integral to success at the awards is to include the considerate approach specifically taken towards the environment, the workforce and the surrounding public – key stakeholders which, historically, have not always been as much at the fore of concern for construction contractors as they should be; this, of course being something the Considerate Constructors Scheme aims to change. For the ceremony, it is expected that there will be greater than 3,500 guests from all manner of shape, size and type of construction site over the course of the 11th to the 29th of April in Manchester, London and Edinburgh. This time will also herald the first ever time that value bands have been incorporated so that individual sites can then be considered based upon total project value. Out of those thousands of sites which have been registered, greater than 900 have reportedly been chosen to win Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards, with a sole Gold Award winner in each value band category being presented with the envious title of “Most Considerate Site 2016”; those shortlisted but not in receipt of this award will then be offered Runner-Up Awards. As explained by Mike Petter, the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Chairman commented: “Award-winning sites have demonstrated exceptionally high levels of best practice in meeting and exceeding the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice.” Then highlighting 2016’s event as possible the largest ever hosted, it is clear that this year’s National Site Awards will go a long way in rewarding the excellent work done by considerate constructors operating today.

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Debate Ensues Over Future of Lakehouse Board

Pictured: Founder, Steve Rawlings In recent business news, it has been announced that Steve Rawlings, the Lakehouse Founder, has recently reached out to company shareholders to explain to them why he should return to the Lakehouse board; a move which may see Steve Rawlings, alongside shareholder Slater Investments (combined, owning some 21.56% of share capital), potentially overthrow the current board of the company. The move comes amidst criticism from Mark Slater, of the aforementioned Slater Investments, highlighting a “serious governance deficit” within the board itself. Effectively, the proposal is aimed to see the restoration of shareholder value, as explained by Mark, with the appointment of brand new, non-executive directors for the board. One of the primary reasons for the communication with shareholders is seemingly as a result of communication already had between the board and company shareholders, with accusations made with regard to the board “attacking” those candidates proposed in shareholder circulars – something which has been noted to be in stark contrast to conversations that Mark states have been had in private. One of the key concerns highlighted by the board to the company shareholders has been with regard to concerns over compliance with UK Corporate Governance Code should the non-executive directors be appointed to the board. In opposition to this, Lakehouse’s Chairman, Chris Geoghegan stated to shareholders that Steve Rawlings remains unsuitable as a director in the business, ever since its listing on the stock market back in 2015. Highlighting Steve’s history with the company thus far, Chris explained how a lack of involvement within the group, as well as his previous record with the company dating back as far as 2012, also combined with a lack of experience in limited company directorship, does not support the conclusion that he has the skills required to make a meaningful contribution to the board of directors.

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SummitSkills Branches out into FM Certification

Perhaps serving as a nod to the organisation’s hard work in the building services engineering sector, SummitSkills has recently been announced to have secured the management of facilities management apprenticeship certification. The organisation, which presently serves as the Standard Setting Organisation for the building services engineering industry, will now see it providing certificates of completion for apprenticeships across within the property, cleaning and facilities management sectors specifically. Of course, the position itself is set to sit alongside the organisation’s decades of work in management of building services engineering apprenticeship certification;, with the organisation having, thus far, provided greater than twenty three thousand certificates to those apprentices finalising their relative apprenticeship scheme. The addition of this responsibility for the facilities management, and related sectors, will then see the number of certificates which the organisation issues increase by approximately three thousand more per year. In addition to offering certificates, SummitSkills will also be seen to develop an involvement in ensuring that apprenticeship frameworks are in line with the latest industry standards and expectations, for which the organisation will partner with other organisations to achieve and deliver upon. The responsibility for this role was passed onto SummitSkills by the FISSS, with the organisation’s Managing Director, Mark Froud commenting that, based upon the record of the company in providing certification for apprenticeships over the course of the past few years, the organisation has confidence in SummitSkills’ ability to roll this out across even more related industries. Due to the common ground maintained between the building services engineering sector and that of the facilities management sector, it is expected that SummitSkills will be able to slip into the new role quite seamlessly, with the company’s General Manager, Nigel Hollett commenting: “This is an exciting new development that allows us to expand our certification capabilities and underlines the important role SummitSkills carries out for employers.”

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The 10 Dos and Don’ts of Concrete Water on Site

Whether it’s through washing down wagons, shutes, skips and equipment, hydrodemolition, grouting, tunnelling or dealing with surface run-off – cementitious water (water with concrete in it) is one of the most common and challenging waters the construction sites have to contend with. Dr Richard Coulton, CEO of Siltbuster, and a leading authority of water treatment, outlines the 10 do’s and don’ts of dealing with concrete water on site. By Dr. Richard Coulton, CEO of Siltbuster (Pictured)   Don’t forget about it Most construction workers are aware of the risks of silt and oil pollution, but still allow concrete wagons to wash out in leaky waste skips – yet concrete washwater on a volume by volume basis, has the potential to cause much greater harm than silt or oil Don’t under estimate it Many think concrete water is acidic but on the contrary, it is very alkaline. The pH of concrete washwater is incredibly high – typically 12 to 13 on a scale which runs from 1 (acid) to 14 (highly alkaline) – making it highly damaging when discharged to the aquatic environment. The Environment Agency stipulates that the acceptable pH level for water to be released to the environment is 6-9 – and concrete water is way off this level Do take care Only domestic oven cleaner has a higher pH and think of the health warnings that come with that! So site workers should treat concrete waters with respect – it’s nasty to handle and it’s NOT safe to stick it down the drain Remember, seeing isn’t believing Even if site water looks visibly clean, if it has been connected with concreting works, it could still have a high pH and be environmentally very dangerous. Dilution is no solution Many are tempted to simply dilute down the concrete wash water but dilution is neither practical nor cost effective. That’s because pH is a log scale. Every unit reduction in pH requires a 10-fold dilution with pH neutral water. So it would take 10,000 gallons to get 1 gallon of concrete washwater with a pH of 12 down to a pH of 8 Tankering is not the answer Giving someone else the problem to deal with, by tankering off site to a suitably licenced waste management centre for further treatment is an expensive solution. Typical tankering costs are in excess of £100/tonne. On say a larger site generating circa 30m3/day that amounts to around £100k per month in extra costs! Know the Trick of Treatment In essence, concrete washwater needs to have its suspended solids removed and its pH reduced to an acceptable value. Forget Acids Neutralising the pH of concrete water by using mineral acids isn’t the answer. These are dangerous to handle, must be securely stored to minimise the risk to workers or accidental release into the environment. Surplus unused acid must be disposed of as hazardous waste, which is costly. Also precise pH control is difficult to achieve with mineral acids as it is all too easy to overshoot the target resulting in acidic water – which is equally polluting! Using these acids also creates “secondary pollutants” – sulphate and chloride – which are nasty for the environment. Similarly, Citric acid (fruit acid) isn’t the answer either as it comes with similar environmental, health and safety concerns and there is a risk of over dosing and acidifying the treated water. Gas works The latest thinking is that carbon dioxide (which is mildly acidic when dissolved in water) is the best neutralising agent for concrete water. It is virtually impossible to acidify the water though overdosing plus, unlike acids, the by-products of neutralising the water with carbon dioxide are non-hazardous, and can actually be considered beneficial. Think Mobile There are simple, easy to operate, mobile units which use carbon dioxide and which can be hired to temporarily treat concrete and other potentially polluting site waters.

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UK Tenants Able to Gain Consent for Energy Efficient Improvements

Starting this month, increased pressure will be laid upon property landlords to have energy improvements maid to their properties, with UK tenants offered the ability to request improvements, only refutable with good given reason. Although the change will not see additional costs for landlords (unless agreed otherwise), consent for improvements to be made is expected to be given widely; in fact, it has been announced that pressures will require very strong, unarguable reasons should they not wish to. To afford the improvements, tenants will need to be able fund improvements at no cost to the landlord, yet, given the closing of the Green Deal, concerns have been raised as to just how easy it will be for tenants to find funding sources outside of their own private resource. Yet, despite the difficulties to secure funding, both tenant and landlord and encouraged to consider energy improvement measures, proving beneficial to both parties from a cost saving and carbon emissions perspective. Yet, whether the costs will be perceived as worth the benefits without funding from the Green Deal, is unsure. In addition to day-to-day energy savings, the National Association of Landlords also highlighted that energy-efficient improvements have also been proven to make properties far more saleable and attractive to the prospective buyer. In fact, it has been suggested by the National Association of Landlords that circa 35% of tenants stated that energy efficiency is one of the important factors which they consider when choosing for a new location to live. As such, the National Association of Landlords is keen to encourage landlords to consider the potential benefits of undertaking energy efficiency improvements, highlighting not only the benefits for themselves, but also to the tenant and to the wider environment. Richard Lambert, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Landlords commented: “Many can be made with little or no upfront cost, and can have a positive impact on the lives of tenants, their lettings businesses, and the environment in general.”

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Featuring DCM Surfaces: Interview with Beverley Holden, Director

“So often, an approach to health and safety is characterised by compliance and audits can be seen as a major headache for contractors,” says Beverley Holden, Director of DCM Surfaces. “I’m of the opinion that I’d rather know if something is unsafe than not and auditing is very much a way of doing that.” Expressing utmost respect for employees and observing keen emphasis on health and safety, DCM Surfaces is one of the few subcontractors in the sector to express its unwavering commitment to the needs of its staff, as well as those of clients, which is why the company is regularly billed an exemplar of corporate responsibility. Established in 1995, DCM Surfaces has developed a unique identity in the sector, revered for its knowledge and flexibility when it comes to outdoor surfacing. Whilst the company was originally borne out of local and national initiatives to increase safety in public parks and playgrounds, the business has since grown exponentially to include a range of outdoor surfaces beyond purely safety surfacing. With the recent purchasing of a separate tarmacking business, the company is also able conduct civil engineering, groundworks and tarmacadam as Macadamize. As a result of an extending portfolio of services, DCM Surfaces now works for clients across industries and on a nationwide basis, acting as subcontractor to private and public sector clients. With new office and warehouse space, DCM Surfaces is well-equipped to handle its growing client base and widening repertoire. The new facilities represent a significant gain in efficiencies, and the company has gone from a storage capacity of 90t to 400t. Now able to mobilise material more quickly, serve projects of greater size, DCM Surfaces performs at a pace to outstrip any other. The company has established a loyal client base and is favoured for its quality and responsibility. DCM Surfaces aspires to much the same standard as the biggest and brightest in the construction industry, pertaining to the same principles and standards as one would expect of a main contractor. The company benefits from a close-knit team of specialists in design, installation, management and delivery, all operating in synergy. As Holden corroborates, “By directly employing all our staff, we safeguard the quality of work and encourage repeat business. More importantly though, it improves the morale of our team and inspires pride in the job. They get to know one another; each have the same over-arching ambition and the same ethics of safe, efficient and effective project delivery.” On-site safety continues to be challenged by the interfacing it demands between contracting parties involved. The same is true within a firm; safety requires everyone, from directors to installers, to take accountability for their own practice so as to prevent placing themselves or others at risk. Alongside a strong staff ethic, DCM Surfaces regularly unites on-site operatives to deliver toolbox talks, ensures each member understands his duties and responsibilities on a daily basis, and sources relevant health and safety training for all employees. On-site operatives each have an up-to-date CSCS card while supervisors and managers have been through the Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) or Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) as appropriate. With the addition of CHAS membership, DCM Surfaces evidences that strict code of practice and is provided not only a framework for its ambitions, but a means of testifying its continuous ethic to potential clients and partners. “CHAS is a means of differentiating the serious contractors from the ordinary,” attests Holden, “And it has always been our ambition to be a leader in surfacing design and installation. Alongside ISO 9001 accreditation, CHAS membership has provided us key competitive advantage and a quality assurance that simply isn’t available elsewhere.” One such client attracted by DCM Surfaces’ strong corporate values and exceptional quality products was one the of the UK’s leading main contractors, Kier Construction. A discerning client with exacting expectations, Kier posed distinct challenges for the sub-contractor as Holden explains: “During projects in Halesham and New Haven, we had to adapt our working methods so as to meet their health and safety requirements, purchasing four new mixers fitted with emergency stop buttons. Flexibility is a core value of the business and whether we’re working for a main contractor like Kier Construction or a small school, we always strive to deliver and produce something we can be proud of.” With ongoing audits and a growing order book, DCM Surfaces is determined to retain the quality workmanship by which it is known. And as it continues to promote employee development and welfare, and boasts a health and safety ethic beyond that of any like competitor, the company’s prestige is only set to enlarge and, with it, comes the opportunity to develop further capabilities and services.

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