Network Space has let a further 21,375 sq ft at its Mere Grange development in St Helens to an online retailer leaving only one unit available at the 30-acre development. The international retailer is taking space within the £7million first phase speculative development of four industrial units, which was delivered
Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been appointed to take over the management of Metis Apartments in Scotland Street, Sheffield. The block of 122 apartments and five commercial units contains ACM (Aluminium Composite Material) cladding similar to the Grenfell Tower, which is due to be replaced under the Government
National contractor Wates Construction has been awarded a £16m contract to build the new state-of-the-art The Whitehaven Academy School, its second educational facility in the area after completing Campus Whitehaven last year. The development will replace the existing Whitehaven Academy School on Cleator Moor Road, which will be demolished to
Contractors must be prepared for the growing popularity of smart control technology in residential and commercial building heating systems, according to Warming The Next Generation, a new downloadable guide from polymer specialists REHAU. With space heating methods continuing to change and develop as efficiency and sustainability becomes an increasing priority,
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is supporting redundant workers by allowing them to apply for and renew SKILLcards free of charge. Anyone who suffered redundancy as a result of the Covid-19 crisis since March 1 will have their fees waived if they apply between August 1 and October 31.
~ Company joins an elite group ~ Finning UK Ltd, exclusive dealer of Cat® equipment, has been awarded a prestigious gold standard employer award in acknowledgement of its continuous support for the armed forces community. The award highlights Finning as an exemplar within the industry sectors that it works including
Construction and civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has secured its first two contracts on Network Rail’s Control Period 6 (CP6) Western Route framework. The workload which will consist of asset renewals covering design and construction of all rail categories, including building and civil engineering, electrification, power, signalling telecommunications and track, is
All large construction projects are legally required to make use of hoarding boards to keep the public away from the hazards of the building site – but beyond their basic function as an aid to site safety, hoardings also represent a great opportunity for branding and advertising. These large, prominent
JCB’s innovation recognised as vital step in transition to a low-carbon future as UK gears up for construction-led economic recovery The MacRobert Award is the UK’s most prestigious and longest running prize for engineering. The Royal Academy of Engineering has recently announced JCB’s electric digger (19C-1E) as the winner of
~ Let’s not let our high street fall to the wayside ~ The government has recently announced plans to invest billions of pounds into UK infrastructure to help rebuild the economy. The UK will “Build Back Better”, it claims. The decline of the British high street has been cause for
Network Space has let a further 21,375 sq ft at its Mere Grange development in St Helens to an online retailer leaving only one unit available at the 30-acre development. The international retailer is taking space within the £7million first phase speculative development of four industrial units, which was delivered by Network Space in 2018. This latest deal follows 122,000 sq ft of lettings to Kilwaughter, Dresser Natural Gas Solutions (NGS), Synergy LMS and Ormazabal. Together these new occupiers have created around 300 job opportunities at the popular St Helen’s site. Joe Burnett, Development Director of Network Space, said: “Mere Grange has proved a huge success, attracting strong covenants, which is testament to the quality of the scheme’s design, specification and great location. “We only have one 18,500 sq ft unit available on the site, and with the increasing demand for online retail and the shortage of suitable warehouse and distribution space, we are seeing a very high level of interest and expect to be fully let before the year is out.” Network Space developed the Mere Grange mixed-use site in partnership with Homes England, St Helens Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Anwyl Homes is currently on site delivering 82 homes on the residential portion of the site having acquired it from Network Space in 2019. Mere Grange offers a total of 162,000 sq ft of high-quality industrial space, the one remaining unit provides 18,595 sq ft of warehousing, including first floor offices and amenity space. With secure, gated service yard and direct access onto the St Helens Linkway (A570), it is just minutes from the M62 offering excellent access to Liverpool, Warrington and Greater Manchester. B8 Real Estate and CBRE are joint agents on the scheme. About Network Space Operating across the Northern Powerhouse region, Network Space is a commercial property developer, investor and manager specialising in the industrial warehouse sector. Founded in 1982, Network Space has created and modernised over 10 million sq ft of industrial warehouse property in over 150 locations. The company’s vision is to provide the best and most complete industrial workspace solution for all of its stakeholder partners, whether they are a tenant, investor or government body. Their secured land bank could deliver 2.5 million sq ft of new industrial property with a value of over £200m over the next five years.
Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been appointed to take over the management of Metis Apartments in Scotland Street, Sheffield. The block of 122 apartments and five commercial units contains ACM (Aluminium Composite Material) cladding similar to the Grenfell Tower, which is due to be replaced under the Government funding. Rendall & Rittner was selected by the First Tier Tribunal to oversee the reinstatement work and the ongoing management of the building because of the company’s expertise, experience and scale that will enable it to deal with the cladding issues at the property. Rendall & Rittner was instrumental in bringing together the group of property managers, building owners and professional bodies that appealed to the government to step up, take action and introduce the Building Safety Fund. Matt Kirk, Northern Divisional Director at Rendall & Rittner comments: “We are delighted to be appointed to manage the recladding of Metis Apartments and work closely with its residents to make their homes safe for the future. We recognise that by appointing us, the First Tier Tribunal is placing responsibility on us to carry out the works promptly and professionally. It will be a huge relief for everyone that lives in the building when this issue is resolved.” “As a business we wholeheartedly welcome the Government’s Building Safety Fund and will be actively pursuing funding on behalf of residents and leaseholders at buildings that we manage that meet the criteria.” Rendall & Rittner is one of the UK’s largest residential property managers with a portfolio of over 70,000 units under management. Founded 30 years ago, the business manages some of the country’s largest and most prominent residential developments, with seven offices across England including its northern division in Manchester. For further information on Rendall & Rittner please visit www.rendallandrittner.co.uk.
National contractor Wates Construction has been awarded a £16m contract to build the new state-of-the-art The Whitehaven Academy School, its second educational facility in the area after completing Campus Whitehaven last year. The development will replace the existing Whitehaven Academy School on Cleator Moor Road, which will be demolished to make way for a new three-storey education facility and sports hall, together with associated parking and landscaping. The main school building will contain a mixture of general teaching spaces for 900 pupils aged 11-16, with a focus on specialist teaching spaces for subjects as science, PE, design and technology. It has also been designed with flexibility and future expansion in mind, with plans to accommodate a 150-pupil sixth form centre in the next five years. Wates is carefully phasing the works and strictly adhering to social distancing guidelines to help minimise any disruption and protect workers and pupils at the school. Government mandated BIM 4D modelling will also be used to foster greater collaborative planning, design co-ordination, and clash detection. Work started on site in late June, with handover of the new school set to take place in early 2022. It will be delivered in partnership with supply chain partners SES Engineering Services, Cubby Construction and Elland Structures. The Whitehaven Academy School has been procured by The Department for Education via its Construction Framework, further bolstering Wates’ already expansive education portfolio in the North West, with the firm also delivering Maghull High School and the Star Academies Eden schools in Blackburn and Manchester. Wates has enjoyed a 12-year relationship with the Department for Education, delivering 22 schools worth a total of £400m and benefitting 20,000 pupils. Dave Saville, business unit director for Wates Construction in the North West, said: “We’re looking forward to delivering another outstanding educational facility to the people of Whitehaven, after completing Campus Whitehaven last year. “After years of collaboration, we fully share the Department of Education and Cumbria Education Trust’s vision for what schools could and should be like – world-class educational spaces and facilities that inspire both pupils and teachers, promoting the learning process at every stage and futureproofed for the next generation. “As with any live school construction site, there will always be challenges when it comes to building close by to current school buildings. However, by making use our offsite facilities and with decades of experience in the education sector, we have the skillset and capability to minimise disruption to the school – which was crucial to us gaining a place on the framework.” Nick Polmear, operations director at Cumbria Education Trust, added: “It’s time to replace the Whitehaven school buildings, with a new, modern design that is fit-for-purpose, provides the best learning environment for students, and can be adapted to accommodate further expansion in time. “This is an important development to get right, which is why we made the decision to work with Wates, one of the most valued suppliers on our Construction Framework bringing years of experience and sector expertise to the table.” The project is the latest for Wates Construction in the North West, with the team currently delivering St. Helens Fire Station, Sands Leisure Centre in Carlisle, and a new leisure hub in Widnes.
Contractors must be prepared for the growing popularity of smart control technology in residential and commercial building heating systems, according to Warming The Next Generation, a new downloadable guide from polymer specialists REHAU. With space heating methods continuing to change and develop as efficiency and sustainability becomes an increasing priority, REHAU’s new guide focuses on smart controls and their role in this shifting landscape. Specifically, it explores the use of underfloor heating (UFH), and its flexibility in commercial and residential properties when combined with such smart technology. The guide explores trends in modern space heating requirements in multiple environments, including co-working spaces and home offices. It goes on to outline the growth of smart controls within the heating and energy markets and offers practical advice for developers and contractors looking to implement smart control and underfloor heating technology into their projects. “We are moving towards a smart future and the role of technology in our everyday lives is increasing exponentially,” says Franz Huelle, Head of Technical at REHAU Building Solutions. “With guides such as Warming The Next Generation, we aim to raise awareness of this ongoing trend, the factors behind it, and what it means for building professionals. Equipped with clear, concise information about the future of UFH and smart controls, contractors and developers can ensure they are best placed to react to this growing demand for greater levels of modular control within residential and commercial buildings.” Referencing the introduction of 5G and the ever-growing smart technology market, the guide goes on to highlight the importance of keeping abreast of the latest smart innovations as the construction sector moves toward a connected future. Using REHAU’s own NEA Smart 2.0 UFH smart control as an example, it explores how internet connectivity, machine learning and geofencing technology can optimise space heating, simplify installation and maintenance, and give any building heating system flexibility and adaptability long into the future. Franz continues: “Alongside government bodies and contractors, suppliers have a major role to play in ensuring the country’s building stock is sustainable and efficient, and this guide is part of our commitment to achieving this. We want to show construction professionals that, regardless of their project’s size or complexity, expert advice and comprehensive, flexible solutions that improve overall sustainability are available.” For more information and to download Warming the Next Generation, visit: www.rehau.uk/smartguide
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is supporting redundant workers by allowing them to apply for and renew SKILLcards free of charge. Anyone who suffered redundancy as a result of the Covid-19 crisis since March 1 will have their fees waived if they apply between August 1 and October 31. Engineering Services SKILLcard is one of the construction industry’s largest skills certification registers with more than 64,000 card holders across the UK. As a BESA group company, SKILLcard is the card and registration scheme for the mechanical sector of the building engineering services industry in the UK and is used by heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration specialists to provide proof of competence and qualifications. Applicants must still hold the relevant qualifications and certificates, but if they can provide evidence of redundancy they will not be charged the £40 fee when completing their renewal or application process. “We are acutely aware that many people in our sector are going through a torrid time,” said BESA Director of Certification Rachel Davidson. “Waiving SKILLcard fees may seem a relatively small gesture, but it represents a significant financial investment by BESA in the future of our people and our industry. Uncertain “It is also shows that we are serious about retaining skilled people in our sector and is just one of a number of ways in which the Association is trying to support workers faced with uncertain futures,” she added. BESA’s gesture is in line with the government-backed Construction Talent Retention Scheme that is designed to help redundant workers find new positions within the industry and avoid a repeat of the last recession when more than 500,000 people left construction. “Holding the relevant card is an essential part of finding work in our sector, enabling individuals to demonstrate relevant qualifications and experience so their skills can be re-deployed if they have lost their job,” said Ms Davidson. “This is a short-term downturn that could have very serious long-term consequences if we allow skills to drain away from our industry. We already had a serious skills gap before Covid-19 and if we don’t act now we will struggle to find the people we need to deliver the vital building engineering projects required to support the economic recovery,” she added. BESA is also launching its online Academy, which will make it easier for anyone working in building engineering services to access the training they need to refresh and update their skills.
~ Company joins an elite group ~ Finning UK Ltd, exclusive dealer of Cat® equipment, has been awarded a prestigious gold standard employer award in acknowledgement of its continuous support for the armed forces community. The award highlights Finning as an exemplar within the industry sectors that it works including construction, power generation, waste management and paving, by advocating support for the armed forces. The company joins an elite group of organisations that includes Microsoft, Greater Manchester Police and the Post Office who have been granted the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award by the Military of Defence, with the Secretary of State for Defence making the official announcement on July 30, 2020. The scheme, now in its seventh year, recognises those companies that support the armed forces by proactively demonstrating a forces-friendly approach as part of their recruitment process, as well as having distinct HR policies for employees that are military veterans, reservists, volunteers or family members of those serving in the armed forces. In addition, companies are recognised because of their efforts to advocate the benefits of supporting those within the armed forces community and encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and to engage in the Employer Recognition Scheme. Finning currently employs 27 military veterans and two reservists across its UK operations. Lisa Craddock, recruitment manager for Finning, submitted the nomination on behalf of the company. One of her team, Chris Clarke who is himself a military veteran, helped with the application. Clarke joined the army in 1999, eventually being promoted to Lance Corporal working as a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer where he repaired armoured vehicles. He left the service in 2007 and after working for a number of plant and HGV companies, joined Finning in 2012 to work as a repair rebuild engineer at the company’s Llantrisant depot in Wales. “As a former member of the armed forces it’s very important that employers are recognised for the ways in which they provide support to the armed forces communities,” explained Chris Clarke, “I nominated Finning for the scheme because I’ve seen first-hand it’s unwavering commitment and support for those coming out of the military to work as a civilian, which can be a real challenge. Finning has recognised my potential and given me many opportunities that I didn’t have in other civilian jobs, allowing me to learn skills and challenge my abilities.” “This is a tremendous honour for Finning and is a testament to the company going the extra mile to support our armed services,” said David Primrose, Managing Director of Finning UK. “Finning has always had a good relationship with the military and is proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant. The gold award emphasises our respect for all of the armed forces as well as their families and the wider community. Our support highlights the contribution of former service personnel and volunteers and we’re proud to play an active role during and after their service to our country.” Phillip Sinclair, Regional Employer Engagement Director for the Military of Defence said: “I am pleased to confirm that Finning UK Ltd has been awarded Gold level recognition for the fantastic support and advocacy the company displays for the Armed Forces Community. I am delighted for Finning, having been a part of that journey and look forward tremendously to an ongoing business relationship. Welcome to the Gold Alumni!” This year’s 127 award winners join a group of 226 winners from previous years bringing the total to 353 organisations who can share their knowledge and experience on the benefits of employing those from the Armed Forces community.
Construction and civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has secured its first two contracts on Network Rail’s Control Period 6 (CP6) Western Route framework. The workload which will consist of asset renewals covering design and construction of all rail categories, including building and civil engineering, electrification, power, signalling telecommunications and track, is part of the framework’s strategic plan to deliver 140,000 more trains every year by 2024. The framework runs for five years and can be extendable for a further three. The contract wins will see GRAHAM deliver works at Stocks Overbridge and the River Avon Evesham bridge and Kelston Park. Stocks Overbridge is a single span elliptical masonry road over rail arch structure between Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire. The project will involve the demolition of existing masonry arch to be replaced with a new superstructure which will be installed by GRAHAM’s project team over the course of three 30-hour rail possessions. River Avon Evesham bridge is a two-span rail underbridge spanning the river. The work involves structural repairs to both abutments and the central pier and scour protection works in the river with associated works. The second project at Kelston Park, which comprises a 1.75-mile-long embankment that is situated on the flood plain of the River Avon, is to install a cantilevering kingpost wall at the toe of the embankment on both sides of the railway. Network Rail’s Western route stretches from London Paddington to Penzance, through Bristol and up to the boundaries with Wales, Worcester and Basingstoke. It has re-organised into a Route-based delivery organisation, fully focused on customer outcomes. It is seeking to work with organisations that have the right culture, behaviours and ethics and are committed to delivering a safer, sustainable, better performing and more efficient railway. Leo Martin, Managing Director for the civil engineering division at GRAHAM, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded our first two schemes on the CP6 Western Framework and are determined to ensure they are delivered successfully in every respect to demonstrate our capabilities further in the rail sector. “Both GRAHAM and Network Rail are committed to creating a safe and inclusive workplace, one which recognises and respects differences between people and facilitates a culture which embraces innovation and change and where collaborative working practices are passed down through the entire supply chain, generating mutual benefit to the industry as a whole.” Leo added: “These contracts will build on the great work we have achieved so far on the Crossrail project and enhance our presence in the West of England on the back of our work at Marsh Barton in Exeter. They also provide the opportunity to develop our rail team further and increase our profile with Network Rail which is an important and very valued customer for GRAHAM.” Works will commence at both projects in August this year.
All large construction projects are legally required to make use of hoarding boards to keep the public away from the hazards of the building site – but beyond their basic function as an aid to site safety, hoardings also represent a great opportunity for branding and advertising. These large, prominent expanses of wood are a natural fit for messaging and advertising, and a construction company that fails to take advantage of the medium in this way might be missing a trick. If the boards have got to be there, why not put something on them? However, not all forms of large printed advertisements are created equal. While some billboard advertisements turn heads, others may fail to capture the public’s attention – so what makes construction hoarding graphics succeed or fail? In this article, we’re going to look at some ways of designing your site hoardings for maximum effectiveness – all the while complying with the rules and regulations for construction projects. What are the rules? As with so many decisions in the world of construction, awareness of the legal requirements has to come first. There’s plenty of room for creativity, but we must also bear these constraints in mind: The hoarding graphics can’t have a total area exceeding 38m². They can’t be installed more than 4.6m above ground level. It’s not allowed to have the graphics up for more than three months before the start of construction work – and they can’t be on display for more than three years in a row. It’s mandatory that you submit written notification to the local authority to let them know you’re planning to display hoarding advertisements, along with a detailed copy of your planning permission. This has to be done at least two weeks before you start displaying the graphics. There are also rules for large-format public advertisements in general, which also apply to hoarding graphics: The ad graphics have to be kept clean, tidy, and in a safe condition. You have to get permission from the owner of the site to display the advertisements. You’re not allowed to obscure essential signage associated with road, rail, waterway or aircraft signs (or otherwise make using these forms of transport more dangerous in any way). You must be prepared to carefully remove the advertising graphics if asked to do so by the planning authority. With all that said and understood… what should you put on your site hoardings? What makes for effective hoarding graphics? The first step in the process of designing a great advertising graphic for construction site hoardings is identify your priorities and what you hope to achieve. Is your goal to communicate a specific message? To get passers-by to take a specific action? To raise general brand awareness of your company name and logo? To inform the public about the project being undertaken? It’s also very important to consider the context of the installed hoardings. What kind of environment will they be seen in, and from what kinds of angles? For all types of outdoor graphics, you have to plan for the surroundings – if you intend to be noticed, it’s not a good idea to put a green and brown design next to a group of leafy trees! Timing can also be a key factor for consideration, both in terms of daylight and the passing of seasons. If it’s important that the messaging on your hoardings remains legible in the dark, dark text on a black background may not be the way to go – and knowing whether the boards will be up over the winter or during the summer months might influence your choices for typography, imagery, and more. Choosing the right design elements Once you’ve decided on the ultimate goal of your hoarding advertisements, it’s time to pick the right colours and typefaces to do the job. Colour psychology is probably too broad of a topic to be covered in this article, but in essence, the colours we see associated with a certain brand have a subconscious effect on how we feel about that business. That’s why McDonald’s uses sunny red-and-yellow colours to encourage you to feel warm and happy, and why so many technology companies use shades of blue to put you in mind of science and progress (such as Facebook, Twitter, HP, NASA, LinkedIn, and dozens of others). By identifying the kind of ‘mood’ you would like to cultivate around your brand (trustworthiness? Sophistication? Safety? Modernity?) you can pick the right colour scheme to suggest it – and the same is true for typography. When it comes to written messaging, the words you use are equally important to the font they’re displayed in. For example, serif fonts (like Times New Roman or Georgia) might communicate old-school reliability and traditional values, or a sans-serif font (like Arial or Futura) can suggest modern sensibilities and forward thinking. One more key consideration when designing your hoarding graphics is readability. These site boards will likely be seen from a distance, when travelling past in a vehicle at speed, in bad weather, and more. Text that doesn’t stand out with good contrast in a clear font is likely to pass unnoticed in many scenarios. At the same time, it’s important to remember the sensibilities of those members of the public who will be particularly affected by the construction work (nearby residents, perhaps, or people who work in the area every day). It might be tempting to make an attention-grabbing neon sign to ensure you get your point across, but it’s unlikely to go down well if the locals all consider it a giant eyesore. Construction hoardings represent a huge opportunity for branding and advertising, and as long as the rules and regulations are followed there’s a great wealth of creative things that can be done with them. By carefully selecting the most effective fonts, colours and other design elements, your site boards can act as giant billboards to spread almost any message you like – allowing your company to effectively
JCB’s innovation recognised as vital step in transition to a low-carbon future as UK gears up for construction-led economic recovery The MacRobert Award is the UK’s most prestigious and longest running prize for engineering. The Royal Academy of Engineering has recently announced JCB’s electric digger (19C-1E) as the winner of the 2020 MacRobert Award, the most prestigious prize for UK engineering innovation. The winning team receive a £50,000 prize and a gold medal. The 19C-1E excavator is the world’s first volume-produced fully electric digger and with it, JCB has shown it is possible to make powerful construction machinery without an internal combustion engine. To date, the current fleet has saved the equivalent of 15,100kg in CO2 emissions across 5,616 hours of work, but if used across the global construction sector, which contributes 39% of all carbon emissions, these savings could reach billions of tonnes. JCB’s winning team are; Tim Burnhope FREng, Chief Innovation Officer, Bob Womersley, Director of Advanced Engineering, Lee Harper, Chief Engineer – Electrified Machines, Lee Milward, Design Manager, and Corey Smith, Test and Development Manager. The announcement is especially timely following the Prime Minister’s commitment to putting building and construction at the centre of the government’s plan for the UK’s economic recovery. As well as significantly reducing carbon emissions, the electric digger has zero exhaust emissions and very low noise levels. This combination makes it much better suited than traditional construction vehicles to operating inside buildings or in areas where noise must be kept to a minimum, for example near hospitals and schools. JCB, the iconic British brand and world leader in the manufacture of construction and agricultural equipment, launched the digger in 2019 and has already sold hundreds of the machines. The MacRobert Award judges lauded JCB for demonstrating the utility of electric machines in a construction setting and the potential for future innovation to boost sustainability in the sector. The hope is that this entry could do for the construction sector what the double MacRobert Award winner Johnson Matthey did for the motor industry with the catalytic converter, which has stopped hundreds of millions of tonnes of pollution from entering the atmosphere. Professor Sir Richard Friend FREng FRS, Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award judging panel, said: “JCB’s electric digger is a huge engineering achievement. The team has developed all parts of the electric propulsion system to deliver system performance that matches real customer requirements. This is a huge achievement in itself, but the additional benefits of zero exhaust emissions and much lower noise has lifted the 19C-1E excavator to a new level. The digger is more than a great bit of engineering, however. It has the power to be the catalyst for change in an industry that is responsible for around 10% of all of the UK’s carbon emissions.” JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said: “To win one of the world’s most respected engineering prizes is an outstanding endorsement for JCB’s electrification team, who have achieved so much in applying a science which was new to our business. JCB’s electric mini excavator will contribute to a zero carbon future and help make the world more sustainable. It’s a huge honour for our contribution to be recognised in this way.” JCB’s electric digger was selected by the MacRobert Award judging panel in competition with the other shortlisted finalists: the all-electric I-PACE sports utility vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover and ecoSMRT® liquid natural gas reliquification technology from Babcock’s LGE business. The MacRobert Award is run by the Royal Academy of Engineering with support from the Worshipful Company of Engineers. Since 1969 it has recognised engineering achievements that demonstrate outstanding innovation, tangible societal benefit and proven commercial success. The first award in 1969 was made jointly for two iconic innovations: to Rolls-Royce for the Pegasus engine used in the Harrier jump jet, and to Freeman, Fox and Partners for aerodynamic deck design of the Severn Bridge. Other former winning innovations include: Allowing doctors to see inside the human body with the CT scanner invented at EMI (1972 MacRobert Award winner). Raising one of the world’s largest structures – the Millennium Dome, now the O2, engineered by Buro Happold (1999 MacRobert Award winner). Creating a computer the size of a credit card – Raspberry Pi (2017 MacRobert Award winner). Diagnosing cancer through a simple breath test – the ReCIVA breath biopsy developed by Owlstone Medical (2018 MacRobert Award winner). MacRobert Award winners are chosen by an expert panel of Academy Fellows, who have vast experience across engineering industry and academia. This year’s MacRobert Award will be marked by a debate ‘Powering net zero Britain – the current ideas’ – a MacRobert Award discussion presented by the Royal Academy of Engineering To mark the 51st year of the MacRobert Award, the most prestigious prize for UK engineering innovation, the Royal Academy of Engineering is assembling an expert panel to discuss how British engineers can apply their creativity to decarbonise our homes, travel and workplaces while creating jobs and a better environment for all over the next 30 years. Chaired by Helen Czerski, physicist and presenter, the panel will include: Professor Sir Richard Friend FREng FRS, Chair of the MacRobert Award judges Dervilla Mitchell CBE FREng, Chair of the National Engineering Policy Centre’s Net Zero emissions working group. Tim Burnhope FREng, Chief Innovation and Growth Officer at JCB Dr Enass Abo-Hamed, co-founder and CEO of energy storage firm H2GO Power.
~ Let’s not let our high street fall to the wayside ~ The government has recently announced plans to invest billions of pounds into UK infrastructure to help rebuild the economy. The UK will “Build Back Better”, it claims. The decline of the British high street has been cause for concern for a number of years, but this new investment could offer a lifeline. Here, Nick Cowley, managing director of aluminium building product supplier, Endurawood, shares insight into how to construct a modern high street that thrives. It’s no secret that the high street has been troubled in recent years. Consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping, and if they do venture out, it’s probably to a large indoor shopping centre. With fewer customers on the high street, retailers are not making enough profit against their overheads, forcing them to close high street stores. The resulting empty shops are an eye sore, making towns and cities appear run down and lifeless. The high street must be renovated in order to bring shoppers back, and retailers must adapt to modern consumer lifestyles and shopping habits. Time to adapt The British high street developed in the 1860s and 1870s due to urbanisation, as many people no longer had the facilities to grow their own crops or keep livestock. Consumer lifestyles were vastly different at that time — there was no internet, less travel and less to do. Shoppers had no choice but to buy their supplies from the high street, and had more time to do so. Now, many consumers have larger work time commitments, and the ability to travel and use the internet makes it easy to shop elsewhere. With many shoppers now possessing a more modern lifestyle, the high street must adapt and evolve to avoid death of businesses. A number of high street shops trade nine-to-five and close completely on Sundays. For a worker in a nine-to-five Monday to Friday job, this outdated trading pattern leaves only Saturday as an opportunity to shop. Retailers who start opening an hour earlier in the morning or offer late night shopping will be able to create a few extra hours of shopping time a day. To prevent shoppers going elsewhere, high streets must offer something unique. Dispersing small businesses between the well-known retailers gives shoppers the perfect balance of the familiar and the novel find. Hosting events, such as student discount nights, food festivals and craft markets, can attract shoppers and add vitality to the high street. Shoppers are unlikely to tire of the ease of online shopping. Because of this, retailers should aim for their stores and websites to work together. A great way to do this is through click and collect delivery, as the shopper is likely to see something they like in store when they visit to receive their order. Ensuring customers experience a welcoming and calming atmosphere gives physical shops an edge over online shopping, where there is no contact. Shoppers who choose to go to store wish to view the items in person and have an enjoyable trip out of the house, so retailers must capitalise on this. Keeping up appearances The appearance of the high street is critical to its success. Visitors to an area of empty shops and run down streets are likely to turn away and never come back. In contrast, passers-by of a modern, prosperous area are likely to explore. Investment in new paving and lighting can make a large difference to the feel of a high street. Incorporating areas of interest, such as sculptures and small green spaces, also helps to uplift the area and provides space for social interaction. Adding more cafés and restaurants also boosts the social attraction of the high street. However, the main way to boost the appearance of the high street is to update the shops. Drab buildings give the impression of a boring and lifeless shopping experience, so modernising is essential. Exterior cladding can transform an ordinary brick building into a sleek store with character, and make the area appear warmer and more welcoming. Adding decking to the outside of cafés and restaurants provides a new space for trade, and the ability to seat customers outside gives the appearance of a thriving high street. Incorporating railings into the surrounding area can provide spaces for shoppers to get away from the hustle and bustle of the high street and recharge. Adding enclosures can conceal unsightly areas, such as large shop bins, keeping the space looking clean and clear. However, it’s important that the materials used to renovate the high street are durable and low maintenance, allowing the area to look new for years to come. Endurawood is an aluminium material with a woodgrain finish. Endurawood is available in cladding, decking, railing and enclosure systems that are easy to install and provide a number of performance benefits over traditional wood. Aluminium is non-warping, frost-resistant, non-porous and dissipates heat, making it durable in all weathers. The woodgrain finish is colour stable and stain and scratch resistant, ensuring the features stay looking pristine. In addition, the material is non-combustible and slip resistant, which ensures the safety of customers and staff. The new government investment into infrastructure provides an ideal opportunity to re-invent the high street. By incorporating changes in retail operation with updated store aesthetics, the high street can return to being the thriving hub of urban areas — creating employment and boosting the local economy.