The Covid-19 pandemic has limited people’s ability to travel. And since they had to spend most of their time at home, their spaces’ appearance had become of great importance to most of them. Thus, the interest in travel-inspired interior design has increased. However, even now, with many restrictions being lifted
Buying a home is a long and tiresome process. Regardless of the current market conditions, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that come into it. However, a few well-hidden secrets can make the whole affair much more manageable. With their help, you could find
Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “During the first few months of the pandemic, the job security of construction workers was thrown into serious doubt, and sadly tens of thousands of employees lost their jobs. However, the latest ONS data shows that the situation has really turned
Building services engineering consultants FHP has seen strong growth following new work to support multi-million-pound projects across the UK and a healthy forward order book. The company, which provides mechanical, electrical and public health building services design and building physics engineering to national commercial, industrial, leisure, education, residential and infrastructure real
Major construction work at Scotland’s newest leisure and staycation destination, Wavegarden Scotland, got underway today in Ratho, near Edinburgh. The £55m landmark development will be the country’s first inland surfing destination using revolutionary new technology. The Wavegarden Scotland development is expected to open to the public in Summer 2024 –
Flat roofs are currently among the top trending commercial and residential property designs. Moreover, interior décor and property magazines now feature flat roof properties in their listings. This might lead you to wonder: ‘What is so tempting about flat roofs that slanted roof designs are missing?’ Well, flat roofs are
Appointment serves as the second, repeat appointment in quick succession following the announcement in January of a project to build 500,000 sq ft across three units at a site in Peterborough. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that
RSE (Ross-shire Engineering) has awarded Barhale a key civil engineering package as part of its £55M rebuilding and refurbishment project at South Staffs Water’s Hampton Loade water treatment works. RSE is an engineering group that specialises in the design, build and maintenance of water treatment and water recycling equipment. RSE
THE education sector is well versed in procuring built environment work. However, current market constraints, the latest statistics on the level of work needed across school estates and the lack of associated funding means that it will not be an easy road for many. Emma Hesbrook, regional manager at national
Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson and its partners Arc Partnership and Perfect Circle have donated more than £35,000 in services to end-of-life charity partner Treetops Hospice, as part of its Local Communities Partnership Programme. During the last 12 months, G F Tomlinson has been working closely with the hospice to
The Covid-19 pandemic has limited people’s ability to travel. And since they had to spend most of their time at home, their spaces’ appearance had become of great importance to most of them. Thus, the interest in travel-inspired interior design has increased. However, even now, with many restrictions being lifted and people being able to travel again, you want to go on the road again but suddenly realize that you only have two weeks off and probably a thousand places that you’d wish to go. So maybe instead, it would be a good idea to start by turning your favorite room into your favorite travel destination? There are countless ideas on how to let your space be soaked in the tropical sun or remind you of your favorite ski resort. But let’s start with keeping it all authentic – you don’t want your space to look cheesy after all. For instance, you can incorporate some travel photos and your own souvenirs – but remember, you don’t want to overdo it. You want to be respectful to the culture you’re inspired by – and your own personal style has to shine through all your holiday endeavor-inspired interior design. Let’s explore some more ideas below! Pick a Theme The first step in creating a travel-inspired interior design is to choose a theme. Even if you can’t travel yet, you still want a place where you won’t have to think about things like “how long does probate take”, but instead, could call it your own. A theme will be the base of your design, so you want it to be perfect. You can find inspiration in a specific country or city you’ve been to or by one particular type of vacation, like a beach vacation or a mountain trip. Your theme can be as specific as you want it to be. For example, you can choose to design your room around your favorite beach in Hawaii or a famous ski resort in Colorado. Find Inspiration Once you’ve decided on a theme, it’s time to find some inspiration. You can do this by looking through travel magazines or websites, browsing Pinterest, or just taking a look at your own travel photos. Be bold – if you discover that you’ve always wanted to have a canopy bed, art deco coffee table, or perhaps epoxy garage floor, there’s nothing stopping you from getting them! If you want to design your room around a specific country or city, it might be a good idea to look for some interior design ideas from that place. For example, if you want to design your room around Italy, you can look for some patterns or colors associated with Italy. Choose Colors and Materials Once you’ve found some inspiration, it’s time to start choosing colors and materials. This is where you can really let your imagination run wild. If you want to design your room around a beach vacation, you might want to use some light and airy colors, like white, blue, and green. For a mountain trip, you might want to use some darker and richer colors, like brown, red, and dark green. When it comes to materials, you can use anything that reminds you of your chosen theme. For a beach vacation, try using some natural materials, like wood, rattan, and stone. For a mountain one, you might want to use cozy materials, like wool and fur. Add Furniture and Accessories Once you’ve chosen your colors and materials, it’s time to start adding furniture and accessories and bring your chosen theme to life. If you want to design your room around a beach vacation, you might want to add some furniture that reminds you of the beach, like a rattan sofa or a wooden coffee table. You might also want to add accessories like a seashell lamp or coral vase. Again, if you want to design your room around a mountain trip, you might want to add furniture that reminds you of the mountains, like a leather armchair or a stone fireplace. You might also want to add accessories, like skis or a set of antlers. Hang Artwork and Curtains Now, it’s time to finish off your room by hanging artwork and curtains. This is where you can really make your space your own. For a beach vacation-inspired place, you might want to hang some artwork that reminds you of the beach, like a painting of the ocean, a photograph of the sunset, and a pair of white linen or blue and white striped curtains. If you want your room to recollect a trip spent in the mountains, you might want to hang some artwork that reminds you of the hills, like a painting of the snowy peaks or a photograph of the forest and a pair of brown velvet or plaid flannel curtains. Conclusion Whether you’re a disciple of the “No Clutter” school of thought or you’re a fan of “Go big or go home,” you can still get inspired by travel and start planning and plotting your next vacation whether you’ve got a couple of weeks off – or even just a few days. So why not incorporate that inspiration into your interior design? With so many ideas out there, the last thing you want to do is get stuck in a rut. So start with the best room in your house, and let the road be your guide! Once you’re done, sit back and enjoy your new space. You’ll be surprised at how different it feels when you’ve put your own personal touches on it. Have fun!
Buying a home is a long and tiresome process. Regardless of the current market conditions, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that come into it. However, a few well-hidden secrets can make the whole affair much more manageable. With their help, you could find and buy a suitable home faster than you might think. Whether you are after a cheap freehold estate located in the Thomson Garden enclave or want to settle for a humble abode somewhere in the suburbs, you can get your dream home without breaking the bank. All it takes is following a few simple steps. For starters, you should inspect the property and its surroundings. This way, you can find out if the neighborhood is good and if there are any security issues you should know about. Other than that, you might want to have the house inspected, get pre-approved for a mortgage, and hire an experienced real estate agent. Looking for homes under your budget so you can bid up is also a good idea. Here are a few valuable tips for buying a home to help you get the best offer in an ultra-competitive seller’s market: Commission a Home Inspection The home inspection process is critical to uncover any potential problems with the property before you buy it. A professional real estate inspector will thoroughly examine the property, its systems, equipment, and proximity to neighboring residences. The inspector will also check for various structural defects, such as cracked foundations and rotten wood, water damage, or electrical faults. If some issues are discovered, you might have to replace an old water heater, strengthen the foundation, or resolve problems with the floor, for example by getting some reclaimed terracotta tiles. It would be best to look for an experienced inspector with a good reputation in the industry. Once you know about all the issues, you can use them to negotiate a lower price. A good inspector will also recommend the necessary repairs that you can do without breaking the bank. If you are not pressed for time and have a little more cash on hand, you should consider purchasing the property at a lower price and paying for some inexpensive fixes or doing them yourself. This way, you can significantly reduce the cost of buying a home. Check the Neighborhood When looking for a new home, it is essential to research the neighborhood and see if it is the right fit for you. Fortunately, many online resources can help you learn more about a particular area. It would be best to look for crime rates, schools in the area, and the amenities nearby. You should also drive around the neighborhood at different times of the day to get a feel for the place. Remember to ask around about the reputation of the neighborhood. If it is safe, you can live there for years without worrying about break-ins or assaults. Furthermore, you should pay attention to things like local traffic and noise levels as well as the overall development rate. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage If you plan to finance your new home with a mortgage, it is a good idea to get pre-approved for one. Doing so will give you an idea of how much money you can borrow and what your monthly payments will be. Lenders give pre-approval letters after verifying your income and appropriate credit rating. Once you have it, you will be able to bid on all homes in your price range with the confidence that they will provide you with a loan. Otherwise, you might end up bidding on a property you can’t or can barely afford. It would be best to shop around for the best mortgage rate before applying for a loan. You can use an online mortgage calculator to compare rates from different lenders. Hire an Experienced Real Estate Agent It is a common mistake to begin your home search on your own. However, this approach is unlikely to get you good results. This is because the real estate market can be quite tricky to navigate. Besides, it requires a vast amount of knowledge to understand everything it entails. To get the best price for your home, you should enlist the help of an experienced real estate agent. They will have access to listings that are not yet on the market and can help you negotiate a better price. As a general rule, only experienced agents can evaluate the market conditions accurately, so they can offer you a suitable price. On the other hand, if you go with a fresh-faced agent, chances are their inexperience will negatively impact your sale price. Look for Homes Under Your Budget One of the most important parts of the home buying process is finding a nice place you can afford. When searching for a new home, it is a good idea to look for properties priced below your budget. This way, you will have some room to negotiate when making an offer. You could start looking for homes online or in print. Once you find a few that might be suitable, you can schedule an appointment with a real estate agent to take a look at them. The more properties you visit, the better. This way, you can compare and contrast each home to see which one meets your needs. If it turns out that none of them does, you can look for another one. It is better to wait for a cheaper home instead of paying more and having a mortgage that will only work against you in the long run. Make sure you don’t bid more than what you can! Conclusion Buying a home is one of the best investments you can make. It offers outstanding potential returns and will give you a place to call your own. However, such an endeavor is not easy, and it takes extensive knowledge to succeed. You will need to handle a lot of things and, most importantly,
Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “During the first few months of the pandemic, the job security of construction workers was thrown into serious doubt, and sadly tens of thousands of employees lost their jobs. However, the latest ONS data shows that the situation has really turned around. “At its peak in summer 2020, almost 30,000 workers were made redundant over a three-month period (July-September). “In contrast, the data released this month shows that just 3,000 people in the industry lost their jobs between March and May. While this is obviously still 3,000 too many, it shows a significant improvement. “In fact, 3,000 is the lowest that this figure has ever been, since records began thirteen years ago in 2009. “Elsewhere, average wages are on the rise, which, in the context of a major cost of living crisis, will be a welcome relief to many, albeit slight. Typical weekly earnings rose by £20 to £714, which is the second highest average ever recorded. “It’s really good news that redundancies are on the decline, and pay is increasing, but this pattern will have to continue in the coming months in order to offset the financial hardship that the country is currently experiencing.” For more information on IronmongeryDirect, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/ For more information on ElectricalDirect, visit: https://www.electricaldirect.co.uk/ References:
Building services engineering consultants FHP has seen strong growth following new work to support multi-million-pound projects across the UK and a healthy forward order book. The company, which provides mechanical, electrical and public health building services design and building physics engineering to national commercial, industrial, leisure, education, residential and infrastructure real estate, investors, developers and contractors, has reported a 12%increase in turnover in the last six months – its best half year performance to date. With offices in Leeds andLondon, FHP is on track to hit £3.5 million in turnover in 2022 with £2 million worth of new orders secured, including mechanical, electrical and public health services work on the new £62 million Hyatt Hotel Leeds for Ivegate. The firm is supporting a £12 million industrial warehouse unit development for Harworth Group in south Yorkshire and the £31 million luxury residential development in Leeds for developer Priestley Homes. Other projects include Labcorp’s new life science UK centre of excellence in Leeds’ Temple District and building consultancy services for new multi-million-pound roadside salt cellar depots being built nationally for National Highways. Further seven-figures worth of work in the pipeline in core sectors and beyond its traditional north of England markets, will contribute to further growth as FHP looks ahead to continued expansion on the back of a strategic development and a growth plan. With 52 people currently employed across its two offices, the firm is set to invest in additional resources to support growth and meet demand. Director James Taylor saidFHP, which was established in 2009, had seen a good start to the first six months of 2022 on the back of hard work, resurgent business confidence and a record of resolving complex engineering issues in building services and building physics engineering. He said: “We are currently busier than ever and involved in developing new projects right across the region and beyond, which is very encouraging and contributing to driving growth. As our customers’ own development plans come to fruition, we are experiencing strong demand for value and technically driven building services engineering solutions, building physics design and technical skills. “We are confident about the future despite some economic uncertainties and expect the sectors we support to remain busy. We have strong clients, who are keen to work with us and utilise our expertise, and look forward to meeting and exceeding their needs from both of our offices.”
Major construction work at Scotland’s newest leisure and staycation destination, Wavegarden Scotland, got underway today in Ratho, near Edinburgh. The £55m landmark development will be the country’s first inland surfing destination using revolutionary new technology. The Wavegarden Scotland development is expected to open to the public in Summer 2024 – boosting long term socio-economic, recreational and tourism benefits including creating up to 130 jobs once open, generating up to £11m for the local economy and attracting over 180,000 visitors each year. Civil engineering and groundworks specialists Malcolm Construction is the firm appointed to build the groundbreaking destination which will include – in addition to Scotland’s first surf park – a surf school, overnight accommodation, a waterfront café and restaurant and retail spaces. Malcolm Construction has overseen the construction of some of Scotland’s most iconic sporting and leisure developments, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village, the temporary athletics track at Hampden Park for the games and the 14,000 capacity Hydro arena at the SEC in Glasgow. Doig+Smith will oversee the management of the major project and have enlisted support from environmental design consultants Atelier Ten, architects Oberlanders, landscape architects HarrisonStevens, engineering consultants Ramage Young and property experts Colliers. Andy Hadden, founder of Tartan Leisure Ltd which is developing Wavegarden Scotland said: “It has taken many years of hard work and collaboration to get to this point and we could not be happier to see work begin on Scotland’s first inland surf park. “There has been extensive preparatory work going on behind the scenes with financial backers and with our design team and partners to ensure that this new facility will be a world-class leisure destination. Beginning construction work is a special moment for all of the team and marks a major milestone in our journey. “All of the firms appointed to work with us come with strong reputations in their respective field of engineering and project management and I am pleased they share our vision to deliver one of Scotland’s largest leisure attractions this century.” Walter Malcolm, Managing Director of Malcolm Construction said: “Everyone at Malcolm Construction is excited to be part of this innovative project. We have extensive experience of delivering complex engineering works and we look forward to working with the Wavegarden Scotland team to deliver such an important attraction for Scotland.” Gordon McLintock, Director of Doig+Smith added: “We have been providing project management, cost management, principal designer and supervisor services for the project so it’s incredibly exciting to see the project start to become a reality. We have extensive experience in large scale projects such as this including the new Port of Aberdeen project, substantial works over many years at both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, and multiple education projects across the country in both the private and public sectors. We consider it a privilege to be part of the team bringing Scotland’s first inland surf park to life.” The development, set within a 60-acre country park, will use the latest wave generation technology called The Cove, developed by Wavegarden in Spain. The site will host surfers of all abilities who can ride the 1,000 bespoke ocean-like waves created per hour. Wavegarden is an innovative engineering company and has an extremely high growth potential in the surf park sector with more than 60 projects currently in development across the globe, seven facilities operating successfully and seven projects currently under construction across four continents.
Flat roofs are currently among the top trending commercial and residential property designs. Moreover, interior décor and property magazines now feature flat roof properties in their listings. This might lead you to wonder: ‘What is so tempting about flat roofs that slanted roof designs are missing?’ Well, flat roofs are popular for several reasons. Flat roofs provide a cheap alternative for small businesses needing a tiny space for operations. However, small space units became increasingly hard to achieve with sloped and curved roofing designs. The desire for small living units due to changing lifestyles and the growing need for small office spaces has fuelled the demand for flat roof properties. The trend is primarily driven by consumer demand for clean, simplistic, and futuristic designs for properties with flat roofs. Apart from the simplistic aesthetic appeal, especially when paired with OptiLight roof windows or similar stylish ones, flat roofs are cheaper and easy to maintain. Additionally, insurance companies have started to offer personalised policies for businesses that construct, repair, maintain, or retrofit flat roofs, which is a crucial consideration when hiring the right contractor. The cover protects the numerous industry-related risks. You may be wondering how to go about installing a flat roof. Here are six factors to consider: Your roof’s slope determines the rate of flow of precipitation. The greater the elevation, the higher the velocity. A flat roof is not entirely ‘flat’ to facilitate gravity-aided drainage. A slight slope also prevents leaves and other foreign debris from accumulating on the roof. Therefore, the flat roof should have a slight and well-balanced tilt to prevent stagnation of water and debris, which is essential to its longevity. If you’re brainstorming on a better design for your roof or planning a flat roof replacement, it would be proactive to consult a qualified contractor. If it’s relatively calm where your home is, you’ll have to do regular cleaning to remove debris and leaves that accumulate on the flat roof. A regular cleaning routine helps to ease the flow of water from the roof to the gutters, but you must determine whether the existing drainage system works well with your flat roof. The process should be easy if you plan to erect a building right from the foundation. However, if you plan to replace a sloping roof with a flat one, it would be advisable to consult property developers. The contractors will determine if the flat roofing will match your roof drainage system and advise you about any modifications that will be needed. Flat roofs provide enough space at the top for water storage tanks and even water pools. Yet they also have a structural load limit. You may have opted for a flat roof because of its better storage space. Thus, if you’re planning on having more loads on top of the roof, ensure that it’s constructed using the correct materials to withstand enough pressure. This will ensure that the roof remains durable. R-value defines a roof’s resistance to heat transfer. High R-values insulate heat properly, and the same is true vice-versa. The R-value also depends on the roofing materials. A relatively hot area requires roofing materials with high R-values for proper insulation, whereas a house in a colder region can do with lower R-values. A good contractor should be able to guide you on the specific R-values needed for your roof. The edges of a flat roof tend to be sensitive to strong winds compared to a slanted roof. Hence, it would be better to assess the wind speed in your location. If the place is windy, invest in more durable building materials to withstand the pressure and ensure your roof isn’t blown easily at the first sign of a storm. Before settling for a flat roof, check the deck’s structural integrity below the older roof. A deck that adequately bears the weight of a slanted roof should also be capable of supporting a flat roof. A heavy or unstable roofing deck can affect the stability of a flat roof. However, this shouldn’t be a problem if you can reconstruct your roof decking to uphold structural integrity. Conclusion When choosing a new roof, you’d want to consider flat designs because they’re simplistic, cheaper, and easy to maintain than curved and slanted roofs. Before installation, consider factors like drainage, maintenance routing, and the maximum load the roof can hold. For the best results, always go for a roofing contractor with vast expertise in installing flat roofs. It’s better if they’re insured to cover for any potential damage.
Appointment serves as the second, repeat appointment in quick succession following the announcement in January of a project to build 500,000 sq ft across three units at a site in Peterborough. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed for the second time by commercial real estate investor and developer Firethorn Trust, to deliver its 93,984 sq ft last-mile logistics scheme, Blueprint Erith in South East London. The project will see the demolition and site clearance of an existing warehouse and external concrete yard, followed by the construction of four modern single storey terraced warehouse units, having a clear height to underside of haunch of 12 metres. It will also feature 12,000 sq ft of internal first floor office accommodation together with open storage, while external site works include hardstanding’s, car parking, landscaping and drainage. With a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ certification, the development is being constructed to net-zero carbon with 15% rooflight coverage, 13 EV charging points and LED lighting. A Photovoltaic ‘ready’ roof structure will also provide capabilities for future full PV coverage. To mark the start of construction and the appointment, a ground breaking ceremony was recently staged onsite featuring executives from both Glencar and Firethorn. During the occasion various aspects of the enabling work were highlighted with progress onsite already significantly advanced. Speaking about the contract award Roy Jones Glencar Managing Director London and South said: “Glencar prides itself on long-term customer relationships and partnership built upon the principles of trust and understanding leading to repeat business. On that basis receiving this instruction in quick succession is testament to the growing and beneficial relationship we are building with the team at Firethorn and we are proud to be delivering for them again”. Paul Martin, Development Director at Firethorn Trust, continued: “Glencar has a strong track record in delivering high-quality industrial schemes, and we are delighted to appoint them for a second time on what is a strategically important project for Firethorn. “The team has demonstrated great knowledge and expertise, putting forward the latest products and innovations to benefit our occupiers, both now and for the future, whilst enabling us to deliver on our commitment to sustainability. We look forward to working with the team again to bring Blueprint Erith to life.” Glencar is due to start on site this month and the project is due for completion in Q1 2023. The project team includes Quartz Project Services Ltd, Stephen George & Partners and Burrows Graham.
RSE (Ross-shire Engineering) has awarded Barhale a key civil engineering package as part of its £55M rebuilding and refurbishment project at South Staffs Water’s Hampton Loade water treatment works. RSE is an engineering group that specialises in the design, build and maintenance of water treatment and water recycling equipment. RSE is undertaking a programme to increase capacity at the works through the introduction of a third water treatment process stream. Civil engineering and infrastructure specialist, Barhale, will deliver the civil engineering element comprising piling, construction of the reinforced concrete bases, and the installation of pipework and a large concrete tank. The Hampton Loade water treatment works, near Bridgnorth in Shropshire, has a capacity to produce 210 million litres of high-quality water a day and supplies around 700,000 customers. The works will help pave the way for an innovative and environmentally sustainable ceramic membrane-based water-filtration system to be installed in the largest deployment of its kind in the UK. Once completed, the new treatment process will significantly reduce energy consumption and Barhale’s James Ingamells, director, believes that the development at Hampton Loade is a fantastic illustration of how the water sector is taking action to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. “This is a very significant project and one which really demonstrates the kind of innovation and thinking that’s going on to help improve environmental performance,” he said. “We are looking forward to working alongside RSE to deliver what we think will be a new benchmark for water treatment in the UK.” The works form part of South Staffs Water’s AMP7 upgrade programme which is focused on the Hampton Loade water treatment works and the Seedy Mill water treatment works near Lichfield. It will contribute to South Staffs Water’s long-term strategy to develop the sites – continually improving the quality of water supplied to customers in the region. The project is due to be completed in summer 2024.
THE education sector is well versed in procuring built environment work. However, current market constraints, the latest statistics on the level of work needed across school estates and the lack of associated funding means that it will not be an easy road for many. Emma Hesbrook, regional manager at national framework provider Pagabo, discusses how compliant procurement through frameworks and a direct award approach can support schools with their building programmes. 61 schools have been announced this week as successful in securing funding from the government’s school rebuilding programme. Although, this number is a drop in the ocean when compared to the fact that 1,105 schools applied for support within a short four-week window earlier this year. With the Department for Education (DfE) planning to support 500 projects in the next decade, that means more than half of this batch of applicants are likely to miss out on funding altogether – and considering the DfE has previously revealed that more than £11 billion of repair work is needed across England’s schools, this is significantly short of what is needed. To qualify for this latest allocation of funding, schools had to demonstrate that they had at least 1,200 square metres of ‘severe condition need’ to apply. The government has quite rightly prioritised applications with ‘structural or safety issues that pose risk to users’, followed by those showing ‘severe deterioration’ in external walls, roofs, windows or doors, or those with mechanical and electrical systems ‘close to failure’. However, outside of these categories there are thousands of schools that require refurbishment work that are just as important. As well as maintenance, another consideration is the drive towards net zero. Almost 70 per cent of schools around the country comprise of buildings from before the 2000s – with 20 per cent dating back to the first half of the 20th century or even earlier. There are no prizes for guessing when education providers prefer – or rely on – construction work to be undertaken considering that summer offers the largest annual window in which sites are significantly quieter. Post-covid, summer has provided an ideal concentrated timespan to get building work, critical repair or maintenance work done. With such a significant number of schools needing work and likely to miss out on funding, it’s fair to assume that next summer will be busier than ever with summer works – and we may see a marked increase in works during term time as well. When it comes to carrying out education projects in recent months, we have seen an increase in contractors turning projects off and turning their backs on expensive bidding opportunities. This comes as no real surprise when considering the backdrop of rising costs, and materials and labour shortages across the construction industry – but it has given the direct award process a new lease of life in the procurement realm. We know that clients have existing supply chain relationships, which must be nurtured. While framework providers are capable of consulting and opening up a network of compliant suppliers, there is intangible value found in building on existing collaboration, which direct award can allow. The direct award approach is one that can work for both low and high-value projects, offering benefits including greater cost and programme certainty, tailored social value outcomes and no stressful or costly bidding process. It also allows for a quick turnaround for supplier appointment, without compensating on compliance checks. One such example of a recent scheme that maximised the benefits of the direct award process is Nottingham College. The team approached us in April for a low value project to be completed this summer. The expression of interest went to market via our DPS and Medium Works framework, but with suppliers oversubscribed with work to assign the necessary bidding resource to the project, a direct award was suggested. Local contractor J Tomlinson was appointed quickly via direct award, getting the project on track and on site within weeks – and is now making excellent progress against the original programme timetable. Schools craft our experts of tomorrow and without the best environments, pupils’ learning experience will be impacted. This is why it’s so important that the built environment sector looks to support schools with creating those excellent environments, and while funding continues to fall short for schools, we must champion tactics like direct award to help schools in creating the environments they need however and where we can. For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson and its partners Arc Partnership and Perfect Circle have donated more than £35,000 in services to end-of-life charity partner Treetops Hospice, as part of its Local Communities Partnership Programme. During the last 12 months, G F Tomlinson has been working closely with the hospice to provide advice and project management services on a pro bono basis, to aid in Treetops’ aims to improve its estate, including staff offices and external landscaping at its main site in Risley, Derbyshire. The Local Communities Partnership Programme is a collaborative initiative developed by G F Tomlinson, which is aimed at supporting communities and charitable bodies within the region. It is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering social, economic and environmental benefits to the local communities in which it works through the SCAPE Regional Construction framework, a direct award framework that drives collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings. Treetops Hospice, which provides care and support to more than 3,000 local people every year, was selected as the finalist following a ‘Dragon’s Den’-style event last year. G F Tomlinson and its partners, Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, and Perfect Circle, have provided over 325 hours of time and expertise to the hospice, equating to £35,000, and is the equivalent cost for Treetops Hospice to do one of the following: provide an at-home nursing service for five weeks allow for nurses to be at the bedside of 324 terminally ill people allow for roaming nurses to respond to 515 calls for help during the night allow for its counsellors to be there for more than 90 children when someone close to them passes away Working together, the partners have provided Treetops with designs and budget advice for landscaping and boardwalk improvements to increase safety and accessibility of their grounds. They have also provided professional services for structural assessment, design and costing to enable the reconfiguration of hospice offices and backroom spaces to provide improved working areas for their dedicated and caring staff. Architecture, mechanical and electrical design were provided by Arc Partnership. The landscape architecture and structural engineering services were delivered by built environment consultancy Pick Everard – operating under Perfect Circle’s unique collaboration. Treetops Hospice will now use the information provided to prioritise the works and secure sufficient funding to make the improvements. To support the Treetops Hospice’s master planning for the wider estate in Risley, supply chain partners Gleeds and Amptron have provided condition surveys for the buildings and M&E systems. This will enable the hospice to plan ahead for future maintenance requirements to ensure facilities remain safe and functional. As an evolution of G F Tomlinson’s partnership with the hospice, the firm is also supporting Treetops with the refurbishment of its charity shop in Sandiacre, providing costing and project management services to ensure the condition of the building is fit for purpose. In preparing for the work G F Tomlinson sourced competitive quotes from specialist sub-contractors and programmed the works around the live shop environment. Mechanical contractor Miller Freeman was kind enough to carry out its work free of charge bringing further benefit to Treetops. Works on the shop refurbishment are currently underway and are being overseen by one of G F Tomlinson’s Site Managers. The works will complete later this month. Chris Flint, managing director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are very proud to be continuing our partnership with Treetops Hospice 12 months after the leading charity were selected as the finalist of our Local Communities Partnership Programme. “With dedication from the team at G F Tomlinson and our partners Arc Partnership and Perfect Circle, we have been able to provide advice, design and costing work to help bring Treetops’ plans for its hospice facility and grounds to life. As a Derbyshire-based business that is highly active in the East and West Midlands, we feel it is extremely important to give back to the local communities in which we operate. “Social value is a cornerstone of our business, and a fundamental part of our ongoing relationship with SCAPE through its Regional Construction framework, so we wanted to partner with other like-minded regional organisations in the industry to collaborate on and contribute towards a highly beneficial outcome for a local charity that provides support and care to thousands of patients and their families every year.” Julie Heath, chief executive officer at Treetops Hospice, said: “We know we face challenging financial times ahead as the cost-of-living increases. It’s going to be tough. The support and technical information provided by G F Tomlinson and their partners will help us to apply for funding to undertake major and much-needed maintenance projects. Their help is also helping us to keep the hospice in an excellent state of repair for all our patients.” Managing director of Perfect Circle Victoria Brambini said: “We are proud to continue to support this joint partnership with G F Tomlinson. Community-focused initiatives sit at the core of our ethos, with Treetops Hospice benefitting from a collaborative model that creates value at the heart of the public sector. Together with SCAPE, our aim is to help deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the Local Communities Partnership Programme.” Sara Williams, head of pre-construction at Arc Partnership said: “At Arc, we pride ourselves on delivering real value together and supporting our local communities. Not for profit organisations like Treetops Hospice play a vital role supporting people in the region at the most challenging times of their lives, and we are delighted to have been able to collaborate with our partners, G F Tomlinson and Perfect Circle to develop improvement plans for Treetop Hospice’s estate and support them in providing these crucial services.”
