Pick Everard announces ambitious business strategy to become the first-choice consultancy in the industry Collaboration forms a key part of all five of the firm’s strategic pillars Key commitments include achieving net carbon zero by the end of the year and a pledge to invest five per cent of turnover
Due to recent successes, national Architects, GSSArchitecture, are delighted to announce the opening of a new collaboration hub in the heart of Leeds. With offices in Kettering, Gloucester, Harrogate, Milton Keynes and Newcastle, the Practice is opening another space in the Yorkshire area to further build on their presence in
Following the successful national rollout of award-winning, net zero carbon hoarding solution, EnviroHoard™, Panthera Group is delighted to announce it has been awarded a sole supplier nationwide framework by John Sisk & Son. The move follows the publication of Sisk’s ambitious road map that defines targets and actions to reduce
There were more than a few murmurs of discontent and surprise when FIFA announced their World Cup 2022 would be staged in Qatar. There were a few reasons for the surprise of football fans across the globe. This will be the first World Cup played in the Arab World and
Workplace injuries can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. They can lead to missed work, lost wages, and other complications. In fact, workplace injuries are the leading cause of disability in the United States. When a workplace injury occurs, it’s important to know the key ways to reduce your chances
If you’re still manually handling your company’s bidding process, you might miss out on the perks of using automation tools or software. With complex documents and tight deadlines, keeping track of various bids can be a real challenge, and using the right tools can make a huge difference between losing
When you hear the term ‘industrial revolution’ – what does it bring to mind? Perhaps factories in Victorian-era Great Britain and images of archaic locomotives (scenes which came to Australian shores by the mid-late 1800s). Did you know that this revolution is just the first of four that have changed
Small items like screws, nails and other fasteners can easily get misplaced or lost if you do not have an effective storage solution. To ensure you can always find the fasteners you need when you need them, check out the following five helpful storage tips. 1. Buy an Organiser with
South Seaham Garden Village has taken a huge step forward with landowner Tolent completing the land sale to a trio of developers including Karbon Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes. The completion of the deal means construction of the project, which was awarded garden village status back in 2019, can
Commercial property and investment company Evolve Estates has acquired two prime town centre parades in the North Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough. It has added to its burgeoning retail portfolio The Balmoral Centre, a 57,339 sq ft covered retail centre anchored by Wilko, and Bar House, on Aberdeen Walk, which
Pick Everard announces ambitious business strategy to become the first-choice consultancy in the industry Collaboration forms a key part of all five of the firm’s strategic pillars Key commitments include achieving net carbon zero by the end of the year and a pledge to invest five per cent of turnover into innovation and new technology PICK Everard has today announced its new business strategy, which outlines a commitment to creating a collaborative, prosperous and sustainable future for all to benefit from, along with ambitions to be the most highly regarded consultant in the property and construction industry. The announcement comes after the firm’s most successful year to date, having achieved a turnover of £58.8m and a 17 per cent growth in its staff body. The multi-disciplinary consultancy now has more than 600 employees across its national network of 14 offices, with further growth set over the coming years. Managing Partner Duncan Green said: “Despite the worldwide challenges faced over the past year, together we have made it one of the most significant and successful in our 156-year history. It is the agility and determination of our people that has allowed us to navigate the national challenges of the last two years and come through stronger than ever – and with new ways of working that benefit our people, our clients and the wider industry too. “We have been enjoying a period of sustained growth, and with a strong pipeline of work and continued success in projects and frameworks appointments, we have examined our business strategy to outline the vision that underpins our journey. Collaboration forms a key part of all five of our strategic pillars, focusing on ‘delivering better together’ for our teams, our clients, communities and for the planet.” Pick Everard places huge value on fostering excellent company culture, with regular staff engagement shaping its approach as a business. The firm strives to be an industry leader in diverse recruitment – driven by its attitude to individuality and openness. Focused on building a talent density that perpetuates success and a commitment to train the industry leaders of tomorrow, the strategy includes the implementation of practice-wide award-winning career support mechanisms, including the Pick Everard Professional Map. This provides the pathway of the technical skills, behavioural competencies, role expectations and core values needed for personal progression, which together with the firm’s RISE mentoring programme will give staff the tools needed to achieve their career aspirations. To reflect its collaborative and client-oriented attitude, Pick Everard has evolved its internal structure to increase efficiencies and better meet the requirements of its clients. This evolution includes the creation of strategic account director roles to ensure even closer collaboration between the firm’s multi-disciplinary services to collectively. focus on the consistent delivery of excellent results for its clients. Pick Everard aims to achieve third party certification to support its strategy – namely ISO44001, which centres on collaborative business relationships. This accreditation seeks to build and support long-term partnership approaches that will increase project delivery success, manage risk, and promote best practice. The firm will also continue to build on its strong track record of outperforming competition in providing the best consultancy, choice, and services for its clients, aided by appointments on key national frameworks including Crown Commercial Services, ESPO, NHS Shared Business Services, Pagabo, and SCAPE. Duncan said: “Continuous improvement is embedded deeply in our culture, making sure that not only are we a leader in promoting new industry best practice, but also an early adopter of technology and innovations that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our actions. Our pledge to invest at least five per cent of annual turnover in innovation and technology will ensure we push forwards with the best solutions to meet clients’ needs on every scheme. “Our open attitude to sharing expertise allows us to upskill and inform our clients and key stakeholders, leaving a legacy of best practice and understanding wherever we work. This, along with our ambitions to be a leader in supply chain management and SME engagement, ensures that the projects we deliver provide communities with the high-quality assets that will have a positive impact on the way they, and future generations, will live, work, learn, and play.” Building on an excellent reputation for its approach to sustainability within project work, Pick Everard has been on a journey to drive down its own carbon footprint. It now pledges to become carbon neutral by the end of 2022. Duncan said: “We place sustainability and tackling the climate crisis with carbon neutral solutions central to any project, so there is no question that we must lead by example when it comes to the environment. On our own journey to net zero, we have been making great strides but will go even further, becoming a carbon neutral business by within 2022. “Delivering better together’ is not just a phrase, it’s a definition of our culture and the way of life at Pick Everard. It defines our approach to our people, our teams, our clients, and the communities and environment in which we live. We pride ourselves in our aim to create a better future and leave a positive and lasting legacy wherever we work.” For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.
Due to recent successes, national Architects, GSSArchitecture, are delighted to announce the opening of a new collaboration hub in the heart of Leeds. With offices in Kettering, Gloucester, Harrogate, Milton Keynes and Newcastle, the Practice is opening another space in the Yorkshire area to further build on their presence in the Leeds region and to better meet the needs of both their clients and architectural teams. Based in the centre of the city, with fantastic views of the River Aire, the hub sits at the southern gateway to Leeds City Centre, with excellent motorway links, and only a short walk from the southern entrance to Leeds Train Station and the City Centre. The flexible and engaging space will provide the GSS team with a base from which to meet and engage with consultants and clients alike. With several business lounges and breakout areas, the collaboration hub’s adaptive suite of spaces and geographical location are well suited to support the continued growth plans of the Practice. Jonathan Hunter, Partner at GSS, said, “The new Leeds collaboration hub marks the next exciting step in our continued growth plans for the Yorkshire region and has come about following several recent appointments and having secured places on frameworks with two major clients in the region. This will increase our ability to be collaborative and further build on our practice values.” Founded over 140 years ago, GSS have an extensive portfolio in a range of sectors. To find out how they can help with an upcoming project, please visit www.gssarchitecture.com
Following the successful national rollout of award-winning, net zero carbon hoarding solution, EnviroHoard™, Panthera Group is delighted to announce it has been awarded a sole supplier nationwide framework by John Sisk & Son. The move follows the publication of Sisk’s ambitious road map that defines targets and actions to reduce the company’s waste intensity by 50%. Using EnviroHoard™ enables the company to make a start on its waste reduction journey at the boundary of every project. It is widely acknowledged that the construction industry accounts for approximately 60% of material use and a third of all waste in the UK. Traditional painted plywood hoarding exacerbates the problem when it reaches end of life as it is often disposed to landfill. EnviroHoard™ was conceived to eliminate the use of timber and plywood and embrace a circular economy concept of recyclability and reusability. The system’s uPVC panels are manufactured from post-industrial uPVC and can be used multiple times before being recycled. The part recycled galvanised steel frame and ultra-low carbon blocks are also designed for re-use over many projects. With a view to adopting circular economy principles into the business from 2023, Sisk undertook a comprehensive appraisal of EnviroHoard™, culminating in the decision to award the national framework. Craig Murphy, Supply Chain Director of John Sisk & Sons Ltd, oversaw the negotiations; “We are delighted to have recently renewed our strategic partnership with Panthera Group. It is a partnership that we feel will continue to generate great value for our business and that is underpinned by a significant strategic alignment between the two organisations. As part of our 2030 Sustainability Roadmap Sisk has committed to reducing our carbon and waste intensity through adopting circular principles. Panthera’s EnviroHoard™ hoarding system, which has been verified as net zero carbon, ensures our site teams can further contribute towards our drive to decarbonise our projects”. Sisk analysed the benefit of EnviroHoard™ on an assumed project of two years and found that the system would offer 70% lower embodied carbon reduction than the equivalent plywood hoarding method, along with additional climate positive benefits including carbon offsetting and tree planting directly attributable to the individual project. Unlike plywood hoarding which requires on-going maintenance, EnviroHoard™ offers zero maintenance cost saving benefits. Using a typical installation example of 2500m of EnviroHoard™ versus plywood hoarding, the figures were compelling: Embodied carbon saving of 177.14 tCO2e 211 trees planted Equivalent of taking approximately 60 family sized cards off the road Saving an estimated 100 no. 30-50-year-old softwood trees from being needlessly cut down Of note to the team was that the longer the project duration the higher the carbon embodiment saving. A further unintended consequence of using EnviroHoard™ is the cost savings against the purchase of traditional hoarding due to the global rise in the price of timber. Neal James, Managing Director of Panthera Group, is delighted that his decision to invest in a net zero hoarding system has been vindicated with another framework award; “This is fantastic news for all the team at Panthera and testament to the credibility of EnviroHoard’s™’ sustainability credentials and the commercial viability of the product. Our relationship with Sisk goes back over 10 years and this is our second framework award; this time as a sole supplier. We are looking forward to supporting Sisk’s decarbonisation goals over the coming years”.
There were more than a few murmurs of discontent and surprise when FIFA announced their World Cup 2022 would be staged in Qatar. There were a few reasons for the surprise of football fans across the globe. This will be the first World Cup played in the Arab World and the first tournament of its kind not to be played during June and July. World Cup 2022 will occur between November and December, with the final played a week before Christmas. This measure was brought in to help safeguard players, officials and spectators against the searing temperatures of summer in Qatar. Qatar isn’t a nation known for its love of football. Still, FIFA was blown away by Qatar’s bid, with organisers promising a competition that leaves a legacy of comfort, accessibility and sustainability. Plans were put in place to build brand new sports stadiums capable of hosting thousands of fans and the world’s top players. It was difficult to imagine Qatar having the infrastructure in place to host football’s best-loved games. Still, as we approach the opening ceremony and big kick-off in game one, everything looks to fall into place for Qatar. The World Cup is fast-approaching, and fans can begin to dream of a memorable month of play with the stadium builds on schedule. Followers have been busy preparing for the matches, buying merchandise, planning watch parties and even making predictions on which side will lift the famous trophy. Betting apps specialising in major sports allow registered members to bet on NFL games, horse races, and NBA matches are able to wager on the World Cup. Pick the nation you expect to win the tournament or play one of the many exciting specials offered on the outright and each fixture. Qatar will be competing in the World Cup for the first time, having secured a place without having to qualify due to their status as the home nation. Fans hope that home advantage gives their players an edge, but what can we expect from the stadiums in Qatar? Let’s look at three stadiums you will become familiar with this winter. Lusail Iconic Stadium This will be the main attraction of Qatar 2022 and will host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the final match, where the venue will be packed to its 80,000 capacity. This nation’s biggest stadium enjoys excellent transport links, located less than 25km from Doha. Construction of the Lusail Iconic Stadium began in April 2017 and is on course to be unveiled in time for the first game. The opening ceremony and first round of matches from the World Cup will double as an introduction to this arena which was designed by British giants of construction Foster and Partners with Populous and MANICA Architecture. Solar power will keep the stadium cool and leave a zero carbon footprint. Some of the games you can expect to find at Lusail Iconic Stadium include Argentina v Saudi Arabia, Brazil v Serbia and Portugal v Uruguay during the group stages. It will also provide the backdrop for Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and the final matches. Al Bayt Stadium This is the second most important stadium of the World Cup, and with a 60,000 capacity, this state-of-the-art venue will provide the backdrop for some crucial matches. Another stadium that will be unveiled in time for the World Cup, the likes of England, Spain and Germany will play here during the groups. Al Bayt Stadium, which is 35km from Doha, also hosts Round of 16, a quarter-final and a semi-final. Al Thumama Stadium Complete with a 40,000-seater capacity, Al Thumama Stadium is the third biggest in Qatar and will play a major role in hosting the tournament. One of the more interesting stadiums, it was designed by Ibrahim Jaidah, who is the chief architect of the Arab Engineering Bureau. This stadium has a bit of a jump on the others as it has seen competitive action before November, having hosted the Emir Cup Final played last October. It was awarded the MIPIM/Architectural Review Future Project Reward in the sports and stadiums category.
Workplace injuries can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. They can lead to missed work, lost wages, and other complications. In fact, workplace injuries are the leading cause of disability in the United States. When a workplace injury occurs, it’s important to know the key ways to reduce your chances of getting injured in the first place. If your company is liable for the injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation. You can hire a personal injury lawyer that’s dedicated to helping those injured on the job. There are also some things you can do to reduce your chances of getting injured in the first place. Follow All Safety Protocols And Guidelines Make sure all safety protocols and guidelines are followed at all times. This includes things like wearing the correct equipment, using proper tools, and avoiding dangerous work environments. Stay Alert And Watch For Hazards Be alert for any potential hazards on the job site. This includes things like unstable ground, slippery surfaces, and electrical hazards. Make sure you know how to safely handle these hazards. Report Injuries Immediately If you’re injured on the job, immediately report the injury to your supervisor or manager. Let them know what happened, what you did to avoid getting injured, and what steps you’ll be taking to ensure a similar incident doesn’t happen again. Educate Employees And Customers About Safety Make sure everyone knows about workplace safety. This includes educating employees and customers about the dangers of workplace injuries, how to avoid them, and what to do if they happen. What To Do In A Workplace Injury When a workplace injury occurs, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This includes getting checked for injuries that may not be immediately visible, such as concussions. After you’ve received the care that you need, it’s time to explore your options moving forward. The severity of your injury will determine whether or not you can return to work. In most cases, you’ll be allowed to return following a doctor’s approval and a complete evaluation. Returning to work too soon can lead to further injury, so it’s important to seek the advice of an experienced workplace injury attorney. If you’re left permanently disabled from a workplace injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. In most cases, you’ll need to file an application with your state’s department of labor. Be Prepared For The Future Make sure you’re prepared for any workplace injury that may occur in the future. This includes keeping up to date on safety protocols, understanding your employer’s liability policy, and having a financial plan in case of an injury. The Process Of Workplace Injury Lawsuits Workplace injuries are common, and as a result, many people file lawsuits in order to receive compensation for their injuries. Workplace injury lawsuits typically involve two parties: the injured person, and the employer. In order to file a lawsuit, the injured person must first take steps such as reporting the injury to their employer or union representatives. Once this is done, the injured person will likely undergo an evaluation by a doctor in order to determine whether they are eligible for compensation. If so, then they will file a lawsuit with their local court system. Once a lawsuit is filed, both the injured person and employer have the right to have legal representation. This can be important because it allows each side to have an expert look at the evidence and argue their case in court. The outcome of a workplace injury lawsuit can vary depending on many factors, including the severity of the injury, whether any negligence was involved, and how much money is available in damages. Negotiations take place between the parties before a trial ever takes place. This is because each side wants to reach an agreement that will result in the least amount of damages being paid out. If no agreement is reached, then a trial will take place and the court will give a verdict. Generally, employers are reluctant to pay out large settlements in workplace injury lawsuits. This is because it can create a negative public image for the company, as well as lead to future lawsuits from other employees who feel they were not given fair treatment when filing claims. As you can see, knowing how to reduce your chances of getting injured on the job site is important. By following some simple safety precautions, you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming seriously injured.
If you’re still manually handling your company’s bidding process, you might miss out on the perks of using automation tools or software. With complex documents and tight deadlines, keeping track of various bids can be a real challenge, and using the right tools can make a huge difference between losing and gaining business deals. Fortunately, there are various tools you can use to simplify your company’s bidding process and gain more business opportunities. One of these tools is called bid management software, which is designed to simplify bid management. However, you can only make the most out of bid management software if you use quality platforms like Bidhive and others that make the bidding process manageable and hassle-free. If you’re unsure about using bid management software in your business, here are the reasons to consider it today: Better Security A primary reason to use bid management software is that it helps ensure the security of your information. This tool typically allows control over what users can do and see. It protects your business while providing the right access to staff and several contributors. The sign of secured bid management systems is accreditations. These accreditations cover information security management systems. They also include technical, legal, and physical controls involved in a company’s information risk management process. Gain Better Control Over Documents Unlike the traditional bidding process, using a reliable bid management solution enables you to control your company’s documents better. For instance, placing a bid for a big construction project may need input from third parties when creating bid proposals. Traditionally, bid proposals are done via email and other document-sharing platforms, making it hard to document all stages of the process. With the best bid management software, each contribution of third parties is entered directly into the system, enabling your sales team to see every step of the process in a single dashboard. As a result, it saves your precious time because you don’t need to switch from every system. Streamline The Bidding Process Creating and sending an Invitation to Bid (ITB) document can be time-consuming. After identifying the required trades, you must determine which subcontractors can work in the project area. To avoid wasting time, consider using bid management software for your business. Once you use the software, fax machines and plan rooms are no longer necessary because plans can be retrieved or sent via email instead of post or fax. The ability to identify who to invite for bidding, create ITBs, and share specs and plans all at once can be a huge time-saver for every business. Improve Reporting Methods Typically, bid management software offers comprehensive features that allow you to create reports for essential meetings. Staff may decide when reports must be generated, who they must be sent to, and what details to include. Bid management software also keeps a comprehensive audit trail of the employee responsible for the process. This way, keeping on top of compliance monitoring is made easy. Make Your Business More Professional Most bid management tools come with built-in templates, making it much easier for the bidding team to craft professional-looking documents without spending more money and time on designers. Having such professional-looking and high-quality bid documents make your bids set apart from others and may increase the odds of winning business. Bid Coverage Guarantee Bid management tools allow businesses to monitor which vendors have responded quickly and the bids they’ve received for every trade. Such tools also enable access to a wider network of vendors, enabling you to invite more potential interested companies to bid on your projects. With this, you can also increase your network for future projects and ensure that every bid covers all aspects of your projects. Improve Communication Projects that communicate effectively are more likely to succeed. As budgets and schedules become tighter and most projects become more complicated; collaboration is crucial to ensure the project’s success. By using bid management tools, businesses can easily share addenda and information with their bidders. It’s also possible to track the files or documents that have been viewed and accessed, which makes communication easy. With good communication, you can guarantee that all parties involved will better understand the project. Save More Time Generating estimates might take up a certain amount of time when bidding for contracts. Since your company isn’t the only one bidding, you must use bid management software to speed up the bidding process and automate quotes. So, if you want to save time and improve your company’s bottom line, never hesitate to take advantage of the software to automate the bid management system of your company. Conclusion In today’s modern business world, your company should keep up with the changes and adapt to the latest technological advances to stay ahead of the competition. The best quality management software will help streamline the process of managing your projects, submitting bids, and receiving bids. It won’t only make your life easier, but you can be assured of a smooth project that’ll benefit your business over time.
When you hear the term ‘industrial revolution’ – what does it bring to mind? Perhaps factories in Victorian-era Great Britain and images of archaic locomotives (scenes which came to Australian shores by the mid-late 1800s). Did you know that this revolution is just the first of four that have changed the face of the world in the time since? Here, we’ll take a look at each of the four industrial revolutions and how they have altered global society. The first industrial revolution When was it? Between approximately 1760-1820 – concentrated mainly in the United Kingdom, continental Europe and the United States. Related technologies were then taken to other parts of the world. What changed? Handheld tools were replaced by huge machines that were powered by steam or water and enabled the creating of factory production. As working life changed the world over, incomes and populations soared, setting the human race onto a path of continued growth that we remain in now. How have we changed? As factories continued to be made and everyday items became increasingly monetised, one of the unforeseen results of this revolution was the rise of capitalism in its most modern sense. This alteration to how we live is often labelled as the most significant change that the human race has ever experienced. The second industrial revolution (The technical revolution) When was it? This period of near-constant scientific and technological discovery is generally placed from the late 1800s until the outbreak of World War I in 1914. What changed? Advancements in medicine saw previously widespread diseases start to be eradicated, while railroads became widespread and energy, water and sewage systems becoming more sophisticated saw the rapid expansion of urban areas the world over. Electrification also streamlined many of the manufacturing processes that had emerged in the first industrial revolution. How have we changed? The inventions of the telephone, automobile and aeroplane made the world a much smaller place for many people and helped to continue the globalisation that countries such as Britain had previously began in the previous era. Increased productivity and the creation of many modern business practices resulted in likely the quickest economic growth periods the world has ever seen. The third industrial revolution (The digital revolution) When was it? The latter third of the 20th century, starting in the late 1960s – some advancements extend this era into the modern day. What changed? Analogue and mechanical technology was replaced in many cases by digital technologies. The mass production of certain components led to the rise of computers and mobile phones – both which were underpinned by wireless technologies like mobile networks and the internet. How have we changed? Business again was turbocharged, with the internet in particular leading to the creation of completely new industries. Forex traders can now operate in seconds, retail business can offer goods across the world and brands subsequently are marketed on a global scale before local considerations. The fourth industrial revolution When was it? We’ve only just entered into Industry 4.0 by most experts’ reckoning and may be still in the first decade of it. What changed? The rise of technological advancements like artificial intelligence, augmented reality and complex robotics are blurring the lines between human and mechanical experiences. Manufacturing processes that have emerged in the previous revolutions are now increasingly automated and run largely without human influence. How have we changed? Cloud computing, social media and the internet of things mean we are now more connected across the world than ever before. The rapid change has led to governments – including Australia’s – needing to draft new legislation so that regulations remain relevant in our changing world.
Small items like screws, nails and other fasteners can easily get misplaced or lost if you do not have an effective storage solution. To ensure you can always find the fasteners you need when you need them, check out the following five helpful storage tips. 1. Buy an Organiser with Compartments You can purchase a wide variety of organisers and boxes with compartments that are ideal for storing your screws, nails, and other fasteners. Just make sure there are plenty of differently sized compartments so that you can store screws, nails, and so on of varying sizes. Also, ensure you always put the right fastener in the right compartment, otherwise, you might only be able to find a short nail when you need a long one, for instance. Clear plastic storage containers are best because you will then be able to see into the compartments to find the right fasteners and identify when you are starting to run out of certain types. 2. Use a See-Through Bag for Assorted Fasteners No matter how careful we all are in placing nails, screws, and other fasteners in the right places, we all end up with some oddball fasteners, so it is a good idea to keep a sturdy see-through bag where you can place all of your spare screws and nails. Whenever you need that one nail or screw that you do not generally keep, you can simply delve into your bag of assorted fasteners. 3. Use a Piece of Foam to Store Fasteners You Will Be Reusing If you need to store screws or nails that have come out of an item of furniture that you are repairing or moving, it is imperative that you keep those fasteners safe and make them easy to identify and use in the right place when it is time to reassemble the item of furniture. An excellent solution is to use a piece of foam. You can simply stick the nails, screws, or other fasteners into the foam in the order that they have been removed. To make things easier, write on the foam to show where each screw or nail belongs. You could even draw a basic diagram of the piece of furniture on the foam and place the fasteners in the appropriate places. This technique will save you a lot of time when you are ready to reassemble items like furniture. And speaking of furniture, you may be interested in the current furniture trends. 4. Consider Getting Flat Pouches Printed to Clearly Label Different Screws and Nails To ensure you can find the right fasteners for the job at hand, it is a very good idea to clearly label the different types of fasteners you have. One simple way of doing that, and storing your fasteners safely, is to get custom flat pouches that are clearly labelled, identifying the different screws and nails inside the pouches. You can then easily store all of the pouches inside a strong box, bag, or another container. 5. Use a Wax Ring as a Temporary Storage Solution If you require temporary storage for your screws and nails while you are working on a project, consider using a wax ring, or indeed any kind of block of wax. The material is ideal for sticking screws and nails into so that they do not get lost while you are working on construction projects. There is nothing worse than losing that one screw you really need, so using a wax ring is a simple but very effective solution. Furthermore, an added advantage of using a wax ring is that the screws will be lubricated when you pull them out of the wax, making it easier to drive the screws.
South Seaham Garden Village has taken a huge step forward with landowner Tolent completing the land sale to a trio of developers including Karbon Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes. The completion of the deal means construction of the project, which was awarded garden village status back in 2019, can now progress. Infrastructure works linking the development to the nearby A182 are due to start this summer with the first phases of housing commencing early in 2023. The development will bring 1,500 new homes to the area. 750 homes will be developed for private market sale by Miller Homes and Taylor Wimpey, with the remaining 750 homes to be of mixed tenure including rent to buy, shared ownership and affordable rent options. It is hoped that a proportion of the affordable homes will be designed to meet the emerging net-zero standards providing lower operational costs for residents as well as minimising the environmental impact of the development. Paul Webster, CEO at Tolent said: “South Seaham Garden Village will provide a diverse mix of homes providing a vibrant community on the outskirts of Seaham. The site has been owned by Tolent for a number of years and we have been working in partnership with Durham County Council to create an ambitious garden village that will provide innovation in the local housing market. “Approximately half of the development will be managed green space including play areas and a grassed playing pitch lined by a network of over three miles of landscaped paths and cycleways which coupled with its coastal setting make it an idyllic location.” Tolent will remain engaged in the project following the sale of the land and has entered into a construction partnership with Karbon Homes to deliver their share of the properties supporting local housing delivery over the next decade. Sarah Robson, Director of Development and Regeneration at Karbon Homes, said: “We’re delighted to have bought our share of the land at South Seaham Garden Village and are looking forward to bringing 750 much-needed, affordable homes to the area. This is the largest development we have embarked on to date and we’re excited to be playing a part in bringing this vibrant new community to County Durham.” In addition to the planned housing, the project includes a new village centre, which will include the delivery of a two-form entry primary school and a range of community facilities. Russ Hall, Managing Director of Taylor Wimpey North East, said “We are pleased to continue our investment in the North East and the South Seaham Garden Village project is a result of considerable hard work to date that will be evident on the ground soon. We are excited to be part of the delivery of another major development in the North East and the delivery of a new garden village community” Patrick Arkle, Managing Director, North East at Miller Homes said: “This is a key location for us in the region, Seaham has transformed over the years into a popular beachfront destination and an up-and-coming place to live. As a team we’re excited about South Seaham Garden Village, the scale of the site presents lots of opportunities and we believe it will become a flagship development offering an excellent range of much-needed three, four and five-bed homes.” The site is set to be a testbed for future technologies with a range of modern methods of construction planned for use with the potential for off-site panellised solutions and a range of alternative building methodologies currently being considered.
Commercial property and investment company Evolve Estates has acquired two prime town centre parades in the North Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough. It has added to its burgeoning retail portfolio The Balmoral Centre, a 57,339 sq ft covered retail centre anchored by Wilko, and Bar House, on Aberdeen Walk, which has 17,602 sq ft of retail and leisure space over three floors. It acquired the parades for an undisclosed sum, taking this year’s retail acquisitions to more than £48m. Sebastian MacDonald-Hall, of Evolve Estates, said: “Scarborough is a beloved seaside resort and we’re pleased to have secured these well-known, popular parades, bringing them into our in-house portfolio. “We are committed to focusing our efforts on regional retail centres and neighbourhood parades where we can see there is incredible potential. The Balmoral Centre and Bar House provide us with significant opportunities to add significant value and we are already looking to identify how we can revitalise these centres further. We hope to make announcements on how we can achieve this over the next few months.” The Balmoral Centre, which Evolve bought as freehold, comprises seven retail units on ground floor, with five fronting Westborough. There are also two further units, plus a vacant night club located on the first floor and a gym located on the second floor. An NCP car park has space for 480 vehicles. Bar House comprises seven shops fronting Westborough and Aberdeen Walk, with vacant first and second floors, which used to be a nightclub. The agents for Evolve Estates were Prime Retail.
