Construction work at Tattershall’s new household waste and recycling centre has now completed. The project was procured through public sector procurement authority, SCAPE and its Regional Construction framework, with main contractor G F Tomlinson beginning work on site in December 2021. Following a £2m investment from Lincolnshire County Council, the
Landscaping products specialist, Boughton has partnered with leading landscape design firms, Gillespies and Andy Sturgeon Design, on a 40-hectare masterplan to regenerate the historic dockyard site in Deptford, London. The impressive landscaping project forms part of a major multi-million-pound redevelopment of this historic site, converting it from a derelict brownfield
As the football season is about to kick off, Southern Central Premier Leagues Hednesford Town Football Club is the latest winning team to partner with Leep Utilities – but this time it’s as club sponsor. The deal will provide much needed support to the thriving non-league semi-professional football club, with
Social networks are one of the main marketing tools in today’s world. That includes TikTok, which can be a little more difficult to handle, unless you find someone below 25 years of age to take care of it, for you. However, this may not be the best solution either. Here
National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes has purchased land at Parkview Campus, Bristol from MCR Property Group for an undisclosed sum. MCR Property Group won permission from Bristol City Council for the wider scheme in 2019 and then obtained detailed consent for the first phase on the plot last November, before selling
Yorkshire based construction firm, Hobson & Porter, has landed an internationally recognised award in recognition of its exceptional health and safety standards. Hobson & Porter has been presented with the prestigious RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) President’s Award, in recognition of the company being awarded 10 consecutive
James Latham strengthens its portfolio of sustainable products with HONEXT® further committing to circular design and green specification. James Latham Ltd (Lathams), one of the UK’s leading and most forward-thinking distributors of timber, panels, and decorative surfaces, announces it has become the only UK distributor of revolutionary Spanish construction panel HONEXT®. HONEXT® was
Bellway has been given the go-ahead to build 175 new homes in the Whitehouse area of Milton Keynes. The housebuilder has secured planning permission to deliver the new homes at a development to be known as Bellway at Whitehouse Park, with approval for its detailed plans given by Milton Keynes
The victors in the UK and Ireland leg of the Caterpillar® Global Operator Challenge have been confirmed following a set of highly competitive tests at the Caterpillar Visitor Centre in Leicestershire. Operators demonstrated agility, speed and precision in a variety of challenges using the latest Cat equipment. Amongst a tough
Leading plumbing and drainage manufacturer Wavin has completed the first project in a new relationship with Band of Builders to support tradespeople in need. Band of Builders is a registered charity that provides support for members of the construction industry who are facing life-changing health issues. Since it was created
Construction work at Tattershall’s new household waste and recycling centre has now completed. The project was procured through public sector procurement authority, SCAPE and its Regional Construction framework, with main contractor G F Tomlinson beginning work on site in December 2021. Following a £2m investment from Lincolnshire County Council, the new facility has replaced an existing, privately-owned centre at Kirkby on Bain, which is now set to be decommissioned. The new site, which has a larger capacity, will handle, sort and dispose of materials more efficiently than the previous centre. The facility accommodates four state-of-the-art waste compactors, which feed ten containers. These are able to hold three times the amount of waste than a standard open top compactor, helping to reduce haulage costs and make for a more sustainable transfer to the waste station, by transporting more waste per journey. The facility will serve Horncastle and the surrounding area. The project utilised local labour through G F Tomlinson’s supply chain including Newark-based D J Swallow Construction, who worked closely with G F Tomlinson to complete the ground works and concrete slabs, as well as Lincoln-based electrical contractor, Brooke & Mayo. This helped ensure that 78% of the spend on the project was with suppliers based within 40 miles of the site. An official opening of the facility took place last month, with invited guests including Lincolnshire County Councillor, Daniel McNally, and counterparts from East Lindsey District Council, including Cllr Martin Foster and Cllr Craig Leyland. Lincolnshire County Council’s Head of Waste, Mike Reed, and East Lindsey District Council’s Assistant Director of Neighborhoods, Victoria Burgess, along with G F Tomlinson’s Senior Contractors Manager, Andy Boam, and Head of Business Development, Les Needham, were also in attendance. Craig Stopper, SCAPE Regional Construction framework Manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “We were delighted to be appointed as main contractor partner on this development. In addition to providing the residents of Lincolnshire with quick and convenient access to a new recycling centre, the facility ensures materials are being disposed of correctly, reducing harmful impacts on the environment. “We are very pleased to have completed this project working alongside Lincolnshire County Council under the SCAPE Regional Construction framework – it marks the fifth household waste recycling centre we have delivered for the Council to date, with others located in Boston, Gainsborough, Bourne and Sleaford. This scheme is another important public facility in the Lincolnshire area which will provide upgraded recycling services and reduce the impact on the environment within the wider community.” Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE, added: “The new centre is an excellent example of how a scheme can deliver social and economic value and provide long-term benefits for the wider community. It has been developed to the highest standard whilst integrating sustainable facilities and achieving value for money. “We are delighted to have worked with our partner G F Tomlinson to accelerate this project forward, and bring an essential waste and recycling centre to the local residents of Tattershall, Coningsby, and the surrounding areas.” Mike Reed, Head of Waste at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Tattershall Household Waste Recycling Centre represents another significant project completed in partnership with G F Tomlinson using the SCAPE Regional Construction framework. The facility will provide a better environment for local residents to dispose of their material and will contribute to Lincolnshire’s circular economy aspirations.”
Landscaping products specialist, Boughton has partnered with leading landscape design firms, Gillespies and Andy Sturgeon Design, on a 40-hectare masterplan to regenerate the historic dockyard site in Deptford, London. The impressive landscaping project forms part of a major multi-million-pound redevelopment of this historic site, converting it from a derelict brownfield site, into a vibrant waterfront location boasting a mix of commercial and residential properties, supported by new public spaces and transport connections. Formerly called the King’s Yard and first developed in 1513 by King Henry VIII to build vessels for the royal Navy, Convoy Wharf was at the heart of Deptford and holds great historic significance within the city of London. Following decades of use for warehousing and industrial purposes, the area is a now a neglected 16.6ha brownfield site but is set to be completely transformed under exciting plans by international architect, Farrells. For the first time in 500 years, the public will once again have access to the stunning 450m of waterfront, enhanced by beautiful outdoor areas, cultural facilities and a new riverboat service – a milestone development that Boughton is delighted to be part of. It is in the first phase where Boughton has been specified by Andy Sturgeon Design. This residential block – named Plot 15 – will incorporate a surrounding streetscape, residential gardens and a green roof, with Andy Sturgeon Design enlisting the help of Boughton’s quality topsoil and green roof substrates to help execute the vision. Plot 15 is located where two distinct character areas converge. The Eastern Gateway and Evelyn Quarter bring both river and parkland influences to the site, which are carefully woven together to create a cohesive and playful environment for families. In a move to incorporate the heritage of the sit, Plot 15 will be defined by four key themes: Reuse, Display, Inspire and Remember, and will take its design inspiration from John Evelyn’s approach to experimental planting, focusing on year-round interest, adaptation to a changing climate, and improvements to air quality and well-being. The existing London Plane trees along the site boundary will be retained and protected, whilst a new strategic tree planting will enhance and filter views across the site and strengthen its visual connection to the wider landscape. Elsewhere, The Residents’ Garden has been designed as a verdant landscape relating to the rich garden heritage of this part of the site. A strong contrast in materiality and planting character has been introduced where the historic Dockyard wall once passed through the site. The design features a pedestrian-friendly environment in the public areas, supported by a coordinated materials palette and tree planting strategy. Meanwhile, Boughton is also working with global firm, Gillespie’s, which has been involved in the designs for plots 7, 14 and 21. These plots will provide a range of open plazas for cultural events, green pocket gardens, residential streets with integrated SUDs, and a sequence of safe and effective linkages that will sensitively connect the new development to the surrounding neighbourhoods. Boughton’s NBS specified product portfolio includes: BL 1 – Natural, single-source topsoil – suitable for general landscaping and planting of hardy nursery stock and amenity grassland. BLS 2 – Natural, single-sourced screened topsoil – a natural ‘as dug’ topsoil, that is suitable for general planting, landscaping, vegetable or fruit production and any landscape project. Boughton Lightweight Subsoil – low in organic matter, profiling a mixture of sand, silt and clay, with over 50% of its particles ranging in size from 0.25 to 0.5 mm. Boughton Biodiverse Green Roof Substrate – a green roof substrate for projects which require a substrate that can support a wide range of plants at a relatively shallow depth. IN1 Intensive Green Roof Substrate – intensive green roof substrate with a greater proportion of organic matter and finer sand particles. BLS 40 – Natural, single-sourced screened topsoil – with 40% PAS 100 compost/ organic matter, which significantly increases its soil health. Urban Tree Soil – for tree planting in hard landscape situations. BLS Plus- Natural, single-source screened topsoil – premium ‘as dug natural soil’, processed by passing over modern screening equipment with a 100% organic and vegan approved digestate bio fertiliser, which significantly increases the soil health. EX 1 Extensive Green Roof Substrate – extensive green roof substrate mixture of virgin crushed brick and PASS 100 certified compost. BLS 20 – Natural, single-source screened topsoil – sandy clay loam topsoil, that is suitable for general landscaping purposes, trees, shrubs, amenity grass. To enquire about your next project, contact Boughton by calling (01536) 510515 or email sales@boughton.co.uk.
As the football season is about to kick off, Southern Central Premier Leagues Hednesford Town Football Club is the latest winning team to partner with Leep Utilities – but this time it’s as club sponsor. The deal will provide much needed support to the thriving non-league semi-professional football club, with a growing youth academy and as a vibrant and active part of the local community. It will also support its ambitious plans to return to the English Football League and again compete in matches like its 1997 FA Cup fourth round nail biter against EFL Championship side Middlesbrough. As part of the deal, Leep Utilities’ logo features on the First Team players’ shirts. The owner-operator of regulated and non-regulated multi-utility networks across the UK is also sponsoring centre midfielder Lewis Hayden and will feature on pitch-side advertising hoardings and in all home game programmes. Hednesford Town Football Club’s Chairman and Co-Owner Graham Jones said: “We’re thrilled to welcome on board Leep Utilities as a main sponsor this season. We’re both ambitious and the next 12 months looks equally bright for both of us.” “Our pre-season friendlies have been brilliant and we’re really getting noticed by the bigger teams, such as Aston Villa and Birmingham City, who are sending over topflight players and are keen to play against us. They recognise that our game quality is high, and that they’ll have a great physical fight on their hands for 90 minutes or more. As a club, we’re moving in the right direction, for sure, and we can’t wait to see what this next season has in store.” “We’re also really looking forward to getting back into creating exceptional match experiences for our sponsors. I took over the club in May 2020 and the pandemic put a stop to the match day experience. But it’s back and we can’t wait for our sponsors to enjoy our corporate hospitality and use our games as an enjoyable and valuable networking experience as well. We’re aligned to some very successful organisations, and we can’t wait to welcome them all here, to enjoy great football and hopefully business opportunities, from 6th August.” Leep Utilities’ CEO Louise Manfredi said: “We’re delighted to be able to help kick off the new season as a main sponsor at Hednesford Town Football Club. As a company, Leep owns and operates and owns essential “last mile” utility infrastructure in local communities – connecting new buildings across the UK to electricity, gas, water and wastewater networks – and we have very ambitious growth plans of our own, just as Hednesford Town Football Club does. “ “This summer marks some very important milestones in our development. We’ve recently won our 200th project, we’ve moved into spacious new offices to accommodate our growing team and we’re enjoying some truly wonderful successes. We’re certainly excited about our future and it appears that Hednesford Town Football Club is at a similarly exciting point.” “So, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish the Hednesford Town’s First Team the very best of luck this season and we’ll be cheering you on from the side-lines, when we come along to watch with many of our business partners.”
Social networks are one of the main marketing tools in today’s world. That includes TikTok, which can be a little more difficult to handle, unless you find someone below 25 years of age to take care of it, for you. However, this may not be the best solution either. Here are a few tips to help you create viral videos on TikTok. Follow the Waves Actually, on TikTok, these waves are called trends. They can be explained simply as a large number of people copying a video that has worked well. To do so, they use the element that enabled it to reach so many people and to become a viral TikTok video. Sometimes it is a special filter that was used, while at others, it is about using a particular song, or dancing in a certain manner. These waves are what you need to ride upon, if you want a chance to also go viral. Naturally, you need to find a way to insert the subject that you want to talk about, which is apartments or houses to rent. The next tip may be the hardest one to follow… Be Funny The TikTok crowd is different from Instagram and Facebook. It is one that doesn’t take anything seriously. The way to their heart is humour. And so, you need to find a way to get your message through, while not taking yourself seriously. However, since the crowd is young, you have a large gathering of potential students needing to find somewhere to stay, over the next semesters. Therefore, TikTok is not something you should neglect. Find the Right Hashtags If you want other people than your followers looking at your video, you need to start by adding hashtags to it. Again, you need to think of two completely different things: One – to be funny, and two – to be on the subject. And so, you should choose hashtags according to the trend it is following, but also make it about people who are looking to rent an apartment or a house. Five hashtags per post should do the trick. Gain Followers The thing about viral videos, is that they get shared by the people who view them, to their own followers. If it works, the latter will also share it to theirs, and so on, creating a gigantic number of views and likes. Therefore, to increase your chances of being reshared, over and over again, you need to grow your number of followers. The higher the number, the more chances you have to start the wave, so that it can grow to a viral status. Be Original As much as you want to copy others, you also want to be original in the way you do it. Otherwise, you will remain just another video on a popular subject. Sometimes, you need to break the mold, so that people do react to your content. There are many ways to do so. Up to you to find the one that fits your message. Be careful but also bold.
National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes has purchased land at Parkview Campus, Bristol from MCR Property Group for an undisclosed sum. MCR Property Group won permission from Bristol City Council for the wider scheme in 2019 and then obtained detailed consent for the first phase on the plot last November, before selling the plot to Keepmoat Homes to build a housing community consisting of 91 new build homes. The new Parkview development based on Whitchurch Lane will transform the brownfield site, previously used as a car park for the old Somerfield head quarters, into much-needed housing for the area. Comprising 17 one and two-bedroom flats and 74 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, the new homes will be made 100% affordable in partnership with housing association Bromford. Residents will enjoy brilliant transport links, open green spaces, great shopping amenities and a purpose-built play area. Charlotte Goode, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: ‘’We’re thrilled to have purchased brownfield land in Bristol which will be transformed into 91 quality homes, set amongst picturesque surroundings to be enjoyed by residents and the local public alike. “This desirable hotspot will provide more choice for residents in Bristol and is set in an ideal location for commuters, families and couples. “The land acquisition of Parkview is another positive step towards our further growth in the region. We look forward to making positive relationships within the community, with the aim of completing our first set of homes in the summer of 2023.” Wyn Bevan, Head of Development at Bromford said: “Developments like this one at Parkview help meet the growing demand for new affordable homes in Bristol, as house prices are 12 times average incomes*. These homes will provide local people with the chance to move into a modern, quality home, where they can become part of their community. We’re always looking for new opportunities to provide affordable homes and so are delighted to be working in partnership with Keepmoat Homes at Parkview. “We’re looking forward to seeing these homes take shape and to start welcoming customers into their new homes.” Harry Ladds, Asset Manager at MCR Property Group, said: “The sale of the Parkview site ensures our vision for Parkview Campus is fulfilled, having worked closely with Bristol City Council and a number of local stakeholders on the masterplan of Parkview Campus. The sale allows us to focus on delivering our current development pipeline and continuing our primary focus on industrial acquisitions across the UK.” “We would like to thank all those involved in the transaction and we’re very much looking forward to seeing the local community benefit under Keepmoat Homes. Construction is due to commence in early 2023, with the first homes being completed in the summer of 2023. The development will take approximately two years to complete. Keepmoat was unrepresented on the transaction and JLL advised MCR Property Group. Nicholas Rumble, Director at JLL commented: “With demand for affordable, first-class housing across the South West on the rise, it’s crucial that prospective developments are in the hands of ambitious and experienced housebuilders. We’re confident Keepmoat Homes’ purchase of the Park View scheme will create a portfolio of affordable properties future-proofed for years to come and look forward to seeing the progression on site.”
Yorkshire based construction firm, Hobson & Porter, has landed an internationally recognised award in recognition of its exceptional health and safety standards. Hobson & Porter has been presented with the prestigious RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) President’s Award, in recognition of the company being awarded 10 consecutive Gold Awards for health and safety performance over the past decade. Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety practice. Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in the UK’s longest-running health and safety industry awards. Richard Hunter, managing director at Hobson & Porter, said: “We are always committed to working hard to ensure our team, our contractors and our supply chain are safe at work and return home to their families at the end of every working day. Receiving this accolade is a major achievement for our entire team and supply chain, who all take health and safety seriously and make it the number one priority every day.” Julia Small, RoSPA’s achievements director, said: “This is a fantastic and well-deserved accomplishment. All our award entrants demonstrate their unwavering commitment and passion for keeping people safe at work. By receiving this, Hobson & Porter join like-minded businesses and organisations worldwide, who represent the very best in their approach to health and safety. I would like to add my personal thanks for all the work that it has taken to secure this well-deserved award – congratulations to all those involved, who champion and drive-up health and safety standards every day. You are a fantastic example to others in your sector.” This latest accolade follows Hobson & Porter being recognised for its people development practices at last month’s Constructing Excellence in Yorkshire & Humberside (CEYH) awards, which are organised by the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at Leeds Beckett University. The firm, which employees more than 120 people, was crowned winner of the ‘people development award’ and was also highly commended in the ‘SME of the year award’ category. For more information about the RoSPA Awards visit www.rospa.com/awards
James Latham strengthens its portfolio of sustainable products with HONEXT® further committing to circular design and green specification. James Latham Ltd (Lathams), one of the UK’s leading and most forward-thinking distributors of timber, panels, and decorative surfaces, announces it has become the only UK distributor of revolutionary Spanish construction panel HONEXT®. HONEXT® was originally founded in 2011 as a collaboration between Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya researchers and three generations of the Merino family. A game-changing, carbon-neutral, lightweight construction panel, produced from waste fibres and cellulose residue from the paper industry. By upcycling this run-off material, using a proprietary biotech process, the Barcelona-based brand has achieved a fully recyclable, non-toxic board with a circular lifecycle, perfect for specifying to a sustainable brief. Suitable for interior wall and ceiling linings, and other non-loadbearing applications, the introduction of HONEXT represents the latest step in Lathams aim to be the most innovative and sustainable materials distributor in the UK and Ireland. Building on other recent forward-thinking initiatives, including the Carbon Calculator and Digital Showroom, listing HONEXT is helping its diverse audience of architects, designers and fit-out professionals make the most eco-friendly choice when selecting surfaces. Commenting on adding HONEXT to the Lathams catalogue Nick Widlinski, Panels Director says, “According to the UN Environment Programme, the construction sector was responsible for 38% of all energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019[1], prompting sustainability to become a non-negotiable in many contemporary design briefs. Specifiers are now having to respond by selecting the lowest carbon materials possible, particularly those manufactured in a circular fashion. He continues, “HONEXT meets all these needs and goes further. It’s a high-performance interior construction panel that deals with a long-standing waste management problem for the paper industry, which globally generates more than 8 million tons of waste annually. It’s also another welcome addition to our ever-expanding portfolio of green panel options, meeting our clients evolving preferences and offering them a greater degree of choice.” A high-performance material, with a low carbon footprint Unique in its category as Cradle-to-Cradle Silver Certified, the benefits of HONEXT for interior cladding and partitioning go far beyond its upfront sustainable attributes. A high-performance material, it possesses strong thermal conductivity, vapour permeability, and acoustic performance. Exploring these advantages in more detail, HONEXT® Panels are designed to feature better sound absorption properties than traditional building materials, and they are also resistant to moisture and water vapour. The panels also promote better indoor air quality, as they contain no added VOCs and are Material Health Silver Certified. From a fabrication perspective, the lightweight construction panel has a fibrous build-up, therefore it’s extremely easy to work with regular woodworking tools. Furthermore, it’s considerably less dense compared to other fibreboard products used for interior applications and its relative lightness eases the installation process. In short, it’s set to become a green disruptor in the UK’s vibrant commercial architecture scene. Realising HONEXT’s Potential Already specified on a number of projects in Spain and continental Europe, HONEXT’s potential to help deliver sustainable and cost-effective design solutions is increasingly being realised by specifiers. In a recent, high-end retail project, the panels were used to replicate fluted concrete walls when using concrete would have been extremely heavy, highly unsustainable, and very expensive, for use in a commercial unit. Here, the HONEXT sheets were bonded together, deep grooves were made, and then painted, creating a lightweight, sound-absorbing wall that looks identical to fluted concrete. More sustainable and easier-to-work than many other panelling materials, HONEXT is a game-changer, particularly for applications such as retail fit-out, exhibitions, set decoration and staging, as the product can be shaped, painted, bonded, and laminated offering a greater degree of flexibility for architects, designers, specifiers, fabricators and industrials. Demand for HONEXT is also growing in the commercial office sector, where its sound absorption capabilities are being realised by fit-out professionals. In a recent workspace project for Spanish construction firm Construcía, HONEXT panels were specified for suspended ‘sound islands’ and ceilings to improve the interior acoustics. Here, HONEXT met all the client’s requirements for a cradle-to-cradle certified solution, as well as achieving optimal acoustic levels and a comfortable and pleasant working environment. Commenting on the UK and Ireland distribution partnership, Paul Clegg, Chief Executive, says, “Lathams’ longstanding reputation for identifying innovative materials and championing sustainable design made them the natural choice when we were looking for a distribution partner in UK and Ireland. Furthermore, the unrivalled strength of their supply chain also inspired confidence and assured us that there will be no disruption when getting our products to construction and design professionals nationwide. We look forward to working closely with them, not only to promote the benefits of HONEXT for interiors but also to promote a greener, more circular approach to material manufacturing and specification.” HONEXT Boards are made from 100% paper waste and are 100% recyclable. They have a density of 540 kg/m3, are 12 mm in thickness, and dimensions are 1220 x 2440 mm. To find out more about HONEXT and its sustainable building materials click here. The introduction of HONEXT forms part of Latham’s wider Décors campaign, enabling specifiers to discover Latham’s wide range of decorative surfaces and realise the potential for almost any design preference or requirement. For more information on Latham’s and its extensive range of timber, panels and decorative surfaces click here.
Bellway has been given the go-ahead to build 175 new homes in the Whitehouse area of Milton Keynes. The housebuilder has secured planning permission to deliver the new homes at a development to be known as Bellway at Whitehouse Park, with approval for its detailed plans given by Milton Keynes Council on Tuesday 19 July. The development, which will be on two parcels of land off Watling Street, will consist of 122 new homes for private sale and 53 affordable properties for local people through rent or shared ownership. Luke Southgate, Sales Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “We have worked closely with Milton Keynes Council to ensure that our detailed plans for these 175 new homes meet the needs of local people. “We are very keen to get on with this exciting project and aim to begin groundworks at the end of the month, with a view to releasing the first homes for sale in the autumn. At the development, we will be building two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses to suit a wide range of purchasers, including first-time buyers, growing families and people downsizing. “As well as providing new homes for private sale, the development will also deliver a selection of 53 affordable properties to allow local people to live in new homes in the area and stay close to their family, friends and places of work.” Bellway has plans to build a total of 452 new homes at Bellway at Whitehouse Park across five plots of land acquired from L&Q last year. Whitehouse Park is part of the Western Expansion Area in Milton Keynes, which is scheduled to deliver a total of 6,500 new homes. Outline planning consent was given for this project in 2007. Luke said: “At Bellway Northern Home Counties we have our divisional headquarters in Milton Keynes and feel a real connection to the town. We are proud to be playing a key role in the ambitious scheme to deliver thousands of much-needed new homes to Milton Keynes. “These 175 new homes represent the first phase of Bellway’s plans to deliver a total of 452 new homes at Whitehouse Park. This is evidence of our ongoing commitment to try to meet the growing demand for new housing in this increasingly popular location.” More information about the new homes coming soon at Bellway at Whitehouse Park is available at https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties/bellway-at-whitehouse-park.
The victors in the UK and Ireland leg of the Caterpillar® Global Operator Challenge have been confirmed following a set of highly competitive tests at the Caterpillar Visitor Centre in Leicestershire. Operators demonstrated agility, speed and precision in a variety of challenges using the latest Cat equipment. Amongst a tough field, Finning announced the UK regional winner as Bryan Williamson with an overall time of 6 minutes and 6 seconds and the Irish regional winner as returning 2019 champion Tommy Murphy, with an overall time of 5 minutes and 54 seconds. Both will now go through to the European semi-finals which are being held in Malaga in October. Here they will compete in a series of even tougher challenges against some of the best machine operators in Europe for a place at the prestigious final to be crowned Global Champion in Las Vegas. To find the winners, a host of talented operators from the UK and Ireland competed in three challenges using different machines and illustrating different skills and capabilities. This year’s challenges included working with a Cat Next Generation 313 excavator and a 930 Wheel Loader. Bryan Williamson, UK regional winner said: “I am so pleased to have represented my country well in this challenge, it’s a great achievement. “After competing at the previous Operator Challenge in 2019, my day-to-day work as an operator at Eastern Civils and Construction and a bit of luck prepared me for this year’s challenge. Although there was some tough competition and challenging tasks, I know it will be fiercer competition at the next stage in Malaga.” Tommy Murphy, Irish regional winner said: “It’s great to see that the stakes are getting higher each year, but a returning win feels incredible. “After the tough finale in Las Vegas in the last Operator Challenge, I hope this time I will be crowned the champion!” With a two year hiatus since the last event, a new and unique mystery challenge was introduced. Using the new Cat Command technology, operators were tasked with using a remote console to control a dozer located over 5000 miles away in Arizona. This helped to test the 21st century skills of the operators, whilst demonstrating the huge potential benefits for safety and productivity that Cat Command offers. Tracey Earp, Marketing Manager at Finning said: “We are so pleased with the turnout at this year’s challenge after a two year break during Covid. We have been really impressed with the quality of entrants and how they all took to the range of challenges we had set. So both Bryan and Tommy did absolutely brilliantly to finish in first place.” “Events like this make me so proud of the people we have in our industry and hopeful for the future, with a few female contenders being role models for all women in construction. We are so excited to see who will be awarded European Champion in October and if Bryan or Tommy will progress to compete on the world stage.” Visit Finning’s website for more information: https://www.finning.com/en_GB.html
Leading plumbing and drainage manufacturer Wavin has completed the first project in a new relationship with Band of Builders to support tradespeople in need. Band of Builders is a registered charity that provides support for members of the construction industry who are facing life-changing health issues. Since it was created in 2016, it has completed more than 25 construction projects across the UK, bringing volunteers from across the industry together to provide financial and emotional support for tradespeople and their families. Wavin recently supported Band of Builders on a project to help Kyle O’Connor – a multi-skiller from Hereford who had previously worked with the charity as a volunteer and received a cancer diagnosis part-way through an extension on his family home. Band of Builders and its team of volunteers stepped in to complete the work, with Wavin providing all drainage products, including those needed for a wetroom conversion. Lee Frimston, Key Account Manager Independents and Buying Groups, at Wavin UK, said: “Band of Builders is a fantastic charity and shows what can be achieved when people work together in this industry. We’re proud to have supported the team on this project for Kyle, and look forward to continuing to support the incredible work they do.” Tony Steel, Operations Director at Band of Builders, said: “One of the most rewarding aspects of our job is improving the lives of construction workers, and we’re grateful to play our part in unifying the construction industry under this common goal. “Projects such as this, alongside our Big Brew initiative – which is focused on mental health awareness – are examples of how our sector can make tradespeople’s lives better. We are incredibly thankful to Wavin for supplying materials and the volunteers who gave up their time to work on Kyle’s project.” For more information on Band of Builders, visit: https://bandofbuilders.org/ Or, to find out more about Wavin’s products and services, visit: https://www.wavin.com/
