Scotland’s First Minister has given the green light to a construction industry soft start – The move will allow a number of contractors to get back on site, under strict conditions – Council Leaders welcome the news and say public and worker safety will remain top priority for Edinburgh Construction
Severn Trent’s AMP7 Capital Delivery Framework has announced its first contractors. The water company is investing circa £2 billion in these projects, which will be carried out between 2020 and 2025. The framework has been structured into four defined lots, with Lot 1 representing the capital delivery design and build frameworks
The contractors chosen to deliver work as part of the new £500 million Medium Schemes Framework (MSF3) have been revealed by The Midlands Highway Alliance (MHA). Balfour Beatty, Eurovia, Galliford Try and Morgan Sindall have all secured a space on the programme, which will cover highways improvements, maintenance and infrastructure
A Construction Industry Scheme contractor, Indigo Group, which specialises in the engagement of subcontractors, has appointed former practice accountant Liza Gratton as its Finance Director. Liza Gratton worked in the accountancy sector for 20 years and became a fully qualified accountant in 2005 after completing her professional exams with the
Warwickshire based civil engineering firm O’Brien Contractors has secured a contract to begin working on the development of a major new factory complex in Staffordshire. Readie Construction has signed the firm up to work on the £126.3 million construction of the new Gestamp site at Bericote Properties’ Four Ashes Park
Lendlease and Multiplex have entered the race to bid for Google ’s £600m HQ in London, alongside Mace and Sir Robert McAlpine. Bids were submitted last Friday for the mammoth project, ahead of an announcement by the internet giant this week that it was committing to building the scheme. Construction
Scotland’s First Minister has given the green light to a construction industry soft start – The move will allow a number of contractors to get back on site, under strict conditions – Council Leaders welcome the news and say public and worker safety will remain top priority for Edinburgh Construction workers across the Capital will be able to get back on site following an announcement by the Scottish Government. Speaking yesterday (Thursday 11 June), First Minister Nicola Sturgeon signalled that the industry is now able to move into Phase Two of its Six Phase Recovery Plan. This means site works and structural changes to domestic properties are allowed to restart – if Covid-19 guidance can be followed to protect workers and the wider public. Council Leaders have welcomed the move, which will allow many workers to return to their jobs and enable key projects to prepare for a safe reopening. Council Leader Adam McVey said: “This welcome change brings us another step closer to getting Edinburgh’s construction industry back on track. “From building much-needed affordable housing, schools and Edinburgh’s new Meadowbank, to improvements across our transport network, we have around 110 construction projects under contract worth £339m. Getting these projects back underway and progressing high profile developments like the Tram to Newhaven and new St James Centre will be a priority for the industry, the local economy and, crucially, hundreds of our residents who work in construction.” Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “We’ve been working closely with our contractors so that they can make their sites and working practices as safe as possible. It’s vital that no work gets underway until proper measures have been put in place to protect communities and workers against Covid-19. “Changes won’t take place overnight and must be gradual, and we’ll be looking at how we engage local communities at each stage.”
Severn Trent’s AMP7 Capital Delivery Framework has announced its first contractors. The water company is investing circa £2 billion in these projects, which will be carried out between 2020 and 2025. The framework has been structured into four defined lots, with Lot 1 representing the capital delivery design and build frameworks and Lots 2, 3 and 4 forming three separate capital delivery build only frameworks. Successful contractors in Lot 1 (Design and Build) include: • Amey Utility Services Limited • Costain Limited • J Murphy & Sons • Mott MacDonald Bentley • MWH Treatment • nmcn • VolkerStevin & Atkins Joint Venture. Those successful in Lot 2 (Build only – Civils) comprise: • Barhale & Doosan Enpure • Coffey Construction • CPC Civils • Forkers • GEDA Construction • JN Bentley • Kier Integrated Services • MWH Treatment • nmcn • VolkerStevin. “Getting fast-track status from Ofwat means that we’ve been able to make a really early start on our planning for AMP7. We now have 12 months where we can define the key projects we need to deliver for our customers, which we can do alongside our new construction partners. We are delighted we now have our partners in place for lots 1 and 2, and this is a really exciting time for us as we look at new, more efficient ways to invest for the future to make our services even better,” commented Helen Miles, Capital Delivery and Commercial Director at Severn Trent. Amey, which has worked for Severn Trent for over 20 years delivering clean water mains renewals, sewer maintenance and the installation and refurbishment of pumping stations, is one of the seven delivery partners for Lot 1. The company will be responsible for the design and build of water and wastewater assets above and below ground. “We’re delighted to have secured a place on the capital delivery framework and we look forward to playing an integral part in delivering Severn Trent’s vision for AMP7. Ensuring an excellent customer experience, protecting the local environment and supporting the community in which we work is at the heart of the work we do, and is an ethos we share with Severn Trent,” said Amey chief executive Andy Milner.
The contractors chosen to deliver work as part of the new £500 million Medium Schemes Framework (MSF3) have been revealed by The Midlands Highway Alliance (MHA). Balfour Beatty, Eurovia, Galliford Try and Morgan Sindall have all secured a space on the programme, which will cover highways improvements, maintenance and infrastructure works for the next four years. “We received high quality submissions from all the contractors, which, together with increased levels of investment by local authorities, will drive further successful delivery of infrastructure projects across the region,” commented Mark Kemp, Chair of MSF3 Steering Group. Replacing the Midlands Highways Alliance’s MSF2 framework, which ran for four years to June 2018, and is available to 21 member authorities in and around the Midlands including Leicestershire County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, The MSF3 framework is expected to exceed the £200 million of works delivered through the previous framework as regional investment in infrastructure is programmed to significantly increase. “With regional investment in infrastructure set to increase over the coming years, it is a great privilege to be appointed to the MSF3 framework,” said Thomas Edgcumbe, Balfour Beatty Managing Director for its North and Midlands regional business. “Following a successful partnership on the Midlands Highway Alliance’s MSF2 framework, we are looking forward to continuing this momentum and delivering further transport infrastructure in the Midlands for our customers and communities alike,” Thomas added.
A Construction Industry Scheme contractor, Indigo Group, which specialises in the engagement of subcontractors, has appointed former practice accountant Liza Gratton as its Finance Director. Liza Gratton worked in the accountancy sector for 20 years and became a fully qualified accountant in 2005 after completing her professional exams with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Liza has been member of the ICAEW for more than a decade. In recognition of dedication to the industry and continuing professional development, she is now recognised as a fellow member, FCA. After dedicating her early career to working in practice, Liza stepped into industry in 2012 providing accountancy and advisory services to range of businesses, but with focus on the construction and staffing sectors. Liza was appointed as Finance Director in July bringing a different dynamic and additional experience to the existing team of James Smith and Ian Cole-Wilkins. “The Indigo Group is at the start of its recently agreed 5 year plan. A plan that is set to see group turnover exceed £500m. Liza is vital to us delivering on this goal, her track-record in the sector is excellent and her accountancy skills beyond doubt, but it is her commercial appreciation and drive that sets her apart from many of her peers,” commented on the appointment Indigo Group CEO, Ian Cole-Wilkins. In preparation for leading Indigo’s financial team, Liza was invited to take part in the ICAEW Network for Finance Leaders (NFL) programme, designed to help participants understand and develop their strategic leadership style, generate new ideas and contribute to the growth of a business. Liza graduates from the programme in October. The Indigo Group has more than 40 years’ experience in the contracting, outsourced payroll and umbrella industries and provides end to end solutions for contractors, freelancers and agencies.
Warwickshire based civil engineering firm O’Brien Contractors has secured a contract to begin working on the development of a major new factory complex in Staffordshire. Readie Construction has signed the firm up to work on the £126.3 million construction of the new Gestamp site at Bericote Properties’ Four Ashes Park site, located near to Wolverhampton. The new 50,000 m2 manufacturing site is set to replace the existing Gestamp facility in Cannock, which is struggling because of capacity restrictions. The new facility will be fitted out with new state of the art stamping equipment and is designed to ensure the safety of 800 jobs at the current factory. Gestamp develops, designs and makes automotive components for carmakers such as Toyota, Nissan-Renault, Honda, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover. O’Brien will carry out the installation of three 6 metre deep factory pits, office floor slab, capping beam, service trenches, associated internal and external drainage and external works. Managing Director at O’Brien Contractors, Peter O’Brien commented: “We are very pleased to have been awarded another subcontract by Readie Construction. We have an excellent track record of delivering civil engineering services across the Midlands.” O’Brien Contractors was established in 1958 as a second generation, family run firm. Among its portfolio of civil engineering projects are: the regeneration of Longbridge Town Centre, Beacon Barracks SFA housing scheme in Stafford, Primark Distribution Centre in Kettering, New Cross Hospital’s new Accident and Emergency Centre in Wolverhampton and University of Birmingham’s campus expansion. Earlier in the year, O’Brien was appointed to the campus expansion project at the University of Birmingham. The company was chosen to work on a design and build contract for the construction of a new footpath and cycle way from the main campus to the student residence village, the Vale, along with associated works and soft landscaping.
Lendlease and Multiplex have entered the race to bid for Google ’s £600m HQ in London, alongside Mace and Sir Robert McAlpine. Bids were submitted last Friday for the mammoth project, ahead of an announcement by the internet giant this week that it was committing to building the scheme. Construction News reported in June that Mace and Sir Robert McAlpine were among those interested in the project. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai told the BBC: “We see big opportunities here. “This is a big commitment from us – we have some of the best talent in the world in the UK and to be able to build great products from here sets us up well for the long term.” Google said it planned to invest more than £1bn in the new King’s Cross building, designed by BIG and Heatherwick Studios, and hire thousands more staff. The scheme was put on hold in November 2013 after Google called for it to be redesigned. Bam Construct had been appointed as main contractor for the original scheme in March 2013, in a deal worth £300m. Plans for the new London HQ have an estimated construction value of more than £600m: £400m for the shell and core, and around £200m for the fit-out. Google’s staff are currently spread across offices in Covent Garden and Victoria, with the new offices bringing them together under one roof. The tech giant already has a presence at the King’s Cross redevelopment site, having taken 6 Pancras Square (pictured). It is also developing a 280,000 sq ft office block known as S2 on the site, which was given the green light by Camden Council in March. The 27 ha King’s Cross site is one of the largest redevelopments in London, with the masterplan including 50 buildings and 1,900 homes. It is being developed by the King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership, which includes Argent, DHL and London & Continental Railways and was formed in 2008. Argent declined to comment. One of the key ways Google brings in revenue is through ‘adwords’. Because this service is so important to many companies, you must make sure you use the best google adword agencies.
