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Travis Perkins launches Online Trade Counter to make ordering easier

Travis Perkins launches Online Trade Counter to make ordering easier

Travis Perkins is the first builders’ merchants to make shopping online and through its app frictionless with the launch of its Online Trade Counter and new shared access feature.  The launch of Travis Perkins Online Trade Counter allows trade account holders to shop quickly and seamlessly for products they buy

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TRAVIS PERKINS PLC INVESTS IN 170 26-TONNE TRUCKS WITH VOLVO

Travis Perkins plc is investing in a new fleet of 26-tonne trucks, designed to support the Group’s ambitious carbon reduction target and maximise the safety and efficiency of its transport operations. They will operate in a mix of Travis Perkins and Keyline Civils Specialist liveries, providing building materials to construction

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NEW BUILD TRAVIS PERKINS COMPLETES AT VESUVIUS, WORKSOP

A 1,933 sq m purpose built builders merchant facility has completed at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane, Worksop with Travis Perkins set to open in July 2022. Property development and investment company, CEG, managed the build of the bespoke unit, which will be leased by Travis Perkins. The development

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Travis Perkins plc signs up to Disability Confident scheme

Travis Perkins plc, which is a leading partner to the construction industry and the UK’s largest supplier of building materials, today announced that it has joined the Disability Confident scheme run by The Department for Work & Pensions which encourages companies to improve how they recruit, retain and develop employees

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Windows and doors manufacturer extends Travis Perkins partnership

Euramax Solutions, a leading manufacturer of PVCu windows and doors, has announced that it will extend its product range with the UK’s largest builders’ merchants, Travis Perkins. The new range will see new products and colour options available to the public in Spring 2019. Based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Euramax Solutions

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Travis Perkins Plc Announces Innovation Awards Winners

The search for ground-breaking products designed to solve problems in the construction industry in the UK has resulted in six innovation champions named to watch next year. The exciting Travis Perkins Innovation Awards (TPIA), pioneered by the Travis Perkins plc – the largest distributor of building materials in the UK

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Construction Industry Headaches as Highlighted by Travis Perkins

As a continuation of the company’s declaration to both encourage and promote innovation for the benefit of the customer, Travis Perkins has gone out of its way to highlight some of the most prominent issues, or “headaches” currently prevalent in the industry. As for the concepts themselves, it is reported

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Latest Issue

BDC 319 : Aug 2024

travis perkins

Travis Perkins plc invests in new HIAB loader cranes for improved customer deliveries

Travis Perkins plc invests in new HIAB loader cranes for improved customer deliveries

Travis Perkins plc, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, has announced a multi-million pound investment in 400 new truck loader cranes. These new HIAB iX.162 HIPRO BSS-2 cranes are the first of their kind and will replace the existing cranes on the Group’s heavy side delivery vehicles in the Travis Perkins merchanting and Keyline Civils Specialist businesses over a three year period. This version of the HIAB iX.162 crane is around 150 kgs lighter in weight than the previous model, HIAB X-HIDUO 162. This allows the truck to increase its payload and lower its fuel consumption. To further reduce carbon emissions, the new cranes have been developed so the engine can be stopped and restarted from the crane remote control. This results in a significant reduction in idle time emissions and noise. Despite being lighter, the new crane model is stronger than the previous model. This gives operators more flexibility and enables them to deliver heavy loads in even the most challenging customer environments safely and with greater accuracy. They also come with Hiab’s all-new CombiDrive 4 remote control, which has confirmed view sensors and automatically detects operator positioning to minimise accident risk and promote better safety for operators, customers and the public. “These new cranes represent a significant investment. They support our plans to innovate and grow, and they cement our place as a leading partner to construction by serving our customers with improved safety and efficiency. All new cranes will come with a maintenance contract, which means they will be maintained to the highest standards by Hiab. They also support our own commitment to net zero and the decarbonisation of our customers’ supply chain; a commitment we share with Hiab, whose values very much align with our own,” explained Richard Byrne, Travis Perkins Group HSE & Fleet Director. Gage Roberts, Hiab Key Account Manager – UK & Ireland, said: “We are all very excited to introduce the first HIAB iX.162 HIPRO  BSS-2 to Travis Perkins and get this unit out working in the field. It became very apparent that when specifying a crane for our customers, the safety features alongside the environmental factors are much more prominent considerations than they ever have been previously. The new crane has an abundance of innovations that will all work towards this crane being the safest, most efficient and most productive crane in the industry. It is also great to work alongside a strategic partner such as Travis Perkins plc; a company that always demands the very best – something that benefits both businesses enormously.” “There has never been a product on the market before like the HIAB iX.162 HIPRO BSS-2 in its category. Our innovation teams have been working on this round-the-clock for several years and no stone has been left unturned, from hose routing and weight savings, to enhanced safety features and technology that will help companies achieve sustainability  targets. When the new HIAB iX.162 HIPRO BSS-2 cranes are rolled out, we expect the crane operators to see immediate benefits. We look forward to working with Travis Perkins and bringing about real change to the wider UK industry,” Vice President for Sales & Product Management, Loader Cranes Light & Medium, at Hiab, Alexander Gelis, added. The new 400 HIAB cranes will be rolled out from January 2024, and will be supplied to Travis Perkins and Keyline with HiConnect telematics in order to monitor the performance and safe operation of the crane. They will also be supplied with, the comprehensive service contract solution ProCare, available for Hiab equipment. It provides proactive maintenance and expert assistance to maximise equipment performance, reliability and lifespan. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Travis Perkins launches Online Trade Counter to make ordering easier

Travis Perkins launches Online Trade Counter to make ordering easier

Travis Perkins is the first builders’ merchants to make shopping online and through its app frictionless with the launch of its Online Trade Counter and new shared access feature.  The launch of Travis Perkins Online Trade Counter allows trade account holders to shop quickly and seamlessly for products they buy most at their trade prices without having to navigate through product information and payment screens, reducing the time it takes to order. The Online Trade Counter means customers only need a couple of clicks to complete their order, selecting from their regularly purchased products, and it stores billing and delivery information. This means that customers can order products straight to site more quickly than ever before. Kyle Leivers, Head of Digital at Travis Perkins says: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to create a better experience for our customers. We know many builders and tradespeople often purchase from a regular pool of products and want a hassle-free and frictionless route to ordering and delivering to site. They want to find the products they regularly buy quickly, be reassured it is at the same price they normally buy it at and delivered to a site of their choosing. The Online Trade Counter offers customers value, convenience and consistency above everything else.” Travis Perkins has also enabled shared access on its platform, giving firms a new way to offer access to their Trade Account for their employees. Users can choose to give their team access and set permissions based on the tasks they want them to perform. By opening their profile, customers can share their Travis Perkins account with whoever needs it. After choosing their access type, those contacts will be emailed with access details.

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TRAVIS PERKINS PLC INVESTS IN 170 26-TONNE TRUCKS WITH VOLVO

Travis Perkins plc is investing in a new fleet of 26-tonne trucks, designed to support the Group’s ambitious carbon reduction target and maximise the safety and efficiency of its transport operations. They will operate in a mix of Travis Perkins and Keyline Civils Specialist liveries, providing building materials to construction customers nationwide.  The multi-million-pound investment will see approximately 170 Volvo FM 330 6×2 rear-steer rigids delivered into service over two years – with 85 new FMs confirmed for this year; to be followed by around 85 more in 2023. It follows a strategic fleet review by the business led by Technical Fleet Director Karl Wilshaw, which saw the evaluation of multiple options from several major truck manufacturers. The new vehicles form an integrated part of the Group’s fleet decarbonisation roadmap, with each one benefitting from the latest Euro VI Step E diesel engine technology – engineered to reduce emissions and help save fuel without compromising performance – and with the capability to run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). This will provide the opportunity for Travis Perkins plc to deploy the trucks into a number of locations that have had HVO enabled through a trial using certified HVO, which began in 2021 and includes 30 branches and 200 trucks nationwide. Key to winning the order was the latest generation FM’s ability to support a ‘technology detox’ within the cab, with the latest Volvos able to integrate multiple vehicle safety systems to optimise safety by decluttering the driver’s environment. This sees the FM’s nine-inch side display integrate feeds from Travis Perkins’ five-camera set-up and on-board weighing system, helping to reduce the need for additional monitors. The FM’s modern architecture also offers the perfect interface with the body and crane. The Group’s detailed review saw feedback collated from the company’s national driver engagement days, safety events and a series of driver focus groups, which were held to explore the future fleet requirements of the business, customers, and drivers. This directly led to the selection of the FM day cab which combines excellent vision with plenty of storage space, plus easy access and egress with a two-step entry and wide opening doors.  At the drivers’ request, the new fleet also features extra lighting and additional load securing points. The internal team at Travis Perkins worked closely with Abdi Ali, National Key Account Manager at Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, to tailor the specification to ensure sufficient ground clearance for safely navigating construction sites, whilst still ensuring the cab was three-star Direct Vision Standard compliant. Key to this was the selection of 385/55 R22.5 steer and 315/70 R22.5 drive and tag axle tyres. The trucks also benefit from a nine-tonne front axle, a 12-speed automated I-Shift transmission and an improved turning circle versus the 18-tonners they replace, thanks to Volvo’s hydraulically steered tag axle. Wilshaw says: “It’s so rewarding for all those involved to see this project coming to fruition; a huge amount of work went into consulting with our drivers, researching the latest available technologies and developing the build with Volvo Trucks, bodybuilder Massey Truck Engineering and crane supplier HIAB. We are really pleased with the result. We have FORS Gold accreditation, and these trucks play right into our continuous improvement efforts. They look fantastic, and they’re enabling our teams to operate more efficiently and safely.” The new fleet will be predominantly serviced and maintained within the Volvo Trucks dealer network, with the order including a mix of 5,200mm and 5,600mm wheelbases, to suit the varying needs of the business’ different branches. They will join a 1,600-strong commercial vehicle fleet and be in operation up to six days per week, covering around 30,000 miles per year. All new trucks feature a smart cab interior benefitting from Volvo’s Drive package, which adds remote central locking, twin armrests, electrically controlled air-conditioning and a tinted glass roof hatch. Travis Perkins has also chosen robust textile seats with a smart vinyl interior. Plus, for maximum safety, the cab has roof beacons, a passenger-side lower door window to improve direct vision, near-side proximity sensors, turn left audible warning, five camera view system and a white noise reversing alarm. Bodywork has been manufactured by Massey Truck Engineering.

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NEW BUILD TRAVIS PERKINS COMPLETES AT VESUVIUS, WORKSOP

A 1,933 sq m purpose built builders merchant facility has completed at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane, Worksop with Travis Perkins set to open in July 2022. Property development and investment company, CEG, managed the build of the bespoke unit, which will be leased by Travis Perkins. The development will create 20 new jobs, deliver a new supply chain facility for existing local business and bring economic benefits to the area. Will Moss, Acquisition Director from Travis Perkins plc, said: ” We’re really excited to have secured this new two acre site in Worksop, which will be a key branch for Travis Perkins, providing a fantastic offering for our customers. It’s scheduled to open in July and this means we’ll be able to create new jobs in the community and help support Worksop’s construction workers and tradespeople with the expert knowledge and advice that they come to expect from Travis Perkins.”  CEG is currently managing the comprehensive regeneration of the 17.75ha Vesuvius site. With planning permission for more than 200,000 sq ft of employment space, the first phase of 46,000 sq ft of multi-tenanted industrial units adjacent to Asda completed last year and is almost fully let. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service also acquired land at the site and has built a new fire station. Subsequent phases will also offer larger employment units including speculative as well as pre-let, design and build development for office, light industry, storage and distribution requirements. Will Martin, strategic land lead at CEG, said: “We welcome Travis Perkins to this thriving business community. This brownfield regeneration has proved a success with many companies thriving on the site. It has been the largest speculative development of this scale and quality in Worksop for many years and we continue to see strong interest in the space from well-known national trade and industrial occupiers alongside smaller, local businesses.” In 2018, supported by D2N2, CEG delivered a £5.5million package of works to create a new roundabout and access road opening up the site and remediating it for redevelopment. This makes the site easily accessible to the A60, A57, Worksop and its surrounds. D2N2 LEP Interim CEO, Will Morlidge, said: “It’s great to see that the new Travis Perkins branch has been completed and will soon be open to benefit the local community. The Vesuvius site represents an exciting landmark development for Worksop and the wider area, and we’re very proud to have supported it. The success of the site demonstrates the resurgent appetite for investment across north Nottinghamshire, supporting our collective ambitions to rebuild and grow our economy.” Chris Proctor & Anthony Barrowcliffe from FHP and Ben Flint from Fisher German are marketing the site. Chris Proctor said: “It is fantastic news to have attracted the big name of Travis Perkins to Vesuvius. This strong brand complements an already strong line up of names at this Worksop business destination. “We have just four industrial / trade units remaining on this first phase of the development offering from 3,750 sq ft up to 5,100 sq ft. This presents an excellent opportunity for both local and national occupiers. There are also land opportunities for units up to 200,000 sq ft.  We would be delighted to talk with any businesses considering a move to Vesuvius, Worksop”. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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Travis Perkins plc signs up to Disability Confident scheme

Travis Perkins plc, which is a leading partner to the construction industry and the UK’s largest supplier of building materials, today announced that it has joined the Disability Confident scheme run by The Department for Work & Pensions which encourages companies to improve how they recruit, retain and develop employees with disabilities and long term conditions. As part of its Disability Confident Level 1 membership, Travis Perkins has committed to ensure its recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, that adjustments are made to accommodate colleagues with disabilities and long term health conditions, and to provide employment, workplace and training opportunities. We acknowledge that creating a more inclusive environment which celebrates and nurtures diversity will be crucial to our future success as a business and as an industry. Whilst we have started to put disability on our leadership agenda, joining the Disability Confident scheme will help us accelerate change by making new connections, gaining access to information, support and guidance and other activities that will help us improve. “This is about eliminating stigma and removing the barriers that might be preventing our colleagues from realising their aspirations, so we create a workplace that is fully accessible and where everyone can thrive,” said James Mackenzie, Managing Director of Toolstation and Group Leadership Team Sponsor for the Travis Perkins Group’s Ability Network. Membership of the Disability Confident scheme follows Travis Perkins’ announcement earlier this year of its commitment to disability inclusion after joining The Valuable 500 in 2020, to make the business fully accessible to colleagues, as well as customers and suppliers, with disabilities and long term health conditions; both seen and unseen, over time. 

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Travis Perkins plc appoints Nick Pinney as new Group Property Director

Travis Perkins plc, which is the largest supplier of building materials and equipment, and a leading partner to the construction industry, has appointed Nick Pinney as the Group’s new Property Director from 1st November 2021. Nick will be replacing Martin Meech, who is retiring from the Group at the end of 2021 in a move that has been planned carefully for some time, and after 16 years of distinguished service. Martin’s retirement brings an end to a period of 35 years where he held the role of Property Director but will be continuing in his Non Executive and advisory roles.  Nick first joined the Group as Divisional Property Director in 2014 before being promoted to Property Director for the Group’s Merchant businesses in 2019.  As the new Group Property Director Nick will oversee the Group’s £1bn property business with a portfolio of more than 1300 buildings, and be responsible for the continued growth and development of the Group’s estate. He will be reporting to the Group’s CFO, Alan Williams. “I am really pleased to announce the promotion of Nick, who is a fantastic asset to our team and who has grown with us since he joined the business seven years ago. This appointment is a testament to his talent and skills, and also of our commitment to the development of our own colleague pipeline. “Nick has already played a key role in developing the property strategy that supports the ambitious growth we have for our businesses, and he will now be responsible for the long term plan to maintain and improve our estate, to make sure it is fit for the future in terms of driving the digital agenda, and that we lead the way on sustainable construction,” explained Alan Williams. Prior to joining Travis Perkins, Nick worked as a Retail Partner for Strutt & Parker and as an analyst at Morgan Stanley. He is a language graduate from Oxford and has an MA in Property Valuation & Law from Cass Business School at City University. Nick lives in the Banbury area with his wife and four young children, and when time allows, he’s a keen tennis player and enjoys golf.

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Travis Perkins plc celebrates Pride month to improve diversity and inclusion

Travis Perkins plc, which is the UK’s largest supplier of building materials and owner of the Travis Perkins builders’ merchants, Toolstation and many specialist trade businesses, is celebrating Pride across the Group. More specifically, colleagues will be using Pride in June to educate themselves on what it means to become good allies to lesbian, gay, bi, trans and questioning (LGBTQ+) people and colleagues. This celebration is integral to the Group’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy – You Be You, It Makes Us Us – to help build a more diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, feeling that they belong and are comfortable to be themselves. As part of this, the company aims to ensure that everyone knows what it means to be an LGBTQ+ ally, and why it is an important part of creating an environment where LGBTQ+ colleagues and customers can feel safe and comfortable about who they are in and out of the workplace. During Pride, colleagues will be invited to embrace the celebrations through active participation in a raft of activities, ranging from allyship education training to reverse mentoring and local leadership team discussions. Those who feel comfortable will also be encouraged to add their pronouns to their email signatures, wear rainbow laces as part of their uniform in branches and stores nationwide, and dress brightly on Fridays throughout the month to show their support. “Being an ally is about showing support for, and solidarity with, our colleagues from the LGBTQ+ community, and celebrating the diversity of our fantastic business. It requires a curiosity about our colleagues, a desire to educate ourselves, and sometimes, the willingness to step in and stand up to others. An ally shouldn’t be prepared to leave unacceptable behaviour unchallenged. Fostering a work environment where our colleagues can be themselves without fear of discrimination and to feel included and supported is essential to enabling them to be happy and productive.  “We’ll be a better place to work and better able to understand and serve our customers’ needs if our business genuinely reflects the diversity of our society and our customer base. Visibly celebrating and respecting difference is a key part of allyship. It helps us to attract the best people to work with us irrespective of social or ethnic background, gender, sexuality, disability or any other individual characteristics and makes us a stronger, better business,” explained General Counsel & Company Secretary for Travis Perkins plc and a sponsor for the Group’s LGBTQ+ network, Robin Miller. Acording to Stonewall, more than a third are known to hide that they are LGBTQ+ at work for fear of discrimination. Colleagues at Travis Perkins Group hope that through being brilliant allies, they can support LGBTQ+ colleagues and ensure they feel safe and comfortable about who they are, and eliminate any unfair treatment of them.

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Windows and doors manufacturer extends Travis Perkins partnership

Euramax Solutions, a leading manufacturer of PVCu windows and doors, has announced that it will extend its product range with the UK’s largest builders’ merchants, Travis Perkins. The new range will see new products and colour options available to the public in Spring 2019. Based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Euramax Solutions has manufactured PVCu windows and doors for over 65 years. With its 200,000sq. ft manufacturing facility, Euramax supplies a range of composite and PVCu doors and windows to the modular, new build, holiday home, DIY and retail sectors across the UK. As one of the largest UK suppliers to trade professionals and self-builders, buildings merchants Travis Perkins has over 660 branches across the UK and supplies more than 100,000 product lines. Euramax has supplied products to Travis Perkins since 2004, primarily delivering standard white PVCu windows. In April 2019 the Euramax product range was extend, adding coloured PVCu windows, deluxe French doors, sliding patio doors and Bi-Fold doors to the range available to customers. “Trends in the market are always changing and evolving, which means more choice is needed to meet customer demand”, said Richard Banks, commercial director at Euramax. “As a leading manufacturer of windows and doors, it’s important to take advantage of the market shift and provide more options for customers, which is why we have extended our product range with one of the most notable UK builders merchants. “We understand that appearance is one of the primary reasons why homeowners upgrade their windows and doors, so we know that colour and style is important. Previously, Travis Perkins only supplied a selection of Euramax products in white, but as 40 per cent of the market want coloured doors and windows, we have added Chartwell green and Golden Oak options, along with Anthracite grey as it is becoming increasingly popular,” explained Banks. “We also know that customers are always looking to improve their home’s energy efficiency, which is why all of our products at combine energy efficient frames and insulating glass to deliver the best thermal performance possible,” Banks added. “Aside from our extended product range supplied at Travis Perkins, our bespoke made to measure service means that customers can purchase windows and doors to fit their exact needs.” The range of products is available now at Travis Perkins stores across the UK as well as on the website for customer collection or delivery. To find out more about Euramax and their products, visit www.euramax.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1226 361639.To browse the full range of Euramax products available at Travis Perkins, go to www.travisperkins.co.uk.

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Travis Perkins Plc Announces Innovation Awards Winners

The search for ground-breaking products designed to solve problems in the construction industry in the UK has resulted in six innovation champions named to watch next year. The exciting Travis Perkins Innovation Awards (TPIA), pioneered by the Travis Perkins plc – the largest distributor of building materials in the UK – is the first of its kind for the industry. The successful winners of the first ever TPIA were selected from over 100 applicants by a panel of industry judges and announced as: Dr Daniel Simmons, Jonathan Bolton, Jonathan Wood of Johnson Tiles, Mark Singleton of Startlink Systems Ltd, Mark Titley, and Russel Armstrong of RA Tech. The winners’ products range from Johnson Tiles’ ‘CristalGrip’ an innovative tile fixing system, Russel Armstrong’s ‘Hotun’ the UK’s first regulation compatible all in one dry trap tundish, Dr Daniel Simmons’ ‘LeakNet’ a smart solution to water damage prevention, Mark Titley’s ‘Pipe Cone’ a safer and more efficient plastic pipe chamfer tool, Mark Singleton’s ‘Spacelink truss’ made of fiberglass hollow sections, joined without metal or adhesive, that’s as strong as steel but much lighter and rustproof, and Travis Perkins plc employee Jonathan Bolton’s ‘Stay Safe’ multi cordon bag, which makes cordoning off an area safe and quick without the need for traffic cones. A TPIA winner was chosen from each of the following categories: university affiliated, problem-solving, inventors, registered businesses and internal colleagues. Going forward the successful applicants will all work closely with Travis Perkins plc to access professional advice, support and funding depending on their specific needs. Group Strategy Director at Travis Perkins plc, Norman Bell, commented: “As a major UK employer with 21 businesses it is important to invest in innovative products and new ideas which help to solve daily problems that are encountered by our customers and the industry as a whole.”

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Construction Industry Headaches as Highlighted by Travis Perkins

As a continuation of the company’s declaration to both encourage and promote innovation for the benefit of the customer, Travis Perkins has gone out of its way to highlight some of the most prominent issues, or “headaches” currently prevalent in the industry. As for the concepts themselves, it is reported that they became apparent upon Travis Perkins conversing with a mixture of industry manufacturers, housebuilders, contractors and members of staff. Of the key gripes, the weather in the UK was noted to be one of those challenges shared by many individuals across the sector. Notoriously poor weather has always been something of a gripe for the UK as a whole, but within the construction sector it is something to which many organisations attribute a degree of their construction delays, the reduced effectiveness of some building products, and a deprecation of working conditions and overall productivities. It’s of no real surprise that another of the key areas highlighted was health and safety, being something that presently places more limiters on what can be done more than any other construction concept. Incorporating areas such as working from heights and the use of heavy equipment and materials, the potential for injury within the construction sector has always, and perhaps always will be something of an annoyance to the industry itself. As has also been reported, the skills shortage was also highlighted as one of the other key areas of challenges, which has placed severe brakes on the continued growth of the sector; this also being something very difficult for the average SME to be able to overcome without dedicating a great deal more attention to community engagement and recruitment strategy. Travis Perkins’ Group Strategy Director, Norman Bell commented: “This is a golden opportunity for those in construction who face daily problems that are a barrier to progress and profit, as well as for creative minds that want to make a difference to a vital industry sector.”

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