BUILD November 2016

Build Magazine: November 2016

Architect of the Year

Toni Yli-Suvanto Architects After an international career of collaboration and conscientious contributions to the field of architecture, Toni Yli-Suvanto adopts a loving focus on individual and social wellbeing in a sustainable design context as the heart of his new Helsinki-based company.

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Also in this month’s issue...

Xpert Energy Installations Ltd: Turnkey Solutions for Energy Efficiency in the Home - Page 48

Karim Rashid: The Continual Ebb and Flow of Design in Culture - Page 30

Amazon: Leading the Way Through All-New Frontier Channels - Page 44

NuCasa: Fine Purveyors of Retro-Futuristic Decor - Page 32 www.build-news.com

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Editor’s Letter Welcome to the November issue of BUILD Magazine.

As 2016 slides into its penultimate stretch, it offers a chance for a momentary pause for reflection on the achievements of the past year. In a year dominated by headlines and political upheavals, the highly positive efforts of the construction industry, in all of its facets, has offered a certain respite. Housing stock, for instance, is continuing to rise, aided in part by a noticeable boom in office-to-home conversions.

The construction industry is clearly refusing to be overcome in its resurgence. The last ten years have taught industrial professionals hard truths and introduced new realities, providing opportunity to reassert themselves and their firms. Furthermore, aided by the ever-evolving technological landscape, designers, manufacturers and builders alike are finding their playing fields levelled, allowing new chances for innovation to flourish.

Indeed, it seems increasingly difficult to separate the construction industry from the impact of modern technology. Architects like Toni Yli-Suvanto have benefitted enormously from the ability to generate 3D models of the design environment, in order to better understand and even simplify the construction process. In addition, though, the increasing impact of technology has forced a critical rethink of the way that we consume energy, and in aid of this, Tesla owner Elon Musk’s line of highly efficient solar panels, capable of providing boundless gigawatt-hours of clean energy to thousands of households, heralds that the role of technology in the construction sector will only become more symbiotic as time goes on.

For other construction, architectural and design-oriented firms, the impact of technology has created a curious counter-insurgency – Karim Rashid, an icon of his time, swears by the importance of design in culture and society, and maintains a devoted client-first approach, so as to better understand the needs of those that he is working with. In this, he is not alone: NuCasa use their extensive range of homeware products, including retro-industrial lighting items, to appeal to a broadening clientele expressing an increasing interest in a highly personal service that yields a bespoke result.

All of this, and more besides, is to found and discussed in detail in this month’s issue of BUILD. We hope that you enjoy this issue, and that you will join us again in December.

Contact the Editor: George Millar George.millar@ai-globalmedia.com +44 (0) 203 725 6842

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Contents

4. News

Architecture 10. Reputable Innovation in Housing 12. Toni Yli-Suvanto Architects: Taking a Fresh Approach

Construction

Finance 36. Under Construction: Developments in VAT for Charities

Manufacturing & Supply 40. Clearly Defined Quality 41. Dynamic Air Quality Solutions

16. Helipad Construction as a Boutique Service

Transport

18. Polyurethane Foam for Energy-Efficient Buildings,

44. Building Exciting Engineering Careers at Amazon UK

by Leonie Onslow, Executive Director, BUFCA

Design 22. The Classic Barn Company – Secrets Within the Detail 23. On the Frontline of Change 24. Passion, Talent and Integrity

Interior Design & Decorating 28. A Penchant for the Post-Modern

Sustainability & Eco 48. Best Renewable Energy Consultants 2016 – UK 50. Premier Water Services

Technology 54. Goggling the Globe in VR

29. Partnering Top Brands, Delivering Impeccable Quality 30. Opening Design to the Public 32. NuCasa: The Retro-Industrial Retailer

57.Winners’ Directory

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News

79 Per Cent Would Prefer UK Shale Gas Rather Than Imported LNG A survey has revealed that 79 per cent have said they would prefer to use UK shale gas over imported Liquefied Natural gas (LNG). The survey of 500 people by market research company Usurv on 24th October, on behalf of CNG Services, found nearly eight in ten people would use shale gas for their central heating rather than imported LNG.

Plans have recently been approved for fracking at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton in Lancashire and 75 per cent in the North West said they are in favour of using UK shale for heating.

Gas industry expert and Lancastrian John Baldwin, managing director of CNG Services and one of the architects of the renewable gas industry in the UK, commented: “The overwhelming preference for UK shale clearly demonstrates that the public are positive about building an onshore gas sector in the UK.” “It doesn’t make sense to import LNG thousands of miles when we are standing on natural gas which we can safely extract and inject straight into our gas grid to heat our homes. It seems that, with the assurance that regulation will ensure safe extraction, people are enthusiastic about building a UK shale industry.”

“It has always been very difficult to understand why environmental activists are opposed to shale gas as gas is the ideal fuel for back-up generation for intermittent wind and solar especially if produced in the UK with a much lower carbon footprint than imported LNG.” “Shale gas will give the UK a massive financial boost and the tax received can be used to fund gas demand reduction and renewables. Even better if the US and Qatar LNG that is not needed in the UK goes to China and helps coal to stay in the ground. I am thrilled that the gas under our family farm can be used to help the entire planet to reduce its carbon footprint and create wealth for Lancashire folk.”

Survey Breakdown: Looking at location, over 92 per cent of people in the West Midlands were pro UK shale, with the lowest percentage in the South East, which still stood at 73 per cent. In the North West, where plans have been approved for fracking at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton in Lancashire, 75 per cent were in favour of using UK shale for heating.

The survey showed that women were slightly more in favour with 82 per cent opting for UK shale gas.

In terms of income, the lower the income group the more favour people were in terms of using UK gas. 84 per cent in the less than £10,000 groups choosing UK shale only reducing to 74 per cent for those with more than more than £40,000 a year.

92 per cent of over 65 year olds gave the thumbs up to shale, as did 85 per cent of 18 – 24-year-olds, showing support for using UK produced gas extended through all age groups.

CNG Services Ltd (CSL) provides design, build and project management services to new gas pipelines, CNG filling stations, biomethane to grid plants and in relation to onshore natural gas processing plants. This includes connections to the high pressure LTS (Local Transmission System) and NTS (National Transmission System) where CSL integrates the design and build of the LTS/NTS connection and associated pipeline with the main project which can be CNG filling station, gas power plant, biomethane to grid plant or onshore gas processing facility.

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As far back as 2010, CNG Services developed a pilot project with Centrica, Thames Water and Southern Gas Networks at Didcot sewage treatment works. This injected biomethane into the gas grid in 2010 and its success overcame Health and Safety Executive (HSE) related gas quality issues.

To date, CNG Services has been involved in around 90 per cent of the 78 BtG connections in the UK. Contact SOPR 07813 131350 Suzanne@sopr.co

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Smart Home Revolution From heating that turns on automatically when we’re within two miles of the house, to front doors that only open when a recognised face appears, people now have the opportunity to turn their regular homes into cutting-edge smart homes.

A new study by appliance repair network Go-Assist.co.uk reveals that 29 per cent of the UK adult population would consider purchasing at least one smart home device in 2017. However, recent figures from Deloitte state that just three per cent of households currently have smart home devices installed, up from two per cent the year before. These figures are slightly below PwC’s figures, which estimate that five per cent of homes are using smart technology.

The most well-known smart home product is NEST, a thermostat that learns an individual householder’s habits and controls the heating, allowing for complex personalisation and automation. The device uses Wi-Fi to connect to an enabled mobile phone, giving complete access to the home’s temperature no matter where the user is.

NEST, the poster child of the industry, was acquired for $3.2 billion (£2.6 million)

by Google in 2014. However, earlier this year, the founder Tony Fadell stepped down after disappointing sales over the last 24 months.

Similar products have joined the market to rival NEST. These include British Gas’ HIVE and the Honeywell Lyric, a thermostat which tracks your location via a mobile phone and turns on the heating or air-conditioning depending on the homeowner’s distance from the house.

Home security is another popular area which smart devices are tackling. Sentri, which is less expensive than a traditional security system and does not require professional installation, provides a 360-degree-view camera, which allows one to view their house remotely via their phone.

There’s also Canary, a small home security camera device which includes a siren to chase away thieves. Goji takes this one step further, acting as a lock for the front door, sending photos of visitors to the phone, and even giving temporary access if the user is away.

Handling all these devices from many different apps can become complicated and problematic. To solve this, Amazon has created Echo, a voice-activated device which allows complete universal control; plus, it plays certain music depending on the user’s mood.

In the latest Apple IOS updates, iPhones now include the ‘home’ button, designed to be the hub for connecting and controlling your smart home devices. This is undoubtedly the way the future is taking our homes.

Contact James Holden James.Holden@emailbig.co.uk 0203 642 0131 Build Magazine

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“We believe that successful collaboration with other consultants and professionals involved in the building process is very important for creating innovative design solutions… We find that inventive construction methods suggested by experienced contractors can really help the designs come to life.

“Ultimately, our simple, day to day aim is to produce high quality buildings. We try to achieve this through the considered design of every aspect of a project – from the overarching concept down to the minute details.”

Company: Paul O’Neill Architects Name: Paul O’Neill Email: paul@pauloneillarchitects.com Web Address: www.pauloneillarchitects.com Address: Bective Street, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland 11a Longton Grove, London, SE26 6QQ, UK Telephone: (IRE): (00353) 46 92 93681 | M (IRE): (00353) 86 79 54655 M (UK): (0044) 79 3081 8142

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Architecture

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Architecture

Reputable Innovation in Housing

Best Home Counties Residential SingleStorey Extension: West 2016

Spatial Design Architects is an Essex-based firm who specialise in quality contemporary architecture, with a strong focus on the design and delivery of unique residential and commercial buildings. With a deep and genuine love for their work guiding their imaginations and shaping their house designs, the effort on display here reflects a well-established knowledge about design, form and function, all of which is aimed at achieving and enhancing the brief as set to them by the client. esign is ultimately subjective – for a private client, it can also certainly be very personal. The client – often a couple – will invariably have fixed ideas about what they want. Sometimes it will be a jigsaw of influences gathered by studying closely the houses of their friends, noting what they like and certainly what they don’t. This is the belief held by Brendon Robins, who, at the head of Spatial Design, is responsible for guiding the company’s overall vision: to design form and function, and to blur the divide between internal and external spaces that individual home-owners, families, businesses and communities can enjoy, relax and work within.

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As Brendon explains, an architect can sometimes encounter the extreme situation of having a client that presents their own plan and an elevation sketch.” The task then is to explain tactfully a better solution and try and open them up to other alternatives. Rarely does it happen, but if the client won’t be moved, then we, as the designers, have to decline the commission because otherwise it would be our reputation at stake.”

Taking such efforts to maintain a reputation in the architectural industry means that Brendon’s firm is always winning new business – “Our clients, new and long-standing, get what they need, when they need it. We work to the tightest deadlines, with the upmost quality. We provide a professional studio relationship with a team that has the ability to meet the demands of our clients’ requirements. The project solution is the attention to detail with design creativity and clarity.”

“Like many architects,” Brendon explains, “We think our designs and planning concepts are second to none. For example, our Build Award results from a private client employing Spatial Design Architects from conception through to completion, coordinating all consultants and being a team leader for their large extension and ground floor interior overhaul. Our client wished for a contrast in architecture against the traditional brick facade and wanted to remove their former conservatory and build a functional space that allowed them to connect to the garden with ease.”

“The challenge was opening up the existing house with large span steelwork to create the ‘picture frame’ structures. We designed two connecting pods with seamless interiors. These comprise a separate framed formal dining room and another large framed kitchen, dining and family room. It has certainly become a space that has defined ‘blurring the boundaries’ between the internal and external spaces. Time was spent on the finer detailing of the extension and our clients have said that we certainly delivered the space they wished for.”

“We believe that the aim should be for mass housing developers to break up the mass of the one-designfits-all strategy, and provide a site policy for ‘architectdesigned’ homes. We think Spatial Design Architects has a big part to play in this.”

Taking into consideration his beliefs on what distinguishes Spatial Design from its competitors, Brendon reflects on the wider architectural design industry, and highlights that the appetite of developers and builders for profits means that there will always be a bank of permissions to keep the hungry needy for homes. “It cannot be right that 250,000 homes receive planning permission each year,” he says, “but this is way out of proportion to the number of projects which are actually built.”

Brendon sees a very exciting and expansionist future – not just for the industry, but for his firm. Although the reputation of Spatial Design has been built on houses, it is comprised of essentially good designers who can turn their hands to anything – from sports facilities, to schools, to public buildings. Because of the increased pressure to do so, Spatial Design Architects shall widen its project base and commissions over the coming months.

“Furthermore, although we do not currently operate according to a BIM-enabled environment at the moment, we are developing our core knowledge and will be undertaking BIM courses in 2017, in order to enhance our skillset yet further.”

Another pressing problem that Brendon highlights is that the UK is in need of a network of skills academies with the specific function in mind of training construction workers – bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, roofers, etc. – to take up apprenticeships on construction sites. This points towards a certain skills shortage faced

by UK businesses that can harm the productive capabilities of architectural firms.

Because of this, Brendon sees part of his role – and that of Spatial Design – as being to educate about effective, efficient house design. “We are at a certain disadvantage in this country because, unlike on the continent, we are the only nation to sprout mass housing developers. In our practice, we are generally dealing with one-off designs for discerning one-off clients. These are people who understand that it is not difficult to design something good and not just milk it down to make more profit. They wish for something different and contemporary, rather than copying a traditional format, and certainly not the mass housing approach that has tarred the name of good British design and architecture.”

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Company: Spatial Design Architects Name: Brendon Robins (Lead architect) Email: studio@spatialdesignarchitects.com Web Address: www.spatialdesignarchitects.com Address: Second Floor Studio, The Granary, 6 Crescent Rd, Warley, Brentwood, CM145JR

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Architecture

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Architecture

Toni Yli-Suvanto Architects: Taking a Fresh Approach Architect of the Year

After graduating at ETH Zürich in Switzerland, and before starting his first practise in London, Toni Yli-Suvanto worked in architectural practises in Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom, collaborating with internationally celebrated architects, such as David Chipperfield Architects, and working on award winning projects around Europe. Now he runs a highly successful architectural design firm in Helsinki, Finland, based around a strong emphasis on individual and social wellbeing, and contribution in climate change mitigation in the field of architecture.

“All our work is very project specific, each project has its own unique challenges and potential. It is imperative to find out and understand the client’s needs, and to explore the potential of the programme, the site and the wider region in relation to this.

“Beyond this, I am often proactively involved in planned projects in very early stages, helping to find out the full potential. I believe architects in general could have wider influence that goes beyond the traditional architectural issues such as aesthetics, functional performance or energy efficiency, and be actively involved in mapping out the economic and social potential in early stages. Even though my work is often identified for its ecological characteristics, the socio-economic contribution is always in the heart of the concepts and is the igniting engine for the design development.”

ince relocating to Finland, Toni has established brand new priorities in creating healthy buildings, which are easy to use and adaptable for changes, and in creating built environment that has meaningful economic, social and ecological contribution. “It is relatively easy to design a building that appears to contain ecological qualities,” he says, “but if they are not met by economic and social qualities, the building is only wasting resources, no matter how ‘green’ it is.”

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This offers ample reason for Toni’s determination to provide a full spectrum of architectural services, from early consultation and advice, through to detailed construction drawings, operational services and dismantling strategies. “In our work, we utilise circular economy concepts, not only for minimising the carbon footprint and the use of resources during construction and operational usage, but also in order to see new opportunities in using both technical and biological circular concepts integrated into built environment.

As an award-winning architect, Toni reflects that he has revelled in the opportunities afforded to him to enjoy the exceptional dedication and educational ethic at the ETH, and to enjoy the success of his previous projects, which have taken him on a journey from Asia and Africa to Europe and US. Due to this international background, having been brought up very much exposed to the wide world and to all of its different social, cultural, economic and climatic settings, Toni believes that he is in the best possible circumstance to combine these learned experiences pragmatically into realising new projects.

He is fully aware, he says, of the challenges as well as the potentials, which are easily left hidden under the local customs and the traditional way of approaching the architectural task.

Having attained such experience in extremely different situations has helped Toni to see new opportunities in his everyday environment. “We tend to take our surroundings and customs for granted,” he points out, “and it is very inviting to take comfort from the status quo, instead of really taking a new approach or starting a totally different kind of collaboration model; sometimes

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however, a fresh start is required for finding solutions to the challenges facing our and future generations.”

To Toni, this mindset, oriented around taking a step back to appreciate the wider picture, is all about constant questioning and testing of one’s ideas against the set requirements. In order to accomplish that in his own work, Toni’s architectural team develop various concepts, all with very different qualities and potentials, before having these concepts compete against each other. During this design process, ideas are dropped, added and merged, and as a result of this competitive and iterative approach, the design with most qualities begins to take shape.

On large-scale projects, this strategy has borne tremendous fruits for Toni and his firm – one such award-winning proposal, for the adapted reuse of the Packard Automobile Plant in Detroit, Michigan, was particularly meaningful for him, as it has been credited particularly for its multiple social, economic and environmental qualities.

“We based the design concept on comprehensive social and environmental analysis of the site and the region,” Toni explains. “As a consequence of that, we aimed to change the socio-economic course around this vast site, consisting of 325,000 square metres of derelict industrial buildings.

We began with a simple proposal: a range of communityfocused activities ranging from local symbiotic food and energy production, related educational and research facilities, retail markets and office hubs, integrated urban flats and community services, and leisure and entertainment activities.

“In this project, environmentally friendly activities created the economic backbone for the community, and a setting for all other activities. The plant, that used to pollute its environment and contributed to the collapse of the society as a singular activity exposed to the global market development, started to regenerate the economy and the environment while being versatile and flexible for future changes. After the competition, I was also excited to see the local urban farming taking more active role in the local economy.”

On a medium scale, the Grassroots Community Resource Centre in London was another particularly poignant project

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Architecture

with special importance for Toni, as he believes that it is a good example of a public building in which economic, social and ecological qualities were successfully integrated.

As an associate at Eger Architects in this project, Toni was charged with leading the design team of this building, which received The Best Built Project Award in London Planning Awards 2008.

Meanwhile, turning attention to his smaller-scale endeavours, Toni feels it especially important to mention the Sauna Pavilion in Lapland. This represented a chance for Toni to experiment with the use of timber, and log construction in particular. Toni places a great deal of significance in timber as an essential building material, seeing its potentially endless uses and applications.

As Toni explains, “I felt that the full potential of its use has not yet been exhausted, nor functionally or technically. The project was a continuation of evolution in timber construction that had taken place around the site in the past, and I saw the opportunity to merge the traditional spatial and technical qualities with contemporary, pragmatic approach in form finding on this exceptionally beautiful site.”

As a result, Toni created a building that contributes to the culture of seasonal lifestyle in Lapland, and which is successful in optimising the use of heated space and the indoor air quality. In addition to this, it also reacts to the organic context, offering dramatic views that favour the key directions of the landscape, and revealing the midnight sun in the summer. “The dedication of the locals and the quality achieved by the local labour on this project was a memorably experience,” Toni adds.

“Due to intense globalisation and urbanisation, I see the socio-economic aspect of our work only gaining in importance in the future. Continuing challenges related to segregation and polarisation requires more and more attention both in building and urban scale. I see it as a responsibility of the architects to make their contribution on this.”

In relation to this, Toni also sees the focus on individual and social health and wellbeing as being of particular increasing importance, due to the demographic development in societies across the world, and due to the economic development of the emerging markets. “To provide a healthy and sustainable living environment to all of those people, independently of their economic status, is one of the great challenges of contemporary societies when it comes to creating purposeful, efficient housing,” he says.

In terms of the environment and circular economy concepts, Toni sees that people are only taking their first real steps in identifying and utilizing them in built environments, and that the full potential of resource efficiency has not yet been understood, nor explored in the building sector. “The subject is getting more attention however, and it has been included in the government and city programmes. Even though some research has been already done, I see a lot more future research going on this field. As a result, the first real examples are being currently designed and built, but I believe the near future will bring these concepts to our lives in a much more profound and comprehensive way.”

Company: Toni Yli-Suvanto Architects Ltd Name: Toni Yli-Suvanto Email: info@toniylisuvanto.com Web Address: www.toniylisuvanto.com Address: Laivalahdenkaari 34, 00810 Helsinki, Finland Telephone: +358 407 411 307

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Construction

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Construction

Helipad Construction as a Boutique Service Rose Aviation Ltd was established in June 2006 to fill the niche in the corporate aviation market for a truly independent organisation, capable of providing a wide spectrum of services to the market. It provides services relating to Aircraft Selection and Procurement, AOC Applications, Quality Auditing, Aviation Company Manuals, Aviation Management Software, Helipad Design, Hangar Design and Asset Management. Rose Aviation is also a provider of engineers and pilots to local and international clients.

n the absence of a suitable helipad, helicopters are often restricted to airport to airport operations by night and to Class C airspace (in the vicinity of cities) for SVFR (night time) operations. By providing a suitable helipad (to ICAO Annex 14 and National Aviation Authority specifications) in a home or office location, people can significantly improve their helicopter’s productivity and value for money by facilitating point to point operations by both day and night.

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For safe operations, a helicopter must be able to approach and depart a helipad in a benign obstacle environment in order to comply with Aviation Regulations (ICAO Annex 14). In recognition of these challenges, many urban helipads are elevated at roof-top level. An elevated helipad is ideally suited to a hospital environment, enabling direct access from the hospital’s roof-directly to the place of treatment.

This is where Rose Aviation comes in. With their extensive experience in the design and approval of helicopter landing pads (onshore and offshore) for private and public sector customers, the Dublinbased firm offers a complete helipad package including; design, ops procedure preparation, application for NAA approval, construction – including the provision of navaids / lights / approach indicators, etc. – commissioning, and ongoing audit/ check of facilities.

“Our independence allows us to achieve efficient and cost effective solutions for our customers,” explains Roddy McNamee, co-Founder at Rose Aviation. “Our achievements are due to a strong reputation for delivering targeted, cost effective advice to our clients. Most of the business we receive is through repeat work from satisfied customers and from referrals. All our consultants have amassed numerous years of broad experience in the

aviation sector. Each has a wealth of Management, Engineering, Information Technology and Aviation experience. This enables us to provide a customised service to each client.”

with industry regulations, with such authorities as ICAO, EASA / FAA granting their seal of approval, in addition to adherence with related industry guidelines – medical, emergency, etc.

Rose Aviation adopts a consultative and consensus approach to all of its projects. Their first objective is to establish the added value the project will bring to the client’s operation,” Roddy details. “Once a sustainable project has been agreed, we work closely with our client to realise the best solution for their operation.”

Rose Aviation’s track record includes deliveries of new aircraft, aircraft physical inspections, asset management, aircraft transitions, ferry flights, simulator instruction, technical record set-up, quality system auditing and more. This experience includes working with aircraft manufacturers, aircraft lessors, public service bodies and MEP contractors. This is surmised in a number of highly successful projects that Roddy refers to. “Our most successful projects relate to a full VIP heliport, and emergency hospital helipads.”

Being able to differentiate themselves in terms of customer intimacy and quality of service is what Roddy believes singles out Rose Aviation as a boutique service provider. The inherent flexibility to respond to customers’ requirements at short notice is something that firms within this industry have to be available to accommodate, and Roddy maintains the ability of Rose Aviation to be the go-to firm when such a need arises. “We are a total solution provider,” he states plainly. “We provide continuing helipad audit, SOP formulation, and operational training. We believe this is unique to the industry.

“Our client base has been developed through word of mouth,” he goes on. “Our experts have many years of SAR, Offshore and HEMS aviation experience and have cultivated many relationships from this both domestically and internationally.

“Our aim is to be the partner of choice for bespoke helicopter solutions. Our strategy is to ensure that we provide our clients with the quality they expect and consequently we will build a brand that is synonymous with excellence.”

Rose Aviation is fortunate indeed to have had all of their designs approved as being compliant

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While Roddy envisages a turbulent period due to the current oil and gas market, there are signs of newer emerging opportunities in the emergency medical services. “We aim to be the partner of choice in the EMS market in Ireland, UK, UAE and elsewhere.”

Company: Rose Aviation Name: Roddy McNamee Email: info@roseaviation.ie Web Address: www.roseaviation.ie Address: 6-9 Trinity Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Telephone: +353 1 6177833

Helipads: They’re Taking Off!

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Polyurethane Foam for Energy-Efficient Buildings, by Leonie Onslow, Executive Director, BUFCA The use of polyurethane foam for insulation of buildings, coupled with building information modelling, can result in smaller heating systems being specified. Regardless, it will certainly cut energy usage, particularly when this is combined with other energy saving measures. The British Urethane Foam Contractors Association (BUFCA) is the national trade association in the UK and a central resource for the application of sprayed and injected polyurethane foam systems. The association comprises polyurethane foam installers and suppliers of sprayed and injected polyurethane systems and equipment. he insulation value of polyurethane foam is amongst the best available as the foam seals all gaps and moulds itself to all contours. It has the ability to provide significant structural strength and it creates its own vapour control layer – essential in today’s highly insulated buildings.

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Polyurethane foam can be installed for air tightness and to help meet Building Regulations as wall insulation, roof insulation, floor insulation or to fill voids and other areas providing a seamless, thermal insulation barrier. Other jointed systems give rise to a potentially weak point, leading to a significant loss of insulation value.

For instance, polyurethane foam can be economically applied to the underside of traditional residential roofs, as well as those constructed from steel, asbestos and aluminium. Systems can be applied to various depths and have K-values in the range of 0.025 - 0.028W/mK. When sprayed to a depth of 100mm, the U-value of a typical roof with 100mm fibreglass at ceiling level is reduced from 0.34W/m²K to 0.16W/m²K bringing the building up to current Building Regulation requirements. This can save the equivalent of more than one tonne of CO2 per annum

by reducing energy consumption.

The two-component liquid system produces a highly-efficient blanket of insulation with a thermal conductivity approximately twice as efficient as fibreglass. It is particularly cost-effective and easy to apply to a wide variety of substrates. Its closed-cell nature renders it very resistant to moisture ingress.

Polyurethane foam is not just an insulant – it can be used for stabilisation purposes, for instance to hold tiles in place for a stronger roof structure or to take the place of failing wall ties. The material can often be used when other materials are not suitable. Some of the types of applications are outlined below but actually the material is so versatile that it can be used in many more!

For wall insulation, injected polyurethane foam can be used in the cavity to provide a superior performing insulant which also helps to bond the inner and outer leaves providing strength to the building. Air leakage through the cavity can be reduced to zero. Because of the greater thermal performance and the reduced air leakage PU foam outperforms all other forms of cavity fill.

Polyurethane foam systems provide the ideal solution for industrial and commercial

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buildings as large areas can be insulated quickly for insulation and condensation control.

Factories, warehouses, exhibition halls, football stadiums and offices can all be insulated.

Where buildings have been subject to a change of use spray-applied and injected polyurethane can achieve high U-values outperforming many other insulants. The insulant can be applied to most building substrates and will fill voids which might otherwise be difficult to reach with other materials.

Closed cell foams are resistant to driving rain meaning that the material stays dry with no loss of thermal properties. The insulant can help act as a barrier to prevent flood waters from entering the building through the walls. The British Board of Agrément certification approves this insulant for cavity walls in all exposure zones. Closed cell foams which achieve a Class 1 fire rating when tested to BS476 Part 7 are available. Or, where non-Class 1 materials are used on internal applications these must be covered by plasterboard, or a similar thermal barrier.

Conversely, open cell polyurethane foams do not have the high insulation properties associated with the closed cell materials, which is a distinct disadvantage if trying to save space. They do not have the same fire performance as closed cell, so they should never be left exposed; they have

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no structural strength to stabilise roofs or walls and are widely marketed to be applied directly onto non-breathable membranes. This practice should be treated with a high degree of caution as interstitial condensation could occur in the foam, next to roof timbers.

However, they are better suited for their enhanced sound attenuation properties. Open cell foam is also useful in situations which require more air and vapour into a building’s interior. Where open cell materials are used, the installation thickness can be increased for better thermal performance but if the primary purpose is energy efficiency, then the closed cell option is normally preferable.

BUFCA celebrated its 30th anniversary in March 2016. Peter Bristow, the BUFCA Chairman explained, “As a small trade association, we are pleased to have reached this important milestone – now we can build on our solid foundations to further develop the polyurethane foam market across a range of sectors. Insulation of the building fabric has the most potential to make energy efficiency savings in the UK, improve comfort and reduce the carbon footprint.

The walls and roof are normally the greatest areas of heat loss.”

The British Urethane Foam Contractors Association represents sprayed and injected

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polyurethane foam installers. To find an installer offering excellent advice and quality installations visit the BUFCA website at: www. bufca.co.uk. Technical datasheets are also available on the website and freely available for specifiers.

Company: British Urethane Foam Contractors Association Name: Leonie Onslow Email: info@bufca.co.uk Web Address: www.bufca.co.uk Address: PO Box 12, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3AH Telephone: 01428 870150

Digital Strategy Consultancy Solutions Waldeck are a unique specialist multidisciplinary technical and management consultancy who are focused on its BIM expertise and capabilities through its R&D advances.

With digital at the core of everything we do, and with BIM now central to the construction process following level 2 mandate, Waldeck are positioned to provide unique strategic and implementation solutions through our BIM based Enterprise Lifecycle Management (ELM) offering.

Waldeck offer fully intergrated BIM based ELM Solutions across 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D and 7D BIM, across a wide range of industries including; Nuclear, Renewable Energy, Utilities, Logistics, Rail, Manufacturing and Defence.

We understand the importance of starting with the end in mind, offering clients a BIM based cradle to grave solution, which adds value, create efficiencies and reduces risk.

For more information on Waldeck’s BIM experience and expertise please visit the Waldeck website. www.waldeckconsulting.com

‘Our Passion, Your Peace of Mind’

Clearly Renovations Limited are one of London and the Home Counties’ finest residential home building renovation contractors, and are also Gold Award winners of the Considerate Construction Scheme.

Founded in 2005, and basing their core business in Notting Hill, Chelsea, Fulham, Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Clapham, Dulwich and Barnes, they are able to provide design and build property services with ongoing maintenance services through Clearly Maintenance.

Our vision is a clear one; we want to be the best high end residential contractor in London and the Home Counties.

We are trying to surround ourselves with the best team who epitomise our ‘can do’ culture, and make sure that we remain a fun and exciting place to work.

Overall, we want to be a company that is recognised by architects and clients alike for the highest quality service.

We believe that we are fairly close to achieving our vision, but this does not mean that we will stop striving and learning every day, maintaining the high standards that we set ourselves.

Tel: 0844 800 9536 | Fax: 01732 452600

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Design

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Design

The Classic Barn Company – Secrets Within the Detail All of The Classic Barn Company’s oak garages are crafted from high quality oak selected specifically for its purpose. A very strong and reliable timber used over many centuries, it now takes pride of place within the detailed frames that we have created. We offer a large selection of traditional oak garages for our clients, including our unique Extrawide™ range, which provides exceptional width across each bay; all of these beautiful frames are carefully crafted with the utmost care and devotion to the craft; the end results are breath-taking, time after time. hat products and services does your company provide?

We specialise in standalone oak framed out-buildings. With our head office based in the heart of Hampshire and our secondary office in Sussex, we are within easy reach of the local surrounding counties throughout these regions of the UK.

Also, as members of The Guild of Master Craftsmen, we pride ourselves on the client service. In fact, each client has a designated Projects Manager to run their project from start to finish, and we run several feedback schemes to ensure the client is completely satisfied with the product and service as possible. We have won awards in our sector which is something we are very proud of.

What does the firm’s client base look like?

Due to the nature of our product, our client base is mostly based around private households in affluent rural areas.

What are the main challenges facing your business at present?

Without a doubt, the main challenge is to maintain the quality whilst also coping with the increase in demand for our services.

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What sets your firm apart from others in the field?

In short, ‘the detail and our service’ – easy to say, certainly, but not so easy to put into practise. We pride ourselves on providing a frame that has more oak with more traditional joints than others in the marketplace; we do this at a price that represents tremendous value for the client.

What are the key objectives for your business in the months and years ahead?

We have already started expanding our range and scope of service – our objective is to continue this, and at the same time to expand the scope of works into other areas of the UK. We are presently considering

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franchising, or some and other forms of collaboration.

What individual in your industry and beyond do you admire the most and why?

I have always admired the three or four biggest national oak framing companies; as we get larger ourselves, I am well aware of what’s involved in getting to be something sizable, and this takes an indescribable volume of hard work, which I admire.

Name: Andrew Guppy, Director Company: The Classic Barn Company Email: info@classicbarns.co.uk Web Address: www.classicbarns.co.uk Address: ‘Oaklands’, Allbrook Village, Hampshire SO50 4BY Telephone: 0844 800 0708

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On the Frontline of Change Applied Engineering Design (AED) is a small firm of structural engineers, providing high quality design consultancy whilst working with some of the best construction teams in the country to create properly considered, fully detailed structural solutions for buildings, general structures and the wider built environment. Adopting a thorough and client-focussed approach to their work has led to high levels of customer satisfaction, a key position at the forefront of BIM implementation and a nomination for Structural Engineer of the Year in the Timber Awards 2015.

ounded in 2008 by Tim Hetherington, who still runs the company today with help from Craig MacLaren, AED’s varied experience and cooperative style has put them in a position to serve their clients in an unique way. AED speaks language their diverse clients understand, and this creates productive relationships.

This versatility is all the more impressive considering the relatively small size of the firm – with ten staff in total, the ability to provide wide-ranging services in such a responsive manner is a more intense, but far more rewarding, experience for Tim.

place for an office in Leeds, Manchester or London.

Additionally, we have received calls to work in mainland Europe, and we hope to make headway with that as soon as possible, with Rotterdam as a possible base for a permanent presence.”

“Our goal,” the company founder states, “is simply to be better; we aim to achieve more progressive designs, more practical solutions, more cost-effective buildings, and to make better use of appropriate design and construction technologies.”

This has been a core objective of AED since Day One, and as the company continues to gather momentum after its first eight years, it shows no signs of lulling or becoming complacent.

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In addition, Tim hopes that the near future will lead to establishing a new network of connections among property managers, which will enable AED to expand their client face, whilst remaining diligent in delivering upon clients’ high expectations, on time and within budget.

“Furthermore, we work with a wide range of architects and contractors, all with different specialisations; this range that gives us an advantage over our competitors.” Indeed, AED’s portfolio boasts a significant range of specialisms: off-site construction; lightweight and demountable structures; structural timber; and engineering for installation art, among others.

“Unlike many other practices today, we still undertake the majority of detailed design and coordination work in-house. These include secondary structural packages such as staircases, structural glass, and specialist connection design for steel, concrete and timber frames.”

From their established offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, AED have a firm grasp over Scottish markets, making the absolute most of being located in the midst of thriving communities of built environment professionals. These surroundings, Tim believes, help to contribute to an ongoing sense of excitement within AED about their work as engineers.

This esprit de corps manifests itself in a number of ways, but most notable among them is a burgeoning desire to expand AED’s reach. As Tim explains, “We want to expand southwards; we have a project office in Bath right now and have a projected plan in

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Tim again: “We do not promote one kind of building technology over another. We prefer a pragmatic approach, where each form and material is employed for the natural advantages it offers. As a result, our work tends to naturally lead to elegantly optimised hybrid structures.”

Company: Applied Engineering Design Name: Tim Hetherington / Craig MacLaren Email: th@aed.consulting / cml@aed.consulting Web Address: www.aed.consulting Address: 6 Darnaway Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6BG / 62 Albion Street, Glagow, G1 1NY Telephone: 0131 564 1310 / 0141 255 0390

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Passion, Talent and Integrity New Pool and Outdoor Living Construction Complete Total Backyard Transformation (Pools, Spas and Outdoor Living).

We offer all ranges of services such as innovative 3D swimming pool design, new pool and remodel swimming pool construction, service and retail. ur overall mission” states Shelly, “is to provide a backyard environment that brings peace, reflection, and serenity to our clients with unsurpassable commitment to quality.” This obsession with excellence, and a certain fanatical attention to the customer experience, provide much of the driving force with which Claffey Pools pursues its company vision and demonstrates its mission on a daily basis.

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“We treat our clients like family,” Shelly expands, “and make a special effort to really become educated on their lifestyle, so that we can provide them with a zone in which they can achieve a tranquil escape to their everyday life. To accomplish this, Shelly employs a team of talented designers and experienced foremen, whose enhanced knowledge of construction and design principles afford the company an effective position from which to make every project a great experience, and a beautiful, functional, working piece of art.

The moral and ethical strength of the company is best personified through Shelly’s dynamic leadership role – maintaining a healthy, constructive internal work culture with employees, as well as effective liaisons when dealing externally with customers and the community, Empowering women in a business that years ago was a male oriented business. Women in this industry excel with their creative skills and engage with the women of the house more in today’s world.

Best Woman-Owned Swimming Pool Construction Company - Texas

This comes as an especially prominent theme where Shelly’s own company values are concerned. Her empowering position brings a triumvirate of chief virtues to Claffey Pools: passion, talent and integrity.

“I truly enjoy making client connections,” she explains. I truly love helping my customers to see the overall vision that we work on very hard in order to realise it. It is all about relationships and doing what you love to do. I am passionate about my work, and am at my best when I am connecting and creating.

“My job,” Shelly concludes, “is to connect with my clients, understand their needs and then design their vision and dream. My reward comes from breathing life into their dreams, and seeing the vision become a reality.”

Company name: Claffey Pools Contact: Shelly Claffey

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WWW.SASKAUTOMATION.COM Build Magazine

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Interior Design

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Interior Design & Decorating

A Penchant for the Post-Modern

Best for Interior Design 2016 Germany

Kern-Design, has been designing national and international projects at the highest individual level for 30 years now. Alongside empathic understanding, cost security and the establishment of tight deadlines, interior architect Norbert E. Kern, and interior designer Sabine Kober together, with her team, provide the most important basis for long-term customer satisfaction; this is exemplified through their mantra, ‘holistic aesthetics, passion for technology, and the highest quality standards of design, planning and implementation.’ ern-Design Interior Architecture & Design made its first appearance on the market when it was founded in 1986 in Frankfurt, born from the epoch of postmodern architecture inspired by a neo-baroque art form, in addition to neo-cubism influences. Founder Sabine Kober supports her customers in the search for their personal style, drawing upon this portfolio of vibrant, expressive forms to display herself and her firm as clear choices for clients in search of architectural adventure.

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When Sabine and her team first meet with a new client, these initial encounters comprise of, in Sabine’s words, “a thorough analysis of the customer’s requirements, which gives us first notes from which to build our vision. For this, we have custom checklists that give the customer an overview of the necessary information, without it becoming overwhelming or off-putting.

“During the design phase, we repeatedly take the time to sit down, pick the actual task apart, and then look at the results between from an external perspective. This way, we are in a better position to critically evaluate our results, having given ourselves the necessary distance from which to correctly observe everything that could be done better.” It is this aspect of the business that Sabine believes is particularly essential to creating success in the interior design and architectural market, and she is emphatic in her belief that Kern-Design more than delivers on this, through a proactive attitude towards client insight and robust applied knowledge. “We let our customers share our thoughts from a very early stage in the process,” Sabine says, “and we put many of these ideas into our 3D renderings too.”

We visit the world’s leading exhibitions and trade shows and trend-scout new style directions and materials.

“Our design is based on the knowledge of the limbic system – a path for perfect decisions, so that we can position ourselves with empathy towards the customers’ feelings.

The progress of digitization, and also the great longing for a comfortable refugium felt by many a client living in an urban area, exerts a considerable challenge upon Sabine to remain up to date with the latest technological trends, and to be able to fully comprehend the best ways of employing this technology for the benefit of the company.

That said, Kern-Design have a track record that shows their ability to overcome these obstacles, and incorporate new, technology-savvy ways of incorporating digitalbased concepts into more traditional, more personal means of communicating with clients and developing a meaningful solution to their needs. For a well-known hotel company, Sabine and her team developed a new solution of the digital travel management, together with a range of corresponding interior concepts. This was, according to Sabine, an incredibly exciting process, and touched all parts of the traveling process. It demonstrated that a complete guest journey was now possible, with high customer loyalty being an obvious and highly noticeable effect.

As a new attraction, Kern-Design offers its customers a fully equipped show apartment in Frankfurt – there, one can spend some days enjoying all of the sophisticated design elements on display, an homage to architects of past decades that embraced neo-cubism and neoclassical designs, whilst also showcasing the potential for these guests to benefit from Kern-Design’s masterful employment of strategies to produce results like this on their projects. Of the allure of this show apartment, Sabine says, “it has always proven to be a major draw, and continually fascinates and impresses the guests.”

Company: KERNDESIGN.STUDIO Name: Sabine Kober und Norbert E. Kern Email: kober@kern-de-sign.de Web Address: www.kerndesign.studio Address: walter kolb str. 9-11 / D-60594 frankfurt am mmain Telephone: +49 69 789 54 33

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Partnering Top Brands, Delivering Impeccable Quality

Best Interior Fit-Out Specialists - Asia Pacific

Legend Interiors is one of the leading interior fit-out specialists in the Asia Pacific region. Established since 1988, its client base has grown to comprise the world’s most renowned brands such as Dolce Gabbana, Christian Dior, Barclays, Cathay Pacific, Cisco, Swire Hotels, among many others. All of these clients and more are provided with turnkey services ranging from the initial feasibility studies, cost estimation, design to management, construction and maintenance. aving worked with renowned brands, architects, interior designers, and cost and project management consultancies, Legend Interiors offers a specialised expertise that is rare to find elsewhere in the industry. Underpinning this is a deeply-set acknowledgement that each facet of the construction development requires a hands-on approach. Believing that quality is about personalisation and experiences, Legend’s services are bespoke and tailored to each client, with the ultimate goal being to work towards building long-term relationships through impeccable craftsmanship and an innate understanding of practical real world applications.

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There is a growth opportunity in South East Asia – Legend Interiors is well aware of this. Although some other regions are experiencing some slowdown, Legend has managed to maintain and even expand its core base of clients steadily, mainly due to relentless quality standards and word-of-mouth through its portfolio of successfully completed projects.

It all comes down to quality. From the onset of receiving the design concept and schematic drawings, Legend’s trained teams of over 300 employees begin a well-oiled process of setting the foundation right by understanding the design intent, budget constraints, and overall experience of the spaces. With a wealth of experience in interior fit-out, the teams of designers, project managers and quantity surveyors set off by visualising the final perspective – the end-result, and work towards ensuring how the individual elements achieve the overall objectives.

Together with their partners, Legend’s network of facilities extends across the Asia Pacific serving international markets. The engineers and research teams continue to advance the manufacturing technology, solidifying their position as market leaders.

With a large majority of its business coming from repeat customers – many of whom have become close partners over the years – Legend is unashamed in its reliance upon a customer-based model. These relationships were nurtured by taking the time to understand their client requirements over regular scheduled meetings in larger groups, where all stakeholders are present, but also in smaller work groups for agile problem solving and brainstorming. Each team member is empowered to make decisions in their area of charge, which comes from a place of earned authority. A lot of insights gathered are discovered by taking time outside of regular meetings to understand each client’s personality, their pain points and challenges in their current role. These approaches help the teams to prioritise tasks and visualise in the bigger scheme of things, on how their client’s success will be evaluated.

As the nature of Legend’s work is largely service-oriented, they strongly affirm how it is key to allocate the right leader for each project, someone who will be able to build a good rapport with the client and then distil these insights down to the team. Having a good understanding of the team’s dynamics and experience has played a key part in the effective communication flow between Legend’s clients and the team.

With a growing coterie of clients, Legend’s network of specialists operates out of offices across the region: from their headquarters in Hong Kong, the enterprise encompasses major cities such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Macau. From these key locations, Legend Interiors are able to service the global arena whilst acquiring an international portfolio, with clients beyond Asia Pacific such as USA, Europe, UAE and Australia.

Company: Legend Interiors Limited Contact: Chereen Tai Email: legend@legendinteriors.sg Web Address: www.legendinteriors.com Offices: Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok (refer website for full addresses) Telephone: +65 6805 1800

Legend’s processes and equipment go through stringent testing and quality checks to ensure the final product lives up to standards and oftentimes surpassing industry expectations. Taking pride in understanding design, each specialist is trained to treat each piece as a bespoke centrepiece and never a mass production.

As interior fabricators, Legend builds the framework with the ultimate experience in mind and with the inside knowledge of the industry. In that way, each brand is able to captivate each visitor, elevate the brand and distinctly set it apart it from its competitor.

Dior, Landmark, Hong Kong

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Opening Design to the Public

Best Interior & Exterior Designer, USA Best Hospitality Project: Temptation Resort & Spa

Karim Rashid is one of the most prolific designers of his generation. With over 3000 designs in production to his name, numerous awards to the tune of over 300, and with his footprint left in projects across more than 40 countries, Karim’s legend of design is laid bare in his legendary portfolio. oday poetic design is based on a plethora of complex criteria: human experience, social behaviours, global, economic and political issues, physical and mental interaction, form, vision, and a rigorous understanding and desire for contemporary culture. Manufacturing is based on another collective group of criteria: capital investment, market share, production ease, dissemination, growth, distribution, maintenance, service, performance, quality, ecological issues and sustainability.

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The combination of these factors shape our objects, inform our forms, our physical space, visual culture and our contemporary human experience. These quantitative constructs shape business, identity, brand and value. This is the business of beauty. Every business should be completely concerned with beauty - it is after all a collective human need.

Karim, meanwhile, believes that people everywhere could be living in an entirely different world - one that is full of real contemporary inspiring objects, spaces, places, worlds, spirits and experiences.

To put it in his own words, “design has been the cultural shaper of our world from the start. We have designed systems, cities, and commodities. We have addressed the world’s problems. Now design is not about solving problems, but about a rigorous beautification of our built environments. Design is about the betterment of our lives poetically, aesthetically, experientially, sensorially, and emotionally.”

Karim continues, “my real desire is to see people live in the modus of our time, to participate in the contemporary world, and to release themselves from nostalgia, antiquated traditions, old rituals, kitsch and the meaningless. We should be conscious and attune with this world in this moment. If human nature is so determined to live in the past, that means that to change the world is to change human nature.

“For the longest time,” Karim observes, “design only existed for the elite, and for a small insular culture. I have worked hard for the last 20 years trying to make design a public subject.”

Karim’s work is featured in 20 permanent collections and he exhibits art in galleries world wide. Karim is a perennial winner of the Red Dot award, Chicago Athenaeum Good Design award, I. D. Magazine Annual Design Review, IDSA Industrial Design Excellence award.

On top of his work as a designer, Karim is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and conferences, where he has played a significant role in the global dissemination of knowledge, imparting the importance of design in everyday life. He holds Honorary Doctorates from the OCAD, Toronto and Corcoran College of Art & Design, Washington. Karim has also been featured extensively in magazines and books including Time, Vogue, Esquire, GQ, Wallpaper, and countless more – such is his familiarity with the arts and its importance to our everyday lives. Indeed, in his spare time Karim’s pluralism flirts with art, fashion, and music, and he is determined to creatively touch every aspect of our physical and virtual landscape.

This pluralist philosophy further extends to comprise Karim’s entire approach to business. From the comfort of his studio on West 54th Street, just outside of the Midtown borough known as Hell’s Kitchen, he imbues his team with the idea that great change can be enacted often through the simplest ways. “We believe that we live in a very special time for humanity,” he explains, “where technology, through the digital revolution, has afforded us new tools to design better space in ways never before conceived. Our multidisciplinary studio reflects this digital renaissance in its day to day functioning where industrial designers, graphic designers, architects and interior designers collaborate to design space together.”

As such, all of Karim’s departments work together for a holistic final product be it a hotel, pen, sofa or logo.

Diversity is a great catalyst when it comes to generating and cross-pollinating ideas, materials, behaviours, aesthetics and language from one typology to the next. “Diversity in mindsets also shapes our global point of view thanks to an international staff that speaks 12 languages.

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“As an industrial design firm that has grown into interior design over the past 15 years, we have evolved into a fullservice design firm, helping our clients to achieve their goals on a broad range of project typologies and global locations.

Our studio has an international team of talented designers and we are supported by a varied portfolio of global consultants for any type of project. We design at every scale, from the private residence to the towering mixed use building. We are equipped to support our clients with integrated service through the lifecycle of a project.

In every project undertaken, Karim strives to find the solution that merges his vision with that of his clients. There is a great transfusion at play, intertwining deep passion with well-founded expertise so as to bring to life objects that are beautiful, functional, manufacturable, progressive, and economically viable. “We work with major corporations as well as start-ups to create and develop game changing concepts in virtually every category of consumer goods.” Karim concludes, “from concept initiation, through design development, detailing, prototyping, and guidance in manufacturing, our team of industrial designers has extensive background in creating designs that elevate the experiences of everyday life.”

Company: Karim Rashid Name: Karim Rashid Email: office@karimrashid.com Web Address: www.karimrashid.com Address: 428 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019, USA Telephone: 001 212.929.8657

MANAGING GROUND RISK FOR YOU S M Associates provides a comprehensive ground investigation and consultancy service for all types of construction and development from private housing to major construction projects.

Ground risk remains the largest contributor to construction delays, contractor claims and increased costs. In extreme cases unmanaged ground risk may result in catastrophic failure and loss of life, yet experience shows even relatively minor project incidents can have a disproportionate impact on construction, safety, programme and costs.

We will support your project from inception to construction through: •

Detailed Project Management.

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Adherence to Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015.

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Development of the Ground Risk Register

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Planning of the Ground Investigation appropriate to the Ground Risk.

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Implementing a cost effective but thorough Ground Investigation.

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Pro-active approach to reducing or eliminating the Ground Risk by producing fully-engineered designs for all stages of the construction cycle.

MANAGING GROUND RISK FOR YOU We believe that project culture, partnering arrangements and a genuine cooperative approach to risk management yields significant benefits.

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT GROUND INVESTIGATION GEOTHERMAL INSTALLATIONS

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CONTAMINATION ASSESSMENTS LAND APPRAISALS GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN

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Interior Design & Decorating

NuCasa: The RetroIndustrial Retailer

Kitchens: The Heart of the Home

NuCasa have been trading openly on the market for two and a half years now. Over the course of their business ventures, they have specialised in selling a wide range of high-quality kitchenware, homeware and lighting products, to a clientele ranging from cafes and restaurants to private clients looking to lend a special, unique touch to their home. As they look to capitalise on their newfound limited status, Liam Yapp reflects upon the business’ successes and challenges that it has enjoyed and overcome, as well as the future direction that NuCasa will likely take. a sole trader, NuCasa was very quick to realise itself as it plugged a gap in the market; specifically, a rise in demand for industrial-style vintage light fixtures.

Indeed, NuCasa tend to sell fittings that evoke this retro-industrial style, and Liam has noticed that, over the last couple of years, there has been a noticeable uptake in their popularity, as NuCasa’s customers begin to use these styles increasingly in their homes and establishments. Some of these styles almost seem to represent a retro-futuristic Victorian aesthetic, which might account for a certain degree of historical charm; their rise in popularity is perhaps a throwback to a more rustic sense of décor in the house. Among their range of retro lighting fixtures are several models made from copper, a material that is experiencing a noticeable trendiness; others, meanwhile, make use of pewter and brass, as well as wire cages, to create unique styles that create a broad appeal with almost universal applications that have made their way from cafes and bars into the home.

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When describing the overall aims of the company, Liam retains the focus on his clients, and the desire to deliver quality products to them. “We want to enable everyone to have access to our bespoke range of products,” he says, “so that they can outfit their home with accessories that are superb quality and yet affordable. We have established ourselves so as to be a one-stop shop for kitchen accessories and lighting products, so that our clients do not have to look anywhere else for the style that they want.

“We thrive on providing funky, modern retro accessories to liven up clients’ home décor,” Liam says. “Our talent team’s eye for style means that NuCasa is the only place that our clients will need to brighten up their; we are adamant that if they come to us, then there will be no shortage of options

available to them, whether they want to find that final special touch that they really need, or to give their home decor a complete makeover.”

The NuCasa team have carved their identity through searching for the most innovative designers in Europe, in order to bring to their clients a colourful collection of home decor, kitchen accessories and lighting that are truly out of the ordinary.

While the bulk of NuCasa’s business at present is related to providing home and kitchenware to homes as well as cafes and bars, Liam expresses a desire to start working more on a business-tobusiness level in the future, where his focus will be on broadening NuCasa’s appeal across its holistic yet unique product range. While Liam has no solid plans in place yet as to how this future direction will materialise, he is always on the lookout for new opportunities and directions to explore.

Given the success that NuCasa has thus far enjoyed in catering to a range of private clients, Liam has some choice thoughts as to the attributes that have gotten the company to its current stage as a leading provider of trendy home décor solutions.

“We have placed a great deal of investment and attention in our customer journey, relying upon their experience to help guide us,” he says. “We want our clients to be able to have a service afforded to them that explains the process in a way that is easy to understand, and has a real personal touch. For instance, when I approach a client – whether a new one or a prior customer – they will always be dealt with on a one-to-basis, rather than going through multiple different individuals. From the offset, I want to make sure that we answer any of our customers’ queries and ensure that they are happy with the proceedings, as well as the products that they have ordered from us.

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“This, I hope, will come in especially useful when we begin dealing more on a business-to-business level.”

Expanding upon NuCasa’s focus on providing oneon-one service to customers, Liam clarifies that the company as a whole is not a large one, with a number of sub-contractors being involved in assisting with the production and supplying of the products that his clients order. The scale of the business, of course, does introduce an element of challenge for Liam, as he makes his presence – and that of his company – known in a competitive industry.

“In order to succeed,” he stresses, “a company has got to have something about them that is unique – whether that is in terms of the products that they sell, or their website, etc. As well as products, however, a company needs to be offering information to the clients, as well as help and guidance, so that their decision is made based on reliable details that will bring them to the product that will truly fit their needs and their wants.”

It is fair to say that, given the increasing popularity of copper light fixtures in homes, and the rise of a prevailing retro-industrial trend in the world of home décor, Liam and NuCasa are already in an advantageous position to offer this kind of guidance to their clients, and to maintaining the business’ success long into the future.

Company: NuCasa Name: Liam Yapp Email: theteam@nucasa.co.uk Web Address: www.nucasa.co.uk Telephone: 0800 699 0484

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Interior Design & Decorating

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Legal

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Legal

Under Construction: Developments in VAT for Charities The UK VAT legislation has provided certain tax breaks for charities to aid their charitable and philanthropic efforts, including the ability to obtain construction services for new buildings at the zero per cent rate of VAT. This saves a substantial amount of VAT for many charities which would have otherwise been charged at the standard rate of 20 per cent which would have been irrecoverable for most. Given large amounts of money are likely to be involved, it is important to ensure the availability of VAT relief is considered at the outset of any construction project. he VAT relief for the construction of new buildings requires the charity to have an intention to use the newly constructed building solely for a “relevant charitable purpose”. Although many charities would consider all their activities charitable, this is not always straightforward and care must be taken to consider the relevant VAT rules in more detail before committing to any construction works.

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What Counts As “Relevant Charitable Purpose”?

VAT is a tax on consumption charged on goods and services, so when a charity provides goods and services for any consideration, this will generally be deemed to be a business activity by HMRC. In order to qualify for the VAT relief, the intention must be to use the new commercial building solely for a “relevant charitable purpose”. In this context, this means for a non-business purpose and not as an office (no business activities can arise from the building). In respect of the “solely” part, HMRC accepts that 5 per cent non-qualifying use can be allowed (based on a fair and reasonable measure of use).

It is easy to fall foul of the requirement to be solely using a building for a “relevant charitable purpose”, as many charities may have activities that are considered to be business activities for VAT purposes without necessarily knowing. This could be through sponsorship income from third parties, fund raising events, or website advertising. Therefore, care must be taken by charities when trying to avail themselves of the VAT relief that they are able to demonstrate that their business use will not exceed 5 per cent of the total use in order to meet the “solely” for a “relevant charitable purpose” test.

Recent Case Developments Last month the Court of Appeal released its decision in the Longridge on the Thames case (Longridge on the Thames v HMRC [2016] EWCA Civ 930). Here the charity, Longridge on the Thames, which runs water-based and other outdoor activities for children, paid VAT on the construction costs of a new training centre at the time but argued VAT should not have been charged as the construction services should have been zero-rated. They therefore made a claim to be refunded the VAT paid.

The Court of Appeal overturned two earlier Tribunal decisions that supported Longridge on the Thames, ruling their heavily subsidised charges for services (adjusted to meet the ability of the end user to pay) were in fact business activities. Therefore, they did not qualify for VAT relief on the construction of the new training centre.

The Court of Appeal expressly noted that a charity did not enjoy “blanket relief from VAT for its activities”’.

The liability to VAT depends on whether activities are economic activities, judged objectively. Agreeing with HMRC, the Court of Appeal held that if there was a direct link between the service and the money received by the service provider, an economic activity was established. There was no exception for activities carried out for the benefit of the public, and therefore the use of the new training facility could not be used solely for a “relevant charitable purpose”.

HMRC’s Stance For the construction industry, this case highlights the need for clarity when working alongside charities.

Understanding whether the project is eligible for

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zero-rating VAT is crucial, as failing to charge for VAT could cause difficulties and lead to penalties being applied. HMRC’s renewed stance against charities having any business activities could be applied to recent projects even if they are already underway or recently completed. There is a concern that HMRC could look to find past errors for the last 4 years and seek penalties and interest in addition to any VAT amounts due.

These latest developments and attitude from HMRC confirm that it is very difficult to draw a line between non-business activity and business activity, it is up to the construction companies to ensure that they do sufficient due diligence to support any decision to apply VAT zero-rating for a charity. Construction companies and charities alike should also ensure they are up-to-date with current VAT developments as the consequences of getting the VAT relief wrong for construction services on charitable buildings can be quite catastrophic.

It remains to be seen how Brexit will have an effect on HMRC’s approach. The Longridge on the Thames case was decided on EU VAT law principles and it will be interesting to see if HMRC will seek to continue to apply these principles when EU VAT law ceases to have direct effect. We must wait to see whether these principles will be incorporated into the UK VAT law in due course.

by Kamlesh Chauhan, VAT Manager, haysmacintyre.

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Manufacturing & Supply

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Manufacturing & Supply

Clearly Defined Quality Since 1988, Absolute Aluminium has provided its customers with the highest quality products and services, wining countless awards and maintaining an impeccable reputation in our market. Having moved its focus from the builder market to the consumer market after the economic crash of 2009.

Absolute Aluminium and its team of over 100 employees helps residential consumers with a full array of products that are applicable to an outdoor lifestyle on the west coast of Florida. ver the course of the last 28 years, Absolute Aluminium has grown to take lead management (CRM) and the sales process more seriously than most others in the industry. “Our people are well trained in the process we’ve established,” describes Calvin Gray.

“We’ve also added a ‘customer liaison’ to handle people from the sale to installation. They receive constant communication and we typically beat them to the punch regarding updates and communication.

Informed people are very comfortable and it lets them know we care.”

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USA Construction Excellence Awards

Expanding upon the firm’s culture and the way in which staff are able to participate, Calvin reinforces the company’s commitment to training and improving its people.

to prepare and plan in order to meet our contractual requirements,” he describes. “We’ve now developed a system for insuring that we can do any major project on time.”

“We are constantly training, recognizing and rewarding our people. We spend as much money on training as we do on advertising, so through reeducating our people they conduct themselves in the way you’d hope they do. We do Quarterly company meetings with all 100 people, provide breakfast, hand out awards to people in all departments and encourage and reward good behaviour.

The success of Absolute Aluminium is a direct result of the company’s people taking tremendous pride in its culture.

According to Calvin, it starts from the top with the owner D.J. Desjardins; “he has set the tone and expectation on how we conduct ourselves and created the processes for all of us to follow.”

“We meet weekly on all levels, department heads and departments to review our performance and catch little things before they become big things. We use Guild Quality to survey all completed jobs to find out what we did great and where we may have fallen short. We always communicate with every customer who has some feedback or is less than satisfied in any given area to let them know we’re listening. Then we take action to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

This, coupled with clearly defined systems and processes, is certain to allow Absolute Aluminium to continue being the market leader. In fact, Calvin would go so far as to say that Absolute Aluminium’s methods put the company well ahead of the competition already, and while he humbly remarks that good is not good enough and that there is always room for improvement, he declares, “we do everything just a little bit better.

“From the initial contact with our company to the very end of the installation, we take every step very seriously. Some companies try to make a sale and want to get the money collected. We, on the other hand, are trying to build a customer for life.

This is an especially easy sentiment for Calvin, as he is able to take pride in notable recent projects completed by Absolute Aluminium, such as one at Frenchman’s Creek. Calvin elucidates upon this as an example of the firm’s well-managed services.

“It was a million-dollar project that required us

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“Only sell the best quality products and don’t be afraid of price,” Calvin says. “So many small businesses get hung up on price rather than focusing on delivering value.

Consumers are looking for a cheap price, they want the best quality products and services they can find at a good value. Then have people who care. The formula is quite simple, actually.

“We stick to our process. We trust it and we know it works.”

At present, Absolute Aluminium are continuing to migrate to products that are proprietary and unique, and are evaluating resources versus revenue, in order to ensure that the company is selling those products that yield the best ROI without having to increase personnel.

“We want to continue to build our customer for life relationships. We’ve developed a very large customer base and our customer loyalty (including close referrals) is where our focus is moving into 2017.

Company: Absolute Aluminium Name: Calvin Gray Email: Websales@absolutealuminum.com Web Address: www.absolutealuminum.com Address: 1220 Ogden Road, Venice, FL 34285, USA Telephone: 001 941-497-7777

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Dynamic Air Quality Solutions Dynamic Air Quality Solutions manufactures and distributes high performance air cleaning systems that improve indoor air quality (IAQ) while reducing energy and operating costs. hat does the firm’s client base look like?

The company’s commercial products are marketed through manufacturer reps to reach engineers and architects involved with projects that range from healthcare and education to data centres, museums and casinos.

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What sets your firm apart from others in the field?

Air Cleaning Systems with low-static pressure resistance can cut fan energy in half. The Dynamic V8 uses 2/3 less energy than MERV 14 filters while delivering MERV 15 performance including removal of odors, VOCs and ultrafine particles. Dynamic activated carbon matrix systems also offer low static resistance compared to conventional carbon pellet systems and can be used to target specific gas phase contaminants.

What are the main challenges facing your business at present?

Reaching the right people. Historically air filters are viewed as up-front costs. But over 80% of the cost of air filtration is the energy cost – the cost of the energy required to move air.

What are the key objectives for your business in the months and years ahead?

Helping companies recognize the financial opportunities that exist with air filtration as an energy conservation measure.

LED lighting upgrades represented a tremendous opportunity and air filtration represents similar low hanging fruit.

What individual in your industry and beyond do you admire the most and why?

Beyond? How about Jesus Christ? His humble life was in the service of the greater good and His influence is limitless. Not to mention turning water into wine.

Name: Rob Goodfellow Company: Dynamic Air Quality Solutions Email: rgoodfellow@DynamicAQS.com Web Address: www.DynamicAQS.com Address: Princeton, New Jersey Telephone: (800) 578-7873

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Transport

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Transport

Building Exciting Engineering Careers at Amazon UK Amazon is a company that hardly needs an introduction, though it never harms to cover the basics. It is fair to say that since being founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, Amazon has experienced exciting growth year after year, and now is considered one of the world’s most forward-thinking and innovative companies. We caught up with their main European trading hub, Amazon SARL, which accounts for a fifth of the online retailer’s total worldwide sales. mazon.com is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. From its head office in Seattle, USA, Amazon built a business recognised for excellent customer service and constant innovation. From humble origins as an online bookstore to its current, ever-growing holistic digital marketplace, a customer on Amazon can easily fill their ‘basket’ with orders for DVDs, furniture, clothes, toys, jewellery, and consumer electronics as well as digital products like video, music and books.

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In recent years, Amazon has also expanded its reach into new frontier channels of transporting goods to customers. The take-off in downloadable ‘-books’, facilitated by the release of Amazon’s Kindle e-reader, opened the possibilities of reading to more people. Successive models of the Kindle have continued to demonstrate the innovation fostered at the heart of the company.

Added to this, Amazon Prime customers can now enjoy the company’s television services. Over the last few years, Amazon’s Prime Video service has amassed a number of high-profile titles that make them a highly noticeable presence in this industry, including Transparent, Ripper Street, The Man in the High Castle, based upon the novel

by Philip K. Dick, and – arguably Amazon’s most high-profile catch of the last could of years – the original Top Gear trio’s new outing in The Grand Tour, which begins streaming on a weekly basis from 18th November.

Amazon is also demonstrating innovation by working to introduce delivery by drone.

Amazon Prime Air, as the company describes it, is a future delivery system that strives to get packages to customers in 30 minutes or less, using small unmanned aerial vehicles. “With Prime Air, we are developing a system that is

safe and environmentally sound, and which enhances the services that we already provide to millions of customers.”

Today, Amazon are rapidly and experimenting and excitedly iterating on Prime Air inside their next-generation research and development labs, working to make their vision a reality. “It may sound like science fiction, but it’s real. Putting the system into service will take some time, but one day, seeing Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road.”

In July 2016, Amazon’s bi-annual Trends Report revealed that globally, nearly half of all units sold on Amazon are through third party sellers on Amazon Marketplace, and those businesses support more than 74,000 jobs in the UK. The number of UK sellers generating more than £1 million in revenues has increased by 20 per cent in the past year.

UK export sales by third party businesses selling on Amazon Marketplace were more than £1.4bn in 2015 and surpassed 100m units.

This is where the new Fulfilment service comes into play. Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) helps businesses in the UK to grow internationally by selling through Amazon and other sales channels.

FBA provides access to Amazon’s world-class logistics resources, fast, free delivery options for a client company’s products, and trusted and acclaimed customer service in their local language. Moreover, FBA products are eligible for Prime so you gain access to millions of our most loyal and active customers.

“As the number and complexity of Centres and Customer Service continuously, we are quickly Engineering teams in Europe,”

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the Fulfilment Centres grow growing our says Andrea

Argentieri. “Your career can progress in Engineering or with transfer to other Departments like Operations, Capacity Planning or Program Management. As we open more Fulfilment Centres, there are opportunities to relocate to different locations and have diverse experiences in Europe.

“The engineers of Amazon Fulfilment are creative thinkers that are eager to roll up their sleeves and solve problems. They have the opportunity to work with the latest and greatest technologies and are expected to continuously develop and invent ways to improve current processes. They don’t waste a lot of time stewing over making decisions. The culture is very fast paced and fast moving.”

As a final feather in their cap, Amazon is gearing up to deliver its biggest Christmas ever, and is recruiting thousands of seasonal workers in the UK. This plan will build further upon the 3,500 new full-time permanent jobs announced earlier this year – spanning Head Office, R&D Centres, Customer Service Centre, Fulfilment Centres, Fashion Photography Studio and AWS. This job expansion project supports the recent growth that Amazon has experienced, driven by investments in innovation, corporate functions, and the new AWS Data Centre Region, as well as new fulfilment centres in Manchester and Leicestershire.

This includes resourcing Amazon’s fastest delivery service Prime Now. The announcement coincided with the release of Amazon.co.uk’s bi-annual shopping and entertainment trends report, which highlights popular products from its selection of more than 150 million items across more than 35 product categories.

“We are creating thousands of new jobs to continue to deliver the experience that our customers know and love during the festive season and beyond,” Amazon has said. “We are hiring for all

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Transport types of roles from software engineers, computer programmers and corporate managers in our R&D centres and head office, to operations managers, engineers, service technicians, HR roles and order fulfilment roles in our fulfilment centres.”

The rollout of new offerings includes an ultra-fast Prime Now service, which is now celebrating its one-year anniversary and available to more than 30 per cent of the UK population.

Prime Now launched in London in June 2015 and has spread rapidly across the capital and beyond to Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Portsmouth, South Yorkshire and Surrey. Prime Now is a mobile app available to Prime members and offers one-hour delivery on more than 15,000 popular items for £6.99, or delivery at no extra charge within a choice of twohour, same-day delivery slots between 8am and midnight, seven days a week.

As an example of the efficiencies that Amazon’s robust organisation is capable of, one of the fastest Amazon Prime Now deliveries to date was the PlayStation 4 gaming title Call of Duty: Black Ops III – ordered at 10:06am, sent out from Amazon’s Erdington delivery station in Birmingham and delivered at 10:21am to a

postcode in Castle Vale, Amazon’s record delivery took just 15 minutes from the customer clicking ‘Order’ to playing the game.

The engineers of Amazon Fulfilment are creative thinkers that are eager to roll up their sleeves and solve problems. They have the opportunity to work with the latest and greatest technologies and are expected to continuously develop and invent ways to improve current processes. They don’t waste a lot of time stewing over making decisions. The culture is very fast paced and fast moving.

Our core Engineering teams are supported

by Technicians, Engineers and Engineering departments at each Amazon location. These innovative Engineering departments design, implement, and maintain our Fulfilment Centres. This encompasses several different areas – process engineering, capacity/demand planning, material handling equipment design and implementation, fulfilment centre project management, construction management, packaging engineering, reliability maintenance, controls logic and advanced technologies. In turn, there is opportunity for professional growth. These are not the typical maintenance jobs or simple project management jobs given the scale, speed and technology at Amazon.

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As the number and complexity of the Fulfilment Centres and Customer Service Centres grow continuously, we are quickly growing our Engineering teams in Europe. Your career can progress in Engineering or with transfer to other Departments like Operations, Capacity Planning or Program Management. As we open more Fulfilment Centres, there are opportunities to relocate to different locations and have diverse experiences in Europe.

“One year ago we reinvented fast delivery with the launch of the Prime Now app that makes it easy for customers to discover over 15,000 items for onehour delivery, or select a same-day delivery slot at no extra charge,” said Amazon. “We’ve delivered on our promise to rollout quickly with the service available to millions of people from Newcastle to Portsmouth, and we’re continuing to invest to bring ultra-fast delivery to more and more of the UK.” For more information about working at Amazon, visit www.amazon.co.uk.

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Sustainability & Eco

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Sustainability & Eco

Best Renewable Energy Consultants 2016 – UK Xpert Energy design, supply and install bespoke energy saving solutions for commercial and domestic properties. We invited Director Sarah Jones to talk us through the company and its service offering. pert Energy offers turnkey solutions for both residential and commercial properties to improve their energy efficiency, as well as providing maintenance services for renewable energy systems, with a focus on heat pumps.

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The firm’s range of products includes air, ground and water source heat pumps, under floor heating, MVHR (mechanical ventilation heat recovery), insulation, solar thermal, photovoltaic, thermal stores, efficient radiators, and biomass. Sarah provides more detail on the firm’s vast offering and how it aims to ensure that every client receives the solution they need.

“Xpert Energy support clients with all of their energy needs, whether its an existing building or a new build. Thanks to our dedicated, professional team, we can provide services throughout the project, from conception to completion.

Our team include designers, 3D modelling specialists and energy consultants. We also have an in-house installation team. Acting as a onestop-shop for our clients, which means that we are able to ensure that the quality of our work is second to none.”

According to Sarah, in the UK sustainability market there is currently a severe lack of knowledge in the provision of integrated energy saving solutions.

Xpert Energy is able to offer the spectrum of its services in-house, from SAP calculations right through to installation and commissioning of systems, so that clients receive the support that they need in all elements of the project, with tailored solutions provided at each stage.

“Currently there is a major lack of knowledge and experience on how to create integrated energy saving solutions in this country. We learn from European countries such as Sweden and Germany where we see the true scope of what can be done.

Over here very little is known about these techniques so clients often miss out on the solution which is right for them.

We aim to ensure that our solutions are tailored to meet the client’s needs, budget and individual property. Many of the residential buildings we work on are listed, and this limits the changes we are able to make, but our trained and knowledgeable staff are able to work around such challenges to produce a range of solutions for the client. We then showcase these and provide the client with the pros and cons for each, allowing them to make an informed decision.

In design, our focus is to determine the heating load for each individual room with pinpoint accuracy.

Equal emphasis is given to designing heating to maximise the efficiency of (for example), heat pumps or gas boilers, which will in turn minimise running costs making this a valuable investment for our client.”

One of the firm’s recent projects is supporting the conversion of a 1960s detached family home, helping the client to reduce their energy requirement from 24kw to just 5.93kw, despite the house increasing in size by 40%. This says Sarah, was calculated using Xpert’s own heat loss calculator to determine exact heating load requirements of the building. This takes into account the air infiltration rate which can account for 30/40% of the physical heating requirement of a property.”

Xpert Energy acts independently, not tying itself to any one manufacturer so that it can match the products most appropriate to each client’s needs. This is what sets the firm apart, according to Sarah.

“Our employees have varied qualifications in sustainability and energy efficiency, many at degree level and we are accredited by several governing bodies, including the AECB, MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), REAL Assurance Scheme, IDHEE and CHAS Health and Safety, as well as being Passive trained. This vast amount of technical knowledge enables us to make an accurate assessment of every client’s individual requirements and then create a solution which will fulfil these needs.”

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The firm is currently inundated with bespoke projects thanks to the quality of its service offering. Looking to the future, Sarah stated that she had high hopes for the improvement of the UK sustainability market, and that her firm aimed to be at the forefront of these developments.

“The governing bodies in our industry are currently looking into providing more rules and increased inspections of those who provide energy saving solutions, in order to protect both clients and those who work in the industry. I am optimistic that the industry will improve in the coming years.

Xpert Energy is dedicated to help move the industry forward and we are looking to provide training courses to provide opportunities for other professionals to broaden this knowledge, so when specifying energy saving solutions, they have a full understanding of all of the factors involved. We are keen to offer advice and support to builders, architects, project managers and the public so that they can offer the same high standard of construction that we pride ourselves on.”

Company: Xpert Energy Installations Ltd Phone: 0118 93 03 700 Website: www.xpertenergy.co.uk

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Premier Water Services Premier Water Services offer technical consultancy advice regarding flood risk and provide foul and surface water drainage solutions. We also provide a complete cradle to grave waste water treatment plant - design, install and commission service; we are open market when it comes to specification for all of our solutions. This means we have a free rein to specify the best available technology, which is most appropriate for our clients’ requirements. This is a really important part of our business that sets us apart from other companies. hat does the firm’s client base look like?

We have clients ranging from the domestic homeowners looking to purchase a property, through to conveyancing lawyers; residential and commercial developers and drinks manufacturing companies.

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What sets your firm apart from others in the field?

Number one is listening to our clients; closely followed by providing technically sound advice and solutions, ensuring that they are cost effective whilst fulfilling the clients’ obligations on satisfying requirements by statutory authorities.

What are the main challenges facing your business at present?

We are a small family run business and sometimes we are can get overlooked particularly when our prices tend to come in lower during the tender process. This year we won the Environmental Consultant of the Year – UK - awarded at the Women in Build Awards 2016, Best Environmental Consultancy Firm – South West England 2016 and Award for Excellence in Flood Risk and Septic Tank Surveys 2016, awarded by Corporate Vision. We are thrilled to have been nationally recognised and we are aiming to build on our fantastic reputation in the future.

“We are aiming to establish ourselves as a specialist within a specialist industry.

We plan to get the basics right but also to provide our clients with the benefit of some of the UKs leading experts in our industry.

As their experts we can minimise their exposure to ground risk and this will inevitably lead to better and more lean designs.

What are the key objectives for your business in the months and years ahead?

To continue to deliver great solutions and to strengthen our relationships with all Statutory Authority providers.

What individual in your industry and beyond do you admire the most and why?

My old boss, Timothy Sullivan, for teaching me the fundamentals of Environmental Consultancy and more importantly, for believing in my abilities as a consultant over 15 years ago.

“The team are also now looking at advanced technologies which could obtain information about ground conditions using in-situ testing and geophysical techniques. This has in the past been seen to be a ‘black art’ but it is used very successfully in other sectors particularly the oil and gas sector and across Europe.

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It will also result in no nasty surprises due to ‘unforeseen’ ground conditions which should reduce programme delays and project overruns.”

SM Associates has been established to become a leading provider of specialist geotechnical services both in the UK and overseas. This, as Julian concludes, will be achieved by a commitment to safety and quality, by employing and training the best people and by continual investment in plant and equipment.

Name: Miss Louisa Inch Company: Managing Director Email: Louisa@premierwatersolutions.co.uk Web Address: www.premierwatersolutions.co.uk

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Technology

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Technology

Goggling the Globe in VR Perth-based creative marketing agency, BEVIN Creative, brings Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to life using state-of-the-art virtual reality technology.

magine being able to visually immerse yourself within the Shakespearean era, using today’s cutting edge technology.

We’re not talking about going back to the future, we’re talking about virtual reality.

Creative marketing agency, BEVIN Creative, located in Perth Western Australia, has shaped this concept into reality by delivering an engaging, world premiere, virtual reality experience at a recent free community event, which attracted over 3,000 people in a single afternoon.

as a way of connecting buyers with properties in a new and innovative manner. Bott reflected on this by saying; “We have a fantastic team and we pride ourselves in delivering state of the art technology and services to companies all around Australia. This technology is the future and BEVIN Creative is proud to be at the forefront.”

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Major virtual reality devices, such as The Oculus Gear VR headset (used at Festival Day) are already available to consumers worldwide, at an affordable price tag.

In a recent Superdata report, industry growth figures have projected US$11.8 billion in worldwide revenue by the year 2017 with US$40.3 billion projected global revenue by the year 2020, indicating this kind of technology is more than just a passing fad.

As co-producers of the Shakespeare 400 Perth Festival this year, BEVIN Creative set out to modernise Shakespeare by providing a stateof-the-art virtual reality (VR) experience at the festival’s finale event, Shakespeare Festival Day, held at the University of Western Australia’s Crawley campus on October 22nd.

2016 marks the 400-year anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, and in honour of this global milestone, Festival Day opened its doors to families, theatre fanatics and arts lovers for a day of roving entertainment, theatre shows, market stalls, music and food. Throughout the day’s numerous highlights, the BEVIN Creative “Virtual Experience” attracted a constant stream of punters eager to step inside the world-renowned Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre using Samsung Oculus Gear virtual reality headsets.

BEVIN Creative, known for their world class 2D and 3D visuals, called upon their highly talented 3D graphics team to generate a virtual model of the world-famous theatre, producing multiple angles and views to fully immerse festival goers into a new dimension, literally stepping back in time to the days of Shakespeare’s era of live entertainment.

The idea behind using such an advanced form of technology was to tie in with the Shakespeare 400 Perth Festival vision of modernising Shakespeare in today’s society, due to Shakespeare himself being a world leader in creativity, a global influencer and a modern enthusiast who was well ahead of his time.

Benjamin Bott, CEO of BEVIN Creative and brain child of “The Virtual Experience” commented; “It was great watching people experiencing VR, some for the first time, in a truly unique way, with the experience also correlating with a worldwide milestone.”

Many technology companies have been promoting virtual reality technology for a number of years, however, it’s companies like BEVIN Creative, who have propelled this technology into the mainstream arena, allowing the general public to experience it within a practical environment.

Incorporating modern technology such as virtual reality into an event like the Shakespeare 400 Perth Festival Day, opens the door to a new era in live events. Bott went on to explain his excitement at being the first company to virtually model and present the Globe Theatre in a festival environment, adding, “We were wrapped to have made front page headlines in local press leading up to the event and there was a great buzz prior to our launch. We had a very busy day on the stand showcasing the technology to children, couples and families…even grandparents were getting in on the fun!”

From an industry perspective, virtual reality headsets and systems have been under development since late 2012, with a multitude of investors eager to monopolise on the technology breakthrough. With billions of dollars being invested each year into research and development in the virtual reality space, we have seen emerging growth areas in the gaming and property development markets.

BEVIN Creative, who have been experimenting with this technology for some time, are already delivering commercial solutions for property clients

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Looking to the future, much of the virtual reality growth is tipped to be within the gaming industry, however the technology is also expanding into a multitude of travel companies who see its potential. Travel company, Marriott, has already collaborated with technology leader, Samsung, to produce virtual reality postcards, which allow individuals to virtually travel to numerous destinations, with accompanying voice-overs. A unique (and cheaper) alternative to traditional travel.

In certain technology-based companies, the future of virtual reality is already in the early planning stages of incorporating elements such as temperature and smell, to bring this unique technology to the next level.

Through the introduction of virtual reality to festival goers at the Shakespeare 400 Perth Festival Day, BEVIN Creative has ensured this innovative technology is one step closer to being a part of everyday, modern life. After being so well received in such a public domain, it has emphasized society’s willingness to embrace new, affordable and relevant technological advancements. Shakespeare never seemed so real.

BEVIN Creative Pty Ltd Glen Panarese 0408 718 322 glen@bevin.com.au www.bevin.com.au www.3Dbevin.com.au

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Technology

3D Rending of thre Globe Theatre

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USA Construction Excellence Awards Company: Friede & Associates Name: Scott Truehl Email: sgtruehl@friede.com Web Address: www.friede.com Address: 500 Utility Court, P.O. Box 248, Reedsburg, WI 53959 Telephone: +1 (608) 524-4383

Company: RKTB Architects, P.C. Name: Carmi Bee, FAIA Email: cbee@rktb.com Web Address: www.rktb.com Address: 150 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011 USA Telephone: 212-807-9500

Defining the World awards Company: Durkin and Sons Name: Sharon Charlesworth Email: Scharlesworth@durkinandsons.co.uk Web Address: www.durkinandsons.co.uk Address: Alperton House Bridgewater Road, Middlesex, Wembley, HA0 1EH, UK Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8900 0203

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Winners’ Directory

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Be part of the one of the UK’s leading areas of economic growth and development The Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire area boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Now’s your chance to be part of its exciting future as the second most influential powerhouse in the South of England.

Property developers, businesses and residential buyers continue to see Milton Keynes as a prime location to live, work and invest due to its:

Superior infrastructure with easily accessible amenities Well-designed road systems and easy access to the M1 and London Affordable new homes and development opportunities Working on behalf of Developers, Builders, Investors, Land and Property Owners, The Wilkinson Partnership is helping to shape Milton Keynes’ future by sourcing potential development sites, negotiating with planning authorities and effectively marketing rural property and land and more.

For detailed information on how we can also help you become part of the second Capital of the South’s future, please contact us today.

Leighton Buzzard

Winslow

01525 851616

01296 712717

lbres@qualityhomes.co.uk winres@qualityhomes.co.uk