Contract News

NG BAILEY SELECTED AS PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR TO BRITISHVOLT

NG Bailey, the UK’s largest independent engineering and services business, has secured a further contract with battery cell technology pioneer and manufacturer, Britishvolt.

NG Bailey’s contract will support the next phase of Britishvolt’s ‘Battery Corridor’, a concept which enhances the UK’s existing battery ecosystem and powers the country ahead in the next industrial revolution.

The appointment builds on the successful partnership established on Britishvolt’s Gigafactory project in Northumberland, a £3.8bn scheme for electric vehicle batteries, and beyond, where NG Bailey is also involved.

This new project will see NG Bailey play a leading role in supporting Britishvolt and its partner, logistics real estate operator Prologis, in building battery cell scale-up facilities in the West Midlands. NG Bailey will provide a full range of construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing services at the Hams Hall facility.

Once complete, the project will create upwards of 150 highly skilled jobs and will unify the Northumberland Gigaplant with a centrally located technology hub.

The contract aligns with NG Bailey’s wider responsibility strategy, with the new Hams Hall facilities being net zero carbon in construction and achieving an EPC A rating once operational.

Dan Smith, sector director at NG Bailey, says: “At NG Bailey we’re proud to be supporting the development of the UK’s first Gigafactory. We’ve been involved with the Britishvolt journey since August 2020, so it’s fantastic to be selected as construction partner for the scale-up facility at Hams Hall.

“Our experience as the principal contractor delivering the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), which was an all-new centre of excellence for battery technology, and our knowledge of the Britishvolt manufacturing process means that this new phase will undoubtedly be a great success as we meet customer demands of battery production and transition to a greener future.”

NG Bailey, ngbailey.com

COMPLEX FIRE PROTECTION UPGRADES AT PRIMARY SCHOOL COMPLETED

A complex fire security system upgrade carried out on a live school site in Rochdale has been completed.

Ash Integrated Services delivered the scheme across six weeks, with four of those during term time.

The works at Milnrow Parish Church of England Primary School included new fire alarm and emergency lighting systems, as well as replacing five fire doors.

The company installed fire detection systems in all rooms, including eight classrooms, the hall, offices, toilets, and the staff room.

The M+E contractor, which had an average of eight people on site throughout, also overcame an additional challenge keeping the existing fire alarm system running while the new one was installed.

Director Antony Grace says: “Projects such as these usually take place during the school holidays, but thanks to constant communication with the headteacher and management team, this technically difficult job has run smoothly.

“We worked around school hours, including after-school clubs to minimise disruption, while ensuring everywhere was clear of hazards and mess, ready for the children to learn in a safe environment each day.

“One particular hurdle was trying to run the wiring for the new fire alarm system alongside the infrastructure for the existing system. We had to be creative to hide our work and keep all elements out of reach during the day.”

Ash Integrated Services, ashintegratedservices.co.uk

MER TACKLES LEGACY INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS TO SUCCESSFULLY SCALE EV CHARGING ACROSS DURHAM

EV charging company, Mer, has helped Durham County Council transform its EV charging infrastructure. The two-year award-winning partnership has resulted in 150 EV charge points (EVCPs) installed across the county and brought charging stations to many formerly unserved communities.

With funding from Innovate UK for the Scaling on Street Charging Infrastructure (SOSCI) project, the Council partnered with Mer to install 150 charging points at 67 locations across the county. By consulting with locals, Mer’s new charging points were strategically placed in areas of residential demand.

Alex Hinchcliffe, Sales Director at Mer UK – Public Charging, comments, “Durham needed a future-fit solution to their problem, and that’s exactly what we helped deliver. Our parent company, Statkraft is the largest renewable energy producer in Europe and our chargers are powered by 100% renewable energy. There’s also no risk of our charge points becoming redundant or falling into disrepair. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in Durham, combatting the dual problems of rural and city coverage.”

Since the completion of the project, Durham has reduced its carbon emissions, bringing it closer to its target 75% reduction by 2030, and due to its success, it has secured a second wave of EV charge point funding from Innovate UK, this time for the Regional Electric Vehicle Unified Plan (REV UP) project. Mer charging stations have recorded 67,474.3kWh of usage to date, which is over 190,000 miles of clean driving.

Mer, uk.mer.eco

£5M REFURBISHMENT PROJECT ON UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK STUDENT ACCOMMODATION BEGINS

J Tomlinson has begun a £5m refurbishment project of the Lakeside student accommodation on behalf of the University of Warwick.

The £5m scheme includes the refurbishment of 152 bedrooms and en-suites, 16 kitchens, a staff area, and two live-in staff apartments across all four floors of the Lakeside student accommodation building. The work involves extensive mechanical and electrical works, including re-wiring, heating, and ventilation system upgrades.

J Tomlinson’s Refurbishment Managing Director, Iain Davies says: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Warwick on this scheme, where we took possession of the site on 4 July 2022. We have partnered with our regular supply chain to ensure a strong project team focus, which is critical in delivering this very challenging refurbishment, in readiness for the September 2022 intake.”

Over the past four years, J Tomlinson has completed several diverse projects for the University of Warwick through the refurbishment framework.

Senior Project Manager for the University of Warwick, Jonathon Buckingham says: “The University of Warwick are excited to be working with JTL on another student accommodation refurbishment this summer. The programme will be incredibly challenging, but the finished product will greatly improve the student experience for many years to come.”

The scheme is set for completion by early September 2022.

J Tomlinson, jtomlinson.co.uk

ST GEMMA’S HOSPICE CHOOSES LIGHTICO

CleanLight from Lightico has been chosen by St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds to protect its team as it offers end of life and palliative care for patients.

Cleanlight is a powerful LED panel proven to clean the air by destroying viruses and bacteria wherever it shines.

Approved by eminent microbiologist Dr Carl Edwards and extensively tested in laboratories, as well as numerous real world trials, CleanLight has been proven to eliminate the problem of bacteria, pollutants and odours in the air across a number of different environments.

Lightico was invited into St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds to carry out its Clean Air Audit.

Mark Garrett, Managing Director, Lightico explains: “Working with key strategic partner, Edmundson Electrical, through their Leicester branch, Lightico were introduced to St Gemma’s Hospice as part of their ongoing programme of estates improvements and innovation.

“Through the installation of our CO2 monitors, levels of carbon dioxide are constantly monitored and staff have been trained in what measures need to be taken if safe limits are exceeded. The challenge is that options to mitigate the poor air quality are limited. With only one office per ward, the spaces are constantly in use day and night. Without any mechanical air extract the only option is opening the door or window – resulting in increased heating costs and potential breaches in confidentiality.”

Mark continues: “We replaced the existing light fittings with CleanLight LED panels, and disruption was minimal, with the entire installation taking less than a day to complete.”

Lightico, lightico.co.uk

WORKS COMMENCE ON A NEW ACADEMY IN WEST BROMWICH

Briggs & Forrester Engineering Services has secured the MEP contract for the new secondary Shirelands CBSO Academy in West Bromwich, working in collaboration with the main contractor, Galliford Try Construction.

The project consists of two standalone buildings, which are located approximately 100m away from each other on separate sites. Both sites are located just to the North of West Bromwich town centre and are being developed as part of a partnership between Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to form a new academy within the region.

Engineering Services will deliver the mechanical, electrical and public health services that will include drainage, boosted cold water distribution, electrical heating, MVHR systems, NVHR systems, AHU ventilation, kitchen extract, hot and cold water, underfloor heating, thermal insulation, commissioning and water treatment, ductwork, BMS, small power, lighting, lighting control, fire alarm, door access, CCTV/security, lighting protection, voice and data, car charging points, containment, generator, disabled facilities, induction loop, low temperature hot water, VRF air conditioning, gas systems, and LV sub main distribution.

The academy is anticipated to be open in September 2023.

Briggs & Forrester Engineering Services, briggsandforrester.co.uk