Construction May 2015 by Foundation Media

CONSTRUCTION THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FEDERATION MAY 2015

REVEALED: CIF TOP 50 CONTRACTORS

January/February 2015 CONSTRUCTION 22

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EDITORIAL

This month’s cover image features BAM staff working at the One Albert Quay project in Cork. The photo was taken by Conor McCabe, 28th April 2015.

his year’s Construction CIF Top 50 Contractors list captures an industry in the middle of recovery. The improved turnover figures of most companies featured tells its own story but the list also highlights how the Irish construction sector has spread its wings over the past decade. From number 21 on the list – Designer Group – all the way to first place, the vast majority of our top companies are winning significant portions of their business overseas. Perhaps there will be little surprise that house builders have scant presence on this year’s list. Besides the main contractors, it is the mechanical & electrical contractors who figure prominently. While our number one company achieved a turnover of €876m and

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CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FEDERATION

Editor: Brian Foley Email: brian@ foundationmedia.ie

Construction House, 8 Montpellier Terrace, The Crescent, Galway. Tel: 091 502680 Fax: 091 584575 Email: cifgalway@cif.ie

Commercial Manager: Joe Connolly Email: joe@ foundationmedia.ie Editorial Design: Alex Lifeson Printing: W.G. Baird Publisher Foundation Media Ltd

Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6. Tel: 01 4066000 Fax: 01 4966953 Email: cif@cif.ie

Construction House, 4 Eastgate Avenue, Little Island, Cork. Tel: 021 4351410 Fax: 021 4351416 Email: cifcork@cif.ie PRESIDENT: Michael Stone DIRECTOR GENERAL: Tom Parlon CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER: George Hennessy

our 50th company earned €10.5m, the combined turnover figure for all 50 companies is over €4.5bn. The most important part of list is the hidden story in amongst the figures of jobs secured, careers progressing and confidence returning. C

MAIN CONTRACTING: Martin Lang, Alison Irving SPECIALIST CONTRACTING: Sean Downey, Gillian Ross INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: Jean Winters, Cheryl Treanor EASTERN REGION: Hubert Fitzpatrick, Noel O’Connor SOUTHERN REGION: Conor O’Connell WESTERN / MIDLAND REGION: Justin Molloy SAFETY & MANPOWER SERVICES: Dermot Carey LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT: Robert Butler, Laura Dennison MEMBERSHIP: Renee McManus FINANCE / ACCOUNTS: Gabriel MacGrath COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING: Rosalind Travers

CIRI CIRI OFFICE: Jeanette Mair CIRI CPD OFFICE: Robert Butler AFFINITY SCHEMES Safe T Cert Dermot Carey Affinity Cover Joe O’Brien, Justin Molloy, Gillian Heffernan CQAI Robert Butler Register of Heritage Contractors Jeanette Mair Imagine Renee McManus CERS: Frances McNally Tel: 01- 407 1434 Email: info@cers.ie MILESTONE ADVISORY: Susan O’Mara Tel: 01- 406 8021 Email: info@milestoneadvisory.ie CWPS: Brigid Finn Tel: 01- 406 8025 Email: info@cwps.ie

DIRECTOR / EXECUTIVE TEAM HOUSING & PLANNING: Hubert Fitzpatrick, Noel O’Connor, Jeanette Mair

May 2015 CONSTRUCTION 01

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PROJECT OF THE MONTH BAM AT ONE ALBERT QUAY, CORK

CONSTRUCTION

CONTENTS

CIF NEWS

DIARY

12 steps to 20k jobs

CIF meetings and events

CIF TOP 50

LAST FIX

Our in-depth report

Joe O’Brien’s retirement pics

CIS SNAPSHOT

Latest stats from Construction Information Service

DIGITAL MARKETING

Construction and the e-revolution

PENSIONS UPDATE

Susan O’Mara on portfolios

CQMS15

Report from the Tullamore show

PIETA HOUSE

Suicide awareness

LEAN CONSTRUCTION

Winthrop’s Ger O’Leary discusses Lean

TRAINING UPDATE

Latest news from training dept.

TRAINING

All the CIF courses

INDUSTRY NEWS

Stories from wider construction sector

MAY 2015

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“I’m delighted to announce these new, unique insurance packages – which is exclusively available to CIF members. It is tailor made to suit the requirements of those operating in the construction industry and we believe it will be of strong interest to our members.” Tom Parlon, CIF Director General

Range of products available include: Combined Liability – Bespoke policy wordings, with Lloyds Insurers Contractors All Risks Construction Plant and Machinery Insurance New Plant/Machinery insurance agreement (underwritten by Aviva) to provide discounted rates to CIF members. Please note cover includes each or all of the following: 1) Third Party R.T.A. cover 2) Accidental Damage 3) Inspection for all construction Plant/Machinery. Professional Indemnity Scheme exclusive to CIRI members to comply with new building regulations. House Builders – Special insurance cost per house option

MyRecoveryCheque MyRecoveryCheque is a low-cost insurance protection product that differs from traditional hospital cash plans by providing a range of generous financial benefits that are tiered to reflect the recovery time for a medical procedure. Medical Recovery Insurance starting at €2.99* per week for a 45 year old Motor Fleet New Motor Insurance Agreement with Asgard to Provide Discounted Rates for CIF Members AffinityCover is designed to be purchased through your Insurance broker. For further information please contact your insurance broker or see www.cif.ie/affinitycover

NEW – 24 Hour Group Personal Accident Cover · Accidental Death, Permanent / Partial Disablement · 25 Additional Benefits · Premium from €65 per person * Subject to Minimum Premium

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Affinity Cover is arranged exclusively for members of the Construction Industry Federation and also available to CIRI members by Capital Cover with various international insurers. Capital Cover Group Ltd t/a Capital Insurance Brokers and Capitalcover is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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CIF NEWS

12 steps to 20,000 construction jobs

n a bold initiative the CIF has published a ‘12 Steps for 20,000 Construction Jobs’ guide – aimed at encouraging politicians to take simple actions which could enhance construction employment throughout the country. The guide, which was circulated to TDs and Senators, outlines how 20,000 additional jobs could be created in the industry if simple policy decisions were implemented during 2015. Last year the construction sector accounted for 45% of all the additional jobs created in the Irish economy. Of the 29,100 additional jobs created in Ireland during 2014, 13,100 were in construction. According to the CIF even further progress could be made in creating construction employment if the Oireachtas were to pass a series of measures aimed at promoting the industry. The majority of these measures had already been promised by the Government.

THE MEASURES ARE: • Implement the Construction Contracts Act (which was signed into law by President Higgins in July 2013). • Complete the review of the Public Works Contracts and implement the required changes • Enact legislation which will allow for a Registered Employment Agreement (REA)/ Registered Employment Order (REO) for industrial sectors • Provide incentives to employers to take on apprentices • Advance critical infrastructure projects • Increase capital spending • Reduce bundling of public projects • Progress non banking finance for development capital • Publish and enact the Planning and Development (No. 2) Bill 2014 • Reduce the tax and regulatory costs in construction • Put CIRI on a statutory basis • Extend and amend the Home Renovation Incentive scheme

Speaking about the initiative, CIF to Ministers, TDs and Senators over the Director General Tom Parlon said, “The remaining months of this Oireachtas term. politicians have the power to take a The steps we have outlined are all realistic, number of simple steps that would have achievable and in line with the State’s a major impact on the broader policy agenda. They can construction industry be easily implemented during LAST YEAR THE and the creation of 2015, so long as the political will CONSTRUCTION jobs. is there to support them. Most of SECTOR ACCOUNTED “Our hope is them have already been flagged FOR 45% OF ALL THE that this guide will by the Government as being ADDITIONAL JOBS help highlight some measures they were working CREATED IN THE IRISH towards.” construction issues

ECONOMY

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Reducing suicides at the core of ‘Mind our Workers’

ver 1,000 Irish construction workers are estimated to have died by suicide between 2008 and 2012. That shocking statistic is the impetus behind a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of suicide and mental health throughout the construction industry. ‘Mind Our Workers’ is a joint campaign organised by Pieta House and the Construction Industry Federation . The campaign aims to encourage more communication about suicide and mental health on construction sites and amongst construction workers around the country. A report which examines the level of suicide in the construction sector has been published as part of the campaign. Among the other key statistics highlighted in the report are:

Brian Higgins, CEO Pieta House, Tom Parlon, CIF Director General and CIF President Michael Stone at the ‘Mind our Workers’ launch, 28th April 2015

a national body as influential as the CIF sees the impact of suicide on the construction industry and its employees and is partnering with an organisation such as ourselves to help tackle the issue. Partnerships such as this are a way of building resilience within our society”. CIF President Michael Stone endorsed the Mind Our Workers campaign saying, “We want to help drive awareness of suicide and mental health throughout the construction industry. A greater level of understanding and more open culture about these extremely important issues needs to exist. We want to see a working environment whereby is it acceptable for men to ask their friends and colleagues, “Are you ok?” Men in any walk of life should be able to talk about their problems. We need to take these matters • Every week in Ireland 10 people die by suicide; out of the shadows • 8 out of those 10 are men; • 6,520 suicides took place in Ireland between 2000 and bring them into the light. If even one and 2012; life is saved thanks • 5,263 of those suicides were by men (81%); • 2,137 male suicides took place in Ireland between to the awareness and understanding 2008 and 2012; and • Of the 116,700 people working in the construction promoted by this campaign then sector, 108,300 are men (93% of the overall total). everyone in the CIF and Pieta House will Speaking about the campaign, consider the campaign to have been Pieta House CEO Brian Higgins a great success.” said, “We are delighted to initiate The Mind Our Workers campaign and launch the Mind Our Workers will run throughout the year. The campaign in partnership with the tagline for the campaign is ‘On our CIF. It is extremely encouraging that sites, in our minds’.

he industry can’t ignore the problem of suicide – there is a necessity to take steps to try to help those in need. Given the amount of time people spend in the workplace, that is where the Mind Our Workers campaign will focus. By promoting a more open approach amongst construction workers and their colleagues we hope it might reduce the number of people who feel they have no way out. Over the course of the campaign, the CIF will be working with Pieta House to organise toolbox talks in the workplace, leaflets will be distributed to members, Pieta House representatives will attend regional CIF briefings to discuss suicide and mental health, digital videos will be developed around these issues and a number of other actions will be taken. What is important is that we as an industry engage on this problem and we all work towards creating greater awareness amongst everyone in the sector. All CIF members have a part to play in helping promote this initiative. I would encourage you all to work with the CIF and Pieta House in promoting ‘Mind Our Workers’ throughout your company and amongst your colleagues and friends. By simply taking a few minutes to talk to our colleagues and offering them a friendly ear, who knows what kind of impact we all could have. - Tom Parlon – CIF Director General

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Joe O’Brien retires from CIF solution and our opinion is sought out on a variety of matters.” Joe oversaw the move from the original CIF Cork office in Montenotte to the purpose built office in Eastgate the CIF now occupies. “The CIF’s only asset is its staff and in that regard we’ve been very lucky,” he says. “I wouldn’t want to mention anyone by name for fear of leaving someone out but I’ve worked with some great people over the years.” Asked if it was a stressful job he says it can be, but “only if you let it”. “I always enjoyed solving problems for our members. They’re not just members but also friends, something I hope remains the case now that I‘ve retired.”

CIF President Michael Stone presents Joe O’Brien with a commemorative front page copy of The Cork Examiner from 1979

AFTER 36 YEARS WORKING FOR THE CIF, JOE O’BRIEN HAS RETIRED AS THE FEDERATION’S DIRECTOR, SOUTHERN REGION.

After 36 years working for the CIF, Joe O’Brien has retired as the Federation’s Director, Southern Region. There was a large gathering of industry colleagues at a CIF farewell event in Construction House in early May. During his speech Joe thanked the CIF staff he worked with over the years, while CIF President Michael Stone and Director General Tom Parlon had kind words to say about their departing colleague. Joe started his career with the CIF as Secretary Cork/Kerry Region in 1979 after a Christmas Eve phone call from then CIF Director General Tom Reynolds offering him the job. Looking back over a lifetime spent in the construction sector Joe says much has changed since he started. “Back then direct employment was the norm,” he says. “Now we’ve moved to a situation where there are more sub contractors in the industry.” He remembers the 1980s for its long recession but also intense employment disputes – “lots of IR

issues” – that required tough negotiations with the unions. “It’s a resilient industry,” he adds, “but I would like to see a situation where there is less economic peaks and troughs. The boom and bust cycle does nobody any favours.” During his time as the CIF’s senior person in Cork Joe has served with just three Director Generals: Tom Reynolds, Liam Kelleher and Tom Parlon. “All three were very different but all worked very well for the Federation,” he says. After four decades in the same industry Joe says it feels like he knows everyone in construction: “In fact, I’m so long in the game I’m working with the sons of the fathers I was dealing with in the 1980s,” he explains. “The CIF’s profile has also changed over the years,” he says. “We’re now seen as part of the

Sean Clifford, President Construction Industry Federation Kerry branch (seated third from left) making a special presentation to Joe O’Brien, to mark his retirement from the CIF with (front from left) Ted Fitzgerald, Michelle O’Sullivan Darcy, Tom Parlon Director General Construction Industry Federation, Martin Walsh (back from left) John King, Derek Twiss, Jim Sweeney, FJ Gleasure, Liam Sugrue, Edward Dowling, John Flynn, Michael McElligott, Eddie Coleman and Denis Dowling at the Manor West Hotel, Tralee. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin.

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Roadshow

F Augmented Reality

Gaia Dempsey from DAQRI International at a 15th April ‘augmented reality’ briefing for CIF members in Dublin. Digital companies are betting heavily on AR being the ‘next big thing’ – one of th benefits of AR, said Dempsey, will be the ability to use a wearable device “that will make workers safer and more productive”.

A series of CIF roadshows drew to a close in April with the final event taking place in Construction House, Dublin. Our pictire shows Jean Winters, CIF Director, Industrial Relations and Manpower Services, addressing CIF members about developments in the industrial relations sector.

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PROJECT OF THE MONTH

PROJECT: ONE ALBERT QUAY CONTRACTOR: BAM

VALUE: €50M ON SITE: OCTOBER 2014 – EARLY 2016 Construction work began late last year on this seven-storey €50m office block. It is the largest office block ever built in Cork’s city centre. It will accommodate up to 2,000 workers when it is complete in March 2016. Developer John Cleary who built the successful City Gate offices in Mahon is behind this scheme as well as the Cineplex redevelopment. John Cleary Developments has already secured tenants for the new building, with safety firm Tyco and financial services company PwC set to occupy the building when it opens. The Albert Quay site was previously occupied by a single storey warehouse, and the site is prominently located in front of The Elysian and near the City Hall buildings. A double-level basement car park will accommodate 135 parking spaces. C

BAM staff (l-r) Declan Ryan, Site Engineer, Pat Connolly, Contracts Manager and Shaun McGinley, Project Manager, 28th April 2015.

May 2015 CONSTRUCTION 11

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

CONSTRUCTION’S TOP 50 CIF CONTRACTORS

omentum, growth, progress – these are the themes of this year’s Top 50 list as CIF contractors consolidate last year’s improvement. After the seismic shocks the industry experienced from 2008 to 2012, these new figures show a sector in recovery. The companies occupying the top 10 places probably won’t hold too much surprise for readers, but the continuing success of the ‘big beasts’ is reassuring for the industry’s ongoing recovery, while the overseas expansion of the mechanical & electrical sector shows no sign of slowing. So, like any list, our Top 50 is a snapshot in time. And what an interesting time this is for the Irish construction sector. New building regulations, planning changes and altered employment agreements along with the need to innovate in areas such as Lean construction illustrate the challenges ahead. Yet, for all the challenges, we doubt anyone on our list would like a return to the old days.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT • Companies included are all CIF members. • Companies are placed on the list in order of each company’s overall turnover figure. • We have also listed, where available, the company’s Republic of Ireland (ROI) turnover, though this does not affect a company’s overall position on the list. • Turnover figures are sourced from CIF member companies. Data from the Companies Registration Office is also studied. • The latest audited accounts were requested. For the majority of companies on the list the latest year end available is from 2014. A small number of companies were able to supply audited figures up to early 2015. • Companies must have their primary business based in the Republic of Ireland. • Listed companies, who are also CIRI members, have the CIRI logo beside their names.

- Brian Foley, Editor, May 2015

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BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE For over 150 years John Sisk & Son has been developing the strength, diversity and experience that has made it Ireland’s leading construction business. We have used our expertise to win contracts of national scale across all sectors in Ireland, the UK and beyond.

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In Ireland these have included contracts for Diageo, the Convention Centre, Aviva Stadium, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, fit-outs at T1 Dublin Airport, the New Science Block at UCD and the Mater Hospital Atrium. In the UK we have managed contracts for the Olympic Games Athletes’ Village, Crossrail Tunnels, The London Designer Outlet, the Monarch Aircraft Hangar at Birmingham Airport, Energy Waste Stations and many more. SISK Group has built a diversified, international business with the support of our customers and partners and we are very proud of our history and our long standing reputation for providing top class service delivery and quality.

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

JOHN SISK & SON TURNOVER: €876.6M ROI TURNOVER: €392.9M (YEAREND 31/12/14)

Working in the domestic markets of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland, Sisk has expertise in a wide range of specialist sectors, including civil engineering, rail, commercial offices, residential, retail, hotel and leisure, industrial and process industries, public works, and energy. Sisk’s civil engineering division has delivered major infrastructure including rail, wind farms, roads, power stations, harbours, water treatment plants and other landmark projects. They deliver projects both directly and in joint venture formats and over recent years have delivered over 200km of motorway and 300 bridges across Ireland, the UK and Poland. SISK Rail has completed major projects for Network Rail, Irish Rail and a wide range of train operating companies. The organisation’s success in delivering high quality commercial projects has been recognised through repeat business with major clients. Sisk continues delivering high end retail stores and leisure complexes in major cities and many of these projects have attained iconic status. Sisk has extensive experience within the aviation sector having successfully delivered airport terminal buildings at Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Knock. Sisk has specialist pharmaceutical and ICT industry capability and has delivered €1.5 billion in construction in pharmaceutical industries since 2000. With a wealth of experience in industrial, as well as food and beverage areas too, construction of technically complex buildings is the benchmark of Sisk’s track record. In public building, the delivery of modern affordable healthcare facilities is a challenge which Sisk has risen to in the last decade.

Dun Laoghaire Library, Co Dublin, completed in 2014

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

2MERCURY

ENGINEERING TURNOVER: €535M ROI TURNOVER: €320M (YEAREND 31/12/14)

The south Dublin-based Mercury Engineering continues to make impressive strides, both in Ireland and overseas. Mercury’s story is one of success and innovation, building an impressive project portfolio through the teeth of the worst recession to hit the Irish economy. “Over the past 40 years Mercury Engineering has grown into one of the largest independent engineering contractors with projects completed throughout Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and USA,” says Mercury Director Frank Matthews. The Corrib Gas Project in Mayo proved to be a hugely successful project for the company. The client, Shell, was impressed with the levels of professionalism and skill shown by the Mercury team on site. “Mercury is extremely proud to have helped deliver the Corrib project and proud of our track record of operational excellence,” says Rickie Rogers, Chief Operations Officer with Mercury. “Year after year, throughout the construction of this world-class installation, we have continued to maintain the highest levels of excellence. Commercially, the Corrib project was unique. From the start Mercury and Shell developed a relationship built on mutual trust.” According to the Chief Operation Officer, before this project “we didn’t have much experience in oil and gas”. “Now, after our partnership with Shell, having installed well over 1,000 km of cable, a hundred km of pipe and over 55,000 welds we can call ourselves Ireland’s leader in this field. “We’ve consistently set a benchmark for quality that exceeded all industry standards. Our welding failure rate for example, is 40% lower than accepted industry norms.” throughout this project testify.”

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

BAM CONTRACTORS TURNOVER: €360M ROI TURNOVER: €310M (YEAREND 31/12/14)

“We had a strong performance over the past few years and improved and strengthened our financial position through a number of significant projects at home and abroad,” says BAM Chief Executive Theo Cullinane, placing in context the company’s impressive third place in this year’s list. “We continue to play a leading role in Ireland’s infrastructure, with significant public projects and private sector work combined with international contract wins driving our business success.” BAM Ireland, the only Plc construction business operating in this market, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal BAM Group of the Netherlands. Royal BAM Group, ranked in the top 15 of the league of top European contractors, continues to expand in its home markets of The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium and Germany and to target opportunities internationally through its global operating company BAM International. On foot of recent successes, BAM has opened offices in Luxemburg and Denmark. BAM has directly invested in PPP projects such as the Schools’ Bundle 3 and 4 and N7 Newlands Cross/N11 Arklow Rathnew roadworks and is involved in many other projects across Ireland. These include the Clinical Research Facility and Translational Research facility at NUI Galway; redevelopment at Ulster Hospital; Glanbia at Belview, Kilkenny; Research Hub at Grangegorman; Science Building refurbishment and extension at Sligo IT and the Human Biology building at NUI Galway. BAM is also progressing a new office development at Albert Quay, Cork, in partnership with John Cleary Developments.

The Glanbia milk processing plant in Kilkenny

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

4JONES

ENGINEERING GROUP TURNOVER: €318M ROI TUNROVER: €230M (YEAREND 31/12/14)

Jones Engineering Group is a leading International engineering contractor operating throughout Ireland, UK, Europe and the Middle East. “We currently turnover approximately €320m and directly employ almost 2,400 people,” says Barry Steele who is Business Development Manager with the company. There is a long history in Ireland as the original company, H A O’Neil was founded in Dublin 125 years ago. In the intervening period Jones Engineering Group has gained a wealth of experience and a notable portfolio of clients which they continue to do repeat business with to this day, says Barry. “Our core value,” he says, “is the delivery of quality work through quality people.” There is enormous emphasis placed on the areas of health & safety and quality. “Each division of Jones Engineering Group is certified to IS EN ISO9001:2008, the international standard for quality management systems and also have Safe-T-Certification,” says Barry. The group offers the complete range of engineering services, including mechanical, electrical, fire protection, process pipe work, HVAC, instrumentation, calibration, commissioning, maintenance, specialist lift, geo surveying and contract support services. “To Jones Engineering our most important asset is our people,” says Barry. “We are committed to the continuous training of all our employees. “Our training is focused on providing superior customer service and satisfaction.”

A group image of the Jones Engineering team working at the Intel facility in Kildare, November 2014

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

COLLEN CONSTRUCTION TURNOVER: €190M ROI TURNOVER: €176M (YEAREND 31/3/15)

With over 200 years’ experience to its name, Collen Construction is a familyowned business which prides itself on its reputation for quality. The company has successfully tendered and negotiated projects for a range of clients including large, multi-national corporations, private companies, local authorities and state authorities. “The company has established a reputation for providing complex projects on time and within budget,” says Managing Director Thomas Drumm. With a host of awards to its name and a reputation for quality, the company prides itself on providing a quality service and forging long-lasting relationships. Its client list is testimony to this. At Collen dedicated teams work closely to provide a full, turn-key service to the client as required. The management team ensures smooth co-ordination of all aspects of the project including mechanical and electrical services. “Our ability to consistently deliver quality and meet client parameters has often led to a partnership approach on subsequent projects with the same clients,” says Drumm. Some of Collen’s recent successes include being awarded the contract for €16m student accommodation in UCD. Meanwhile Blackrock Further Education Institute won the prestigious Irish Georgian Award for Architectural Conservation. Designed by McCullough Mulvin Architects and sensitively restored by Collen Construction, the stunning new building encompasses three heritage buildings in one state-of-theart educational facility, showcasing the highest standards in design and master craftsmanship.

Blackrock Further Education Institute

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

DORNAN ENGINEERING TURNOVER: €180M ROI TURNOVER: €30M (YEAREND 31/12/14)

“We at Dornan are all about achieving client satisfaction by safely delivering quality projects,” says Brian Acheson, CEO. “It is our modus operandi and without achieving it, we would be nothing,” he adds. “Safety, value, deliverability and quality are not just buzz words in our company, they are the key values by which we work. “Client satisfaction to us is not a sales term, client satisfaction to us is priceless.” With a head office in Cork the company also has offices in Dublin, the UK and Europe. The company is involved in work such as data centres, bio-pharma and pharmaceutical-related projects as well as power stations and various commercial developments, achieving a total €180m turnover in 2014, €30m of which was achieved in Ireland. On being asked why the company is so successful, Joe Conway, Business Development Manager with Dornan Engineering says that he believes it is because of the “hands-on” approach of company owners and senior management. This is coupled with top class site teams, says Joe. The drive to maintain a safe working environment for the company’s 1,000 employees, knowing they will return home safely each day, is also at the core of the company’s ethos. “Projects nowadays are of an extremely fast-track nature,” points out Joe. “Consequently our clients depend on us to deliver on all aspects of a project from start to finish.” Dornan Engineering was originally founded in 1966 as Edward Dornan & Co. (Engineers) Ltd. to serve the chemical and petrochemical industries in Ireland.

Cork Airport – where Dornan Engineering undertook work on the new control tower

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

7BENNETT

CONSTRUCTION TURNOVER: €135M (YEAREND 31/3/15)

An international company with clients representing every market sector, the 100-year-old Bennett Group has grown dramatically – in both size and reputation – since being established in Mullingar back in 1917. The family-owned construction company first entered the UK – particularly the London market – in the mid 1980’s and are now an established market force with an experienced and focused team. In the past five years they have also opened offices and delivered projects in Germany. “We have a broad portfolio of successfully completed projects across a range of sectors including retail, residential, restoration, refurbishment, hospitality, commercial, industrial, data centres, healthcare, student accommodation and pharmaceutical,” says Paul Bruton, joint Managing Director. Bennett continues to invest in modern business practices and management techniques in order to ensure that it remains at the cutting edge of the industry. It continues to build on its reputation with its focus firmly on growing the ability of the business to deliver in new and innovative ways. While Bennett projects range in complexity, the formula at work is constant and practical: “Combine the best people, the best knowledge set, the latest technology and sustainability measures, and an unwavering commitment to safety.” “We are proud of the fact that the majority of our workload comes from repeat business and that we have a strong reputation for our competitive edge and reliable execution of all projects undertaken,” says Paul Bruton.

Social Justice Centre, London

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John Paul Construction

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Quarter Beacon South

, London

Chelsea Creek

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Food Sysco / Pallas

Dundrum Business Park Dundrum Road Dublin 14 Ireland

Euro House Euro Business Park Little Island Co Cork, Ireland

Exchange Plaza 58 Uxbridge Road Ealing, London W5 2ST United Kingdom

Absal Paul PO Box 4864 Riyadh 11412 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

t: +353 (0) 1 215 6100 e: info@johnpaul.ie

t: +353 (0) 21 452 4444 e: info@johnpaul.ie

t: +44 (0) 208 567 0900 e: info@johnpaulconstruction.co.uk

t: +966 11 200 8855 e: info@absalpaul.com

www.johnpaul.ie

Facility

TOP 50 COMPANIES

JOHN PAUL CONSTRUCTION TURNOVER: €133.8M ROI TURNOVER: €81.6M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

John Paul Construction is a leading international specialist in construction, infrastructure, fit-out and asset management. “Our business is about delivering success on behalf of our clients and we achieve this by providing a completely integrated service that is focused entirely on the things that really matter to them,” says Eamon Booth, Managing Director. John Paul Construction was recently appointed as main contractor for the €69m redevelopment of the iconic Miesian Plaza, Baggot Street Dublin, formerly the Bank of Ireland headquarters. Completion of the redevelopment will be on a phased handover and will be the first LEED Platinum V4 office development in the country. The works comprise the removal and refurbishment of the existing protected bronze façade, a new extension to Block A and fit-out to include full replacement of all finishes. The company has been in business since 1949 and Liam Casey, Business Development Director, stresses the significance of repeat business to the company. “For some of our pharmaceutical clients we have been on their sites for the last 12 years carrying out multiple projects for them,” he says. The company has long associations with clients across all sectors. “In addition to our offices in Dublin and Cork we have a London office and an associated company in Saudi Arabia called Absal Paul,” explains Liam. “At John Paul Construction we are committed to excellence and to developing first class and long lasting working relationships through the quality of the service we provide and the quality of our finished projects.” We have tried and tested management systems in place ensuring programme delivery and value through project innovation and appointing experienced project teams based on their knowledge and experience. “Our company is built upon strong values and ethical practices. That’s why our management team are committed to maintaining the highest standards of responsible corporate behaviour”.

The National Gallery, Dublin

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

ROADBRIDGE TURNOVER: €126M ROI TURNOVER: €63M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

Roadbridge is a leader in civil engineering with an impressive track record in delivering major projects across a range of sectors. It operates in Ireland, the UK, Poland, the South Pacific region and in the Middle East. “Our core ethos is not just to meet client expectations but to exceed them, making us the partner clients want to work with,” says Managing Director, Conor Gilligan. “We have adopted a team approach and focus on value engineering and innovation in order to achieve best results for our clients,” says Gilligan. “Our client base is ever-expanding and we pride ourselves on maintaining strong customer relationships and ensuring client and end‐user satisfaction.” Over the last ten years Roadbridge has completed in excess of 250km of inter urban motorway (including joint venture projects) to budget and on time using various contract models including design & build; traditional contract; early contractor involvement and design-buildfinance and operate. Projects are self-performed by skilled technical and management personnel. “This ensures projects are delivered to the highest standards,” adds the MD. In recent years, Roadbridge has been the main/principal contractor on major wastewater schemes in Ireland, including Limerick Main Drainage scheme and the Dungarvan Sewerage scheme. Water schemes including both reservoirs and all associated pipelines have been successfully completed in Ireland at Roscommon, Nenagh, Ballinrobe, Tuam and Claremorris. Roadbridge has been responsible for all phases of the construction of Ireland’s largest waste management facility at Arthurstown, Co Kildare. “Our goal is to create value through our focus on efficiency and sustainability,” says Conor Gilligan.

A477 St Clears to Red Roses road improvement scheme, UK

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

KIRBY GROUP ENGINEERING TURNOVER: €120M ROI TURNOVER: €100M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

A reputation for quality, value and service has earned Kirby a prestigious national and international client list and it also boasts an impressive project portfolio across all sectors. Kirby operates across Ireland, the UK and European markets. The company aspires to be “the most trusted provider of high-value engineering and installation solutions across all our sectors”. It offers an extensive range of complex engineering and contracting services, new build or retrofit, as well as individual service or turnkey. Its clients include Analog Devices, Regeneron Pharma, Zimmer Orthopaedics, Abbott, Telecity Group, Vodafone, GSK and Neste Oil. “Clients choose Kirby because of our uncompromising safety and quality standards,” says the company. “We hold OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certification and we can work in GMP and FDA-regulated environments. “We were the first M&E contractor in Ireland to secure the prestigious Q Mark Quality Standard.” Kirby is also a member of RoSPA, NISO and BSC, accredited by Achilles UVDB, and is on the Lloyd’s National Electricity Register in the UK. “Quality is what we do best; it’s why we have a world-class client base,” says Mark Flanagan, Kirby’s Group Operations Director Kirby is committed to working with clients as partners and to engage early on projects and consistently deliver added value on every project. “We listen, we innovate, and we are flexible in developing ‘work around’ plans to maintain progress,” is the message from the company.

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

PJ HEGARTY & SONS TURNOVER: €115.47M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

One of Ireland’s most famous construction companies, PJ Hegarty continues to perform strongly 90 years after it was founded in Cork. Working on some of the most iconic projects in the State – the Criminal Courts Complex, Thomond Park, T2 Dublin Airport – Hegarty’s look set to play a vital role in the Irish construction sector for the foreseeable future. “Our primary activity is undertaking large, complex projects in commercial, retail, tourism, pharmaceutical, high-tech and institutional buildings,.”

WARD & BURKE

TURNOVER: €103.88M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

The Galway based Ward & Burke has posted impressive figures for 2014, boosted by continued expansion in the UK and Canada. Employing 280 workers – rising to 400 during busy periods – the company paid out over €18.5m in wages during the 12 months to 31st December last. In line with many Irish construction firms, it says continued success is reliant upon attracting civil and mechanical engineers, mechanics and fitters. It recently completed the longest ever micro-tunnel produced in a single drive in North America.

JJ RHATIGAN

TURNOVER: €99.8M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

From the Grangegorman campus on the northside of Dublin to the NUI campus in Galway city centre, JJ Rattigan is leaving its mark on educational facilities around Ireland. Over 60 years in business the company has an impressive body of work to impress potential clients. One of the few construction companies to mention ‘passion’ on its website, it sums up its approach to business as being: “Inspired and committed to setting standards within the industry. We are open to new ideas and challenges, and are always searching for continuous improvement.”

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WALLS CONSTRUCTION

TURNOVER: €89.12M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

While we publish Walls’ turnover figures for 2014, the big news as we went to press is the investor backed management buyout announced by the company. Speaking about the announcement, Eugene O’Shea, Managing Director of Walls Construction said: “With confidence returning to the Irish construction sector, our experienced team of construction professionals, which has remained intact throughout the downturn, is ready to deliver key public and private sector projects. Projections based on the current schedule of projects indicate a minimum turnover of €100 million this year, rising to €125 million in 2016.” Walls has a strong order book for 2015 reinforced by winning the Central Bank project on the Dublin quays.

IMTECH SUIR ENGINEERING TURNOVER: €88M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

Suir Engineering was originally set up thirtyfive years ago in south Kilkenny. “Our main areas of activity would be in pharmaceuticals, data centres, power stations, wind farms, heavy industry and commercial buildings,” explains Business Development Director, David Phelan. “We have over seven hundred people working for us across the island of Ireland and we are involved in a number of projects in Europe and also in Saudi Arabia. “We offer our clients electrical and mechanical contracting service. Our main areas of activity are with companies such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Jazz Pharma, Genzyme, MSD, Amgen, Intel, SSE, ESB, Glanbia and Dairygold.” The company has come a long way in 35 years – from a small, locally-based business which was mainly focussed on the food and dairy industries. “We are a direct employee business and train and develop our own people,” points out David.

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

ARDMAC GROUP TURNOVER: €82M ROI TURNOVER: 45M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

Ardmac, an international specialist fit out contractor, has almost 40 years’ experience in delivering high quality projects for the commercial, retail, pharmaceutical, medtec and data centre markets. Working with both local and international businesses, Ardmac provides superior work environments for a range of notable clients including: Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, GSK, Vodafone, Next, Savills, HSBC, Aviva and Merrill Lynch. Recent Irish projects include the fit out of over 6,500m² of cleanroom for Eli Lilly in Kinsale, Allergan Pharmaceuticals new biologics manufacturing facility in Westport and Jazz Pharma’s first manufacturing facility in Athlone, as well as a commercial office refurbishment for Aviva. The team has also recently been appointed to the second phase of Mylan’s manufacturing expansion in Baldoyle. Ardmac is also currently working with a number of confidential clients in the data centre industry on new campus projects both in Ireland and on continental Europe.

STEWART DEVELOPMENTS TURNOVER: €74M (YEAREND: 30/4/15)

Stewart was announced as ‘Contractor of the Year’ for the second year running and Chairman Seán Stewart was presented with the ‘Construction Leader’ award for his contribution to the industry at a recent awards ceremony. Last year Stewart was a winner at the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards Programme. The programme recognises indigenous Irish companies across the island of Ireland which are operating at the highest levels of business performance. On site in the IDA Business Park in Grange Castle, Dublin, Stewart is nearing completion of the new €35m International Logistics Centre for GRIFOLS Pharmaceutical Company. This will be GRIFOLS first facility in Ireland. Other recent projects include the largest Gaelscoil in Ireland, Coláiste na Coiribe (€10m) in Galway City.

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Paul Stewart (second from right) receiving the Deloitte award

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

WILLS BROS

TURNOVER: €69M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

Cathaleen Falls, Donegal

Wills Bros Ltd is a wholly Irish-owned civil engineering contracting company, formed in 1972 with a head office in Foxford, County Mayo and regional offices in Dublin, Limerick, Cavan and the UK. Project experience ranges from major motorway design and build contracts, landfill sites, marine works, road realignments, site developments, water-related services, telecommunications, industrial and commercial developments to leisure and public amenity projects. “We have a staffing policy which actively encourages internal promotion and offers all staff every opportunity through a training programme to further develop their levels of safety awareness and managerial skills,” says Contracts Manager, John Cunningham. In recent years Wills Bros Ltd have embarked on a higher percentage of industrial and commercial development and amenity works than would have been the case previously.

The Boyne Bridge

SIAC CONSTRUCTION TURNOVER: €60M ROI TURNOVER: €35.4M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

SIAC is multi-discipline construction group with significant operations across the UK, Ireland and Belgium. The company’s business has grown through a reputation for delivering quality projects that meet and often exceed client expectations. “As well as delivering quality and value in traditional type contracts, we are Ireland’s leading construction company in delivering new and innovative contracts – public private partnership (PPP); design & build and target price and private finance initiative (PFI) projects in the UK.”

WINTHROP ENGINEERING TURNOVER: €53M (YEAREND: 30/4/15)

Compared to some in the construction sector, Winthrop Engineering, established in 1995, is a relative newcomer to the market. Having said that, the company has pushed hard to develop its mechanical and electrical business. A top 20 placing in this list is testament to its success. Winthrop Engineering was founded by qualified and experienced engineers and currently employs over 450 people. “Our significant experience with leading edge technologies guarantees that clients are provided with premium turn key solutions. Our goal is to ensure every project meets client expectations,” says Ger O’Leary.

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WALLS, CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN DREAMS & REALITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADING ARCHITECTS AND DESIGN TEAMS, WE BUILD ICONIC PROPERTIES THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME

WALLS CONSTRUCTION ROSEMOUNT HOUSE, NORTHERN CROSS, MALAHIDE ROAD, DUBLIN 17

T: 01 867 3800 F: 01 867 3850

E: BUILD@WALLS.IE W: WWW.WALLS.IE

TOP 50 COMPANIES

LEO LYNCH

TURNOVER: €50.67M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

PURCELL CONSTRUCTION LIMITED TURNOVER: €35.79M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

DESIGNER GROUP LIMITED TURNOVER: €50.3M (YEAREND: 31/01/15)

LYNSKEY ENGINEERING LIMITED TURNOVER: €35M ROI TURNOVER: €20M

(YEAREND: 31/12/14)

DUGGAN BROTHERS (CONTRACTORS) LIMITED TURNOVER: €40.02M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

GLENBEIGH CONSTRUCTION LIMITED TURNOVER: €33.8M

GANSON BUILDING & CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS LIMITED TURNOVER: €37M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

(YEAREND: 31/05/13)

B.M.D. & COMPANY LIMITED TURNOVER: €33M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

MURPHY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED TURNOVER: €36.49M (YEAREND: 31/12/13)

L. & M. KEATING LIMITED

TURNOVER: €32.58M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

MMD CONSTRUCTION (CORK) LIMITED TURNOVER: €31.67M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

GLENMAN CORPORATION LIMITED

TURNOVER: €22.54M (YEAREND: 30/06/14)

CLANCY CONSTRUCTION TURNOVER: €30M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

JONS CIVIL ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED TURNOVER: €22M

MYTHEN CONSTRUCTION LIMITED TURNOVER: €29M (YEAREND: 31/03/15)

(YEAREND: 31/08/14)

KILCAWLEY BUILDING & CIVIL ENGINEERING (SLIGO) LIMITED TURNOVER: €20.3M

RADLEY ENGINEERING LIMITED TURNOVER: €27.88M (YEAREND: 31/07/14)

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(YEAREND: 31/03/14)

PRECISION ELECTRIC (IRELAND) LIMITED TURNOVER: €20.1M

COFFEY CONSTRUCTION (I) LIMITED TURNOVER: €25M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

(YEAREND: 31/07/14)

CASTLETHORN CONSTRUCTION TURNOVER: €18.5M (YEAREND: 30/06/14)

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TOP 50 COMPANIES

J. MANNING & SON (DUBLIN) LIMITED

JOHN CRADOCK LIMITED TURNOVER: €15.4M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

TURNOVER: €17.5M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

M.D.Y. CONSTRUCTION LIMITED

MANLEY CONSTRUCTION LIMITED

TURNOVER: €13.57M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

TURNOVER: €17.31M (YEAREND: 31/12/14)

CUMNOR CONSTRUCTION LIMITED TURNOVER: €12.33M

FLYNN MANAGEMENT & CONTRACTORS LIMITED

(YEAREND: 31/12/14)

TURNOVER: €17.24M

MONAMI CONSTRUCTION LIMITED TURNOVER: €11.21M

GERARD MCCLOSKEY (IRELAND) LIMITED

(YEAREND: 31/12/14)

(YEAREND: 31/12/13)

TURNOVER: €15.86M

CLONMEL ENTERPRISES LIMITED

DAVID FLYNN LIMITED TURNOVER: €10.51M ROI TURNOVER: €XX

(YEAREND: 31/12/14)

TURNOVER: €15.6M (YEAREND: 31/1/15)

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CIS

CONSTRUCTION: THE NUMBERS GAME

cross the sectors there are 518 key projects with a total value of €11bn in the pipeline. Nearly a quarter of these have already started this year with a further 50% having start dates confirmed by the CIS research team. In the commercial sector projects are moving forward in the Dublin docklands with plans just approved for a large €450m mixed–use scheme backed by Oaktree Capital. Plans were also lodged last month for a €27m mixed-use scheme at City Quay, Dublin 2. Limerick saw an appeal upheld for a €100m shopping centre development known as Horizon Mall with work expected to commence in the latter half of this year. Wills Bros have commenced initial enabling works for a €134m office development for Microsoft at Leopardstown Business Park. In the medical sector, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has recently approved a €70 million loan to be invested in PPP projects for 14 primary care centres across the country. The centres are expected to go on-site in early 2016. Looking further ahead, plans are in the pipeline for four hospitals; the €650m National Children’s hospital, the €150m National Maternity Hospital, Phase 1 of the €40m National Rehabilitation Hospital redevelopment and the new National Forensic Mental Health Facility. The residential sector is buzzing with activity, with over 400 new applications submitted this year totaling over €100m in value. In education the Schools Summer Works Scheme will be providing €36m worth of projects across 559 schools (CIS have published a free report detailing each of these projects). Of note also is a €29m education campus consisting of two post primary school buildings in Maynooth planned to go on-site in the third quarter of this year. On the civil works side main contractors Sisk and Portuguese based construction company Steconfer have been awarded the main contract for the design and construction of the €370m Luas Cross-City scheme with works expected to commence in June 2015. In Northern Ireland’s education sector, the contract has been awarded for the £150m campus blocks for University of Ulster in Belfast and a £9m building for Arvalee Special School in Omagh is now on-site. In the civil sector, work is now on-site in a £4m town centre public realm scheme in Ballymena, Co. Antrim. For more information on these and thousands of other key projects throughout Ireland, contact us: Website: www.cisireland.com Phone: +353 1 2999 200

MOST VIEWED PROJECTS APRIL 2015 ProjectID 783103 140641 572829 143687 778939 676188 766593 792989 781205 696745 772171 801399 800677 770042 642621 667227 629185

Project Office Development, Co. Dublin Senior & Junior School Development, Co. Wexford Student Housing Complex, Co. Kildare Páirc Uí Chaoimh Redevelopment, Co. Cork Primary Care Centre, Co. Dublin Office Building, Co. Dublin Residential Development, Co. Kildare Mixed Use Development, Co. Dublin Primary Care Centre, Co. Offaly Residential Development, Co. Dublin Archive Facility, Co. Cork Office Refurbishment, Co. Dublin Residential Development, Co. Dublin Acute Medical Assessment Unit, Co. Laois Residential Development, Co. Dublin School Building, Co. Limerick Residential Development, Co. Dublin

Status Value On Site €134m On Site €10m On Site €18m On Site €67m On Site €8m On Site €35m On Site €17m On Site €6.5m Contract Awarded €10m On Site €15m Contract Awarded €10m On Site €10m Contract Awarded €17.2m On Site €5m Contract Awarded €5m Contract Awarded €4.3m On Site €13m

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DIGITAL MARKETING

WHY NOW IS THE TIME FOR IRISH CONSTRUCTION FIRMS TO EMBRACE ALL THINGS DIGITAL How much time do you spend online every day? If you said somewhere in the region of three hours, then you are not alone. A 2013 study found the average Irish person spends 20 hours per week online, writes JIMMY HEALY.

owever, that was two years ago and since then internet use has continued to grow for all types of activity. This change in behaviour is having a huge impact on how people do business. 59% of Irish adults now shop online at least once a month. Last year Irish people spent €6 billion online. That figure is expected to grow by another half a billion in 2015 and to reach €13 billion by 2020. To put that in perspective, the CIF estimates the value of all Irish construction activity last year was €11.14 billion. Each Irish household now has an average of 4.7 internet enabled devices (computers, phones, tablets, etc.) and people are using these devices to access information. Google searches are the most popular way to carry out research on services or goods. Another survey conducted last year asked Irish people what were the various sources they used to get information about products or services. These were the results: • Google – 70% • Friends – 27% • From businesses – 20% • Other – 3% • Phone Book – 2%

How many Irish construction contractors rely on social media to seek out new business? A survey carried out by the CIF last year would suggest very few. We found 25% of Irish construction businesses are on Facebook, 13% on Twitter and 39% have no presence on any social media platform. Yet 62% of the Irish population uses Facebook. Over the past five years the business landscape has evolved so much that no company can afford to ignore their online presence, including the construction sector. Unfortunately this surge in online behaviour took place when the industry was going through a lengthy period of decline and that has had an impact on the industry. For example the CSO found last year that almost 1 in 4 construction companies don’t have a website or homepage. There are also a small number of CIF members who do not have email addresses. To help bring greater awareness and understanding about how construction companies and contractors can improve their online presence, the CIF has entered into a partnership with digital and online experts, Aspire Digital

– www.aspiredigital.ie. As Enterprise Ireland approved digital consultants, Aspire Digital has worked with a wide range of SMEs, developing their online presence and positioning these businesses to compete to the highest international standards. Under this partnership, CIF members will be able to access an ongoing range of free briefings, information guides, monthly digital blogs and other materials all offering advice about how those in the construction industry can develop their digital presence and make their businesses more noticeable online. Some of the topics which will be covered under the programme include: • Building a modern website • Google Search and how to make sure your website is found (SEO) • Using the various social media networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter

• Online advertising using pay per click (PPC) • Setting up your website for use on mobiles/ smart phones/ tablets • Email marketing

Each area will be explained in a simple to understand way. Tips and tactics will also be suggested along with useful links to software tools. Speaking about this new initiative, Michael Foley of Aspire Digital said: “We see huge growth potential for Irish construction companies if they implement some simple initiatives to improve performance online. Last year saw a huge increase in online activity and e-commerce in Ireland. The way things are going digital marketing is no longer an option, it is essential for any Irish business endeavouring to expand and grow. Irish construction companies and contractors need to be a part of this. Through our partnership with the CIF we aim to help Irish construction companies and contractors achieve that goal and have a better understanding of the online business environment.” Further digital information will be made available to CIF members on an ongoing basis. You can also check www.cif.ie for all the latest updates. C

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PENSIONS UPDATE

DO YOU HAVE AN APPROPRIATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO? In her regular pensions advice column, SUSAN O’MARA discusses approproate investment portfolios.

hether saving for retirement or investing in an ARF post retirement, one of the most important factors is having the appropriate investment portfolio. An “investment portfolio” sounds glamorous and perhaps sounds like something only the rich and famous have, however in fact, an investment portfolio is simply the collection of different assets across which the money you have invested is spread. It’s not just for your retirement assets; you may also need an investment portfolio for savings or an inheritance. There are a number of factors that will determine if your investment portfolio is the most suitable for you and the following is a guide for what to look for when reviewing your portfolio.

RISK APPROPRIATE

Risk has many different meanings, however when we talk about an investment portfolio, the risk level of that portfolio is determined by the weighting* of high volatility asset classes within the fund. Traditionally, equities, or stocks and shares as they are also known, are the most volatile. They can bring significant positive growth to an investment portfolio and conversely, they have the ability to reduce the value significantly. There are many factors that determine what an individual will consider as a risk appropriate for his or her own investment portfolio. You may be investing with a view to making big returns or you may simply wish to beat inflation over a period of time. Either way, it is important that you understand your investment portfolio and its risk rating, to ensure that it is appropriate for your needs.

DIVERSIFICATION

Diversification is the very reason we even talk about investment portfolios. If diversification were not required, we would not require an investment portfolio; we would simply invest in one stock, or one asset class. There is much documented investment theory that demonstrates the importance of diversification, but simply put, diversification means “not putting all your eggs in one basket”. If you spread your investment portfolio across different assets classes (bonds, cash, property & alternatives), you will reduce the risk of serious financial losses. Modern portfolio construction theory is evolving; a good investment portfolio will not just offer diversification across asset classes, but also within the asset classes meaning that the weighting of the spread across these asset classes is

diversification across asset classes, but also within the asset classes meaning that the weighting of the spread across these asset classes is no longer the only factor providing diversification in your portfolio.

LIFE-STYLING

The majority of Investment portfolios’ constructed for retirement savings will offer life-styling, either as the default or by choice. This investment portfolio strategy assumes that younger investors can afford to take greater risk in expectation of greater returns and that as older investors approach retirement, their appetite for risk reduces. Life-styling usually kicks in between ages 55 and 60 and translates to a reduction in risk within the older investor’s portfolio. This happens automatically by reducing exposure to equities in favour of an increased weighting in either cash or bonds, or both. This may be a suitable strategy for the investment portfolio of a person who wishes to buy an annuity (pension) at retirement, but not necessarily for a person who wishes to start a new investment portfolio by way of investing in an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF).

COST OF CASH

Deposit rates are at an all-time low, meaning we are nearly paying the banks to hold our money, instead of the traditional way, where they pay us a modest amount of interest to reward us for allowing them to hold our money. DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax) is 41%, meaning much of the small growth available through interest is eroded through tax. If deposits aren’t paying us, holding cash for long periods of time, may mean, that you are actually losing money. If you are not keeping up with inflation, your purchasing power is reducing, which equates to a loss in real terms. This highlights the need for a well-diversified, risk appropriate investment portfolio. If you are unsure about your own investment portfolio, you should consider taking impartial, independent financial advice to ensure that your retirement savings or other assets are working for you in a way you are comfortable with. That is the % of your money exposed to each asset class For further information regarding saving for your retirement please contact Susan O’Mara at: susan@milestoneadvisory.ie Phone: 01-4068020 Milestone Advisory Limited t/a Milestone Advisory is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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Streamlining our brands to provide greater clarity for customers

In a major development in the building products market, from December 1st SIG Ireland has re-branded our key business streams under the SIG portfolio. SIG Construction Accessories is the new name for Longs Construction Services. SIG Facades is the new name for Facade Systems. SIG Insulation is the new name for Insulation Distributors Ltd. SIG Interiors is the new name for CPD. SIG Roofing is the new name for Capco Roofing. SIG Technical Insulation is the new name for Irish Insulation Solutions. JS McCarthy and HHI Building Products will remain the same. This move follows extensive research by SIG with customers, suppliers and employees. All branches will be re-branded with the new SIG format, featuring a distinctive new look, while the re-branding will also be marked by a refreshed website and comprehensive marketing campaign. In addition our staff will continue to undergo further training and up-skilling to ensure that they continue to be the most knowledgeable in the industry. The benefits of this rebrand to our customer are • Easier for you to understand our breadth and scale • Easier for you to understand our core specialisms • Reassurance in dealing with widely recognised, market leading brand • Easier access to a wider portfolio of products • Easier to find us, while receiving a consistent customer experience across multiple sites

CMY

An even more robust supply chain No matter where in the country, trading with SIG Ireland you will receive: consistently competitive prices, reliable service and technical expertise. We believe these changes will improve the customer experience even further and ensure that SIG Ireland continues to be the specialist building products distributor of choice. For more information please visit our website www.sig.ie or email enquiries@sig.ie

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SIG Ireland Advert CIF Full Page 5mm Bleed.pdf 12/11/2014 16:17:12

CONSTRUCTION ACCESSORIES

FACADES INSULATION

INTERIORS

ROOFING TECHNICAL INSULATION

CMY

From groundworks to the roof and everything in-between, SIG Ireland delivers the full range of specialist building materials for your construction project, nationwide. SIG can bring expert knowledge in specialist products to individual market sectors. Education Health Commercial & Industrial Residential Renovation, Maintenance & Improvement

For more information please visit www.sig.ie or email enquiries@sig.ie Constructionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Specialist Solution

SIG.indd 3

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CQMS 15

CONSTRUCTION GROWTH PREDICTED AFTER €50M SHOW Further growth in the construction industry is predicted after €50m of construction machinery went on display at CQMS ’15.

he country’s largest construction and quarry machinery show took place last month at Tinnycross, Tullamore, Co Offaly. CQMS ’15 showcased some 100 exhibitors of construction and quarry machinery equipment on the site of a custom-built showground at Molloys Quarry in Tullamore. The show attracted positive attention amid a general consensus that the Irish economy is on an upward spiral. The employers body IBEC has said economic growth this year will be even stronger than 2014, and has revised upwards its forecast to almost 5.5%. Forecasters also expect unemployment to drop below 10% this year. Brian Coogan, publisher of Machinery Movers Magazine and organiser of the show said CQMS ’15 is “a positive marker for change in the construction industry. “The country is clearly in recovery mode and this show will be an important part of moving forward for many construction and quarry companies who haven’t purchased new equipment for several years during the downturn. There is little or no second-hand equipment on the market in Ireland and so the time is ripe to begin showing and demonstrating once again to a recovering construction industry.” Director General of the Construction Industry Federation Tom Parlon said: “Last year 45%

Brian Coogan, show organiser with Tom Parlon, CIF Director General and Dominic Doheny, CIF Senior Vice President of all the additional jobs created in the economy were construction jobs and the expectation is that the industry will grow even further in the months and years ahead. As the sector grows and activity increases there will be a need for companies to improve their equipment and machinery and that is why events like this are so important. I’m delighted to be participating in this year’s Construction and Quarry Machinery Show and I believe it will be of great interest to everyone operating throughout the Irish construction industry.” Adrian Madden of Close Brothers Finance, who were main sponsors of the event, said that finance is now available to those looking towards investing in the future of their companies. “After weathering the period of recession in our economy the sold out exhibition space and the number of visitors expected reflect the ambition that is re-emerging among Irish firms. “The market is moving forward and businesses of all sizes need to ensure that they are in a position to respond, whether it is through the acquisition of new machinery and equipment, or by improving their cash flow.” He added: “We were delighted to sponsor CQMS ’15 as we believe there is a new appetite for industry leaders to invest in their business. We are very positive about the future of the construction and quarrying industry. We encourage those seeking finance to bite the bullet and get advice, as investment is a major contributor to a growing economy.” C

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PIETA HOUSE

Encouraging peer support is something that we believe will go a long way towards reducing the rates of suicide

“EVERY WEEK IN IRELAND 10 PEOPLE DIE BY SUICIDE AND EIGHT OF THEM ARE MEN”

Pieta House are delighted to partner with the Construction Industry Federation to launch a joint initiative called Mind Our Workers, writes DAVID MITCHELL.

ieta House is the centre for prevention of suicide or selfharm. We opened our doors over nine years ago in Lucan. In the intervening years we have seen and helped nearly 18,000 people in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm, as well as opening a further seven centres, three in the greater Dublin area - Ballyfermot, Tallaght and Finglas and four further centres to cater for the rest of the country in Mungret, just outside Limerick city, Tuam, Roscrea and Tralee. As it has been from day one, everything is free of charge, our staff are fully qualified and provide a professional oneto-one therapeutic service for people who are experiencing suicidal ideation, people who have attempted suicide and people who are engaging in self-harm. A doctor’s referral or a psychiatric report is not required. As everyone is aware, suicide has reached epidemic proportions in Ireland. The official statistics are startling, every week in Ireland 10 people die by suicide and eight of them are men. But behind every statistic are real people. Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, friends or colleagues. Suicide can happen to anyone. CIF and Pieta House have partnered together with an initiative that we hope will offer support and resilience to workers within the construction industry. As part of the partnership, we produced a report which detailed that well over 40% of people who died by suicide had their background in the construction/production sector, more than three times as many as agriculture, the second highest sector. The realisation of the need for an initiative such as this wasn’t spearheaded by head office in either organisation. The driving force behind this partnership came from grass roots, where employers were distraught at having lost employees to suicide wanted to reach out and support their staff. These concerns were raised at regional CIF branch meetings and following Pieta House CEO this it was decided that take action. Brian Higgins Grassroots action is what is needed to bring

the issues of suicide and mental health to the fore. Throughout the year we will promote the initiative in several ways: • Campaign leaflets will be produces and distributed throughout the construction industry to help communicate the subject matter of the campaign and related issues • Social media content • Briefings by Pieta House at regional CIF branch meetings • Direct emails to companies to highlight the campaign • A dedicated section on the CIF website • Explore the possibility of including mental wellbeing into toolbox talks

Encouraging peer support is something that we believe will go a long way towards reducing the rates of suicide in Ireland. Campaigns have come and gone where the focus is on asking people to open up and tell people they are in distress. The reality however is that most people, men especially, will not talk. If a person fell and broke a leg, they would not be expected to get help for themselves, someone would help them. The same should be true when a person’s life is broken. We offer a comprehensive training programme during which we train members of staff within a company to be peer supports in their workplaces and beyond. This is called ‘Mind Ur Buddy’. We provide a full day training to up to 20 members of staff at a time, after which they will be more knowledgeable on the triggers of suicide, the signs a person may display and be comfortable managing a conversation with a person in crisis. There is ongoing support from Pieta House for those who have been trained. One of the key aspects is that we are not attempting to train people to be therapists, all we ask is they act as a short term helper until such time that a person can be referred to a service such as Pieta House. C If you would like further information regarding Mind Ur Buddy, please email David Mitchell at david.mitchell@pieta.ie.

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LEAN

TACKLING THE PROCESS OF LEAN Any business that relies on customer satisfaction, quality and efficiency for success will benefit from a lean mindset, writes GER O’LEARY, Managing Director of Winthrop Engineering.

here has undoubtedly been great advancement in some areas of construction such as the use of information technology and the development of many new innovative products, (e.g. use of plastics for a whole host of applications most notably piping). However, it is also the case that much in construction has changed little over the last two or three decades. The approach to project management, the estimating and procurement processes, and tradesmen work practices have actually changed very little since I started in the business over two decades ago. While manufacturing has been transformed by Lean principles I would hold the view that if anything, because of the constantly increasing pressure of shorter and shorter timelines to complete projects, construction has become more inefficient and wasteful. Our first introduction to Lean was in 2012 through the Enterprise Ireland supported Lean Start programme. While inefficiency and waste was our experience in construction, it was noticeable that many of our manufacturing clients had embraced Lean. They were streamlining processes, cutting costs and improving productivity and we felt Lean could the same for our business.

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED SO FAR?

Lean construction is concerned with eliminating or minimising those activities that do not add to customer value. It may sound simple but the reality for an organisation commencing Lean is that the meaning of the statement can be inaccessible to many in the organisation. It is important to explain what you are trying to achieve in terms that people can understand and relate to. We explained to people that everything they do everyday at work is part of a process; a series of actions or steps taken

Ger O’Leary: “Lean construction is concerned with eliminating or minimising those activities that do not add to customer value”

in order to achieve a particular end. Lean is concerned with breaking the process down into each of these individual actions or steps and reducing or eliminating those that a client would deem as unnecessary or of no value to them. Our initial approach was to select specific initiatives where we felt there was inbuilt inefficiency or waste in a process and rely on the mainstream Lean tools such as Value Stream Mapping, A3’s, 5’s and Kazan events to guide us through the process of becoming more Lean. One such example was a relatively simple processmapping exercise of procurement, from the point of requirement on site, right through to processing the invoice for payment. The results were eye opening to say the least, identifying significant wastage in the process – the same data being entered and stored by procurement and accounts, excessive checks & sign off ’s, inflexible rules that unnecessarily increased processing time and made it almost impossible to get materials needed urgently on a short timeline because of a change in scope. By identifying the parts of the process that were ‘value added’ and ‘nonvalue added’, we were able to take out the non-value added elements, (e.g. checks and sign offs). This reduced the time it took to process orders and approve invoices, freed up valuable time and most importantly, allowed our site teams to receive delivery of materials in the shortest time possible. Another area we looked at was the whole area of project inventory and the excessive amount of unused materials that we had to either return to suppliers, return to stores or dispose of as waste. Inventory is one of the seven wastes of Lean. Using an A3 approach, what we found was that the traditional construction perspective of “better to be looking at it than looking for it” was still very much a factor. Site teams were not following just in time (JIT) practices

“W m pe

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LEAN resulting in a need for larger onsite storage capacity plus associated costs of storage and in some instances double handling.

VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER

‘‘

TO ADOPT A TRULY LEAN MINDSET, WE LEARNED THAT WE FIRST HAD TO IDENTIFY WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS TRULY VALUED

’’

“We display quality, safety and financial performance metrics on a white board to provide visible performance feedback to all our staff”

To adopt a truly Lean mindset, we learned that we first had to identify what our customers truly valued. To ensure we could “listen to the voice of the customer” better, we engaged in a process of independent customer surveys. This helped us further develop our understanding of what each of our customers valued and assisted in identifying where strategic or operational mis-matches existed. One example of this is the composition of site teams and the competencies required to satisfactorily carry out each project. We identified the need for a bespoke solution for each client site that puts the customer perspective and needs first by identifying what they put most value on and in effect letting the customer “pull” desired services e.g. a client might value a senior engineer who could contribute to a design reevaluation process as opposed to a project engineer who would focus on the co-ordination process. This would not have been our traditional approach to site team composition. Another critical aspect in adopting a Lean mindset is the establishment of an organizational structure to support continuous improvement. We have worked on developing a matrix type organization as this encourages a quality culture through involvement of everyone in the organization. We use performance metrics to provide visible feedback and link employee performance to recognition and reward. Training and CPD is also very important in the development of a culture of a continuous improvement and we have achieved the IEI CPD accreditation

ARE CLIENTS ASKING ABOUT LEAN?

The vast majority of projects in Ireland are lump sum or GMP where the contractors are appointed after the design has already been completed. From an overall project perspective a Lean approach will achieve the greatest positive results when the three main groups in the project of owner/client, design team, and the contractor group are working together early and proactively, focusing on value, generating effeciency in the design, reducing risk and creating conditions that support a fast track and flexible build programme. This approach is more common in very large projects and particularily in the US, however, it is becoming more important in Ireland. With the tradiditional contract types, companies involved in the build process are left to approach Lean on an individual basis and this cannot generate as much value or eliminate as much waste as an integrated approach would. It is notable and very positive that the Government’s Construction 2020 plan, a strategy for a renewed construction sector, has identified Lean has a key component of competitiveness, innovation and internationalisation for construction companies. Enterprise Ireland promote and administer the Lean Start, Lean Plus and Lean Transform Programmes. While the Government’s plan for construction renewal identifies Lean and BIM as key competitiveness and innovation tools, none of its agencies or departments are promoting or requesting their use in public contracts. It would be encouraging to see both Lean and BIM become important aspects of future public contracts. C

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TRAINING

TRAINING AT THE FOREFRONT OF CIF DEVELOPMENT With Irish construction developing ever wider knowledge and skill requirements, the CIF’s training service has been evolving to proactively ensure the future needs of the industry are met. BRIAN FOLEY reports.

he CIF has just announced its latest new training programme. The Advanced Site Management course is aimed at those responsible for management of site activities and suitable for both site and projects managers, as well as all those who wish to develop their site management skills to an advanced level. Some may wonder what is new about this, the CIF regularly rolls out new training courses. Well this course is just part of the wider story and the progressive strategy being employed by the CIF. In this specific case, the Advanced Site Management course is the first training programme offered by the CIF to those who are interested in Lean. It is also a telling indicator of how the CIF’s training service has evolved over recent years. “We are launching this programme in advance of what we perceive to be a major future industry need,” explains CIF Head of Training and Development, Robert Butler. “It is the first of our Lean training course offerings and we hope to add to it in the future. The demand for Lean is being driven by clients and as a sector we need to meet that demand. Lean is becoming a big feature. So we are getting ahead of the curve by putting this programme in place which we believe will prove extremely helpful to members interested in upskilling their staff in this space.” The Advanced Site Management course is only one of a number of new programmes planned by the CIF for 2015/ 2016. Already this year the CIF has rolled out an enhanced Building Regulations Programme, while later in the year a new online course in Site Management is going to be delivered in conjunction with Sligo IT. Another offering was the recently completed first run of the Construction Business Management and Leadership Programme, run with the Ryan Academy in Dublin City University (DCU). That course is another original CIF offering which is designed for those who are responsible for construction

CIF Head of Training and Development, Robert Butler

‘‘

THE ADVANCED SITE MANAGEMENT COURSE IS ONLY ONE OF A NUMBER OF NEW PROGRAMMES PLANNED BY THE CIF FOR 2015/ 2016

’’

management with a particular emphasis on sole traders and smaller companies. Again the course was developed to meet a need in the industry. According to Robert, “The feedback has been very positive. We’re planning on running this course more again and to offer other streams of advancement in the future. Currently it is a Level 6 course but the expectation is that this will grow to Levels 7 & 8 in the coming years.” These various partnerships and alliances with third level institutions are a signal of how the CIF’s training service has been progressing. As Robert puts it, “The service is going to expand year on year going forward. Traditionally the CIF offered core safety management programmes. Those continue to be important and will continue to be a significant part of the CIF’s training offering. However we also need to be aware of how the industry is developing and where we can provide solutions to other training needs. So we are expanding the type of programmes we are offering. We’re expanding into business programmes, we’re expanding into more technical programmes.” Given how the wider construction industry suffered during the downturn the expectation would be that the training service is only now starting to recover. However it was during the downturn that the CIF training service actually started to move this this more outward looking model.

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“At that time, the industry was only really interested in compliance training,” according to Robert. “A lot of the courses we were providing were beyond that. However there were some CIF members and some of our other customers who realised the need for continued development and the need to keep upskilling. So we reacted to that. We looked at what the industry needed in those times and adapted our offering. We developed some courses that had not been offered at that stage such as the Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS). A choice was made to develop a course that we knew the industry was going to need and it proved highly successful. “We steadied the ship in difficult conditions by staying relevant. It is that approach that continues to underlie our strategy and why we are always on the lookout for new programmes which will help the sector. Experience has shown the need to be innovative with our training offering.” It is also an approach which has been very successful for the CIF, with the training service growing year on year in recent times and securing 70% growth during 2014. Of course it is not just innovation that has driven that growth. As Robert admits, “The recognition of the brand has grown over the last 5 years. That’s come from people attending our courses and being impressed with the service provided. Unlike other training suppliers we don’t spend heavily on marketing. We let our courses and the word of mouth coming from participants do the talking for us. “We provide training to many of the public sector bodies like the ESB, the OPW and various local authorities. They’ve embraced our programmes for many reasons – for the level of quality being offered, for the qualifications and skills provided and for the application on site.” The next development will be the expansion to online training. As Robert explains, “Later this year we’ll have an online portal. That will allow people to take some of our programmes 24/7, 365 days a year regardless of where they are in the world. “The initial plan is to offer online training which will meet the blended learning standard. It’s very important to offer a blended approach. For compliance and to meet health and safety standards you need to have some tutor led or exam led elements, so that the learning can be verified. There are some companies who offer online training with no blended elements and unfortunately that means those health and safety qualifications are unverified – which is a major concern around the industry and among potential construction clients and public bodies. When it comes to health and safety you just can’t cut corners.” This attention to detail has helped the CIF’s training service gain a very solid reputation throughout the industry. “Yes there are clients out there that fully recognise the benefit of using CIF training course” says Robert. “They ask specifically

‘‘

WE ARE LAUNCHING THIS PROGRAMME IN ADVANCE OF WHAT WE PERCEIVE TO BE A MAJOR FUTURE INDUSTRY NEED

’’

for our programmes rather than some of the other generic courses that exist. We have really strong credibility in that sense. Some local authorities would have it as a prerequisite that a contractor has undertaken some of the CIF training programmes while the HSE would always look for a Managing Safely in Construction qualification for any managers on site. “We are also the only providers of a Building Regulations Programme approved by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Ours is a national qualification which others aren’t. It’s highly regarded by design professionals as well construction professionals – unlike some of its inferior competitors.” Maintaining high standards is another key focus of the CIF’s training service, says Robert. “We only use industry professionals who are currently engaged in delivering the type of programme they are talking about. That real world knowledge is vital in a sector that is constantly changing. It means our lecturers are providing timely, up to date information which would not be available to those who are not practicing the skills they are trying to teach. “Being part of the CIF we constantly need to be at the forefront of the sector. We need to deliver quality training programmes which are highly regarded by construction companies and contractors, as well as by public and private clients. That is a tall order, but it is challenge we have met and one we will continue to strive for in the years ahead. We have held our standards high through the difficult times and we won’t let them slip now that the sector is starting to recover.” C

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CIF training and education programmes for May - June 2015 June

CIF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

May

Course Title/Venue Course Code

Start Date

End Date

Course times

CIF QQI Project Supervisor Construction Stage CIF Construction House, Little Island Cork

PSCS 2526

6th. May 2015 20th. May 2015 Wednesday Wednesday

08.30am – 17.00pm

CIRI CPD Plan CIF Construction Hse Little Island Cork

CCP 15

6th. May 2015 6th. May 2015 Wednesday Wednesday

9.00am - 12.30pm

CIRI INDUCTION COURSE Radisson Blu Galway

7th. May 2015 Thursday

9.30am - 12.30pm

CIRI CPD Plan CIF Construction Hse Canal Road Dublin 6

7th. May 2015 Thursday

9.00am - 12.30pm

CCP 16

CIF IOSH Managing Safety in Construction MSIC 13th. May 2015 10th. June 2015 CIF Construction House, 2528 Wednesday Wednesday Canal Road, Dublin 6

09.30am – 16.30pm

CIRI CPD Plan Radisson Hotel Athlone

13th. May 2015 13th. May 2015 Wednesday Wednesday

9.00am - 12.30pm

CIRI INDUCTION COURSE CIF Construction Hse Canal Road Dublin 6

14th. May 2015 14th. May 2015 Thursday Thursday

9.00am - 12.30pm

QQI Project Supervisor Construction Stage CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

PSCS 2529

21st. May 2015 4th. June 2015 Thursday Thursday

08.30am – 17.00pm

IOSH Project Supervisor Design Process CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

PSDP 2530

21st.May 2015 22nd.May 2015 Thursday Friday

08.30am – 17.00pm

Scaffold Board Inspection CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

SBI 2584

15th. May 2015 15th. May 2015 Friday Friday

CIRI CPD Plan Ormond Hotel Kilkenny

CCP 18

20th. May 2015 20th. May 2015 Wednesday Wednesday

9.00am - 12.30pm

CIF Core Safety Management Programme Renewal/CPD CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

CSMP 2524

24th April 2015 24th April 2015 Friday Friday

08.30am – 13.00pm

CIF Management & Inspection of Scaffolds CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

SI 2603

22nd May 2015 22nd May 2015 Friday Friday

08.30AM - 17.00PM

SMSTS CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

SMSTS 2592

25th. May 2015 29th. May 2015 Monday Friday

09.30am – 16.30pm

CCP 17

CIRI INDUCTION COURSE Radisson Blu Sligo

29th. May 2015 29th. May 2015 Friday Friday

CIF Core Safety Management Programme Renewal/CPD CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

CSMP 2532

29th. May 2015 29th. May 2015 Friday Friday

08.30am – 13.00pm

MSIC 2533

2nd. June 2015 30th. June 2015 Tuesday Tuesday

09.30am – 16.30pm

Advanced Site Management ASM CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

2nd. June 2015 30th. June 2015 Tuesday Tuesday

09.30am – 16.30pm

Advanced Site Management

3rd. June 2015 1st. July 2015

09.30am – 16.30pm

4th. May Bank Holiday CIF IOSH Managing Safety in Construction CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

ASM

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Course Title/Venue Course Cod

Start Date

End Date

CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

Wednesday

CIRI CPD Plan CIF Construction Hse Little Island Cork

3rd. June 2015 3rd. June 2015 Wednesday Wednesday

9.00am - 12.30pm

CIRI CPD Plan CCP 4th. June 2015 4th. June 2015 Tullamore Court hotel 20 Thursday Thursday Tullamore

9.00am - 12.30pm

CIF QQI Project Supervisor Construction Stage CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

08.30am – 17.00pm

CCP 19

Course times

PSCS 2534

9th. June 2015 23rd. June 2015 Tuesday Tuesday

CIRI CPD Plan CIF Construction Hse Little Island Cork

CCP 21

11th. June 2015 9th. July 2015 Thursday Thursday

9.00am - 12.30pm

CIRI CPD Plan CIF Construction Hse Canal Road Dublin 6

CCP 22

16th. June 2015 16th. June 2015 Tuesday Tuesday

9.00am - 12.30pm

CIF Core Safety Management Programme Renewal/CPD CIF Construction House, Little Island, Cork.

CSMP 2535

19th. June 2015 19th. June 2015 Friday Friday

08.30am – 13.00pm

CIF Core Safety Management Programme Renewal/CPD CIF Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6

CSMP 2536

24th. June 2015 24th. June 2015 Wednesday Wednesday

08.30am – 13.00pm

For further details email: training@cif.ie or call 014066019 / 01 4066071.

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BUILDING INTEGRITY COMMERCIAL | RESIDENTIAL FITOUT | RESTORATION LEISURE & SOCIAL DESIGN & BUILD HEALTH | PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION | REFURBISHMENT

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DUBLIN | GALWAY

INDUSTRY NEWS Bruce Shaw launch 2015 handbook

Bruce Shaw Group Chairman, Brendan O’Mara with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD

n Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. and over 300 professionals from the Irish construction industry gathered at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin for the launch of the Bruce Shaw Ireland Handbook and Knowledge Centre 2015. The handbook, an annual Bruce Shaw publication, provides a review of the Irish construction market and an outlook for 2015. It forms the Ireland chapter of Knowledge Centre, the company’s online portal of construction data from 12 international markets around the world. Now in its 13th year Knowledge Centre has become a valuable online resource for busy construction professionals in need of upto-date, easy to access, relevant industry information. Topics covered include areas such as levels of economic activity, indices of construction costs, trends in construction output and labour costs. Opening proceedings, Bruce Shaw Group Chairman, Brendan O’Mara said, “we are delighted to welcome so many of our friends from the construction industry to our book launch and are especially grateful to An Taoiseach for joining us this evening at this important event for Bruce Shaw. We are optimistic about the positive signs we are seeing in the industry with the increase in the number of contracts over the last 12 months and are especially proud to have been appointed cost consultants on the new National Children’s hospital, the ‘single biggest Infrastructure Project in the History of the State’ according

to Minister Varadkar. There is no doubt that the recovery is most apparent in the Greater Dublin Area but we are confident that it will gradually move out from there, initially to the other urban areas.” O’Mara continued, “we cannot ignore the fact that there are also a number of challenges and risks facing the construction industry recovery. These include both global concerns such as instability in the Euro area and local issues, primarily around funding and particularly skills shortages. As the industry contracted so dramatically it has lost large numbers of people in the design professions, site management and skilled craftsmen. These will take a number of years to replace. Construction prices are also recovering and construction inflation levels are running well ahead of general inflation. The weakness of the Euro though is offsetting these increases for investors from Dollar and Sterling areas.” Addressing the gathering Mr Kenny said, “I’m delighted to launch the Bruce Shaw Ireland Handbook which is a valuable resource for data on the Irish construction market. The Government is determined to return the construction sector to a sustainable size and get unemployed construction workers back to work. As the Government works to secure economic recovery, our aim is to triple the number of houses built and create 60,000 construction jobs by 2020.”

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Tegral Academy has already welcomed nearly 250 roofers

ince the launch of Ireland’s first-of-its-kind training facility for roofing contractors earlier this year, Tegral have welcomed nearly 250 attendees to its manufacturing base in Kildare and the company is on-track to have trained over 400 roofing contractors by the end of June. Judy Fusco Linnane, Marketing Manager at the company said that, “the support we have received from the industry has been overwhelmingly positive. Until now, Ireland had never seen a dedicated training facility for roof construction and there is a huge appetite for it”. Tegral says it’s aim is to improve the quality of standards and workmanship in Irish roofing. The Tegral Academy represents an investment of over €250,000 and features custom-

made roof rigs designed to up-skill roofing contractors through practical “hands-on” demonstrations. The full-day training sessions also cover expert briefings on ICP2 (Irish Code of Practice for Slating and Tiling) and the new Building Control Amendment Regulations. Due to huge early demand, the training sessions are currently running twice a week and will give Irish roofers the opportunity to see how roof products are manufactured, how they should be correctly installed and their distinctive features and benefits designed to withstand our unique Irish weather. After completion of the Tegral Academy training, each participant is included in Tegral’s list of recommended contractors which is published on the Tegral Academy website and enables home builders the

opportunity to find a recommended roofer in their area. For more information on the Tegral Academy visit www.tegralroofingacademy.com

ADVERTORIAL

SAFETY SOLUTIONS FOR CONFINED SPACES Safety Solutions, specialists in safety training and consulting have recently launched its new “Mobile Confined Space and Height Rescue Simulator”.

fter 20 years in the business they have seen many changes, including the increased awareness and need for safety training in confined spaces. Statistically there is one confined space fatality in Ireland and UK every two weeks and often it’s the untrained person attempting rescue who fares worst. The lack of knowledge in identifying and carrying out a proper risk assessment before creating appropriate work methods is one of the key factors at play. This is particularly important from the supervisor and manager perspective where often they are sending operators to work in confined spaces without even realising it. This new mobile unit makes it easier to educate and train staff. The classroom comes to the client, fully fitted, with the latest confined space and height safety/rescue equipment. It also comprises two levels of tunnel, which can be configured to all manner of situations. This is the first of its kind in Ireland and offers businesses more flexible options with greater convenience. “We are continually reinvesting in new and innovative ways to make life easier and safer for our clients in the construction industry” says Ciaran Mc Evoy, Managing Director of Safety Solutions, “and the feedback from our clients so far has been superb”.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A CONFINED SPACE?

In simple terms, a confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that can be above or below ground. For more information call Vicky on 1850 202 181.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

The Shay Murtagh team

Dublin bridge wins overall Irish Concrete Society Award

his was the 33rd awards evening and the event recognise excellence in both design and construction in concrete. The jury reviewed a total of 28 projects entered in three categories of main awards - elemental, infrastructure and building. The Rosie Hackett Bridge won the infrastructural category and was the overall winner in the might. “The elegance and simplicity of this hard-working bridge mark it out as a significant recent example of understated civic excellence. Taking the Luas line, buses, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians across the river in a single in-situ reinforced concrete span of 48ms, whilst achieving an astonishing visual slenderness at mid-point, this is an extraordinary piece of infrastructure design,” said the judging panel. Graham Construction was the main contractor on the project, while the main suppliers were CEMEX. Shay Murtagh Precast was also a winner as the international award went to the Reading Elevated Platform Viaduct. Murtagh was the supplier to the project.

Pictured (L-R): Conor O Riain, Managing Director of Ecocem Ireland, accepts the award for Green Product of the Year from Gerry Drum (Irish Independent).

The Rosie Hackett Bridge, Dublin

Ecocem wins Green award Ecocem Next Generation Cement won the recent “Green Product Award” at the 5th Annual Green Awards in the Double Tree at the Hilton. Conor O’Riain, MD of Ecocem Ireland said: “Sustainability and strong environmental credentials are of the upmost importance when choosing products of any nature. We are delighted to win this award, as it represents a strong independent endorsement of our environmental credentials, allowing users to cut through the greenwashing and make the right choice for the environment, whilst benefiting from an increase in performance”.

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Ecological Building Systems Irish Construction launch Elka Strong Board Manager of the Year Awards 2015

cological Building Systems is delighted to introduce an innovative new wood particle board, Elka Strong Board, to Ireland and the UK. Elka Strong Board (ESB), is a high performance diffusion open, structural, wood particle board. ESB is suitable for external or internal use. The boards are intended for use in load-bearing structural elements in humid conditions and categorised as a P5 racking board in accordance with EN 312. ESB’s are produced by Elka-Holzwerke, a wood particle board manufacture based in Germany. Elka Strong Boards were successfully introduced to the German timber and building materials trade in 2009. The boards have considerably less risk of swelling compared to OSB3, a critical property in our humid climate. They also feature superior transverse tensile strength compared to OSB3 (approx. 40% more). This ensures

superior screw and nail extraction properties. The bending strength and modulus of elasticity of ESB boards are the same in both directions, unlike OSB panels where the value is halved across the width. This in turn greatly simplifies the installation process and minimise errors on site. The boards may be applied internally or externally and are compatible with diffusion open breathable wall and roof structures. With a µ value of only 24, Elka Strong Boards have are over six times more diffusion open than many OSB3 boards. This in turn significantly increases the ability for walls and roofs to dry out in the event of unforeseen moisture entry. Due to the board’s exceptional low vapour resistance, they may be used as an internal racking board in conjunction with Intelligent Vapour Checks, such as INTELLO PLUS, without inhibiting the performance of the Intelligent membrane from a vapour diffusion perspective. As the boards utilise exclusively virgin green wood chips from a neighbouring sawmill minimal processing is required.

ll entries are now in for the 2015 Irish Construction Manager of the Year Awards and it looks like it will once again be a closely run competition. This event which is run by the Chartered Institute of Building in Ireland is now in its 17th year and continues to be the showcase for the cream of the crop within the Irish construction industry. Previous winners of this competition include Thomas O’Conner of Collen Construction for his management of the simultaneous construction of three substations for Eirgrid & ESB. Entries are now with our assessors for the first level of the adjudication process. Winners in each category will receive either a commendation, bronze, silver or gold medal and there will be one overall winner chosen from each of the category winners who will receive the title of Construction Manager of the Year together with a trophy and monetary award. Tickets are now available for the CMYA awards dinner which takes place on June 5th in the Conrad hotel Dublin. Tickets are priced at €100 or £75pp and entertainment on the night will be provided by a leading Irish comedian. To reserve your tickets please contact Karen or Mandy at khalligan@ciob.org.uk or mcoleman@ciob.org.uk

Groundforce training services achieves gold standard

Groundforce training services has been awarded the status of Gold Provider by the Energy and Efficiency Independent Assessment Service (EEIAS) having met a threshold level of good quality as a provider of training, offering the necessary reassurances to employers that this brings. The courses which are carried out at the company’s purpose built training facility in Worksop provide theoretical training as well as practical real on-site scenarios. To achieve the gold standard Groundforce had to meet an extremely comprehensive criteria which included, implementing successful working practices which meet the needs of the learners, use of appropriate performance management processes and how they communicate the outcomes to relevant parties. They were also required to demonstrate how they plan, deliver and review their training programmes showing that quality and continuous improvement is a key part of the businesses future development plans. The courses offered by Groundforce Training Services includes, a one-day appreciation of excavations safety. This is

predominantly a classroom based course and introduces delegates to the reasons for supporting excavations, current legislations and the various types of proprietary shoring equipment. The more in-depth two-day – ‘Install, Inspect, and Remove Proprietary Support Systems’ covers the theoretical and practical sides of excavation safety, as well introducing the HSE’s HSG150 guidance document and the Construction Industry Research and Information Association’s (CIRIA) report looking at exertions safety. All of the course are delivered by City and Guilds qualified trainers to a minimum level of PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector). Groundforce Training Services team can also offer bespoke courses, tailored to meet specific requirements.

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FOR YOUR DIARY Tuesday 13th October

EXECUTIVE BODY MEETING

Construction House, Dublin, 11am Contact: Gillian Heffernan 01 406 6016 Monday 2nd November Tuesday 26th May

EXECUTIVE BODY MEETING

Construction House, Dublin, 11am Contact: Gillian Heffernan 01 406 6016 Wednesday 24th June

DONEGAL BRANCH MEETING

Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680

Monday 24th August

CORK BRANCH EXECUTIVE MEETING Construction House, Little Island, 4pm Contact: Brid Cody 021 435 410 Tuesday 1st September

EXECUTIVE BODY MEETING

Construction House, Dublin, 11am Contact: Gillian Heffernan 01 406 6016

Monday 15th June

Monday 7th September

Construction House, Little Island, 4pm Contact: Brid Cody 021 435 410 Thursday 25th June

Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway, 6pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680 Tuesday 8th September

Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680

Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680

CORK BRANCH EXECUTIVE MEETING

NORTH WEST BRANCH MEETING

GALWAY BRANCH MEETING

MIDLAND BRANCH MEETING

Monday 29th June

Wednesday 16th September

Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway, 6pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680 Tuesday 30th June

Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680 Thursday 24th September

Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680

Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680

GALWAY BRANCH MEETING

DONEGAL BRANCH MEETING

GALWAY BRANCH MEETING

Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway, 6pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680 Monday 2nd November

CORK BRANCH EXECUTIVE MEETING Construction House, Little Island, 4pm Contact: Brid Cody 021 435 410 Tuesday 3rd November

MIDLAND BRANCH MEETING

Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680 Wednesday 11th November

DONEGAL BRANCH MEETING

Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680 Thursday 19th November

NORTH WEST BRANCH MEETING TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar, 8pm Contact: Justin Molloy 091 502 680 Tuesday 24th November

NORTH WEST BRANCH MEETING

EXECUTIVE BODY MEETING (AGM 12.45PM)

Tuesday 14th July

Monday 28th September

Monday 7th December

Construction House, Dublin, 11am Contact: Gillian Heffernan 01 406 6016

Construction House, Little Island, 4pm Contact: Brid Cody 021 435 410

Venue to be decided, 5pm Contact: Brid Cody 021 435 410

MIDLAND BRANCH MEETING

EXECUTIVE BODY MEETING

CORK BRANCH EXECUTIVE MEETING

Construction House, Dublin, 11am Contact: Gillian Heffernan 01 406 6016

CORK BRANCH EXECUTIVE MEETING

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LAST FIX

Fond farewell for retiring Corkman The CIF held an official retirement party for Joe O’Brien on 5th May in Construction House, Dublin. Here we present a selection of images from the evening:

(l-r) Tom Parlon, Frank Kelly and Joe O’Brien

Joe O’Brien listens as Michael Stone pays tribute with Paul Stewart in the background

Jean Winters and John McNulty Andy O’Gorman, Peter McCabe, Hubert Fitzpatrick and Mike Jones

(l-r) Sean Smith with Liam Kelleher and Kevin Kelly

(l-r) Martin Lang and John O’Shaughnessy

Joe O’Brien with Ted Fitzgerald and Kevin Kelly

“Welders, glaziers or dredgers?”

ccording to a new study, the majority of polled young people were unable to correctly identify differences between various sectors within the construction industry. ‘Welders’, ‘Glaziers’ and ‘Dredgers’ were revealed as the roles in the construction industry which youngsters had the biggest problem identifying. The team at www.constructaquote.com polled a total of 2,039 participants, all of whom were aged 18-35 years old, for the purposes of the study. There was an even gender divide amongst respondents and, in order to collect a set of valid results, each individual taking part had never worked within the construction industry themselves. Respondents were given a list of ten trades within the construction industry and asked to summarise in one or two simple sentences what each trade entailed. The trades, ranked in order of the amount of participants correctly able to give a correct description, were as follows: 1. Lorry/van driver - (99%) (% of respondents who could correctly describe the trade) 2. Carpet layer- (96%) 3. Plumber- (93%)

4. Plasterer- (90%) 5. Electrician- (83%) 6. Labourer- (78%) 7. Mason- (61%) 8. Welder- (51%) 9. Glazier- (48%) 10. Dredger- (39%)

Of participants taking part in the study, almost half claimed that they had never heard of a welder, a glazier or a dredger. Furthermore, of the 7% of individuals unable to give a correct definition of an electrician, almost one fifth (19%) believed that this was a job linked to the entertainment industry i.e. electronic music. When asked if they had ever realised that there was such a vast amount of trades within the construction industry, the majority (67%) admitted that they hadn’t. A further 18% revealed to researchers that they would make an active effort to look into the opportunities available in the construction industry as a young person. Lyndon Wood, CEO and Creator of constructaquote.com, made the following comments regarding the findings of the study: “I think it’s really important to highlight the fact that such a huge proportion of young people polled in our study were unable to correctly describe various construction trades which, 50 years ago, would have been a hell of a lot more commonplace”.

Tom Parlon and Jim Curly

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