Training and Development 26

Curtis Huggins is studying towards an Architectural Technology BSc (Hons) degree at Ingleton Wood’s Norwich office. Priyanka Shah, studying towards a Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship at Ingleton Wood, was a finalist at the 2021 RIBA President’s Medals international student awards. Architect and Partner John Dixon.

apprentices: in 2021, five started and two graduated. Many apprentices aspire to become mentors of the next generation – like Priyanka Shah who completes her four-year Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship at the Practice’s Norwich office in 2022.

“It’s been a challenging but amazing experience and I wholeheartedly recommend this pathway,” the 27-yearold said. “The quality of my work has vastly improved through being surrounded by experienced teams who give me constant feedback and encouragement.” Priyanka, a finalist at the 2021 RIBA President’s Medals international student awards for her London Zoo thesis, added: “I’ve built up my confidence with client presentations and I’ve developed my time-management by organising my weekends and evenings to study.” Fellow Norwich rising star Curtis Huggins, 26, is studying towards an Architectural Technology BSc (Hons) degree – and has already set his sights on becoming a Partner. “I’m improving my skills and personal development, and receive fantastic support,” he said.

Architect and Partner John Dixon said: “We constantly evolve to meet the changing needs of the market.”

The planned upskilling in Passivhaus design, a growing standard of sustainable design approach, is a recent example of how ongoing investment in his teams will help to address the Norfolk skills gap. “Sustainability and energyefficiency are our biggest priorities and as a Practice we need to invest to help our clients achieve their sustainability targets,” he concluded.

Sustainability and energy-efficiency are our biggest priorities and as a Practice we need to invest to help our clients achieve their sustainability targets.

For more about apprenticeships at Ingleton Wood, email recruitment@ingletonwood.co.uk

About Ingleton Wood

Ingleton Wood is a leading multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy with offices in Cambridge, Norwich, Colchester, Billericay and London. Details at ingletonwood.co.uk

INGLETON WOOD

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SUSTAINABILITY IS AT CORE OF ATTLEBOROUGH’S NEW GREEN GAS SUPPLY

Locally collected food waste, coupled with an upgraded anaerobic digestion plant, is creating a sustainable energy solution for businesses and homes in the Norfolk town of Attleborough.

Construction work at a Norfolk-based anaerobic digestion (AD) plant will provide households in the south-east town of Attleborough with 10MW of biomethane per hour – enough to supply 4,000 homes, and guarantee green gas for most of the year. Marc Graham is project development manager at Privilege Finance, which specialises in projects that reduce carbon emissions. He is leading the development, and explained that the AD process breaks down organic materials such as food waste, crops and animal waste, in the absence of oxygen, to produce biogas and digestate. Marc said: “Biogas is a renewable source of energy, while the digestate can be used as a biofertiliser on farmland.

“Processing food waste using AD contributes towards a circular economy, by creating energy from waste. The technology has been recognised by the government as a key contributor to reaching net zero targets, by helping to decarbonise the heating sector, while producing a sustainable source of energy.”

The project

The Attleborough site is already home to an AD plant which uses agricultural waste and feedstock crops to generate electricity. Mr Graham explains that the upgrade project will allow a broader range of feedstocks to be processed. “The developments at the plant include four new digestion tanks, a food waste reception hall and a depackaging unit, to allow packaged food waste to be accepted.” The plant will also see the addition of a gas upgrader to remove CO2 from generated biogas to produce biomethane. This system enables gas to be pumped into the town. Marc added: “The project will use local food waste to produce biomethane gas, using waste which would otherwise be going to landfill or transported out of the county for processing. “The digestate biofertiliser will be used by local farms to improve soil quality and add nutrients.” The £17m upgrade is set to be completed in May 2022, with gas expected to start being piped directly into Attleborough town two months later. The existing AD plant will remain fully operational, providing electricity to the national grid and powering the entire site.

Marc Graham, of Privilege Finance, is leading the project.

What does this mean for the people of Attleborough?

Once the new AD tanks are fully operational, the biomethane produced will supply 4,000 Attleborough homes and businesses with green gas all year.

Mr Graham pointed out that, in the UK, household gas supplied by the gas grid is typically derived from various sources, so there is no guarantee that the gas powering a home boiler is actually from a renewable source, even if you are paying for a renewable gas contract.

“By exclusively piping gas from the AD plant into the town, Attleborough locals can be sure that their homes and businesses are being provided with locally generated renewable energy,” he said.