Specify Magazine: May/June 2018 by Greer publications

NORTHERN IRELAND’S No.1 CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE SPECIFY is the official publication for the Construction Employers Federation

JUNE 2018

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O’HARE MCGOVERN SCORE TWICE! RICS / &ULSTER BANK PAT BURNS BURNS PAT Editor Editor SHAUN BYRNE PAUL BRADWELL SalesManager Manager Sales SUBSCRIPTIONS: SUBSCRIPTIONS: (UK£18.00 £18.00Outside OutsideUK UK£27.50) £27.50) (UK PUBLISHERS: PUBLISHERS: James&&Gladys GladysGreer Greer James

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RESIDENTIAL MARKET SURVEY

For the second year in a row, Newry-based construction company O’Hare & McGovern have taken the ‘Overall Award’ at the Specify CEF Construction Excellence Awards.

The Awards Gala Evening saw the firm win the award for its work on the IFA National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. The superb new 18,000 seater stadium received its official opening the day after the awards took place at the Culloden Hotel. It was built within the confines of the existing Windsor Park which remained fully operational throughout the 98 week construction phase, facilitating over 200,000 spectators at 63 international and domestic fixtures. The work involved the demolition of the south and east stands, refurbishment and extension of the north and west stands. OHMG designed curved steel

House price increases remain strong in Northern Ireland compared with other parts of the UK, according to the latest RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and Ulster Bank Residential Market Survey. Local surveyors painted a reasonably positive picture of the residential market in the latest survey with the balance saying that prices had risen in Northern Ireland in the past three months the highest of all UK regions. Expectations around prices and sales have both strengthened and new instructions to sell also edged upwards indicating that the number of people putting their properties onto the market is rising. New buyer enquiries also picked up after two consecutive months

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work at the interface of the North East and North West stands to form a Quadrant. This curved design helped to create a stadium to enhance the viewing experience of the speactators while at the same time mitigating the impact of noise on neighbouring houses outside the stadium. Our congratulations go to the team at OHMG on their success. There was also some cheer from the latest RICS report. Building activity is still rising despite uncertainty in the economy, according to the latest RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and Tughans Northern Ireland Construction Market Survey. Workloads were still rising in the third quarter of the year, according to Northern Ireland surveyors, with only a very modest slowdown in activity relative to Q2. Housebuilding remained a key source of workload growth, with private housebuilding activity rising particularly strongly (a

where the balance of respondents pointed to a fall in enquiries. RICS Residential Property Spokesman, Samuel Dickey, commented, “It’s a fairly positive picture at the moment in the residential market in Northern Ireland with surveyors indicating that prices are rising and expectations for prices and sales strengthening. “Anecdotally, the new homes market is performing well with strong levels of activity and as we approach summer, resales activity should pick up, although lack of stock remains a concern in some areas. “Looking ahead, surveyors expect to see increases in prices and sales, so the outlook remains positive despite some uncertainty around the economic and political environments.” The main findings of the survey were as follows: The headline price balance for

net balance of +48). Private Commercial activity was also rising relatively robustly (+23), according to the survey.

In contrast however, infrastructure workload growth remained weak (+5), and significantly below the UK average (+17). Looking ahead, Northern Ireland surveyors are upbeat about the prospects for growth, with a net balance of +50% expecting workloads to be higher in a 12-month horizon. Infrastructure spending is still relatively low in Northern Ireland and the latest developments in the ongoing York Road Interchange does not inspire confidence for the big government spending projects. Economist John Simpson looks at the Programme for Government Strategic Investment Boards aspirations for next year and beyond… see pages 36 and 37. Pat Burns Editor

Northern Ireland was +51% in the latest survey, meaning that 51% more surveyors said the prices rose in the past three months than those who said they fell. Northern Ireland remains the region with the highest reading in the UK. The price expectations balance at 40% remains positive and above all other regions while sales expectations data at +24% is lower only than Scotland. Newly agreed sales just reached positive territory with +1% surveyors saying that they had seen more newly agreed sales compared with last month. There was an increase in new buyer enquiries to +28% and new instructions to sell rose to +23%. Expected changes in prices over the next 12 months were +23% while the balance of those surveyed who said they expected a change in sales was similar to the previous month at +24%. Editor- Pat Burns

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DIGEST

Leading commercial property agent, Lisney, has been instructed to bring a 52,000 sq. ft. Grade A office investment to the market. Offers in excess of £15 million are invited for the property, Obel 68, which is arranged over basement, ground and six upper floors sitting adjacent to the Obel Tower. Hagan Homes, one of Northern Ireland’s largest homebuilders, has started construction of 900 new homes in Comber in a £50million development. It is the company’s largest ever project since it was established 30 years ago.

12 CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

Martin Hare, Chairman of the Construction Professional Council (Northern Ireland) reports on the recent address by Professor John Cole at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

14 RSUA DESIGN AWARDS

The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) has awarded the Liam McCormick Prize for Northern Ireland’s Building of the Year to St. Bronagh’s Primary School in Rostrevor by d-on architects.

19 INNOVATION IN THE INDUSTRY

There have been many technological and innovative advances in the construction trade over the past few years, ranging from offsite construction to Building Information Modelling (BIM). These processes are widely used in the industry already and the next few years will see the arrival of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Predictive Analytics in the construction sector. Specify Magazine will ensure it keeps its readers up to speed with all the latest technological and innovative advances in the construction sector.

34 RICS AWARDS

44 JOHN SIMPSON

Just consider if, in mid-winter January 2021, electricity supplies in the Belfast area are inadequate and have to be limited. This is hypothetical, but it could happen if a proposal to build a high capacity south-north electricity grid is further delayed due to a lack of government at Stormont.

52 CEF NEWS

Ray Hutchinson delivered his first official speech since being appointed as President of the Construction Employers Federation, at the Federation’s Annual Dinner at the Culloden Hotel. Over 200 guests attending the prestigious event also heard from guest speaker Dick Strawbridge MBE, engineer-inventor, sustainability expert and TV presenter.

58 INTERVIEW

Specify talks to Roger Gillespie FCIOB, CEnv, BSc (Hons), TechIOSH ,Managing Director of Chartered Building Consultancy Training LMS who admits to being a complete disaster when it comes to DIY at home!

• Tailored energy solution • Full design service • Technical support and guidance • 24-hour emergency call out We provide CPD courses. TO FIND OUT MORE Visit calorgas.ie • Email cpd@calorgas.ie • Contact: 028 9045 5588

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Contents |05

07 DIGEST

McAVOY APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION

41 INTERVIEW

SPECIFY TALKS TO... JAMES BURLEIGH,SENIOR COMMERICAL MANAGER AT BT’S NI NETWORKS

INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION page 19

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62 INTERVIEW

SPECIFY TALKS TO ROGER GILLESPIE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRAINING LMS

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OBEL 68 OFFICE INVESTMENT Harvey Group acquires Solmatix as part of 5 year growth plan in UK and Ireland. COMES TO MARKET NI M&E services company acquires renewable energy specialists Leading commercial Newtownabbey-based property agent, Lisney, M&E services company, has been instructed has acquired toHarvey bringGroup, a 52,000 sq. ft.Northern Grade Ireland A office renewable investment to the energy specialists, Solmatix market. Renewables in a move the

companies say will transform Offers in excess of £15 million are the renewable energy invited for the property, Obelsector 68, in Northern and act which is arrangedIreland over basement, as a springboard for further ground and six upper floors sitting expansion multiadjacent to theinto Obelthe Tower. The Donegall QuayUK opportunity million pound and Ireland comprises 49,860 sq. ft. of office renewable energy markets. accommodation and 2,309 The acquisition, for an sq. ft. ofundisclosed retail space,sum, with will 42 dedicated bring to 110 basement car parking spaces. the number of people employed The entirety of the city centre office directly by the Harvey Group in space is currently let to international Northern and Great Britain. law firm AllenIreland and Overy until 2031. With a floor turnover £30 million The ground retailofspace is and overby80 Harvey occupied thestaff, Lagan Boat Group Company and Charles which hasMount over 30 years’Group experience operates the Fedinstallation and Watered in the design, and café from the premises. maintenance of building services Nicky Finnieston, Director of within every conceivable kind of building type throughout NI, GB and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ Cleanrooms, Laboratories, Education, Government and Healthcare . Richard and NorahAnne Bell founded Solmatix Renewables in 2008, and since then

Investment & Retail at Lisney, the said:company has grown to achieve a “We are expecting Obel 68 30 staff turnover of £6 million, with to be veryfrom well its received. operating Nutt’s The Corner majority of investment stock premises. available locallyofhas As a result thebeen deal, Solmatix dominated by retail assets will continue to operate as an so this presents a unique autonomous opportunity. and independent company Harvey “With thewithin growth in the Group office Brian Harvey, managing rental market over the pastdirector couple of years andsaid take up for of Harvey Group, there was first quarter of 2018 athe perfect fit between the seeing two a record 270,000 sq. ft., this organisations. provides a compelling backdrop “We have been planning to to potential investors. grow our renewables involvement “The quality of the Obel for someitstime, organically building, higheither standard fit out, or through the acquisition an its location overlooking theofriver established player. worked Lagan and the levelHaving of activity with Solmatix Renewables around Donegall Quay andon Belfast makes thiswe’d an exciting aHarbour numberarea of contracts, opportunity. always been”impressed with Mr Finnieston continued: “The their engineering rigour and corporate face of Belfast has professionalism. In fact, there seemed changed significantly in recent years, to beinternational a natural synergy between with companies such our two companies in terms of as KPMG, Pinsent Masons, Baker what we do and how we do it. I approached Richard Bell about a year ago to float the idea of our companies coming together, but only if there was a good fit. After careful consideration we both agreed that this would indeed be mutually

Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group).

beneficial. From my perspective, having Solmatix as part of Harvey Group gives us a PWC, level ofAllstate, expertise McKenzie, NYSE, Citi, Allstate all to that Concentrix would have and taken us years represented in the city, many of which acquire otherwise. are“Harvey attractedGroup by theand strength of the Solmatix local talent pool. share similar values, by which I mean our commitment to professionalism, “The Lisney Q1 2018 Commercial our desireReport to deliver services to Property alsoour revealed the very highest standards, and the importance we place on treating our customers, our suppliers and our staff with courtesy and consideration.” Richard Bell, the founder and managing director of Solmatix Renewables described the acquisition

as great news for Solmatix, its customers, suppliers and staff. many respects, case that“In technology, digital it’s anda media occupiers for 70% ofinthe of ‘businessaccounted as usual’. However, record office-take up which been real terms, being part of thishas larger hugely positive theusBelfast organisation willforgive accessmarket. to The Report also predicted potential enhanced technical skills, financial office supply constraints later in the resources purchasing power. year placingand greater emphasis on Ultimately I believe will lead ” redevelopment and this refurbishment. to greater growth and investment within our operations, as well as more jobs and job security. It’s a win-win relationship that’s good for our whole organisation, as well as the economy of Northern Ireland. “

LOCAL SURVEYORS COMMENDED BY RICS HEAD

as chartered Newly qualified Lisburn firm TAL surveyorsawarded the first major construction members of RICS and are (Royal Institution of recognised by Chartered Surveyors), contract at Randox Science Park the leading qualification the designation

when it comes to professionalism in land, property, construction, are pictured with Fiona Grant, RICS UK & Ireland Chair, Andy Tough FRCIS, Chair RICS Northern Ireland and Lynn Taylor, MRICS, Chair RICS Matrics NI.

WItH a reputation for The diplomas were presented to over excellence in constructing high 20 recently qualified RICS members at quality projects, tAL Limited a ceremony in the La Mon Hotel and has been awarded a significant Country Club, Belfast and Ms Grant contract (£3.1m) by global praised their dedication and hard work in obtaining the qualification. medical diagnostics company Randox. RICS 125,000is qualified Thisaccredits initial contract for the and trainee professionals around construction of a new facility for the world. Its members are known

after their name: production of Randox’s pioneering MRICS (Member medical diagnostic of RICS), FRICS products and will also include associated administrative (Fellow of RICS) functions. The works are the first and AssocRics (Associate phase of a of major capital expenditure RICS). by Randox to develop the project former Massereene Army Barracks RICS is the global into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a professional futuristic R&D and manufacturing body promoting facility. The award-winning, and enforcing international the highest biotechnology firm, international unveiled its plans for an innovative standards hub on thein43 acre site earlier this the valuation, year. management and Welcoming the announcement, development of Damien land, realHughes, estate, Director of TAL Limited commented: “We are construction and delighted to have been awarded infrastructure.

this contract with Randox, one of Northern Ireland’s most dynamic and exciting businesses on a local and global level. Through the quality of our work and the dedication and professionalism of our team TAL has steadily grown over the last 34 years and this contract award reinforces the strength of our expertise in the healthcare sector.” The project will be delivered to BIM level 2 in partnership with the design team Ostick and Williams Architects, Rainey & Best, Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller Consulting Engineers and Charles Hutchison Consulting. Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing

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Director at Randox commented: “The development of Randox Science Park is core to our plans to create innovative diagnostics, to improve manufacturing efficiency to export high-value healthcare capabilities to world markets. This state-of-the-art premises will become a centre of cutting-edge research, development and diagnostic manufacture, covering conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. We will also provide a significant boost to the local economy through new job creation. We very much look forward to working with TAL on this initial contract to deliver the high quality infrastructure we require.”

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McAVOY APPOINTS NEW Harvey Group acquires Solmatix as HEAD part of 5 OF year growth plan in UK and Ireland. MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION NI M&E services company acquires renewable energy specialists

The Dungannon-based Newtownabbey-based McAvoy Group, one company, ofM&E the services leading offsite Harvey Group,specialists has acquired construction renewable inNorthern the UK Ireland and Ireland, energy specialists, Solmatix has announced the Renewables in aof move the appointment David Clark as Head oftransform companies say will Manufacturing andsector the renewable energy Innovation. in Northern Ireland and act

as a springboard for further In his new role, David will lead expansion excellence into the multimanufacturing across million pound UKproduction and Ireland the group’s two offsite renewable energy markets. centres in Lisburn and Dungannon The acquisition, for an in Northern Ireland, implementing continuous improvement and to 110 undisclosed sum, will bring innovation and of increasing capacity the number people employed todirectly meet demand. He will Group take in by the Harvey responsibility for applying new digital Northern Ireland and Great Britain. solutions and lean processes to further With a turnover of £30 million improve the efficiency and productivity staff, Harvey process, Group of and the over offsite80manufacturing has over 30 years’ experience which will support The McAvoy in the ambitious design, installation Group’s plans forand growth. maintenance of building services David joined McAvoy as Group within every conceivable kind of building type throughout NI, GB and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ Cleanrooms, Laboratories, Education, Government and Healthcare . Richard and NorahAnne Bell founded Solmatix Renewables in 2008, and since then

the company grown to achieve a & David Clark, has Head of Manufacturing turnover of £6 million, with 30 staff Innovation,The McAvoy Group-2307 operating from its Nutt’s Corner premises. As a result of the deal, Solmatix will continue to operate as an autonomous and independent company within Harvey Group Brian Harvey, managing director of Harvey Group, said there was a perfect fit between the two organisations. “We have been planning to grow our renewables involvement for some time, either organically or through the acquisition of an established player. Having worked with Solmatix Renewables on a number of contracts, we’d always been impressed with their engineering rigour and professionalism. In fact, there seemed to be a natural synergy between our two companies in terms of what we do and how we do it. I approached Richard Bell about a year ago to float the idea of our companies coming together, but only if there was a good fit. After careful consideration we both agreed that this would indeed be mutually

Design and Director of The McAvoy Group, said Engineering “We want to embed innovation across Manager in 2012. the business to ensure we remain at He progressed the forefront of offsite manufacturing to Innovation in the UK. We are already embracing Manager and was the new digital technologies such as also responsible virtual and augmented reality, which for the Group’s are set to transform the construction award-winning digital industry. We now want to apply that construction strategy transformation to the manufacturing and implementation. process – from the use of robotics His successes have to innovative new materials – which included leading will take the efficiency and quality of McAvoy to become our offsite construction solutions to the first offsite the next level and offer even greater Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth specialist in the UK benefits to our customers. This new Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group). to be accredited role is fundamental to achieving those as great news for Solmatix, its beneficial. Fromtomy perspective, BIM Level 2 and ambitions. ” the customers, suppliers and staff. having Solmatixspearheading as part of Harvey pioneering David 20respects, years’ experience “In has many it’s a casein Group gives us group’s a level of expertise use of virtual reality manufacturing for the construction of ‘business as usual’. However, in that would have taken us years to to improve customer sector which has included specialist real terms, being part of this larger acquire otherwise. engagement in the cladding and structural steel solutions. organisation will successful give us access “Harvey Group and Solmatix offsite design process. He was recently in to enhanced technical skills, financial share similar values, by which I mean achieving an MSc in BIM and Project resources andfrom purchasing our commitment to professionalism, Commenting on this Management Queen’spower. University new position, Eugene Belfast and Ialso holdsthis an will MSclead in Ultimately believe our desire to deliver our services to Managing Manufacturing Management. to greater growth and investment the very highestLynch, standards, and the within our operations, as well as importance we place on treating our more jobs and job security. It’s a customers, our suppliers and our staff win-win relationship that’s good with courtesy and consideration.” for our whole organisation, as Richard Bell, the founder and well as the economy of Northern managing director of Solmatix Ireland. “ Renewables described the acquisition homes, workplaces and daily lives. The service they offer improves every project, large or small.” “I wish to pay tribute to my predecessor, Paul Crowe, it is thanks to this contract with Randox, one of Director at Randox him thecommented: Society is in“The a strong position Northern Ireland’s most dynamic development such of Randox Science today. His hard work and exciting businesses on a local Park is core to our plans to create and goodtojudgement and global level. Through the quality innovative diagnostics, improve have increased the of our work and the dedication and manufacturing efficiency to export profile and stature of the professionalism of our team TAL has high-value healthcare capabilities to Society and I am grateful steadily grown over the last 34 years world markets. to This him.”state-of-the-art and this contract award reinforces premises will The become a centre of Society is currently embarkeddevelopment upon a the strength of our expertise in the cutting-edge research, of work healthcare sector.” and diagnosticprogramme manufacture, covering to raise the profile The project will be delivered conditions such as cancer, strokeofand architects, their practice to BIM level 2 in partnership heart disease. We will also provide a in Northern Ireland, and with the design team Ostick and significant boost the local economy theirtocontribution to Williams Architects, Rainey & Best, through new society. job creation. We very Currently the Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller much look forward working the with Societytoorganises RSUAcontract Design to Awards, Consulting Engineers and Charles TAL on this initial deliver theinfrastructure Building Inspiration Hutchison Consulting. the high quality we Lecture, and the “Ask An JoanManaging McCoy and Paul Crowe Dr Peter FitzGerald, require.” Architect” initiative.

NEW RSUA PRESIDENT, JOAN McCOY: “ARCHITECTURE HAS A TREMENDOUS CAPACITY TO MAKE LIFE BETTER” On Thursday (31st May) the Royal Society of Ulster Architects elected its new President, Joan McCoy, at an event in the Titanic Hotel Belfast, to spearhead the organisation’s efforts to transform architecture in Northern Ireland.

Lisburn firm TAL awarded the first major construction contract at Randox Science Park

WItH a reputation for excellence in Joan constructing high In her remarks, McCoy stated: “I amtAL Limited quality projects, delighted take on a significant has beentoawarded this leadership role by global contract (£3.1m) on behalf of architects medical diagnostics – and architecture – company Randox. across Northern Ireland. This initial Architects arecontract not justis for the designers, they place construction ofare a new facility for makers, shaping our

production of Randox’s pioneering medical diagnostic products and will also include associated administrative functions. The works are the first phase of a major capital expenditure project by Randox to develop the former Massereene Army Barracks into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a futuristic R&D and manufacturing facility. The award-winning, international biotechnology firm, unveiled its plans for an innovative hub on the 43 acre site earlier this year. Welcoming the announcement, Damien Hughes, Director of TAL Limited commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded

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20/08/2014 16:45

digest digest

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CLANDEBOYE RAINWATER Harvey Group acquires SolmatixGARDEN as part of SCOOPS 5 year UK & IRELAND EXCELLENCE growth plan in UK and Ireland. AWARD An innovative rainwater garden at Clandeboye NI M&E services Primary School, Bangor Newtownabbey-based recently scooped an M&E services company, AECOM “Inspire” UK Group, has acquired &Harvey Ireland Excellence NorthernThe Ireland renewable award. scheme, which NI energy involved specialists, Solmatix Water, the in Department Renewables a move the for Infrastructure, companies say will transform Education Authority the renewable energy sector and the Department in Northern Ireland and act of Education, will as a springboard forrisk further help reduce the into ofexpansion flooding inthe themultimillion pound UK and Ireland school grounds and renewable energy markets. surrounding area. The acquisition, for an £70,000 was invested the garden, undisclosed sum, willinbring to 110 which was officially opened in January the number of people employed 2018. It is an innovative flagship project directly by the Harvey Group in for NI Water and the Department Ireland and Great forNorthern Infrastructure and is the firstBritain. of its With a turnover of £30 kind in Northern Ireland. The million garden and over 80 how staff, sustainable Harvey Group demonstrates design hasreduce over 30 experience can theyears’ risk of flooding, whilst also enhancing environment in the design, the installation and and providing aofvaluable maintenance buildingeducational services resource. within every conceivable kind of building type throughout NI, GB and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ Cleanrooms, Laboratories, Education, Government and Healthcare . Richard and NorahAnne Bell founded Solmatix Renewables in 2008, and since then

The “Inspire”

award is aimed company acquires renewable energy specialists at developing

the has grown to achieve a andcompany celebrating turnover of £6 million, with 30 staff projects like Clandeboye, operating from its Nutt’s Corner which have premises. improved the of the deal, Solmatix As a result quality of life foroperate as an will continue to a community autonomous and independent and inspired company others towithin be Harvey Group Brian Harvey, better. AECOM managing director of Harvey Group, said there was were involved awith perfect fit between the two the design and project organisations. management “We have been planning to Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth of theour garden grow renewables involvement Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group). and Magherafor some time, either organically based BSG Civil as great news for Solmatix, its beneficial. From my perspective, or through the acquisition of an Engineering customers, suppliers and staff. having Solmatix as part of Harvey established player. Having worked were the main “In many respects, it’s a case Group gives us a level of expertise with Solmatix contractor forRenewables on of ‘business as usual’. However, in that would have taken us years to athis number of NI contracts, we’d project. real terms, being part of this larger acquire otherwise. Water’sbeen Sewer always impressed with organisation will give “Harvey Group and Solmatix Rehabilitation their engineering rigour (L-R) and Paula Gillan, Andy Patterson, Connor Morgan, Suzanne Waddell (all AECOM), us access to enhanced technical skills, financial share similar values, by which I mean Programme was professionalism. In fact, there seemed Christine McAllister NI Water, Sam Donaldson, David McCune (AECOM) David also in synergy between resources and purchasing power. our commitment to professionalism, to bea afinalist natural McGrath NI Water, Sam McManus and David Barwell AECOM. the awards. Ultimately I believe this will lead our desire to deliver our services to our two companies in terms of to greater growth and investment the very highest standards, and the what we do and how we do it. I within our operations, as well as importance we place on treating our approached Richard Bell about a more jobs and job security. It’s a customers, our suppliers and our staff year ago to float the idea of our win-win relationship that’s good with courtesy and consideration.” companies coming together, but only for our whole organisation, as Richard Bell, the founder and if there was a good fit. After careful well as the economy of Northern managing director of Solmatix consideration we both agreed Ireland. “ Renewables described the acquisition that this would indeed be mutually

HAGAN HOMES STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF 900 HOMES IN £50M DEVELOPMENT IN COMBER Hagan Homes, one of Northern Ireland’s largest homebuilders, has started construction of 900 new homes in Comber in a £50million development. It is the company’s largest ever project since it was established 30 years ago.

comments: “We are absolutely delighted to announce the exciting plans for our largest ever development. Enler Village offers residents production of Randox’s pioneering this contract with Randox, one of Director at Randox commented: “The the opportunity to live in the desirableproducts and will medical diagnostic Northern Ireland’s most dynamic development of Randox Science country village also include associated administrative and exciting businesses on a local Park is core to our plans to create atmosphere functions. Theofworks are the first and global level. Through the quality innovative diagnostics, to improve Comber and avail phase of a major capital expenditure of our work and the dedication and manufacturing efficiency to export of the abundance of project by Randox to develop the professionalism of our team TAL has high-value healthcare capabilities to amenities, facilities former Massereene Army Barracks steadily grown over the last 34 years world markets. This state-of-the-art and activities available into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a and this contract award reinforces premises will become a centre of there. ” Once completed, futuristic R&D and manufacturing the strength of our expertise in the cutting-edge research, development the Enler Village facility. The award-winning, healthcare sector.” and diagnostic manufacture, covering developmentbiotechnology in international firm, The project will be delivered conditions such as cancer, stroke and Comber will provide unveiled its plans for an innovative to BIM level 2 in partnership heart disease. We will also provide a for 900 homes, a hub on the 43 acre site earlier this with the design team Ostick and significant boost to the local economy business park, nursing Pictured (l-r) are Jamesy Hagan, managing director, Hagan Homes; Lindsay Fyfe, year. Williams Architects, Rainey & Best, through new job creation. We very home, sheltered estate agent; Jim Campbell, Managing Director, Rowallane Construction Ltd. accommodation, Welcoming the announcement, Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller much look forward to working with creche and retail Director units. of TAL Damien Hughes, Consulting Engineers and Charles TAL on this initial contract to deliver focal monument on Coarse Hill and companies includes Hagan Homes, Additional features “We are Limited commented: Hutchison Consulting. the high quality infrastructure we extended saltmarsh. The Enler Village, Antrim Construction and Connolly include linked pedestrian facilities with delighted to have been awarded Dr Peter FitzGerald,ofManaging require. Comber Consortium construction Homes.” Comber Town Centre, a decorative

Lisburn firm TAL awarded the first major construction contract at Randox Science Park

Construction of the 900 three and four-bedroom homes on the 112acre ‘Enler Village’ site* started in January 2018. The first phase of 17 homes will be completed by December WItH a reputation for 2018, with the overall development scheduled toinbeconstructing handed over byhigh June excellence 2019. projects, tAL Limited quality Approximately 50 construction jobs has been awarded a significant will be created during the first phase contract (£3.1m) by global of the project. This phase will be on medical company release fordiagnostics sale on 1 June 2018, with Randox. prices starting from £149,950. This initial contract is for the Jamesy Hagan, Managing Director of Ballyclare-based Hagan Homes, construction of a new facility for

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NI INVESTMENT FUND LOANS FOR Harvey Group acquires Solmatix as part£20M of 5 year growth plan in UK and Ireland. MERCHANT SQUARE DEVELOPMENT NI M&E services The company acquires renewable energy specialists scheme at Merchant Square will

The Northern Ireland Newtownabbey-based Investment Fund M&E services company, its recently announced Harvey Group, has acquired first project investment Northern Ireland senior renewable -a £20 million energy specialists, Solmatix loan facility to Oakland Limited to finance Renewables in a move the their Merchant companies say willSquare transform development. the renewable energy sector

in Northern Ireland and act Welcoming the project loan, a springboard foroffurther theasPermanent Secretary the expansionofinto the Hugh multiDepartment Finance, Widdis, million pound UK and of Ireland said: “Today’s announcement the renewable energy markets. Merchant Square development sees the first investment Theproject acquisition, for an from theundisclosed £100 million Northern sum, will bringIreland to 110 Investment Fund. the number of ”people employed “This first by project loan demonstrates directly the Harvey Group in the Northern Ireland Investment Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Fund’s positive impact and future Withinaterms turnover of £30 million potential of facilitating private and overregeneration 80 staff, Harvey sector-led here.Group I look has over years’announcements experience forward to 30 further in thein time ahead on project loans the design, installation and being confirmed to stimulate additional maintenance of building services economic growth and jobs”.kind of within every conceivable building type throughout NI, GB and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ Cleanrooms, Laboratories, Education, Government and Healthcare . Richard and NorahAnne Bell founded Solmatix Renewables in 2008, and since then

the company has sq grown achieve develop 202,740 ft of to Grade A a turnover of £6 million, with with ground 30 staff office accommodation operating itsThe Nutt’s Corner floor retailfrom space. Fund’s £20The Fund’s £20 million loan will be premises. matched by private funding, As a result of thesector deal, Solmatix providing significant leverage will continue to operate as anin the process. autonomous and independent The £100 million Northern Ireland company within Group in Investment FundHarvey was launched Brian Harvey, managing November 2017 to providedirector debt of Group,for saidcommercial there was or Harvey equity finance aproperty, perfect fit between the regeneration andtwo low carbon projects in Northern Ireland. The Fund organisations. is managed the CBRE Investment “We havebybeen planning to Advisory grow ourTeam. renewables involvement Andrew for someAntoniades, time, eitherSenior organically Director, CBRE Investment Advisory or through the acquisition of an commented: “We are excited to be established player.off Having worked getting the Fund to a fantastic with Solmatix Renewables start, well ahead of forecast.on Making asuch number of contracts, we’d is a a significant investment always been impressed statement showing whatwith the Fund is aboutengineering - supporting regional their rigour and growth whilst delivering Inexceptional professionalism. fact, there leverage, seemed outputs and returns for between the Fund. to be a natural synergy We are well progressed with other our two companies in terms of exciting schemes within and outside what we do and how we do it. I approached Richard Bell about a year ago to float the idea of our companies coming together, but only if there was a good fit. After careful consideration we both agreed that this would indeed be mutually

beneficial. From my perspective, having Solmatix as part of Harvey Group gives us a level of expertise Belfast and remain very much open thatmore wouldapplications”. have taken us years to for acquire otherwise.of Finance has The Department “Harvey aGroup andBoard Solmatix established Scrutiny to oversee and monitor Fund’s share similar values, bythe which I mean activities. The Scrutiny Board is our commitment to professionalism, chaired by Stephen who our desire to deliverKirkpatrick, our services to commented: “The availability of senior the very highest standards, and the importance we place on treating our customers, our suppliers and our staff with courtesy and consideration.” Richard Bell, the founder and managing director of Solmatix Renewables described the acquisition

as great news for Solmatix, its customers, suppliers and staff. “In many respects, it’s a case debt finance for development projects of ‘business usual’. However, of this natureasremains severely in real terms, being this larger constrained in thepart localofmarket. It is organisation willencouraging give us access to therefore very to see the Northern Irelandskills, Investment enhanced technical financial Fund help unlock such a significant resources and purchasing power. investment, Ultimately I particularly believe thisso willearly leadin the life cycle of the Fund”. to greater growth and investment within our operations, as well as more jobs and job security. It’s a win-win relationship that’s good for our whole organisation, as well as the economy of Northern Ireland. “

also important.” To make this happen Linda included a mix of Silver Birch and pine trees, various grasses and a vertical wall. “The wall is a feature that reflects the urban environment within which many gardens are of set,Randox’s ” she said.pioneering production Work the designproducts of the prizemedicalondiagnostic and will winning garden started administrative in late also include associated December last. functions. works aretothe “It took usThe three weeks pullfirst it all phase of a major capital expenditure together, once we got on site.” project by Randox to the develop thewall By common consent, vertical formed a stunning backdrop to the former Massereene Army Barracks overall garden.Science Significantly, into ‘Randox Park’ it– featured a ECOncrete Bio-Active Wall Tiles, futuristic R&D and manufacturing provided by Co Antrim-based precast facility. The award-winning, manufacturer Moore Concrete. international biotechnology firm, “These elements are designed to unveiled its plans for an innovative induce rapid plant wall coverage huburban on the 43 acre” confirmed site earlier the this on buildings, company’s Richard Whiteside. year. “Green plant coverage significantly Welcoming the announcement, improves urban landscapes, Damien Hughes, Director ofprovides TAL cleaner and healthier air, and reduces Limited commented: “We are the ecological footprint of urban delighted to have development. “ been awarded

He added: “Typical green roofs or green walls systems usually demand elaborate soil and watering systems. However this is not the case with our ECOncrete Bio Active concrete wall tile design. Itthis hascontract a bio-enhanced substrate that with Randox, one of supports growthmost of mosses, Northernthe Ireland’s dynamic lichens and climbing vegetation. ” and exciting businesses on a local The innovative ECOncrete Bio and global Through quality Active wall level. tiles differ fromthe standard of our work and the dedication concrete units on three levels: and professionalism of our teamtexture TAL has concrete chemistry, surface and 3D macro three steadily grown complexity. over the lastThese 34 years elements work award reinforces and this contract in to of our expertise in the thesynergy strength increase the healthcare sector.” walls capacity project will be delivered to The support to BIM level 2 in partnership and enhance withgrowth the design the of team Ostick and plants, while Williams Architects, Rainey & Best, requiring little Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller or no soil. Consulting Engineers and Charles Hutchison Consulting. The high Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing surface texture,

and the unique 3D design includes micro pores, rugged textures, and varying elevations, increasing the walls ability to capture water and moisture, thus further contributing to flora growth as well as increasing the plants ability to effectively onto the“The wall Director at Randoxlatch commented: surface. Overallofthe ECOncrete development Randox ScienceBio Active an effective, low Park is wall coreprovides to our plans to create maintenance, easy installed green wall innovative diagnostics, to improve solution. manufacturing efficiency contact to export For further information, high-value healthcare capabilities to Moore Concrete on (028) 2565 2566 or www.moore-concrete.com world markets. This state-of-the-art premises will become a centre of cutting-edge research, development and diagnostic manufacture, covering conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. We will also provide a significant boost to the local economy through new job creation. We very much look forward to working with TAL on this initial contract to deliver the high quality infrastructure we require.”

Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group).

BELFAST DESIGNER SCOOPS MAJOR AWARD AT BLOOM GARDEN FESTIVAL 2018 Congratulations to Linda McKeown, the driving force behind Blueleaf Garden Design, on winning the overall medium sized garden award at this year’s Bloom Garden Festival in Dublin. Her ‘Enable Ireland Beyond Boundaries Garden’ caught the eye of the judges and the general public in equal measure.

Lisburn firm TAL awarded the first major construction contract at Randox Science Park

This was the third year in which Linda hada areputation design entryfor at Bloom. WItH Her ability toin combine aesthetichigh and excellence constructing structural themes within an overall quality projects, tAL Limited garden design theme were the facets has been awarded a significant to the 2018 project, which moist contract by global caught the (£3.1m) judges eye. medical company “Providingdiagnostics accessibility was the Randox. overarching theme to this year’s design, said Linda. This ”initial contract is for the “Obviously, coming up facility with anfor overall construction of a new design that is pleasing to the eye was

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06| 10

digest digest

BRAIDWATER FOLLOW Harvey Group RECEIVES acquires Solmatix as ON part of 5 year INVESTMENT BGF FOR EXPANSION PLANS growth plan inFROM UK and Ireland. Derry-based NI M&E services housebuilder Braidwater Newtownabbey-based has secured a M&E services company, multimillion Harvey follow Group, has acquired pound Northern Ireland renewable on investment energy specialists, from BGF, the Solmatix UK’s most active Renewables in a move the provider companiesofsay will transform growth capital to sector the renewable energy small and midin Northern Ireland and act sized businesses. as a springboard for further expansion into the multiBraidwater became million poundinUK and Ireland the first company renewable energy Northern Ireland to markets. receive Theinvestment acquisition,from for an BGF in November undisclosed sum, 2015. will bring to 110 It the has number been designing of people employed and building quality Group in directly by high the Harvey two to five bed family Northern Ireland and Great Britain. homes across Northern With of £30 million Ireland, witha turnover a strong focus and over 80 staff, Harvey Group on design and building has overfor 30more years’than experience efficiency, 40 years. in the design,said installation and The company the latest capital investment will of be building used to services support maintenance the development of residential within every conceivable kind of building type throughout NI, GB and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ Cleanrooms, Laboratories, Education, Government and Healthcare . Richard and NorahAnne Bell founded Solmatix Renewables in 2008, and since then

investment in the company

after working closely with company acquires renewable energy specialists the company has grown to achieve a turnover of £6 million, with 30 staff operating from its Nutt’s Corner premises. As a result of the deal, Solmatix will continue to operate as an autonomous and independent company within Harvey Group Brian Harvey, managing director of Harvey Group, said there was a perfect fit between the two organisations. “We have been planning to grow our renewables involvement for some time, either organically or through the acquisition of an established player. Having worked with Solmatix Renewables on a number of contracts, we’d always been impressed with properties acrossrigour multiple their engineering andsites Braidwater already has in its land bank professionalism. In fact, there seemed and to purchase new sites. It will break to be a and natural synergy between ground begin to develop out our two as companies in sites termsin of as many three new 2018, what we do and how we do it. I approached Richard Bell about a year ago to float the idea of our companies coming together, but only if there was a good fit. After careful consideration we both agreed that this would indeed be mutually

us over the past two years. BGF’s long term approach and its input to the business has been invaluable for our development. “The investment will help Braidwater to pursue continued growth across Northern Ireland and also to increase awareness of the business in and around Belfast. Turnover is growing, our staff numbers have increased from 12 to 46 in only a few years and the Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian of Harvey, Gareth pipeline activity for 2018 Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group). looks good.” as great news for Graham, Solmatix,investor its beneficial. From my perspective, Patrick at suppliers BGF said:and “Since BGF customers, staff. having Solmatix as part of Harvey invested a little over two “In many respects, it’s a case Group gives us a level of expertise years ago, Braidwater has of ‘business as usual’. However, in that would have taken us years to increased its turnover by a real terms, being part of this larger acquire otherwise. multiple of five to almost including oneGroup in theand Greater Belfast organisation will Itgive access tono “Harvey Solmatix £25m. wasustherefore area. similar values, by which I mean enhancedthat technical skills, financial share surprise the company required Braidwater Managing Director Joe and purchasing power. aresources sizable follow on investment to our commitment to professionalism, McGinnis said: “We are delighted that enable it toI continue on will thatlead growth Ultimately believe this our desire to deliver our services to BGF has chosen to follow its initial trajectory. to greater growth and investment the very highest standards, and the within our operations, as well as importance we place on treating our more jobs and job security. It’s a customers, our suppliers and our staff win-win relationship that’s good with courtesy and consideration.” for our whole organisation, as Richard Bell, the founder and well as the economy of Northern managing director of Solmatix Ireland. “ Renewables described the acquisition

PLANNING GRANTED FOR £35 MILLION HOUSING-LED REGENERATION TO Lisburn firm TAL INCLUDE 244awarded HOMESthe first major construction Radius Housing has contract at Randox Science Park Anicta Conway, Diane Fitzsimmons and been granted planning approval for the regeneration of the former Visteon site. The £35 million development will see the construction of 244 private and social homes and access to community and workspace facilities, all set within extensive newlya landscaped WItH reputation for and open space on the excellence in constructing high former factory site. This quality Limited is oneprojects, of the tAL largest has been awarded a significant housing development contract by global projects(£3.1m) anywhere in Northern Ireland in medical diagnostics company recent years. Randox. This initial contract is for the The regeneration of the site will also construction of a new facility for lead directly to 300 construction

CEO John McLean of Radis Housing production of Randox’s pioneering medical diagnostic products and will also include associated administrative functions. The works are the first phase of a major capital expenditure project by Randox to develop the former Massereene Army Barracks into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a futuristic R&D and manufacturing facility. The award-winning, international biotechnology firm, unveiled its plans for an innovative hub on the 43 acre site earlier this year. jobs, including apprentice-ships, and the announcement, willWelcoming make an overall contribution to Damien Hughes, Director TAL the economy of some £86ofmillion. Limited commented: areVisteon Radius purchased the“We former site in Juneto2013, aim of delighted have with beenthe awarded providing social and private housing,

this contract with Randox, one of Northern Ireland’s most dynamic and exciting businesses on a local and global level. Through the quality of our work and the dedication and professionalism of our team TAL has steadily grown over the last 34 years and this contract award reinforces the strength of our expertise in the healthcare sector.” The project will be delivered to BIM level 2 in partnership with the design team Ostick and Williams Architects, Rainey & Best, commu-nity facilities and employment Doran Consulting, & Waller opportunities. SinceDelap then the Consulting Engineers and Charles organisation has undertaken considerHutchison Consulting. able work to prepare the site for development, including Managing the demolition Dr Peter FitzGerald, of several derelict factory buildings

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and significant remediation work. Following decision to approve“The the Director attheRandox commented: application, John McLean, CEO Radius development of Randox Science Housing said: Park is core to our plans to create innovative diagnostics, improve “I am delighted that thistoplanning manufacturing efficiency to which export approval has been granted, will see thehealthcare transformation of a to high-value capabilities brownfield site toThis a vibrant and world markets. state-of-the-art sustainable neighbourhood in West premises will become a centre of Belfast. As well as building over 240 cutting-edge research, development homes in an area of acute housing and diagnostic manufacture, covering shortage, the project will support conditions such asjobs cancer, stroke and 300 construction when builders move March. addition, heart on-site disease.inWe will In also providewe a have exciting proposals significant boost to the for localapprentice economy schemes as well for long-term local through new jobascreation. We very employment opportunities. Radius is much look forward to working with making a direct in-vestment of £35 TAL onwhich this initial contract an to overall deliver million will generate the high quality weto the economic benefitinfrastructure of £86 million require. ” wider economy. ”

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12| Construction Professionals

THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS By Martin Hare, Chairman of the Construction Professional Council (Northern Ireland)

Pictured from left are John Nolan, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (UK); Des Armstrong Head of the Central Procurement Directorate for Northern Ireland; Professor John Cole and Martin Hare, Chairman of the Construction Professionals’ Council for Northern Ireland.

Firmitas, Utilitas, Venustas (solid, useful, beautiful) are the three great Vitruvian cornerstones of successful building design and they were echoed in Professor John Cole’s address to a select audience of construction professionals at Parliament Buildings Stormont on Thursday 10 May 2018. Although over 2000 years old, the sentiments championed by Vitruvius seem as relevant today as when first uttered in the 1st Century BC. They embody the desire to design and create quality within our built environment, the benefits of which are recognized by everyone. Unfortunately this has become a torturous exercise in the UK construction market which demands more, for less, while being delivered in increasingly quicker timescales. This growing challenge and the important

role of Construction Professionals within the process was an ideal platform upon which to launch the new Construction Professionals Council for Northern Ireland. The CPCNI has evolved from the Northern Ireland Construction Industry Group – College of Professional Bodies which was founded by Professor Cole in 1998 and since then has grown into a comprehensive umbrella organization representing every major Construction Professional Institution & Association in Northern Ireland – 17 in total. As Chairman of the CPCNI I was delighted that Professor Cole could join us at this event along with Professor John Nolan – Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and Mr Des Armstrong – Chief Executive of the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD). Together these three speakers provided a unique and comprehensive overview of the procurement market including some fascinating insight into current failures and potential solutions. The

core theme each speaker addressed was the value of Construction Professionals and how that might be better harnessed in an evolving construction landscape to add real value and enhance quality. While each lecture addressed different aspects of procurement such as optimizing value during RIBA Stages 1-3 (big gains for relatively low cost) to ensuring the quality of construction on site, they all agreed that these objectives can only be achieved via improved collaboration across the entire project team. I was intrigued at how all three speakers and the audience agreed on the themes expressed, yet this common understanding does not always manifest in key directives and actions which improve the current situation. In this context I believe Construction Professionals have not always articulated our added value in ways which are objective and easily monetized by Employers which is unfortunately a harsh metric of our modern world.

Good design provides value. Period…. This is understood in every other area of human endeavour and its value is highly sought. If we draw a comparison on the money spent on design-vs-product in construction with other industries the difference in remuneration is startling. Consider your next flight to America in a plane designed for less than 5% of its construction cost and I believe a boat journey to the States would be instantly be more appealing … if considerably longer. We must start by appreciating design costs money and good design costs more money, however the reward for such investment is better value. In this context Professor John Nolan provided an interesting analysis entitled the “Value Gap”. Simply put, by seeking unsustainable reductions in the overall Construction Professional Fee the end result is less time and effort spent during the options study and concept design stages, thus removing all chance for intelligent value engineering. This does not necessarily result in

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Construction Professionals |13

From left are The Construction Professionals’ Council committee members, Sean Maguire and Colin McCarthy with Gordon Dunne MLA who hosted the event, along with Harry Johnston, also a committee member. failures but it does manifest as lost opportunity and poor value. However this argument is often undermined by one-off award winning projects provided by design teams secured on very competitive, if not completely unsustainable fee levels. This paradox undermines Professors Nolan’s assertion, or does it? The truth of this position is best exposed by asking if the Design Team delivering such outstanding work for reduced fees actually made a profit. The response I believe will always be a resounding no, but should the industry care if this is the actual reality. The answer must be yes because although that individual project may have been a success, the industry is perversely diminished as a result. The explanation is simple, if uncomfortable – continually delivering excellence for unsustainable fees suppresses the base wage which will eventually result in a skills deficit as future careers in construction will not attract the right talent. As John Ruskin famously said “It is unwise to pay too much but it is worse to pay too little. The common law of business prohibits paying too little and getting a lot.” Perversely a future skills deficit might be the final solution as supply-vsdemand will always resolve a pricing issue via market forces. I personally would rather see the process stage

managed to ensure our industry is always stocked with talented and committed professionals ready to delivery future outstanding works. The blame for the diminishing value assigned to Construction Professionals and by extension the effect it has on reducing their fees is complex and cannot be placed with any particular source however if this phenomenon is to be reversed it does require everyone to adjust their thinking. As Albert Einstein once said “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” In this context the role of Employers and Government CoPEs is central and CPCNI acknowledges the enormous efforts made by the Central Procurement Directorate in the past few years to engage with Construction Professionals, listen to their concerns and devise procurement methodologies for both professional and construction appointments which champion quality and discourage race to the bottom tenders. However I believe that to truly optimize change we, as Construction Professionals, need to articulate our concerns with greater clarity, devise solutions which self-evidently provide better value and support CPD and CoPEs in any innovative or new PQQ / ITT methodologies either under

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consideration or currently being piloted. We must understand and appreciate that the path of least resistance (and least challenge) is appealing to Employers for a variety of reasons including being fully tested and legally robust. Therefore when we champion alternatives such as the Adjusted Mean Narrow Average tendering process we must man-up and become central players in derisking it for the Employer. In this context the CPCNI would encourage all our members to stand together in supporting any new initiatives which are devised to improve the selection and appointment conditions of Construction Professionals. We must speak with one voice and support change when it comes and I believe CPCNI has an important role going forward in unifying the various professional opinions into a cohesive and coherent position In this context CPCNI will also champion a more balanced Scope of Service for professional services and a more appropriate risk share between Employers and Consultants. This extends into the role of employing additional experts or specialists for the project when the extent of their work is unknown and unknowable. Professor John Cole touched on these issues but focused mainly on the need for independent site inspections and the

role of the traditional Clerk of Works as a direct Employer appointment. This is particularly relevant to Design & Build procurement in which the role of Constructor and Inspector have become blurred to the detriment of enforcing quality on site. Many of the current appointments on public sector works has begun to recognize some of these issues however it is timely for a joint review between the Employers and the Professions to drive improvements. Revising current working practices could capture huge added value with no increase in professional fees. In conclusion as Chairman of the CPCNI I would like to thank Professor John Cole, Professor John Nolan and Mr Des Armstrong for giving up their time so generously and providing such excellent insight into this difficult subject matter. I would also like to thank all those who attended and helped launch the CPCNI including Gordon Dunn MLA for sponsoring the event and Stormont for providing such a wonderful venue. Moving forward we all might benefit from studying the past … Firmitas, Utilitas, Venustas … when considering how we procure our built environment. Mr Martin Hare … Chairman of the CPCNI

14|NI Building of the Year RSUA

ST BRONAGH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL NAMED NORTHERN IRELAND’S BUILDING OF THE YEAR

Corriewood Private

PROJECT NAME

LOCATION

ARCHITECT

Castle Tower School

Ballymena

Isherwood + Ellis

About: A school to deliver a full educational provision for its 300 pupils, with a range of moderate to complex educational needs, across the entire age spectrum (3-19 years). Judges said: “This project is the successful resolution of the very challenging brief. The school exudes a sense of openness. The generous circulation and ease of orientation are striking. The inspiring outcome was achieved through careful planning, client commitment and a belief by all stakeholders in the value of their school pupils and the contribution architecture can make to their development.” Corriewood Private Clinic Castlewellan Care Home

Castle Tower School

McGurk Architects

Special prize: • Residential Development of the Year (supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive) About: A residential development for the elderly set around a cloistered courtyard. Judges said: “Providing appropriate places to live for older people, particularly those with care needs, is one of the major issues facing housing professional today. Corriewood takes the architecture in this field a step forward. There is no institutional ‘domestic vernacular’ design approach here. The extension is planned with dementia care to the fore. It draws on lessons learnt by both the client and architect at the Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University and creates a model to be replicated.” County Down Barn

County Down

Micha T Jones Architect

Special prizes: • House of the Year • Small Project of the Year County Down Barn

The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) has awarded the Liam McCormick Prize for Northern Ireland’s Building of the Year to St. Bronagh’s Primary School in Rostrevor by d-on architects. The school joins an illustrious list of buildings including the Giants Causeway Visitors Centre and the Lyric Theatre which have previously won the prestigious award named after one of Ireland’s greatest 20th century architects. The building was also awarded the RSUA Sustainability Award and d-on’s Paul McMahon was named Project Architect of the Year. Located near Ballygowan, the County Down Barn by Micah T Jones has been named as Northern Ireland’s

House of the Year. Other winning buildings at the RSUA Design Awards 2018 included the transformative Junction Community Peace Building in Dungannon by Hall Black Douglas, the sensitive overhaul of the Main Site Tower at Queen’s University Belfast by TODD Architects and a fine example of restoration by RMI Architects at the Weaving Works, Belfast. Ciarán Fox, RSUA Director said, “The RSUA Design Awards primary purpose is to promote excellence in the design of our built environment with the view to making Northern Ireland a better place for everyone. Our buildings have an enormous impact on how we live and this year’s awards demonstrate wonderfully how good design can improve learning, health, community relations and economic development. We also see architects rising to the challenges of

About: A home designed by Micah Jones for himself and his family. It is built on the footprint of a dilapidated agricultural shed and it is the first cross laminated timber house in Northern Ireland. Judges said: “This project highlights that it does not take a big budget to produce a special house. Through outstanding craftsmanship and invention the architects have created a beautiful, functional, hospitable and engaging home.” Main Site Tower and Peter Froggatt Centre, QUB

Belfast

TODD Architects

About: An overhaul of two university buildings from the 1960s. The taller building, known as the stack was stripped back to its frame reduced in height and completely remodelled. Judges said: “This design stood out for its careful consideration of how it would integrate with the historic nature of the site. Inside the building the creation of central voids provide a sense of lightness and air despite the original structure’s tight floor to ceiling heights. This project is a fine example of sustainable re-use.”

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NI Building of the Year RSUA | 15 Maison Wedge

Main Site Tower

Newry Leisure Centre Sportlann

no 37 catering for an ageing population.” “Increasingly clients in Northern Ireland are seeking out ways to improve design quality. There is a growing awareness that by investing a bit more upfront the client benefits significantly over the course of the project but even more so over the life of the building. Most public sector clients don’t want to skimp on design. They are keen to find ways to avoid a race to the bottom on fees and we are working closely with them on how best to achieve that.” “The greatest threat facing Northern Ireland’s built environment now is the absence of devolved government for over a year. The lack of Ministers to make decisions on which new construction projects to progress to design stage is quickly reaching a crisis point. Not only will badly needed investment be delayed but many jobs in the construction industry could be at risk.” The RSUA Design Awards ceremony took place at the Whitla Hall, Belfast. The building was designed by local architect John McGeagh along with Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Omagh Hospital

16|NI Building of the Year RSUA Maison Wedge

Killinchy

BGA Architects

About: A private house where the brief was to design a sculptural object for living that would visually connect the house to its elevated site and present various views of Strangford Lough. Judges said: “This design dispenses with the standard approach to the house in the countryside and instead models parabolic roof forms that echo the rolling landscape of County Down. There is careful detailing to hide anything utilitarian that would interrupt the reading of the project as two simple blocks. The architect has worked with light, form, material and orientation to make spaces that are a delight to occupy.” Newry Leisure Centre

Newry

Kennedy FitzGerald Architects LLP

About: The delivery of two large sports halls, a café and a range of dry-sports facilities was the second phase of a wider project by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to bring the council’s sporting facilities into one hub. Judges said: “The white brick facade façade is enlivend by variously aligned dogtooth patterns and by large glazed openings. The vigorous modelling of what could have been a bland functional block gives this building great civic presence, sending out a clear message of the importance of health and fitness in our lives. Its location near the centre of the city contributes positively to the public realm.” no 37

Belfast

FAMILY architects designers makers

About: This is a dwelling, modest in size and budget, which was designed with down-sizing in mind. It sits on the edge of the brick built streets off the Ormeau Road. Judges said: “This project is proud to be different. It falls in that space between city centre and suburbs and tackles the challenge of evolving accommodation needs over our lifetimes. With this home there is no concern that small living means claustrophobic living. The philosophy is ‘just enough’.” Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex

Omagh

TODD Architects with Hall Black Douglas

Special prize: • Integration of Art Award About: A new model of healthcare provision in Northern Ireland which brings acute, primary and community care services into a single destination. Judges said: “This project builds upon the high standards evident in other such facilities in the region. The nursing stations located in the centre of the blocks have visual supervision of, and enjoy views through, the wards to the outside. Carefully considered timber panelling and detailing adds warmth and balances any tendency to sterility. End-of-life palliative care rooms have direct access to small external balcony areas. “Despite this project not being covered by the new Percent for Art policy there was a clear commitment to integrate art through the appointment of a dedicated engagement officer. This resulted is bespoke artwork from both artists and schools which enhance the public spaces.” Sportlann

Belfast,

ARdMackel Architects

About: A sports building for Coláiste Feirste, Belfast’s first Irish language secondary school. Judges said: “Built to a tight budget and complying with Department of Education spatial standards this building demonstrates what can be achieved when creative thinking is applied to what might easily have proved a very constraining brief. Internally the concrete structural frame, and exposed concrete block infill is exposed and left undecorated. These robust and unsentimental finishes are counterbalanced by the use of colour and strategically placed openings which allow natural light to penetrate deeply into the building.”

St Bronagh’s Primary School

Rostrevor

d-on architects

Special prizes: • Liam McCormick Prize of the Building of the Year • Project Architect of the Year (Paul McMahon) • Sustainability Award About: A new six-classroom school on a tight site set in a dramatic landscape. Judges said: “One is aware of an immediate sense of calmness, light and airiness on entering the building - doubtless counter-balancing the noisy pupils! With green roofs and other high environmental credentials the building itself is a teaching aid and sits lightly on this earth.” “Much is to be learnt from this project. The enthusiasm, commitment and engagement of the headmaster, staff, pupils and design team is exemplary in itself and has resulted in a building which will act as a model for similar future projects.” The Junction, Community Peace Building

Dungannon

Hall Black Douglas

Special prizes: • Client of the Year • Living Places Award About: A community facility commissioned by the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP) for the people of Dungannon. Judges said: “The client’s vision was for ‘.....a building where everybody belongs. There are to be no second class citizens and nobody can tell you that you shouldn’t be here.’ The project has transformed a former anti-social and interface area. The permeability of the building is evident, and it can be approached and accessed from a variety of directions, and has connectivity with a variety of cycling and pedestrian routes. Despite exacting time constraints for delivery, the project team has delivered a powerful public place.” The Weaving Works

Belfast

RMI Architects

Special prize: • Conservation Award About: The redevelopment for Karl Group of a former linen warehouse into offices, adding a new 4th floor extension constructed in glulam timber and glass, and the conversion of the ground floor to provide a café and restaurant opening onto the street. Judges said: “This project shows how the restoration and adaptation of old building stock can achieve continuing, and appropriate, new use whilst enhancing the essential character of an historical inner city area. There was evident skill shown in balancing the retention of original structure and fabric. It sets a high standard for future restoration projects in the city.” Ballymena Health and Care Centre

Ballymena

Keppie Design with Hoskins Architects

About: A public health building providing a wide range of primary, intermediary, diagnostic and community health facilities. Judges said: “The new building contributes positively to the town and immediate environs. It provides a collection of bright internal spaces and rooms which are well used and enjoyed by the local community. Externally, simple and controlled detailing corresponds with an assured and restrained selection of materials, resulting in a building that has the potential to endure and develop as a key element of the town’s public realm.” *Fallahogey Studio

Kilrea

McGarry Moon

About: A new studio for McGarry Moon architects built in the garden of own home. Judges said: “The studios deep rust coloured cor-ten skin nestles comfortably in the landscape. Once inside, a joyous series of bright, overlapping spaces is revealed. This is a precisely crafted, confident and delightful building which provides a series of beautiful spaces for its users, engages with its site and local context, and which clearly demonstrates the ‘can-do’ attitude, enthusiasm and evident skill of its architects.”

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NI Building of the Year RSUA | 17 St Bronagh’s Primary

Edward Maufe of London and won a RIBA Architecture Medal in 1950. The RSUA Design Awards 2018 judges were: • RSUA appointed chair (architect from NI) – Michael Doherty, Doherty Architects • RIBA appointed judge (architect from GB) – Greg Penoyre, Penoyre & Prasad • RSUA appointed lay judge – Wendy Austin, Broadcaster (not in attendance for shortlisting) • RSUA appointed judge (architect from RoI) – Carole Pollard, Immediate Past President of RIAI • RSUA appointed judge (architect from NI) – Geoff Sloan

The Junction

Starting from 2018 the RSUA Design Awards will be run annually rather than every second year. RSUA has also agreed a partnership with RIBA so that RSUA Awards will align with the RIBA Northern Ireland Awards. Winning an RSUA Award is now the first step to being considered for a UK-wide RIBA Award. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize, for the new best building of the year across the UK, will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings in July and the Stirling Prize winner will be announced in October. Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

The Weaving Works

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INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BRIEF ON THE SECTOR There have been many technological and innovative advances in the construction trade over the past few years, ranging from offsite construction to Building Information Modelling (BIM). These processes are widely used in the industry already and the next few years will see the arrival of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Predictive Analytics in the construction sector. Specify Magazine will ensure it keeps its readers up to speed with all the latest technological and innovative advances in the construction sector.

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Ridgeway |25

USING KYOWA FILTER UNIT ROCKBAGS CROSTON FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME Made from 99% recycled material, The Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbag is a flexible bespoke net system filled with stone which can be used to protect marine structures and riverbanks against the phenomenon known as scour. Training is so important within all Ridgeway’s Filter Unit Rockbags have been successfully used by a team from the Environment Agency and VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins (VBA) for the Croston FAS Scheme. They provided a £9.4 million integrated flood risk management scheme working together with Chorley Council, Lancashire County Council and United Utilities. In June 2017 the scheme was completed and reduces the risk of flooding to 347 residential households and 91 commercial properties in the Croston Area. Ridgeway in collaboration with Japanese partner Sumitomo Corporation Europe provided over 1000 Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbags for this scheme. These were used on the outfall of the control structure in the storage basin to stabilise the banks. The Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbags were easy to fill, lift and place by an excavator, covering areas rapidly. They could be fitted onto uneven ground and filled any gaps well. The stone in the Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbags easily silts over the growth and was very well established after just 6 months at Croston. Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbags can be easily repositioned which makes them ideal for temporary works. In August 2016 the Croston area experienced very heavy rainfall. As a result, water levels in the river Yarrow rose significantly and the construction site was in danger of flooding. With the use of visqueen sheet wrapped around some of the Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbags they were able to form a bund in less than an hour. As well as protecting earthworks, this also reduced the risk of flooding to Croston, as the control gates of the new dam were not fully operational at this time. Richard Birchall, Project Manager, VBA JV Ltd. Team: Environment Agency, VBA JS Ltd. Email: Richard.birchall@ volkerstevin.co.uk.

Croston Dam THAMES ESTUARY TEAM2100 After considering the use of Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbags on other projects, the TEAM2100 team decided to use them in temporary works to support a failing wall on the River Thames. TEAM2100 is a collaborative team from the Environment Agency, CH2M and Balfour Beatty. This programme will deliver the first 10 years of capital investment in the tidal flood defences as recommended by the Environment Agency’s 100-year Thames Estuary

“THE UNITS WERE EASY TO FILL LIFT AND PLACE BY AN EXCAVATOR COVERING AREAS RAPIDLY” 2100 (TE2100) plan to manage increasing tidal flood risk. The team identified a tidal flood wall in London as having been undermined because the foreshore level had lowered. This undermining caused a significant move to the structure which preventing not only a flood risk but a health and safety risk to the public and a nearby residential building. Temporary works were required to support the failing wall while a permanent solution could be put in place. The temporary works consisted of a 5.5m stone fill embankment lined out with Ridgeway’s Kyowa Filter

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Unit Rockbags for scour protection. This formed a platform on which 12 modified shipping containers (filled with combination of loose aggregate, void filler and concrete) were arranged to the required height. They used marine working platforms

completed at the end of March with the falling wall supported. Eileen Chio, Communications Lead CH2M, TEAM2100. Team: Environment Agency, CH2M and Balfour Beatty. Email: Eileen.chio@ ch2m.com.

Thames located outside the exclusion zone to undertake the works, and placed materials by a combination of crane lifts and long reach excavator. Finally props and grout bags were installed to fill the gap between the containers and wall, ready to take the load from the falling wall. The design began over the 2016 Christmas period, construction started in January and the embankment was completed in February 2017, installing and filling the containers was early march. The connection to the failing wall was made in mid-March and works

SIGNIFICANT TRACK RECORD Ridgeway have established some significant signature projects with the Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbags in the UK, Europe and closer to home with the Environment Agency, framework contractors, councils and local developers. To find out more on Ridgeway’s Kyowa Filter Unit Rockbags system contact us today at either Belfast +44 (0) 28 90454599 or Ashbourne +353 (0) 802 7173, email info@rockbags.co.uk or visit www.rockbags.co.uk.

27|CITB NI

HELPING TO IMPROVE SKILLS AND TRAINING IN LOCAL CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

Learning new skills, refining old skills, updating existing skills and maintaining skills are vital in todays’ construction industry. Whilst the CITB NI forecasts predict minor growth in the sector outside influences on a political and economic scale will have a major impact on the industry. Training is so important within all sectors but particularly construction as it is the industry that builds our homes, hospitals, hotels which are central to other sectors. Well-trained

construction workers are safer, better skilled, work faster and make fewer mistakes, they are better motivated, efficient and effective too. CITB NI are focused on driving investment in skills and training that a growing construction sector requires and offer key initiatives to help the industry train. Training Grants CITB NI offers direct grants to our registered employers for support in a wide range of training and qualifications for their employees working in Northern Ireland. Whether you’re training new recruits, developing established staff or looking for improvements in other areas of

your business, we can offer advice on training and grants to meet your needs. Claiming your grant online is easy, quick and efficient with 89% of employers who claimed very satisfied with the system. Apprenticeship Grants CITB NI has enhanced apprenticeship grants available to CITB NI registered employers meaning that an employer can gain £4000 during the 3 year cycle of training an apprentice plus an additional £1500 from the Department for the Economy for employers who take on apprentices from the very start right through to completion of NVQ Level 2 and 3. Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) allow employers to train staff to the level needed so they have strong

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technical and good employability skills. CITB NI have also enhanced grants up to £4000 to help support construction employers whose staff embark on a HLA. For more information on the grants and other support available log on to http://www.citbni.org.uk/ Apprenticeships.aspx Training on the Move CITB NI’s Mobile Training Unit (MTU) provides training on site to all registered in-scope construction employers. It is a convenient way of meeting training requirements with minimum disruption to site work whilst also helping employers meet their legal responsibility.

CITB NI| 27

As long as you are based in Northern Ireland, the MTU can come to you. The unit travels across Northern Ireland delivering short duration health and safety courses such as confined spaces, excavations, manual handling and working at heights encouraging the industry to build safely. Leading the way with Scaffolding Training CITB NI’s scaffolding training facility is the only one of its kind in NI and is approved to deliver the Construction Industry Scaffolding Record Scheme (CISRS) enabling participants to achieve an industry recognised scaffolder’s card. These courses include a five-day Basic Access Systems Erector Course (BASE) and a two-day Tube & Fitting

Basic Scaffold Inspection course. On successful completion of these courses the relevant CISRS Scaffolding card will be issued. These courses run alongside the existing CISRS programme of Scaffolding Part One, Part Two and Advanced courses working towards achievement of an NVQ and obtaining a Scaffolding or Advanced Scaffolding Card. Business Improvement Events Training is also important for your workforce and CITB NI offers initiatives to help improve and develop skills that are beneficial for the industry. CITB NI run a series of Business Improvement workshops and seminars in partnership with industry

professionals which cover specific business topics ranging from recruiting apprentices to tendering. They are held in local venues across key towns and cities in Northern Ireland. To book a place log onto www.citbni.org.uk/ events VET 360 CITB NI’s VET360 is an innovative new tool that provides a unique and memorable immersive experience which gives the user instant access to construction sites in a workplace environment. Used as a training tool VET360 allows the user to experience of being onsite within a safe training environment. The facility allows the user to see more, save time and stay safe as VET360 is the perfect bridge between theoretical classroom training and the reality of a busy construction site. Short Courses Through Tier 2 and Tier 3 grant initiatives CITB NI help develop and fund short course training programmes were needs are identified. These short course programmes are promoted via the website and social media and are aimed at construction employers.

Topic

Date

Credit Control & Cyber Security

Wednesday 20 June 2018

Tendering in the Public Sector Construction Market Workshop (in partnership with InterTradeIreland)

Monday 1 October 2018

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Venue Everglades Hotel, Derry/ Londonderry CITB NI, Crumlin

NVQ 4 Construction Site Supervisor Development Programme – aimed at potential and current site supervisors and site managers working in the construction sector. Contact Lorraine Fisher for course details and costs 028 90 824202 lorraine.fisher@citbni.org.uk Safety Nets for Managers (Inspection Training) – This short training course will provide participants with a certificate of competency for three years to inspect safety nets onsite. Aimed at Site Managers, Foremen, Health & Safety Officers & anyone with the responsibility for working at heights where safety nets are used. This course will be held on Tues 21 Aug 9am-3pm To book and for more information contact Alison McClean 028 90 824223 alison.mcclean@citbni.org.uk Investing in training now and building up the skills and strength of your team can save you money in the future. Costs incurred by mistakes, missed completion deadlines and accidents can be a cost on your business. Proper training can have a positive effect on both your profits and your reputation. Through a mix of Grant funding and Direct Training Interventions CITB NI will help develop the workforce to meet client needs and grow their business. For further information on what we can do to help you and your construction training log on www.citbni.org.uk, like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ CITBNorthernIreland and follow the discussion on Twitter @CITBNI and LinkedIn http://linkd.in/1GBeyLf

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Workpal| 29

TAILORED FACILITY SOLUTIONS IMPROVES EFFICIENCY WITH WORKPAL

Tailored Facility Solutions Ltd, one of Ireland’s most respected facilities management, recruitment and logistics service provider, has seen a significant improvement in efficiency since implementing WorkPal’s workflow management software. The company, based in Letterkenny, currently employs over 180 people. Tailored Facility Solutions (TFS) provide bespoke services to clients throughout the UK and Ireland. Their services range from security, building maintenance, logistics and personnel to cleaning, storage, utilities and fencing. They boast an impressive client base, supporting some global brands with all aspects of their facilities management. With a growing number of clients and staff the company needed a solution to improve their communications, time

management and invoicing. WorkPal’s flexible and adaptive features meant it could be customised to fit the exact needs of TFS. What were Tailored Facility Solutions’ job management issues? “We were experiencing difficulties managing timesheet processing, daily duty allocation and converting completed jobs into invoices” explained Manus Kelly, Managing Director of TFS. “Workflow management software was something we really need to implement with our growing workforce and WorkPal has made the entire process very straightforward.” TFS are now able to schedule and allocate tasks based on the most cost effective and appropriate person for the job. This means they can save money while ensuring the job is completed to a high standard and on time. Real time data allows management to plan ahead, ensuring resources are available to meet current and anticipated demands.

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Time sheets are automatically generated based on workers daily tasks. Once staff have logged on, WorkPal monitors and records activities from time spent travelling to hours spent on jobs, completely replacing manual records. WorkPal immediately captures all costs associated with each job and can integrate seamlessly with a number of accounting software’s, calculating hourly rates, materials used and service costs on a client-by-client basis. Manus emphasises, “WorkPal has really enhanced our admin systems, giving us greater control of our employee’s hours and tasks which has significantly reduced administration time.” What are the benefits of using WorkPal for Tailored Facility Solutions? Allocating the appropriate resources to individual jobs can be difficult with a large off site workforce. Planning and scheduling are essential to ensure the job is carried out efficiently and effectively. Real time job tracking means management are able to

assign suitably skilled workers, the correct amount of workers and order necessary materials to complete the job. “WorkPal software has allowed us to monitor each division of our company, all at the touch of a button. We are able to perform tasks, assign duties and track progress from any country in the world.” How did WorkPal Enhance Business Capabilities? “Workpal has really enhanced our business by giving us a bespoke technological advantage over some of our competitors and more importantly has given us a system where we can give authentic and real time reports to our valued clients as they need them,” says Manus . Would You Recommend WorkPal? “We would have no hesitation in recommending Workpal to anyone as not alone the system is extremely efficient and user friendly but the service and support given at the initial set up stage is excellent!”

STANLEY SECURITY IS A TRUSTED LOCAL PROVIDER OF INTEGRATED SECURITY SOLUTIONS. WE DELIVER A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF SECURITY PRODUCTS, SOFTWARE AND INTEGRATED SYSTEMS WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON SERVICE. One of the largest and most reliable security experts in Europe, we have been supporting the needs of our clients across Ireland and Northern Ireland in banking, retail, logistics, healthcare, education and justice for over 20 years. STANLEY Security partners with the industry’s leading product suppliers and manufacturers to offer a total solution that meets your complex security requirements with services including: • Risk assessment, security systems design and engineering • Project management, installation, commissioning and maintenance • Access control, perimeter protection, video surveillance and visitor management systems STANLEY Security, a division of Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK), is a provider of integrated security solutions for commercial and industrial organizations globally.

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Stanley Security| 31

STANLEY SECURITY – INNOVATIVE, INTEGRATED SECURITY SOLUTIONS

Whether you’re involved in financial services, in processing or handling physical products or even managing large volumes of people, keeping assets safe and secure is of vital importance. In the context of rising costs and continued pressure on budgets, it’s more important than ever to make the right decision when it comes to investing in security technology. It’s good to know that security has moved with the times and clever adoption of technology means the right provider can make your organisation more secure with efficient use of budget. Operating in Ireland and Northern Ireland for over 25 years providing market-leading electronic security solutions and services including planning, design and installation through to operation and maintenance, innovation has been an essential driver in the growth and success of STANLEY Security. STANLEY Security combines unrivalled experience and expertise with emerging technology to solve key business issues and enhance operations,

ensuring that clients get a better return from their security system investments. Developments in technology have changed the electronic security market significantly over the past decade or more. As market demands have led security technology to evolve and become more sophisticated, its implementation into applicable security solutions requires an innovative approach. Early engagement with clients is crucial to understand key business objectives and gain insight into any issues that need to be resolved. STANLEY Security takes a holistic approach to projects encompassing strategic and operational objectives to deliver a truly integrated security system that is more than the sum of its parts. Taking an innovative approach to the design of security systems can save time and money. By making the best use of digital technology you can leverage additional functionality from security systems that will improve not only security but also the overall efficiency of an organisation. Being innovative is at the core of STANLEY Security’s approach to

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projects to ensure problems are solved strategically. With a growing awareness of how new security technology can make the task of security management easier, the trend towards fully integrated solutions will continue. Don’t be limited by new technology - take advantage of it and speak to an experienced installer such as STANLEY Security to protect your organisation. A division of Stanley Black &

Decker (SWK), STANLEY Security is one of the leading security providers in the UK and Ireland. It designs, installs, services and monitors security systems for industrial, government, commercial and national account customers. STANLEY Security provides the best of both worlds, a local company with global resources and one of the most trusted names in security.

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34|RICS Awards

TROPICAL RAVINE NAMED RICS PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Building conservation winner

A south Belfast building project which has transformed an overgrown corner of Botanic Gardens into a new and exciting visitor attraction has been named Project of the Year at RICS Awards 2018, Northern Ireland. The Tropical Ravine, a unique and nationally significant Victorian building, housing a noteworthy collection of tropical plants, reopened to the public in April following a £3.8m upgrade. Belfast City Council, with significant Heritage Lottery Fund support, working with Friends of Botanic, has restored it back to its former glory, with a modern 21st century twist aimed to make it one of Belfast’s popular tourist attractions. Judges of the prestigious RICS Awards said the project had scored very highly when inspected and had been unanimously supported as Project of the Year. The Tropical Ravine also won the Building Conservation category of the Awards. The annual RICS Awards, Northern Ireland celebrate inspirational

initiatives across the built environment. The Project of the Year Award is presented to the project which is judged overall as an excellent example of best practice by professionals working in both the built and natural environments. Projects from across Northern Ireland won awards at a ceremony hosted by television presenter Paul Clark at the La Mon Hotel & Spa, Belfast, after 34 hugely diverse schemes were shortlisted in eight categories - Building Conservation, Commercial sponsored by Sika, Community Benefit, Design through Innovation sponsored by Forbo, Infrastructure, Regeneration sponsored by Mills Selig, Residential and Tourism & Leisure. Winners of the individual categories were as follows: • Building Conservation – The Tropical Ravine Belfast •Commercial – Colby House, Belfast • Community Benefit – St Paul II Primary School, Belfast • Design through Innovation – Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex • Infrastructure – Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Station, Enniskillen

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Design through innovation winner • Regeneration – Newry Leisure Centre • Residential – Rathgill, Bangor • Tourism & Leisure – Titanic Hotel Belfast Two other projects were highly commended – the Connswater Community Greenway in the Community Benefit category and the Pump House, Portadown in the

Regeneration category. The Tropical Ravine was deemed “a model of best practice” by the judging panel who praised the work of the conservation team which nurtured it through dramatic change, enhancing its use while consistently respecting its historic fabric. Companies involved in the project included surveyors Currie & Brown,

RICS Awards| 35 visitor attraction with an amazing story. Category Winners and highly commended Building Conservation Winner- The Tropical Ravine, Belfast This project was also a category winner. Its philosophy was to leverage value through physical restoration and the development of programmes celebrating the city’s rich and diverse Victorian heritage while empathising linkages with the historic landscape and built heritage of the Botanic Gardens. Judges said that Belfast City Council, Friends of Botanic and the Heritage Lottery Fund have “transformed this unique national treasure and propelled it into the 21st century”. They praised the strong conservation team which nurtured the project through dramatic change, enhancing its use while consistently respecting its historic fabric. They said the story it now tells and welcomes visitors to share in is “a model of best practice”.

Colby House Refurbishment

Titanic Hotel Belfast

Commercial winner

Community benefit winner architects Hall Black Douglas and contractors McAleer and Teague. Judges of the RICS Awards said: “Its sensitive conservation approach was professional, and the partnership created of caring community groups and the Heritage Lottery Fund added strength and injected a variety of views, often conflicting, and aspirations which collectively have transformed this neglected overgrown corner of Botanic Gardens into a visitor attraction with an amazing story to be

absorbed at leisure.” Michael Hannaway, Chair of the RICS Awards Northern Ireland judging panel, said: “These eight exciting winning schemes are all having an extremely positive impact on their local communities. “The teams behind them have worked tirelessly and with incredible vision to create projects which provide tremendous benefit across areas as diverse and important as healthcare,

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education, housing, the workplace and tourism. “Through collaborating with other professionals, local surveyors have shown that they have the talent to deliver exemplary and in many cases world-class built projects.” All category winners will now go on to compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final in November 2018 for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winners in their respective category. Project of the Year Winner– The Tropical Ravine Belfast The highly acclaimed Project of the Year title is presented to the scheme which demonstrates overall outstanding best practice and an exemplary commitment to adding value to its local area. Delivered by surveyors Currie & Brown, architects Hall Black Douglas and contractors McAleer and Teague, the Tropical Ravine, a unique and nationally significant Victorian building, houses a noteworthy collection of tropical plants. It reopened to the public in April following a £3.8m upgrade. RICS judges praised the sensitive conservation approach and said the partnership created of caring community groups and the Heritage Lottery Fund had collectively transformed the neglected overgrown corner of Botanic Gardens into a

Tourism and lesiure winner

Commercial Winner– Colby House (sponsored by Sika) Colby House’s £5m reconfiguration for Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) involved a turnkey design and construct contract providing 34,500 square feet of Grade A office accommodation. A threestorey extension was constructed at the main entrance with a stunning feature entrance piazza. Internally, the building was stripped out and refitted to provide 21st century facilities. Hood McGowan Kirk were surveyors for the project while architects involved included CPD Architect Branch, Gregory Architects and WDR and RT Taggart. JH Turkington and Sons were the contractors. Judges said the refurbishment was “an exemplar commercial project with the use of excellent design” and praised the use of sustainability measures. Highly commended – Connswater Community Greenway The £33m Connswater Community Greenway and East Belfast Flood

36|RICS Awards

Enniskillen Ambulance Station Connswater Community Greenway

The Pump House, Portadown

Infrastructure winner

Alleviation Scheme has made a massive contribution to the lives of residents and visitors to the area, improving life chances and biodiversity and creating healthier communities while catalysing regeneration and community cohesion. Those which worked on the Greenway project included surveyors from Belfast City Council, architectural firm Paul Hogarth and Farrans Construction. Community Benefit Winner– John Paul II Primary School, Belfast John Paul II Primary School on the Whiterock Road underwent a £1.2m extension, designed to encourage children to view education as an opportunity to succeed in life. The project, delivered by surveyors Clarke Shipway, d-on architects, and contractors Connolly and Fee, has enhanced learning conditions in the school and helped the community set itself a new standard. Judges said that generations of unemployment, sectarian strife and poverty have been alleviated by the stability and optimism of John Paul II Primary School. They added that its dedication to and engagement with parents and families has been greatly enhanced and amplified thanks to the modest investment in this block with four new classrooms. Design Through Innovation WinnerOmagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex (sponsored by Forbo) A new model of healthcare provision, the complex is unique to both Northern Ireland and the UK in how services are delivered on one site. The key underlying design drivers

The Tropical Ravine

John Paul II Primary School

Newry Leisure Centre were delivering an innovative and fresh approach, combined with a vision for a holistic environment for healing. The project was delivered by surveyors WH Stephens, TODD Architects with Hall Black Douglas, and McLaughlin and Harvey. Judges praised the “revolutionary improvements in the efficient and holistic delivery of community carer services at a single location” and the “feel good factor” it had created for the local community.

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Infrastructure Winner– Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Station, Enniskillen The new Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Station, designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century, provides a flexible workspace capable of supporting the Northern Ireland Ambulance’s changing and developing workforce and fleet. Spread over 1,400m2, the facility provides a functional yet calming

environment for staff and visitors during traumatic experiences. Surveyors for the project were Currie & Brown while work was also carried out by Todd Architects and construction company FORRME. Judges of the awards said the new station was “ground breaking, innovative and representative of how future stations will be”. Regeneration Winner– Newry Leisure Centre (sponsored by

RICS Awards| 37

Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex

Residential winner

Project of the Year

Radius Housing - Rathgill Bangor Mills Selig) The £19m leisure centre project funded mainly by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, is a state-ofthe-art facility including an eight lane swimming pool with moving floor, vitality suites, a café, two large sports halls, fitness suites and fitness studios. The building was conceived as an object carved out of stone, inspired by the beauty of the natural carving of the Newry and Mourne mountain. Surveyors for the project were Currie and Brown, architects were Kennedy FitzGerald and Felix O’Hare were the building contractors. Judges said the project “demonstrated excellence in urban regeneration and design.”

Regeneration winner

The Tropical Ravine Highly commended– The Pump House Portadown Portadown Pump House, which was built in 1929 as part of the drainage system for the town, has been restored and brought back into use thanks to investment from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Department for Communities. The project will act as a catalyst for a wider regeneration plan to reclaim the riverside area of the town. The building is now a busy riverfront coffee shop but has maintained many of the original internal and external features. Faithful and Gould were surveyors for the project which also involved McAdam Design as architects

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and Moss Construction. Residential Category Winner – Rathgill, Bangor Radius Housing’s development at Rathgill Bangor, which incorporates almost 200 homes, has been underpinned by design best practice, innovation, sustainability and integration with the established surrounding community. The project was delivered by Naylor and Devlin surveyors, JNP Architects, Kelly Brothers and Hugh J O’Boyle. Judges praised the extent of community consultation for the £22.5m scheme as well as well as the team’s consideration of the ecology of the site.

Tourism & Leisure Category Winner – Titanic Hotel Belfast The Titanic Hotel, which opened last September, saw the Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and headquarters building restored to the highest standards. As the jewel in the crown of the heritage assets on Queen’s Island, it is the centrepiece for a heritage area which attracts tourists from around the world. Sammon Surveyors and RMI Architects carried out the project with Abercorn Construction. Judges said: “It is stylish, not overstated, it is respectful not humble and most critically it brings a unique piece of Belfast’s history into contemporary life.”

38| Metal Tech

METAL TECHNOLOGY GAINS BES 6001 ACCREDITATION Leading aluminium systems manufacturer, Metal Technology, has been accredited to the BES 6001 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing of construction products. This standard enables construction product manufacturers to ensure, and then prove, that their products have been made with materials that have been responsibly sourced. The standard provides a framework for the organisational governance, supply chain management and environmental and social aspects that must be addressed in order to ensure responsible sourcing. BES 6001 accreditation affirms and endorses Metal Technology’s sustainability credentials and, taken together with the product quality, the comprehensive testing of systems and existing accreditation to quality standard ISO

9001 and environmental standard ISO 14001, reassures customers that they can specify Metal Technology architectural aluminium systems with confidence in their performance on all levels, structurally, aesthetically and ethically. Metal Technology’s Managing Director, Calvin Wilson (pictured right) who received the certificate from Leo Tinnelly from the British Standards Institute, commented: “We are delighted to have achieved BES 6001 as a further endorsement of our commitment to sustainability throughout every part of our business. “Of course, with a business based on aluminium, a one hundred percent recyclable material, we have a head start, however, this latest accreditation demonstrates that sustainability is at the heart of all our business operations, from production to transport and head office operations.” Metal Technology routinely monitors and manages every aspect of its operations from an environmental impact viewpoint and consistently drives performance improvements. For example, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 9.29kg/tonne of product by utilising solar power, a 6%

reduction in emissions per tonne. The in-house transport fleet is also being reformed to reduce emissions and is in the process of being upgraded to

lorries with Euro VI emissions class engines. For more information visit www. metaltechnology.com

METAL TECHNOLOGY ADDS ‘SILVER SCREEN’ TO BELFAST FILM STUDIO Belfast Harbour Studios, the latest asset to Northern Ireland’s burgeoning film industry infrastructure, features curtain walling, window and door systems from leading aluminium systems manufacturer, Metal Technology.

The project includes more than 120,000sqft of studio space, workshops and production offices, and covers 8.4 acres of the overall 340acre Giant’s Park, a former landfill which has been transformed into the largest development site in Belfast city. Warner Horizon became the studio’s first tenant for the making of the Superman prequel KRYPTON, further cementing Northern Ireland’s position as a favoured location for major film and television productions. Metal Technology’s System 17 capped curtain walling was used to create the glazed façade office space, with System 5-20D doors and 4-35Hi+ casement windows used throughout the building. All Metal Technology systems are designed to perform seamlessly together while

delivering the desired look and performance standards. Used individually or together, they offer complete design

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flexibility for creative aesthetics with the assurance of value engineered structural, weather and security per-

formance. For more information visit www. metaltechnology.com

|39

digest

JSP IS AHEAD OF THE REG!

JSP Ltd is pleased to announce that they have on day one of the enforcement of the regulation the vast majority of their product range certified to the new PPE Regulation, 2016/425. This is a year ahead of the cut-off date of 21st April 2019! Over 150 products on 15 certificates across the complete range of their above-the- neck PPE offering including their market leading EVO® Industrial Safety Helmet Range and Force™ Respirators will be manufactured in

accordance with the new regulation from day one. JSP Ltd has ensured that it is in conformity with the latest European requirements at the earliest opportunity. The regulation has been brought in to help make sure that the user of PPE is better protected than ever before, using products which they can trust. All PPE must be issued with declarations of conformity by the manufacturer, and there are parts of the Regulation that will have direct implications on distributors and importers who are now responsible for ensuring they have a copy of the

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declarations of conformity and keep it for 10 years after the product has gone on to the market. To sum up - all enterprises involved in the supply of PPE in Europe now have the same obligations as a manufacturer to ensure that the product placed on the market will protect the user. JSP’s early conformity to the regulation demonstrates their continued commitment to manufacturing tested, traceable and trusted PPE products. The other main change of the PPE Regulation update is the reclassification of hearing protection to a category 3 risk product. It is now more important than ever for

employers to provide their staff with the correct hearing protection and to fully understand that employees are adequately protected. All the JSP range of Hearing Protection meets this criteria including the new Sonis® ranges of Ear Defenders with market leading attenuation levels. JSP have confirmed that it is not just their latest innovations and class leading products which conform but also their tried and tested classic designs such as the Invincible MK®II industrial safety helmet which meet these new requirements. For further details on the new PPE Regulations please contact them on 01993 826050. www.jspsafety.com

40| Timber

THE BENEFITS OF TIMBER IN CONSTRUCTION Jeremy English, Sales Director at Södra Sweden’s largest forestowner association - explains how timber is perfectly placed to meet the needs of the UK construction industry. With its clean, cost effective, attractive and efficient properties, there’s no doubt that timber has a huge part to play in the future of UK construction. The word about wood is spreading: Rowan Moore, The Guardian’s architecture critic, recently dubbed engineered timber “the new concrete” and “a miracle building material” thanks to its ability to extract carbon from the atmosphere rather than add to it. As a uniquely renewable building resource, timber is hard to beat in the sustainability stakes. As they grow, trees absorb harmful carbon dioxide, locking CO2 into the wood forever rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. This is why trees should only be felled when they have fully

matured and stopped absorbing CO2 - allowing the environment to fully benefit. And when forests are responsibly managed by owners who put more in than they take out, you can be sure that the timber you’re using has been sustainably harvested. Embodied energy is the sum of energy required to create a product or service. In the construction industry, this factors in energy expended through building, production and transportation, typically accounting for around 30-50 per cent of a project’s entire carbon footprint. It takes very little energy to convert trees into timber for construction, while the building process typically requires a fifth of the vehicle deliveries demanded by concrete. These factors give timber the lowest embodied energy rating of any mainstream building material.

For example, a wooden floor beam requires around 80 megajoules (mj) of energy per square metre of floor space and emits 4kg CO2. By comparison, a square metre of floor space supported by a steel beam requires 516mj and emits 40 kg of CO2, while a concrete slab floor requires 290mj and emits 27kg of CO2. Timber is remarkably strong and

durable, guaranteeing no compromise in quality even when speed of construction is taken into account. Timber structures can last hundreds of years and are less expensive and easy to maintain than other materials. Off-site, timber gains points thanks to its ability to streamline the offsite manufacturing process, cutting build time by as much as 50 per cent.

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INTERVIEW | 41

Specify talks to... James Burleigh,Senior Commerical Manager at BT’s NI Networks

Name: James Burleigh Job Title: Senior Commercial Manager at BT’s NI Networks What is your job? I am a Senior Commercial Manager with NI Networks and I look after NI Networks’ relationships with property developers across Northern Ireland. I manage two teams, the first is ‘Newsites’ who work in partnership with property developers and builders as they prepare to install fibre broadband at new building sites. The second is Contract Management, they are responsible for the day-today management of our third-party suppliers.

emails and I will then have a call or meeting with my team to see how activity is progressing. The rest of my day is then spent in meetings with property developers and/or suppliers, understanding what things are working well for our customers and ensuring that as many new homes have access to fibre broadband from the outset. What are the main skills your job requires?

How did you get into your area of work? I have been with NI Networks for 15 years, originally joining as an apprentice engineer, and moved into my first management role in 2009. Since then I’ve had several posts from managing engineering coaches to a role as Contracts Manager.

The main part of my job is to demonstrate the value to our partners of having fibre broadband at a new build site and we work closely with builders and property developers from the earliest stages of site development and then throughout the build process. This means an ability to communicate, to multi-task and to be a problem-solver are vital skills. I also think that being flexible and having a positive attitude goes a long way, as well as being able to put yourself in the customer’s shoes to understand what they need.

What does a typical day look like? My day begins with a glance through

What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?

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I recently went out on site with our installation engineers to install Ultrafast broadband, delivered via Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP), for a customer and their speeds increased from 0.5Mbps to 330Mbps. This was a huge increase and the customer was delighted – it is moments like this that I love the most. The most challenging aspect is managing the demand on resources and dealing with inclement weather, so we need to ensure that all our teams are skilled and flexible so that we are as efficient as possible. Why is what you do important? NI Networks recently commissioned research* which showed that having access to good broadband speeds is now one of the deciding factors for prospective homebuyers in NI. 60% of 18-35-year-olds, who make up the bulk of future homebuyers, also said they would check broadband speeds in advance of buying a property and 54% said they would pay more for a property with fibre broadband. To me, this is significant and demonstrates the importance of what we do. We know homebuyers want to be

connected straight away when they move into a new property and to have access to the most advanced broadband technology available and our teams play an important role in this. For new sites of five or more homes, the development is allocated a New Sites Representative who makes sure that the communications provider knows everything they need about building a FTTP network. They also guide property developers through the installation requirements and arrangement inspections of the network build to ensure that everything is delivered ahead of customers moving in. What have been the highlights of your career so far? When I first started as an engineer, broadband was quite new, and customers were delighted to get speeds of 2Mbps. Now, 15 years later, fast broadband is a necessity for most people. Seeing the technological advancements in the network and being involved in the roll out of fibre broadband has been a real personal highlight.

Celebrating 45 years since the first CIS Report was published in 1972 Construction Information Services (CIS) is the market leader in supplying All-Ireland construction opportunities to the industry. We provide fully researched real-time information on construction projects from pre-planning through to on-site stages. *This project listing was generated on 17th August 2017.

Sign up to CIS FREE to get 10 project views each month and receive a tailored email alert of projects specific to you. Contact us on: Phone:

Banbridge Office: 028 4064 8110 Dublin Office: 00353 (0)1 2999 200

Website:

www.cisireland.com

Email:

sales@cisireland.com

CIVIL AND UTILITIES ProjectID Title

Stage

Category

Value

County

948649 £27m - Grounds Maintenance 934213 £22.5m - M and E Services First Response Managed Service Support Contract 850229 £18m - Multi Storey Car Park 917762 £160m - Dualling, Phase 1

Tender Tender

Civil and Utilities Civil and Utilities

£27,000,000 £22,500,000

Co. Antrim Co. Antrim

On Site Tender

Civil and Utilities Civil and Utilities

£18,000,000 £160,000,000

Co. Antrim Co. Londonderry

737500 £15m - Cruise Ship Berth 943874 £15m - Leakage Detection Services

Tender Tender

Civil and Utilities Civil and Utilities

£15,000,000 £15,000,000

Co. Antrim Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

On Site On Site

Commercial Commercial

€90,000,000 €20,000,000

Co. Cork Co. Dublin

Stage

Category

Value

County

740615 £30m - Church and Community Leisure Facilities, Phase 1 On Site

Community and Sport

£30,000,000

Co. Antrim

888651 £25m - Leisure Centre

Contract Awarded

Community and Sport

£25,000,000

Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

On Site On Site

Hospitality Hospitality

€29,800,000 £4,794,319

Co. Dublin Co. Tyrone

Tender

Hospitality

£15,000,000

Co. Londonderry

Stage

Category

Value

County

Tender

Industrial

€60,000,000

Co. Kildare

On Site Tender

Industrial Industrial

£20,000,000 £14,000,000

Co. Londonderry Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

Tender

Medical

€19,000,000

Co. Waterford

On Site Tender

Medical Medical

€18,000,000 £13,356,000

Co. Dublin Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

903867 €30m - Residential Development 848320 €19m - Mixed Use Development 948648 €125m - Residential Development 806862 £6.2m - Residential/Commercial Development

Contract Awarded Contract Awarded

Residential Residential

€30,431,560 €19,000,000

Co. Kildare Co. Dublin

Tender On Site

Residential Residential

€125,500,000 £6,289,881

Co. Dublin Co. Antrim

890116 £30m - Site, Design and Build, Social Housing Scheme 948144 £25m - Design and Build Contract 760719 £22.9m - Social Housing Development

Tender Tender

Residential Residential

£30,000,000 £25,000,000

Co. Antrim Co. Londonderry

Tender

Residential

£22,900,000

Co. Antrim

COMMERCIAL ProjectID Title 866698 €90m - Office Development 721993 €20m - Office Blocks

COMMUNITY AND SPORT ProjectID Title

HOSPITALITY ProjectID Title 903346 €29.8m - Student Accommodation Development 841045 £4.7m - Restaurant 876540 £15m - 4 Star Hotel & Spa Complex

INDUSTRIAL ProjectID Title 927804 €60m - Forensic Science Laboratory - Main Works 745517 £20m - Data Centre 948196 £14m - Tree Planting Services

MEDICAL ProjectID Title 862825 €19m - Residential Care Centre 819489 €18m - Community Nursing Unit 924244 £13.3m - Maintenance of Powered Doors

RESIDENTIAL ProjectID Title

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Hays | 43

FMB AND HAYS LINK UP TO RAISE THE BAR

When the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) launched its recent report on what it considered the agenda for quality and professionalism in construction, it felt like a timely reminder that there remains a need for minimum standards across the industry.

The FMB believes that while the construction sector has much to be proud of, its image continues to be tarnished by serious failures that should no longer be accepted. It notes that the Independent Review of Building Regulations set up in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster in London has already raised serious questions about standards, regulation and compliance – questions which are just as relevant in Northern Ireland.

The report, titled Raising the bar, sees the organisation calling on Government to introduce a licensing scheme for all builders and contractors in the UK - including Northern Ireland. The FMB believes this is the only way to truly eliminate incompetent firms who pose a risk to themselves and their clients because they lack the necessary knowledge and professionalism.

FMB believes that a licensing system could serve to promote and drive up technical competence, customer service, financial good conduct, and health and safety compliance, and provide routes to continual professional development which is currently lacking. It believes such a scheme would:

It’s a rallying call that we at Hays are fully behind. Hays has been sourcing professionals for the construction sector for more than 20 years and we know that some Northern Ireland companies have among the highest standards in the industry. Hays is partnering with the FMB in its campaign because we believe it is imperative that the whole sector observes the highest professional and ethical standards. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics in our dealing with clients and candidates as we believe the principles of quality and professionalism are essential to meet their needs in a specialist market.

• Remove the scourge of incompetent and rogue builders from the industry • Offer a much higher level of consumer protection • Increase construction output and boost the wider economy • Act as a mechanism to drive up quality and improved productivity • Help to improve health and safety compliance among smaller firms • Improve the image of the industry and help solve the skills shortage Gavin McGuire, director of FMB Northern Ireland, said: “We believe the construction industry is at a crossroads and the time is right to make radical changes that can permanently secure a safer, more productive and more professional industry. We cannot do this without a mechanism to ensure a minimum level of competence

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across the industry, which does not currently exist. “Countries like Australia and Germany already have schemes where builders have to go through a process to become a regulated builder.” The next step of FMB’s plan is a call for mandatory warranties for any job of a size that requires building control. It notes that while people would not think of buying a new car for £50,000 without a warranty, taking out a warranty for building work of a similar value is not common practice. It wants to see a requirement for a minimum 24-month warranty for building work at this level. He said: “We work in an under-regulated industry where there’s nothing to stop someone starting a company tomorrow, getting a website and paying a fee for job leads. We also have a situation where many people still hand out thousands of pounds based on assurances that ‘my word is my bond’. “Mandatory warranties for jobs that require building control would protect them and give others confidence to go ahead with new projects. As long as there are people who will pay cash to avoid VAT and not worry about insurance, the black market industry will go on, but warranties would afford everyone else a degree of protection.” Hays’ annual What Workers Want report has shown in recent years that, while pay remains the most important factor, a key consideration for employees choosing an employer

is its culture and reputation. People want to work for employers with a diverse and engaging culture and the move towards licensing should help the industry attract a more diverse workforce, including more women. Mark Wade, director at Hays NI, said: “Hays supports the FMB’s drive to raise the bar in the construction sector. Licensing could play a part in solving the wider skills shortages in the industry by boosting the reputation of the profession and making construction careers more attractive to young people. “There are great opportunities to build a career in construction that, in many cases, can lead to a better salary than you’d earn with a university degree. But we need a strong pipeline of skills coming through to fill gaps in the workforce.” The most recent Hays UK Salary & Recruitment Trends report showed some roles in construction commanded substantial salary increases, in some cases up to 10% last year. As a result, construction employers are increasingly consulting Hays on the retention of their best workers, not just hiring. Mark adds: “Northern Irish builders are in demand the world over because of their high skills levels. The more professional the industry, the more chance there is that good people will stay with local companies to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.” The FMB’s full report into licensing will be launched at an event in the House of Lords on 2nd July 2018.

44| John Simpson

by John Simpson

Just consider if, in midwinter January 2021, electricity supplies in the Belfast area are inadequate. Load shedding or area cut-off rotas come into play. In a cold winter, households and businesses, with discomfort and coping with lost production, ask why? The possible reasons: old generating electricity power stations have closed, alternative supplies from south of the border or through the interconnector across the North Channel cannot meet the extra local demand and are committed to other local supply needs. That scenario is hypothetical. But it could happen if in 2018 – now – a proposal to build a high capacity south-north electricity grid is further delayed. The proposal, in June 2018, is already some years behind the planning schedule that was envisaged in 2015. The planning forecasts, the investment appraisal and the responsibility for contracting the works, were all neat and tidy, but the critical final stages were delayed by planning appeals and/or referral of technical or legal deficiencies to consideration in a Judicial Review.

Judicial Review has become not just an unwelcome and occasional hazard. Bidders for large construction contracts already know the potential for disruption or delay. Judicial Review has become a frequent part of processes which, sometimes deservedly, take time, impose an added expense, and should be anticipated in scheduling major capital projects. Judicial Review, when merited and successful, is a safeguard against imperfect or flawed decision making. The logical response is that ‘imperfect or flawed decision making’ should not occur. Get it right, first time. That is easily said but, in reality, the ability to allege fault, to delay, and to frustrate efficient investment planning cannot be eliminated with certainty.

NI’s Power stations at Ballylumford and Kilnot need backed up by a Irish Capacity south-north grid.

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PHOTOS IRISH NEWS

DECISION MAKING WHEN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS ARE NEEDED

John Simpson| 45

The proposed incinerator at Mallusk. Planning permission was overturned by the courts Turn the question round to look at it from an objector’s stance. Simply as a citizen detached from direct pecuniary involvement, how do uninvolved ‘spectators’ react when a Judicial Review supports an appeal by near-by residents at ground level when a 10-storey office block is quashed? What re-action is expressed when a Judicial Review is used to challenge an energy efficient plant designed to incinerate waste material in a former quarry? Then, to return to the original example, how would we feel if objectors to a new electricity grid caused a serious risk that ‘the lights might go out’ even temporarily? Sadly, although Judicial Review can be seen as a hazard or a stimulus to good procedures, decision making in Northern Ireland is now occasionally even more complex. In the absence of an Executive reporting to the Assembly, decision making is becoming more tortuous. Pending even further judicial guidance on the acceptability of discretionary decision making by public servants (usually Permanent Secretaries) which is now awaited as a secondary effect of the appeal against the rejection of the actions of the Permanent Secretary in the Department for Infrastructure which purported to approve the waste incinerator plant,

the implicit message across the public sector is ‘stop all potentially challengeable project decisions’. There is no principled objection to leaving decisions about policy developments to Ministers, if there are any. But there are no Ministers. A growing list of policy decisions is now more than a marginal inconvenience. To allow good government to continue, something needs to happen. As these words are written there are no public plans to make decision making possible. Of course, there are possible pressure reliving measures. First and a device that has been used previously: the UK Government might restore what is termed Direct Rule, meaning that Westminster would approve a form of delegated authority exercised probably in the name of the Secretary of State. The search for a renewal of the power sharing Executive would be postponed or set aside to allow a Westminster approval mechanism. The Secretary of State is very reluctant to implement Direct Rule, either because she is influenced by the political arithmetic in Parliament or because the official view is that the present unpleasant position is a better lever on reluctant MLAs

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to seek a compromise on restoring the Executive. This is a hands-off stance that simply forces temporary arrangements that will get more difficult and the months go by. A second option has been expressed tentatively by leading representatives of the business, farming and construction industries. It envisages that, whether for a temporary period or possibly longer, Westminster should amend the devolved authority of senior public officials to make a larger range of decisions, implicitly narrowing the residual authority of Executive Ministers. The exact form of the increased devolved discretion to officials has not been closely debated. Superficially, it sounds like a serious challenge to the devolved Government. As a form of problem solving because of the lack of an Executive, it is unlikely to gain support from the experts in constitutional systems. A more likely route to provide some relief emerges in suggestions that the absence of locally appointed Ministers should not be barrier to public policy decisions where it can be argued that previous decisions or actions have set a policy precedent for decision making that simply moves in a direction that extends past decisions.

The Judicial Review of the decision by the outgoing Executive to revise the tariff for renewable energy in the RHI scheme illustrated that, where logic and common sense were applied, mistaken excess commitments (in tariffs that were too high) can be reversed. The best expectation is that Northern Ireland will revert to the power sharing devolution arrangements that form an imperfect (but workable) basis for Government to function. If that remains a forlorn hope, then Direct Rule and improved forms of Westminster discipline must be considered. For the immediate months ahead, a form of discretionary decision making, that draws on precedents or other demonstrable forms of support must be devised. If statutory processes have been completed, then the door should open for discretionary nonMinisterial decisions. It might even be possible that, in cases of challenge, a parity of impact judgement would be used to compare Northern Ireland with Scotland or England. The best hope is that, after making such plans, local compromises would make them redundant. The construction sector, possibly more than any other, needs an end to creeping paralysis.

INDUSTRY VEHICLES Vans and Light Commercial Vehicles are the lifeblood of the construction industry. From delivering materials to allowing workers to commute to the building site, the LCV industry is currently enjoying an upturn in sales. The LCV market itself is changing too, with a wide variety of engine sizes, fuel types and cargo spaces available, while hybrid and plug in hybrid vans are on the way. The technology developed for passenger cars has now made its way into LCVs and it is now possible to choose a van than can detect speed limits and ensure the van doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exceed them, as well as incorporating traffic sign recognition systems and Blind Spot Information Systems.

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Industry Vehicles| 47

SHOGUN SPORT COMMERCIAL Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has unveiled an allnew Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Commercial.

The new all-wheel drive Shogun Sport Commercial combines the go-anywhere capability and comprehensive specification of the passenger version with an interior that has been designed to accommodate sizeable loads with ease. Behind the two front seats there is a six-inch bulkhead and a completely flat floor with bonded carpet, while security is enhanced with opaque rear side windows. Steel rear windows will be available as an option. Perfect for construction workers whose job takes them regularly off-road and who require space for equipment, the Shogun Sport Commercial offers a load area of around 1,500 litres. Adding to its versatility, it is also able to tow up to 3,100kgs. Power is provided by a 181hp 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine, which is matched

to an all-new, eightspeed automatic transmission and Mitsubishi Motors’ advanced Super Select II all-wheel drive system, which allows the driver to switch seamlessly between twowheel drive and four-wheel drive on all terrains. Based on the top-of-therange Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 4 specification, the dedicated commercial version benefits from an extensive specification that blends luxury with convenience and the very latest technological advancements from Mitsubishi.

NEW SIGNWRITING REVISIONS TO SERVICE FROM TRANSIT CUSTOM RENAULT PRO+

RANGE

Powered by Ford’s EcoBlue 2.0-litre diesel engine, Transit Custom has been re-engineered to offer significant new features and capabilities including a new ECOnetic van variant delivering improved fuel efficiency and 148g/km CO2 emissions. Sporting a bold new front-end design with three-bar Transit grille, Ford’s one-tonne van provides drivers with the ideal mobile office environment, featuring a completely new cabin that offers best-in-class stowage, improved comfort and ergonomics, and easy connectivity with SYNC 3 or MyFord Dock options. Further technologies introduced to commercial vehicles for the first time include Intelligent Speed Assist. The new generation Transit Custom sets the scene for Ford’s next major commercial vehicle innovation, with the introduction of the zero-emission capable Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) derivative scheduled to begin volume production in 2019. The Transit Custom PHEV utilises an advanced hybrid system that targets a zero-emission range exceeding 30 miles, and features the multi-awardwinning Ford EcoBoost 1.0-litre petrol engine as a range extender. The hybrid

electric van will begin trials with fleet customers in London from December this year. The latest Transit Custom is powered by the state-of-the-art Ford EcoBlue diesel engine with a choice of 105PS, 130PS and 170PS power ratings, the advanced new engine delivers significant cost of ownership and performance benefits compared to the previous 2.2-litre diesel, with fuelefficiency improved by up to 13 per cent and low-end torque enhanced by 20 per cent. The new model maintains the Transit reputation for delivering class-leading load-carrying ability, with innovative loadspace features such as the loadthrough hatch in the bulkhead for extra-long items, and the integrated roof rack that can be folded away when not in use.

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Renault Pro+ Commercial Vehicles is pleased to announce a new, unique, customer offer of sign writing supplied and fitted by Renault UK. For many van buyers, the thought of adding sign writing to their vehicles is not considered until the vehicle arrives with the dealer, or even until it has been on the road for some time. Particularly for sole traders and SMEs, where maximising the vehicle’s time on the road is essential to profitability, the idea of delaying the van’s handover, or taking it off the road, is not an option. Renault Pro+ Commercial Vehicles, in its continual quest to provide an “EasyLife for

Professionals”, has developed a centrally-managed solution to provide sign writing that is supplied directly by the French marque and fitted at their UK import centre. Ordered at the same time, or soon after, the van sale is completed, the sign writing is created within three standard templates. These allow the customer to add their logo, expertise/ services offered, a website address and business telephone number. Font type and colour can also be specified. The signs are for the each side of the van and the rear doors or tailgate. By printing the signs before the vehicle is delivered, and fitting them during the usual import centre logistics process that all vehicles go through, the timeframes are minimised and vehicle downtime eliminated. Quality and price can also be more accurately controlled, giving a uniformity to the offer.

Custom Vehicle Solutions is now an authorised dealer for Speedliner Europe, the UKs most successful and longest established versatile sprayliner.

SPEEDLINER EURO HS® spray liner can meet and almost always exceed the needs of providing a practical washable and easy clean panel van interior together with the added qualities of internal panel scuff and scrape protection. The most common interior protective washable coating has traditionally been GRP (fibreglass) but this coated application can be prone to cracks, ‘crazing’, colour degradation and is becoming more expensive due to the rising cost of the materials used together with the specialised application skills needed. Our product dimensions and the choice of materials are chosen to maximise load capacity while complying with demands for low fuel consumption and environmental impact. The proven tough and durable SPEEDLINER EURO HS® spray liner offers a viable and increasingly economic solution to the vehicle ‘end user’.

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Industry Vechicles| 49

POOR VAN DRIVING IS BAD FOR BUSINESS

Van drivers have been warned to take more care on the roads amid concerns their bad driving could be bad for business. Experts at one of the UK’s leading suppliers of vans to tradesmen and women LeaseVan.co.uk say poor van driving could be enough to put people off dealing with a company. They warned customers to ensure

vans are driven courteously and that speed limits and other road users are respected at all times. The van leasing specialists warned that badly driven vans could be costing the sector millions in lost revenue every year - with small businesses likely to be hardest hit. Examples of bad driving likely to lead to lost business for van drivers include cutting up other motorists, racing away from traffic lights, failing to stop at zebra crossings and pulling out abruptly from junctions. Because vans are often branded with a company’s

FIAT DUCATO TAKES LARGE VAN AWARD Further proof of the popularity and success of the Fiat Professional Ducato was shown recently when it won the ‘Large Van’ category in this year’s Honest John Awards. The Tropical Ravine, aThe accolade recognised the popularity of the Ducato among van fleet operators while praising its range of body styles, driver comfort and diesel engines. “The Fiat Ducato is our Large Van of the Year. Over the past 12 months no other van in its class has come close to matching its popularity and

logo and contact details it makes it very easy for other road users to boycott a firm if they take umbrage. The experts are urging more companies to train van drivers on customer service and on how best to represent their employer while out on the roads. A spokesman for LeaseVan.co.uk said: “Van drivers need to realise that each and every time they get behind the wheel they are an ambassador for their company. In some cases these drivers will interact with more

members of the public each day than the average salesperson for the company so they should really be given training on how to conduct themselves on behalf of the company. “If a van is driven badly it’s likely to be remembered for all the wrong reasons and if it’s branded with logos and other details it’s likely to lose lots of orders for the company. “Branded vans can be very powerful mobile adverts for a firm but if they are poorly driven they could actually be costing sales.”

WARRANTY EXTENDED ON VW CRAFTER

it’s easy to see why operators hold it in such high regard,” says Dan Powell, managing editor, Honest John. “The Ducato has an extensive range of body styles and payload capacities, while its comfortable cabin and strong diesel engines make it easy to use.” The Fiat Professional Ducato range starts at £23,470 for the 115 HP MultiJet II. A range-topping Sportivo version equipped with 17-inch black alloy wheels, rear view camera, front fog lights and black metallic paint with red “Sportivo” stripes costs from £32,400. The Ducato 130 HP MultiJet II Tecnico is currently available for £289 per month plus initial rental.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has upgraded the warranty on its multi-award-winning Crafter model from three-years and up to 60,000 miles to threeyears and unlimited mileage. The move offers peace of mind for operators whose vehicles regularly exceed 60,000 miles. The warranty, which is composed of a two year manufacturer warranty and third year Van Centre guarantee protects against the failure of most mechanical and electrical components due to manufacturing defects. Full details of terms and conditions are available at www.volkswagenvans.co.uk/en/service-accessories/ warranties. Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Thanks to the upgraded warranty and wide variety of models now available, including panel vans and chassis cabs with gross vehicle weights from 3.0 to 5.0 tonnes, as well as front- rear- and four-wheel drive options and manual and automatic gearboxes, there has never been a better time to buy a Crafter. In addition, a number of offers are currently available from Volkswagen Van Centres, making the van more affordable than ever, and easy to budget for thanks to competitive monthly payments on finance plans. Deposit contributions are also available on contract hire and finance lease. Finance quotes are available from your local Volkswagen Van Centre or the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles website at www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/app/local/ finance-calculator.

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CEF/SpecifyCEF awards |29

THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

News in Brief...

RAY HUTCHINSON SPEECH TO FEDERATION’S ANNUAL DINNER

CSR INTRODUCES NEW PLANT ACHIEVEMENT TESTS

Ireland. Few other local industries can match the scale, scope and impact of the construction industry and activities on the local landscape.

The Construction Skills Register (CSR) is introduced new Plant Achievement Tests from 30 April 2018. The tests have been introduced to improve the standard and quality assurance of the CSR plant scheme and must be completed by all applicants for new, additional or upgrade plant cards. Renewals are not affected. The new Plant Achievement Tests are being introduced in thirteen categories with a further seven being rolled out by the summer. Applicants for a red Trained Plant CSR card will now complete an Achievement Test rather than a plant Award/Certificate. Candidates applying for a blue Plant Operative card must complete the Plant Achievement Test along with an NVQ Level 2 in Plant Operations. The tests, which include both theory and practical elements, can only be carried out by the four accredited CSR plant providers listed below. Please contact the training providers directly for bookings.

“Like all industries in Northern Ireland, ours is not without its challenges and we are undoubtedly facing a time of great uncertainty and delay.

• Belfast Skills DevelopmentTemple • Industry Training ServicesPortadown • McKinney Plant & SafetyStrabane • Woodhill TrainingCullybackey For further information please contact the CSR Scheme Manager, Jonathan Caughey, on 028 9087 7150 or JCaughey@cefni.co.uk

Uncertainties facing the construction industry

Across the construction industry, there is a strong and united view that Northern Ireland’s political impasse has gone on for far too long.

Ray Hutchinson, President of the CEF

As the Federation has already said on the public record, there is a significant and increasingly harmful lack of governance within Northern Ireland. This uncertainty was reflected in our recent State of Trade survey with BDO Northern Ireland. The survey, covering workloads for the second half of 2017 and the prospects for 2018 and beyond raised a number of key points:• During the second half of 2017 just under half of all firms surveyed worked at

ay Hutchinson delivered his first official speech since being appointed as President of the Construction Employers Federation, at the Federation’s Annual Dinner at the Culloden Hotel. Over 200 guests attending the prestigious event also heard from guest speaker Dick Strawbridge MBE, engineer-inventor, sustainability expert and TV presenter. The dinner was attended by a wide range of senior politicians, senior officials from the public sector, construction related professional organisations and trade associations. Not forgetting representatives of the many member companies of the Federation. The President commenced his speech welcoming the Federation Patrons, “I would like to begin by extending a very particular welcome and thanks to our partners for this evening’s event – our Federation Patrons. Over the past year, we have embedded the involvement of our Patrons as a core benefit of Federation membership. The Federation, and indeed the wider construction industry, remains grateful to the support of JP Corry, JLT, BDO Northern Ireland, A&L Goodbody, Cpl Northern Ireland and Willis Towers Watson and I thank you for your continued contribution to our work”.

Key highlights of the speech focused on: Pride in the Northern Ireland Construction Industry

“Ladies and gentlemen, let me straight away say how extremely proud I am to be part of the construction industry here in Northern Ireland. The companies in this room have, down the years, collectively developed buildings that have truly transformed the Northern Ireland landscape. In fact, we should all be proud that our industry has played a leading role in Northern Ireland’s transformation, which is now regarded as one of the top places to live and work in the UK. It is buildings built by the companies in the room this evening that feature strongly in international efforts to attract more businesses and visitors to Northern

Dick Strawbridge MBE full or almost full capacity • This was however down on the first six months of 2017 when two-thirds of companies worked at full or almost full capacity • Costs were up across the board • Looking at work expectations locally over the next 12 months, around two-thirds of firms expect output to level out or decline • Positively, only a small number of firms see the next 12 months as being about survival – a third are focused on stability, a quarter on growth and a third on increasing profitability • Firms are, though, much more positive about the next 12 months outside of Northern Ireland in terms of work expectations • Taking these factors into account, the sector’s outlook is flat in terms of employment growth • The industry is clear that the failure to restore the Northern Ireland Executive is a clear impediment to its sustainability and growth. This has had, and will continue to have, a major impact on tenders coming to market • Additionally, while industry has welcomed the extra

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clarity on Brexit provided by December’s UK-EU deal, there is significant uncertainty as to what companies should be preparing for in terms of the final outcome The survey results reflect the anecdotal feedback we have been hearing from the industry for months. While workloads have remained, broadly, positive and the vast majority of the industry is beyond purely focusing on its own survival, the year-long political deadlock at Stormont has clearly begun to feed through.

Budgetary concerns “The survey results are critical in light of the Budget Outlook document prepared by the Department of Finance before Christmas. It very clearly details the challenges presented because of the huge investment going into the Northern Ireland Executive’s Flagship projects over the next three years even though the overall Capital budget is going up. Unquestionably, the Executive’s Flagship schemes stand on their very clear economic merits. However, a balance must be struck in budgetary planning between how much resource is spent on these and other areas so as to avoid a massive cliff edge for the vast majority of firms not engaged on those Flagship projects. With the 2018/19 Northern Ireland Budget having progressed through Westminster, we now need urgent clarity on how the funds allocated by the Secretary of State are to be spent by the various Government Departments. In this context it is therefore very welcome to see the Department for Infrastructure announce its highest start of year funding for roads maintenance - £75m – since 2011. This will come as a massive boost for those contractors, their employees and supply chains, to which road maintenance is a significant part of their workload”.

Sustainability

“Our work with the Central Procurement Directorate, the Construction Industry Forum and the various Government Clients during the political impasse has been very productive. The engagement that we had with the Central Procurement Directorate in the first half of 2017 was very worthwhile and the Task and Finish Group report that was completed will undoubtedly be of assistance in addressing the industry’s sustainability challenge. However, in light of recent coverage regarding the sustainability of the construction industry both locally and across these islands, the industry is of the view that further urgent steps must be taken to address the challenges we collectively face. As you all know, sub-economic pricing is an issue which the industry has been struggling with for a number of years and has been a significant contributing factor in the demise of a number of contractors in recent years.

for clients, contractors and the wider economy. Clients end up with projects which are constructed to a lower quality standard than they require, defects are inevitable and there is a risk of the contractor being unable to complete the contract. Contractors end up incurring losses, attempting to recover losses from the supply chain and often fail to meet their legal obligations. In addition, they cannot invest in their businesses and their staff which results in them being even less efficient. To help address this issue, the mechanism proposed for pilot in last year’s Task and Finish Group report would, in our view, help deal with part of the issue. However, given the unrelenting negative impact that abnormally low tenders are having on both contractors and clients, we believe there is a need to advance this across the wider public sector”.

Political Clarity

“We are clearly now of the view that the industry is fast approaching a breaking point. State intervention in the market is by no means our preferred option, but we believe we face into a situation that now has no other viable option. We have long said that the Secretary of State must now bring clarity, particularly given the construction industries critical role in delivering jobs, economic development and growth. Decisions need to be prioritised and a clear and accountable way of government taking these decisions needs to be established. Our preference is, of course, the establishment of a Northern Ireland Executive. However, failing that, we need to move to a position where the functions of government can be exercised in a way that any other part of these islands would expect as a matter of course”.

Diversity

“Building diversity within our industry is a core priority and an area I am personally very passionate about. We must all be committed to building a strong diverse workforce in recognition of the proven value this will add to all our businesses. Promoting career opportunities for women in construction and gender equality across the industry is a longterm commitment, however, and there is much we can do if we work collaboratively this year and in the years ahead”. Ray concluded by paying tribute to Federation Past-President, David Henry and long-standing Honorary Treasurer Archi Rowan. “David – you have proved to be a truly excellent president over the past two years and it has been to the industry’s undoubted advantage that you have been our standard bearer over that time. Your knowledge, insight and experience have led us through challenging times”. “Archi – you have been a great supporter of and advocate for the Federation over many years. Although I know that you will continue to make an important contribution through our Private Housing Committee it is only right that we recognise your great service as Honorary Treasurer tonight”. The full text of Ray Hutchinson’s speech can be viewed on the CEF website

The impacts of sub-economic pricing are significant and have implications

CEF SEEKS COMMENTS ON HSENI CORPORATE PLAN The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has launched a consultation on a new draft Corporate Plan for the 2018-2023 period. CEF will be responding to the consultation and is calling on members to submit comments to inform our consultation response. The draft corporate plan lists the three main areas of focus as safety, workplace ill-health and work activities that pose the highest risk and the causes of serious and fatal accidents. The three key outcomes are: • Reduce Serious and Fatal Accidents by 10% to no more than 50 per annum on average • Reduce Major Accidents by 10% to no more than 350 per annum on average • Reduce Over 3 Day Accidents by 5% to no more than 1700 per annum on average HSENI’s key priorities for construction are to educate, inform and appropriately enforce the following key issues: • Work at height • Vehicle- Pedestrian Safety • Slips, trips and falls • Occupational lung disease and cancer • Demolition • Asbestos removal • Embedding principles of CDM Please send any comments you have to Jonathan Caughey jcaughey@cefni.co.uk

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News in Brief... SEEING THE WAY TO ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY AND SAFETY Lean manufacturing principles are a significant reason for consistent productivity gains in the manufacturing sector, and today many contractors are using new technologies to follow suit. But for much of the construction industry, additional opportunities to look closer and see leaner opportunities are within easy reach. Federation Patron Willis Towers Watson have produced a guide on ways to Improve Productivity & Safety on Construction Sites/Projects. The guide is available on the CEF website www.cefni. co.uk/news/seeing-the-way-toenhanced-productivity-and-safety

INDUSTRY HOLIDAYS 2018/19

he Joint Council for the Building & Civil Engineering Industry (Northern Ireland) promulgated the Industry Holidays for 2018/19 on 14 May 2018. For the 2019 Leave Year (3 December 2018) the Industry Holidays will remain at 30 days per year.

Following agreement by the Joint Council in 2017 the fixed industry holidays were replaced by 12 days Fixed Industry Holidays and the remaining 18 days will be Flexible Industry Holidays. Fixed Holidays Holiday Period

No of Days

Normal Stopping Time

Christmas 2018/New Year 2019

Monday 24 December 2018

Wednesday 2 January 2019

St Patrick’s Day 2019

Friday 15 March 2019

Tuesday 19 March 2019

Spring 2019

Friday 19 April 2019

Wednesday 24 April 2019

May Day 2019

Friday 3 May 2019

Tuesday 7 May 2019

May Day 2019

Friday 3 May 2019

Tuesday 7 May 2019

The remaining 18 Flexible Holidays to be taken at any time throughout the year by agreement with the employer, subject to specific criteria. The full Promulgation Notice can be viewed on the CEF website https://www.cefni.co.uk/ news/industry-holidays-2018-19

THE FUTURE OF QUANTITY SURVEYING GOVERNMENT CLIENTS PUBLISH LATEST PROCUREMENT PLANS Through the Federation’s Civil Engineering Consultative Committee, a number of Government Clients have published updates to their forward work programmes. Members can view these reports by logging in through the Member Dashboard. The reports available are from: •DfI Rivers •Translink •DfI Roads •Central Procurement Directorate •Northern Ireland Water

MAY 2018 VERSION OF PROCUREMENT PIPELINE PUBLISHED The latest quarterly iteration of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Infrastructure Investment Pipeline has been published. Members can view the preprocurement and in-procurement reports by accessing the Member Dashboard section of the CEF website after entering their login details. Members can also request a copy of the reports by contacting David Fry at DavidF@cefni. co.uk The next update of the pipeline is due in September.

ichael Hewitt, Principal Consultant with Federation Patron CPL has produced a report on the “Future of Quantity Surveying” As a recruitment consultant working specifically in the area of construction, I speak to owners and managers of construction companies on a daily basis. Through my time working in this sector, I have gained a thorough understanding of the issues facing such businesses when it comes to attracting and retaining talent in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and across the UK. Much of the focus tends to centre on employment practices and international lure, however, one area which I had not looked at in the past was academic discourse, and how this impacted upon sectoral careers. I recently visited Ulster University’s Jordanstown campus to meet Mark McKane, the Course Director of their BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management degree programme. I wanted to get his take on the future of Quantity Surveying, from both an academic perspective and employment perspective. He knows the future Quantity Surveyors that Ulster University will produce over the next four years, and also has a great insight into the sector, having worked within it himself. The good news for the Construction industry is that the recruitment numbers to the Quantity Surveying course at Ulster University has recovered to healthier levels. Mark explained: ”Demand for the Quantity Surveying Degree at Ulster University has shown strong growth over the last five years, peaking last year at 390 applications, but even with the higher entry threshold for this year’s intake (AAB profile) we’re still seeing application numbers in excess of 300.” “Unlike other regions of the UK and Republic of Ireland our programme is still dominantly full-time, however we’ve seen a steady growth in part-time student applications over the same period.”

But does this mean that Graduate Quantity Surveyors will be easier to recruit over the next few years? Mark suggests that we’re not out of the woods yet as demand appears to be growing more quickly than supply, which is supported by numerous industry analysts expressing concern at the growing skills gap in the sector. It will depend on the way that companies recruit and the practices they employ proactively. If they want to recruit the next generation of talent then they’ll have to take a close look at their recruitment and retention processes which have substantially changed from the way they were recruiting 15-20 years ago. Millennials (referring to those born between 1980 and 2000) have grown up in the digital revolution and via the use of connected devices, such as smartphones, are always ‘switched on’. In order to attract and retain, there needs to be a transformation to allow for a more flexible approach as well as meeting the requirements of a digitally transforming society. Furthermore, Millennials, and in particular Generation Y, have a number of new expectations in terms of their careers and lifestyles. This includes purpose and fulfilment beyond salary and professional status. The days of putting an advert/job description in a newspaper and receiving hundreds of relevant applicants are over. Companies need to ask themselves; “why should they work for us rather than our competitor?” or “what do we do differently or better than our competitors?”. These questions can be difficult to answer definitively but they need to be given attention in order for companies to attract and retain the most suitable talent. Two of Ulster University’s Quantity Surveying students, currently on their placement years, highlighted what they will be looking for in their first graduate role. Student One; “Reputation of the company, money, progression opportunities and companies that have invested in new technology are all important factors. ”

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“What will the company do for the graduate?”. Student Two: “My plan is to progress in a company that is reaching out to a wider market and taking on work from both public and private sectors. I have an interest in BIM so I would be keen to see how Quantity Surveyors working in both the public and private sectors adapt once the mandates for BIM maturity levels kick in. I will also be hoping to work towards my APC, so a company with an in-house programme would be of preference. Finally, I suppose progression would be my pick of the list. With progression comes salary, so with hard work and experience maybe I’ll call the shots someday.” Today’s graduates are ambitious, up-to date with the latest software innovations and are not just looking for a job, they are looking for a career where they will be developed into future business leaders. They want to know what progression will look like and how it will be achieved. They want to work on challenging projects but also want to know that they have the support in place early on in their career. Over recent years, with more Northern Ireland businesses focusing on winning work in Great Britain, we’ve seen more of Northern Ireland’s Quantity Surveying Graduates move from locally based companies to companies based in Great Britain who have in turn, noticed the strength of the Northern Irish construction professional and are now actively recruiting them. Consequently, not only are Northern Ireland companies competing with other local companies for the strongest graduates, they are now more than ever competing with Great Britain and Republic of Ireland based companies to attract and retain local talent. There is also the draw of the huge projects on the continent and further afield. Quantity Surveying Graduates can earn €40,000 plus living expenses if they decide to move to work on one of the big Data Centre projects in the Nordic countries. They can earn around €35,000 - €40,000 if they decide to start their career in Dublin. If graduates want to work in Northern Ireland, they can expect a starting salary of £22,500 - £30,000. One of the things that Mark said to me is that the majority of future Quantity Surveyors studying at Ulster University have secured jobs pre-graduation, most of these follow on from their QS placement, so it is important to plan long-term to have any chance of attracting the best talent. He explained: “Employers see the value of Ulster University’s students during placement and try to reduce the risk of losing them during final year by offering to sponsor their final year fees or offer to employ them full time if they would consider transferring to the part-time mode of the programme and complete their degree over two years rather than one. “ So, how can you attract the best students before they have secured a placement position?

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Sponsoring a module on the programme is one way of establishing the contact and showcasing the opportunities. A variety of employers have already recognised the need to attract talent as early as possible on their journey to a career in their profession. Over the last six years the Degree Programme has attracted a number of industrial partners, offering to provide resources to refresh the assessment opportunities and enable the students to simulate real life project problem solving tasks. In return, the sponsor can showcase their brand within the resources, by bringing along popups, taking a seat at the module presentation assessments to experience the talent of the cohort and marketing opportunities. Different sponsors will connect with different year groups, modules or module combinations that might reflect the core of their particular USP and the career opportunities on offer. The point is, that by getting involved we create the opportunity to better match supply to demand in the most rewarding and engaging ways; with the industry partner adding value to the student learning experience whilst highlighting their brand and career paths.

Other approaches might include a summer internship at the end of first year, a company scholarship or sponsored degree. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are another way that construction companies can develop collaborative partnerships with universities and secure the skills of high calibre graduates. “A KTP is a three-way partnership between a business, a university, and a high-calibre graduate known as an associate, that offers a company a chance to collaborate on a business opportunity, idea or innovation to help the business gain the knowledge and capability it needs.” Source: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/business/ work-with-us/funding/knowledge-transfer-partnerships These programmes are partly funded by Invest Northern Ireland and provide the company with access to the expertise of Ulster University’s staff in the area of innovation and access to the highest calibre ‘associate’ to manage the implementation of the project, who is also attracted by the training budgets included within the funding

allowance. Most projects last for 24 – 36 months after which time the industry partner usually recruits the ‘associate’ on a permanent basis. Mark had a message to construction employers that the skills gap is demonstrable. “More and more employers are making contact with us each year as their businesses grow, but few are investing in measures to attract the best talent in our primary and secondary schools into selecting built environment vocations as a career of choice. “ Last year, Mark alongside his colleague David Comiskey launched BelMCraft (Built Environment Information Modelling Craft); a game they developed to help young people better understand the built environment. Aimed at primary pupils; the platform based on the Minecraft Game, highlights the emerging use of technology in the construction sector. The player has to consider real life challenges including planning issues, health and safety risks, structural aspects and cost in their virtual 3d project build. In June 2017, BelMCraft was rolled out across schools in Scotland following sponsorship from leading UK construction company, Morgan Sindall. Further interest in sponsorship of the programme has been expressed by a leading construction firm in Paris and also by HS2 Ltd. who are working on the high speed railway linking London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester. As yet, the programme awaits sponsorship to be delivered across Northern Ireland schools; the pool from which local companies will be recruiting from in the future. In conclusion, Mark added: “With a widening demand for our services and a constrained supply of talent, combined with the increasingly recognised benefits of BIM, innovators will find non-traditional solutions that provide a better service to their clients, delivering more with less. All the ingredients are ready, so there is no escaping it; the way we do business in the construction industry is going to be transformed by client demand and digitisation, which will have far-reaching implications. So innovate before it’s too late!!” On Friday 15 June 2018, the BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management programme at Ulster University will be hosting their annual stakeholder and awards event. The event, which commences at 11am in the Jordanstown Campus, will be an excellent opportunity for companies to look into how they can go about recruiting QS Graduates; as well as looking at the skills that are established through study of the programme. Anyone interested in attending should contact Amanda Thompson at Ulster University on a.thompson@ulster.ac.uk or telephone (028) 9036 6808. To contact Michael Hewitt, phone 028 9072 5613 or email michael.hewitt@cpljobs.com. For more information about CPL, visit cpl.ie

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58| INTERVIEW

Specify talks to Roger Gillespie, Managing Director, Training LMS Q: Did you plan to get involved in the Construction Industry?

I grew up around a family construction business and worked in various parts of it during all my summer holidays from around the age of 14, so it was always a strong contender as a career. However, I only finally decided to go into construction at the age of 17 after spending a summer shadowing a contracts manager. Q: How did you start off?

My first real taste of construction was on my placement year from the University of Ulster. I got my eyes opened and had to learn very quickly that what I had been taught in the classroom, whilst useful, was only the beginning of what I needed to play a useful role in site management. My placement year was hard

work, but made me grow up fast and understand what skills were needed to be successful in the industry. My first contract was a working abattoir

which was an interesting place to work to say the least. My next one was Bangor marina and seafront which was an entirely different environment! Q: What have been the highlights of your career so far?

I find myself doing what my father did for years – pointing out with pride any building around the country that I was involved with. I am sure it bores my family but it doesn’t stop me! In more recent times in 2017 I attended the CIOB graduation ceremonies in both Dublin and Belfast, where the vast majority of candidates had been assisted in some way by my company, Training LMS. It is always a highlight to see the satisfaction when people achieve what they are capable of.

Q: What was the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

The contracts manager that I shadowed as a teenager told me – always make a decision. Whether it’s the right or wrong decision construction is an industry that doesn’t stand still. By all means take the time available to consider your options – but don’t take too long!

Q: What would you say to any students considering a career in construction?

Take time to understand the numerous roles now needed in construction. Find one that you enjoy and fits your skills. We all work better when we are doing something we enjoy. Also – never let anyone tell you something isn’t possible – if you want something enough you will find a way to get there. Q: Do you think the Construction Sector needs more support from Stormont?

The short answer is yes – at the moment. I feel that the lack of government at Stormont is having a major impact on the local industry and is a very serious issue. However I also think that government doesn’t completely understand our industry. We all have a role in educating others exactly what we do, and why construction so important to our society and the wider economy. Q: What needs to be done to help the Construction Sector?

Well the obvious immediate action is to release funding on public sector projects, and get some certainty from a devolved administration that would give investors confidence. We also need to take a look at how we operate – we all know that the way we do things is unsustainable – we work at low margins, and are struggling to attract the necessary talent into the industry. Some longer term thinking is required to correct the current business model. Q: Tell us something surprising about yourself…

In spite of helping lots of people into a career in construction management, I am a complete disaster when it comes to DIY – and I am more than happy to entrust any work in my home to a professional! Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Northern Ireland

Bring your Oﬃce Walls to Life At Smarter Surface NI we turn walls, doors, tables etc into creative work surfaces. It is a simple product that allows you to write on walls (and other surfaces) just like a whiteboard. We also have magnetic & projector versions too and even better we can combine them! It can instantly transform your office space. Spaces become productive & collaborative which helps people work & learn together. Please click here to watch a short client video. Typically clients that have bought Smarter Surfaces are: Google, Facebook, Linked In & Tesco. Locally in NI we have, The Foundry, Liberty IT, Kainos, Ards & North Down Borough Council, CDE Enviro, Radar NI, McAvoys & The Innovation Factory to name a few. Contact: NI because they want to: They chose Smarter Surfaces Vicki Ewart • Boost creativity Business Development Manager

• Transform there Workspaces & meeting Rooms M: 07495 494742 • Boost team interaction • Gain office spaceE: vicki@smartersurfacesni.com - no more white boards or flip charts! • Improve their office environment we not only install we can redecorate! • Have Branded Writeable Walls

Northern Ireland

Bring your Oﬃce Walls to Life Contact details;

Smarter Surfaces Northern Ireland

10% off when you mention

Contact: Vicki Ewart Business Development Manager

Specify magazine M: 07495 494742 E: vicki@smartersurfacesni.com

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Innovation Factory Forthriver Business Park, 385 Springfield Rd, Belfast BT12 7DG Office: 0800 090 3800 or 028 9590 2500

Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk