Specify Magazine: Vol 3 2019

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

Vol 3 2019 £3.00

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Comment | 03 Comment|03

House prices edge upwards, O’HARE & MCGOVERN SCOREbut TWICE!

slowdown continues be evident balance of +48). Private work at the interface of the to net

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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 Northern house extension of Ireland the north and west prices edged upwards stands. again, according to the

RICS (Royal Institution

OHMG designed curved steel of Chartered Surveyors)

and Ulster Bank Northern Ireland Residential Market Survey for May, but a slowdown in the market continues to be evident.

After a strong period of price growth in recent years, the uncertainty in the wider political and economic environment now appears to be catching up with the local market and impacting on activity and confidence in the short-term.

Prices are rising at a slower rate according to the latest report and the net balances for surveyors’ expectations regarding prices and sales activity are negative.

Surveyors are also reporting that new buyer enquiries and new instructions to sell were lower in May. Anecdotally, surveyors noted that ongoing political and economic uncertainty in Northern Ireland were contributing factors in the latest results.

Surveyors though are more optimistic in the longer-term, with 12-month expectations for prices

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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. still positive. A net balance of +35 percent of respondents Housebuilding remainedexpect a key prices to be higher 12-months’ source of workloadingrowth, with time. private housebuilding activity Ciaran Donnelly, FRICS, of rising particularly Campbell Cairns instrongly Belfast (a said that political uncertainty and the approaching holiday period were impacting on the market.

Samuel Dickey, RICS Residential Property Spokesman in Northern Ireland, said: “We have seen the housing market perform strongly in recent years in terms of price rises and activity, but there now appears to be significant variation in the market, with some surveyors reporting lower demand and lower levels of price rises in some areas. My own experience is that there continues to be strong demand in places like North Down, Belfast, and Ards.

“Demand for new build homes continues to be a real feature of the market in these areas too,” he adds.

Terry Robb, Head of Personal Banking at Ulster Bank, said: “The summer period tends to be more subdued in terms of sales, as people embark upon summer holidays and a potential move is not as high on their agenda.

We have however witnessed the ongoing strength in first-time buyer demand for mortgages

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 and we expect mortgage activity aspirations for next year and remain strong into the beyond… see pages 36second and 37.half of the year, particularly in the selfbuild and co-ownership segments.”

Pat Burns Editor The main findings of the survey were: The balance of respondents reporting an increase in house prices over the last three months has eased back, taking Northern Ireland from having the highest rate in the UK to fourth place. The net balance now stands at +12%.

Expectations for short-term prices over the next three months have fallen once more, to a net balance of -17%.

The net balance of new buyer enquiries and new instructions over the last month both remain in negative territory, at -7% and -24% respectively. As a result, sales in the last month were perceived to be low at -6% and the forecast for the coming three months remains tentative at -27%.

12-month expectations remain positive but continue to be increasingly cautious. The net balance for forecast sales in the year ahead are at +5% (from +13% in April), and the balance of those expecting further increases in prices is +37% (from +54% last month).

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VOl 3 2019

contents...

6 DIGEST:

Belfast Harbour has awarded the contract to build City Quays 3, which will be Northern Ireland’s tallest office building, to Farrans Construction, supporting 500 construction jobs. At £50m, City Quays 3, which will accommodate 1,800 people, represents Belfast Harbour’s largest development project to date and is the latest component of its very successful City Quays waterfront scheme which is already home to 1,100 office workers.

7 DIGEST:

Queens Parade, Bangor is set to undergo a major £50m redevelopment which will see the area transformed into a revitalised, sustainable and contemporary seafront. Todd Architects are the designers behind the new waterfront redevelopment, working closely with North Down & Ards Borough Council, the Department for Communities NI and the developer Bangor Marine; a consortium including Farrans and the Karl Group.

8 DIGEST:

Heron Bros Ltd has secured a highly revered Gold Award in this year’s Considerate Constructors Scheme for the construction of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex. The awards are presented to the UK’s highest performing construction sites that have demonstrated high levels of consideration in respect of the community, environment and workforce.

16 JOHN SIMPSON:

Rates are an unpopular tax. No alternative, raising the same revenue for public services, is readily available! John Simpson looks at the way rating charges are handled in Northern Ireland.

18 NEW HQ FOR CDE GLOBAL:

CDE Global’s new offices are centered around an impressive atrium, encouraging interaction between staff and visitors, acting as a crossing and meeting point from the two legs of the building. The view from any part of the headquarters varies, from sheep in an adjoining field, where a local hawk patrols his patch, to the cement works, and from the Sperrin mountains to a wind turbine.

28 GANSON BUILD NEW HOME BARGAINS STORE IN LISBURN Castlewellan based construction company Ganson UK Ltd have just completed a brand new store for the Home Bargains retail chain.

35 CAVITY WALL INSULATION REPORT RELEASED

Research into cavity wall insulation in social housing and private homes in Northern Ireland has just been published. The research was commissioned in 2017 by the Housing Executive on the back of concerns about the standard of cavity wall insulation in its own properties.

37 CEF / SPECIFY AWARDS LAUNCHED

This year will be the 20th anniversary of the CEF/SPECIFY Construction Excellence Awards which have grown to become the largest event in Northern Ireland’s annual construction calendar. To mark this, several new Awards were launched by John Armstrong, Managing Director of the construction Employers Federation in Northern Ireland, which seek to build on the success of the awards in previous years.

58 SPECIFY TALKS TO EAMON DONNELLY, CEO OF UFORM

Looking back on his career, Eamon recalls: “ I never missed an opportunity to close a sale, and each successful one resulted in a sizeable 10% commission. I got a great buzz from meeting new people, learning what problems they wanted to solve and in essence helping them create their perfect kitchen. This exposure to business at such a young age, instilled in me a desire to start a business of my own and take things to the next level.”

• 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

09 DIGEST

Alan’s Stellar award for innovation

30 CDE GLOBAL

MBE for CDE’s Chairman

NEW HQ FOR CDE GLOBAL PAGE 18

50 Interview

SPECIFY TALKS TO EAMON DONNELLY, CEO OF UFORM

• 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

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

06| 06

digest digest

BELFAST HARBOUR LARGEST EVER Harvey Group acquiresAWARDS Solmatix as part of 5 year CONTRACT growth plan inTO UKFARRANS and Ireland.

TPICAP. Joe O’Neill, Belfast Harbour’s CEO, said:“City Quays 3 is one of the largest strategic investments ever the company has grown to achieve a undertaken by Belfast Harbour and turnover of £6 million, withthe 30contract staff we’re delighted to award operating its Nutt’scompany.

Corner In to a local from construction premises. addition to supporting 500 local As a result jobs, of the Solmatix construction thedeal, office will build energy specialists, Solmatix upon City Quays successasbyanproviding will continue to operate in a move the AtRenewables £50m, City Quays 3, which strategic accommodation to meet autonomous and independent will accommodate people, companies say 1,800 will transform demand for Grade ‘A’, city-centre represents Belfast Harbour’s largest company within Harvey Group the renewable energy sector office space. development project to date Brian Harvey, managing director in Northern Ireland andand act isas thea latest component of its very of“InHarvey springboard for further just fiveGroup, years said City there Quayswas has successful City Quays waterfront aemerged perfect fitasbetween the two expansion into the multian iconic waterfront scheme which is already home to million pound UKThe andCity Ireland destination for sectors including 1,100 office workers.

Quays organisations.

“We have IT been markets. legal, media, andplanning financial to services.

3renewable developmentenergy will provide another Our experience of developing in our renewables involvement The acquisition, fortoanoffer world- grow significant opportunity advance market and for some of time, eitherdemand, organically undisclosed sum, will bring in tosupport 110 class office accommodation thethrough subsequent success in of securing ofthe Northern foreign direct or the acquisition an number Ireland’s of people employed occupiers, has led us to progress investment ambition. established player. Having worked City directly by the Harvey Group in Quays 3. This investment will assist with Renewables on Northern Ireland and Great Britain. bothSolmatix indigenous and new market Construction work on the 16-storey, aentrants number and of contracts, we’d had With a turnover of £30 million we have already 250,000 square feet Grade ‘A’ office, always been impressed with andbegin overimmediately 80 staff, Harvey will and isGroup expected very positive early discussions with a their engineering rigour and ” has over 30 years’ experience number of potential occupiers. to be completed by the end of 2021. professionalism. In fact, there seemed in the design, installation and to The office is being developed Regional Director, be a Gilmore, natural synergy between maintenance of building services comply with BREEAM Excellent ratings toGlenn Farrans Construction said: which will place it in the top 10% of our two companies in terms of within every conceivable kind of “Farrans Construction is delighted sustainable newthroughout buildings inNI, theGB UK. what we do and how we do it. I at building type our contract award on City Quays 3. approached Richard Bell about a and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ The award of this prestigious contract, Upon completion Belfast Harbour will year agothe to heart float the ideaCity of our Cleanrooms, Laboratories, within of the Quays have invested £125m in its 20-acre companies coming together, but only Education, Government and waterfront scheme, re-establishes City Quays development, home to ifour there was a good After careful Healthcare Richarda and Norahrelationship withfit.Belfast Harbour two Grade ‘A’. offices, 900-space consideration we both agreed Commissioners.

Our team have been Anne Bell founded multi-storey carpark, Solmatix the Marriott heavily behindbethemutually scenes and that this involved would indeed Renewables in 2008, and since then Hotel and blue-chip companies this announcement is a testament to including Baker McKenzie, ITV and the professionalism and expertise of

Belfast Harbour has awarded the contract M&E services toNI build City Quays 3, which will be Northern Newtownabbey-based Ireland’s tallest office M&E services company, building, to Farrans Harvey Group, has acquired Construction, supporting Northern Ireland renewable 500 construction jobs.

all our team working on the project to date.”

John Armstrong, Managing Director of the Construction Employers Federation, said: “After the recent planning approval for City Quays 3, it is great to see a major local contractor in place

so quickly to deliver the project.

Farrans, its direct workforce and their supply chain will bring a wealth of experience to the project and, at a time of ongoing political and economic uncertainty, the project’s commencement will come as a significant economic boost locally.”

company acquires renewable energy specialists

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 level of expertise that would have taken us years to acquire otherwise.

“Harvey Group and Solmatix share similar values, by which I mean our commitment to professionalism, our desire to deliver our services to 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 of ‘business as usual’. However, in real terms, being part of this larger organisation will give us access to enhanced technical skills, financial resources and purchasing power.

Ultimately I believe this will lead 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. “

Lisburn firm TAL awarded the first major construction GRAHAM is on the inside contract at Randox Science Parktrack of Europe’s

largest infrastructure project

GRAHAM has been appointed to construct and upgrade three railway stations as part of Europe’s largest infrastructure project – Crossrail.

WItH a reputation for excellence in as constructing To be known the Elizabeth high Line quality projects, tAL Limited when services begin through central has beeninawarded significant London 2020, the anew railway system will be fully integrated contract (£3.1m) by globalwith the existing transport network. medical diagnostics company It will stretch more than 60 miles Randox. from Reading and Heathrow in the This and initialthrough contract is for tunnels the west, central construction of a new facility forWood across to Shenfield and Abbey

production of Randox’s pioneering medical diagnostic products and will also include associated administrative in the east. functions.

The works are the first Graham construct phase of awill major capital two expenditure completely new stations project

by Randox to develop the in West Ealing and Acton former Massereene Army Barracks Mainline and significantly into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a remodel Ealing Broadway. futuristic R&D and manufacturing Valued at £46m, all three facility.

Thelocated award-winning, schemes on the Great Western Main Line firm, international biotechnology fall under Crossrail West unveiled its the plans for an innovative Enhanced Stations Phase 2 this hub on the 43 acre site earlier programme. year.

Welcoming the of announcement, Work, on behalf Network Damien Hughes, Director Rail, is anticipated to beginof TAL Limited commented: “We are imminently with completion scheduled latebeen 2020. delighted tofor have awarded

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

CONCRETE FUTURES NI-9402 Specify Strip Ads.indd 1

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.”

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni Check us out on social media 20/08/2014 16:45 www.specifymagazine.co.uk

digest digest

06|

|07

£50m redevelopment at Queens Harvey Group acquires Solmatix as part of 5 year Parade, growth plan Bangor in UK and Ireland.

Queens Parade, Bangor M&E services isNI set to undergo a major £50m redevelopment Newtownabbey-based which will see the area M&E services company, transformed into a Harvey Group, has acquired revitalised, sustainable Northern Ireland renewable and contemporary energy specialists, Solmatix seafront.

company renewable energy specialists An artists impressionacquires of how Bangors Queen’s Parade will look.

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 Renewables in a move the autonomous and independent companies Todd Architectssay arewill the transform designers behind the new waterfront company within Harvey Group the renewable energy sector redevelopment, with Brian Harvey, managing director in Northern working Irelandclosely and act North Down & Ards Borough Council, of Harvey Group, said there was as a springboard for further the Department forthe Communities a perfect fit between the two expansion into multi- NI and the developer Bangor Marine; a organisations. million pound UK and Ireland consortium including Farrans and the “We have been planning to renewable energy markets.

Karl Group. grow our renewables involvement for an The The newacquisition, proposed redevelopment for some time, either organically undisclosed sum,refurbishment will bring to 110 plan includes the of existing commercial properties and or through the acquisition of an the number of people employed creating events space, established player. Having worked directlyoutside by the Harvey GroupMarine in Gardens Public Realm with Solmatix Renewables on Northern Ireland andcombining Great Britain.

External Space,ofCafes, a number of contracts, we’d WithEvents a turnover £30 million Sheltered Promenade & Kiosks, Beach, always been impressed with and over 80 staff, Harvey Group Seafront Lawns, Children’s Play Area & their engineering rigour and has over 30 years’ experience Water Feature; Hotel; a Destination/ “Todd Architects professionalism.

In are fact,delighted there seemed in the design, installation and Cinema Building; Residential Units; tobe announce involvement as to a naturalour synergy between maintenance of building services Commercial/Retail/Restaurant the architects behind this £50m our two companies in terms of withinOffice everySpace; conceivable kind of Space; a Play Zone; transformative scheme of Queens Refurbishment of Existing Commercial what we do and how we do it. I building type throughout NI, GB Parade, Bangor, working closely with Properties; Car Park;Pharmaceutical/ and Marketplace approached Richard about Council, a and RoI, including North Down & ArdsBell Borough &Cleanrooms, Courtyard Squares. year ago to float the idea of our Laboratories, companies coming together, but only Education, Government and if there was a good fit. After careful Healthcare . Richard and Norahconsideration we both agreed Anne Bell founded Solmatix that this would indeed be mutually Renewables in 2008, and since then

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 level of expertise that would have taken us years to acquire otherwise.

“Harvey Group and Solmatix share similar values,forbyCommunities which I mean The Department NI and Bangor Marine consortium. our commitment to professionalism, Thisdesire exciting will see to the our to opportunity deliver our services areavery regenerated into a revitalised, the highest standards, and the sustainable and contemporary importance we place on treating our seafront, enhancing Bangor’s appeal as 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 of ‘business as usual’. However, in real terms, being part of this larger organisation will give us access to enhanced technical skills,destination, financial ” a top Northern Ireland resources andPeter purchasing commented Minnis,power.

Director, Todd Architects.

Ultimately I believe this will lead to greater growth and investment The planning process has commenced, within our operations, as well as with work expected to begin in 2020. 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. “

WORK TO COMMENCE ON BELFAST’S NEW BUSINESS ADDRESS

development over nine Todd Architects is Lisburn firm awarded the first major construction floors together with a pleased to report that TAL basement. construction work is “We are delighted to have about to commence on contract at Randox Science Park appointed Todd Architects The Mercantile office

development in Belfast following approval by Belfast City Council.

This landmark office building is located on a prime commercial site within the main public square and civic space in Belfast City Centre directly to the rear of City Hall.

WItH a reputation for

excellence in constructing high Todd Architects were delighted to be quality projects, tALEstates Limited appointed

by Killultagh when has been awarded a significant this property initially came to the contract by global market and(£3.1m) was ultimately secured through development and medical diagnosticsfeasibility company financial offer. The design development Randox. was notinitial without its challenges This contract is for the along the way but has resulted in a construction of a new facility for planning approval for 95,000sq ft of

to have theofpivotal role pioneering production Randox’s within our creative team and will medical diagnostic products behind The Mercantile. also administrative Thisinclude is a keyassociated development functions. works are the first for us andThe demonstrates phase of a major capital expenditure our commitment to the Citybywhere we to seedevelop the project Randox this development a former MassereeneasArmy Barracks rebirth of one of Belfast’s into ‘Randox Science Park’ – a foremost business locations futuristic R&D and manufacturing overlooking the magnificent facility.

The City Hall. ” - award-winning, Laura McCarthy, international firm, Estates Senior Asset biotechnology Manager; Killultagh unveiled its plans for an innovative The architectural approach is contemporary but respectful hub on the 43 acre site earlierofthis context, utilising cut stonework year. and bronze anodised aluminium to Welcoming the announcement, articulate the verticality.

Damien Hughes,that Director of TAL Floor It is anticipated the Ground Limited commented: “We are by and Basement will be occupied delighted been awarded restauranttoorhave leisure uses to provide ‘activity’ at street level, with the

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.” upper levels providing high-quality The project will space be delivered and flexible office capable of to BIM level 2 in partnership a variety of fit-out and workplace with the designand team Osticksolutions and permutations bespoke accessedArchitects, via a double-height Williams Rainey & corporate Best, foyer. Consulting, Delap & Waller Doran The Donegall Squareand South façade is Consulting Engineers Charles primarily glazed with three projecting Hutchison Consulting. bays providing good daylight quality Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing and outlook.

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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 The floorplates start to set back to conditions as cancer, stroke and reflect thesuch notional ‘shoulder’ height heart disease.

Wethe willDonegall also provide a adopted around Square significant boostaccessible to the local economy area providing roof terraces looking new acrossjobthecreation. wider city through Wecentre very area. look forward to working with much Theon demolition the existing building TAL this initialofcontract to deliver is underway with construction of the infrastructure we in thehigh newquality building due to complete require. ” Quarter 3 of 2020.

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni

20/08/2014 16:45

digest digest

06| 08

Heron Bros Secures Gold Award Harvey Group acquires Solmatix as part for of 5 year Construction Ards Blair Mayne growth plan in UKof and Ireland.

Wellbeing and Leisure Complex NI M&E services company acquires renewable energy specialists

Heron Bros Ltd has Newtownabbey-based secured a highly revered Gold Award in M&E services company, this year’s Considerate Harvey Group, has acquired Constructors Scheme Northern Ireland renewable for the construction of energy specialists, Solmatix Ards and North Down Renewables in a move the Borough Council’s Ards companies say will transform Blair Mayne Wellbeing the renewable sector and Leisure energy Complex.

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 in Northern Ireland and act The are presented to the of Harvey Group, said there was as aawards springboard for further UK’s highest performing construction a perfect fit between the two expansion into the multisites that have demonstrated high organisations. million pound UK and Ireland levels of consideration respect of “We have been planning to renewable energy in markets. the community, environment and Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Bell, Richard Bell, Brian Harvey, Gareth grow our renewables involvement The acquisition, for an Booth (Financial Controller, Harvey Group). workforce. for some time, either organically undisclosed sum, will bring to 110 as great news for Solmatix, its beneficial. From my perspective, or through the acquisition of an the number of people employed During the £30m development, customers, suppliers and staff. having Solmatix as part of Harvey established player.

HavingBros worked directlyBros by the Harvey Group with in Heron made engagement Karl McKillop (Heron ConstructionGroup Director), Annet McGowan (Ards Blair Mayne and Leisure “InWellbeing many respects, it’s a case gives us a level of expertise with SolmatixJunior Renewables onTheresa McErlean (Heron Bros Contracts Manager), Ards and North Down Mayor, Cllr Northern Ireland and Great Britain. the local community a high priority.

Complex Manager), of ‘business as usual’.

However, in that would have taken us years to TheyWith encouraged local a number contracts, we’d Wilson (Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Corporate Project Manager). a turnover of businesses £30 millionto Richard of Smart, and Gayle real terms, being part of this larger acquire otherwise. advertise their services on the site’s always been impressed with and over 80 staff, Harvey Group organisation will give us access to “Harvey Group and Solmatix noticeboards they also promoted their engineering rigour and has over 30 and years’ experience careers in construction to colleges and included sponsorship of community enhanced technical skills, financial share values, by I mean “Thissimilar was a unique andwhich complex construction process went and the professionalism. In fact, there seemed in the design, installation and schools. resources and purchasing power. races.

The company alsobetween partnered project with a wide range of high standards we achieved.

The our commitment to professionalism, to be a natural synergy maintenance of building services First aiders and operatives were with the National Trust and RSPB so challenges throughout, ” said positive feedback and reaction to Ultimately I believe this will lead our desire to deliver our services to our two companies in terms of within to every kindlocated of trained use conceivable the defibrillator the team could offset their carbon Contracts Manager, Theresa McErlean. thegreater new complex has also made it all to growth and investment the very highest standards, and the what we do and how we do it. I building typegoodwill throughout NI, GB nearby while activities dioxide emissions.

“We’re proud of how smoothly the worthwhile. ” within our operations, as well as importance we place on treating our approached Richard Bell about a and RoI, including Pharmaceutical/ more jobs and job security. It’s a customers, our suppliers and our staff year ago to float the idea of our Cleanrooms, Laboratories, win-win relationship that’s good with courtesy and consideration.” companies coming together, but only Education, Government and for our whole organisation, as Richard Bell, the founder and if there was a good fit. After careful Healthcare . Richard and Norahwell as the economy of Northern managing director of Solmatix consideration we both agreed Anne Bell founded Solmatix Ireland. “ Renewables described the acquisition that this would indeed be mutually Renewables in 2008, and since then

BCM’S £5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN JOBS AND HEALTHCARE WITH MAJOR NEW DEVELOPMENT During a major

construction phase alone.

Marking its 130th anniversary in 2019, anniversary year, Lisburn firm TAL awarded theBCMfirst major construction Chief Executive Nicky Conway, and Declan McCormick, BCM’s flagship project will provide the BCM (Belfast Central Managing Director at Hugh J O’Boyle. highest standard of practice-leading Mission) has announced dementia, nursing and residential contract at Randox Science Park that Copelands, the care for up to 60 residents across

organisation’s new £5 million development on the County Down coastline, is on track for completion early next year.

The announcement comes as key stakeholders gathered on-site to witness completion of the complex’s footprint, with all major ground floor WItH a reputation for and brickwork, internal drainage, concrete flooring now complete. excellence in constructing high Due to open in March quality projects, tAL2020, Limited Copelands will provide to 50 full has been awarded a up significant and part time jobs across nursing, contract (£3.1m) by global domestic and management with medical diagnostics company many voluntary roles also available.

Randox.

Downpatrick-based engineering contractors J. O’Boyle is This initial Hugh contract is for the spearheadingofthe construction construction a new facility forand build work, creating 40 jobs during the

two floors of with each en-suite private production Randox’s pioneering room enjoying views across and the will rolling medical diagnostic products drumlin countryside out towards also include associatedoradministrative the Irish Sea. functions. The works are the first Located on the picturesque coast phase of aDonaghadee major capitaland expenditure between Millisle, project by Randox to develop Copelands is being built on thethe former Army formerMassereene site of BCM’s two Barracks original care‘Randox projects;Science Childhaven into Park’orphanage –a and laterR&D conference centre and the futuristic and manufacturing Craigmore children’s home. facility.

The award-winning, Declan McCormick, Managing Director international biotechnology firm, of Hugh J. O’Boyle, said; unveiled its plans forweanhave innovative “For a coastal site, been hub on the 43 acre site earlier this blessed with good weather during year. the majority of 2019 so far, which has allowed us to the largely stay on track Welcoming announcement, during the build Director schedule.of TAL Damien Hughes, “Our suppliers and contractors Limited commented: “We are have maintained pace and professionalism delighted to have been awarded and, as with the super structure,

Pictured are (from L-R) Ian Holmes and Danny Sharpe (Northstar),

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 notable and visible are with the design teammilestones Ostick and being reached and the next major step Williams Rainey & ensure Best, will be toArchitects, get the roof on to Doran Consulting, Delap &toWaller the building is watertight facilitate Consulting andfitCharles the interiorEngineers design and out.”

BCM was Consulting. founded in 1889 as part of Hutchison the Church’sManaging response to DrMethodist Peter FitzGerald,

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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 inner-cityboost issues.to Today, the organisation significant the local economy continues to work with communities through new job creation.

We across the whole of Northern very much look forward to working with Ireland through a range of social care TAL on this contract to deliver projects andinitial service delivery in Belfast, North Ards, Magherafelt, the high Down qualityand infrastructure we Dungannon, Armagh and Craigavon. require. ”

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni

Check us out on social media 20/08/2014 16:45 www.specifymagazine.co.uk

digest digest

06|

|09

Alan’s Stellar award forasinnovation Harvey Group acquires Solmatix part of 5 year

ALAN Lowry, Managing Director of Newtownabbey-based company, Environmental NI Furniture M&E services Street (ESF), has been crowned Newtownabbey-based Innovation Director of M&E services company, the Year at the 2019 Harvey Group, has acquired Institute of Directors Northernof Ireland renewable ‘Director the Year’ awards for Northern energy specialists, Solmatix Ireland.

Renewables in a move the

growth plan in UK and Ireland.

companies say will transform The prestigious accolade is insector the renewable energy recognition of the Belfast director’s in Northern Ireland and act innovative Stellar Solar Smart Bench – as a springboard for that further a versatile outdoor bench utilises expansion into solar energy from thethe sunmultito provide million UK and Ireland USB mobilepound charging, WiFi, LED lighting energy markets. andrenewable data gathering capabilities.

Speaking his win the awards, The about acquisition, foratan Alan said, “I amsum, trulywill delighted win undisclosed bring toto110 thethe award for Innovation number of people Director employedof the Year at this year’s ‘Director of the directly by the Harvey Group in Year’ awards. It reinforces to me how Northern Ireland andSmart GreatBench Britain. special the Stellar Solar With a turnover of £30 million really is – I had complete faith in over 80 staff, Group thisand product from theHarvey initial idea and 30 years’brought experience to has see over that concept to life, followed by the success theand bench has in the design, installation experienced hasofbeen fantastic. maintenance building services Judges of every this year’s awards described within 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

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 haveDirector been planning Managing of ESF,to Alan Lowry was awarded ‘Innovation Director of theBell, Year’ at this IoD Director of Celebrating the acquisition (from left) Norah-Anne Richard Bell,year’s Brian Harvey, Gareth grow our renewables involvement Booth (Financial Harvey Group). the Year Awards. Alan is pictured receiving his awardController, from Ashleen Feeney, Director at KPMG, category sponsor. for some time, either organically as great news for Solmatix, its beneficial. From my perspective, or through theStreet acquisition of anas a individual client and has been acquired the Street Charge and SmartFlower, Environmental Furniture customers, suppliers and staff. having Solmatix as part of Harvey by some of the world’s most famous as well as taking into consideration great small business with excellent established player. Having worked “In many it’s UAE a caseand Group gives us a level of expertise theme parks respects, in America, the increase in Smart Cities and IoT potential, driven by an export with Solmatix Renewables on led of ‘business as usual’.

However, in that would have taken us years to Hong Kong. globally, Alan spotted an opportunity leader with entrepreneurial spirit. a number of contracts, we’d real terms, being part of this larger acquire otherwise. to incorporate these trends into an The concept for the Stellar Bench always been impressed with More recently, thegive Stellar Solar Smart innovative came about following a chance organisation will us access to “Harveyproduct.

Group and Solmatix their engineering rigour and Bench has technical been installed at City Quays meeting Alan had with executives enhanced skills, financial share similar values, by which I mean professionalism.

In fact,leading there theme seemed in Belfast, with underway for it to The bench, which to is manufactured at one of the world’s resources and talks purchasing power. our commitment professionalism, to be a natural synergy between be installed in further locations around wholly in Northern Ireland, can be parks and seeing the success of ESF’s Ultimately believe this will lead our desire to deliver our services to our two companies in terms Belfast and IDublin. fully customised and branded for each range of solar products, whichofinclude 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

McCue Completes £400k Hillsborough Castle Contract CARRICKFERGUS-based specialist refurbishment and fit-out company, McCue Crafted Fit has completed their latest project at the newlyrefurbished Hillsborough Castle and Gardens.

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

Having worked on a number of award-winning, distinguished projects throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe, McCue has an already impressive portfolio, however their latest work at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens puts the company at the forefront of high-quality WItH a reputation forin refurbishments and fit-outs Northern Ireland and beyond. high excellence in constructing During extensive five-year qualitythe projects, tAL Limited £24million which was has been transformation, awarded a significant commissioned by independent charity, contract (£3.1m) globalexpert Historic Royal Palaces,by McCue’s medical diagnostics company site team carried out works on both Randox. the new lower and upper visitor centres, as well as the stable yard.

This initial contract is for the McCue supplied fitted-out a construction of aand new facility for range of bespoke furniture for the

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 catering and retail areas of both year. visitor centres, which included feature Welcoming thedesks announcement, seating, reception and welcome Damien of TAL desks.

All Hughes, products,Director showcasing Limitedfinishes, commented: “We are various were manufactured by the company their awarded 60,000sq. ft. delighted to haveatbeen manufacturing facility in Carrickfergus.

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 Speaking about the contract, McCue’s Williams Architects, Rainey & Best, managing director Les McCracken said, Doran Consulting, Delap & Waller Consulting and Charles “McCue hasEngineers worked on many Hutchison projects Consulting. prestigious throughout our 60 plusDryears in FitzGerald, the industryManaging but this was Peter a very special project for our team.

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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 Being able to create bespoke pieces through new job creation. We very of furniture for the visitor centres at much look forward to working Hillsborough Castle and Gardens,with and TAL onour thismark initialoncontract to deliver leaving this monumental the highisquality infrastructure we building, a fantastic achievement and we’re require. ” delighted to have been involved.”

The right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform an organisation, we’re experts at matching both in construction management.

Find out more at hays.co.uk/ni

20/08/2014 16:45

digest

10

MICHAEL NUGENT Electrical Contractor of the Year.

Michael Nugent Ltd picked up three awards at the 2019 Northern Ireland Electrical Awards in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast. Winner: Electrical Contractor – Large; Winner: Large Commercial Project for Grand Central Hotel; and Highly Commended: Lighting Project for Grand Central Hotel.

‘We are extremely grateful to our brilliant team who have helped make this possible,’ said Michael Nugent.

His company was established in 1963, solely as a mechanical services provider. Due to expansion and a wealth of experience in providing a professional, high quality service it was decided that clients would benefit from Michael Nugent Ltd further expanding into the electrical services world.

Michael Nugent Mechanical & Electrical Services was founded in 2013. From a standing start, over the past number of years their electrical department has continued rapid growth. Contracts span the corporate, private and public sectors, including health and education boards; leisure and retail centres, commercial and industrial developments; residential care facilities; hotels and ecclesiastical projects across the whole of Ireland and the UK. ‘Some of the milestone projects we have completed over the past six years include Northern Ireland Hospice, Belfast; Forthriver Innovation Centre, Belfast; University College, Coleraine - Faculty of Arts; University College, London - Faculty of

Anthony Martin, Terry McAllister, Marc Nugent, Ryan Nugent, Michael Nugent, Len Reid, Jim King, John McLernon and Martin Keenan Law; Hampton by Hilton at Stansted Airport and the Premier Inn and Office Development at Maidenhead’ he added.

Over the past year they have completed a number of high-profile electrical contracts; Grand Central Hotel, Northern Ireland’s most expensively constructed hotel with over 310 miles of new electrical cables used; just over the length of Ireland, CDE Global Headquarters in Co.Tyrone, their new centre of excellence providing grade A office space for over 400 staff across areas including engineering, product development, and business services.

Allstate Office Block in Belfast, a new

build with excess of 140,000 square foot of state-of-the-art office space, break-out areas, an outdoor terrace and high-tech software development labs. Hampton by Hilton at Edinburgh Airport; a 6-storey new build, 4-star hotel housing 240 rooms.

Michael Nugent Ltd is currently involved in a number of projects including Canterbury University in Christ Church, a high-profile educational project in the south east of England and The Grand Hotel in Birmingham, a luxury 180-bedroom hotel; both £4m electrical contracts.

Others include York Street Student Accommodation, Belfast, The Hard Rock Hotel in Dublin, and the New

Waverley Office block, Edinburgh.

Michael Nugent Ltd commit to a simple ethos: ‘to provide the best service first time, in time.’ ‘Our years of experience enable us to approach each contract with an unrivalled knowledge that sees every job - from large to small completed to the highest standard.’

‘At Michael Nugent (ES) Ltd we pride ourselves on quality. Our aim is to implement, maintain and improve on a Quality Management System based on ISO 9001. This is fundamental in achieving our promise of ‘best service first time, in time’ and for delivering continuous improvement in our performance.’

HLM’s Design Brought to Life HLM, a leading design and architecture practice with studios in Belfast, has embarked upon a new project with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

An impressive ground breaking ceremony at Crowthorne Community Fire Station has started the redevelopment of the current fire station facilities to create the second tri-service station in

Berkshire. Directed by HLM’s Head of Emergency Service, Steven Lennon, the HLM design team is leading the complete design project for the rebuild, including interior and landscape design.

that operational requirements and processes have been incorporated into the building around them.

The most important outcome for the design is having a fit for purpose facility that support the role of a modern firefighter, as well as the local community that they serve.

There is also a compact gym that demonstrates the understanding and importance of fitness standards for firefighters.

The design of the new station ensures

Heat Recovery Ventilation

HLM’S design team at the ground breaking ceremony

For Energy Efficiency & Clean Indoor Air Call us for project advice, survey and quotation Residential | Commercial | Industrial

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|11

digest

Restore Datashred is serious about shredding in Northern Ireland…

Restore Datashred is one of the UK’s leading on-site and off-site shredding companies.

We proudly help over 40,000 customers to dispose of confidential information in compliance with data protection legislation.

We take the security of your confidential data very seriously indeed.

We’re BS EN15713:2009 shredding standard accredited, so you can be confident that the service you will receive from Restore Datashred will be of the very highest standard. Our off-site service is designed to offer you a simple and reliable solution tailored to meet the needs of your organisation and guarantees that your company’s confidential information will be handled securely every step of the way.

Secure shredding with unrivalled service Whether your confidential material is in the form of paper records, digital media, uniforms, ID badges or other items, our secure process ensures

that all materials and data are strictly contained and controlled. Confidential data and materials are collected by our uniformed and security-vetted staff, in a range of satellitetracke and secure vehicles. The data is returned to one of our destruction centres,

where it is unloaded inside a high security warehouse and shredded on the same day.

All suitable shredded paper material is then baled and sent to a paper mill to be recycled into paper or tissue

products, depending on the grade.

For more information please contact our Area Sales Manager for N.I. Paul Bradwell: 07792142426 paul. bradwell@restore.co.uk www.restore.co.uk

TOBERMORE FINALIST, Product of the Year of the Housebuilder Awards World class paving and walling manufacturer Tobermore recently won the Best External Product category at the Housebuilder Product Awards, for their Secura Grand retaining wall system.

Secura Grand is the perfect walling solution for Housebuilders. The product is designed to prevent sloping site issues as well as creating a more efficient use of land. Secura Grand wall blocks are a cost-effective solution as they are mortar-free and promise a fast and easy installation process.

Maggie Philbin OBE spoke to the guests about her time at Tomorrow’s World and her passion for training and

developing young people through her TeenTech initiative before presenting the winners with their trophies.

Now in their sixth year, the Housebuilder Product Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in the provision of products and services to the housebuilding industry.

The Awards span nine categories, reflecting the product areas that are essential to the sector. The judges include representatives from the Home Builders Federation, NHBC and the Construction Products Association.

Tobermore will go through as finalists in the Product of the Year category of the Housebuilder Awards in October.

Maggie Philbin OBE, Sarah Templeton Tobermore & Guy Higgins, Managing Director, William Davis Homes

Central Vacuum Systems

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Hays | 13

TRANSLINK KEEPS MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS MOVING IN Northern ireland

By Mark Wade, Hays NI It has been well documented that the construction industry is crying out for more largescale infrastructure projects to be greenlit to provide some certainty about the pipeline of upcoming works and put the sector on a sustainable footing for the years ahead.

But while we await sign off on some of those big-ticket schemes, one organisation has continued to invest in a wide variety of infrastructure projects and has plans for projects that will have a transformational effect on Northern Ireland in the years to come.

Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transport provider, has seen more people choosing public transport as their first choice for travel, with passenger journeys topping 84.5 million across bus, coach and rail last year, the highest in over 20 years.

The extra 3.4m passenger journeys removed over 2.8m passenger journeys from the roads and saved thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions. That year-on-year growth has both been driven by investment in its product and also led to a need for further investment in new bus and train stock but also new physical infrastructure, including rail track and stations.

To give an idea of the variety of this work, some recent projects have included: •

•

•

•

•

The Lurgan Track Renewal Project, a substantial scheme to enhance and improve the railway line in the Lurgan area that will see 1.7km of track re-laid.

Enhancement works at Portadown Park and Ride, a £2.4m projects to add 347 car parking spaces, CCTV systems and cycle storage.

The launch of the iconic new £90m Glider service serving Belfast which has resulted in Translink carrying around 30,000 more passengers every week.

The signing of a £50m contract to supply 21 new train carriages for Northern Ireland Railways which will be in active passenger service by 2022.

Work on the North-West Multi-Modal Transport Hub at the former Waterside Train Station in Derry. The project has received funding from the European Union’s INTERREG VA fund, managed by the Special EU Programmes Board, with

significant match funding from the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport in the Republic of Ireland. The ambitious cross-border project has the potential to transform travel across the North West and is part of a wider £55m investment in the region by Translink.

Work on the new £5.6m Portrush Train Station has also finished ahead of schedule, in advance of the 148th Open, to be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club in July. The station will now be operationally active, with all facilities available to passengers.

It’s going to be very much a transportled regeneration project that will learn from the experience of other cities who showed that large scale investment in new stations can be a catalyst for wider regeneration and city transformation.

Translink also has significant investment plans for the near future, chief among them the new Belfast Transport Hub. Research has shown that modern, vibrant and growing regions have high quality connectivity at the centre of their sustainable growth and development.

John Glass, Director of Infrastructure & Projects, said: BTH will provide over 400 direct jobs during construction as well as additional longer-term investment and job opportunities.

As a catalyst for the regeneration of the local area, the plans will play a key role in positioning Belfast as a modern, confident and progressive city supporting the City Councils Belfast Agenda.

The Belfast Transport Hub is a multimillion-pound investment by the Department for Infrastructure will be at the heart of an exciting new city neighbourhood called “Weavers Cross” with imaginative mixed-use development concepts and designs created by Arup and John McAslan Partners.

The 8-hectare site beside the current Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street Stations, it will be the region’s main transport gateway, with rail, coach and bus connections to all parts of Northern Ireland and beyond. The project, which will take five years to complete, received planning approval in March.

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“We have seen strong passenger growth in recent years and this modern, innovative Transport Hub will allow us to build on this success, to meet growing customer demand, increase transport connectivity and enhance the customer experience as even more people choose to use public transport.”

Mr Glass says that a project like the Belfast Transport Hub at Weavers Cross will create a “fantastic pipeline” of employment opportunities.

“The wider development represents a further multi-million-pound investment

and will provide ongoing construction and fit out opportunities over its 15year lifecycle, along with additional longer-term investment and job opportunities. It will support Belfast City Council’s aim of attracting more people to work and live in the city centre and will be a hugely exciting project for those lucky enough to work on it,” he said.

Translink in partnership with BCC will also be investing in future skills by creating a new Construction Employment Academy to deliver Buy Social clauses during the construction and engineering phase of the new Hub and wider Weavers Cross development.

Targeting local people this innovative scheme will provide information, training and ongoing support to potential new entrants to ensure readiness in nearby neighbourhoods for these jobs, maximising social and economic benefits for communities across the city.

It’s easy to take Translink for granted, but it’s clear when we look at the range of recently completed investment projects and the slate of major works scheduled for the next few years that its influence on our economy and our industry is a hugely positive one.

Maintaining air quality with MEDITE CLEAR

In today’s environmentally conscious society, indoor air quality and creating safe, healthy environments both indoors and outside are becoming increasingly hot topics for discussion.

In the past, buildings were places where people simply lived and worked; now buildings are being designed to optimise and advance their occupants’ wellbeing. This is also recognised by environmental and wellbeing focused building standards such as The Well Standard, BREEAM,

LEED and Home Performance Index (HPI), which encourage developers and construction professionals to build ‘healthy homes’ and workplaces that put the wellbeing of the end user first, using sustainably produced products.

Clean air is a critical component of occupants’ health and wellbeing.

Indoor air quality can be degraded by numerous factors including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted from building materials. Such gases can include formaldehyde, which at high concentrations can lead to irritation of the nose and throat and has been associated with respiratory disorders.

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A commonly used product for building fit-outs is MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard). It is dense, flat and stiff, with no knots and is easily machined.

Its versatility makes it a feature of numerous interior schemes and items of furniture. However, to enable architects and contractors to benefit from the advantages of MDF and maintain great air quality, caution must be used.

David Murray, Head of Innovation and Ireland Sales at MEDITE SMARTPLY explains: “For many years, formaldehyde has been misunderstood in the construction

industry. It was largely assumed that all types of MDF contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde, which could have adverse effects on workers’ and building occupants health. In an effort to address this these concerns, we developed a range of ultralow emitting wood panel products including MEDITE CLEAR and MEDITE FR CLEAR.” Formaldehyde is naturally present in wood, at a very low level. However, this can be greatly amplified in some MDF or composite woods where high concentration formaldehyde-based resins are used to bind the wood fibres that constitute the panel.

“MEDITE CLEAR and MEDITE FR CLEAR are NAF (No Added Formaldehyde) MDF panels, the latter being a flame-retardant version, specifically for use in sensitive environments where VOC emissions need to be kept to an absolute

multi-functional panels that meet the changing needs of the market is a real challenge but one we take very seriously in our product innovation. For example, giving our customers a highly machinable, flame retardant MDF that also meets the most stringent formaldehyde and sustainability standards in the world is no mean feat, but that’s exactly we have achieved with MEDITE FR CLEAR”.

“Furthermore, we back up or sustainability claims with voluntary Environmental Product Declarations (EPD’s) for every product we make.

EPD’s are helpful for architects, local authorities and governments in getting good scores in their LEED, BREEAM, WELL and HPI projects. In addition, EPD’s provide an independently verified assessment of a products embodied carbon footprint, which in turn feeds into building level Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which I believe will become a pre-requisite for all building projects in the future as Governments seek to decarbonise the built environment.”

minimum. These are places such as hospitals, schools, public buildings, care homes and museums or galleries, but, as maintaining a low VOC level is important in virtually any building, these panels improve the indoor air quality of homes also. We are seeing increased demand for NAF panels in homes lately, driven by new certification systems for quality and sustainable residential development, for example the voluntary Home Performance System (HPI) system in Ireland.”

Although no wood product can be entirely formaldehyde-free,

independent tests have shown that the formaldehyde content of MEDITE CLEAR and MEDITE FR CLEAR is less than 1.0mg/100g: equivalent or less than the level in natural wood.

In fact, the formaldehyde emissions from MEDITE CLEAR and MEDITE FR CLEAR significantly outperform the rigid European E1 formaldehyde requirement, as well as complying with the even lower levels required by CARB phase 2 which can be below general ambient outdoor levels.

“These are the lowest formaldehyde panels we have ever produced,” said David. “Alongside our range of

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zero-added formaldehyde SMARTPLY OSB products, MEDITE CLEAR and MEDITE FR CLEAR set a new standard for wellness when it comes to wood panel products. Creating

MEDITE CLEAR and MEDITE FR CLEAR can be produced in a range of panel thicknesses. Please choose from the panel sizes and thickness tab; other specifications are available on request.

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16| John Simpson

Revitalising retail outlets

By John Simpson

Pictured [L-R] are: Ray Hutchinson (CEF President and Managing Director of Gilbert-Ash), Sue Gray (Permanent Secretary, Department of Finance), John Armstrong (CEF Managing Director)

Rates are an unpopular tax. No alternative, raising the same revenue for public services, is readily available!

Properly understood, rates are a transparently fair way of raising tax revenue using a simple formula based on the value of the ownership (or right to use) physical property.

Generally rates do not discriminate with respect to the type of business using the property. In that way, rates should effectively encourage the efficient use of property, accepting,

also, that the particular use of a piece of property cannot always be easily or quickly changed.

Property usage and property valuation are inflexible. When property values are increasing, the use of retrospective valuations is fairly non-controversial. When property values decrease, the slow adjustment process in rating valuations leaves the owner or tenant more critical.

In 2018 and 2019, retail business owners have been pleading for reform of the business rates systems

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John Simpson|17 The second decision was to create a Future High Streets Fund with a capital of £675m to be used for schemes to revitalise high streets. On a narrow parity basis, that scheme might have attracted about £15m for the Stormont budget.

Since there is already a wide ranging series of concessions on rates, in order to identify new priorities, Sue Gray should examine the merits of existing concessions. The main plea for the Review is that retail outlets should pay less. This would be on top of the existing concessions under the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme.

The simplest quick change might be simply to repeat in Northern

Should the 30% rebate on rates to industrial businesses be retained?

Ireland the formula adopted by the Chancellor for the same time constrained period. That would be a costly option. If actioned, the rationale should be clear. This would be a constrained one-off change anticipating the adjusted valuations due in 2021. to ease the cost of the rates bills they are facing. Two main strands can be seen in the argument. First, there is a shared view that the volume of high street retail trade has been falling as a respond to the increase in on-line retail sales. Second, partly as a consequence, many property valuations should be reduced. The image of vacant retail outlets in a less prosperous high street has attracted a degree of general concern as well as reflecting a loss of capital value for landlords. The expectation of a future downward revaluation does little to alleviate todays’ financial pain as rates bills arrive.

As a statement of principle, business owners have no inherent right to a reduced rates bill because more business turnover has transferred to different places. That is market competition. The rapid increase in on-line retailing has become a new competition source.

A feature of the last decade has been the use by retail tenants of the legislative provisions of a CVA (creditors’ voluntary agreement) to push landlords to accept lower rents.

Of course, lower rents may partly offset the demand for lower rates but the CVA itself offers no immediate rates reduction.

A third strand in the analysis is a perception that recent economic changes have shifted the balance of property values away from older town centre high streets to newer more suburban retail outlets. Whatever

the causation, the fairness of rateable valuations have become, if temporarily, less acceptable to older tenants.

Sensibly and conveniently, in the absence of a functioning Executive, the civil service has been tasked with preparing a range of options which might be put to an incoming Executive or, failing the arrival of an Executive, might be dealt with under the temporary arrangements gaining legal authority through the Secretary of State.

No interim or progress report has been issued but an extra work-stream has been added to the role of Sue Gray, Permanent Secretary to the Department of Finance.

The important issue now, in mid2019, is to assess the scope for action in Northern Ireland to maintain a credible rating system in 2020 and the years ahead, and respond to characteristics that merit any changes or concessions.

The rating system as applied in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Assembly and Executive. Locally, in theory, the Assembly might abolish rates completely. However, that loss of revenue would have to be compensated somewhere else in the Stormont budget. In practical terms, the current Stormont budget could not realistically manage without rates revenues, for central and local Government.

A debate about small scale concessions in the application of rating

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charges which can be afforded by a Stormont budget is central to the

A debate about small scale concessions in rating charges which can be afforded by a Stormont budget is central to the Sue Gray review.

Sue Gray review. This review can be expected to revisit a number of ideas, some of which were examined by Mairtin O’Muilleoir, then Minister, in 2016-17.

More recently, there have been other changes in rating policy for England, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In the absence of local Ministers, Northern Ireland has not enjoyed parallel local changes.

In October 2018, the Chancellor made two significant decisions in London. First, in a specific time limited concession, he announced that for retail businesses with a NAV (valuation base) of up to £51,000, rates would be reduced by one-third for two years starting in April 2019. This concession was reported as being worth up to £8,000 for up to 90% of the shops, pubs, restaurants and coffee shops which qualified. The time limits on the scheme will coincide neatly with the impact of the next revaluation of the property baseline which is expected for 2021.

There is a long standing debate about the merits of other concessions.

Should the 30% rebate on rates to industrial businesses be retained? As the rate of corporation tax has fallen, this rebate, which qualifies for scrutiny as a State Aid, could now be reassessed on value for money grounds.

It costs about £60m each year and is thought to have only a marginal advantage for industry.

Should the exemption from rates for charity related sales (charity shops) continue to give rise to exemption from rates?

The critical questions for the Rates Review are to distinguish from two different pleas. Do all retail shops merit a targeted benefit OR does rates reform need to be orientated to revive town centres? The latter is a more attractive idea.

Reviving town centres is a much broader question than amending the application of rates charges. Town centres are at risk of a decline in business footfall because the town planning system is doing little to enhance the convenience of town centres. The setting up of the Chancellor’s ‘future high street fund’ recognises the challenge. This is the major urban development challenge.

Rates reform is relevant to these questions but should be seen in the wider urban redevelopment context.

Will Sue Gray accept this challenge?

CDE GLOBAL NEW HQ

With 50 years experience in award winning private & commercial landscaping we are immensely proud to be the Landscaping Contractor for the CDE Global Headquarters in Cookstown. This striking new centre of excellence will give the business a perfect platform to expand and develop products continuing to drive CDE’s future growth.

148 Ballylesson Road Belfast, BT8 8JU T: 028 9082 6686 www.cameronlandscapes.com

Building Contracting | Fit-out | Formwork | Joinery | Roofing www.mastercraftconstruction.co.uk admin@mastercraftconstruction.co.uk

Mastercraft Construction UK Limited are pleased to have carried out all the high quality exposed Architectural in-situ concrete at the new CDE Global Headquarters.

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CDE GLOBAL NEW HQ CDE’s impressive new global headquarters in Cookstown Client: CDE Architect: Teague and Sally Contractor: Felix O’Hare Stainless steel: Edgeline, Moneymore

Concrete frame: Mastercraft, Dungiven Curtain walling: McMullan O’Donnell, Benburb Interior design: Brill, Belfast Mechanical and Electrical Services: Michael Nugent Ltd, Pomeroy

meeting point from the two legs of the building. The view from any part of the headquarters varies, from sheep in an adjoining field, where a local hawk patrols his patch, to the cement works, and from the Sperrin mountains to a wind turbine.

In 2015, CDE Global set out a roadmap for its next five years. The company’s ‘2020 Vision’ was an ambitious plan to make the business one of the best employers in Northern Ireland. In order to achieve its goal, CDE required a significant increase in staff and an office to match its growth and ambition.

Land was purchased in Cookstown and a brief was given to develop something special for employees, with a relaxed, modern and interactive working space. CDE wanted the building to convey a true sense of the company’s values and to inspire visiting clients from around the world.

The brief was turned into a design concept by local architects Teague and Sally. It was then developed by Felix O’Hare, the main contractor, into the impressive new campus it is today, using local suppliers where possible.

The construction used stainless steel shingles on the exterior, coupled to the internal exposed concrete; the

On the Cookstown site is a sculpted pond, with reeds and a fountain that should encourage wildlife such as the dragonfly; the company’s emblem.

There are benches along the edge of the pond for staff to sit and enjoy the vista during lunchtime.

materials for which were produced on one of CDE’s own plants. The building’s design helps tell CDE’s story of a company that is immersed in the culture of engineering.

Waste reduction is a significant feature of the new headquarters. Rainwater, for instance, is harvested for flushing toilets, which reduces the demand for disinfected water with its associated chemicals. An air handling system also

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heats water from the waste energy from the company’s large computer server room. Filtered tap water and coffee machines serve to reduce the quantity of plastic bottles and styrene cups that enter the building and require disposal.

CDE’s new offices are centered around an impressive atrium, encouraging interaction between staff and visitors, acting as a crossing and

The building also hosts an impressive restaurant where chat and discussion flow to form an almost musical hum, intended to help reduce the stress of everyday work life.

Technology is a significant feature of the HQ. There is no copper wiring in the building; all wiring is fibre, including in the servers, which makes them future proofed. Employees all have standing workstations and their own lockers to enable clear desks and GDPR compliance.

Tony Convery, Chairman of CDE, says: “Whether in one of the many pods,

CDE GLOBAL NEW HQ

bright seated areas or teleconferenced rooms, at CDE difficult issues can be discussed in a positive way and resolved by relaxed minds, freed to think outside the box and not be constrained by hierarchical stereotypes.

Our Ashby Suite, for instance, is a silent room where phones are muted and a detailed contract can be mused for a while without disturbance.”

Jason Arthur of architects Teague and Sally said: “The headquarters building is an exposed two-storey concrete frame. The building consists of a curved, predominantly glazed façade and two extreme cantilevers, extending 6.5m.

The building is orientated to maximise views of the Sperrin mountains with linear narrow open plan offices placed around an atrium. The building ‘fingers’ open like welcoming arms into the landscape to emphasise CDE’s desire to create a ‘campus’ environment.

Are pleased to have provided Civil Engineering Services for CDE Cookstown Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers| CDM Co-ordinators Suite B. 174-184 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2ED

Tel 028 9023 2841

The thought behind the building • The building has been orientated to maximise views of the Sperrin mountains.

• The building is clad in Stainless Steel Singles to reflect CDE’s background in steel and fabrication.

• The building elevation is comprised of approximately 60 percent glazing.

• Night-time cooling of the concrete slab will also be managed by the BMS as part of the building cooling strategy.

• Solar control glazing has been used to assist in the control of excess heat gain.

• Windows will open automatically to allow natural ventilation and building cooling when set temperatures or CO2 levels are exceeded.

• PV panels are also used to aid in the energy demand of the building • Rainwater harvesting is used to reduce energy consumption

“The introduction of curves is a deliberate response to the forms evidenced in the products designed and fabricated by the client. Materials and finishes including stainless steel shingles, concrete processed using the client’s plant and exposed aggregates further reinforce their core business.

“The building form acts as the catalyst for an extensive landscaping design that includes a linear park and organic shaped man-made ponds, employed to minimise impact and create a sense of continuity with the natural landscape of the Sperrins,” he adds.

All aspects of creating CDE’s Centre of Excellence have been carefully considered to help accomplish its ‘2020 Vision’. As a result, in the rural heartland of Mid-Ulster, CDE has developed a state-of-the-art building that reflects its focus on the future and its dedication to the development of its industry-leading staff.

The layout of the building • The building has been designed as a campus environment - ‘A Centre for Learning’ • The building has the atrium at its heart to reinforce the campus environment.

• The narrow plans have been developed to ensure that natural ventilation is achieved.

• The atrium has two 15m bespoke rooflights to flood the space with natural daylight.

• The moss wall is not alive.

It was alive, harvested and painted. But it feels and smells like a real moss wall.

• Each department will have a ‘home zone’ but there are also collaborative spaces for different departments to work together.

• There are visitor, disabled and electric car spaces. There are also some wider spaces designed for larger vehicles.

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CDE GLOBAL NEW HQ

Michael Nugent Ltd

MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Location:

Cookstown, Co. Tyrone

Client:

CDE Global

Consultant:

Felix O’Hare

Architect:

Teague & Sally

Project Manager: Ryan Nugent Completion:

January 2019

Value:

£17m

CDE Global’s headquarters in Cookstown has enabled the business to continue to expand its team providing for over 400 staff across areas including engineering, product development and business services. It is the world’s largest campus dedicated to the wet processing of materials in the sand and aggregates, mining, construction and demolition waste recycling, industrial sands and environmental sectors. The new building not only accommodates this growth in numbers but also allows for further expansion. The state of the art offices spanning over 5,000sq/m provide the CDE team with an environment that matches their excellence, ambition and reputation. The new space supports collaboration and team working, crucial for delivering new ideas, products and innovations.

Commerical Project Profile CDE Global Headquarters Cookstown

M&E Services Installed by Michael Nugent Ltd • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Modulated & Constant Temperature LPHW Heating Installation Plumbing Installation Sanitary Installation Public Health Installation Fully Controlled AC installation Dedicated Mechanical Supply and Extract Ventilation Installation Fully Automated BEMS Installation linked to - Headquarters External Trunk Main Installation Fire Fighting Installation Thermal Insulation Boiler Installation Sprinkler System Installation CCTV Installation General Power Supplies Structural Cabling General & Emergency Lighting Fire Alarms Security Systems

Michael Nugent Ltd provided a full mechanical and Electrical services installation for this commercial project, an area where we have significant experience. The building is a large open controlled environment therefore requiring the installation of specialised services such as ventilation, fully controlled AC installation and automated BEMS installation linked to headquarters. All electrical systems such as lighting, security/fire alarms, general power accessories and mechanical controls cabling were also provided.

2 Tandragee Road, Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, BT70 3DS T: (028) 8775 8617 F: (028) 8775 8983 E: info@michaelnugent.co.uk W: www.michaelnugent.co.uk

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CDE GLOBAL NEW HQ McMULLAN O’DONNELL delivers tailored solution for CDE GLOBAL McMullan O’Donnell provided the complete external glazing envelope for the impressive CDE Head Quarters Cookstown.

The curtain walling package utilized a silicone pointed system with high performance solar controlled glazing. It incorporated many complexities such as faceted screens, frameless bonded sash openings, exposed glass corners and large rooflights.

“The images below show the complexity of the convex and concave curves which offered some challenges however we were able to overcome these and are very pleased with the final outcome.”

“Frameless bonded sashes were utilized throughout the project with sash openings ranging to 2M in height. Perimeters of the glass opening were enhanced with a ceramic frit, which boasted a sharp modern appearance to the sash openings. High level opening sashes were connected to and operated via the intelligent Window Master System, linked back to the BMS System. The 2 large rooflights with

automatic opening vents were also linked to the BMS System, opening at the unwarranted time of smoke presence, when CO2 emissions in the building are high, whilst then closing automatically in the event of rainfall.

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This was a prestigious local project in which McMullan O’Donnell were proud to be involved in.

MMOD delivers cost effective and tailored solutions, striving to provide excellence in performance,

security, long life, reliability and low maintenance.

Also In the commercial sector, this has included projects in leisure, educational, and retail.

CDE GLOBAL NEW HQ

MBE for CDE’s Chairman

Tony Convery, Founder and Chairman of CDE Global was awarded an MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours for services to the Northern Ireland economy.

Tony Convery is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. He founded CDE along with his wife in 1992 having previously worked in the materials processing sector for a number of years. He is now the company’s Chairman. His work took him across Europe and America where he worked on major sand and aggregates and water treatment projects.

Tony’s innovative engineering designs were already recognised by the industry and in 1993 he was presented with the Environment Award from the Engineering Council in the UK for a concrete reclamation system. The design was featured on the British television programme, Tomorrow’s World.

Having now established a considerable Research & Development department within CDE, Tony continues to be a lead contributor in all new product developments. As the company continues to grow, Tony travels extensively identifying new opportunities for CDE and plays an integral role in the development of the business across its 5 sectors on a global basis.

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He is a senior figure within the aggregate processing industry and well respected for his world-class designs and solutions. Tony, together with the CDE Design Team designed the world’s largest sand washing system which was commissioned in 2008.

Tony is particularly proud of having opened CDE’s new global headquarters in Cookstown in February 2019, which provides a world-class in base in Mid-Ulster for CDE to continue to expand its sales around the world.

Tony Convery MBE said that he is humbled to receive the honour. He continued: “It has been a landmark year for the company with our continuing growth and the opening of

our new headquarters in Cookstown, and I see this honour as recognition of CDE’s many significant achievements.

We have a fantastic team, and with their support, I look forward to the business continuing to go from strength-to-strength and continuing to contribute very positively to the local economy and society.”

Brendan McGurgan, Managing Director of CDE, said: “Everyone at the company is delighted for Tony and sees this as fitting recognition of his massive contribution to founding and growing the business and making an incredibly positive impact in the local economy. Tony doesn’t seek the limelight but he thoroughly deserves the recognition.”

24| OPENREACH

OPENREACH “FIBRE FIRST” Programme Mairead Meyer, Managing Director of Openreach in Northern Ireland with representatives from the Openreach team.

Openreach is the engineering team that build and maintain the broadband network in Northern Ireland.

Most Communications Providers operating in the region use this open access network to connect their customers to phone, broadband, data and TV services.

Openreach’s ambition is to drive Northern Ireland’s digital future through its ‘Fibre First’ programme, building the infrastructure the region needs to compete in the global digital economy. As part of this, Openreach is investing in the roll out of next generation fibre technologies and Superfast Fibre Broadband coverage

in Northern Ireland is now at more than 88%. The business is also on track to reach its target of building 25% of homes and businesses with even faster and more reliable Ultrafast Broadband or Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP), where fibre cables are laid all the way from an exchange to people’s front doors, by the end of 2019.

FTTP or ‘Full Fibre’ provides even greater capacity for multiple devices and data-hungry services, from highspeed uploads and data sharing to Smart Home devices and applications using Virtual Reality. The technology can also be a catalyst for greater productivity and improving the way businesses work, allowing them to operate more efficiently thanks to improved reliability.

In late 2018, Openreach announced

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that Belfast was the first city in Northern Ireland to benefit from Openreach’s fibre roll out. The fibre connections will provide speeds of up to 1Gbps, more than 20 times faster than the current UK average of 46Mbps, helping to ensure that Belfast can lead the way in digital innovation.

Belfast joins a dozen other locations across the UK that make up the first phase of Openreach’s multi-millionpound fibre investment. Its current target across the UK is to reach three million front doors with FTTP by the end of 2020.

Within Northern Ireland, Openreach will build a FTTP network in all residential or mixed residential / commercial sites with five or more homes. Each development will be

allocated a New Sites Representative who will work alongside the property developer to ensure that they have all the information they need to build a FTTP network. The New Sites Representative will also guide the property developer through the installation process and arrange inspections during the build of the FTTP network to ensure that everything is running smoothly and delivered ahead of customers moving in to the site.

Openreach wants to work with property developers from the outset and encourages early site registration to allow time for proposals to be created.

For more information about Openreach visit www.openreach. co.uk/NI

We might build the network, but you bring it to life Whether you’re streaming movies or running a business, we’re here to keep you connected.

Go to openreach.co.uk/ni to find out more.

Openreach work on behalf of communications providers to build and maintain digital infrastructure across the country. Openreach does not sell direct to consumers, and you should always contact your communication provider if you need help with your internet or telephony services.

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26| RTU

RTU, at the heart of recent landmark projects in Northern Ireland state-of-the-art facility. Our tubbed mortar is known for its quality and strength as well as the array of colours we can provide. Ultraflo® is a unique hemihydrate calcium sulphate liquid floor screed designed for use with underfloor heating.

The product guarantees minimal shrinkage and cracking, improved heat responsiveness with underfloor heating, reduced heat lag delay, reduced energy costs, and it is ecofriendly.

RTU is incredibly proud of our involvement in some recent landmark projects including the construction of Queen’s University’s Biological Sciences Building, the development of Translink’s Milewater House depot and the refurbishment of Hillsborough Castle.

As a leading supplier of ready-mixed concrete, mortar, plaster and screed, it is great to see our projects transition into the purpose for which they were intended. As with every project, whether commercial, residential or

self-build, our commitment to quality, service and performance is absolute.

We help to counter the challenges faced by our customers by offering project-specific solutions that ensure hassle-free delivery and peace of mind.

“Extraordinary”, was Prince Charles’ verdict on the completion of Hillsborough Castle’s 5-year, £20m transformation, on which RTU is proud to have been a supplier. Our signature Exposa® Decorative Concrete was used along the stunning pathways that complement the gardens of this historic Royal residence. With visitor numbers forecasted at 200,000 per annum, Exposa® was the perfect choice

Translink, Milewater Service Centre.

to provide a beautiful aesthetic as well as the necessary performance, durability and slip resistance for such a prestigious and high volume attraction.

However, you don’t need to be a Royal to enjoy Exposa®, and we have many commercial and self-build clients that have chosen this product to add an exceptional finish to their project.

Queen’s University’s new Biological Sciences Building is another key project that has launched this year.

The building facilitates the training of science graduates towards the progression of sectors that generate more than £5.5 billion into the economy each year. RTU provided both mortar and Ultraflo® for this

Another big launch in 2019 was Translink’s new Milewater Service Centre in north Belfast. This purposebuilt facility serves as the main base for the iconic Glider fleet, as well as Translink’s engineering and projects teams. RTU worked with the main contractor, Henry Brothers, to supply a range of materials including concrete, standard building mortar and Speedscreed for the construction of a modern depot that represents a significant investment in Northern Ireland’s infrastructure. Check out our video that demonstrates the size and scale of this project on the video section of our website - www.rtu. co.uk RTU’s Signature Range Includes: ULTRAFLO® HEMIHYDRATE LIQUID FLOOR SCREED Ultraflo® is Ireland’s only ready mixed hemihydrate liquid floor screed with unique properties that make it an ideal solution for all domestic and commercial projects. It offers improved energy efficiency and lower runnings costs with underfloor heating, and being a hemihydrate screed means it requires no buffing/ grinding to the floor surface. Ultraflo® is produced in RTU’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities (accredited to ISO 9001), and with a ten-year proven track record, it ensures a perfect screed every time.

EXPOSA® DECORATIVE CONCRETE Exposa® is a beautiful decorative concrete, which is the first choice for any hard landscaping project and the ultimate alternative to traditional paving, asphalt, tarmac and loose gravel. Exposa® is highly durable, low maintenance, practical, safe and flexible, with a slip-resistant finish that makes it the ideal choice for residential driveways, patios and footpaths as well as commercial applications in large pedestrianised zones. What makes Exposa® stand out from the crowd is the variety of colours on offer that allows designers and architects to be as bold or subtle in their design work.

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www.rtu.co.uk |      +44 (0)28 9085 1441 | sales@rtu.co.uk

GREAT PRODUCTS FOR THE PERFECT BUILD As a leading supplier to Northern Ireland’s commercial and self-build markets, RTU provides excellent customer service and top quality, high performance products that deliver construction excellence and stunning visual appeal.

This beautiful decorative concrete is the first choice for any hard landscaping project and the ultimate alternative to traditional paving, asphalt, tarmac and loose gravel.

IDEAL FOR PATIOS, DRIVEWAYS AND FOOTPATHS • • • •

High performance with outstanding visual appeal Durable, practical and flexible Slip resistant finish Available in a range of colours and finishes Exposa®, Galgorm Resort & Spa

Our hemihydrate liquid floor screed requires no buffing/grinding to the floor surface. Its unique properties deliver improved energy efficiency and lower runnings costs with underfloor heating.

THE PERFECT PARTNER FOR UNDERFLOOR HEATING • • • •

Increases heat response times Virtually no drying shrinkage or curling Reduced laying depths, weight and drying times Light traffic after 24 hours

WATCH OUR VIDEO! RTU IN ACTION AT TRANSLINK’S, MILEWATER HOUSE.

VIEW ON OUR WEBSITE Check us out on social media www.rtu.co.uk/videos www.specifymagazine.co.uk

Ganson builds new Home Bargains store

Castlewellan based construction company Ganson UK Ltd have just completed a brand new store for the Home Bargains retail chain. The new outlet, situated on the corner of Ballinderry and Knockmore Roads in Lisburn was a 26 week new build shell only retail unit and associated site work.

The project also involved the realignment of the Ballinderry Road as well as the construction of a service park and customer car park as well as moving a retaining wall within the site confines.

This was particularly complicated due to the fact that there is a 12m high telephone mast on site needed to be maintained and operational throughout the duration of the construction. This proved complex as the mast sat on small mound on the site and the team from Ganson had to build a retaining wall directly below it. The team created a 3 metre zone around the mast with fixed fencing to protect the mast from any heavy plant causing damage to it.

Ganson utilised sheet piling and monitored the movement within the surrounding soil by installing vibration and noise monitors and tell tales on the slabs to advise of any movements as this area of works also had a running vein of sand.

level to avoid any contact during the rest of the works.

During the works to avoid contact with the live cable, the team created a break in the strip founds short of the cables location and installed a precast head to the strip founds to allow the

by TJ Morris and was established over 40 years ago by Tom Morris.

Since opening his first store in Liverpool, Tom has grown the business organically to become one of the biggest privately owned companies in the UK.

Ganson also had to carry out extensive investigations on the location of the NIE cable feeding the mast, to protect the cable and the functions of the mast and to protect the personnel working on the site foremost.

This also assisted in ground monitoring to avoid slippage during the construction of the new retaining wall.

Ganson also worked with NIE with the installation of a new main cable by excavating a trench, dusting the base and once the new cable was installed, backfilling the trench including installing a warning tape at the required depth. This will have a demarcation of sleepers at ground

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mains cable to pass through.

The Home Bargains chain is owned

The company now boasts over 500 stores and employs more than

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Products and services Domestic Electricians Commercial Electricians Electrical Installations Electrical Inspecting and Testing Electrical Repairs NICEIC Member industrial electricians 46 Glen Rd, Ballymena BT44 0RF

22,000 staff. It is the largest employer on Merseyside and is the largest independent grocer in the country.

Tom comes from a retailing family that has run shops for three generations.

Following the family tradition, TJ Morris remains a family-run and family-owned business. The business operates on one key principle: to sell branded goods at the lowest prices possible.

The company intends to continue its rapid growth and has ambitious expansion plans. TJ Morris plans to grow to 1,000 stores, employing over 40,000 staff.

The Ganson Group was set up by Paul Mc Quaid & David Rogers, both qualified civil engineers, in 2003 in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. They have

Phone: 028 2177 1295 successfully developed a committed & experienced team with expertise in all aspects of interior fit out & Project Management for both new and refurbishment projects. The company has built up significant resources and staff and pride themselves on the ability to adapt and deliver a range of

projects for their clients.

The Group is capable of completing bespoke projects including those requiring detailed complex engineering solutions, both design & installation. An approved team of specialist suppliers and subcontractors have been built up over the years who have partnered with Ganson on a number of highprofile projects.

The Ganson Group expanded to incorporate Ganson UK in 2010 with CEO Gerard Mc Clelland now at the helm.

The Group has just been expanded in 2018 to include Ganson Fit Out led by CEO Shauna O’Hare.

Sub Contractors on the project included: Principal Designers and Quantity Surveyors: Faithful and Gould, Montgomery Street, Belfast Structural and Civil Engineering: Hanna & Hutchinson, Bow Street, Lisburn Mechanical and Electrical Consultants: Troup, Bywaters & Anders, Malone Road, Belfast Architect: Bracewell Stirling, Clackmannanshire

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Innovation and Best Value – Ridgeway the “go to” destination for Work at Height As a leading supplier of site products Ridgeway have always been dedicated to safety whiLst working on site. Over the last 50 years, we have led the way through innovation for the construction industry in Ireland by introducing many new products to the local market, stocking market-leading brands such as Conquip, Combisafe, Instant Upright, Lyte and HAKI. Safety at height is at the forefront of modern day life on a building site and Ridgeway have a vast range of complementary products that offer the best value in solving work at height related issues. With engineering capabilities for design and the best trained teams of installers, Ridgeway can offer loading platforms, temporary edge protection and site access stairs, making us a one stop shop for all your work at height requirements during construction of high rise steel and concrete structures.

Our strategic partnership with Conquip has opened a vast range of new products to Ridgeway that align perfectly with our work at height capabilities.

The Conquip CantiDeck is a

temporary loading platform that extends from a building structure to allow materials and equipment to be loaded in and out of the building.

The CantiDeck system is the fastest loading bay for relocation and installation, with a high working load capacity to enable loading of a wide variety of materials, equipment and prefabricated sections, increasing the efficiency of vertical movements. It provides safe access for working at height and offers a safe method of loading materials. Onsite training enables site operatives to relocate the platforms safely when required.

Overall project times can be reduced with this system.

The CantiDeck aligns perfectly with the Combisafe Steel Mesh Barrier (SMB) range of Temporary Edge Protection to provide full loading capabilities to high rise buildings as well as collective edge protection.

Combisafe Steel Mesh Barrier system has been the forerunner in edge protection for two decades.

Originally developed to offer an alternative safety system in the most challenging construction environments, it is now the most widely used name in formalised edge protection.

With a vast array of different attachments Combisafe SMB can offer edge protection solutions for all requirements.

Combisafe also supply the Safety Net Fan which is the latest innovation in high-rise fall protection and is

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ideally suited to compact innercity locations where space is at a premium. This system provides collective protection from falling objects and ensures that potential hazards to the general public and site operatives are vastly reduced.

Market-leading stair tower brand HAKI are another new strategic partnership for Ridgeway this year.

HAKI Stair Towers are suitable for all types of light and heavy duty projects.

Safe and adaptable, they are trusted by project owners worldwide for providing temporary access.

The HAKI Stair Tower is the strongest on the market with a loading capacity of 4 kN/m², and offers adaptability in layout and design, including multi-directional access ways and parallel stairs. There is also the option of 2m, 1.5m and 1m lifts to suit site requirements.

With collective fall protection, rigid flights, non-slip flush landings and a

full toe-board system, HAKI Stair Towers offer the highest standards in safety, meeting or exceeding laws and regulations.

Ridgeway have specialist trained and experienced Pro Rigger Squads who have extensive experience in the safe assembly, use and dismantling of a wide range of access systems.

Our Access and Safety Store is now available online so don’t hesitate, come and browse our wide range of site products and PPE. Please visit www.accessandsafetystore.com for more information.

Alternatively please call or email either our Belfast or Ashbourne depots and one of our dedicated team will be happy to assist with all enquiries.

Belfast: + 44 (0) 2890454599 Ashbourne: +353(01) 802 7173 Email: info@ridgeway-online.com www.ridgeway-online.com

“The CantiDeck system is the fastest loading bay for relocation and installation.”

“The Combisafe Safety Net Fan is the latest innovation in high-rise fall”protection.”

“Haki Stair Towers are suitable for all types of light and heavy duty projects”.

“The Combisafe Steel Mesh Barrier can offer edge protection solutions for all requirements.”

Belfast: + 44 (0) 2890454599 Ashbourne: +353(01) 802 7173 Email: info@ridgeway-online.com www.ridgeway-online.com Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

34| SOIREE SOCIETY

Soirée Society offers relationship help for the construction and manufacturing sector Who can think of the famous Roy Orbison song ‘Only the Lonely’ without humming it?

‘Only the lonely, Know the way I feel tonight, Only the lonely, Know this feeling ain’t right’.

For some single people, working in the male dominated construction sector can be a lonely experience.

Shocking statistics reveal that male workers in construction have a suicide risk that is three times higher than the average and even those in skilled construction jobs also have an increased suicide risk.

Problems or loneliness amongst workers in the construction sector is often due to the innate characteristics of the industry; it is a highly mobile industry with lots of casual workers, uncertain contracts, exacting timelines and is quite macho in culture. Often people don’t feel comfortable in raising personal issues and then muddle along until they can cope no longer.

Men tend not to talk about their feelings as much as females nor do they have the same opportunities or desire for social outings. Even though people may be surrounded by others in their workplace, many

can still have feelings of loneliness and isolation which in some cases can lead to depression.

Adulthood can be a time of stability and brings the joys of discovering new relationships, including building a family. However, it is also a time when key risks for loneliness and isolation can significantly impact on us, including being single, relationship breakdowns and divorce, poor worklife balance, children leaving the family home, retirement, and bereavement Loneliness and isolation remain the key predictors for poor psychological and physical health. On the other hand, extensive evidence shows that having good-quality positive relationships can give us purpose and a sense of belonging, and help us to live longer and happier lives with fewer mental health problems.

But with working in a male

orientated environment where does one get the opportunity to meet a female partner?

Claire Hughes from Northern Ireland’s Award-Winning Matchmaking Agency Soirée Society explained: “Finding someone who is also interested in a genuine relationship can be challenging for several reasons, e.g. where does one go to find them? Sometimes single people do not have other unattached people to go out with as their friends and family are already in relationships. Divorced and bereaved people in particular may be daunted by re-entering the dating scene which has changed dramatically over the years.”

Thanks to technology, there’s a wealth of online dating sites available but many people feel outside their comfort zones or are disillusioned with the results as they find that some people online are time wasters or are more interested in one night stands and casual relationships.

Also, as has happened recently in Northern Ireland, people are not authenticated on online dating sites and fraudsters have stolen large amounts of money from

unsuspecting victims in what has become known as romance scams.

“Turning to the professionals might be a solution for many people” said Claire.

Extensive research shows us that finding a compatible partner in Northern Ireland is a common problem for unattached people of all ages from 30-80. Matchmaking dating agencies work with you to offer a professional, personal and confidential service to find you the partner you seek, whether that be for a long term relationship, marriage or even just companionship..

With two weddings and two engagements in 2018, a further two engagements to date in 2019 and many long term relationships going strong, Soirée Society has helped people find the solution to their problem.

Not everyone is single, but everyone knows someone that is who would love to be in a relationship – perhaps a family member, or a friend or work colleague, or even your Ex! As Roy Orbison’s song goes – Maybe tomorrow, A new romance, No more sorrow, But that’s the chance

For more information visit their website www.soireesocietyni.co.uk or Facebook soireesocietyni.

To connect with others, connect with Soirée. Complete the contact form on the website or telephone or text your name to Rhoda on 07814079514 or Claire on 07766330087.

Soirée Society is pleased to offer a £50 discount to the first five applicants for membership received. Male applications are particularly welcome at this time.

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digest

|35

Cavity Wall Insulation report released for Northern Ireland

Research into cavity wall insulation in social housing and private homes in Northern Ireland has been published today.

The research was commissioned in 2017 by the Housing Executive on the back of concerns about the standard of cavity wall insulation in its own properties.

The research was carried out by Consultancy, Investigation and Training (CIT) a subsidiary of the British Board of Agrément (BBA), the UK’s leading construction certification body, offering approval, certification, audit and test services to manufacturers of products and systems in the built environment.

A sample of more than 800 Housing Executive properties and 100 privately owned homes were surveyed as part of the research.

The research found that of the Housing Executive stock surveyed, 63% had cavity wall insulation which was non-compliant with current industry standards leaving 37% compliant. This means that voids and/or debris in the cavity have been identified. Additionally, it was discovered that for 1% of properties surveyed, their external façade had deteriorated and the internal fabric had been compromised; 32% had building fabric that had been compromised but the situation was stable and 51% had minimal building fabric defects with no serious

underlying causes. Sixteen percent of the stock was found to be defect-free.

In contrast, of the private homes surveyed, 36% had cavity wall insulation installations that were non-compliant with current industry standards, leaving 64% compliant.

Similar to the Housing Executive homes, for 1% of properties surveyed their external façade had deteriorated and the internal fabric had been compromised; 15% had building fabric that had been compromised but the situation was stable and 43% had minimal building fabric defects with no serious underlying causes. Forty-one percent of the stock was found to be defect-free.

CIT has made a number of recommendations CIT has made a number of recommendations including prioritising remediation work; training Housing Executive staff; setting industry standards for suppliers; seeking compensation from companies responsible for non-compliant installations and establishing mechanisms for tenants to raise concerns related to cavity wall insulation in their homes.

Rob McCormack, CIT Director, said: “CIT believes its recommendations address the issues of remediation across the Housing Executive’s social housing stock as well as suggesting ways to ensure repair work is carried out in full compliance with cavity wall insulation industry standard.

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“This research will allow the Housing Executive to use fact-based evidence and robust methodology to assess its remaining housing stock, identify those homes in most urgent need of remediation and efficiently plan maintenance programmes to address the issues identified.

The research is also intended to inform future strategy that will allow the Housing Executive to lead the way in developing housing and insulation policy based on strong, operational evidence in the field.”

A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said: “We carried out an extensive programme of insulating cavity walls in the 1980s and 1990s.

However, like many other UK social housing providers we have been increasingly concerned by nationwide reports of cavity wall insulation no longer performing as required due to degradation or poor installation.

“In 2013 we commissioned a small research project which surveyed 206 properties and found that the cavity wall insulation had deteriorated in many of the properties. Following continued concerns by tenants, elected representatives and the insulation industry about cavity wall insulation failure and, together with the 2015 stock condition survey

by Savills that identified significant investment requirements for our stock, we decided to commission a larger investigation in order to provide us with robust information on the extent, the type and reasons for cavity wall insulation failure in our stock. As part of the House Condition Survey that we conduct, we also examined homes

in the private sector.

“We thank CIT for their work in what is the largest research project of its kind that we are aware of across the UK. We will now consider CIT’s findings and recommendations and consult stakeholders. In the short term, we will, of course, immediately focus on those properties in which CIT has indicated a specific need for urgent remedial work. Later this year we will bring forward a longer term strategy and plan for addressing the broader issues that have been identified.

“However, such a strategy and plan will have to be prioritised against the many other significant investment needs for our housing stock - such as our Tower Blocks Action Plan, improving the thermal performance of our nontraditional dwellings and addressing the maintenance backlog in external improvements and the replacement of kitchens and bathrooms. These will be important decisions and will be made in the context that we are still projecting a significant shortfall in the funding required to achieve and maintain our housing stock at a modern standard. Once again this brings into sharp focus the need to secure a sustainable funding model for the Housing Executive, particularly with regard to access to external borrowing.

“We acknowledge there have been many energy improvement measures undertaken across our stock over the years, in terms of our double glazing programme and heating upgrades. The findings of this research will now be used to complement our forthcoming ten year energy strategy.”

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? We’re curious about the projects you’re working on right now and would be happy to answer any questions you have about our products, systems and services and how we can help make the difference.

From technical knowledge and building regulations to our dedicated specification sales team, our various customer support teams have you covered…so just talk to us.

Email: Enquiries@gyproc.ie Free Phone: 0845 399 0159

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CEF /Specify Launch | 36

CEF cements 20-year partnership with Specify magazine This year will be the 20th anniversary of the CEF/SPECIFY Construction Excellence Awards which have grown to become the largest event in Northern Ireland’s annual construction calendar. To mark this, several new Awards were launched by John Armstrong, Managing Director of the construction Employers Federation in Northern Ireland, which seek to build on the success of the awards in previous years.

between the industry and the senior civil service, and we very much look forward to it continuing.’

‘At a time of uncertainty in the public and private sectors recent planning decisions take by the Department for Infrastructure with respect to a number of projects are very welcome, particularly for the jobs that they will create and secure.’

Mr Armstrong went on to thank the sponsors and the judges. ‘Over the twenty years we have retained the support of many of the industry’s key partners in government, and we also continue to receive substantial backing from the private sector. Without these long-lasting partnerships, the awards would never have become the enormous success that they are today.’

The Construction Excellence Awards were launched back in 1999 in partnership with Specify magazine which promotes the event annually.

Since then it has become the premier event in the Northern Ireland construction calendar. The awards provide an opportunity to recognise the achievements of the local construction industry and to publicise the substantial contribution that our industry makes to the economy and society in Northern Ireland.

The CEF/SPECIFY Construction Excellence Awards are one of the most instantly recognised, respected, and hotly contested awards in the Northern Irish construction industry.

This year, to mark the award’s 20th anniversary, four new awards are being launched:

Pictured at the recent launch of the CEF/SPECIFY awards at the Culloden Hotel was guest speaker David Sterling, Head of the NI Civil Service, and Ray Hutchinson, CEF President, with John Armstrong. (Top Right) ‘Along with our partners, Specify magazine, we are delighted that so many representatives from across the industry are here to celebrate not just today’s launch, but also the fact that it is the award’s 20th anniversary,’ said Mr Armstrong. ‘We are delighted that David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, is with us today.’

‘It is ironic and intensely frustrating that, the last time David attended one of our awards events, we both reflected on the need for a Northern Ireland Executive to be urgently formed. That event was the Showcase of Finalists for the 2017 awards, and it goes without saying that more than 18 months later we have advanced very little in terms of getting devolved government back on the road again.’

‘I want to put on the record our gratitude to you, David, and to your staff, for keeping Northern Ireland ‘running’ over the past two years.

Indeed, over that time, working closely with your colleagues we have made significant positive progress in dealing with some of the key industry sustainability challenges that we highlighted in our 2016 Manifesto. Three important reforms have been testament to the hard work, innovation and co-operation

GB & Republic of Ireland Construction now split in two categories – above £5m and below £5m

Building in Use Multiple Occupancy Housing Buy Social

They provide a wonderful opportunity to showcase the best of the construction industry in Northern Ireland and to celebrate the industry’s achievements.

James and Gladys Greer, publishers of Specify magazine, added, ‘The aim of the competition is to promote excellence and to give recognition to those companies which are achieving the highest standards of construction.

We are pleased to have been involved in the awards in partnership with the CEF from it’s inception, and are delighted that the kudos of winning a CEF/SPECIFY award continues to grow each year.’

The entries will be judged within thirteen award categories under the headings of housing, general construction, infrastructure, quality performance and GB and Republic of Ireland construction.

ENTRIES FOR THE 2019 CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE AWARDS ARE NOW OPEN! All CEF member companies can enter including affiliate members. So if you are registered with Safe-T-Cert, NVIRO-CERT, Enhance Pension Scheme or the Building Guarantee Scheme (BGS) you are eligible to enter.

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RICS Awards |38

Mourne Wall restoration named Northern Ireland’s ‘Project of the Year’

RICS Awards 2019, Northern Ireland winners revealed The Mourne Wall Restoration Project has been named ‘Project of the Year’ at the RICS Awards 2019, Northern Ireland, which celebrate the top, community-led built projects and the talent behind them.

The reconstruction of the wall, that consisted of over 600 repairs along the entire 22 mile length, came out top from a record 36 entries, winning its category (Building Conservation) before being named the overall Project of the Year Northern Ireland, sponsored by Sika. The highly coveted title is awarded to the scheme that demonstrates outstanding best practice and an exemplary commitment to adding value to its local area.

RICS judges commended “the collaboration between stakeholders to overcome the many challenges in completing the project, whilst working to minimise impact on the environment so future generations can enjoy this exceptional landmark”.

The extensive Mourne Wall Restoration Project has brought the wall back to its original condition as it would have been over 100 years ago.

Hand built by the Belfast Water Commissioners between 1904 and 1922 to mark and protect the 9,000acre water catchment which feeds the Silent Valley and Ben Crom Reservoirs, the Mourne wall has been a listed building since 1996 and today is in the ownership of NI Water.

This most recent phase of the Mourne Wall Restoration Project saw repairs including a 27m collapse on Slieve Bernagh and extensive path works.

In blending the old with the new, the project team used helicopters to transport the materials before employing traditional methods of rolling the stones into place.

Chair of the RICS Awards 2019, Northern Ireland judging panel, Michael Hannaway said: “The RPS Group and Geda Construction project team has successfully completed a lengthy and thorough revival of this historic landmark. The ‘Mourne Wall’ is in a Special Area of Conservation, Area of Special Scientific Interest and the heart of an Area of Outstanding Beauty. It also plays an important role environmentally and navigationally to the 100,000 walkers that visit the area.

“Judges were impressed with the blending of traditional skills and craftsmanship with modern surveying techniques to return the wall to its

original condition. The £1.6m project involved descendants of the original wall builders and included the use of local materials that were expertly crafted. The team behind it should be very proud as it was no easy task, with such a challenging landscape to work within and many factors to consider in ensuring minimised environmental impact.”

Hosted by Paul Clarke MBE , the RICS Awards 2019, Northern Ireland were held on 30th May at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast and the winners of all eight were announced as: • Building Conservation – Mourne Wall Restoration Project, Co Down • Commercial – River House, Belfast • Community Benefit - Raidió Fáilte / Líonra Uladh, Belfast • Design through Innovation – DAERA, Ballykelly • Infrastructure - The Blossom Children’s & Young People Centre, Craigavon Area Hospital • Regeneration – Let’s Go Hydro, Carryduff • Residential - Northland Road Residential Development, Derry • Tourism & Leisure - Grand Central Hotel, Belfast A number of Highly Commended certificates were also handed out on the night to Omagh Integrated Primary & Nursery School (Community Benefit), and Milewater Road Service Centre, Belfast (Infrastructure).

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40| RICS Awards Mr Hannaway commented: “A broad range of creative and inspiring projects, of all sizes and budgets, made the record-breaking shortlist this year in Northern Ireland, highlighting the great talent involved in shaping our built environment. The winners are representative of the best of our industry and include the most innovative projects that are having such a strong contribution on their local communities. The teams behind the winning projects, and indeed all our shortlisted projects, should be proud of their achievements and positive impacts within the region.

All category winners will go on to compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final on Friday 4 October at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in their respective category.

RICS Awards 2019, Northern Ireland – Winners Building Conservation Winner - The Mourne Wall Restoration Commercial Winner – River House, Belfast Community Benefit Winner – Raidió Fáilte / Líonra Uladh, Belfast Highly Commended – Omagh Integrated Primary & Nursery School Design through Innovation Winner – DAERA, Ballykelly Infrastructure Winner –Blossom Children & Young People’s Centre Highly Commended – Milewater Road Service Centre, Belfast Regeneration Winner – Let’s Go Hydro, Carryduff Residential Winner – Northland Road, Derry/ Londonderry Tourism & Leisure Winner – Grand Central Hotel, Belfast Project of the Year - Winner – The Mourne Wall Restoration Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

TRANSPORT |41

New Luton built Vauxhall Vivaro Vauxhall’s all-new Vivaro, which is based on Groupe PSA’s EMP2 platform, will help secure 1,250 jobs at its manufacturing plant in Luton. Vauxhall is the UK’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer with over one million Vivaro-type vans built since production started in 2001. Investment in the new vehicle will help increase the plant’s production capacity to 100,000 units per year.

Vauxhall will offer a purely electric version of the new Vivaro next year, another milestone on the journey to electrifying the brand.

Vauxhall’s all-new Vivaro is a true class-leader. Equipped with the 100PS 1.5-litre engine, the standard wheelbase Vivaro has, provisionally, 22 per cent-lower emissions and returns 16 per cent-higher miles per gallon than the market leader. The same engine with 120PS – again, provisionally - has 27 per cent fewer emissions and achieves 57.6mpg – 14 per cent higher than the market leader.

The Vivaro’s payload of up to 1489kgs is also higher than the market leader’s.

It’s full of innovation, as well. In terms of cargo length, thanks to the new Vivaro’s FlexCargo system, the maximum length it can take is a full 21 per cent longer than the market

leader, and a staggering 43 per cent greater than the equivalent of the number two in the market.

Available to order now, the third generation Vivaro medium van is a based on a state-of-the-art platform and available in two lengths (L1H1 4.95m and L2H1 5.30m). Body styles include panel van, doublecab for up to six occupants and a platform chassis.

Priced from £22,918.33 excluding

VAT, the Vivaro will be available in three trim levels: Edition, Sportive and Elite. Dual Side Sliding Door, Driver/ Passenger Airbags and Cruise Control with speed-limiter are all available as standard on Vivaro for the first time.

Reflecting the demands of an evolving market, Sportive models are higher specification than the outgoing model with standard equipment including body coloured mirrors, handles and

body side moulds, alarm, auto lights and wipers, acoustic windscreen and thickened side glazing.

The top-of-the range Elite model features the latest safety technology as standard including Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Information, Intelligent Speed Adaptation, Driver Attention Alert Level Three and Blind Spot Detection.

New Transit offers increased load carrying The new Ford Transit will help operators to be even more productive when the 2-tonne van goes on sale shortly, with up to 80kg more load-carrying capability following a top-to-bottom programme of weight savings.

Sophisticated engineering including Ford’s first aluminium bonnet for a commercial vehicle in Europe, a composite bulkhead and spin-formed wheels were optimised during the development process.

These are among the innovations that have helped Ford engineers reduce the kerb weight of the new Transit to enable customers to carry larger loads for greater operating efficiency. The new Transit rear-wheel-drive 350GVM, long-wheelbase, medium-roof model, for example, is 80kg lighter than the comparable out-going model. The equivalent front-wheel-drive van is 48kg lighter.

The new Transit is also up to seven per cent more fuel efficient, thanks to an upgraded 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel line-up delivering CO2 emissions

from 156g/km, a more powerful 185PS variant and a new 10‑speed automatic transmission for rearwheel-drive models. A segment-first EcoBlue Hybrid 48-volt mild-hybrid option further improves upon 2.0-litre

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EcoBlue fuel efficiency by up to an additional eight per cent in stop-start urban applications, delivering CO2 emissions from 144g/km.

New driver assistance tech and

advanced new connectivity features make working days less stressful for operators, and FordPass Connect on-board modem technology will help fleet professionals to improve vehicle utilisation and optimise running costs.

42| TRANSLINK

Major Infrastructure Expenditure Ahead for Translink Specify talks to John Glass, Director of Infrastructure and Projects at Translink…

Portrush Train Station

The recent opening of Translink’s new Milewater Service Centre at Dargan Road Belfast is just the start of many years of infrastructure improvements that will reach across Belfast and Northern Ireland.

The new £27million centre, built by Henry Brothers, opened just a few months ago and is now home to Belfast’s 32 Glider vehicles, as well as the Belfast Metro fleet. It’s also home to Translink’s Infrastructure and Projects teams.

The high-quality service centre comprises offices, meeting rooms and staff facilities (120,000ft²) across three floors and sits alongside engineering garages and workshops, which

John Glass, Director of Infrastructure and Projects at Translink Check us out on social media www.specifymagazine.co.uk

TRANSLINK |43

accommodate central storage facilities, specialist equipment and bus washing and fuel facilities. In addition there is parking provision for 141 buses. It is an impressive facility that sets the tone for the multi million-pound infrastructure developments ahead.

The most notable of these is the Belfast Transport Hub. This £200million project received planning permission in March and the first phase of enabling works, costing £20million will start in October. This first contract is currently out to tender to a number of contractors and will include decontaminating the site and diverting the culverted river that runs through the existing site. This prestigious project will take five years to complete and will be the main transport gateway with rail, coach and bus connections to all parts of Northern Ireland and beyond.

The new station will include an integrated transport interchange comprising station concourse, 26 bus stands, eight railway platforms, bus maintenance and parking, track and signalling enhancements, plus car parking and bike and taxi provision.

As well as being the main transport hub, the 10-acre city centre site will also see office space being developed beside the Hub to return revenue back to Translink.

As Director of Infrastructure and Projects, John Glass is relishing the rejuvenation of many of Northern Ireland’s bus and train stations,

and having previously worked at McLaughlin & Harvey, he knows how to deliver a multi million pound project. John first started with McLaughlin & Harvey while on a year’s work placement while studying Civil Engineering at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown.

After graduating, John went back to work with the company and progressed through its ranks, becoming a Director of Civil Engineering in 2007. He worked on many high profile projects over the years, such as Stena Line’s new ferry terminals in Northern Ireland and Scotland as well as numerous other port, harbour, road, windfarm and flood alleviation schemes across the UK. With more and more time spent across the water and a wife and two daughters at home near Cullybackey, John took up the job at Translink in 2016 just as work was about to start on the Milewater Service Centre.

Now completed, John is heavily involved in the Belfast Transport Hub.

81million passenger journeys last year and this is set to rise. We have just completed a £6million redevelopment of Portrush train station funded mainly by the Department for Communities and it is ready to handle the massive influx of passengers for the Open Golf at the end of July. Work is also underway to refurbish Derry’s train station which is an 1850s listed building representing a £30million investment.

“We have also applied for funding to the Department of Infrastructure for budget to build a new station at Yorkgate. When the new Ulster University opens in a year or two, there will be massive increase in students in that area and the current station wouldn’t have the capacity.”

“The effect of the Belfast Transport Hub on the local economy will be felt almost immediately,” says John. “It will provide 500 jobs in the construction process and bring much needed investment into the Grosvenor Road and Sandy Row areas. Every £1 spent in public transport translates into £4 benefit for the economy.

Park and Ride facilities are ever popular and Translink has just purchased land in Ballymena for a new 450 space park and ride, while investigating options to expand in Moira. Translink is in the process of acquiring lands adjacent to Mossley West railway halt to provide an additional 230 free park and ride spaces. There are also plans for a £7million upgrade of Lurgan Train Station, though recent media reports of the re-opening of the Lisburn to Antrim train service are unfounded, according to John, “though we do maintain the line for engineering trains”

“Translink has seen strong passenger growth in recent years with a record

The rail infrastructure requires ongoing investment and renewals

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to support a modern train system.

Recent benchmarking has shown that at least £55million per year is required to support this work. In 2017 and 2018 Translink completed a £30million ballast rehabilitation programme between Knockmore and Lurgan, using a rail mounted machine leased from Irish Rail. This rail mounted machine lifts the ballast from under the rail, cleans it, removes the muck, dirt and under sized ballast and tops up with new ballast. Railway ballast supports the rail and sleepers and requires rehabilitation every 15 to 20 years.

Translink are currently investigating the option of purchasing their own ballast cleaning machine which will go around the 300 mile network at a rate of 1520 miles per year.

Translink has also ordered 21 new train carriages from Spanish manufacturer CAF and these will be delivered within passenger service over the next 4 years.

There are exciting times ahead for public transport infrastructure in Northern Ireland and John Glass is more than capable of handling it. Living near Cullybackey, John of course gets the train to work every day and enjoys the 15 minute walk from Yorkgate to Milewater. He is also currently vice chairman of the Institution of Civil Engineers and will be Chairman in 2020. When not involved in civil engineering, John is also meticulously rebuilding a 1.9 Peugeot 205 GTI, and enjoys clay pigeon shooting.

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NI

CVS| 45

BESPOKE VAN FIT OUT SERVICE FROM CVS

Lisburn based Custom Vehicle Solutions (CVS) are installation partners for Modul-System one of the world’s leading manufacturers of racking solutions for service vehicles. They offer a complete one stop shop for all van, 4x4 and workshops in the construction industry.

Modul-System is manufactured to the very highest standards in Sweden and Custom Vehicle Solutions (CVS) have again been appointed their Northern Ireland partner. John Dickey is the Area Sales and Operations Manager for Modul-System NI and CVS. “Custom Vehicle Solutions can offer the construction trade, customised solutions which are lightweight, and robust for any type or size of vehicle.

We can offer traditional wooden racking and shelving or Modul-System lightweight racking where payload is crucial. Modul-System is one of the UK’s market leaders for the supply of vehicle racking and accessories, which are crash tested and suitable for all trades. Modul-System has developed a lightweight bonded honeycomb floor which, along with lightweight racking,

can help keep your vehicle under its maximum payload compared to the wooden equivalent.

“Modul-System racking is produced using some of the most advanced production technologies in Europe and the manufacturing processes meet ISO 9001 certification and also comply with the European TÜV standard,” said John.

“Safety and quality are of paramount importance to Modul-System. They invest a lot of time and energy into the development of innovative new products, and then carry out stringent tests to make sure that the end product is of the highest quality possible. This includes comprehensive crash testing at specialist research facilities, such as Volvo Cars Safety Centre. Crash simulations, Laboratory, load capacity, Vibration testing and durability testing replicate the complete product life, ensuring that the products are designed to cope with the harsh environment that the vehicle and conversion can sometimes be subjected to. Custom Vehicle Solutions also recently fitted out a number of vans for Graham Construction. CVS offers a complete solution for everyone in the construction trade, from a single self-employed owner/user to the fitting out and maintenance of a large fleet of vans. Purpose built units are available for almost all popular types and sizes of vans, pick-ups, 4x4’s etc.

CVS can supply and fit racking, shelving and equipment for all types of vehicles, including any electrical requirements as well as plywood lining kits and towbars.

The company is also Northern Ireland only authorised distributor for Speedliner, the most successful and longest established versatile spray liner in the UK and the only anti-bacterial liner available in NI. CVS also offer a supply and fit service for Roof racks/ Roof bars, door ladders and pipe

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carriers which are common on most vehicles.

Custom Vehicle Solutions are based near Lisburn MOT Centre just off the Ballinderry Road. CVS also incorporates a long established motor factor business, brake and clutch re-lining service and full workshop facilities for all types of vehicles.

Contact them via: 028 92 666 555 or john.d@cuveso.co.uk www.cuveso.co.uk Follow us on

digest

46|

Alan Stewart appointed National Association of Shopfitters’ Vice President A Northern Ireland man has been appointed as Vice President of the National Association of Shopfitters (NAS).

Alan Stewart, Business Development and Marketing Manager at awardwinning Marcon Fit-Out, was appointed at the NAS’s recent AGM in London. The Association, which represents the interests of almost 250 interior fit-out contractors throughout Britain and Northern Ireland is celebrating its Centenary this year.

The Muckamore man who has served on the NAS Council for three years will assume the Presidency in 2020.

Alan Stewart said: “It is an honour to have been selected as the Vice President of the National Association of Shopfitters in this its Centenary Year.

“I look forward to working with the President, Marc Allen and the Council as we enter an exciting time for the NAS. “Being a long-time supporter of

the NAS and having served on the Council for a number of years it is rewarding to be able to represent Marcon Fit-Out in this capacity and I look forward to working closely with our members and associate members over the coming years.”

The NAS – membership of which is regarded as a mark of quality celebrates its centenary in 2019.

Formed a year after World War 1, it has 246 members, all of whom work in the interior fit-out sector. Its core purposes are to facilitate networking, the provision of a comprehensive portfolio of subsidised training and to drive up professional standards.

The NAS’ membership spectrum ranges from small, owner-managed businesses to international plcs based in towns and cities throughout GB and Northern Ireland. Combined membership turnover is around £1.3bn.

Projects NAS members have delivered over the past 100 years include: Titanic Belfast, Tate Britain, London, Princess Royal Stand Cheltenham Race Course, The Shangri-La Hotel, The Shard and Queens Library Windsor Castle.

Alan Stewart of Marcon

SERC Students RSPB Stand for Balmoral Show Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery Students at SERC’s Lisburn Campus have put their skills to the test, working with RSPB to build their stand for the Balmoral Show.

The first-year students, under the tutelage of Seamus Braniff, Technical Support Officer at SERC, planned and constructed the stand. He said, “This was a challenge for the students as the items we were making for the stand were constructed from old wooden pallets – so it was a great way of recycling something that might end up in landfill. The team made seats, a bench, fencing and a wishing well to help RSPB attract visitors to their stand so they could hear about their work.

He added, “It was a great opportunity for the students to see how their skills are essential for major events such as the Balmoral Show – which couldn’t take place without carpenters and joiners. The bonus was that the things they made were fully recycled which has given them lots of ideas for further ‘green’ projects.”

Built for Nature: Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery Students from SERC’s Lisburn Campus who put their skills to the test to make the RSPB stand for Balmoral Show Harry McNeill, Matthew Davidson, Benjamin Starrett, Leo McGlone, Daniel McCormick, Scott McMaster, Jack Leith, James Cunningham with Seamus Braniff, Technical Support Officer, SERC and Tim McCann (back, 2nd left), Community Team Manager, RSPB. Tim McCann, Community Team Manager with RSPB said “RSPB have been attending the Balmoral show for a number of years now and every year we rely on the great help and support from SERC in delivering our objectives to engage with thousands of people on how we “give nature a home” in NI.

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Sanbra Fyffe Ltd Instantor Works, Santry Avenue, Santry, Dublin D09 K160

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Sign up to CIS FREE to get 3 day's full access to our premium system. Contact us on:

Construction Information Services (CIS) is the market leader in supplying All-Ireland construction opportunities. We provide fully researched real-time information on construction projects from pre-planning to on-site stages. *This project listing was generated on 6th February 2019.

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CIVIL AND UTILITIES ProjectID Title

Stage

Category

Value

Contract Awarded Tender

Civil and Utilities Civil and Utilities

€80,000,000

Tender

Civil and Utilities

£27,750,000

Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

858245 €32m - Office Development 868685 £5m - Multi Franchise Car Showroom 902365 £45m - Office Development

On Site

Commercial

€32,879,895

Co. Dublin

On Site Contract Awarded

Commercial Commercial

£5,000,000 £45,000,000

Co. Down Co. Antrim

967333 £2.4m - Car Showroom

On Site

Commercial

£2,450,222

Co. Londonderry

Stage

Category

Value

County

Tender Tender

Community and Sport Community and Sport

£6,000,000 £6,000,000

Co. Down Co. Down

Contract Awarded

Community and Sport

£22,500,000

Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

Tender

Construction Supplies

£4,820,000

Co. Antrim

Stage

Category

Value

County

On Site On Site

Education Education

£4,000,000 £11,500,000

Co. Antrim Co. Londonderry

Stage

Category

Value

County

982148 €75m - Residential/Student Accommodation Development On Site 912190 €32m - Hotel Development On Site

Hospitality

€75,743,600

Co. Kildare

Hospitality

€32,118,000

Co. Dublin

Stage

Category

Value

County

On Site

Industrial

£5,592,502

Co. Antrim

On Site

Industrial

£1,792,149

Co. Londonderry

Stage

Category

Value

County

956037 €500m - Town Centre Development 1016560 €41m - Housing Development 789129 €35m - Residential Development

On Site

Residential

€500,000,000

Co. Dublin

Contract Awarded On Site

Residential Residential

€41,400,000 €35,116,599

Co. Dublin Co. Dublin

1011127 €30m - Supply and Installation of Temporary Modular and Portable Homes Check us out on social media 988838 £4.5m - Residential Development www.specifymagazine.co.uk 968606 £2.8m - Housing Development, Change of House Types

Contract Awarded

Residential

€30,000,000

Co. Dublin

Contract Awarded

Residential

£4,554,000

Co. Down

On Site

Residential

£2,874,700

Co. Down

135105 €80m - Interchange Improvement Scheme 115407 €1bn - M20 Cork Limerick Motorway Scheme 1011542 £27m - Maintenance & Improvement to Structures 2019

County

Co. Cork €1,000,000,00 Co. Cork

COMMERCIAL ProjectID Title

COMMUNITY AND SPORT ProjectID Title 985211 £6m - New GAA Centre, Multi-Discipline Design Team 1028420 £6m - New GAA Centre, Planning Consultant 1013885 £22.5m - HVAC Hygiene Maintenance and Cleaning

CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES ProjectID Title 1030250 £4.8m - Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold

EDUCATION ProjectID Title 864285 £4m - New Integrated Primary School & Nursery School 855320 £11.5m - School

HOSPITALITY ProjectID Title

INDUSTRIAL ProjectID Title 903600 £5.5m - Warehousing/Distribution Unit 986808 £1.8m - Factory Extension

RESIDENTIAL ProjectID Title

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CEF/SpecifyCEF awards |29

THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

News in Brief...

Managing cyber-risk in the construction industry Conrad Smyth, Account Director at Federation Patron Willis Towers Watson, has put together a briefing on addressing cyber risk in the construction industry.

The briefing is available to view on the Federation’s website: http://www.cefni.co.uk/ downloads/Managing-cyberrisk-in-the-construction-sector. pdf

Online facility for completion of the CITB NI 2019 Levy Return now available The online facility for completion of the CITB NI 2019 Levy Return is now available to registered employers.

The time for completion of the 2019 Return has been extended from April to August 2019 and CITB NI continue to encourage all registered employers to comply before 30 August 2019.

Further information is available here: http://www.cefni.co.uk/ downloads/Postcard_2019.pdf

Update on UK Government no-deal announcements

I

n midMarch the Government produced guidance on how it proposes to avoid a hard border between NI/Republic in a no-deal scenario, and the temporary tariff regime on imports that it would take forward.

Avoiding a hard border in a no-deal • This is a strictly unilateral, temporary approach to checks, processes and tariffs in Northern Ireland • The UK government would not introduce any new checks or controls on goods at the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, including no customs requirements for nearly all goods • The UK temporary import tariff would therefore not apply to goods crossing from Ireland into Northern Ireland. The Irish Government/EU has indicated it would not reciprocate the UK temporary import tariff • These measures, therefore, do not set out the position in respect of tariffs or processes to be applied to goods moving from Northern Ireland to Ireland • Goods arriving from Ireland would still be subject to the appropriate VAT and Excise duty as today and the UK government would continue to collect these taxes on Irish goods in future. VAT registered businesses would continue to account for VAT on their normal VAT returns • Small businesses trading across the border, not currently VAT registered, would be able to report VAT online periodically, without any new processes at the border • As an aside of this, Irish products entering the rest of the UK would face high tariffs - particularly on food • HMRC will have anti avoidance rule to discourage smuggling from IRE-UK-GB. But intelligence-based

•

enforcement, no systematic Irish Sea checks UK government believe they will be acting within their rights as a WTO member to treat the border in this way. They have not ruled out using the ‘public morals exemption’

Temporary tariff regime (this only applies on goods coming from EU into NI via GB, not the Republic) •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

This regime is temporary, and the government would closely monitor the effects of these tariffs on the UK economy. It would apply for up to 12 months while a full consultation and review on a permanent approach to tariffs is undertaken UK businesses would not pay customs duties on the majority of goods when importing into the UK if we leave the European Union without an agreement Under the temporary tariff, 87% of total imports to the UK by value would be eligible for tariff free access Tariffs would still apply to 13% of goods imported into the UK, predominately agri-food For key construction related products, the temporary tariff would be: Wood and wood products 0% (otherwise it would have been 2.2%) Transport equipment 2.9% (otherwise it would have been 5.1%) Machinery 0% (otherwise it would have been 1.9%) Stone and cement 0.3% (otherwise it would have been 4%) Mineral products 0.2% (otherwise it would have been 0.7%) Chemical products 0.1% (otherwise it would have been 4.6%) Plastics and rubber 0.1% (otherwise it would have been 4.5%) Base metals 0% (otherwise it would have been 1.8%) Aluminium 0% (otherwise it would have been 6.3%) Steel and iron 0% (otherwise it would have been 0.8%)

Federation welcomes planning approval for Belfast Transport Hub

C

ommenting on the news in late March that the Department for Infrastructure has granted planning approval for the Belfast Transport Hub, Construction Employers Federation Managing Director John Armstrong said: “This is a hugely welcome development and will come as a massive confidence boost for the construction industry in Northern Ireland. The Department has been consistently clear about how and when it would seek to use the clarifying legislation passed by Westminster last autumn, with respect to civil servants’ powers, and this is the positive outcome of that approach. We obviously now hope that other key projects awaiting planning decisions can be advanced in as equally a speedy manner.

“The delivery of this Executive Flagship scheme will

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bring a much-needed transformation in Northern Ireland’s public transport infrastructure and connectivity and, with its budget in place, it is now critical that the already tendered enabling works begin as soon as practicable to enable the main works to be tendered, awarded and on site before the end of the year.”

CEF/SpecifyCEF awards |29

THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

CSR card changes DfI Roads & Rivers Procurement Plan 2019/20 The Department for Infrastructure Roads & Rivers Procurement Plan has been published. It sets out the scheduled contracts to be awarded / procured by DfI Roads & Rivers in 2019/20.

The procurement plan is a ‘live’ document and is subject to review and change. The plan shows contracts that are scheduled to begin procurement in 2019/20.

If you have any enquiries regarding contracts to be awarded by DfI Roads & Rivers or details contained within the plan, please contact: Adam Heanen (028 9054 0210) Richard Bartlett (028 9054 0252) The plan is available to read here: https://www. infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/sites/ default/files/publications/ infrastructure/Roads_%26_ Rivers_Procurement_ Plan_2019-20_1.pdf

Government Client Procurement and Budget Reports – May 2019

Through the Federation’s Civil Engineering Consultative Committee, the Government Clients have detailed their procurement plans for the coming months.

Updated reports are now available for: DfI Roads NI Water DfI Rivers Translink CPD To access these reports please visit the Resources section of the Member Dashboard on the Federation website, using your login details.

F

rom 1 April 2019 CSR has no longer issued any new or renewal General Construction Operative (GCO) cards. GCO cards issued up to 31 March 2019 will continue to be valid for 4 years from the date of the health and safety training.

A new CSR Labourer card was introduced on 1 April 2019. Applicants must complete the CSR one day health and safety course and have an employer declaration completed to confirm they are working in a labouring occupation. The card will be valid for 4 years from the date of the health and safety training.

Card holders whose GCO cards expire from 1 April 2019 should apply for a Labourer card, if they meet the requirements above, or another CSR card that is more appropriate for the job role they carry out.

Historically GCO cards have been issued to construction related occupations that do not fall under the remit of the Joint Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industry (Northern Ireland), the owner of the scheme.

These occupations including electricians, plumbers, heating and ventilation and gas installation will not be eligible for a Labourer card when it is launched in April 2019. Other CSCS partner card schemes are available for these occupations.

Health & Safety Trained Card – 1 April 2019 CSR introduced a Health and Safety Trained card on 1 April 2019. This card provides evidence of appropriate health and safety training only and does not display the card holder’s occupation. Candidates must complete the CSR one day health and safety course to be eligible for this card which will be valid for 4 years from the date of the health and safety training.

The Buildsafe-NI Action Plan (2011) requires all site operatives and staff to have appropriate health and safety training. Government Construction Clients must include this as a contract requirement. The Health and Safety Trained Card will meet this obligation for

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operatives. It will also be accepted in the Republic of Ireland as a result of the mutual recognition agreement that deems the CSR one day health and safety course to be equivalent to the Safe Pass one day course.

It is important to note however that this card will not meet the CLC One Industry Logo requirements and therefore WILL NOT be accepted in GB.

Federation comments on administration of Dixons Contractors

C

ommenting on Dixons Contractors entering administration at the end of May, CEF Managing Director John Armstrong said: “The news of this latest high-profile administration within the industry will come as a major and unwelcome shock. Dixons Contractors have been a well-known name in the local market for approximately 40 years and, given their wide range of interests and expertise across social and private housing as well education, health and commercial projects, their administration will be a sizeable loss to the marketplace.

“As we have said before, the challenge of achieving sustainability in the construction market remains. Low margins, insufficient pipelines of activity for the bulk of mid-sized contractors and at times difficult relationships between clients and contractors are in no-one’s interests. It is extremely regrettable that we are, yet again, having to issue a statement like this”.

New Craft & Supervisor CSR Cards Require NVQ qualification from September 2019

F

rom 1 September 2019 the Construction Skills Register (CSR) will remove all remaining occupational assessments, including supervisors.

From this date all new blue and gold card applicants will be required to hold an NVQ Level 2 qualification (or higher) relevant to the card holder’s occupation. Health and safety training will continue to be required.

PLEASE NOTE THIS DOES NOT IMPACT RENEWALS. Current blue and gold card holders can continue to renew their cards by completing the relevant health and safety training upon expiry of their current card.

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This new requirement continues the previously announced significant changes to CSR in 2019. The changes are being introduced to ensure CSR continues to meet the needs of the Northern Ireland construction industry and to enable continued mobility and acceptance of CSR cards throughout the UK, through compliance with the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLCs) One Industry Logo requirements.

Further information will follow but if you have any questions in the meantime please contact the CSR Scheme Manager, Jonathan Caughey jcaughey@cefni.co.uk 028 9087 7150.

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Kingscourt Country Manor Bricks| 55

BRICKS INVIGORATE NEW CITY CENTRE STUDENT HOUSING

a building that both complements its urban environment and manages to carve out its own distinctive niche.

Alongside its aesthetic appeal, Kavanagh Court Student Accommodation has also been lauded for its sustainable credentials. The high-spec new-build is A-rated and BREEAM certified for energy efficiency.

Located on the corner of Gardiner Street, it’s also just a 15-minute walk from Trinity College Dublin, Dublin Institute of Technology and the National College of Ireland. The success of the project has underlined the importance of having quality student housing in city centre locations and it’s expected that Kavanagh Court Student Accommodation will contribute to and become part of the local community.

DETAILS OF BRICKS USED ON KAVANAGH COURT STUDENT ACCOMMODATION Kingscourt Grafton Multi with “Standard Grey” Mortar –Class M4 used onto the Gardiner Street and Summerhill elevations i.e. the Georgian streets.

Just a stone’s throw away from O’Connell Street, Kavanagh Court Student Accommodation has not only provided Dublin city with much-needed student housing but has also laid down the blueprint for future projects in this sector.

Completed in September 2017, Kavanagh Court is one of Dublin’s largest purpose-built student accommodation projects. The Design and Build Contractor on the seven storey building, which comprises a gross floor area of approximately 17,000m2, was Bennett (Construction) Ltd while the architect was John Fleming Architects. The new residence provides accommodation for 491 students with bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms that sit within 88 self-contained ‘house units’ of varying sizes. All bedrooms contain private bathrooms along with fitted study desks, beds and shelves, large windows and all the technological necessities of the modern student. Communal facilities are also provided, including a gym, a games room and a roof terrace to allow students enjoy views across the city centre’s famous sites including the Spire on O’Connell Street.

Only the highest grade materials were specified for the project and that included the bricks which were provided by Kingscourt Country

Kingscourt Brown Smooth with “Ultra-White” Mortar –Class M4 for the Gardiner Street & Diamond Park elevations.

Kingscourt Buff Smooth with “Standard Grey” Mortar –Class M4 for the elevation facing Gloucester Place.

Weinerberger Platinum White with “Ultra-White” Mortar - Class M4 for the internal courtyard elevations.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client Uninest Student Residence Name of project Kavanagh Court Student Accommodation, Gardiner Street, Co. Dublin Manor Bricks. As the project is situated in the historic North Georgian Quarter of Dublin city, an area synonymous with beautiful brick buildings, the design team decided to follow this precedent by introducing volumes and materials that are familiar to the street, namely brick elevations with punched windows. A range of ‘character’ bricks were selected for each of the three distinct volumes; a red brick faces the historical Georgian Street, a buff for the residential Gloucester Place and a brown brick facing the neighbouring Diamond Park.

“When it came to the selection of bricks, John Fleming Architects were looking for four very specific colour

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tones in smooth faced bricks - buff, brown and red for the outward facing elevations and a smooth white brick for the internal walls and courtyard, on this prestigious project. The specific colour tones in the buff and brown were not available off the shelf so we created both bricks at our Kingscourt Brick factory to suit the Architect’s exact specification. The red brick selected is the renowned Grafton from Kingscourt and the white brick is the Platinum White from Wienerberger” said Keith O’Sullivan, Director of Sales & Marketing at Kingscourt Country Manor Bricks.

By using a range of bricks on this project, the design team has created

Architect John Fleming Architects Contractor Bennett Construction Brick Used KC Grafton Multi, KC Brown Smooth, KC Buff & Platinum White.

Year built 2017 For more information on the bricks used on this project contact distributor Kingscourt Country Manor Bricks on 028 9077 7321, e-mail info@kcmb. co.uk or visit kcmb.co.uk.

Alternatively, visit the showroom at 12 Herdman Channel Road, Belfast, BT3 9LG.

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58| Interview

Specify talks to…

Eamon Donnelly, CEO of Uform 1. Did you plan to get involved in this Industry?

It all began in a hatchback!

My dad was building a house back in 1982 and the guy who fitted the kitchen, asked dad if he would sell kitchens for him. At 47, he said he was too old and he pointed at me and said, ‘That young fellow there would be happy to do it’.

I accepted the proposition but advised I’d no car, the kitchen man didn’t see this as an obstacle and said he’d sort some wheels for me. 6 weeks later, I was trained and raring to go in a repaired, retro, Talbot Sunbeam, quite the car at the time!

The deal was simple, the car was mine for £1,000 and I could pay it back when I could afford it, 6 months later I was the proud outright owner.

I met my wife around the same time, so Fridays & Saturday nights were spent at the local disco with regular pit stops en route to present kitchen plans to potential customers.

I never missed an opportunity to close a sale, and each successful one resulted in a sizeable 10% commission. I got a great buzz from meeting new people, learning what problems they wanted to solve and in essence helping them create their perfect kitchen. This exposure to business at such a young age, instilled in me a desire to start a business of my own and take things to the next level.

2. How did you start off?

After years of selling kitchens for another company, Uform was established as Oakwood Door Designs Ltd in 1993, a family business founded in Magherafelt by my late father Eddie Donnelly along with myself and my brother Paul.

The company grew from an initial product offering of two sanded solid oak doors to offering one of the most extensive ranges in the industry today. The company was later incorporated in 1999 and was rebranded as Uform in 2003. In 2005, we relocated to a purpose built factory in Toomebridge, Co. Antrim which has since undergone four major extensions to accommodate significant growth. In 2006, our consumer brand ‘Kitchen Stori’ was established as a means to market to the end consumer on behalf of and to support retailers

supplying Uform products. We now offer one of the most extensive ranges in the marketplace today.

3. What have been the highlights of your career so far?

I’ve been involved in the kitchen industry for 38 years so I’ve been very fortunate to experience many highs along the way.

One of the highlights would be guiding the company through one of the worse recessionary periods in history which has resulted in sustainable and profitable relationships with customers, suppliers and stakeholders. We were days away from going under but through hardwork, determination and a commitment from myself and my family, we re-mortgaged our homes and injected more cash into the business. In addition to this, we took a more commercial approach and re-aligned the business with better planning and training our people better. This was a hugely challenging time but with resilience and a very experienced and loyal workforce, we came out stronger. Turnover has increased substantially over recent years and we’ve just ended our last financial year with sales of £35million, quite the increase when you consider in FYE 14/15 we turned over £14.9m.

Following an intensive interview process, I myself was named as a finalist in the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 Programme in Ireland among 23 of the country’s most talented business people. This whole experience was invaluable and the EY Alumni is a wonderful network to be involved in, this has opened up more opportunities and given me access to a lot of experienced, like minded business people.

4. What was the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

The best piece of advice I’ve been given in the past is to surround yourself with a strong team of skilled people. It’s simple really, recruit A stars in their field, reward them with A star wages and expect A star results.

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5. What would you say to any students considering a career in your line of work?

The KBB industry is a hugely competitive industry but is an extremely rewarding one to be a part of. The pace of change is fierce, it could be deemed similar to the fashion industry, trends change, colours change and people’s lifestyles change. Technology in the home is becoming more prevalent so while this all proves challenging, it also opens up a huge area of opportunity.

Kitchen design and software in particular is also something worth considering, it’s a very niche area of expertise and I feel there’s definitely a skills gap for this kind of work. In terms of starting your own business, regardless of industry, if you have an idea or vision, just go for it.

Ambition requires hard work, focus and a willingness to learn from other successful people.

It’s also critical that you understand the market you work in and detail this in a defined business plan. Those who reach for the stars land on a tree, those who aim to land on a tree, land on the ground.

6. Do you think this sector as a whole needs more support from Stormont?

The government can do more to reduce corporation tax particularly for companies operating within the manufacturing industry. Cutting tax would help tackle other longterm problems in the Northern Ireland economy, companies could

keep more of their profits for re-investment and further growth.

We do find Invest NI an invaluable source of support in terms of the different initiatives they offer on training and development programmes for SME’s. I don’t believe enough SME’s actually engage with Invest NI and make the best use of these first class services.

7. What needs to be done to help the housing market in Northern Ireland?

While there is on-going concern about Brexit uncertainty, the Northern Ireland housing market continues to be one of the best performing in the UK. However this, coupled with the lack of an assembly in Stormont I believe has knock consumer confidence, we’ve already started to see a slight drop in new buyers and some kitchen retailers are finding it more difficult to convert leads to sales. There’s still a very positive level of construction though and a lot of investment in new developments which certainly bodes well for first time buyers.

8. Tell us something surprising about yourself When I’m not at my desk obsessing about the next style of kitchen door, I really love to unwind in the great outdoors! Shooting is a favourite hobby of mine, especially the social aspect, I’ve met some great people through these circles.

I’m also a self-confessed petrol head, I’ve a real passion for sports cars and have been very fortunate to own some special models.

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