Inside Construction Spring/Summer 2019 Edition by Guy Woodward

n o i t c u r t s Con Inside JUNE 2019

THE NEXT BIG THING?

Is UK city regeneration the next big investment opportunity?

WORK READY BUDDING BUILDERS

SPOTLIGHT OF PLASTICS Reduce, reuse and recycle awareness campaign

FEATURED CONTRACTOR Renlon

BUILDUK New Report (Q1 2019) Remarkably Positive

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W W W. B U I L D E R S C O N F E R E N C E . C O . U K

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WELCOME In the event of any kind of political or economic Ben Chambers Sales Manager uncertainty, construction workloads take a hit, Chambers Media Tel: 01903 899942 particularly in “luxury” sectors such as leisure and ben@chambers.media entertainment. When the house building sector is performing well, the infrastructure generally f someone had told mesector in January that, by the time August arrived, monthly contract awards would not keeps pace to provide the transport and utility have dipped below £4 billion in any month of the year, I would have laughed...and possibly services all those new homes require.

Welcome

questioned their sanity.

Yet here we are, seven months into the year and seven months into an unbroken

When there is the merest mention of any kind of General Election, the education sector Mark Anthony run of unprecedented stability, the likes of which the BCLive league table has never enjoys a predictable surge as the incumbent government attempts to safeguard its position Editor seen before. Chambers Media with some vote-winning investment. 01372 721020 Under any circumstances, such an achievement would beTel: notable. But

Those unwritten rules have been in place sinceabefore most ofofusgrowing can remember and – about the Brexitmanthony@mark against backdrop uncertainty negotiations, such anthonypublicity.co.uk consciously or otherwise – the entire industry has abided by them. Until now. an accomplishment is almost miraculous; and it speaks volumes for the industry's

remarkable During April 2019, the housing sector accounted for resilience. more than half of all the 700+ new contract Long it continue. awards reported on the BCLive league table yetmay the various road, rail, power and water sectors barely twitched. April generally sees the release of government funds for education but that largely failed to materialise pushing the education sector to fourth place on the BCLive table with its usual place in second spot being taken by entertainment and leisure.

CONTACTS

Predicting the future of the UK construction has never been easy. But with the entire Neilsector Edwards sector now apparently following a new set of rules, that task has become even harder. CEO The Builders’ Conference

Neil Edwards Editor-in-Chief Builders’ Conference Tel: 020 8770 0111 neil.edwards@buildersconf.co.uk

The best we can do, in this instance, is to report the hard facts, even if they too lead to further confusion.

Neil

Neil Edwards, CEO Builders’ Conference

Ben Chambers Sales Manager Chambers Media

Mark Anthony Editor Chambers Media

Neil Edwards Editor-in-Chief The Builders’ Conference

Tel: 01903 899942 ben@chambers.media

Tel: 01372 721020 manthony@markanthonypublicity.co.uk

neil.edwards@buildersconf.co.uk

Tel: 0208 770 0111 | Email: info@buildersconf.co.uk

Tel: 020 8770 0111

▪ Inside Construction is designed by Kerry Brown Design Tel: 0118 348 9238 / 07740 287303 designer@kerrybrowndesign.co.uk Published online by

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CONTENTS 4 JUN E 20 1 9 | I N S I D E CO N STRU CTIO N

REMAR KAB LY P O SITIVE First Quarter 2019 Contract Performance Report by Build UK, working with Builders’ Conference

HIR ER S C ON FR ON T ME NTAL HEALTH Shocking statistics revealed

13 SPOTL IGHT OF P L ASTIC S CCS launches industry-wide awareness campaign

14 R EWR ITIN G T H E R UL EB OOK UK Construction continues to confound and confuse with its unstoppable positivity

B UD D IN G B UIL D ER S

An update from Construction Youth Trust, Builders’ Conference Charity for 2019

FEATUR ED C ON TR ACT OR

A look behind the scenes at Renlon

OC C UPAN TS AT R ISK

Owners still ignoring critical damper

28 SOUTH EAST C ON STR UC TION EXPO 2 0 19 Find out what this year’s expo has to offer

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TO A D V E R T I S E H E R E CO N TAC T : Ben Chambers call 01903 899942 or email ben@chambers.media

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uild UK is now working with leading data and contract lead provider, the Builders’ Conference. Offering access to a comprehensive database with the latest information on contracts and market conditions and a 25% discount for Build UK members, this new partnership will provide valuable data and reports on the current and future state of the industry. The first report for Q1 of 2019 on Contract Performance has now been published. If 2018 was defined by an unprecedented degree of stability within the UK construction sector for new contracts, then the beginning of 2019 can be best described as almost remarkably positive. For twelve consecutive months during 2018, according to data collected by Builders’ Conference the sector delivered new contract awards valued at upwards of £4.0 billion. January 2019 marked a notable increase on this value with the monthly total topping

£7.424 billion an increase in value of just over 50% compared to December 2018. But even the most optimistic of market watchers could not have predicted the results in February and March which delivered totals of £10.754 and £6.77 billion respectively to make the total value for Q1 2019 of £25.006 billion up 32.5 % from Q4 2018. The number of new construction projects starting also increasing by 9% in the quarter to 2,250. Going forward, what may affect construction durability, is the period between submission of bid and start on site, which, according to recent Builders’ Conference research, currently runs on average at around 24 weeks. If this period extends due to the lack of clarity from negotiations in Europe, this may have a significant impact on how the UK construction sector finishes 2019. Build UK contractor members contributed over £9.1 billion (36%) of all new construction contracts in the quarter. These included a £300 million mixed use regeneration scheme in Blossom Street on

REMARKABLY POSITIVE FIRST QUARTER 2019 CONTRACT PERFORMANCE REPORT

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the edge of Spitalfields Market in London for British Land and a £98 million new hospital specialising in non-emergency procedures for Frimley Health NHS Foundation in Ascot, Berkshire. For the sector to deliver such results at any time would be notable. But to do so when the UK’s future in Europe hangs in the balance, when the nation is gripped by economic uncertainty and when several of the sector’s biggest and best-known names have been forced to restructure and refinance, Q1 2019 performance truly is impressive. Furthermore, based upon the prevalence of forward bidding that would see contract awards extend beyond whichever date Brexit might finally take place, it seems that this positivity is set to continue. Research by Builders’ Conference of their members indicates that what might impact upon that positivity is resourcing adequate materials & personnel to meet demands, particularly as a number of key issues have yet to be determined with Brexit negotiations over customs & borders. The full report can be found on the Build UK website. builduk.org

Build UK contractor members contributed over £9.1 billion (36%) of all new construction contracts in the quarter.

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UP ON

THE ROOF G R A H A M H A S C O M P L E T E D W O R K O N S E N AT O R I N S T PA U L ’ S . D E V E L O P E D B Y VA N TA G E , A J O I N T V E N T U R E PA R T N E R S H I P B E T W E E N L E G A L & G E N E R A L C A P I TA L AND PGGM, THE BUILDING PROVIDES 13,935 M2 OF PREMIUM COMMERCIAL S PA C E I N O N E O F L O N D O N ’ S M O S T S O U G H T - A F T E R L O C AT I O N S .

esigned by Ben Adams Architects, the building has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment that capitalises on its prime location with a new seventh floor pavilion and rooftop gardens offering unrivalled views of London’s skyline.

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During the construction programme, GRAHAM reconfigured the building’s atrium to provide more natural light to the internal areas and introduced a new grey granite cladding to frame the building’s exterior. In addition to seven floors of commercial space, the development also benefits from a new flexible dining area, cycle storage and 529 m2 of landscaped gardens featuring wild flower meadows to enhance the arrival experience for visitors.

Digital tools played a major role in streamlining work flows throughout the different stages of the programme. For example, BIM 360 enabled the site team members to visually analyse the progress of the snagging phase and make evidencebased decisions, which ultimately sped up delivery. The building’s energy performance has also vastly improved, achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating.

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AT YOUR CONVENIENCE Oxford Direct Services (ODS) has completed a major refurbishment of Abingdon’s Abbey Meadow park public toilet facilities for the Vale of White Horse District Council. The revamped toilet block now includes a ‘Space to Change’ facility, with a wheelchair accessible toilet and a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench and hoist. The block has been completely refurbished and includes five self-contained unisex toilets and men’s urinals. There are also baby changing facilities available. The renovation of the toilets is the final part of the council’s major makeover of Abbey Meadow which also included a revamped play area and the complete rebuilding of the

P E L L

outdoor pool, which reopened last year. The work is the first project carried out by ODS for the Vale of White Horse District Council. Steve Carter, Contracts Manager for ODS, said, “Our successful track record of delivering local authority projects and our breadth and depth of in-house trade skills makes us the ideal partner for local authorities. We understand the importance of social projects and recognise the need to be considerate when working in public spaces, such as the park.” Steve added that he believed the success of project was based on the close working relationship developed with the council and the ability to rely on the skills of the ODS in-house

F R I S C H M A N N

Following the rapid expansion of its Highways, Transport and Land Team, multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, Pell Frischmann, has Gary Bridges moved to a larger base in the heart of Nottingham city centre. The team’s new office, on Mansfield Road close to Victoria Centre, provides an open-plan space for its 20 members of staff, and includes on-site parking space, two meeting rooms, a lounge area for employees and clients, and a modern kitchen. The office also comprises a riser-desk section, which has been created with a standing-height design board for discussion of large-scale project layouts and sit-stand desks that electronically rise to stand or lean height for

team for groundwork, carpentry, plumbing and electrics – only bringing in specialist contractors when needed, for advice on the disabled facilities, for example. Enjoyed by everyone “Abbey Meadow is the most-visited park in the district and now with all the changes we have made to make it more accessible, it can be enjoyed by everyone for years to come,” says Dylan Evans, Active Communities Manager at Vale of White Horse District Council. “Working with ODS on the public toilet element of the project was straightforward and positive. They understood our priorities and completed the work within the agreed time and budget.”

U P S C A L E S

staff with physical conditions. Headed by Technical Director, Gary Bridges, the Nottingham team has grown exponentially in recent years – with a 750% increase in staffing levels since it’s opening in the city, in 2017, as well as the introduction of a graduate and apprenticeship programme for local talent. Specialising in Highway design, the team also provides planning, modelling, transport and traffic development services to clients such as Highways England. It is also pioneering the development of a 3D visuals service to the wider industry. Its current project roster includes: The Etruria Valley – a vital gateway infrastructure project that will open economic development opportunities in Stoke-on-Trent The A69 – a £30m Highways England scheme to re-engineer two major junctions to enhance connectivity regional The Midland Metro Alliance – a £1.2bn

project to design, programme and deliver the West Midlands tram network Its expansion, to a larger office space, illustrates the development and ambitions of Pell Frischmann and follows similar moves by the Edinburgh, Luton and Manchester teams in the past year. The consultancy, which is best known for its role in development and redevelopment of the iconic Centre Point building in central London, boasts a UK-wide presence and has teams in major cities including Birmingham, Exeter and London. “This move exemplifies the rapid growth of Pell Frischmann’s Transport and Land division, and the development of our services across the Midlands,” says Gary Bridges. “Here in Nottingham, there is a real desire to create a sustainable and thriving team and I’m confident that our new workspace will engender this and provide a stepping stone for further expansion.”

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WIN A

POSTCRETE HOLIDAY TA R M A C C E M E N T ’ S B L U E C I R C L E B R A N D I S O F F E R I N G T H E C H A N C E T O B A G L U X U R Y FA M I LY U K B R E A K S T H A N K S T O A N O N - PA C K P R O M O T I O N L A U N C H E D A S PA R T O F T H E N E W ‘ O N E O F T H E FA M I LY ’ C A M PA I G N .

he competition provides builders’ merchants with a unique in-branch promotion for their customers, offering the opportunity to win a break for up to four at the UK’s favourite holiday park villages – simply by picking up a bag of Postcrete. The promotion will run from 1 April until 12 July on all packs of Blue Circle Postcrete

1 0 JUN E 20 1 9 | I N S I D E CO N STRU CTIO N

available from builders’ merchants in the UK. The family breaks will be given away as part of an online weekly prize draw, with customers increasing their chances of winning with every bag they buy. Customers simply need to enter their unique prize draw number, which is inside the bag, at www.tarmac-cement.com/ winaholiday. To support the campaign, merchants have been provided with promotional

posters, point of sale graphics and leaflets. “Our new ‘One of the Family’ campaign, highlights that when it comes to having good, solid family values, Blue Circle has bags of them,” says Mike Lomax, Marketing Communications Manager at Tarmac Cement. “What better way to launch the campaign than with a promotion that not only helps drives merchant sales, but also celebrates and rewards families by giving them the chance to unwind and spend quality time together.”

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For pricing and further details about the May course and other courses to be rolled out later in the year, contact HAE on 44 (0)121 380 4617 or visit the website www.hae.org.uk/courses

HIRERS CONFRONT MENTAL HEALTH Shocking statistics reveal that male workers in construction have a suicide risk that is three times higher than the average for England and even those in skilled construction jobs also have an increased suicide risk. To address this unacceptable statistic, Hire Association Europe and Event Hire Association (HAE EHA), along with their training partner HAE Business Guard, are organising the first of a series of courses aimed to improve the ability of the hire industry to support the mental wellbeing of its workforce. The two-day training event, which will be delivered by St John Ambulance and is endorsed by Mental Health First Aid England, will take place on 21 and 22 May at the association’s headquarters in Birmingham. The course is available to all members and nonmembers wishing to promote mental wellbeing in the workplace. This new training programme is designed to raise awareness of common mental health issues that affect the workforce and that can lead to a negative impact on an individual’s wellbeing at work.

NOBLE

The course will give employers practical ways to open up a helpful conversation on this topic and then be able to provide their workers with the care and support they need at the most appropriate time. Ultimately, the aim is to change business cultures so that mental health issues are taken as seriously as other health and safety matters. Mental health problems in the construction sector are 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. HAE EHA has made it a priority to educate the industry to recognise the signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression before they get out of hand as well as giving businesses the tools and knowledge to assist employees with recovery. Being able to spot the signs of mental illness and offering help and support rather than judgement, should allow employees to thrive at work with the positive and significant knock-on effects that brings to the industry.

“Our main aim is to raise awareness and help support employers to tackle this issue in an informed and positive manner. We want to help the industry and society in general. Everyone has mental health. Some days it’s good and some days it’s bad. It is just a question of making sure that employers are sensitive to this and can support people in the correct way,” says HAE EHA’s Commercial Manager, Paul Gaze. “As an industry, we have a great opportunity to come together and help our workforce now and in the future. If we all work together to address this issue, then some real progress will be made. None of us is as strong as all of us.” Leading by Example HAE EHA believes in leading by example and has already signed up to the Building Mental Health (BMH) charter to support its own staff by embedding a wellbeing strategy for its workforce and is encouraging members to do the same. Training staff to become mental health first aiders is a way to provide discreet support for individuals and encourages them to achieve a healthy work-life balance to minimise work-related stress levels.

WORK

Covers Timber and Builders Merchants in Bognor Regis has helped St Mary’s Church in Felpham to tidy its war memorial graves. The company, which is based in Station Yard, donated three bulk bags of topsoil, which was used to help neaten the site and prepare the ground for reseeding. “We at St Mary’s are humbled by the generosity of Covers. War graves are important and much respected sites of remembrance. St Mary’s has 22 war graves from the First and Second World Wars to care for. We are so grateful to our volunteers - in particular Jim Delaney, David Bidwell and Graham Matthews. They clean, maintain and manage these places with much

dedication and love. Many people incorrectly assume they have to travel to mainland Europe to pay their respects to those who gave their all for our freedom, but they don’t,” says Reverend John Challis, from St Mary’s. “With the wonderful and generous donation from Covers we will be able to bring the state of the graves that we look after in Felpham to the highest standard.” Paul Allwright, Depot Manager at Covers Bognor Regis, said: “We were honoured to be part of rejuvenating such significant sites at St Mary’s. Maintaining the memorials is hugely important and we were pleased to help in any way we could.”

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CCS THROWS SPOTLIGHT ON PLASTICS

he Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched its industry-wide campaign ‘Spotlight on... plastics and packaging’ to raise awareness and showcase best practice in how the construction industry can reduce, reuse and recycle plastics and packaging. The launch of the campaign - which features on the industry’s Best Practice Hub comes in response to startling findings from a Scheme survey of over 900 people working within the UK and Irish construction industries. The survey discovered that although over 95 percent of respondents said the industry needs to be doing something to reduce its consumption of plastics and packaging, over half of respondents (51 percent) have little understanding of the rules and regulations surrounding plastics and packaging, and only 44 percent know how to recycle different plastic and packaging materials.

The survey also revealed that: 3 98% said the over-consumption of plastics and packaging is a global issue. 3 92% believe plastics and packaging are extremely dangerous to the environment. 3 81% said the construction industry is not doing enough to reduce its consumption of plastics and packaging.

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3 31% said they frequently use plastics and packaging that cannot be reused or recycled. With the construction industry being the second largest consumer of plastics in the UK, it is imperative that the construction industry reconsiders the way it consumes and disposes of plastics and packaging to protect the environment and all life. A drastic reduction The Scheme is calling on all construction sites, companies, suppliers and clients of construction projects to drastically reduce their consumption of plastics and packaging. Not only does this offer significant improvements for the environment and society as a whole, it also makes commercial business sense, with many organisations reporting significant cost savings achieved. ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ provides a suite of resources to help the industry to address this issue. It includes a range practical case studies and guidance

from contractors, clients and service suppliers including: AMA Waste Management; Aztec; Balfour Beatty; Crossrail; Environment Agency; Griffiths; Knight Build; Protec; Right Waste Right Place; Mace; Morgan Sindall; Multiplex; Skanska; Sir Robert McAlpine; Wates and Ward. “As construction is the second largest consumer of plastic in the UK, our industry has one of the greatest responsibilities to society, and to the environment, to ensure that we are working tirelessly to improve our standards in minimising waste from plastics,” says Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Edward Hardy. “The Scheme’s ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ campaign provides resources, practical support and guidance helping everyone to take effective measures to tackle this issue. While considerable progress is being made – with over 76 percent of Scheme-registered construction sites setting targets to reduce, reuse and recycle waste – it is clear that a concerted effort to raise further awareness, and to provide the necessary support, is needed to achieve this drastic reduction in waste from plastics and packaging.”

As construction is the second largest consumer of plastic in the UK, our industry has one of the greatest responsibilities to society, and to the environment

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helsea Barracks celebrate breaking ground at Phase IV, as main contractor Multiplex commences work on site March 2019: Qatari Diar Europe has appointed Multiplex as the main contractor for its next phase of development, Phase IV. With its first three phases comprising of 81 new homes due for completion later this year, it is London’s most anticipated new development. The 5.18 hectare site is being redeveloped into an entirely new and prestigious neighbourhood within Belgravia. A hugely significant milestone, this phase is situated at the centre of Chelsea Barracks and builds on the success of the rest of the development. Designed by Eric Parry

Architects, whose former projects include the London Stock Exchange, 23 Saville Row and St Martins-in-the-Fields, the next chapter of Chelsea Barracks is arranged over three buildings and spans in excess of 48,000 m2. State-of-the-art Comprising 97 apartments as well as a stateof-the-art spa, tennis courts and a wellness centre, the latest phase will also be home to two garden squares, Five Fields Square – the largest of the seven garden squares – and a second that will be exclusive to the residents of the three buildings. A British masterpiece in urban design, the garden squares at Chelsea Barracks will help to weave this previously concealed quarter of London into the fabric of Belgravia.

BREAKING GROUND A t AT THE BARRACKS

P HASE IV COM MEN CES O N SIT E A N D M ARKS A SI GNI FI C ANT

“We are extremely proud to have been awarded the main contract for the next phase of Chelsea Barracks, and to be working on a development that will transform the landscape of Belgravia,”

“2019 marks a number of significant milestones for Chelsea Barracks, starting first with the appointment of Multiplex as the main contractor for the development’s latest phase. We’ve been on site working on this next phase for the last 18 months, but this announcement demonstrates our long-standing commitment to Chelsea Barracks and London,” says Abdullah Al Attiyah, CEO at Qatari Diar. “While work on this stage of construction begins, we look forward to welcoming our first residents to their homes later this year as the first phase of apartments and townhouses complete, and the site opens to the public for the first time in over 150 years. In addition, we plan to open a world class arts space within the beautifully restored Garrison Chapel as well as a restaurant offering in Garrison Square.” Works on Phase IV are due to complete by summer 2022. “We are extremely proud to have been awarded the main contract for the next phase of Chelsea Barracks, and to be working on a development that will transform the landscape of Belgravia,” concludes Multiplex CEO Ashley Muldoon.

MILE STONE F O R T HIS 5.18 HEC TA RE D E VE LOP M E NT.

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REWRITING THE RULEBOOK

k oo b e l u R

W I T H I T S R E F U S A L T O B E C O W E D B Y O N G O I N G P O L I T I C A L U N C E R TA I N T Y, T H E U K

C O N S T R U C T I O N C O N T I N U E S T O C O N F O U N D A N D C O N F U S E W I T H I T S S E E M I N G LY

U N S T O P PA B L E P O S I T I V I T Y. B U T I S I T H E A D I N G F O R A FA L L ? B U I L D E R S ’ C O N F E R E N C E C E O N E I L E D WA R D S AT T E M P T S T O L O O K B E Y O N D T H E FA C T S .

ere’s how the UK construction industry is supposed to work. In the event of any kind of political or economic uncertainty, construction workloads take a hit, particularly in “luxury” sectors such as leisure and entertainment. When the house building sector is performing well, the infrastructure sector generally keeps pace to provide the transport and utility services all those new homes require. When there is the merest mention of any kind of General Election, the education sector enjoys a predictable surge as the incumbent government attempts to safeguard its position with some vote-winning investment. Those unwritten rules have been in place since before most of us can remember and – consciously or otherwise – the entire industry has abided by them. Until now. During April 2019, the housing sector accounted for approximately half of all the 750+ new contract awards reported on the BCLive league table yet the various road, rail, power and water sectors barely twitched. April generally sees the release of government funds for education but that largely failed to materialise pushing the education sector to fourth place on the BCLive table with its usual place in second spot being taken by entertainment and leisure. Predicting the future of the UK construction sector has never been easy. But with the entire sector now apparently following a new set of rules, that task has become even harder. The best we can do, in this instance, is to report the facts, even if they too lead to further confusion. In a month in which the BCLive league table topped the £6.0 billion mark for the fourth month in succession and in which some 13 individual companies won new contracts valued

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at upwards of £100 million each, Morgan Sindall swept to the top of the heap with an impressive haul of just under half a billion pounds in new work split across 26 contracts. The largest of these is a housing repair and maintenance contract with Waltham Forest London Borough Council that is valued at £195 million. A major housing refurbishment and repair contract also helped push Engie into second place on the monthly total. The company picked up a total of 21 new contract awards this past month worth a combined total of almost £300 million; the largest of which is a term contract to upgrade housing across the Central Bedfordshire Council region, valued at £190 million. Kier Group, a company that was almost a permanent fixture in the number one spot this time last year took the number three position with 19 new contract awards during the month with a combined value of £283.9 million. The most notable of these is a mixed use development for Surrey Heath Borough Council in the centre of Camberley that is valued at £200 million. In fourth place is Bowmer & Kirkland on the BCLive league table in April 2019 with a nine contract haul valued at a combined £274 million that included the month’s largest single contract. That contract, for Legal & General Group plc, is a £220 million project to deliver a new shopping centre at the Grosvenor Centre in Northampton. Although London once again topped the regional table with a haul of 135 project valued at more than £1.47 billion, the Midlands ran the capital a close second with almost £1.3 billion.

Key among those was a £183 million 42-storey, 481 apartment block in Birmingham’s Broad Street that helped propel Neil Edwards, The Builders’ Conference CEO the winning company – John Sisk – into fifth place. Winvic Construction claimed seventh position with six new contract awards worth a combined £132.7 million that included a new build warehouse in Luton for client First Panattoni; while BAM Construction brought a little cheer to the education sector with a £70 million project to build a new social sciences building at the University of Sheffield’s Broomhill Campus. Following a year in which the monthly total remained rooted stubbornly at the £4.0 billion for some 12 months, the current levels of new contract awards must surely constitute some kind of boom; and those that have been around the industry for as long as I have known what traditionally follows one of those. But with each passing day, the industry continues to eschew such traditions. The industry is forging a new paradigm in which many of the accepted rules of peaks and troughs, seemingly, no longer apply. Whether that can be maintained post-Brexit remains to be seen. But for now, the UK construction industry is rewriting the rules.

With each passing day, the industry continues to eschew such traditions. The industry is forging a new paradigm in which many of the accepted rules of peaks and troughs, seemingly, no longer apply.

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B C L I V E .CO.U K

Lendlease

WHO IS WINNING CONSTRUCTION WORK | LIVE

Top 100 Results: 01/05/2018 - 30/04/2019

£5,339m

159

-- 4,080 740

236 Kier Group

£3,472.9m

11.5 2.4 1,051 152 59.5 9.5

420 521 852 99.3

199 Morgan Sindall

£2,186.8m

6.6

890 13.8 69 428 38 214 17.9

Countryside Properties plc

£1,872.2m

Mace Ltd

£1,843.8m

130

Wates Ltd

£1,806.1m

Balfour Beatty

£1,766.3m

103 Galliford Try

360

367 61.2 10

1.2

-- 1,671 --

200

491 31

200

350 642

333 115

11.6

374

681 284

262 27

£1,573.0m

31.4

229 94.6 14.2 77

Barratt Homes

£1,391.7m

ISG

£1,331.8m

Mace/Dragados JV

£1,300m

Sir Robert McAlpine

£1,242m

Laing O'Rourke

£1,180.7m

Winvic Construction Ltd

£1,007.7m

Willmott Dixon

£923.5m

BAM

Bowmer & Kirkland

369 175 5.8 --

0.75 104 16.3 165

---

3.15

27.9 195 323 9.5 29.3 305 274 309

6.2 607 34.7 360 40

0.8

30.1 12

-- 1,392 --

49 487

-- 1,300 --

157 17

138 38

21 139 397 378

70 112

200 200 250 60

289

103

190

2.45 70

24.5

301 197 17.1 33.2

138 98.3 8.3 131

£902.3m

300 25.5 70 17.5 10.2 89

£897m

177 46 4.35

114 Engie UK Ltd

£806.9m

22.2 0.8

Bellway Homes Ltd

£802.3m

Graham Construction

£793.8m

1.5

Bouygues Group

£789.2m

Sisk Group

£788.8m

McLaren Construction

£751.9m

Redrow Homes

£684.7m

Multiplex

£650m

Taylor Wimpey

£642.7m

Persimmon Homes

£616.3m

Ringway Jacobs

£600m

Vinci Construction

£571.6m

Midas Group

2.1

56.1 115

6.7 561 --

111 30.6 3.2 161

5.8

753 17

1.2

786

98 75.5

391

144 24

20 465 7.5

259

685

250

1.5

641

146 2.5

29.8

£559.7m

Trench Holdings

£550.9m

Berkeley Group

£549.8m

0.5

VolkerWessels

£499.1m

16.7

30.8

Interserve Plc

£477.9m

119 27.2

Hill Partnerships Ltd

£461.2m

Robertson Group

£380.8m

Amey

£374m

Bloor Homes

£370.4m

Henry Construction Projects Ltd

£359m

United Living Group

£356.2m

Siemens Ltd

£350m

Crest Nicholson

£349.0m

Watkin Jones Group

72.7 186 59.3 14 44.5

10.5 171 19.3 34

---1.5

66.7

55.5

159 126

400

607

600

168 85

8.4

36.9 75

60.4 26.4 9.4 32.4 2.1 388 12.9 8.5 14.7

12 91.5 205

5.2 131

547

2.2

19.3 59

61 141

92.4

6.5 63.7 170 28.2

5.6

361

100

48.6 7.7 3.7

34 340

368

264 30

356

350

£346.5m

316

Breyer Group Ltd

£344.8m

295 0.67

Costain

£340.5m

277

Beijing Construction Engineering Group £330m

250

JJ Rhatigan & Co

£322m

287

J Reddington Ltd

£320.4m

258

62.4

Weston Homes plc

£319.2m

313

5.8

Bovis Homes Group Plc

£308.7m

309

Cala Homes

£302.2m

302

Canary Wharf Group Plc

£297.5m

298

95.7 86.1 31.2

5.5 0.57

5.3 344

282 80.4

120 47.4

329

0.37 4.5

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WHO IS WINNING CONSTRUCTION WORK | LIVE

Top 100 Results: 01/05/2018 - 30/04/2019

Skanska Ltd

£290.4m

8.4

282

CJ O'Shea & Co Ltd

£288m

288

GMI Construction Group plc

£275m

4.5 165

38.5

29.3

Avant Homes

£273.8m

1.2

273

St Modwen Properties Plc

£271m

256

John Paul Construction

£256.5m

84.8

5.7

112

Buckingham Group Contracting

£245.4m

2.5

10.8 57 44.6 60

7.5

41.8

Tolent Construction

£241.7m

6.62 14.8

Colmore Tang Construction Ltd

£232.5m

McAleer & Rushe

£214.2m

Morris Homes Ltd

£210.4m

Readie Construction Ltd

£209.7m

18.5

CRH Plc

£208.1m

RG Group Ltd

£200.2m

Volker & Morgan Sindall JV

£196m

Headcrown Group plc

11.9 9.3

5.4 19.5

186

13.5

1.5

233

131

210

105

10.8

67.4

34.5

20 23.9 17.7

56.2

11.5

103

28.5

196

£193.2m

0.6

8.9

101 21.3 0.9 33.6

Vermont Property Group

£183m

183

Osborne Ltd

£179.7m

20.8 22

58.1

39.5

2.30 12

Miller Homes Ltd

£172.7m

173

RG Carter

£166.7m

25.3 32.7

21.0 7.27 53.8 21

0.7

Seddon Group Ltd

£164.3m

11.4

95 44.8 0.75 12.3

Miller Homes

£161.3m

161

Volkerfitzpatrick & Kier JV

£160m

160

HG Construction Ltd

£157m

Marshall (Building Contractors) Ltd

£155.6m

0.5

0.6

MCS Group Ltd

£155.0m

79 44.2

2.4

29.3

BW Workplace Experts

£153.7m

1.25

149

Caddick Group

£152.3m

25.3 24

77.6

8.4

Murphy Group

£151.3m

Torsion Group Ltd

£146.5m

1.5

145

Speller Metcalfe

£146.4m

7.1

60.8 12

3.5

A&H Construction & Development

£144.9m

4.5

28.3

9.5

nmcn Group

£143.2m

10 44.3

4.5

8.1

56.3

Fairview New Homes plc

£142.9m

143

FM Conway Ltd

£141.6m

0.25

141

Jones Bros Balfour Beatty JV

£135m

135

J Tomlinson Ltd

£132.2m

15.3

6.1

Ardmore Construction Ltd

£129m

Story Construction

£127m

127

Blue Sky Building

£127m

127

Galliard Homes Ltd

£124m

Dawnus Construction Ltd

£121.5m

80.9 2.6

1.75

3.3

Byrne Group Ltd

£120m

Benniman Ltd

£119.4m

1.3 1.1

Tonroe Group

£117.3m

1.8

71.5

Wainhomes (North West) Ltd

£116.5m

117

Chartway Group

£111.7m

2.25

104

100

Inland Homes

£108.5m

98.5

6.06 121

8.5 0.23

8.75 126 1.7 4.3

0.6 102 0.35

1.6 7.5

1.5 61.5

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WHO IS WINNING CONSTRUCTION WORK | LIVE

Top 100 Results: 01/04/2019 - 30/04/2019

Morgan Sindall

£438.5m

257

Engie UK Ltd

£299.6m

2.45

280 10

Kier Group

£283.9m

0.75

17.7

Bowmer & Kirkland

£273.7m

Sisk Group

£262.6m

BAM

£134.2m

76.2

Winvic Construction Ltd

£132.7m

Morris Homes Ltd

£120m

Redrow Homes

£114.5m

Graham Construction

£112.5m

Galliford Try

52.7 22

40 67.3

16 26.7 200 12

0.75

225

235

13.2

24.5

120

115

33.5

£107.3m

72.3

Wates Ltd

£103.5m

36.5

Henry Boot Group

£100m

100

Countryside Properties plc

£95.3m

95.3

Willmott Dixon

£94.9m

30.7 23

16.2

Persimmon Homes

£90.8m

90.8

Henry Construction Projects Ltd

£82.5m

72.5

J Reddington Ltd

£81m

HG Construction Ltd

£65m

ISG

£64.6m

7.6

Higgins Construction

£63m

Edgewater Contracts Ltd

£63m

Renew Holdings PLC

£61.3m

60 0.95

0.35

RG Carter

£60.8m

0.82

Laing O'Rourke

£60m

SDC

£60m

Bloor Homes

£55.2m

55.2

Cala Homes

£54.8m

54.8

Barratt Homes

£53.8m

53.8

Readie Construction Ltd

£52.1m

27.1

Vinci Construction

£47m

Midas Group

£46.6m

1.5

Tonroe Group

£46m

Mount Anvil plc

£44m

Telford Homes plc

£44m

Bellway Homes Ltd

£43.5m

43.5

PJ Hegarty & Sons

£40m

Avant Homes

£39.2m

39.2

Miller Homes Ltd

£39m

Osborne Ltd

£37.7m

10.9 22

4.8

RG Group Ltd

£37m

30.5

6.5

Galliford Try / Black & Veatch JV

£35m

20.5

14.5

GMI Construction Group plc

£33m

Wills Bros Ltd

£32.6m

32.6

Taylor Wimpey

£32.5m

32.5

Inland Homes

£32.5m

32.5

MCS Group Ltd

£32.4m

20.8

11.6

Balfour Beatty

£32.1m

2.5

6.6

Faithdean Group

£31.1m

1.1

Octagon Developments Ltd

£30m

Tide Construction

£29.5m

9.5

Bovis Homes Group Plc

£28.8m

28.8

4.55 22.5

0.58 0.2

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WHO IS WINNING CONSTRUCTION WORK | LIVE

Top 100 Results: 01/04/2019 - 30/04/2019

Seddon Group Ltd

£27.5m

27.5

McLaren Construction

£27m

Nicholas King Homes plc

£25m

Beck Interiors Ltd

£25m

Durkan Ltd

£25m

United Living Group

£22.8m

22.8

Robertson Group

£22.2m

9.5

12.7

Casey Group Ltd

£21.5m

21.5

Aitch Group

£20m

Structure Tone Ltd

£20m

Integrated Health Projects

£20m

Pellikaan Construction Ltd

£20m

Tolent Construction

£16.1m

14.1

Orbit Homes (2020) Ltd

£16m

BECT Building Contractors Ltd

£16m

Topcoat Construction Ltd

£15m

Construction Partnership UK Ltd

£15m

Mace Ltd

£15m

Downing Developments

£15m

MCI Developments Ltd

£14.9m

14.9

Weston Homes plc

£14.6m

14.6

Barnfield Construction Ltd

£14.5m

2.5 3.5

8.5

Parkway Construction MK Ltd

£14.3m

8.5

5.8

McPhillips Civil Engineering Ltd

£13.5m

13.5

Strata Homes Ltd

£13m

The Erith Group

£12.9m

0.9

Jenner Contractors Ltd

£12.5m

12.5

Beaufort Construction Ltd

£12.5m

12.5

ROK Construction Ltd

£12.4m

12.4

MEIC Ltd

£12m

Wynyard Homes

£12m

Alun Griffiths Ltd

£11.6m

11.6

Bancon Construction

£11.5m

4.5

Cocksedge Building Contractors Ltd

£11.5m

11.5

Trench Holdings

£11.5m

11.5

Robert Woodhead Ltd

£11.3m

9.8

1.5

PlaceFirst Ltd

£11.3m

11.3

Jehu Group

£10.7m

10.7

Stainforth Construction Ltd

£10.5m

0.5

C Tavener & Son Ltd

£10.5m

10.5

Parkeray Ltd

£10.5m

10.5

Pillars Construction

£10m

Hill Partnerships Ltd

£10m

Carter Lauren Ltd

£10m

Anderson Group Ltd

£10m

PDR Construction Ltd

£10m

Watkin Jones Group

£9.85m

9.85

100

Crest Nicholson

£9.8m

9.8

1 8 JUN E 20 1 9 | I N S I D E CO N STRU CTIO N

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Contracts Contracts Awarded Awarded AnalysisAnalysis by region by region

CONTRACTS AWARDED ANALYSIS BY REGION (APRIL 2019) April 2019 -April Contracts 2019 - awarded Contractsanalysis awarded byanalysis Region by Region

Region Region

Total value Total value

Project count Project count

01.0 - Scotland 01.0 - Scotland

215.18

215.18 5.52

5.52

02.0 - Northern 02.0 - Northern

105.66

105.66 3.91

3.91

03.0 - Yorkshire 03.0 - Yorkshire

401.94

401.94 8.04

8.04

04.0 - East 04.0 Midlands - East Midlands

643.23

643.23 10.21

10.21

05.0 - East 05.0 Anglia - East Anglia

312.47

312.47 10.77

10.77

06.0 - West06.0 Midlands - West Midlands

684.67

684.67 10.07

10.07

07.0 - North07.0 West- North West

449.58

449.58 6.08

6.08

08.0 - South08.0 West - South West

201.95

201.95 5.18

5.18

09.1 - South09.1 & Mid - South Wales& Mid Wales

63.95

63.95 3.76

3.76

09.2 - North09.2 Wales - North Wales

10.0 - Bedfordshire 10.0 - Bedfordshire

259.80

259.80 43.30

43.30

10.1 - Essex10.1 - Essex

97.97

97.97 5.76

5.76

10.2 - Hertfordshire 10.2 - Hertfordshire

73.05

73.05 6.09

6.09

10.3 - Kent 10.3 - Kent

79.05

79.05 3.44

3.44

10.4 - Surrey 10.4 - Surrey

433.75

433.75 9.04

9.04

10.5 - East 10.5 and West - EastSussex and West Sussex

138.43

138.43 4.33

4.33

10.6 - Berkshire 10.6 - Berkshire

156.50

156.50 10.43

10.43

10.7 - Buckinghamshire 10.7 - Buckinghamshire

37.85

37.85 3.79

3.79

10.8 - Hampshire 10.8 - Hampshire

78.43

78.43 3.14

3.14

10.9 - Oxfordshire 10.9 - Oxfordshire

89.90

89.90 6.92

6.92

135

1,470.38

1,470.38 10.89

10.89

13.0 - N. Ireland 13.0 - N. Ireland

26.42

26.42 2.40

2.40

14.0 - Eire 14.0 - Eire

135.40

135.40 10.42

10.42

766

6155.56

11.0 - London 11.0 - London

Contracts Awarded AnalysisContracts by projectAwarded category Analysis by project category

Projects Projects Total value Total (£m)value (£m) Average Average value (£m)value (£m)

6155.56

CONTRACTS AWARDED ANALYSIS BY CATEGORY (APRIL 2019)

April 2019 - Contracts awarded analysis by Category © Copyright 2018 © Copyright The Builders' Conference The Builders' awarded Conference analysis by Category April 20192018 - Contracts W: buildersconference.co.uk W: buildersconference.co.uk T: 0208 770 0111 T: E: 0208 info@buildersconf.co.uk 770 0111 E: info@buildersconf.co.uk

Total value Total value

Project category Project category AG - Animals & Agriculture AG - Animals & Agriculture AT - Air Transport

Total value (£m) Average Projects Total valuevalue (£m) (£m) Average value (£m) 4 7.70 1.93 4

4.40

112

424.10

ED - Education ET - Entertainment & Leisure Entertainment & Leisure FA - FactoryET& -Industrial

112

453.65

150.80

FA &- Factory GA - Garages Motoring& Industrial GA & - Garages & Motoring HB - Harbours Waterways

81.58

14.69

324

2,885.50

324

HB - Harbours & Waterways HO - Housing - Housing HW - HealthHO & Welfare HW - Health & Welfare MI - Miscellaneous OF - OfficesMI - Miscellaneous

0 3.79 424.10 7.32 453.65 6.03 150.80 4.53

1.93 1.47 0 3.79 7.32 6.03 3.67

276.55 2,885.50 5.53 276.55 15.93 669.11

5.53

402.55

27.80

117.70

RD - Roads, Footpaths & Cycleways RW - Railways - Railways SH - ShopsRW & Retail Units

16 2

766

WT - Water & Sewage

7.70 1.47 4.40 0

81.58 3.67 14.69 8.91

- Offices PE - PowerOF & Energy - Power && Energy RD - Roads,PE Footpaths Cycleways

SH - Shops & Retail Units WH - Warehouse - Warehouse WT - WaterWH & Sewage

1/2

Projects

AT - Air Transport CM - Communication CM - Communication ED - Education

Project count Project count

1/2

4.53 8.91

669.11 6.94 402.55 6.95

15.93 6.95

131.45

27.80 7.36 117.70 26.29

250.66

131.45 11.94

26.29

239.30

250.66 14.96

11.94

18.00

14.96

6155.54

239.30 9.00 18.00

766

6.94 7.36

9.00

6155.54

1/2

3 478 no companies were detailed as winning new contracts during April 2019 3 766 no new construction orders are detailed on BCLive 3 Morgan Sindall Group secure overall top spot with £438.5 billion of new work 3 New order winners in £1M to £5M category was Morgan Sindall Group with offices throughout the UK & the £1M and under category went to Engie Group. 3 Morgan Sindall Group had the most number of new construction orders in the month with 26no. 3 No matter what the current industry trends are, ensure your business has access to all the construction tender opportunities relevant to you from across the UK. Become a member of the Builders’ Conference and enjoy hundreds of project leads delivered straight into your in-box every week www.buildersconference.co.uk/how-it-works 1/2

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Quick review of

BCLIVE TABLE for April 2019

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y d a e r k r o w n

BUDDING BUILDERS CONSTRUCTION ON CAMPUS

AN UPDATE FROM CYT – BUILDERS’ CONFERENCE CHARITY OF 2019.

C O N S T R U C T I O N Y O U T H T R U S T PA R T N E R S W I T H C E N T R E P O I N T T O P R O V I D E I N D U S T R Y Q U A L I F I C AT I O N S F O R H O M E L E S S Y O U N G P E O P L E .

onstruction Youth Trust has been working in association with Centrepoint Works to deliver their Budding Builders course, as part of the Centrepoint Works scheme. Centrepoint Works, a course which is open to homeless, disadvantaged or unemployed young people in London, offers one-hundred hours of work experience, with lunch and travel provided. Trainees who complete the course are then better placed to go on to secure lasting employment. The Trust ran a programme of projectbased learning introducing young people to construction and built environment careers, whilst also equipping them with the qualifications required to work on a live site.

2 0 JUN E 20 1 9 | I N S I D E CO N STRU CTIO N

Over the course of eight days the Budding Builders participants engaged in a variety of activities ranging from practical carpentry skills sessions to networking with industry professionals*. By the end of the course, the young people completed the OCNL Level 1 Award in Health & Safety in a Construction Environment which allows them to take the test for a 5 year CSCS Green Labourer Card. As part of the programme Construction Youth Trust will arrange and pay for the young people to take their tests, offering them revision support in the run up to the test date. In the UK a CSCS Card is essential for securing employment on a construction site.

Throughout the Budding Builders course, and the wider programme, both Construction Youth Trust and Centrepoint Works focused on challenging negative perceptions that the young people may have about themselves and help them become work ready. When asked about his experience of the programme one of the participants said: “The best part of the course was the chance to practice mock interviews with industry professionals. They gave me more confidence in being myself and being available to other people, showing your real self to other people.” Another participant said of her time on the course: “I don’t want to be done here and go home to my old ways and stop believing in myself.” Following the course, she has been

ABOUT CENTREPOINT 3 Centrepoint is the UK’s leading charity for homeless young people aged 16-25 3 Centrepoint supports more than 10,000 homeless young people a year directly in London, Manchester, Yorkshire and Sunderland, and through partner charities across the UK 3 It runs the free-phone Centrepoint Helpline for any young person aged 16-25 who is worried about homelessness. The Centrepoint Helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and the number is: 0808 800 0661 3 Centrepoint’s work is about more than just providing a safe bed for the night; Centrepoint helps young people to turn their lives around by gaining essential life skills; tackling their physical and mental health issues and moving into education or employment 3 Through policy work, Centrepoint aims to influence public policy, campaigning on behalf of the young people it supports and homeless young people throughout the UK 3 HRH The Duke of Cambridge became Centrepoint’s Patron in 2005

“We provide a safe environment for homeless and disadvantaged young people to learn, train and grow in confidence. offered two instances of work experience and the Trust and Centrepoint Works are very excited about the employment opportunities that the course has opened up for her through meeting industry at networking sessions and apprenticeship fairs. Construction Youth Trust CEO, Carol Lynch, said of the Centrepoint Works Scheme: “One organisation alone cannot solve the many complex needs of a vulnerable homeless young person. By working together with Centrepoint, we have been able to concentrate on delivering specific and practical employability support to the participants of Centrepoint Works, enabling them to break down barriers to employment and inspiring them to pursue a robust career within the Construction and Built Environment industry.” Sadie Odeogberin, Centrepoint Works, said: “We provide a safe environment for homeless and disadvantaged young people to learn, train and grow in confidence. “Our partnership with Construction Youth Trust provides the vital link between training

For more information please CPWorks@ centrepoint.org or visit www.centrepoint.org. uk/what-we-do/Centrepoint-works

ABOUT CONSTRUCTION YOUTH TRUST

and the workplace by equipping young people with the right qualifications, attitude and skills needed to successfully find and sustain work in the construction industry.” The partnership with Construction Youth Trust is part of Centrepoint Works’ wider services that offer young people the opportunity to achieve accreditation in maths, English, IT and employability as well as traineeships in hospitality, business administration and construction. All of its profits are reinvested into giving homeless young people a future. *A full programme of activities and industry

3 Construction Youth Trust works with young people to help them overcome barriers and access employment opportunities in the Construction and Built Environment sector. 3 The Trust’s mission is to inspire and support young people to achieve their full career potential in the Construction and Built Environment sector. Social mobility is at the heart of our work and we prioritise supporting the hardest to reach young people, i.e. those from low income backgrounds, most likely to miss out on opportunities or facing barriers to employment. We help young people recognise their potential and discover opportunities that have never previously been presented to them. For further information please visit www. constructionyouthtrust.org.uk or email charlotte.higgins@constructionyouth.org.uk

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Renlon in numbers

25000 installs

150 years surveying experience

satisfied customers every month

r o t c a r t n o c

FEATURED RENLON ARE LEADING SPECIALISTS

I N B A S E M E N T WAT E R P R O O F I N G , R I S I N G D A M P, A N D T I M B E R I N F E S TAT I O N . Renlon specialises in the design and installation of solutions for the protection of buildings from the harmful effect of water ingress together with rectifying damage already caused by water and damp. Established in 1976, Renlon have led the way in providing waterproofing solutions for below ground structures and elevated decks or podiums for over 40 years. These solutions utilise a range of render and cavity drain membrane systems, together with damp proof courses, to prevent water from entering and damaging valuable properties and structures. From heritage buildings and Royal palaces to residential houses with an existing or new basement construction, or sub-terrain living space, Renlon projects often involve swimming pools, gymnasiums and home cinemas as well as increased living space. They work with architects, surveyors, building contractors, as well as with householders directly, to provide complete survey, design and guaranteed installation services that carry a 10-year guarantee. Committed to Skills Renlon have invested in a number of initiatives 2 2 JUN E 20 1 9 | I N S I D E CO N STRU CTIO N

that support the industry, their employees and their community:

3 In-house training throughout the year on topics such as asbestos handling, as well as new product innovations with manufacturers/suppliers 3 In-house Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) 3 Three employees currently enrolled in a specialist apprenticeship applied skills program 3 Two employees formally enrolled in technicians’ training 3 The Renlon Surveyor Academy, a flag ship training & developing scheme, is offered to new and current surveyors 3 Providing training and sponsorship to Carshalton College’s Plastering department

F EAT URE D P ROJE CTS 1 Grand Designs’ Healthy House, Richmond To provide a safe home environment for their children, who suffer from life threatening allergies, a couple embarked on a self-build project for Britain’s first ‘healthy home’. The project was featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs in October 2018.

Thanks to Matthew Ashwood and Dawn Spikesman at Renlon Limited for providing information for this profile. If you are interested in appearing as a future Contractor of the Month please contact: Nicola Dibb Read more www.renlon.co.uk @renlonlimited www.linkedin.com/company/ renlon-ltd/ www.facebook.com/renlonltd/

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I’d like to let you know that your surveyor is a great ambassador for Renlon. He couldn’t have been nicer and conducted a very thorough check of the flat. What’s more, he was kind enough to wait for me to arrive home when public transport let me down, and he phoned my landlord to explain the cause of the problem upon my request. People are very quick to give negative feedback, but I really feel that your surveyor deserves some positive recognition here - a great reflection on Renlon. Thanks again. Chloe Renlon Ltd recently completed some damp proofing work as subcontractor to JKS at my property in South East London. My wife and I just wanted to reach out to say thank you to the technician who was here for a few days doing the injections and rendering. He was a thoroughly lovely bloke; he showed real care for the property while he was here and did a great job, fast and high quality. He’s a credit to Renlon, as was the project manager and surveyor when they visited the property at various stages to review and give advice. I just wanted to say thanks to all involved. Jeremy Your surveyor arrived on time to my property to answer some concerns I had regarding the Renlon tanking I have in my flat. The tanking has been in place since the early 90’s but I needed advice regarding pipework installation. I was given suggestions and advice which was extremely helpful in addition to other suggestions which he noticed while looking at the tanking. Your surveyor is a credit to Renlon and an ambassador to excellent customer experience. I would have no hesitation in recommending Renlon to others.

Maria

With some of the vaults used to house services such as gas, electric and water throughout the building, the cabling and piping penetrations required a 7 sealant flexible enough to allow for movement whilst remaining watertight.

Due to planning restrictions, the house was designed to be single story with a basement. Careful consideration to the drainage and waterproofing design was critical to the overall success, as the main 3 living areas would be effectively underground. 4 Renlon undertook the waterproofing of the large basement, installing cavity wall and floor membrane, incorporating modular and perimeter drainage and a sump pump chamber to collect any potential water ingress diverting it to a sump from which it is pumped away. 2 Storage Vaults Basement Tanking, Marylebone

Renlon carried out the refurbishment of the 12 under pavement vaults that became unusable due to the failure of a previous tanking system, which lead to water leakages and structural damage.

To eliminate the long-term threat of water ingress, Renlon specified a structural waterproofing system to provide a watertight seal, transforming the vaults into dry, commercial storage spaces. 3 Liquid Gas Membrane System – Richmond Project

An old car maintenance garage is set to be the site for a newbuild development of 4 homes in Richmond. To address contamination from previous ground gasses, Renlon designed a waterproofing strategy to provide a suitable gas barrier against the ingress of Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Radon, ground gas, VOC, air and moisture into buildings.

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COMPETITION or COLLABORATION Are we competitors or are we collaborators in the construction industry? That’s the question we must continue to ask ourselves and, overwhelmingly, I believe the answer has to be the latter – we should we looking to work together rather than against each other. Of course, we will always be striving to make our own businesses as successful as they can be but I am clear that collaboration is the only way that we will all survive and is the only way that the industry will thrive. My big concern for the whole sector is the shortage of firms which are looking to grow, take on new staff, develop new skills and grow our industry.

With so many companies opting to stay as micro-businesses, I am worried that there is little or no succession being planned and once the owner-manager retires, there will be no business and no skill-set left – certainly when it comes to specialist contractors. Most of the business owners I speak to are so busy at working in their business and doing the day-to-day bit they love, they give themselves no time to develop the company and, therefore, there is no future mapped out. One way of looking at that, could be, once the ‘main man/ woman’ retires, it’s an opportunity for another company to mop up their work and grow their business that way. But is there another answer? Can we work better together to create a brighter future for all of us and ensure that our industry’s future is protected? It’s an ambition of mine to see this come to fruition and to make sure we work as one to recognise where our shortfalls are and, together, start to put them right. I’ve never pretended to be someone who has all the right answers but I am convinced these are the right questions to be asking ourselves and we should all be looking beyond our lifespans with our businesses and peering way ahead to try to think what our industry is going to look like.

Julie Julie White , MD at D-Drill Juliewhite@d-drill.co.uk www.d-drill.co.uk

Julie White, MD at D-Drill

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My big concern for the whole sector is the shortage of firms which are looking to grow, take on new staff, develop new skills and grow our industry.

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IGNORING ‘CRITICAL’ DAMPER M A N Y B U I L D I N G O W N E R S A N D M A N A G E R S A R E S T I L L P U T T I N G T H E I R O C C U PA N T S AT R I S K B Y FA I L I N G T O H AV E F I R E A N D S M O K E D A M P E R S C O R R E C T LY T E S T E D , ACCORDING TO SPECIALIST DAMPER COMPLIANCE FIRM INDEPTH.

espite growing awareness of fire safety issues in general, many building operators remain confused about their responsibilities to maintain a sound working system, the company reports.

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The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO), which came into force in 2006, stipulates that a “responsible person” must ensure ALL components of the fire safety system in a building are kept in “efficient working order” and “good repair”. They must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and then put a planned maintenance regime in place.

Failure to do so can lead to a fine of £10,000 and two years in prison for the designated responsible person – as well as closure of the building – yet many companies remain in breach of the legislation because they ignore hidden elements of the passive fire protection, according to Indepth. “Ventilation ductwork is a major potential

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A fire damper survey is the first step towards achieving a fire damper testing regime in line with the legal requirements of the RRO.

weak spot in any fire strategy because it contains critical fire safety equipment that is out of sight and is, therefore, regularly overlooked,” said Indepth managing director Richard Norman, who also served as chair of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) ventilation hygiene branch for four years. He said that “in a large percentage of cases”, the designated fire risk assessor seems to be familiar with obvious items like sprinklers, fire escapes and extinguishers, but is unaware of the role played by more specialised equipment like fire and smoke dampers. In many cases, they may not even know of their existence, according to Mr Norman. High risk “Under the terms of the relevant UK standard BS9999, dampers should be tested at least once a year – and in ventilation systems likely to accumulate dust more quickly or in other types of high-risk buildings tests should be carried out even more regularly,” he said.

Richard Norman, MD

“In the past, ‘tests’ were often little more than visual verifications followed by the issuing of a certificate that did nothing to make people safer. Fortunately, we are starting to see an improvement in the professionalism of the industry and the sooner this stops being little more than a ‘tick box’ exercise the better.”

A fire damper survey is the first step towards achieving a fire damper testing regime in line with the legal requirements of the RRO. Once they are located, dampers need to be inspected. A visual assessment will highlight any damage or anything that might prevent the damper from closing properly in the event of a fire. Some building owners are now commissioning ‘asset registers’ to establish how many dampers they have, but this can only ever be a first step and does not make the building compliant with fire legislation. “If you are going to all the trouble and expense of having a damper survey, why not have the dampers tested at the same time? This is a far more efficient and effective process that, as well as saving clients’ money by combining the two activities, helps them comply with legislation more quickly,” explained Mr Norman. He also criticised the practice of simply checking the dampers were in place and then issuing a certificate. “In the past, ‘tests’ were often little more than visual verifications followed

by the issuing of a certificate that did nothing to make people safer. Fortunately, we are starting to see an improvement in the professionalism of the industry and the sooner this stops being little more than a ‘tick box’ exercise the better.” Each damper should be drop tested and then reset to open. A full test report should then be issued including photographs of each tested damper in the open and dropped position. At this point, the specialist carrying out the test must notify the building operator of any remedial work that may be needed, accompanied by a schedule of works and associated costs. The remedial work must be undertaken in order for the building to comply with the RRO. Insurance companies are also waking up to the fact that untested and poorly maintained fire and smoke dampers are undermining safety strategies in thousands of buildings and they are adjusting their policies accordingly, according to Mr Norman. “Failure to provide evidence of a robust testing regime as part of a loss adjustment process following a fire could prove extremely expensive to many building owners,” he said. “An A4 page with tick boxes, but no report or photos will not satisfy insurers and may result in nonpayment of a claim.” For more information about compliant fire and smoke damper testing visit: www.fire-damper.co.uk INSIDE CONSTRUCTION | JU N E 2 0 1 9 27

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n a year when the construction industry is facing heightened levels of uncertainty, on the back of one of the biggest growth periods in several decades, leading lights in the industry will be joining together in Sussex this September to share their expertise and insight into how to tackle the challenges ahead for the industry. Darren Jarvis, from ConstructUK.com, said, “Construction’s fortunes are heavily influenced by wider economic conditions and it is even more vital for businesses to focus on those sectors and regions offering the greatest opportunities. “In January alone, London and the South East accounted for 32% of all contract awards. South East Construction Expo is working with the region’s top construction companies to help create awareness of the millions of pounds worth of business available throughout the region and across all the industry’s sub-sectors.” South East Construction Expo 2019 will be held at the South of England Event Centre in Ardingly on 26th September. After a hugely successful event there last year, when over 2,000 leaders from the region’s construction industry met buyers, explored new projects, networked with other businesses and

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sampled the industry’s latest technology. The trade show will showcase the region’s largest range of construction products and services and is a ‘must visit’ for anyone in development, property and construction. An exciting programme of speakers will be announced over the coming months. They include Florence Hubert, Deputy Agent for Central Southern England at the Bank of England giving an ‘off-the-record’ briefing on the outlook for the UK economy followed by a questions and answers session. Heathrow Airport will also be speaking about their expansion and opportunities for construction companies. In an unique and exciting showcase of

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the latest technology in fast, efficient build methods, Masonry Frame Systems will be showcasing LIVE the Xella Silka Element system, where they are able to build an apartment pretty much every day!!!. This state of the art ‘semi’ off-site masonry build system demonstrates all the benefits of traditional construction coupled with the speed, quality and consistency of ‘off-site’ manufacturing. Norman Hinckes MD of Masonry Frame Systems said, ‘This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the system in a Live environment’. ‘We have been involved with Xella GmbH for the past 5 years and see enormous potential in the UK for ‘medium to high’

rise construction of all flats, apartments, care and retirement homes and student accommodation’. Big name businesses already involved include Balfour Beatty, Glenigan, Builders Conference, Willmott Dixon, Galliford Try, Sunninghill, Logan Construction and Westridge Construction Ltd. South East Construction Awards 2019 This year, the Expo is also holding the South East Construction Awards and is open for entries, which will be celebrated at the Expo dinner. Carole Black said, “We don’t have an awards scheme in the region to celebrate

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our heroes in this industry and so we have an exciting panel of judges and seeking entries for six categories, ranging from best construction project to best architectural design, best contractor to best supplier. We are also looking to celebrate women in the industry and want to reward the best apprentice on a construction project in the South East.â&#x20AC;? Before the awards dinner, sponsored by Willmott Dixon, the Expo will offer a full day of useful activities. Not to be missed is the free Meet the Buyer appointments (over 600) with the top construction companies in the country. Other attractions include great exhibitor packages, brilliant networking opportunities, high quality workshops, plus the latest news on projects and developments across the UK. Businesses in the sector wishing to get involved in the Expo and the Awards as a sponsor, trade stand, delegate on the day or entry for the awards, can find out more and register for details at: www.constructionexpouk.co.uk Twitter @ ConstructExpo or Linkedin: https://www.linkedin. com/groups/4530020/ South East Construction Expo 2019 will take place at South of England Event Centre, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, Thursday 26th September 8.30 am - 4 pm, with details of the awards and the dinner at www.constructionexpoawards.co.uk

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The

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I S U K C I T Y R E G E N E R AT I O N T H E N E X T B I G I N V E S T M E N T O P P O R T U N I T Y ? T O M B R O W N , M A N A G I N G D I R E C T O R O F R E A L E S TAT E AT I N G E N I O U S L O O K S AT T H E FA C T S .

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K High Streets have reached a ‘tipping point’. That was the view of a recently published parliamentary inquiry report on UK high streets. The shift to online sales (now accounting for 20 percent of all retail sales); the upward revaluation of business rates, previous planning policies; and local authority financing constraints are impacting retailers and high streets up and down the country and across all sectors. As concerns have intensified about the state of our high streets, the Government is slowly starting to take action. And urban regeneration is set to be a significant area of policy focus over the next few years, as the high street is rightly seen as a vital component of the UK’s economic and social fabric. In consequence, property investors should be seeing this as an emerging opportunity. Bricks & Mortar Ultimately high streets need people if they are to survive and return to being at the heart of the communities they serve. It may be stating the obvious but the need to attract people back into our town centres will have long-term implications for town planners for years to come. Evidence suggests that the towns that have found it harder to adjust to the challenge from online sales are those that have tended to be overly exposed to retail. This narrow focus has meant that, as bricksand-mortar shopping has declined, there has been little else to replace footfall into town centres. Urban planners are now shifting their efforts towards creating activity-based communities, moving away from the retail-centric model and bringing together a full range of amenities including shops, leisure, hospitals, residential, offices and spaces for art and culture. Government initiatives are facilitating the move towards town centres being places of social transactions, rather than just a conduit for financial ones. There has been a key strategic message sent from central to local government: raise the density of populations in UK town centres. This was an explicit objective in the revised National Planning Policy Framework in July 2018, targeting mainly those areas that are already well-served by existing transport links. In particular, the Framework stated its support for maximising the use of previously developed or ‘brownfield’ land, which includes opportunities to use the airspace above existing residential and commercial buildings for new homes. Policy Objective Measures announced in the October 2018 budget further reinforced this policy objective by proposing to extend the use of permitted development rights (PDRs) and allowing for more compulsory purchase orders. PDRs give greater flexibility around change-of-use regulations, allowing for empty retail and office

space to be converted into residential, as well as permitting development in the airspace above existing buildings. However, a major barrier to town centre regeneration is fragmented ownership, which is seen to inhibit a more holistic approach to town centre planning. To help tackle this problem, one initiative being proposed is to trial a register of empty shops in selected towns (bids are currently being reviewed by the Future High Streets Fund), allowing prospective developers and tenants to gain easier access to existing properties. The Future High Streets Fund and Future High Streets Task Force have been established to help local authorities with financing and expertise, including helping to attract private investment, albeit within a limited scope given that only selected local authorities will benefit. More generally, the government has also announced £900 billion worth of business rate tax relief for smaller retailers, which should help to relieve financial pressures in the short term. Greater Manchester has an ambitious long-term development plan, aiming to deliver nearly 25 percent of the total target of new homes in Greater Manchester and a significant proportion of office space within the city centre between now and 2037. Regeneration in the city centre is expected to have a beneficial impact on the surrounding town centres in Greater Manchester’s boroughs – Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Wigan and Salford – allowing for a potentially diverse mix of investment propositions. In Birmingham, a public/private partnership between the city council and regeneration specialists is planning to transform a 43-acre site in a neglected area of the city, Icknield Port Loop, bringing 1,150 new homes, office and retail space, parks and leisure facilities. Elsewhere, a £300 million regeneration plan has been approved for a 112-hectare site in the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone in London, with the aim of creating 35,000 jobs and 4,000 new homes. Significant Hurdle Affordability remains a significant hurdle for many homebuyers. The lack of housing supply, tighter credit conditions and high levels of valuations relative to incomes (despite modest wage gains in recent months) continue to present barriers for prospective buyers, especially those at the start of the ladder. All of these factors are increasing the attractiveness of the private rental market and so institutional investment in this area is growing strongly, especially as private buy-to-let investors leave the market. According to CBRE, £2.1 billion of institutional capital was invested into UK real estate between Q4 2017 and Q3 2018, a rise of more than 50 percent from the previous 12 months. The rental market is still considered to be supply constrained and there is opportunity for further growth. Private rentals, for example, are becoming a lifestyle choice for the older generation, as shown by the growing popularity of build-to-rent retirement living. According to

Tom Brown

the Centre for Ageing Better, the number of older people renting has risen to 414,000 in 2017 from 254,000 in 2007. It is estimated that up to onethird of those over the age of 60 could be living in private rented accommodation by 2040. More broadly, in the so-called ‘beds’ sectors – student accommodation, hotels and healthcare – demand remains strong. Healthcare in particular is more defensive and should be less exposed to any political and economic turbulence. It should therefore continue to benefit from new investment, especially as new technologies drive changes in how healthcare services are delivered. In other sectors, too, lifestyle changes brought about by technological innovations may have the potential to transform UK town centres. Demand for flexible working space surged in 2018, with the ‘co-working revolution’ showing meaningful traction in the South East and regional cities, and further expansion is expected in 2019. According to CBRE, demand for flexible working space is significantly above its five-year average – more than 50 percent in London; more than 100% in regional cities; and more than 150 percent in the South East. Capital Appreciation Over the past couple of years, capital appreciation opportunities have diminished across commercial and residential property sectors. With this in mind, and given the expectation that re-development of the underperforming retail space will become more common in 2019, what is the most efficient way to access this market? As traditional lenders have stepped back from property lending over the last ten years, this has opened opportunities for alternative financing through the asset-backed loans market. These types of investment vehicles, with investments secured against the underlying assets, are considered to be a more efficient and stable route to access the property market versus buy-to-let or traditional equity funds. Asset-backed loans also offer attractive net yields for the risk taken relative to UK government and higher quality corporate bonds. The prospect of re-shaping the UK high street for twenty-first century needs should be viewed as an emerging and growing market opportunity. While being able to take advantage of development finance opportunities, real estate investors also have the potential to be part of the movement to transform UK town centres and bring wider social, economic and environmental benefits. INSIDE INSIDE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION | DECEM | JU BER N E 2 0 1 89 31

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ARMS W H Y A C A R E E R I N C O N S T R U C T I O N C O U L D B E T H E N E X T S T E P F O R E X - M I L I TA R Y.

ast year, the number of people employed in the British Armed Forces numbered nearly 150,000. Of those, over 80,000 employed in the British Army and over 30,000 in the Royal Navy. However, over 14,000 people leave the military every year. This has become somewhat of a blessing for the construction industry, as it has created a sea of potential employees. Over 200,000 extra workers are needed before 2020 and ex-military personnel have highly transferrable skillsets and the potential to reach the top of the industry.

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Business Benefits Ryan Latham, Senior Marketing Executive for 3B Training, has experienced first-hand how businesses can benefit from hiring ex-military personnel. “Construction as an industry is growing, but it’s also is experiencing a gap in skills. An excellent way to fill in the hole for personnel with leadership, project management and teamwork skills is to investigate the pool of military leavers available. These transferable attributes are a valuable resource for the construction industry to help bring in skilled young workers,” he says. “Other industries appear to ignore Armed Forces leavers as potential employees, so

much so that some leave their service history from their CV. Little do they know that they are missing out on a range of positive personality traits such as courage, discipline, selflessness and respect for others.” To understand why many people choose to leave the service, we’ve examined data from the 2018 UK Regular Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey Results which look at the impact of decisions affecting personnel. Life in the Armed Forces requires specific demands that aren’t found in civilian jobs. When deployed, military personnel can find themselves away from their families for long periods of time, often in dangerous situations.

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Yet despite this, we found that the most common reasons for military personnel to seek a new career path are down to more familiar concerns: 3 Job satisfaction — Only 55 percent of military personnel claimed they were generally satisfied with their job. 3 Pay satisfaction — There has been a consistent drop in pay satisfaction since 2010, with only 31 percent currently admitting to being happy with their salary. 3 Life satisfaction — When questioning their happiness and how worthwhile they feel the things they do in life are, at least one in five members of the military rate them as low. Since 2005, the Royal Marines have also seen a large decrease in the levels of satisfaction with opportunities for professional and personal development. It seems then, that much like civilian jobs, careers in the military are more motivated by personal growth and satisfaction. This has led to a staggering 42 percent of military personnel actively searching for a new career outside of the Armed Forces over the past 12 months. Why construction? The construction industry is currently suffering from a skills shortage, resulting in a need for over 200,000 more workers by 2020. According to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the lack of skilled workers in the UK is the highest level since 2007, meaning the government’s initiative to build 300,000 new homes each year looks optimistic at best. Former military personnel have a great opportunity to fill the construction skills gap. There are many sectors in the Armed Forces which provide their personnel with a number of highly transferrable skills, whether that’s

engineering, mechanics or electronic. A number of companies recognise the potential of military leavers and provide specialist training programmes to help them adjust to civilian life and a new career in construction. There are specialist courses available that provide Enhanced Learning Credits to enable lifelong learning to exmembers of the military or those looking to leave. These credits cover 80 percent of course fees and are available to anyone who has served a minimum of six years. Potential Opportunities Working in construction allows leavers to put their experience to good use in a number of potential opportunities. The industry is not only in desperate need of construction workers but also manager positions, which is perfect for ex-officers who have experience leading teams and getting results in difficult situations. When working in the armed forces, you receive a level of training that simply isn’t available in other career paths. Regardless of their previous role, leavers are all highly disciplined and have fantastic teamwork skills. 3 According to the Armed Forces survey results, 82 percent agree that they have confidence in themselves as a team, plus, 78 percent believe their team know exactly what their responsibilities are and that their team can be relied upon to help when their job gets difficult. A strong team that can work well together and keep their cool under pressure is exactly what the construction industry needs. 3 Many working in the military are proud of the work they do, with 50 percent of the Royal Marines claiming that their service inspires them to do the best in their job. With the construction industry looking for a

“The work ethic for military leavers is completely different from civilians. It is embedded in us to turn up on time (5 minutes before 5 minutes early) and to just get the job done.”

dedicated new workforce, finding employees who take pride in their work is crucial. 3 Leavers are not just job applicants to the construction industry, they’re assets. Due to their experiences in the Armed Forces, they can pick up skills much faster than most people in civilian professions and can help quickly fill the large skills gap. A team of highly trained, dedicated workers and authoritative, respected managers is the solution the industry has been looking for. Samantha Gregory, Training Coordinator at 3B Training and former Vehicle Mechanic in the REME, knows first-hand what ex-military can offer the construction industry. “The work ethic for military leavers is completely different from civilians. It is embedded in us to turn up on time (5 minutes before 5 minutes early) and to just get the job done. Leavers are great at working under pressure and are taught to work through problems ourselves and come up with practical solutions. They can work with anyone and take instruction well,” she concludes. “Plus, if you’re looking for a manager you’re in the right place, as working in the Armed Forces gives leavers some of the best training in some of the worst environments.”

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n o i t c u r t s n Co Inside

W W W. B U I L D E R S C O N F E R E N C E . C O . U K