15 minute read
Industry News
04
NBS ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF NBS ACADEMY TO HELP SPECIFIERS UPSKILL FOR A DIGITAL FUTURE
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Today, NBS, the leading construction data platform, has announced its brand new NBS Academy – a new home for industry training courses and content for customers.
The new training Academy is here to support the specifier’s personal and professional development. The Academy’s dedicated trainers will help make the most of the NBS’s platforms, helping its customers work smarter and more efficiently. It offers a variety of training options across a broad range of topics so its customers can learn in a way that suits their availability, learning preferences and budget. For instance, there is a free ‘Welcome to Chorus’ session for customers new to the platform, along with courses covering how to create projects, editing Uniclass 2015 and CAWS work sections, and using collaborative features.
Completing an NBS Academy training course will offer the delegates and their practices the skills to use the NBS platform more confidently. The courses will enable them to make the best use of their time when creating and collaborating on specifications – preserving billable hours rather than eating into them.
NBS is part of the RIBA CPD Providers Network and all training courses are reviewed and accredited by the RIBA. Customers can claim double points for attending, contributing significantly towards that all-important target. All delegates will receive a certificate as proof of their attendance. NBS is committed to providing its customers with the tools and resources needed to build a better and more sustainable future. NBS has a long track record in providing essential resources for the construction industry, and in recent years has transformed into a leading cloud-based platform.
Whether it’s by webinar, online or in person, our trainers are committed to creating a learning environment that benefits you Tim Bellhouse, Head of Customer Support of NBS, commented; “NBS is proud to have a highly experienced and dedicated training team who deliver our courses all over the UK and beyond.
Our professional yet friendly approach encourages engagement, so our customers get the very best out of these learning sessions. Whether it’s by webinar, online or in person, our trainers are committed to creating a learning environment that benefits you, so you can get the most out of the course and leave being able to use the platform confidently.” Previously, NBS training courses have had over 2,000 reviews on their website, with a 4.5 star average rating. The training team helped Hollis, an international, independent real estate consultancy to accelerate their transition from NBS Create to NBS Chorus, which has led to an instant impact on the level of efficiency in Hollis’ projects. Speaking about the support they’ve received from the NBS training team, Carl Sablon, Senior Associate of Hollis said: “The NBS trainers made the session really enjoyable, and their technical knowledge was incredible. It was a one-day session with one trainer taking us through the morning and another in the afternoon. The day covered everything our team might need to know, and the NBS support team is always there if we have any queries.”
To find out more about the training NBS offers, please click here
MCCARTHY STONE SECURES FIVE STAR STATUS FOR RECORD 16TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
The team at McCarthy Stone is celebrating after being awarded the full Five Star customer satisfaction rating in an independent survey announced by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) for the 16th year running.
The only developer of any size or type to achieve this accolade each year since the survey launched, the results showed that 93% of McCarthy Stone’s new homeowners would recommend the company to a friend.
The Five Star customer satisfaction rating is the highest award any new homes developer can achieve and is only awarded when more than nine out of ten customers would recommend a company to a friend. It is an annual survey carried out by the HBF, involving 541 purchasers of McCarthy Stone’s homes in 2020.
John Tonkiss, CEO for McCarthy Stone, said: “We pride ourselves on offering the very best service and products to our customers at all times, so we are thrilled to have been awarded the full Five Stars from the HBF once again.
“Our customers have always been at the heart of our business, and this has never been more important than during the last year and through the challenges we have all faced. We will continue to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of our homeowners is our utmost priority – and to provide the support they need to live independently as part of a thriving retirement community.”
The HBF award recognises McCarthy Stone’s commitment to maintaining consistently high standards of build quality and delivering excellent customer service over the long-term, with particular emphasis on the developer’s commitment to guiding home buyers through the purchasing process, including the provision of postsales support.
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman at the Home Builders Federation, said:
“The survey demonstrates that the industry is delivering an excellent level of service in the opinion of over 90% of its customers. The fact that we have seen four successive years of improved satisfaction levels shows the clear focus builders have been putting on the customer. That this level of satisfaction has been delivered during a pandemic that saw sites closed and builders unable to access homes for a period makes it even more of an achievement.
“The industry remains committed to maintaining the significant progress of recent years and fully supports moves to put an independent New Homes Ombudsman in place to strengthen customer protections and continue to drive up standards.”
To find out more about McCarthy Stone visit www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk or call 0800 201 4811.
Independent Yorkshire Retailer appointed for innovative regeneration project
An award-winning regeneration company has continued its mission of breathing new life into buildings through its work with Nest Contracts in reimagining the traditional residential sales suite in its House pavilion project.
Located in the new neighbourhood of Inholm in Cambridgeshire, this is the newest neighbourhood being created by House by Urban Splash – the modern housebuilder and sister brand to Urban Splash which is creating new homes using modern methods of construction. The project will use a combination of touchscreen displays, virtual reality, architectural models and bespoke publications, allowing homebuyers to explore the properties set to reach completion. Potential buyers will also have the opportunity to explore the future vision for the contemporary Fenland village, delving into the history of the location through the innovations on offer. The minimalist structure, which welcomes customers into an exposed timber interior, features two oversized pitched roofs, filling the suite with natural light. It houses a stateof-the-art combined reception and multi-media exhibition space, alongside a remote workspace and sales suite. The pavilion is an architecturally iconic sales centrepiece in which House by Urban Splash will base its sales teams. Working closely with Nest Contracts, the selfserve website which provides exclusive access to the leading international furniture and lighting brands, House by Urban Splash has been able to source luxury furniture and accessories which complement the modern interior. Brands such as Ferm Living and Muuto, which were used both for their style and availability, allowed the interior designers to incorporate dark bold colours in order to successfully complement the space. Pieces such as the Ferm Living Turn Sofa and Muuto Airy Coffee Table were specified as key sculptural shapes. A luxury design destination based in South Yorkshire, Nest’s business-to-business arm, Nest Contracts, delivers furniture, lighting and accessory design and installation services to property developers, interior designers, architects and electrical wholesalers across the UK. Commenting on the project the retailers’ Business Development Consultant, Gemma Trebble, said: “Urban Splash is one of the most innovative and creative regeneration developers in the UK, and we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work with them to bring their vision for the House Pavilion project to life.” “We are already working with them on further House projects and are looking forward to see the completion of those.” Working with clients to complete projects where possible in line with the Covid19 restrictions, House by Urban Splash is just one of the nationwide clients that Nest has facilitated installations for in recent months. In 2019, Nest was also appointed to furnish the sales office and showroom of the historic Park Hill building in Sheffield - one of the earliest examples of Brutalist architecture in Britain.
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BT1 Ultimate Bathroom Sealant & Adhesive TRIBRID® Technology. Made in Britain NO MORE MOULD OR FUNGAL GROWTH
CT1 who lead the way in research and development have pioneered the latest technology for the building industry over the last 18 years.
The first to introduce a hybrid sealant almost 18 years ago, pioneered the way forward with a new era of sealants. CT1 showed the industry that you only need one tube for most applications with the correct raw materials and formulation. This new technology presented itself in a tube CT1.
CT1 created a formulation with no solvents, allowing CT1 to perform under any difficult conditions, even under water. CT1 can guarantee that it will never shrink or crack, so it will not lose its bonding and sealing capabilities over time.
Realising that hybrid formulations would be soon dated with old technology, as demands increase in what we expect from products and with the building industry producing more complex builds. CT1 was proactive rather than re-active.
Introducing TRIBRID® technology. Another new era of sealants and adhesives. Now three times stronger, longer colour retention and elongation, TRIBRID® CT1 can’t be matched or compared to again for a long time.
CT1’s technical field team also realised that in today’s current conditions people are demanding much cleaner environments and surface areas. Using the correct sealants and adhesives in installations and repairs is key keeping a surface area healthier. BT1- The Ultimate Bathroom Sealant and Adhesive was created as most sealants over time will allow bacterial and fungal growth. Some will grow quicker than others. The bathroom can be a contaminated area, with heat, fluids and lack of UV light. BT1 based on the revolutionary TRIBRID® formulation, was created to prevent fungal and bacteria growth happening over long periods of time.
This unique formulation makes it impossible for bacteria or microbes to form on the surface, and with almost zero indoor emissions, makes this the heathiest choice for your home. But what became apparent after vigorous testing was that using BT1 would reduce the risk of MRSA, E. Coli and campylobacter. Reducing bacteria by 99.99% and being able to retain its clinically clean white appearance is now proving to be the only sealant and adhesive being used by Hospitals, Aged Care Facilities, Clinics, Schools, Universities and Public Buildings.
Solihull Hospital in Birmingham and Good Hope Hospital in Sutton to name a few have used and will only use BT1.
BT1 - which can also be used in kitchen installations, launched initially in The IPG Member Stores. The IPG is the largest and fastest growing membership group for plumbing, heating and bathroom specialists, wanted to add BT1 to their stock profile and give their members the latest technology for plumbing and installations.
Since the growth and reputation of BT1 and the important role it plays in keeping a healthier environment, Wickes stores, will now also be stocking BT1 nationwide.
Go to www.CT1.com and https://youtu.be/kirVUrwWbaY
10
MAKE LIGHT WORK (IN ‘SOHO’)
A big impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic is that far more of us are now working from home. Ensure you maximise natural daylight in your home working environment – it’s good for your well-being says Crittall Windows…
The small office/home office (SOHO) trend has been growing for some time. With the Covid-19 pandemic dramatically impacting on how - and where - we work, it looks set to be an even bigger part of modern living. Increased home working for more people will be the norm as the majority of businesses consider it to likely be a permanent feature. A survey of almost 1,000 firms by the Institute of Directors (IoD) shows that 74% plan on maintaining the increase in home working. Over half planned to reduce their long-term use of workplaces.
While some companies are not likely to switch fully to home working, a smaller survey of bosses whose firms had already cut workplace use suggested 44% of them thought working from home was proving ‘more effective’. The BBC questionnaire found that 24 firms did not have any plans to return workers to the office. Other studies have revealed that nine in ten workers who worked from home during lockdown want to continue in some form and suggest most people working from home are as productive, if not more. home’s design - and should be a significant consideration for your home working environment; whether it’s a home office, study, converted playroom, your bedroom, at the kitchen table or in a garden annex.
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
Daylight flooding into workplaces, schools - and homes - has a positive impact on our daily lives, and that’s not just a vague feeling, it’s scientifically proven.
For example, the 2017 Nobel Prize for Medicine went to three American scientists working on understanding circadian rhythms – the 24-hour cycle also known as the internal body clock. Daylight suppresses the hormone inducing sleep and the ultraviolet wavelengths in natural light have a positive effect on the body’s immune system.
Daylight induces wakefulness, cognitive function, productivity, general health and healing. No wonder in a 2018 survey 80% of UK office workers said daylight was important to them. That applies to the SOHO setting too.
FEELGOOD FACTOR
“Evidence suggests it’s important to have a feelgood factor inside your home. Our positive well-being depends on frequent exposure to light, and daylight is the most powerful
way, especially during these times of the pandemic, with more of us working from home and creating a home office or working zone,” says Russell Ager, managing director of steel window and door manufacturer Crittall Windows.
“Our homes play a big part in our sense of wellbeing and their design; lighting and exposure to natural light through windows and doors really do impact. Steelframed windows are ideal with their inherent strength allowing large expanses of glass, elegantly slender frames and the slimmest of profiles. “Passive daylight reduces reliance on artificial lighting which in turn reduces energy consumption while ensuring their occupants benefit from being inside. The window is the most obvious component for assisting this design outcome.
“Its size, positioning, frame and glazing play a key role in the ‘collection’ and ‘distribution’ of natural light through the interior. It’s time to do away with daylight robbery!”
The hallmark of a Crittall window is the slender steel frame that is so much slimmer – and therefore admits so much more light – than alternative window systems which require far larger profiles due to the basic differences in the frame material and their relative strengths.
Adding bright, beautifully crafted walls of glazing and slim-profiled windows can reflect the timeless style of a period house, adeptly define spaces in a townhouse, minimalist urban loft, warehouse apartment or a self-build project. Glazing expanses within external walls give a greater sense of space and light to achieve a beneficial connection with the outdoors. When working at home a clear outdoor view of a landscape, garden, patio, trees or a park can be inspirational for that great creative idea – and good for our well-being.
For a new extension, combining outdoor space with an internal area under structural glazing, removing barriers so you have a level threshold, or creating a courtyard with stunning fulllength glazing, are great ways to achieve impact and add value to your property.
LIGHTEN UP THE INSIDE A plentiful supply of natural daylight in to and throughout a building, combined with good insulation, adequate ventilation and acoustic control all form part of an elaborate jigsaw.
On-trend steel interior screens and sliding doors offer open plan living with a different dimension - so you can partition areas to create contemporary ‘zones’ including your homeworking area, without impacting light or space.
Crittall’s slim profile windows and Innervision internal glazed steel screens with sliding or hinged doors are designed for modern living, providing a sense of space without compromising aesthetics. Innervision’s understated beauty with clean lines, subtle detailing and excellent technical properties can transform your property. Combining style with functionality, a distinguishedlooking installation makes a wonderful talking point.
Slim profile steel windows and partitions give a retro-look with a contemporary twist; ideal for a home office extension with a dramatic steel-framed glazed screen forming a light-filled area Advanced glazing options mean bespoke steel framed screens maximise natural illumination without compromising your security. Cosy for comfort in the cooler weather, enhanced acoustic properties keep noise at bay.
Every iconic Crittall window, door and screen is tailored for each unique application, reinforced as authentic Crittall with the addition of a manufactured plaque which is factory-applied into the web of all opening windows and doors.
Crittall Windows offer a complete service from start to finish via their Crittall Specialist Partners (CSPs) - an appointed, dedicated and experienced network who offer a stress-free service from initial enquiry through to installation and after-sales. They give free, no obligation, quotes and a warranty covering windows, doors, glass and installation.
CRITTALL COMMUNITY Crittall has launched a Crittall Community for homeowners and renovators to display their installations and bespoke use of Crittall products. A new area on its website provides an open platform for members (customers with Crittall windows, doors or internal screens installed) to share ideas and inspire each other, showcasing their installations, and reinforcing their customer journey from start to finish of their project.
An annual award will be given for the ‘Crittall Home of the Year’, which will be promoted via social media. Full details are available at crittall-windows.co.uk.
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