Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

END OF YEAR REVIEW 2019

Worry-not this Winter: Five Simple Solutions for Site Safety

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Kier completes Global Innovation Centre in Didcot

HAMBLESIDE DANELAW SEE THE LIGHT IN INDUSTRIAL ROOFS

HINKLEY POINT C

ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT ALLIANCE

Hudson launches new company to protect building firms against ticking tax time bomb

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Contents End of Year Review 2019

04

T Gunning secures new university framework

07

Hudson launches new company to protect building firms

10

ISG announces new COO for UK Construction

12

Willmott Dixon adds to leisure work with new cinema complex

13

Hinkley Point C announces the launch of the Technical Support Alliance

22

Russell Stilwell discusses mental health within the construction industry

32

Spatex 2020 - The expo that illustrates, inspires and informs

38

Technology expert shares industry secrets: Successful Websites

42

Shell Centre Redevelopment: Southbank Place

43

Kier completes Global Innovation Centre in Didcot

44

Worry-not this Winter: Five Simple Solutions for Site Safety

48

Construction begins on Clarice Pears Building

04 07 10

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Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 03

Company News

HAKI AND NASC ‘SCAFFOLDING AS A CAREER’ OPEN DAY ENCOURAGES YOUNG TALENT A career open day held by HAKI and the NASC has been hailed a success by organisers and visitors, inspiring young college students to pursue a variety of careers on offer in the scaffolding industry.

The event, held on the 15 October 2019, was attended by more than 25 students from the Bedford College Group and delegates from the Jobcentre Plus; all of whom are interested in pursuing career paths in the construction sector.

T GUNNING SECURES NEW UNIVERSITY FRAMEWORK T Gunning, a Chartered Building Company, has been appointed to the framework of City, University of London, in a three-year agreement to support the university in the delivery of internal/ external Building Refurbishment Works of up to £250,000.

City, University of London is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. It has been a constituent college of the University of London since 2016. It was originally founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute, and became a university when The City University was created by Royal Charter in 1966. Among its five schools is the world-renowned Cass Business School.

T Gunning was recently re-appointed to the framework of Goldsmiths, University of London, and has been on the framework for the University of the Arts, London for the past three years. It has restored, renovated and refurbished entire campus buildings from classrooms to canteens, lecture theatres to Halls of Residence.

City currently has nearly 20,000 students (46% at postgraduate level) from more than 160 countries and staff from over 75 countries. As well as the Cass Business School City comprises the School of Arts & Social Sciences, the School of Health Sciences, the School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering and The City Law School.

Attendees participated in a series of activities throughout the day, which were designed to engage and educate about the jobs available.

These included a K’NEX challenge where participants tested their structural abilities, a hands-on experience building a scaffold tower using the HAKI Universal system and finally, talks from individuals in various roles within the scaffolding industry.

Speakers included Lester Brown and Barry Taylor, Global Technicians at HAKI, Priscila Escobar, Mechanical Design Engineer at HAKI, Ben Ramsey and Adam Reeve, Contracts Director and Contracts Manager at QFS Scaffolding, and Henry Annafi, NASC Training Officer. All speakers talked about their different pathways into their current roles, however also touched on similarities which have motivated them to stay in the industry; from travel opportunities and rewarding remuneration, through to feeling part of a team and employers encouraging progression.

At the end of the event, 11 out of 26 students said they would now consider a route into scaffolding upon completion of their studies.

David Wilkins, Director of Construction & Building Services at the Bedford College Group, commented: “Many thanks to HAKI and the NASC for your kind hospitality on the day, and the amazing effort that you all put into the event.

The students had a fantastic day and learnt a lot about elements of the construction industry that they might not have originally considered, and also participated in some great activities to develop their teamwork skills.”

Paula Hubbard, Group Training Manager at HAKI added: “The open day was organised to inspire those in the 16-18 age group to view scaffolding as a genuine and rewarding career choice. Scaffolding provides a clear career pathway and HAKI is dedicated to working collaboratively with both our industrial and educational partners to get this message across to this age group.”

04 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

Company News

PASQUILL INVESTS OVER £6.7MILLION Pasquill, one of the UK’s leading supplier of roof trusses, has invested over £6.7million in its manufacturing plants and design centres over the last five years.

This year £2.5million has been invested in equipment, technology and infrastructure as part of a long-term strategy to improve performance, sustainability and efficiency.

Most notably, Pasquill’s site in Chorley, Lancashire, is currently undergoing a multimillion-pound redevelopment, delivered via a five-phase plan that will cement its position as the leading roof truss manufacturer in the north west.

The infrastructure works began in November 2018, and Phases one to three will be completed by the end of November 2019. Included in the three phases are the refurbishment of the cassette and spandrel production buildings, the sawmill building and welfare facilities on site, allowing Pasquill Chorley to increase its capacity by approximately 50%.

Meanwhile, Pasquill’s Bodmin site in Cornwall has received an investment of over £200k, which allows for additional storage and yard space, plus a doubling of metalwork room space. The site has also received state-of-theart equipment, including an AV Birch Uni-roll Posi press machine which will increase output by around 40% and support the increase in demand for its customers.

The equipment replacement programme also continues with over £200k investment for two new semi-automated EC800 single blade saws at Pasquill’s Stoney Stanton and Chorley factories.

Gabriel Prior, Continuous Improvement Director for the OSS Division, said: “We are continuously investing in all our sites across the UK to ensure they are running efficiently and performing at the cutting edge.

“These investments will allow us to design and manufacture quality products more efficiently, giving our teams the tools to bring our clients’ visions to life.”

Plasloc to donate ALL funds received from recycling products to charity A hoarding solutions specialist with its eyes firmly on the damage plastic waste is doing to the environment has pledged to donate all funds received from the recycling of its products to charity.

Plasloc, a patented, sustainable and freestanding PVCu internal and external cladding system is supporting Just One Ocean, a charity committed to preserving the ocean for future generations.

And with around eight million tonnes of plastic is being allowed to get into our oceans every year and having a terrible impact on ocean wildlife and the environment, the Newton Abbot-based company are hoping their pledge will help the fight.

“We have always had a keen interest in the environment and the impact plastics are having on it and we are proud to be supporting Just One Ocean,” explained Plasloc’s Director Leigh Matthews.

“Plasloc is a patented hoarding product predominately made from plastic, we only operate on a hire basis to maintain our zero-waste policy and all our products are sent for recycling at the end of their life and extruded back into next generation Plasloc boards.

We have always had a keen interest in the environment and the impact plastics are having on it and we are proud to be supporting Just One Ocean “As we make an income from the plastic that is collected for recycling we are donating all monies made on the recycling of our products.”

David Jones, founder and CEO of Just One Ocean commented: “Plastics have changed our lives for the better in numerous ways.

“However, at the same time, we have neglected to consider the ‘end of life’ of many products and this is having a devastating effect on the environment.

“The management of plastic products throughout their life cycle is critical if we are going to resolve the plastic pollution issue.

“Through the development of their zero-waste and recycling policy, Plasloc are doing what they can to address that problem by working with plastic products in a more sustainable and responsible manner.”

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 05

Tax Breaks For Civil Engineers and Construction Companies Tough times in construction have lead many Civil Engineers to look at property as additional income to boost their flagging incomes. We have come up with 10 tax breaks to help civils save tax when investing in property.

1. Should I Set Up A Property Company?

High earning Civil Engineers will generally be better off buying properties through a company because of low corporation tax rates of 18%. The main exception to this rule is if the property has been your PPR (Principal Private Residence). Don’t forget stamp duty!

2. University Accommodation for your children

the bills, Rent a Room relief can give you an additional £7,500 per annum of tax free money.

Many Engineers financially support their children through University (and beyond).

Wouldn’t it be good if the Taxman could be persuaded to help? Well now there is a way. It involves clever ownership of the property 90:10 with the student using a declaration of profit and a double personal tax allowance when you sell. If other students share the property to help pay

3. Should I become A Property Trader?

There are over 1000 tax reliefs in the UK at the moment. Our job is to find the best ones that apply to those in Civil Engineering and Construction…

Yes! Owning properties in a partnership can be a great income tax-saving strategy, as the property will benefit from more than one personal tax allowance when it is sold.

- City Accountants (London) Ltd.

Establishing that you are a trader in properties is highly beneficial with HMRC. It means properties are held as stock in your property accounts and the 10% CGT rate applies when you sell. Properties can be passed to your children free of inheritance tax.

4. Should I Set Up A Property Partnership?

5. Tax Wrinkles Converting Properties into Flats Many an Engineer has spotted the potential of buying a large property and converting it into flats. Setting up as a property developer or moving into the property as your PPR can massively reduce CGT when you sell.

6. Equity Release for Landlords Tax relief on equity release loans can be claimed using paragraphs 45 700 in HMRC Business Income Manual. Once released the money can be used for ANY purpose.

The only restriction is the money raised cannot be more than the original cost of the property.

7. How to Own a Property 50:50 but Split Rentals 90:10!

Section 1030 of HMRC’s property income manual allows rental income to be split differently from the ownership of the property. This is done using a special form of agreement between the owners and ‘form 17’ for HMRC.

06 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

8. Deductible Expenses for Landlords Please contact kate@dentax.biz for your free copy of tax deductible Landlord expenses.

9. Will A Property Management Company Save Me Tax? The short answer is ‘Yes’! This works well for property portfolios of 4 to 6 properties and involves charging a typical arm’s length property management fee of 10% to 15% of the rents received.

10. Restricted Tax Relief on Buy-To-Let Interest The Chancellor has announced that Tax relief on BTL mortgages is to be restricted to 20% Basic Rate Tax. We are currently putting action plans together for Civils to ameliorate the effect on their BTL portfolios. This includes incorporation, equity release restructuring, property sale and buy-backs.

11. Limited Companies For Property Developers A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) can be set up for a one off property development to claim all the development expenses you incur. The favourable entrepreneur relief rate of 10% CGT applies when you sell.

City Accountants (London) Ltd are Specialist Civil Engineering and Construction Accountants based North of London. They advise on a wide range of Construction Tax issues and regularly write for the Construction Press. City Accountants have over 20 years’ experience in Construction and Civil Engineering Accounts and are recognised for their proactive approach to Taxation in construction and business problems.

Phone 01438 722224 or email: kate@dentax.biz

Hudson launches new company to protect building firms against ticking tax time bomb Hudson Contract, a leading supplier to the UK construction industry, has launched a new company to protect self-employed contractors and their clients against the ticking time tomb of new tax rules.

Hudson Freelance builds on the group’s market-leading experience and expertise in em-ployment status to eliminate the risk of IR35 for legitimate freelancers and businesses.

autonomy and was incapable of conferring employment or worker status.

industry who will fiercely defend their right to be self-employed.

Hudson Contract originated the market for secure self-employment in 1996 and has en-gaged more than 145,000 freelancers without a single instance of employment status re-classification.

“The worst of all worlds is that these people are pressured into umbrella schemes under which they carry all the costs and downsides of employment with none of the benefits –and no doubt the most valuable freelancers will vote with their feet if this happens.”

From April, medium and large-sized clients will be responsible for deciding the status of individual professionals and liable for any tax and national insurance contributions.

Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Freelance and Hudson Contract, said: “There is no need for employers to rush into a ‘onesize-fits-all’ PAYE solution and risk losing their most valuable suppliers. There is time to carry out genuine status determinations and get them right.

HMRC has suggested the new rules could raise up to £1.2bn a year by 2023 and esti-mates contractors have been wrongly classifying themselves as outside tax regulations in 90 per cent of cases.

“We are helping a growing number of firms go through the process to find out which lim-ited company freelancers need to be encouraged to take permanent positions and which can remain as they are if they wish.

Hudson Freelance ensures that selfemployed consultants can continue to contract their services to clients without any risk that HMRC will overturn their status and recalculate turnover as employed income.

“Rather than jumping the gun, firms need to understand that the majority of technical level freelancers are not caught by the current IR35 rules and will not be from April 2020. The shift in where the status risk lies will not change how status is determined.

Its unique model was upheld in a landmark employment tribunal, reported in The Times, which found its legal contract preserved an individual’s flexibility and

“Like any other business risk, IR35 can be managed or eliminated and needs to be bal-anced against other risks such as losing the services of some of the best people in the

Hudson Freelance has designed IR35 compliant contracts supported by robust auditing so that freelancers and their clients can go about their business without worrying about status.

In the event of challenge from HMRC, Hudson Freelance provides and pays for the legal team to argue the case and is liable for fines and awards.

Hudson Contract is a family-owned group based in the East Yorkshire seaside town of Bri-dlington and provides audit contract and payroll services to more than 2,200 construction SMEs.

Ian Anfied, MD of Hudson

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 07

Ravatherm XPS X is the new brand for market-leading roof and floor insulation with a 60-year heritage Ravago Building Solutions, Europe’s largest extruded polystyrene insulation (XPS) manufacturer, has relaunched its marketleading range of XPS. Ravatherm XPS X is the new name for the UK’s best-performing range of grey boards for roofs and floors, all with exceptional lambda values.

With a strong heritage and UK manufacturing stretching back 60 years, Ravatherm XPS X offers architects and building specifiers a wide range of thicknesses and compressive strengths which ensures that the most creative of design specifications can be met.

Ravatherm XPS X is moisture resistant and is blown with CO2, achieving a global warming potential score of less than five. Products in the roofing range were the first to secure a coveted Green Guide rating of A+ from BREEAM. To further minimise environmental impacts and shipping delays, manufacturing takes place locally in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

Chris Gimson, Commercial Director – UK, Ireland, Nordics and Baltics at Ravago Building Solutions, said: “Ravatherm XPS X leads the market, with its grey products having been used in the UK’s most energy efficient residential and commercial buildings. Ravatherm XPS X is first choice for architects and specifiers looking to deliver the most environmentally-sound buildings, while at the same time pushing design boundaries.”

Ravago Building Solutions is a division of Ravago, a fast-growing multinational company with a culture based on family values. Founded in Belgium in 1961, the company is committed to ethical and sustainable business practices, and forges strong relationships with its 7,000-strong workforce and 49,000 customers.

Ravago Building Solutions manufactures and distributes specialised building products and solutions across Europe, Turkey and CIS markets. In addition to XPS, products include mineral wool, waterproofing, dry construction, construction chemicals, foils and packaging.

Website: www.ravagobuildingsolutions.co.uk

08 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

Ravatherm XPS X from Ravago Building Solutions, Europe’s largest extruded polystyrene insulation manufacturer, offers architects and building specifiers market-leading XPS insulation for roofs and floors.

www.ravagobuildingsolutions.co.uk

For technical support and to learn more about our products please contact: technical.uk.rbs@ravago.com

People On The Move

ISG announces new COO for UK Construction ISG has promoted Zoe Price to the role of chief operating officer (COO) for its UK Construction business.

Crest Nicholson Director recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Engineering Louise Hardy, Independent NonExecutive Board Director at Crest Nicholson has today been announced as one of the top 100 Most Influential Women in the Engineering Sector. The list, produced by board appointments firm Inclusive Boards in partnership with the Financial Times, was officially released at the Inclusive Boards: Women in Engineering Leadership Conference on Tuesday 22nd October 2019.

Inclusive Boards will also be publishing extensive research into engineering in the UK as well as the results of their diversity survey of the UK’s top 500 engineering firms by revenue.

Louise Hardy, Independent NonExecutive Board Director at Crest Nicholson said: ”It is an enormous privilege to be recognised as one of the top Most Influential Women in the Engineering Sector, amongst a group of extremely inspiring and successful leaders in the industry. I

am extremely passionate about promoting the excellent opportunities available in Engineering for the future generation of girls, looking for a highly rewarding career.”

Development Director at Inclusive Boards, Elizabeth Oni-Iyiola, said: “Engineers have an impact on almost every area of our day to day lives. Louise Hardy and those featured today are role models who inspire those around them and demonstrate leadership and influence in the work that they do.”

Patrick Clarke, Director of Network Operations at UK Power Networks and judge for the list said: “I am personally inspired but not at all surprised by the tremendous talent on the Women in Engineering list. Sadly, there are still plenty of people who will be surprised due to a mind-set which say Engineering equals males not females. I took part as a judge because I wanted to be inspired.”

Those featured include senior leaders from top engineering firms such as Amey, Arup, BAE Systems, and Laing O’Rourke.

The list has been published this week and officially launched at the Inclusive Boards: Women in Engineering Leadership Conference in Central London on Tuesday 22nd October, hosted by expert in gender and diversity issues in STEM, Dr Jan Peters. Inclusive Boards are the UK’s Executive Diversity Experts with a network of over 60,000 diverse professionals across the STEM, sport, not-for-profit and public sectors.

10 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

Zoe has over eight years’ experience at ISG, most recently as group director for public sector frameworks. In this role, Zoe was instrumental in more than tripling revenue from ISG’s public sector framework business in just three years, setting an ambitious strategy for future growth that continues to prove highly beneficial to ISG’s wider construction operations.

Zoe Price commented: “It is genuinely inspirational to see the passion, commitment and pride that our people have delivering projects that are transformational for communities, businesses and individuals. Leading a business that is rich with diverse and creative talent, and the expertise to consistently deliver better for our clients, is incredibly exciting.

“Our intensive and targeted focus on the UK’s best performing capital works frameworks has paid significant dividends in both the blend and pipeline of work that we now have within our construction business. Most importantly, we have taken the very best elements from these frameworks – the innovation, collaborative working practices and iterative efficiency focus, and have directly applied this to our wider business to benefit both our public and private clients. There is a growing consensus that we need to radically change the traditional hierarchies, structures and approaches that exist within our industry, stifling our ability to be more collaborative, productive and less wasteful.

We need to change the conversation, eliminate short term thinking and procure for the entire lifespan of our built assets.

It’s a hugely important challenge and one that I’m looking forward to tackling as I take up my new role at ISG. Paul Cossell, CEO of ISG, added: “I’ve watched Zoe build her career with us over many years, and she has made an immense contribution to our business as a force for dynamic change and creativity. Zoe has established an enviable network of contacts both within, and outside of our industry, challenging convention and always striving for better outcomes. With an outstanding talent for bringing together disparate teams and disciplines to collaborate on key challenges, Zoe has shown time and again her ability to deliver elegant solutions that delight our customers. I’m thrilled that Zoe has agreed to take the helm of our construction business and wish her every success in this vital role.”

Composite Access Covers Increasingly Specified Fibrelite Shares 4 Recent Installations Leading Premier League Stadium Fibrelite designed, manufactured and installed a series of bespoke retrofit trench covers for camera pits, replacing reinforced steel covers which were causing manual handling difficulties. The D400 load rated covers were coloured green to match the playing turf. These can now be removed safely and quickly by 2 people using Fibrelite’s ergonomic lifting handles.

Read the full story

Hong Kong Data Centre Fibrelite designed and manufactured a series of retrofit trench covers for fibreoptic trenches, replacing failing previously installed concrete covers. These fitted directly into existing frames, minimising disruption to the emergency vehicle access point. Covers included a unique securing system to prevent movement when the area was flooded, and have an inherent resistance to corrosion.

Read the full story

Container Terminal DCT Gdansk Fibrelite D400 & F900 load rated manhole and trench access covers were specified as part of an extension of the port. Unlike metal and concrete, Fibrelite’s composite covers can be safely removed manually at the heavy load ratings required, and have an inherent resistance to corrosion from water, salt and fuel.

Read the full story

Hammersmith Apollo Theatre As part of the renovation of this iconic theatre, Fibrelite worked closely with the architects to design and install a discreet practical housing trench for the multicore cables that ran from the stage to the control desk during music concerts. Previously cables had been run above ground, causing damage to the interior of the theatre.

Read the full story

Download Fibrelite’s NEW Case Study Book For Over 120 Technical Case Studies

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 11

Project News

Strata Geotechnics speeds ahead with new highways Ground Investigation contracts Van Elle subsidiary Strata Geotechnics announces major contract wins in the highways sector for Ground Investigation (GI) programmes. The business is currently working on a number of key highways projects, including: M27 J4 – 11 SMART Motorways Providing priority ground investigation that will uncover preliminary geotechnical information to help inform the requirements for piling and any retaining wall designs.

A428 - Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements Providing preliminary investigations and surveys that will help build up a picture of the type of soils, rock types and groundwater. This will inform the design and civil engineering solutions to build the road, bridges and its junctions.

On these projects Strata Geotechnics are deploying their VeTrak® restricted access drilling machine in addition to their extensive cable percussion and rotary drilling rigs. Strata engineers will utilise an innovative cloud based key-log book system, so that real time results can be fed back to the project management team to provide instantaneous ability to make quick and key decisions.

Strata Geotechnics Director, Andy Johnston commented:

We are delighted to have been awarded these prestigious contracts and proud to help enable successful project outcomes for Highways England and their supply chain. Our teams are utilising innovative ground investigation techniques to provide our clients with a better service and value for money.

Willmott Dixon adds to leisure work with new cinema complex in Daventry Willmott Dixon is adding to its track-record of transformative leisure projects with the £12.5 million project to create Daventry’s new Mulberry Place Cinema complex.

The project, for Daventry District Council, will see the former library buildings off North Street demolished to make way for a four screen cinema complex that has restaurants, a public square and splash fountains.

Procured through Major Works, England and Northern Ireland, part of the Scape National Construction framework, the Mulberry Place Cinema development is expected to take around 18 months to complete, with the cinema set to open its doors in spring 2021.

Michelle Cotterill, director at Willmott Dixon, said:

We are looking forward to working with Daventry District Council once again, this time on its Mulberry Place development, to create a new social and leisure space in the centre of town that can be enjoyed by local communities.

“At Willmott Dixon, we have a purpose beyond profit and that includes being passionate about leaving a lasting positive legacy, something that Mulberry Place will provide for many decades to come. Over the

12 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

duration of the scheme, we have committed to investing into the local community. This will see us working with local schools and colleges on community projects, as well as sourcing local spend and labour wherever possible.”

Mark Robinson, Scape group chief executive, commented: “Developments like Mulberry Place are really transformative for the community. This investment from Daventry District Council will create a real destination for the local population, stimulating economic activity in the process.

In some cases, developments like this, can act as a catalyst for further investment into the local area. It’s a real win-win.

By delivering this project through our framework, Daventry District Council are guaranteeing that this important project will not only be delivered efficiently but also by a talented local workforce.”

Willmott Dixon’s long trackrecord of leisure projects includes delivering the new members and players facilities for the All England Lawn and Tennis Club at Wimbledon, creating the new Five Towns Leisure and Wellbeing Hub in Pontefract for Wakefield Council, a new leisure and cultural centre in Harpenden for St Albans District Council, plus cinemas in Rochdale, as part of the town centre regeneration, and in Eltham for the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Previous projects with the Daventry District Council have seen the company deliver important community facilities Rainsbrook Crematorium and Monksmoor Primary School.

Project News

Kier appointed by Braintree District Council to deliver £30m Manor Street regeneration scheme Kier has been appointed by Braintree District Council to deliver the £30m Manor Street regeneration scheme in Braintree’s Town Centre.

As part of the mixed-use scheme, Kier is delivering 35 new homes, a ‘Livewell’ hub – which will provide up to 20,000 residents with access to a range of health services, pharmacy, 70-bed Travelodge, new bus interchange, a café/restaurant overlooking a new public realm and a twin-level car park.

The work is due to commence in early 2020, with works being completed in 2022.

Mark Dady, managing director at Kier Regional Building Eastern, said: “We are specialists in delivering key projects for local authorities nationwide. We work extremely hard to leave a positive footprint on the areas we work in and throughout this project we will be committed to engaging with the local community and working closely with local subcontractors to create a range of job opportunities for those living in the area.

I’m looking forward to working closely with Braintree District Council to deliver this vital project for the people of Braintree.”

Cllr John McKee, Cabinet Member for Corporate Transformation, at Braintree District Council said: “Without our investment as a local authority, these improvements to health facilities, the bus station and town centre would just not happen.

Hinkley Point C announces the launch of the Technical Support Alliance to provide engineering and technical services to the nuclear new build project The Hinkley Point C Project has announced the launch of a new multi-million pound technical and engineering services agreement (The HTSA) which comprises existing Tier 1 services suppliers Atkins, Frazer-Nash Consultancy and Wood plc.

It will harness the technical expertise offered by three of the leading professional services providers in the nuclear sector. They will work collaboratively as a single Alliance to ensure the availability of a robust pipeline of skilled resources, whilst leveraging further value and efficiency.

Based upon the long established EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Technical Support Alliance, in operation for more than ten years, all alliance members will provide the Hinkley Point C Project with full life cycle services across all disciplines. The companies will work

collaboratively with the HPC project in order to provide the most appropriate expertise to specific tasks.

The agreement will last for five years with an optional five-year extension and seeks to draw upon the vast array of skillsets, experiences and operational experience gained from key suppliers in their work across both nuclear new build and the existing fleet of nuclear power plants in the UK. Mark Hartley, Technical Director for HPC said “I’m delighted that we are able to announce the launch of the HTSA. We look forward to working together collaboratively, as a single Alliance, to help deliver Hinkley Point C on time and on budget. Having worked closely with Atkins, Frazer-Nash, and Wood on this project since its inception, the HTSA further enhances the existing relationships between the companies for the benefit of all involved”.

“We see this regeneration as the catalyst for change - bringing more people, new businesses and more jobs in to our wonderful town. It’s the beginning of an exciting transformation which we believe will encourage other businesses and services to set up home in our town in the future.”

This latest win for Kier builds on its expertise delivering mixed-use regeneration schemes.

It has previously delivered Reading Gateway, a 109,000ft² scheme adjacent to Junction 11 of the M4 which includes a Premier Inn hotel, retail units and a car dealership.

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 13

Sound Zero Set For Another Successful Year London based acoustics specialists, Sound Zero, look set for another successful year in 2020 since their launch in late 2018.

Blending acoustics and design, Sound Zero is cultivating cutting-edge spaces that ooze visual impact whilst improving acoustic comfort to enhance music studios, residential and commercial buildings, industrial premises, public spaces, and many other specialist areas.

Acoustics in harmony with design Businesses attach great importance to building and room acoustics, rather than exclusively focusing on its look. Architects, designers, planners and developers increasingly look toward acoustic solutions that work in harmony with great design, creating something that is not only acoustically functional but also aesthetically pleasing.

Sound Zero is able to meet these demands with a range of products and services that have a positive acoustic effect on buildings and rooms through sound reduction and noise control. Wall, ceiling and floor coverings with highly effective acoustic properties can be integrated within the building’s structure to become a designfocused solution that can blend in-or stand out-in a striking way.

Construction Site Ready Sound Zero’s Class ‘0’ acoustic foam is a unique composite that was developed for the industrial sector. For an acoustic treatment material to be construction site safe, it has to comply with a number of strict safety regulations. That is what makes Sound Zero’s product so unique. It has been tested and approved by the British Standardising Authority and has received total compliance in fire safety, mould resistance and air erosion so this product is safe to go into any industrial or residential project of any scale.

Class ‘0’ HVAC The new industry standard Class ‘0’ acoustic foam is the perfect solution for HVAC applications. Its low VOC content and unmatched FR rating mean it is the safest HVAC lining material available on the market today.

Our Class ‘0’ acoustic foam qualifies above all European and American standards set for Fire Rating BS 476 pt 6, bacterial growth resistance ASTM G21, low VOC content and air erosion resistance ASTM C1071-91 12.7.

No particles in the airways and no risk of bacterial growth makes Class ‘0’ the superior and obvious choice for private or commercial HVAC applications.

VOC Safe Class ‘0’ is Certipur tested. Our VOC content exceeds British and US standards and means our product is safe to use in allergen and chemical sensitive projects.

Looking To 2020 Since the launch of the business in late 2018, Sound Zero’s high-profile clients have involved Stella McCartney, The National History Museum and prestigious London nightclub, Ministry of Sound. 2020 shows no signs of slowing down, with their portfolio of outstanding work expanding to more and more distinguished brands.

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Developing Excellence: Brammer Buck & Hickman Launches Building Products Brochure

Brammer Buck & Hickman, the UK’s leading supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, has launched a new brochure covering the company’s range of quality products and services aimed at the building products sector.

With extensive experience of working with the biggest names in the building products sector, Brammer Buck & Hickman has developed an in-depth understanding of the MRO, PPE and tool requirements of this sector. The new brochure identifies the key issues in this industry, including product availability, health & safety and energy conservation and shows the range of Brammer Buck & Hickman products and services that enable customers to improve production line efficiencies and reduce costs.

Product overviews featured within the brochure include cast iron motors; pneumatic cylinders; heavy duty chains and belts; couplings; industrial gear units; self-lube triple seal bearings and split cylindrical roller bearings, as well as sector-specific tools and PPE such as tool control systems, medium weight safety gloves and a range of tethered tools designed for working at heights.

In addition, the new brochure highlights Brammer Buck & Hickman’s workshop services, delivered through four specialist engineering centres. Services available at these centres include gearbox repair, pump repair and maintenance.

A condensed case study included in the new brochure demonstrates how Brammer Buck & Hickman supports companies in the building products sector.

This is reinforced by details on how the company helps reduce customer costs and improves production efficiency through, for example, recommending alternative branded parts, product standardisation, training and on-site services.

Brammer Buck & Hickman is part of the Rubix group. With a turnover of more than €2.2 billion in 2017, Rubix is Europe’s largest supplier of industrial MRO products and services.

Call us on 0870 240 2100 to request a copy of the brochure or visit www.bbh-rubix.com for more information about Brammer Buck & Hickman.

16 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

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The Real Thing - Prysmian Group Launches Genuine CPR Compliant Draka Cat.6 U/UTP Cca D64 Cable Prysmian Group, the world’s largest cable manufacturer, is pleased to announce the launch of the new UK manufactured Draka UC400 23 Category 6 U/UTP LSHF D64 Cca data cable.

The new cable has been designed and engineered by the Prysmian Group Multi Media Solutions business to comply with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) to Euroclass Cca s1a d1 a1 fire performance rating, provide a high degree of usability including deployment from a 305m Reelex® box and deliver full Category 6 / Class E compliant electrical performance.

CPR for cable products that are permanently installed in buildings has been in force since July 2017. CPR requires third party testing of cables with a Notified Body for heat-energy content, plus spread of fire, smoke, acidity, heat emission and droplet formation (burning drops of plastic that spread fire), to ensure they meet fire performance requirements laid out in EN 50575, the product standard for all cables.

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NASC SIGNS ARMED FORCES COVENANT The NASC has further strengthened its connection with the military by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

By signing the Covenant, the NASC has made a formal commitment to promote career and training opportunities in the scaffolding industry to ex-military personnel. This cements an existing NASC objective to engage more regularly with the Armed Forces and the creation of a £150,000 funding pot dedicated to the training of exservices personnel.

Trudy Mensa-Bonsu, Regional Employment Engagement Director at the Ministry of Defence, said: “I am thrilled that the NASC has recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant and also secured the funding to help Reservist, Veterans and Service leavers gain skills and training in the scaffolding field. We are delighted to see what the NASC have in future and will work with them in progressing through the Employer Recognition Scheme with hopes of achieving a Gold status in future.”

To meet these stringent fire safety tests, the existing Draka Cat.6 U/UTP Eca cable needed to be redesigned, as did others on the market. An example of one of the challenges for manufacturers has been to balance the volume of air spaces within the cable, necessary to achieve category 6 transmission characteristics, whilst at the same time minimising potential for the air to help propagate the spread of a fire. The industry has been faced with a dichotomy: Optimisation of the cable design to achieve Cca classification, but fail the electrical tests or vice versa.

Furthermore, the new cable remains compact, with a diameter of just 5.9mm, and a high degree of flexibility for easy installation. Draka claims there is no visible difference, or difference in handling performance, to its existing high density Eca rated cables.

For information on the new Draka Cat.6 U/UTP Cca D64 Cable, please go to www.d64-therealthing.info

New Europcar Vans Supersite powers businesses across the North The Europcar network of van supersites has been enhanced with the latest opening – in Parkway Avenue, Sheffield. Supported by van experts with local knowledge, the new 23,000ft supersite gives businesses access to a wide range of commercial vehicles, from Car Derived Vans, Short and Long Wheelbase as well as more specialised light commercial vehicles. And most are available within a 2 hour booking window, providing a quickresponse solution to the transport challenges many businesses face.

For firms looking for the flexibility and potential cost savings of hiring – from daily rental to longer term usage – Europcar Vans provides the ideal solution and the network of eleven supersites means we are accessible to most businesses across the UK. To find out more visit https://www.europcar.co.uk/van-and-truck-rental

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06/11/2019 15:26:59

A BUILDING IS ONLY AS FLEXIBLE AS THE INSTALLATIONS IT HOUSES With a growing trend towards flexible working how can building design keep up?

The growth in flexible working has seen the way organisations utilise workspace radically evolve. Enabled by technology and fuelled by the changing attitudes of businesses coworking is a phenomenon that is leading to profound changes in the sector. In response to this growing trend commercial real estate is seeing a seismic shift towards the provision of workspace as a service. The provision of ‘flex space’ continues to expand to meet the demand but how can buildings be truly flexible if the facilities installed within them aren’t?

Air conditioning being a case in point.

Once an overhead ceiling air conditioning system is installed it is not possible to easily reposition the fans ducts and chilled beams or it is very time consuming, disruptive and expensive to do. Therefore, if an office space is reworked this may mean that desks are now directly underneath the fans or diffusers providing discomfort to those below.

British company, AET Flexible Space is a pioneer of under floor air conditioning (UfAC) solutions that offer complete flexibility.

Modular in their design equipment is installed at floor level making it easy to install, maintain and rearrange. The AET Fantiles can be easily relocated offering huge savings in both time and equipment when reconfiguring office space and creating far higher user comfort and satisfaction.

The One Benjamin development in Farringdon, London decided to use AET’s flexible UfAC system over its three floors of premium office space, rather than the originally proposed downflow system.

One Benjamin selected AET’s most flexible system, the CAM-V, which makes use of the raised floor void as a plenum for the distribution of supply air, whilst receiving return air back to the CAM unit at ceiling or

high level. Overall, AET was able to provide One Benjamin with a high-performing and flexible air conditioning system which was more suited to its needs than the originally proposed downflow system. The building was completed in July 2019 for the Girdlers Worshipful Company and is now beginning to rent its office space and residential units.

With demand continuing to increase, workplace occupiers continue to reassess the way they use office space and this demand looks set to expand outside of the primary global city-based markets due to the fact both commercial real estate rates and the cost of living escalates. Forbes announced that the fastest growth markets in the US in 2018 were Las Vegas, Orlando and Austin, while in Europe Manchester and Toulouse topped the UK and French markets.

Glan Blake Thomas CEO at AET said: “Corporate organisations are seeking more agile workspaces and our flexible solutions are absolutely ideal to support this trend. Our bespoke plug and play fantiles can be easily repositioned to sort any manner of office layout. In addition, our solutions are sustainable by design, which is also an important factor to many modern businesses. AET solutions use little or no ductwork and, therefore, individual zones operate at very low-pressure encouraging energy efficiency. AET’s UfAC systems offer up to 30% savings in energy costs and around 29% reduction in C02 emissions when compared to ceiling systems.”

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 19

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Interview

CONSTRUCTION UK MAGAZINE SPOKE WITH RUSSELL STILWELL ABOUT THE GROWING TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY How important in your opinion is it to raise awareness about Mental Health especially in industries such as construction?

Mental ill health is a killer. FACT. It’s incredibly important that we tackle the stigma associated with mental ill health, creating a better understanding of mental ill health and how we can address it. There are shocking statistics about how many people suffer from poor mental health, for example: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that between 2017 and 2018, stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 57% of all working days lost due to ill health.

The opinion of the Health in Construction Leadership Group, having looked at this latest HSE data, is that this increase in cases of stress, anxiety and depression reflects a saddening reality within the construction industry. Every workplace has a duty of care towards their employers and must find ways to become more aware and supportive with mental ill health and encourage more people to talk.

Your story is so relatable to a lot of men out there, why do you think there is such a stigma around mental health in certain industries, and how important is to encourage men to speak out and get the help they need?

In the construction industry there’s a strong ‘macho’ culture which means men bottle up their emotions. They’re embarrassed to speak out. The rate of suicide across the construction industry is significantly higher than the national average, especially for men.

A recent survey conducted by UK Construction Week with Mates in Mind found that 6 out of 10 people working in construction have suffered due to their job, but only 44% had actually spoken out about it at work.

Speaking out about how we are feeling seems to be almost a taboo sometimes, how much does speaking help and how can this be encouraged more?

have tried to inspire a culture, particularly within the younger generation within the business that encourages conversation about mental health.

Statistics offer invaluable insights, but we need to remember that we’re actually talking about people’s lives. These people are our family, friends and work colleagues.

The construction industry can be a challenging environment as it’s unwavering ‘macho’ culture often means that workers is reluctant to seek help, open up and talk when experiencing mental ill health. Men don’t feel they should show emotion, often bottling up their concerns and struggles due to fear of being ridiculed or judged. It’s important that we support the wellbeing and mental health of construction workers from the moment they express an interest in construction, for example during their schooling, through to their retirement and beyond if necessary.

We know that people often don’t speak out because they don’t feel comfortable discussing their problems at work, or they possibly don’t feel there’s anyone they can speak to about it.

This isn’t just an issue for businesses. It is also a societal issue. Fortunately, businesses, like mine and others, are accepting that they have a role to play in helping to addressing this. I encourage my staff across all my businesses to speak to me if they are struggling by having an open door culture.

At the same time, I also want to remind all that there are people who want to listen if you’re struggling at work, or at home.

Whether that’s family members, employers, colleagues or specialist charities, you’re never alone.

As a founder of a successful construction firm, have you seen an increase in mental health over the years?

I am a determined advocate for changing attitudes towards mental health in the workplace, especially within the realms of construction. I have seen and experienced firsthand how mental health has always been an issue in the construction industry and in society. Throughout my career, I have experienced the negative impacts that poor mental health can have, both personally and professionally, as my journey charts the transition that I’ve made from working with tools to running a successful multi-million pound business. Since RSE’s inception, we

I actually think that the younger generations are more likely to talk about mental health and wellbeing, particularly in comparison to older professionals who work in construction.

The problem lies with younger engagement and improving our methods of prevention, offering young people a pathway into construction at a younger age. Creating a proactive approach to invigorating passion as opposed to leaving mental health as an afterthought is essential.

You are an ambassador for Mates in Mind, Co-founder of Constructionwise and also a trained Mental Health First Aider with MHFA England, this is amazing! What drives you to help make a difference to so many people?

I’m inspired by the progress that I’ve made; there was a time when I didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, yet I’ve gone on to find success and happiness. If I can help others to overcome similar difficulties, offering a source of comfort and reassurance, then I’ll know I’ve made a difference! The chance to help just one person drives me to continue with projects like ‘Construction Wise Minds’.

As someone who has faced the horrors of poor mental health, it was extremely important for me to give back.

That is why I became an ambassador for Mates in Mind, co-founded Construction Wise Minds and became a Mental Health First Aider with MHFA England. My personal experiences inspired me to back the ‘Mates in Mind’ initiative, a registered charity addressing the stigma of poor mental health whilst promoting positive mental wellbeing across workplaces. Construction is one of the most important industries in our economy, it’s therefore crucial that we take the wellbeing and mental health of its workers seriously, using initiatives like ‘Mates in Mind’ to create real change. As we attract young people into construction-based professions, it’s pivotal that we improve upon our efforts reduce mental health and suicide. It’s been found that men in the construction industry are ten times more likely to die of suicide than accidents on site. For me, ‘Mates in Mind’ was the perfect place to start.

22 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

Interview working, we’ve seen an improved rate of staff retention, in addition to improvements in our outputs, all by ensuring that our people feel better supported at work.

We can see this in the numbers. A 9% rise in the last year, in relation to staff saying that they’re feeling more supported at work, highlights our progress.

The opportunities for businesses to see a great return on investment are evident, if their interventions are focused on helping people to thrive.

This is what Mates in Mind do, and it’s why we have a partnership with them that means my business is supported, giving this issue the attention it deserves.

What support is on offer in your firm for people struggling with their mental health?

My experiences also inspired me to co-found ‘Construction Wise Minds’, an education enrichment initiative that’s been created to connect local educational establishments with construction programmes. I hope to connect young people with satisfying, purposeful opportunities at an early age, creating a new generation of resilient, employable construction professionals with advanced capabilities. An opportunity that I feel would have propelled my progress, I feel it’s crucial that we support young people without restriction, encouraging them to pursue any appropriate path.

If someone is not equipped with the knowledge on how to help themselves and the people around them, how can they recover? I want to support construction workers, ensuring they don’t unnecessarily struggle like I did. This is why I decided to undergo training and become a qualified Mental Health First Aider with MHFA England. This way, I know I can give back and provide the tools needed to address and tackle mental ill health in a workplace.

At RSE, we have a whole host of options available for our members of staff that are struggling with mental health.

As a result of my own experiences with ill-mental health, I am deeply passionate about providing my team with a positive work environment. In the workplace, my employees have access to a wide range of courses to help them develop in their personal and professional lives.

Our senior staff have been trained in Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Leadership coaching. We also give full ‘Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plans’ to all of our staff, making sure that they are being supported.

We continually offer the opportunity for members of staff to become mental health first aiders and for everyone to benefit from mental health workshops.

We encourage our staff to continually listen to Mates in Mind podcasts so they can learn more about stress management and mental wellbeing within the construction industry.

This also helps them to spot the signs of a

colleague struggling, whilst understanding how to sensitively address the issue.

Mental health effects so many people, what advice would you give for those who are going through a hard time at the moment?

Reach out to someone. Whether you speak to your employee assistance program if you have one, another person you trust or reach out to one of the UK’s amazing charities, like Samaritans or the Lighthouse Club, help will be available to you.

What you are doing is really amazing, what are you currently working on?

We are currently working on providing more Construction Wise Minds classes and workshops to connect young people with satisfying, purposeful opportunities at an early age, creating a new generation of resilient, employable construction professionals with advanced capabilities.

I have a number of MHFA training courses lined up in the new year and have plans to run them on an ongoing regular basis.

For more information, please check MHFA England website on https://mhfaengland.org/book-a-course/.

How can others get involved and help make a difference?

Making a change to how you approach mental health will not only strengthen your workforce, but it will help to drive the entire industry forward.

Be a part of this change; find out how Mates in Mind can work with you, visit their website to book a call with one of their support managers. Together we can be the change that we all know is needed. Be a mate. Be the change.

Use the resources available to you; open up and start talking. Know and let each other know that it is OK not to be OK. Be more open-minded and accepting, demonstrating strength by opening up, embracing feelings and using kindness and sincerity to make this happen.

There is still some stigma surrounding mental health, especially in industries like construction, how can businesses tackle this?

Businesses need to recognise that they can tackle this! It’s not just a matter of saying mental health is important. Actually, making the investment in their people, and therefore in their businesses, will inspire progress across the board.

There is clear evidence that taking substantive action to promote mental health in the workplace will benefit every aspect of a company, from its workers’ wellbeing to employee turnover rates and profit margins.

It’s not just about addressing mental illhealth and reducing absenteeism, it’s also about thinking about the impact of retention rates and ‘presenteeism’. Across all of my businesses, having looked closely at how we can address and improve our ways of

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 23

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Project News

ITER: Civil engineering work on the Tokamak Building completed ITER Organization, the international organisation set up in November 2006 to operate and subsequently dismantle the ITER facility; Fusion For Energy (F4E), the European Union organisation responsible for the European contribution to the ITER programme; and Groupe VINCI, leader of the consortium1 in charge of constructing the main buildings at the site, today announced the completion of civil engineering works on the ITER Tokamak2 Building at the Saint Paul lez Durance/Cadarache site in south-eastern France. This major project milestone was symbolically reached with the final concrete pour, on 7 November 2019, of the upper part of the building in which the ITER Tokamak will soon be assembled.

With the on-time completion of the Tokamak Building civil engineering works, the metal frame of the roof can be installed and the ambitious First Plasma3 target in 2025 maintained.

The civil engineering project, which got under way in 2010, called for exceptional complex project management capabilities and cutting-edge expertise.

The teams working within the VINCI-led consortium set up an efficient and agile project organisation enabling them to integrate all design changes requested by the ITER scientific teams as construction proceeded. The mobilisation of the VINCI design and works teams, the use of cutting-edge digital design tools and the complex project management expertise of the VINCI teams made this successful system possible.

The construction of the 73 metre high, 120 metre wide Tokamak Building also required production of highly specific concretes. The worksite teams developed about 10 formulations, some of which have unique features enabling them to shield workers and the environment from fusion-generated radiation. Some parts of the Tokamak Building also called for steel reinforcement density rarely used on projects on this scale (up to 10 times the density of an apartment building wall).

Lastly, access to the heart of the Tokamak Building required customised production of 46 heavy nuclear doors. Each 70-tonne door is manufactured in Germany, brought to the site, filled with concrete and assembled in the heart of the Tokamak Building.

“In deciding to take part in the leading construction of the particularly complex ITER buildings, VINCI undertook to help write a new chapter in one of the most ambitious and promising research programmes ever undertaken - a programme designed to reproduce on Earth the reactions that have been taking place in the heart of the Sun and stars for billions of years. Its goal is to harness hydrogen fusion and thereby pave the way for a new era for all humanity by making available a massive source of energy that can be varied at will, is intrinsically safe and has no impact on the climate and the environment. This was a huge challenge to which the men and women at VINCI have been tenaciously and resourcefully rising for nearly a decade. We want to warmly thank Vinci for having been a highly capable, reliable partner sharing our objectives, our standards and our determination. The success of ITER

26 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

will be theirs.” said Bernard Bigot, DirectorGeneral of ITER Organization.

“We are pleased to announce the completion, following a lengthy and complex process, of the civil engineering works for the main building that will house the ITER Tokamak, the world’s largest fusion machine. Europe is the party responsible for building the infrastructure of this extremely ambitious programme.

“Our close collaboration with VINCI, its partners and more than 700 workers has enabled us to successfully finalise this stage of the project in compliance with the safety, security and quality requirements.” said Laurent Schmieder (F4E), who oversees the team in charge of building construction and electrical systems for the ITER project. ”VINCI Construction and its partners RazelBec and Ferrovial are extremely proud of having carried out the ITER civil engineering works. ITER is a one-of-a-kind research programme in terms of its complexity, precision and size. It is an extraordinary human undertaking, but also a huge technical challenge, and we were constantly called on to innovate and expand our expertise. With ITER, we are humbly helping to implement one of the greatest and most ambitious energy projects of our time, designed to make electricity available throughout the world without CO2 emissions or radiological risk. For us, as a builder, it is a matter of great pride to have laid the cornerstone of a structure of such importance to humanity.” said Jérôme Stubler, Chairman of VINCI Construction.

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There’s more to innovation in surface preparation than using the most advanced, intelligent and powerful machines. It’s also important to consider the customer’s continually evolving needs. Customer fashions, expectations and economic pressures are never static and businesses can gain a competitive edge by adapting their equipment and processes to suit the current customer demands.

KEEPING TABS ON INNOVATION The importance of innovative technologies in surface preparation

1955. Although it took more than a decade, De Mestral’s innovative idea brought him huge success.

communication platforms and economic developments in other countries, competition is emerging from further afield.

Innovations are crucial in every industry for supporting business growth and success. Here Jake Sinna, vice president of international sales at surface preparation specialist National Flooring Equipment, explains why innovative technologies are important in surface preparation.

Innovation is also important in the surface preparation industry. There are three main reasons why it’s important to maintain an awareness of the updates in the field and spot the innovations that will benefit your business.

The increase in competition is not a bad thing. It means that the industry standard is consistently being driven to improve.

However, it does mean you must keep one eye on your competitors to ensure that you don’t fall behind.

Competition

There’s more to innovation in surface preparation than using the most advanced, intelligent and powerful machines. It’s also important to consider the customer’s continually evolving needs. Customer fashions, expectations and economic pressures are never static and businesses can gain a competitive edge by adapting

When electrical engineer, George De Mestral and his dog returned from a hunting trip in 1941, he noticed several spiny seeds stuck to his clothes and the dog’s fur. Close investigations of the seeds led to his invention of sticky strips, which were patented under the name Velcro in

The construction industry is highly competitive — the number of construction firms in Great Britain increased to a record high in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics. In addition, due to improvements in transport links,

28 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

National Flooring Equipment’s customers receive personalised face-to-face advice on how to overcome their individual challenges, as well as tips on getting the most out of their machinery.

On top of the face-to-face service, the company’s YouTube channel provides video tutorials giving information about how to use its machines. their equipment and processes to suit the current customer demands.

In general, contractors can expect that by using the latest technology, the quality of their surface preparation work will be higher. Businesses can improve their reputation even further by demonstrating high productivity.

Productivity To increase their productivity, surface preparation contractors must make sure they are using the best machines for the job. For example, National Flooring Equipment’s scrapers run with a greater torque than those of its competitors — almost double in some cases — which translates to greater productivity. In particular, the company’s 5700 battery rideon scraper and 6280 Commander hydraulic walk-behind scraper demonstrate very high torque and therefore productivity.

Many other industries, especially manufacturing, are looking to automated equipment to increase productivity. It’s possible that the surface preparation industry will follow suit in the future, which would allow National Flooring Equipment to further increase the productivity of its machines.

Facing challenges There are some common challenges that surface preparation contractors face. For example, following the repair of a cracked concrete surface, contractors often find that the repair concrete de-bonds from the substrate. The reason for this is insufficient or ineffective surface preparation prior to making the repairs.

Another challenge is that some flooring materials are notoriously difficult to remove, requiring extremely powerful machines. Scrapers with a greater weight make stronger contact with the floor and are ideal for these applications.

Most of the practical difficulties that contractors face with surface preparation jobs can be overcome by using high quality, well maintained and modern machinery.

National Flooring Equipment’s customers receive personalised face-to-face advice on how to overcome their individual challenges, as well as tips on getting the most out of their machinery. On top of the face-to-face service, the company’s

YouTube channel provides video tutorials giving information about how to use its machines.

What does innovation look like?

Dual lift ride-on scrapers are one of the most recent innovative technologies in the surface preparation industry. The angle of the blade allows the machines to be much lighter and more productive than alternative scrapers, helping contractors to tackle the productivity puzzle. The 5700 battery powered ride-on scraper pairs dual-lift functionality with a high torque, giving extremely high productivity.

reset the market. The specifics of the new technology remain a well-kept secret for now, but contractors should certainly watch this space.

To find out more about concrete profiling, visit www.nationalflooringequipment.com.

National Flooring Equipment does not rely on Velcro for its success but is constantly introducing more recent innovations to its product portfolio. The company is currently working with some of its customers in the US to develop the next generation of surface preparation technology that will

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 29

Latest Technology from CT1 TRIBRID® Technology and the introduction of the Ground Breaking BT1 Ultimate Bathroom Sealant and Adhesive CT1 who were and still are the pioneers in the field of sealants and adhesives, were the people that introduced the Hybrid polymer over 15 years ago, which changed the face of sealant and adhesive manufacturing and marketing. CT1 were the first to introduce a multipurpose sealant and adhesive that replaced several products in 1. This was a sealant that was also a heavy duty adhesive, could work on wet surfaces and even under water.

CT1’s demonstration of the product is legendary, and many competing products have tried and failed to imitate it!

CT1, always leading the way in research and development, never sleeps and as a result have yet again brought the latest technology to the building industry. They have now released technology that no one can match.

Now introducing TRIBRID® Technology!

They have introduced this latest technology in the form of a revolutionary product called BT1. The Ultimate Bathroom Sealant and Adhesive. It’s also the healthiest option.

How? The newly launched TRIBRID® Technology combats all fungus and bacteria. It’s scientifically impossible for bacteria/ microbes to survive, making it easier to maintain a more hygienic surface which is free of solvents and isocyanates. It is the ideal sanitaryware product for use in all public health institutions including hospitals and clinics.

BT1 is the ONLY scientifically developed TRIBRID® Polymer with unique resistance to mould and fungal infestation, therefore creating the healthiest environment. As with CT1 its sister product, BT1 which stands for Bathroom Technology No. 1, also has several accreditations and certificates, making it the healthiest option. Not only that but an ETAG approval for bonding shower panels without mechanical fixings.

This makes it the perfect product for installing shower trays, panels and all sanitaryware with no mould or fungal growth.

Mould and damp caused by bacteria growth especially in the bathroom leads to respiratory problems. Moulds produce allergens, irritants and sometimes toxic substances. Moulds can also cause asthma attacks. Using BT1 with the latest technology in the industry, can now decrease the risk of these attacks in the home.

BT1 is the Healthiest option, it’s the only option! www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kirVUrwWbaY

30 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

SPATEX 2020

SPATEX 2020 – immerse yourself in the expo that illustrates, inspires and informs Now in its 24th year, SPATEX is the UK’s ONLY dedicated water leisure exhibition and is bursting with the very latest products and innovations. It offers you the potential to meet over a thousand people from the water leisure industry in one day. Held at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th January, it is free to attend, and provides developers, architects, specifiers, builders with ALL they need to know about water features, spas, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, enclosures and much more.

Help to develop your ideas - There’s few projects that can’t be enhanced with the addition of water. Whether for artistic effect or leisure, water adds another dimension, both in sound and vision. It literally brings a design to life. SPATEX 2020 promises to show you how it can best be achieved.

Stay abreast of the Industry’s latest innovations - With 100 plus exhibitors, from home and abroad, all of the Industry’s major manufacturers and suppliers will be showcasing their very latest products.

SPATEX covers every conceivable element of wet leisure for both the domestic and commercial sectors.

Learn new skills – SPATEX hosts a double programme of free seminars and workshops on all three days. These offer vital information such as new Standards and Guidance that affect all providers of wet leisure facilities. In Arena 1, the esteemed Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE) is hosting a series of technical workshops and CPD points and a certificate of attendance are available for all attendees. Topics such as the following will be discussed: Arena 1 Tuesday 28th Jan 14.30 – 14.50 Design and Construct Professional Indemnity Insurance Arena 2 Thursday 30th Jan 14.30 – 15.00 Swimming Pools and European Standards Post Brexit Get the green bug - Conscious of climate change, the depletion of the world’s natural resources and the need to reduce the Industry’s dependency on plastic, SPATEX 2020 aims to promote an awareness of the environment. With over a hundred international and domestic exhibitors, there will be lots of new products, including those that support a low energy, low carbon footprint. Talks and demonstrations in the

Show’s seminar and workshop programme will, amongst many other subjects, focus on how we can all play our part in becoming more eco-aware.

Arena 1 Wednesday 29th Jan 11.00 – 11.30 Energy Savings for Your Pool.

Arena 1 Wednesday 29th Jan 13.30 – 13.20 Energy Savings via the Use of Automatic Valves.

Tap into a unique pool of free expertise for your projects - SPATEX 2020 is fortunate to count the Industry’s many esteemed associations amongst its supporting partners. There’s no better place to seek advice from an expert, and all for free!

Registration is FREE at www.spatex.co.uk and view SPATEX’s impressive list of exhibitors and details of the free double seminar and workshop programme. SPATEX 2020 – Tuesday 28th January to Thursday 30th January.

The Ericsson Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry CV6 6GE is easy to get to - just 500 yards off the M6 and within two hours commuting time of 75 per cent of the population, it offers 2,000 free on-site car parking spaces.

Whether for artistic effect or leisure, water adds another dimension, both in sound and vision. It literally brings a design to life. SPATEX 2020 promises to show you how it can best be achieved.

32 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

SPATEX represents all sectors of the wet leisure industry from pools, spas, saunas to hydrotherapy, steam rooms and play equipment, in both the domestic and commercial arena.

More than just an exhibition, SPATEX is also the venue for a free to attend and unrivalled double seminar and workshop programme, hosted by industry associations ISPE, STA, PWTAG and more!

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER FOR FREE VISIT:

WWW.SPATEX.CO.UK OR CALL +44 1264 358558

Latest News

Urgent research is needed into the health of outdoor workers following new data on air pollution British Safety Council welcomes King’s College London’s research demonstrating a direct link between air pollution and health emergencies. More work is now needed on the effects of exposure on outdoor workers New research from King’s College London proves that hundreds of children and adults are needlessly suffering when air pollution levels are higher in nine major English cities. The research shows that hospital admittances related to cardiac arrests, strokes and severe asthma attacks increase during these key periods.

Commenting on the data from King’s College London, Matthew Holder, British Safety Council Head of Campaigns, said: “The more we learn about the health impacts of air pollution, the more concerning it becomes.

The latest research from King’s College London provides evidence that even relatively short-term exposure to air pollution at high levels causes immediate and serious health conditions. At the British Safety Council, a charity focused on occupational issues, we are very concerned about the health of outdoor workers who spend week after week in the ambient environment, breathing in toxic air. Outdoor workers face a potentially higher risk of

heart attacks, strokes and acute asthma than many people who live and work in our cities.”

In March 2019, the British Safety Council launched its Time to Breathe campaign, which is focused on the protection of outdoor workers from air pollution. The cornerstone of the campaign is Canairy, the first mobile app that gives outdoor workers and their employers insights into pollution and how to reduce staff exposure to it. It has been created in co-operation with King’s College London.

Matthew Holder went on to say: “Although Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, said that King’s research provided the evidence of a ‘health emergency’, the government, the regulator and employers are complacent about this risk and are reluctant to take urgent and appropriate action. That is why we launched the Time to Breathe campaign.

“We are calling for: • adoption of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) exposure guidelines for nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and ozone in the UK by 2030, • pollution alerts issued by Defra to reference outdoor workers when necessary and • better measurement of the exposure of workers, as well as comprehensive cohort studies into the health impacts of air pollution.

“Today the Mayor of London is hosting the International Clean Air Summit. Government ministers and business leaders will come together to agree new actions for tackling air pollution.

We hope that the summit will move the agenda of air pollution forward significantly, including acknowledging the serious risks to outdoor workers.”

Future mobility – sustainable, social valueadding and supporting SMEs In a wide-ranging paper produced today by Amey Investments, part of Amey plc, the business highlights how the UK’s mobility sector could and should be. Key challenges are highlighted, and actions proposed if the UK is to develop an enriched mobility sector that works sustainably, delivers social value and supports SMEs including social enterprises.

Mobility is a wide sector, embracing Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure, Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), Mobility as a Service, electric vehicle technology and integrated transport systems. Technology-rich, data-driven and fast-paced, the sector is set to transform all our lives. Yet, there are challenges that could potentially thwart progress.

According to Amey, there is a lack of joined up public policy from central Government despite rapid progress in the technologies underpinning mobility. There is uncertainty in the private sector about its role in investing in mobility. The potential of mobility technologies to exclude people who are less affluent, or technology-savvy must not be ignored. Innovators including SMEs need to be able to trial technologies in a safe environment and the UK needs people with the right skills, knowledge and expertise to deliver a mobility-enabled UK. Commenting, Asif Ghafoor, Managing Director, Amey Investments, said: “We are at the cusp of a new era in public mobility infrastructure. The challenges ahead are daunting but the potential for good infrastructure to tackle the climate emergency, create social value and support technology-rich SMEs and social enterprises has never been greater. No one has all the answers, so the public and private sectors need to work together to solve the big challenges posed by 21st century mobility needs.”

Amongst several proposed actions, Amey Investments calls for: • Clear public policy on mobility from central government but with local and city authorities allowed to shape their mobility strategies according to their own cities’ and towns’ needs • Clear revenue models for investors to be developed that also work for local authorities • Commitment by decision-makers that any technology-rich infrastructure must not exclude people from society based on their location, income, age or physical or mental abilities • Acknowledgement of the significant value that mobility data holds and therefore the need to protect it and make it available on a commercial basis only • Commitment in the private sector to attract and retain the people with the skills and ideas to maintain the mobility revolution.

Continuing, Asif said: “The reward to us as individuals, to businesses, to people delivering public services and to all of society for getting a data and technology-driven mobility sector working well is immense. All of us want less congested towns and cities, clean, healthy air and more sustainable means of getting about. All this is within our grasp, yet we risk it all if action isn’t taken now to tackle head on the pressing challenges faced.”

34 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

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Technology Feature

TECHNOLOGY EXPERT SHARES INDUSTRY SECRETS: SUCCESSFUL WEBSITES Here a professional with over 21 years of experience in the industry, shares insider secrets to making your construction company website a leader in the current marketplace.

be looking for. Is it mentioned specifically on the homepage or in the navigation of your website? You have just a few seconds to provide what they are looking for, before they walk away.

With rapidly changing technology, and Google’s ever moving goalposts, successful construction websites have had to adapt to changes, in order to be successful where others have been left behind. What must you do to keep up?

The same applies to your contact details.

Put them at the top of every page.

Firstly it is important to understand that your website plays a much more important role in today’s world than you may have realised. Whether we like it or not, your customers will judge your quality of work by your website, often Googling your reputation.

Have you noticed less enquiries from your website recently? Why is this? Have you tried to look at your website on your mobile phone? Did you find it either had tiny writing, or didn’t fit the screen of your phone? Then your website is not fully mobile & tablet compatible. Why change this immediately?

The fact is, If your competitor has a more professional website, you are going to lose the work.

How do you get your next big client without losing them to your competitor? It is vital to present a professional image of your company online. How though?

Take a fresh look at your website through the eyes of a client. More importantly, check it on your mobile phone, how does your website look on your mobile? Is it designed for mobile users, if not you are losing work as we speak!

Look for the service that your client would

The secret is to make it as easy and quick for people to find what they are looking for as possible.

If your website is not fully mobile compatible then Google will simply not show it to people searching from mobile phones or tablets. It is estimated at around 70% or more regarding the number of Google searches from mobiles verses those searching Google using “old fashioned” desktop computers, which your current failing website was probably designed for.

As you have seen this makes your website essentially useless for a customer on a mobile phone or tablet, and they will find a competitors website that does work on their phone. In some cases where a website was built using very old technology like

38 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

Flash, it may even not show on a mobile at all. Usually where calls and enquiries from your website have dried up, if your website isn’t mobile compatible, Google have stopped showing it to people.

How can a local construction company get to the top of Google without spending thousands to do it?

Try searching for “construction companies” in Google. You will see a map & 3 local companies listed. Notice they are above the main listings. You can get listed by opening a company account on Google places & Inviting your customers to post reviews for you on that listing.

It is very important that you provide every bit of information that they have asked for.

Including photos, videos, opening times, social media accounts, phone numbers and your website. List all your services individually.

Many people don’t realise that although Google’s social media platform “Google+” closed, Google have quietly moved many of the features to Google Places. So you can post articles and other content to your Google Places listing now. All of this helps to get you listed higher, you are aiming to be among the top 3. Use your keywords in your listing.

To blog or not to blog? There is no doubt that adding a blog to your website can help you to rank well and make your website interesting. However, if you do add a blog you must update it regularly at least once every few weeks. Otherwise you would be better off not having one.

This professional advice will prevent your business from being left behind.

“It’s Not What You Know It’s Who You Know” The construction industry, by its very nature, has been seen as an “oldfashioned” industry, especially when it comes to embracing new technology and to sales or new business creation.

The old adage of it’s not what you know but who you know is commonplace in our industry, but that helping hand from technology can put you one step ahead of your competitors.

Unlike other industries, there is a huge interdependency in construction; between architects, suppliers, contractors and workers, and it is the relationships between these groups which ultimately decides who gets the job.

Shifting the culture of the industry to embrace digital technology is a tall order, and one which Lincolnshire-based firm, Live Lead, is tackling through it’s easy-to-use on-line, sales lead generation service.

Imagine being able to expand your network of valuable decision-makers with a few simple clicks. How about being able to find every live planning application in the UK and being able to easily narrow them down to the ones that have potential for your business?

Well, now you can.

From the start - the premise of Live Lead, was simple.

We make it really quick and easy to find the correct contacts and upcoming projects that are applicable to you.

Jason Kay, Co-Founder of Live Lead says “we knew that the only way to go was to use a “know, like and trust” approach in our technology which puts the ‘human’ element first in the sales lead generation process. Our uncomplicated digital service and our more personal approach matches today’s need for better relationships, with new people and opportunities to tender for work. After all, people buy from people!”

In this way, the use of technology still keeps that “personal” edge and does ensure that it is all about “who you know”, but makes sure those people are the ones looking for your products/services.

After all, we all hate driving past one of our competitor’s jobs wishing we had known about it earlier! LiveLead makes sure you no longer miss out.

With many more product developments planned, you could say LiveLead is the cement between the bricks!

Gareth Alexander, Co-Founder of LiveLead believes developing new sales leads while embracing digital technology should not compromise the personal service your business strives to deliver. He says:

“Our development of #salestech is simple and straightforward. Not only is it easy to use for our customers, but it also doesn’t compromise their traditional approach to new contacts. We often find that SMEs are frustrated by the lack of opportunities afforded to them, especially when dealing with established consortiums and relationships within the industry.”

So can you afford to become a construction industry dinosaur, or do you embrace digital technology to give your business that helping hand to widen your network and fill your pipeline?

Let us help you grow your business by making Sales Leads Easy. #salestech www.livelead.co.uk

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 39

Looking for great construction and engineering candidates?

Here’s how to hire for free When you’re looking for the perfect construction and engineering candidates, you want to find a recruitment provider with the skills and knowledge to help bring you the right people. Sadly, most recruiters aren’t qualified to adequately evaluate the technical industry-related skills of potential hires, not to mention that many of them are just trying to make a sale. This can be extremely frustrating and costly for your business and can make hiring new employees feel like a real challenge.

Many businesses are quick to try and make a sale these days and the quality of their service can suffer as a result. Thankfully, providers like Manx International Project Services understand the struggles that construction and engineering organisations are facing and they know that the right resources are the key to a strong recruitment strategy.

That’s why in order to show that they’re invested in helping you to find talented professionals, they’re offering a free placement scheme to kick-start your hiring efforts.

In a nutshell, Manx International is a recruitment provider offering its services to construction and engineering organisations across the globe. The team vows to provide tailored advice and resourcing services that are costeffective and deliver the best possible results.

With over 200 years of combined industry experience they really do know what they’re talking about and they’re able to apply this knowledge when reviewing candidates and checking their credentials.

Why is it so important to find the right recruitment provider in the Construction & Engineering sector?

Finding the right recruitment provider is vital for a number of reasons. Firstly, it can save you time reviewing and interviewing candidates who are simply not qualified for your vacancies. What’s more, a good provider can help to reduce your average time to hire and cut down the overall costs of recruitment in your business. Sounds like a win-win, right?

That’s why Manx International promises to be the right resource for your business, helping you to find the perfect construction and engineering candidates.

So who are Manx International Project Services?

In a nutshell, Manx International is a recruitment provider offering its services to construction and engineering organisations across the globe. The team vows to provide tailored advice and resourcing services that are cost-

40 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

effective and deliver the best possible results. With over 200 years of combined industry experience they really do know what they’re talking about and they’re able to apply this knowledge when reviewing candidates and checking their credentials.

How can they help you to hire for free?

Now let’s get into the really exciting part - how they can help you to hire for free.

The team at Manx International are so confident in their ability to understand the individual needs of your business and to get the right candidates to interview, that they’re offering a free permanent placement scheme. If you sign up, they will provide you with suitable candidates from their database, all of which will have undergone rigorous checks and a professional interview. If you then make a permanent placement through their scheme, you will not be charged for a placement fee. This is a great way to test their resourcing services at a costsaving to you company.

What’s more, not only will your successful placement be free, but you can guarantee you’ll find the very best candidates, as each individual is professionally evaluated before they qualify for acceptance on the Manx International database. Quality and great service really is at the forefront of everything they do, so why not give it a go and try out Manx International free permanent placement scheme today by going to https://manxinternationalprojectservices.co.uk/ freeplacement

THE EVIDENCE FOR REFURBISHMENT IS CLEAR TRANSFORM YOUR BUILDING, UPDATE YOUR ROOFLIGHTS. Increasing the levels of natural light and reducing reliance on artificial light creates many benefits:

• Improves the health and wellbeing and productivity of the occupants in the building • Improves internal and external safety for people accessing the building • More natural light means more difficult visual tasks can be performed

• Produces savings in ongoing energy costs • Impacts positively on the carbon emissions of the building • Improves the aesthetic appearance of the building • Can increase the property’s asset value

LO W CAR BO N GR P DAY LI GHT SOLUTIONS

CONTACT US FOR A COPY OF OUR REFURBISHMENT GUIDE BROCHURE

DISCOVER MORE: WWW.HAMBLESIDE-DANELAW.CO.UK/ZENON-ROOFLIGHTS T: 01327 701 920 E: SALES@HAMBLESIDE-DANELAW.CO.UK

SEE THE LIGHT IN INDUSTRIAL ROOFS Have you seen the light?

Hambleside Danelaw’s Zenon rooflights bring a unique set of benefits to the construction process, whether new build or refurbishment, that “ticks the boxes” in delivering an improved carbon footprint and reduced emissions.

The benefits apply to both new build and refurbishment: remember, according to the UK Green Building Council, 80% of UK buildings in 2050 – the target date for carbon neutrality- are already built: refurbishment will be key to reducing carbon emissions and thus avoiding potential costly penalties.

Zenon GRP rooflights are the only ones of their kind to deliver tangible points towards BREEAM accreditation, be it new build, fit out or refurbishment(*). Factory assembled rooflights constructed from Evolution GRP weathersheet with Insulator core not only reduce the need for supplementary heating and lighting within the building thereby reducing carbon emissions, but, innovatively, themselves offer low embodied carbon.

Zenon rooflights can also be laid across the roof to enable integration between PV panels and even green roofs, further optimising the carbon benefits.

Independent research commissioned by the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM) further indicates that the accepted ratio of rooflight to roof of 10% can be increased to 15% improve carbon emissions, with 12% rooflight area being accepted now as the optimum balance.

There are safety benefits too. Zenon Evolution GRP sheet, if used as a liner, can accelerate the roofing process, as it is designated as a Class B non fragile system as part of a metal roof assembly thus making the roof weathertight before the upper layers are completed.

Once included, GRP rooflights give excellent light transmission into the internal space below, providing a diffused light. This naturally illuminates a wider floor area than the direct light yielded by polycarbonate or glass, and avoids sharp contrast in the transition between light and dark with all the corresponding potential for trip hazards, or accidents when operating machinery.

“Zenon GRP rooflights provide a win: win solution. The combination of Zenon Evolution GRP and Insulator core with gives excellent light, yields a U value as low as 0.9W/m2K, and in addition can give an embodied carbon figure as low as 14kg CO2e/m2,” explains William McDowell, National Business Development

Manager- Zenon @ Hambleside Danelaw.

“The high strength of the Zenon Evolution sheet will also give a minimum service life of 30 years, and, when installed as part of a metal roof system, is capable of giving a non-fragility period of 30 years.”

“Any slight incremental materials cost is more than offset by the operating savings in running and maintenance costs- balancing the Whole Life Value (WLV); indeed, depending on the configuration, there may be no additional cost for achieving a better carbon footprint. It makes the building an attractive proposition for the owners and occupiers- now and in the long term.”

The theories are proven in practice too, as demonstrated on numerous sites, including a distribution centre in Warrington. Phil Seaton, Operations Director at contractor High Access Maintenance Ltd observed, “The impact on the natural daylight internally is substantial. Both client and landlord are thrilled with the results.”

Full details of the case study can be found here: https://www.hambleside-danelaw. co.uk/case-studies/a-whole-new-lightrefurbishment-using-zenon-evolution Find out more at https://www.hamblesidedanelaw.co.uk/zenon-rooflights.

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 41

Project

Shell Centre Redevelopment: Southbank Place London’s South Bank is set to be transformed by a unique mixed-use development with the famous Shell Centre Tower at its heart.

Joint venture developers Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar are working together to revitalise the area with high quality architecture and much improved public spaces.

A mix of offices, homes and retail space will integrate with open and attractive public areas, while new pedestrian routes will connect nearby Waterloo Station with the South Bank of the River Thames. A widened Chicheley Street will open up the approach to the London Eye, while a city square at the heart of the scheme will provide open space and help people move around the area.

The well-known Shell Centre Tower will remain the centrepiece of the new site. The Tower will be complemented by eight new buildings, one of which will incorporate new offices and trading floors for Shell.

Approximately 530,000 sq ft of office space, along with around 48,000 sq ft new retail units, restaurants and cafĂŠs, will be accompanied by approximately to 877 new homes, including affordable housing.

The development is planned for completion in 2019.

The proposals for the development incorporate a highly efficient energy centre which will reduce the carbon footprint of the site.

Canary Wharf Contractors are Design and Construction Managers for the project.

Architects

Squire and Partners, KPF, GRID, Patel Taylor and Stanton Williams

Structural Engineers

WSP

Areas

530,000 sq ft office accommodation. 480,00 sq ft retail units. 800,000 sq ft residential units.

Completion

2019

42 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

Project

Kier completes Global Innovation Centre in Didcot Kier has completed and handed over the new Global Centre of Innovation at Infineum’s UK headquarters, near Didcot. To celebrate the opening of the new multimillion-pound centre, Kier representatives attended a ceremony alongside key employees from Infineum.

The new 33,500ft² centre delivers the necessary infrastructure to support Infineum’s technology leadership to enable improved innovation. It has generated more than 50 new jobs for talented chemists and engineers and includes new laboratories for research and development, collaborative meeting spaces, office space and a new restaurant.

Mark Pausey, managing director at Kier Regional Building Central, said: “We have worked closely and collaboratively with Infineum for the duration of the build. As with all of our projects, we have prioritised safety at every aspect of the build, employing a full-time safety manager and working closely with the clients team of safety professionals.

“We are thrilled to be handing this project over, allowing innovation to thrive and employees to research and develop new products in Infineum’s brand-new high spec laboratories.”

Laura Salamon, project manager at Infineum, said:

We at Infineum are extremely proud of our new global Centre of Innovation, which is a state-of-the-art new building encompassing new laboratories for research and development equipped with the latest technologies, a variety of collaborative meeting spaces with innovative design throughout, offices and a new restaurant for all employees and visitors.

We have received universal enthusiastic praise from all our colleagues about the high quality of the finishes and how well the space was designed, meeting all the project deliverables.

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019 43

Safety Feature

Worry-not this Winter: Five Simple Solutions for Site Safety

By Andrew Egerton, Head of Category Tools and General Maintenance Brammer Buck & Hickman To ensure the best health and safety practice on your site this winter, we’ve identified five simple outdoor health and safety solutions you can implement during this cold, dark season.

Sprinkle liberally… Don’t wait for ice and snow to form before de-icing your site.

Spreading salt beforehand prevents freezing occurring, making for a more effective approach to site safety. To avoid wastage and ensure all areas are evenly covered, consider using a salt spreader.

Rain, rain go away… Winter weather hazards aren’t just about snow and ice; you’ll also need to consider the increase in rainfall too.

That means there’s increased risk of slips and falls on wet walkways, paths and sites.

Combat this by investing in entry matting and boots with non-slip rubber soles. Particularly popular are non-metallic lightweight boots with waterproof and breathable lining, hardwearing outsole and anti-static and slipresistant properties.

Keep warm… Just because you’re working outdoors doesn’t mean you can’t keep warm.

Keep the Christmas jumper at home and

instead invest in outdoor workwear. Unlike standard sweatshirts, ensure your new piece of kit has a close fit around the hem, cuffs and neck and is triple stitched on all main seams for ultimate strength. A brushed fleece inner is particularly good for warmth, comfort and breathability Get a Grip… Gloves are a must in winter and not just to keep hands warm, but also to provide grip in wet or icy conditions. Gloves that feature a thermal lining and outer made from leather or artificial leather are ideal.

See… With days getting shorter and nights longer, make sure staff working on site can see by using efficient and effective lights.

For this, rechargeable LED Flood Lights are popular for outside use. Ensure your floodlights are rated to IP 65, meaning they’re water and dust resistant. You might also want to consider a product with no cable (thus reducing trip hazards) as well as one which is portable (with non-slip rubber feet) so can be moved to where they are most needed. Be sure to also check the operation

44 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

time; a standard rechargeable floodlight should last up to five hours before charging is needed. …And be seen. You will need different types and styles of Hi-Vis PPE depending on the kinds of tasks performed onsite. A high vis jacket is essential and often a compulsory health and safety onsite requirement. To get the most out a high vis jacket, select one which features a 4-in-1 design. Popular for winter work, a standard 4-in-1 jacket offers four combinations: lightweight outer, outer with a body warmer combined, wear-alone body warmer and reverse colour body warmer. This feature alone means the jacket is highly adaptable to all weather conditions and provides full wearer visibility in low light conditions.

So, this winter, don’t get caught out in the cold, ensure you and your team have the right PPE to get the job done. If you’re looking for the best advice or products on PPE no matter the season, contact Brammer Buck & Hickman on 08450 510 150

Safety Feature KNEE AND BODY PROTECTION FROM REDBACKS CUSHIONING Redbacks Cushioning Limited, developers of the award winning, ‘Leaf-Spring’ cushioning technology offers a range of products to help protect the knees and body from damage caused by kneeling

support; traditional foam or gel solutions create point-pressure which focus the force or energy to a point which is then transmitted back into the knee joint and beyond.

The Redbacks Pocket Kneepad, specifically designed to fit work trousers, features a flexible leaf-spring held within a thermoplastic honeycomb matrix which unlike foam or gel ensures a high compression rate and 100% recovery to its original shape.

Easy to slide in and curved to fit comfortably around the knee, the waterresistant pads which conform to CE EN14404 Type 2 Level 1 help to protect against possible injury from sharp objects, wick away sweat and provide thermal protection from warm or cold surfaces; they are machine washable at 30°c and 100% recyclable.

This combination and the inherent ‘memory’ aspect gives unique controlled weight distribution; the deceleration of pressure protects both the knees and body from potentially damaging impact forces and gives long lasting, anti-fatigue

For more information visit www.redbackscushioning.com email: sales@redbackscushioning.com or telephone: 01327 702104

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD WITH ENGEL ‘SAFETY’ No matter what the job, if it involves working out in the open, day or night or whatever the weather, it’s important to be easily seen. Engel Workwear offers a comprehensive collection of water and wind resistant, high-visibility, protective outerclothing which caters for almost every work situation helping wearers to keep both safe and comfortable whatever the circumstances.

Made from fluorescent Polyester or Polyester and cotton mix suitable for industrial laundering and all fully complying with European and International safety and protection standards, the Engel ‘Safety’ range consists

of jackets, trousers, bib-overalls, boiler suits, safety vests, sweat shirts and for the warmer months, T shirts and shorts.

But to be prepared for colder snaps, especially whilst working during the night, the COMBINE shell jackets with an inner zip-up layer give added warmth.

Available in all sizes with many of the items specifically designed to be especially comfortable for women, the Engel Workwear ‘SAFETY’ collection is available predominantly in fluorescent orange or yellow with ‘LOXY’ reflector bands for maximum visibility.

For more details visit: www.engel.eu/en or contact Gareth Bladen at gbl@f-engel.com or on +44(0) 7759 520034

Construction Magazine - End of YearUK Review 2019 - End of Year Review 2019 45 xx Construction UK Magazine

Project (l-r) Prof Jill Pell, Neil McLean (Atkins), Prof Sir Anton Muscatelli.

Construction begins on Clarice Pears Building Construction has started on the Clarice Pears Building, the third major new building delivered through the University of Glasgow’s Campus Development Programme.

The £50 million facility will be a new home for the University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, bringing together staff working in 10 different sites across the city.

Designed by Atkins, construction is due to complete in summer 2021.

It will help the Institute prevent ill-health and reduce health inequalities. It will facilitate more opportunities for networking and collaboration, foster closer links with partner organisations and stakeholders, and be a forum for public engagement.

The ground floor will be publicly accessible and dedicated to knowledge exchange and widening participation.

study of health and wellbeing at Glasgow and positively influencing our impact on the city of Glasgow, Scotland and the world. It will bring academics and support staff together under one roof, supporting world-changing research, while allowing us to expand our knowledge exchange and stakeholder activities, maximising how our work translates into policy and practice.”

Director of the Institute of Health & Wellbeing, Professor Jill Pell, said: “After a lot of hard work moving through the design and planning stages, we are pleased to begin construction on the Clarice Pears Building. This will be a landmark building, revolutionising the

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow said: “This is a very welcome moment for the Institute of Health & Wellbeing and the University of Glasgow. This project creates the facilities which will underline our

46 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2019

status as a leading institution in the study of health and wellbeing, improving health and tackling inequalities in Scotland and around the world.”

Architect David Ross from designers Atkins, said, “It has been a pleasure working with the Institute over the last two years to realise their ambitions for their new building.

The building will allow the Institute to build on the excellent work they already do by providing a new working environment that will support wider collaboration and public engagement.”

The building was named, following a £5 million donation from the Pears Foundation.

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