Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

MAY 2020

CONSTRUCTIONMAGUK.CO.UK

MONSTER-MESH

Construction Branding

Winvic Construction

Hands Over Keys to Specialist Aerospace Manufacturing Facility in Coventry

ALIMAK

CONSTRUCTION HOISTS AND WORK PLATFORMS

Smart Cities: Solutions for developing more sustainable urbanization

NATIONAL FLOORING EQUIPMENT

BIKBBI CONFIRM NEW APPRENTICESHIP PARTNERSHIP

SURFACE PREPARATION EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER RELEASES NEW SHOT BLASTER

A New Era of Connected Construction Introducing Autodesk Construction CloudTM, uniting office and field teams from design to planning, construction to operations to help make construction more predictable, safe and sustainable.

Learn more at: autodesk.com/construction UK: +44 8081 892253

Contents May 2020

04

Get Britain building quality masonry homes, says Besblock MD

05

Amey Consulting pilots innovative dam sensor technology

06

Winvic Construction hands over keys to specialist facility

10

Smart Cities: Solutions for developing more sustainable urbanization

12

Interview: Construction UK Magazine speaks with PJ Farr, MD of UK Connect

14

Envirovent celebrates winning innovative product award

18

DeTrafford Development to Feature One-of-a-Kind Roof Garden

21

How to prepare your excavator for Spring

23

Midlands contractor secures place on ÂŁ500m higher education framework

24

BiKBBI confirm new Apprenticeship Partnership

26

Willmott Dixon lands agri-food R&D development in Lincolnshire

27

Green light for redevelopment of 840 Old Kent Road

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Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 03

Company News

GET BRITAIN BUILDING QUALITY MASONRY HOMES, SAYS BESBLOCK MD Using British produced masonry homes is “vital” to plans by the Housing Secretary to shake-up the country’s planning system and create more quality houses, says the Managing Director of leading concrete block manufacturer Besblock.

Andrew Huxley is in favour of Robert Jenrick MP’s proposals to get Britain building, by making a series of key changes to the planning system, but wants there to be a deeper consideration of the method of building.

The announcement follows a package of measures announced in yesterday’s Budget to help more people onto the housing ladder by building more quality affordable homes and speeding up the planning process to deliver the 300,000 homes a year the country needs.

There will be more help for those that want to build their own home and for parish councils and neighbourhood forums wanting to build a small number of homes that will allow their community to grow.

“Of course we are in favour of any help out there to keep the house building industry moving,” said Andrew. “But when we talk about the quality of build then we really do need to consider masonry and traditional house building methods.

According to the Building Alliance masonry construction has a design life of at least 150 years, creating a built environment for future generations.

“This compares with timber and steel building systems which have a design life of 60 years.”

Besblock, which is based in Shropshire, has invested millions across all of its departments over recent years to expand the business and enable block deliveries to go further afield, currently the firm’s fleet of lorries travel more than 840,000kms during their deliveries, unloading an average of 1,261 tonnes a day.

DERBYSHIRE BASED ECOLOGY CONSULTANCY OBTAINS 7TH GREAT CRESTED NEWT LOW IMPACT CLASS LICENCE A Director of Derbyshire based ecology consultancy RammSanderson has obtained and completed mitigation for his 7th Great Crested Newt Low Impact Class Licence (LICL). The licence holder is Director Nick Sanderson, who is one of only c.60 qualified ecologists in the UK to be accredited to issue these types of licences.

The purpose of the Low Impact Class Licence is to help reduce the licensing burden for projects which will have a low impact on the conservation status of a site. Nick is able to register a site for licence works within 10 working days when it meets the Low Impact Class Criteria

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The latest licence has been granted for a flood alleviation scheme in Leicestershire.

Through close collaboration with the client team and subcontract base we were able to devise and innovative scheme of mitigation. In this instance we were able to use Sniffer Dogs as Great Crested Newt detectors in order to streamline the translocation process offering significant cost savings and avoiding unnecessary exclusion measures using plastic amphibian fencing.

Commenting, Nick Sanderson said, “Other consultants are hesitant to use low impact class licences because they don’t fully understand the minute detail of the law. Due to our expertise and knowledge of these species and

Company News the habitats they prefer, we know when a low impact licence can be utilised. We find them an incredibly powerful tool in enabling licence developments works to proceed without the delays normally associated with applying for other licences.”

A normal licence can take up to six months to be granted, but because Nick has achieved Natural England ‘Earned Recognition” under LICL, the company is allowed to use its expert judgement to determine which licence is most applicable.

However, RammSanderson is always open to an internal audit and therefore have to be certain that all conditions will be met.

The six other sites on which RammSanderson has successfully obtained a low impact licence include: • School Expansion in Streatham • Residential development in Long Clawson, Leicestershire • New Training Academy for a utilities firm in Warwickshire • Railway Embankment Stabilisation in Worcestershire • Utilities Installation, Warwickshire • Road Widening Scheme in Tyne and Wear

Other consultants are hesitant to use low impact class licences because they don’t fully understand the minute detail of the law. Due to our expertise and knowledge of these species and the habitats they prefer, we know when a low impact licence can be utilised. We find them an incredibly powerful tool in enabling licence developments works to proceed without the delays normally associated with applying for other licences.

Great crested newts spend the majority of their lives on land, but migrate to water in the spring to breed. Females lay their eggs on the submerged leaves of aquatic plants. Great crested newts will typically travel up to 500m from a breeding pond.

However, this distance is dependent upon a number of factors including the quality of the habitat surrounding the pond and if the newts are migrating in which case distances may be less or more.

When a low impact licence is applied, RammSanderson is able to screen off the pond and use sniffer dogs to locate any newts in the nearby area. Once all newts are captured they can be successfully re-located to another area and ensure the development site is newt free.

AMEY CONSULTING PILOTS INNOVATIVE DAM SENSOR TECHNOLOGY Sensor technology, used in conjunction with satellites, is being used to enhance monitoring of a North East reservoir dam, following a successful pilot project.

Amey Consulting’s innovative pilot for Northumbrian Water, at Burnhope Reservoir in Weardale, County Durham, explored how real-time measuring of dam movements could benefit the water industry and other operators.

Today, all dams are built to move and shift by small amounts as the reservoir levels rise and fall during the course of the year. Monitoring of movement is checked as part of regular inspections carried out in line with the Reservoirs Act 1975. However, the pilot has shown how measurements taken in real-time can be transmitted via the cloud to Northumbrian Water’s control room, so that, in the unlikely event of movement exceeding agreed thresholds, remedial actions can be taken to avoid a safety issue from arising.

A series of 84 sensors were placed on the dam wall, transmitting triaxial tilt measurements to a cloud server to establish sub-millimetre movements in the structure. This precise movement was verified using open access satellite data (interferometry) to give reassurance of vertical settlement.

The pilot was implemented thanks to Government funding through InnovateUK, awarded to Amey Consulting for the monitoring of critical infrastructure.

Kevin Miller, Northumbrian Water’s Reservoir Safety Manager, said: “Just like aeroplane wings move to provide stability

and safety in-flight, dam walls shift to a varying degree, depending upon the size and scale of the structure. However, it is important to know how much they are moving, to make sure they are operating correctly and that there are no safety issues.

This pilot, which ran over the course of a year, showed that this can be done by the minute. This means we have access to real time data which will inform when maintenance is required. Using the sensors, we were able to measure sub-millimetre movements, in line with what we expect to see. With the reservoir full, there was a 50mm shift and we saw that return to its original position as levels lowered again.”

Matthew Watt, Amey Consulting’s Innovation Manager, said: “Stepping from a more traditional monitoring approach, towards one which is essentially gathering data 24/7 significantly enhances the understanding of dam movement. People tend not to realise how much these assets can move all year round. Working with Northumbrian Water through this project, we have learnt a great deal of the behaviour of embankment dams, whilst verifying the accuracy and reliability of our hybrid data-source. Using the system installed at Northumbrian Water’s Burnhope Reservoir, we intend to tailor the outputs of this project towards the exact requirements of the UK Water sector. The appetite for innovation is clearly healthy in the water sector and that is a very encouraging message to the UK’s service provider in these fields.”

Amey Consulting is now working with Northumbrian Water to identify value opportunities on the reservoir asset stock, with a view to enhancing the understanding of dam behaviour and supporting proactive asset management.

Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 05

Company News

WINVIC CONSTRUCTION HANDS OVER KEYS TO SPECIALIST AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN COVENTRY Meggitt PLC and developer Manse Opus mark completion of £44 million flagship unit Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor specialising in industrial, multiroom and commercial projects, including turnkey solutions, took part in an official ceremony on Monday, 2 March to hand over the keys to a £44 million industrial unit at Ansty Park, Coventry. Winvic began the construction and fit-out contract for Manse Opus in October 2018 and now international aerospace, defence and energy engineering group Meggitt PLC will be utilising the 495,000 sq ft manufacturing and test facility as its global headquarters.

Winvic worked with architect firm Michael Sparks Associates to deliver a prominent and high-quality design where sustainability was baked in. The project has achieved ‘A+ EPC and BREEAM ‘Very Good’ ratings, comprising elements such as a rainwater harvesting system and 167,000 sq ft of photovoltaic – or solar – panels.

Additionally, bespoke local air extraction and heating system has been employed in the manufacturing hall.

Notable elements that have been designed to an elevated specification include a fullheight glass atrium area where striking 3x1m floor tiles have been utilised; the front of the building – which houses the main offices – is also completely glazed.

The open plan interiors of the main and hub office spaces – over two storeys – boast elegant glass divisions and unusual colour coordinated, wall to floor tiles. In addition, the high-spec professional kitchen and restaurant can cater for over 700 people.

• 1775 tonnes of rolled steel used • 17,500 cubed metres of concrete foundations • 30,500 sq ft glazing • 108,000 sq ft cladding • 452,000 sq ft roofing • 167,000 sq ft solar panels • 750 car parking spaces • 28 electric vehicle charging points with circa 225 more spaces readied for charging point installation • 148,000 sq ft yard space • Multiple stores and gatehouse Early fit-out access commenced in September 2019 when Winvic enhanced the base build with CAT A, B and C elements. Winvic will remain on site until the end of September 2020 to undertake the remaining CAT C fit-out in the manufacturing hall for Meggitt, which comprises installing circa 1,400 machines and custom-made enclosures.

Winvic Operations Manager, Dave Roberts, said: “From pre-construction discussions to the final elements of the complex fitout, this project has been a great example

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of partnership working between a main contractor, client and end-user; it has been a joy to work closely with Manse Opus and Meggitt and to share the same visions of quality, commercial viability and first-rate design.

It’s not only an attractive manufacturing facility, inside and out, but it is also environmentally efficient and cost effective to operate due to thousands of feet of solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system. We look forward to the final months where we will install the specialist machinery for Meggitt and we hope to work with both companies again in the future, exceeding expectations in the industrial sector once again.

Richard Smith, Opus Land Joint Managing Director, added: “We feel privileged to have been appointed to develop such a world leading manufacturing and head office facility for a company of Meggitt’s standing and are delighted at the quality of the Winvic build and the professionalism of their on-site team.”

Jonathan Fletcher from Meggitt, commented: “It was only two and a half years ago we identified the site which allows us to bring together a number of operations and to include a new Global HQ. The Winvic and Manse Opus teams have adapted to our business needs and helped us to deliver this fantastic looking building so we can now start the first phase or our transition at the end of March.”

Case Study Bespoke Fibrelite Trench Covers Provide HeavyDuty Replacement for ‘Unfit’ GRP Grating over Precast Concrete Troughs As we all face this unprecedented and challenging time, radically adapting our working and personal lives, we first want to state our heartfelt gratitude to the frontline workers who are out there every day helping to keep us safe and essential services running: our doctors, nurses, supermarket workers, delivery drivers, and many many more; including those involved in essential construction.

Fibrelite covers were manufactured at load ratings appropriate to their location

All Fibrelite covers have an anti-slip/skid tread pattern Vehicles operating onsite can now traverse the covers

This case study tells the story of a project completed before the lockdown went into place, where Fibrelite designed and engineered bespoke GRP trench access covers to fit previously installed precast concrete troughs, replacing GRP grating which had been identified as unfit for the demands of the site.

Problem The previously installed GRP grating onsite was originally supplied as a complete package by a PCC trough supplier, together with their precast concrete trough units, but after installation it had become apparent that the grating was unsuitable for the requirements of this site.

Key issues: • Grating was unsuitable for sustained loading • Vehicular access had to be restricted, having an adverse effect on site operations

Fibrelite trench covers were retrofitted into existing precast concrete trenches

The customer required a high-performance replacement which could be delivered and made operational as quickly as possible.

Previously installed GRP grating was originally supplied together with the precast concrete troughs

Solution Fibrelite designed and engineered bespoke trench access covers to fit directly into the existing troughs. Covers were supplied in load ratings of D400 and A15, as appropriate to their location. The D400 load rated covers were stepped from 101.6mm deep to 50mm deep in order to accommodate both the existing rebate and required D400 load rating.

Key features of Fibrelite access covers for this project: • Strength-to-weight ratio. All trench access covers can be safely removed manually whilst strong enough to withstand sustained loading • Load rating tested; BSI approved • Anti-slip/skid tread pattern • Corrosion-resistant: unaffected by water, underground gasses and most chemicals Results James House gained the required health and safety certification, and has a maintenance-free safe trench covering solution which will continue to perform for years to come.

For more case studies, visit the Fibrelite website Previously installed GRP grating was unsuitable for sustained loading

The client required a higher performance replacement

Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 07

BT1 - GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY IN RESISTING E. COLI AND MRSA In times of heightened health risks and being cautious of what we put into our homes, it is now the time take a more in depth look at BT1, the latest technology from CT1 and making sure we always use the healthiest choice in our homes and new builds.

In an era of uncertainty and high tension due to COVID-19, we are concerned about the health of our nation and home dwellers. Not only that, but those in clinics, schools, and hospitals where the most vulnerable are.

CT1 which is the UK’s Number 1 Sealant and Adhesive, is the healthiest choice for the home. Boasting over 25 accreditations, this makes CT1 the healthiest choice for your home.

CT1 has an EC1 certification for the lowest emissions, A+ Green, which is awarded for lowest indoor emissions green rated, Green ISO standard and the most unique accreditation and highly accredited, is The Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association.

The NAAF logo is highly sought after and one of the hardest accreditations to receive.

The association test and awards products on their ability to reduce asthma and allergy attacks in the home, and CT1 The Snag List Eliminator has been awarded this. CT1 is the only sealant and adhesive globally to achieve this – a label recognised globally as the highest in its authority for advising and testing of products that reduce asthma and allergy in the home.

CT1 with a unique TRIBRID® formulation has no solvents and is also the most user-friendly sealant and adhesive to use with no odour. CT1 also has an ISEGA food certificate.

But never to rest on their laurels, CT1 who lead the way in research and development for the building industry, realised a massive gap in the market for a unique product for the bathroom only. One which creates a clinically clean bathroom! On testing and developing the product, the lab tests came back with some unique results.

BT1 Bathroom Sealant Number 1, which has been created to completely fight off bacteria, fungus, and all pesticides. This ground-breaking technology was formulated

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over a 4-year period and vigorous testing has created the highest spec sealant on the market to date.

BT1 has a guarantee of colour retention, for up to 25 years. It has been scientifically formulated in a manner in which bacteria/ microbes cannot survive, making it easier to maintain a more hygienic surface free from solvents and isocyanates. This makes it the ideal sanitaryware product and a product for all public health institutions and clinics.

The real breakthrough that is most prevalent at such a time of the spread of infections and high-risk level contagious disease, is that BT1 has also been proven to resist microbes such as MRSA, E. coli and Campylobacter.

This has changed the way in which clinics and hospitals will now protect their surface areas and indeed for the construction of new builds!

Hospitals such as Solihull Hospital in Birmingham, Good Hope Hospital in Sutton amongst a few other institutions are now using BT1 for facility repair and maintenance work, for creating a healthier environment.

Many factories in food processing and handling are also now using this groundbreaking product.

BT1 from the creators of CT1.

Sustainability

Smart Cities: Solutions for developing more sustainable urbanization

By Jonathan Bailey – Director, Business Transformation, Dassault Systèmes This past month, we celebrated World Engineering Day to highlight the achievements of engineers in our modern world and improve the public understanding of the role engineering and technology play in our lives. From creating all the inventions that have radically changed the way we live, work and entertain ourselves, to making the world a more sustainable place.

This event is particularly important as we enter the Industry Renaissance, a new era where the physical and virtual worlds mix together seamlessly. From the way we design our vehicles to our clothes and even do clinical trials to test out new medicine, this blend of the virtual with the physical is impacting every industry. And one such area is city planning.

The global population is expected to reach 9.7bn by 2050 and two-thirds will live in urban areas. And by 2030 alone, the world is projected to have 43 megacities with more than 10 million inhabitants, up from 33 currently. However, some of the fastest-growing urban agglomerations are cities with up to 1 million inhabitants are predicted to account for half of all urban citizens.

So, with this soaring global population, vast numbers of people are living in cities that are decades or centuries old, built for much smaller populations with very different needs. This puts a strain on resources, and puts our environment at risk: for example, many cities still rely on infrastructure that is wasting resources such as land, water and energy; and makes cities harder to manage logistically. Having said that, demand for housing and higher expectations around the new urban landscape presents an opportunity to review long-term plans for addressing social, economic and

environmental challenges to make our cities more open, more welcoming and more sustainable.

‘Smart’ city planning Smart city initiatives offer the potential to anticipate and plan for more robust, more connected and more digital urban areas. But moving to a smart city model isn’t simply a case of using the existing infrastructure and injecting it with connectivity. The reality is that smart cities are modelled differently in the virtual world, to test out hypotheses before developers launch large-scale works to modernise the existing infrastructure – from the sewers to the public transport system, the way public services are delivered to citizens and even the way we buy products in a connected city.

Designing cities packed with digital potential requires the right tools – and those tend to be virtual themselves. Using the cloud and software, civil engineers and architects can work together to design a virtual twin of the city. This ensures that engineers can test the impact of their prototypes in the virtual world, reducing the need to test the robustness of their designs and helping to better evaluate the potential impact of new material. And as a side benefit, this also helps reduce the amount of construction material that ends up in landfill, simply because the engineering team didn’t have enough time to test the impact of the wind on a light bridge.

Facing the complexity of today’s urban challenges, traditional methods and techniques of city planning and design are outdated. Therefore, it’s time for smart city developers to begin implementing digital technologies that will assist in the transformation of urban planning for more liveable cities.

Virtual reality for virtual living A diverse range of disciplines are helping solve these challenges; aided by a suite of digital tools that allow scientists and city planners to see and explore the futures

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we are creating and their effects on their inhabitants and the planet as a whole.

For instance, technology and virtual environments present an opportunity for city planners and local authorities to rethink how they address social, economic and environmental challenges to sustainability and the resilience of their communities.

An effective smart city is one that creates a space that is more responsive to the needs of citizens, more environmentally conscious and more cost-effective, through virtualisation technology.

This approach could lead to a reimagining of the entire discipline of architecture by focusing not just on the resulting structure but also the impact a building will have on the planet’s resources. For instance, Virtual Singapore is a great example of how the Singapore Government has used virtualisation to help analyse and understand how the city works today to make better predictions for its future growth. This project shows the limitations of a traditional approach to city planning: with sea levels rising and a surge in population, it would take months to civil engineers to even test out a few hypotheses, such as: should buildings be raised higher above ground to avoid flooding in twenty years’ time? How can the existing health infrastructure deal with future epidemics? By using a virtual model of the city, engineers can play out these and many other scenarios, evaluate solutions and share conclusions with the government who can then advise on the best strategies to execute in the real world to improve the lives of citizens.

Designing our future cities The beating heart of the city is its people.

As we continue to build mega cities and connect every area with each other, both through better transport links and virtually with fastest networks, it’s easy to forget the impact all these developments have on the inhabitants of the city. Technologies have a central role to play in supporting the development of cities that continually engage with and respond to their citizen’s needs – putting together the talent of software, cloud and civil engineers to create the cities of the future.

After all, there is an urgent need for cities to harness innovation to make cities more liveable and sustainable by becoming ‘intelligent’. Digital platforms can now provide a powerful aid for decision making and urban planning, enabling a holistic approach to predict and meet social, economic and environmental outcomes.

With this in mind, smart developers no longer have to imagine what the future city may look like. With the help of smart civil engineers tuned into the virtual world, they can drive what the sustainable cities of the future will look like, one virtual twin at a time.

TAX BONANZA FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES City Accountants (London) Ltd comes up with 7 New Tax Saving Ideas for Civil Engineers and Construction Companies The Brexit vote has opened up a monumental change in the tax system which is about to unfold and Civils need to start to plan for this opportunity now.

Corporation tax is likely to reduce to 15% to make the UK competitive with other countries. This will give civil engineers advantages with service companies and practice incorporation.

Opportunities abound for civils in CGT and IHT. Depressed asset values will assist Civils passing on wealth to their children at minimal tax cost. Civils will need to act fast on this one!

Brexit will make wholesale economic changes in construction. This provides a

wonderful opportunity for young civils to set up a fresh new practice in competition with their elderly established colleagues.

Without the hangover of burdensome loans, they should provide some stiff local competition to their well-established professional colleagues!

1. Great Time to Open A Professional Practice There has never been a better time to open a new ‘value for money’ Practice, right next door to an existing Professional Practice saddled with their high overheads and debts. Civils that are looking to start a new Professional Practice from scratch can now look forward to an additional 50% Tax Relief on the costs of set up. This is achieved using the Governments Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). As an added bonus there is no Capital Gains Tax on this business when you sell it. Terms and Conditions apply.

This involves a special Tax Claim at HMRC but is well worth the trouble as the Tax Savings can be significant.

4. How Civils can Claim a Research & Development Super Deduction Innovative civils involved in new engineering or construction ideas can now claim a ‘Super Deduction’ in their accounts. This includes staff, materials and equipment costs and expenses which are uplifted by 130%. It never ceases to surprise me how many Civil Engineers this applies to. Basically Research & Development can include anything that makes your Practice different; new construction techniques, computers or even your own idiosyncratic way of doing AutoCAD. 5. Buy To Lets For Your Children When transferring Buy-To-Lets to your children, a Capital Gain often arises. With a depressed housing market post Brexit, now is a good time to transfer properties to children thus avoiding higher taxes later.

6. Tax Wrinkles Converting Properties Into Flats

Civils can make specific provisions for bad debts and conservatively value stock and work in progress. This will reduce their practice profits and tax payable.

Many an engineer have spotted the potential of buying a large, cheap property discounted post Brexit and converting it into flats. Setting up as a property developer or moving into the property as your principal private residence can massively reduce CGT when you sell.

3. Income Tax Losses Waiting To Be Grabbed

7. Limited Companies For Property Developers

2. Reduce Practice Profits

Civil Engineers who have lost money investing in unquoted Limited Companies, can now claim the loss on shares against their earnings and consultancy profits.

Post Brexit opportunities abound for picking up cheap development properties in Metropolitan areas. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) can be set up for one off property development to claim all the development expenses you incur. The favourable entrepreneur relief rate of 10% CGT should apply when you sell.

City Accountants (London) Ltd are Specialist 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

Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 11

Interview

INTERVIEW: PJ FARR Construction UK Magazine speaks with PJ Farr, MD of UK Connect about the main aims for the company UK Connect and the plans for the future.

How did the idea for UK Connect come about?

I joined the Army in 2008 and was posted to the Falkland Islands. In my free time, I would take pictures of the landscape and wildlife, sharing them with my wife back in the UK. My father-in-law, who is in the construction sector, was surprised by the Army’s ability to set up communications in remote locations.

He was puzzled by how I could get such good signal in isolated areas when he struggled to get reliable internet services on his Surrey construction sites for more than 9 months!

This problem sparked my curiosity, inspiring

me to set up a business which provided a solution. This was the birth of ‘Countrywide Telecomms’, now known as UK Connect.

Describe the main aims for the company As the UK’s leading communications and IT provider solely dedicated to the construction industry, we want to solve contractors’ and developers’ connectivity problems by offering secure, reliable, enterprise-grade connectivity solutions in rapid time. Fundamentally, we want to help our customers build and sell their developments quicker.

How problematic is it to secure connectivity in isolated locations?

It is challenging for multiple reasons. If time allowed, I could write an essay describing the problem in exhaustive detail.

Remote locations are often, if not always, isolated. Despite improvements in technology, laying new lines for wired internet connections requires significant manual labour. Companies weigh the cost of every mile laid against the expected profit. Rural areas are scarcely populated, and with

fewer potential customers don’t make for an attractive proposition for fixed-line. That’s why cellular technology is making headway in these regions. Also, modern cell technologies are not only faster than fibre but offer more convenience, security and resilience.

How do you achieve connectivity?

Firstly, by using the right tools and methods.

We deploy routers specifically built for the construction industry, appropriate antennae for the location combined with advanced site surveying tools. We also have 24/7 support technicians to ensure as little downtime as possible.

Secondly, working in conjunction with a highly-skilled team of engineers. These are subject matter experts who have spent years in construction and technology so have the experience to deliver excellent results consistently.

All of these factors come together to deliver the best connectivity in any area, however remote.

How important is it to work closely alongside housebuilders and contractors?

UK Connect specialises in providing communication services to the construction sector, which makes it paramount for us to work closely with housebuilders and contractors. They are the ones running the show at construction sites so getting direct input from them gives us invaluable insight into how their businesses operate.

Going more in-depth, we run ‘discovery days’ wherein we discuss the challenges and issues faced by our customers. We then use this information to design solutions to resolve them.

We also work very closely with the Home Builders Federation (HBF). Their members account for 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year. They include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies.

HBF is, therefore, aware of housing issues and the challenges faced by them. This collaboration enables us to understand the real-life problems faced by our customer base and respond accordingly.

Talk us through one of the most challenging projects the company has worked on Generally, we love a challenge as it helps us to improve the solutions we offer our customers and helps to develop the business. There are so many to choose from, on one recent occasion we received a request to provide connectivity to a, particularly large site.

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Interview UK Connect is continually growing in size and capability, doubling revenue yearon-year since our foundation. Our ambition is unlimited and our enthusiasm is endless. We are construction industry specialists and spend time listening to our customers. We’re always horizon scanning, developing new products and solutions to help our clients increase productivity and make their day-to-day life easier.

Typically, a site office is a few stacked cabins.

This site office comprised of eight cabins on top of eight more, creating an operations hub on-site with two more offices in close proximity. We were tasked with connecting them, a considerable challenge and one which tested our ingenuity to the full.

Our technical consultant went to survey the site, analysing the conditions and gathering all the necessary information to isolate the specific requirements. We put together a solution which connected around 50 users with fibre speed broadband. This was

achieved by installing routers, WiFi access points, and structured cabling throughout by our expert team of engineers alongside the technical consultant.

Another exciting request was to provide broadband to a solar farm, allowing them to monitor the performance of their panels.

Being in a very remote area, and in 2013, 3G was the only viable solution. Our team for had to make use of a Point to Point antenna solution. We went to a location 3km away, here we had an excellent 3G connection with 21mbps. We then took this signal and fired it to the site office 3km away using advanced Point to Point antenna technologies.

This sounds like a long way but Point to Point can, in fact, carry over 1000 Mbps well over 10km so whilst this looked like a significant challenge to the client it was more of a creative challenge for the team at UK Connect, making use of the very latest technologies and combining them together to achieve the clients request.

What are the plans for the company for the future?

UK Connect is continually growing in size and capability, doubling revenue year-onyear since our foundation. Our ambition is unlimited and our enthusiasm is endless.

We are construction industry specialists and spend time listening to our customers. We’re always horizon scanning, developing new products and solutions to help our clients increase productivity and make their day-today life easier.

We are currently focusing on the digital future for construction and the “Art of the Possible” whereby we can help our customers revolutionise the ways they work through the use of technology, mainly delivering a reliable, secure network.

What motivates you?

Our ongoing aim is to improve our services continually. This has led to the development of a platform called OneSite, which digitises the current paper-based site management process across training, credential checks, and managing real-time visits on sites.

I am fascinated by technology and how it can improve our lives. Technology is ever-changing and ever-evolving, and it is this change which motivates me to learn more, and find solutions that bring me closer to my goal.

We’re also expanding our offices to cover Scotland and the North of England, and we have a new set of services, to further aid our customers, to be released to the market later this year (watch this space!).

Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 13

Events & Awards News

ENVIROVENT CELEBRATES WINNING INNOVATIVE PRODUCT AWARD EnviroVent, the Harrogate-based manufacturer of ventilation solutions, is celebrating winning the prestigious ‘Innovative Product’ accolade at the Building Communities Awards 2020 for its ATMOS® ventilation system.

ATMOS® is one of the first whole house ventilation and condensation control PIV (Positive Input Ventilation) solution that offers installers and end users the ability to control functionality via an innovative app. By drawing in fresh, filtered and clean air from outside, ATMOS® dilutes, displaces and replaces moisture-laden air to control humidity levels.

The ventilation solution was recognised for its myriad of innovative features including the air quality sensor, AirSens®, which means occupants can monitor and control their air quality levels at all times. ATMOS® was revealed to offer very low energy usage and proved to be much quicker and more straightforward to install, saving time for installation teams.

Shortlisted alongside four other leading manufacturers, EnviroVent was presented with the award at a special ceremony hosted by TV personality, actor and professional speaker Des Coleman at Athena conference & banqueting suite in Leicester. The Innovative Product award was one of 10 awards presented at the ceremony, which also included Community Impact, Apprentice of the Year, Contractor of the Year and Project of the Year.

Andy Makin, Managing Director of EnviroVent, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the ATMOS® range has won the Innovative Product category – especially against such strong competition. The award is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in Harrogate in developing such an innovative ventilation system.”

This is the second award that EnviroVent has won for its ATMOS® solution, which achieved a H&V News award in 2019 for Best Domestic Ventilation Product of the year.

The Building Communities Awards are hosted by procurement consortium EEM Ltd, to recognise and celebrate professionalism, excellence and innovation within the housing and construction community.

The awards have built up a reputation for being one of the biggest and best events of its kind in the region, which is attended by almost 500 professionals.

The black-tie evening included a drinks reception, a three-course meal, a charity auction and raffle, a cashless casino and a late-night DJ. EnviroVent has a manufacturing plant for ventilation systems and a distribution site, located on two separate sites on Hornbeam Business Park in Harrogate. The company supplies some of the top UK housebuilders, as well as local authorities, housing associations and homeowners.

MORRISON UTILITY SERVICES CELEBRATES IMPACT OF APPRENTICES Morrison Utility Services (MUS), the UK’s largest dedicated utility service provider and a part of M Group Services, has celebrated rising talent across its organisation by holding its first Apprenticeship Awards event.

The awards ceremony, held at Wyboston Lakes Resort, celebrated the achievement, hard work and growth of people who have recently completed their MUS apprenticeships under the UK Power Networks, Western Power Distribution, Yorkshire Water and National Grid contracts.

This milestone in merely the end of the beginning for these young people and I sincerely hope that they take every opportunity to create a great future with our business. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution from a number of our managers who have supported our apprenticeship programmes thus far.

Managing Director – Utilities Adam Gosnold commented: “This is a great success for our apprentices, indeed for the utilities division and it is hugely important that our senior managers continue to invest in further career development for all those who wish to progress within their chosen field of engineering. This milestone in merely the end of the beginning for these young people and I sincerely hope that they take every opportunity to create a great future with our business. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution from a number of our managers who have supported our apprenticeship programmes thus far.”

M Group Services HR Director Colin Jellicoe commented: “We work hard to provide excellent career paths for people in our business. Our people are our greatest asset and our apprentices are the future of our business. It is key we help people to realise their full potential and enjoy a fulfilling, lifelong career in the utilities sector.”

Speaking to the audience of apprentices, Colin added: “The training you have received over the last two to three years is just the foundation of your success. Every day is a learning day. Be ambitious.

Make a difference today, tomorrow and everyday thereafter.”

14 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

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Green Developments

ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE: NARROW THINKING WILL NOT ENABLE THE GREEN DEVELOPMENTS WE NEED

By Matthew Linegar, Director R&D and Product Management, Building Solutions at Stora Enso Developers are being asked to resolve a UK housing policy contradiction. On one hand, the UK desperately needs more new homes to address long-term systemic shortages. On the other, the environmental impact of buildings is under the spotlight like never before and green standards are likely to get stricter.

Then – as if this wasn’t a thorny enough challenge for developers – there is the fact that the upcoming tightening of the combustible cladding ban introduced in December 2018 will likely to remove one of the most promising tools available to resolve this contradiction – engineered timber. Surely, in order to treat the climate crisis with the seriousness it deserves, all options should be on the table?

The problem is that standard building design practices are not aligned with environmental requirements. So, as it stands, we can either build our way out of the housing crisis while deepening the environmental one, or address climate change while hampering efforts to build desperately needed new homes.

A rock and a hard place According to the World Green Building Council, buildings account for 39% of global emissions. This splits into 28% for operation and 11% for embodied carbon from the upfront materials and construction. If we are to sufficiently decarbonise our

societies, it is non-negotiable that lowercarbon building materials and methods are necessary – especially if homebuilding is set to approach the 300,000 new homes per year which was outlined in the government’s most recent manifesto.

However, mainstream construction materials, are notably carbon-intensive.

The challenge for developers to deliver high volumes of new homes – affordably – while decarbonising, is huge.

Fortunately, there are options available to eco-conscious developers. One of the most promising families of materials is engineered timber.

Engineering a solution Engineered timber can be thought of as combining the environmental performance of a natural, renewable resource with the performance characteristics of manmade materials. It is, in many ways, the best of both worlds.

From an environmental perspective, engineered timber is a renewable resource.

So long as it is harvested strictly from sustainably managed forests, it is possible to plant more trees than are used.

Crucially, the trees remove carbon from the atmosphere as they grow and store it away, locking the carbon in the timber for the lifetime of the material. This means that, as long an engineered timber building stands, the material is in effect carbon negative.

But can engineered timber structures provide comparable performance to traditional construction methods?

Emphatically yes – provided they are designed correctly. One of the most prominent engineered timber materials, cross-laminated timber (CLT), is fully capable of supporting high-rise structures such as apartment complexes or office buildings.

Matthew Linegar, Director R&D and Product Management, Building Solutions at Stora Enso

16 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

What’s more, CLT is prefabricated and supports the growing need for more offsite construction to speed up developments.

The lighter weight nature of CLT means fewer site deliveries, reducing costs and the impact on the local community – thereby aiding planning applications. It also means that more units can be built on sites where weight is an issue, such as those above tunnels or with poor ground quality, and it creates opportunities to create more value from existing buildings through vertical

Green Developments extensions. This can help increase returns on the project, deliver more homes and in some cases make the difference between commercial viability and unfeasibility.

Furthermore there is growing evidence to suggest that wooden buildings contribute health and wellbeing benefits to their occupants.

special interest group under the Structural Timber Association (STA) together with other leading CLT manufacturers and industry experts to better understand CLT fire compartment behaviour to make it easy for designers to specify.

Strong and safe

The immediate question in front of us is not whether engineered timber is a safe building material to use. The answer to that is ‘yes’ – with rigour, diligence and a continued investment in developing best design practice.

However, it’s important to note that engineered timber is not only strong, but it is also safe. For those unfamiliar with the materials, it is understandable that they would have some concerns over fire safety – after all, wood is a combustible material.

This does not mean that wood is unsafe or should be banned, on the contrary. But it does mean that developers must appoint competent designers that fully understand the performance of combustible and charring materials to ensure that the design and construction meets or exceeds the requirements of the building regulations.

Of course, building design and our knowledge is not static, and over time we learn more about the fire performance of engineered timber. The industry has a responsibility to invest in continuous development of knowledge and best practice – and the industry welcomes this.

For example, we at Stora Enso are leading a

The question of the day

The question of the day is whether the time is right to extend the combustible cladding ban to 11m which would further limit the application of CLT. The question is whether – at a time of pressing housing and environmental crises – we can afford to remove the industry’s only scalable renewable and carbon negative option for a structural material.

We argue that the answer to that is ‘no’.

The UK is an anomaly as countries around the world scale-up their use of engineered timber, recognising its benefits and advancing best practice. We should expect more of the industry, we should invest in

developing knowledge and competency across the sector, and we should hold developers to high standards. We should take an evidence-led approach.

But we should not throw the baby out with the bath water with a ban that threatens to stop the growth of the only renewable construction material. The combustible cladding ban has already caused a reduction in the available market for engineered timber even though the ban only relates to the external wall construction of certain residential type buildings. Perception is clearly stronger than reality. If the new consolation is successful and the threshold is reduced further from 18m to 11m then the message to the market will be interpreted as: “engineered timber is off the table”. Is that an acceptable unintended consequence? Not if we expect developers to deliver on the housing and climate crises at the same time.

If there is to be a response to these crises commensurate with their scale, then surely all options must be on the table for developers. Hence, we encourage developers and other stakeholders to respond to the current consultation and to limit the impact of the proposed extension to the combustible cladding ban which includes the structure. After all, we need all our options on the table.

Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 17

Project News BCTG TO OPEN NEW CENTRE IN WEST BROMWICH TO TRAIN NEXT GENERATION OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, THANKS TO BULLEYS

DETRAFFORD DEVELOPMENT TO FEATURE ONE-OF-A-KIND ROOF GARDEN St George’s Gardens by DeTrafford showcases rooftop yoga space, bar and outdoor cinema. property developers DeTrafford have released a 360 of the one-of-a-kind rooftop garden being constructed on the upcoming St George’s Gardens in Castlefield, Manchester, which is due for completion in June 2020. This roof garden is entirely unique to DeTrafford and will include a bar, yoga space and outdoor cinema.

Commenting on the upcoming rooftop garden, DeTrafford’s design team were enthusiastic about sharing their vision with the public: “Situated at one of the best vantage points in City Centre Manchester, overlooking the historical grounds of St Georges church, the new St Georges Gardens rooftop is a prime location for morning yoga at sunrise, a mid-day picnic with friends and exclusive outdoor cinema showings by dusk.

Inspired by Manchester’s industrial heritage and surrounding sites of the Castlefield area,

the materials chosen are rich in colour and texture with the use of corten, granite and timber leading from the sophisticated midcentury inspired interiors.”

The landscaping between the lawned grass and relaxed seating is a combination of lush greenery and low maintenance shrubs surrounded by pockets of private lounging and a central rooftop bar, softly lit by ambient lighting make it a perfect destination spot this summer.

St George’s Gardens consists of luxurious 1 and 2-bedroom apartments for sale or rent and is being constructed by DeTrafford’s own in-house construction team. The development is situated in Castlefield, which means its rooftop is ideally located to provide great views across the city centre

A new centre in the Black Country will start work training the next generation of young builders in the coming weeks, thanks to help from commercial property agency Bulleys.

Training group BCTG started youngsters on the first courses at the new centre in Kelvin Way, West Bromwich, during February.

It is the first in a new series of construction training centres BCTG is launching as part of a £2 million expansion programme.

Director Chris Luty said: “BCTG is one of the largest independent training providers in England. Each year we train over 10,000 young people and adults in a range of vocational and technical skills in areas such as health & social care, early years education, engineering, construction, management and business services. We operate nationally at employers’ premises or from our local skill centres.

“As part of our aim to support the skills needs in the West Midlands, we have committed to invest over £2 million to develop a series of new Construction Centres across the region.

The centres will offer young people between 16-18 and adults from 19+ access to a range of skills in bricklaying, painting & decorating, plastering, roofing and cladding. Each centre is at the heart of the local community, ensuring easy, flexible access for all.

“The first centre at Unit 34, Kelvin Way, West Bromwich launched its first course on 10 February 2020.”

Mr Luty added: “If HS2 goes ahead the industry estimates it will need an extra 50,000 trained construction workers. Even without that the growth in housebuilding in this region, let alone the constant construction work underway in Birmingham, has created an urgent need for young building workers.

“Our new centre in West Bromwich will be able to cater for up to 40 young people at a time, probably on 12 week programmes. So we could be training up to 200 people withing a few months of starting. The initial focus will be young people aged 16 to 19, but we expect to be training adults too.

18 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

Project News

WILLMOTT DIXON LANDS MORE BLUE LIGHT WORK Willmott Dixon is adding to its blue light work load after Willmott Dixon Interiors secured projects worth £18m to refurbish existing Metropolitan Police stations in Peckham, Ilford, Colindale and Brixton.

We will be providing them with the vital basic skills in bricklaying, woodwork, roofing, plastering; getting them ‘site-ready’ and qualified with their CSCS certification so they can start work. We will also provide training in various skills to Level 2 and Level 3 NVQ. With its ambitious expansion plans, BCTG had contacted Black Country commercial property agency Bulleys. Angela Holland, agency assistant at Bulleys’ Oldbury office, compiled a list of halfa-dozen potential sites and BCTG identified Unit 34 on the Kelvin Way Trading Estate as ideal for its needs.

The company’s specialist framework team secured the projects as part the Metropolitan Police’s Minor and Intermediate Works Framework, which is the procurement vehicle for the force to appoint contractors for projects ranging from £500k-£10m in value to update, modernise and rationalise its existing estate, creating better energy efficiency and working environments.

The company has secured 12 projects via the framework, which include the recently completed Marlowe House in Sidcup, where the team refurbished three floors of the 14-storey building to create a modern working environment for up to 2,000 people.

Willmott Dixon has a strong track record in the blue light sector. It recently created a new state-of-the-art custody centre and operational hub for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary in Exeter as well as Lincolnshire Blue Light Campus - bringing together fire and rescue services, police force and ambulance service under one roof – and Birchin Way Custody Suite in Grimsby.

Chris Luty said: “Bulleys were highly professional and made it a very smooth process. We wanted to start the courses in February, so there was not time to waste. Angela Holland arranged for us to see all the sites and once we had chosen Kelvin Way they helped keep everything on track.”

The 4,039 sq ft unit is being leased on a three-year £22,214.50 per annum term agreed with the landlord’s agent, Caisson Investment Management.

James Ward, asset management partner at Caisson, said: “We are very impressed with the dedication, proactivity and efficiency that Bulleys have shown, while acting on our behalf as joint property agents, in helping to achieve an almost fully-let estate. They are consummate professionals, exceptional at what they do and always show a willingness to go the extra mile; we have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending them.”

Bulleys handled the property alongside joint agent Harris Lamb.

BCTG’s solicitor was Sarah Ferdinand of Ferdinand Consulting, based in Coventry, and the landlord was represented by Amie Kelsall of Womble Bond Dickinson, based in Southampton.

Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 19

Women in Construction

A WOMAN’S PLACE IS NO LONGER IN THE HOME – UNLESS SHE’S BUILDING THEM The construction industry is still very much a male-dominated industry with less than 10% of employees being women. With the focus on #EachForEqual this International Women’s Day, Harron Homes celebrates some of the women who are levelling the playing field.

Traci Moore, 38, lives in York with her partner and three-year-old son Zach. She joined Harron seven years ago and works as a Land Director Designate.

Assistant Site Manager Carolyn BradleyWinnett, 35, and Customer Relations Manager June Sheeran, 47, are newer members to the Harron team having both joined just over two years ago.

This is Carolyn’s first foray into the world of construction, although she’s worked in the housing sector since university.

“I started at Harron as a Customer Relations Officer, which made me want to work on site.

I’ve really found my passion since working in housebuilding, and I hope to keep growing in my career here.”

While their roles are all very different, they all agree on what makes their jobs great.

“No day is the same” Traci says, “You get to meet all sorts of interesting people in different industries.”

June nods, “I like all the different people I come into contact with on a daily basis”.

Carolyn agrees “I love my job as it is challenging but no day is the same. I like working with a wide variety of people and that although the role is hard work and demanding, the end result is a stunning home for our customers.”

I love my job as it is challenging but no day is the same. I like working with a wide variety of people and that although the role is hard work and demanding, the end result is a stunning home for our customers.

They’re also in agreement on the topic of equality.

Traci defines it as ‘a state of being equal with regards to rights and opportunities.’ She says “Harron allows both sexes to take on equal roles, responsibilities and be respected as an equal.”

“At Harron, we’re given the same rights across the board” June agrees.

“It’s ensuring everybody has an equal chance to take up opportunities regardless of gender, age, race, sexuality or disability,” Carolyn elaborates, “I feel like Harron is very encouraging. Since I started here I have been supported to do well, I am eager to grow in this industry and feel there are definitely a lot of positives to a woman being on site. The fact I am woman hasn’t made any difference, if anything I have a lot of respect from the guys on site and they are all very supportive.”

Having worked in the construction industry for 17 years, Traci has plenty of experience and knowledge of how things have progressed.

“I started as a Land Assistant with Shepherd Homes after doing a couple of years as Sales Negotiator for Miller Homes (previously Fairclough Homes).”

“In the last five years I have definitely noticed more women appearing in more senior roles then I have in the last decade.”

“Yeah, more women are employed and promoted into senior roles these days” June concurs.

“I believe there has been a change for the better in the way women are treated in the workplace,” Carolyn continues.

“However I do feel women still need to work harder and prove themselves more in order to get the respect men do; I’ve been lucky with the positive attitude I received at Harron. There is still a way to go but it is definitely going in the right direction.

“I would recommend the construction industry to any woman that wants to work hard and build an exciting career, it is a demanding industry but can be very rewarding.”

However I do feel women still need to work harder and prove themselves more in order to get the respect men do; I’ve been lucky with the positive attitude I received at Harron.

There is still a way to go but it is definitely going in the right direction.

“Absolutely,” Traci agrees. “It’s tough balancing being a mother of a young child and working full time in a very demanding role, but I genuinely believe that there are opportunities for skilled and talented women in construction, especially if you are prepared to work hard, follow a good work ethic and be fully committed.”

“Just give it your all and enjoy” June concludes.

Harron Homes is always on the lookout for talented people to join their team and help grow the thriving business. See the latest vacancies and apply here.

LEFT IMAGE: Harron employees Traci Moore, June Sheeran, and Carolyn Bradley-Winnett

20 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

Feature

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR EXCAVATOR FOR SPRING For those of us in the northern hemisphere, warmer weather – and a busy contracting schedule – is just around the corner. Here are a few tips to get your excavator in tip-top condition for the new season.

• Fluids, filters and grease Check the levels of hydraulic oil, as well as the oil in the swing and travel gearboxes.

Fill accordingly. Drain water from the water separator.

• Seals Look for weeping or damaged seals and replace as needed. Never reseal them.

• Undercarriage Clean the undercarriage to make sure it is free from debris and adjust the tension.

Check for loose track shoes and repair as needed. Check for oil leaks from the top and bottom rollers.

• Boom and arm Check the side clearance and contact the local Volvo dealer if needed.

• Engine Check to see if any fuel has leaked. If so, contact the local Volvo dealer for assistance.

• Battery Even if you removed the battery over the winter, inspect the terminals and posts and clean as necessary. If removed, connect a charger.

• Cab Where possible, move the machine into a warm storage facility to thaw any ice.

Remove snow with a broom or blow it off with compressed air. Do not scrape it off

with a shovel may damage the paintwork.

Thoroughly clean the inside of the cab and replace the air filters. This will help protect the machine’s electronics and make the space a more pleasant and comfortable operating environment.

• Additional functions Check that the lights, wipers, heater and air conditioning are all in working order, addressing repairs as needed.

DRAKA WELCOMES NG BAILEY AS A TECHNOLOGY PARTNER

Smart mobile coverage

Draka, a brand of Prysmian Group – the world’s market leader in power and telecommunications cables and systems - is pleased to recognise NG Bailey’s IT Services business as a Technology Partner. This partnership will strengthen the collaboration between the two companies on future product application and development.

Are you a landlord or developer looking to enhance mobile coverage in your buildings?

We can help with that.

NG Bailey, the UK’s leading independent engineering and services business, has been a Draka UC Connect Installation Partner for eight years. As an Installation Partner, it is authorised to sell and install the Draka UC Connect structured wiring solution. With NG Bailey IT Services having significant field experience, including working in close collaboration with a major telecom provider on initial trials in rolling out fibre into Multi Dwelling Units (MDUs), Draka has provided the company with access to its engineering teams as an authorised Technology Partner. This will allow for greater collaboration between the two companies at a technical level.

The announcement was made as part of a visit by NG Bailey IT Services’ Managing Director, Kelly Tedesco, to Prysmian’s Bishopstoke manufacturing facility. Llyr Roberts, Global VP of Draka Multi Media Solutions, provided a tour of the extensive site, focussing on Prysmian Group’s range of fibre cables – including SiroccoXS blown fibre and high fibre count cables - and Prysmian’s rapidly growing optical connectivity capability. Over one million kilometres of fibre cable are manufactured annually at Prysmian Bishopstoke.

An exclusive preview of the future development of ribbon fibre products was also provided.

Mobile Coverage Solutions www.netcs.eu / 01276 854440 Consult/Survey /Design/Install/Connect/Maintain

Draka’s UC Connect system is built around the company’s UK and European manufactured copper and optical data cabling product set and is fully supported by a 25 year Applications Assurance Warranty supported by Prysmian Group.

For more information, please go to www.uk.prysmiangroup.com

28/04/2020 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 2117:02:15

CM520020 - Draka - QP.indd 1

Latest News PAGABO TO WAIVE FRAMEWORK FEES FOR PROJECTS USING COVID-19, PPN 1/20

NATIONAL procurement organisation Pagabo has announced that framework fees will be waived for any projects procured via its frameworks using the government’s procurement policy note.

Issued by the UK Cabinet Office on Wednesday 18 March, COVID-19, PPN 1/20 explains what procurement options are available to the public sector in light of the current circumstances the industry finds itself in during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In such exceptional circumstances, authorities may need to procure goods, services and works with extreme urgency. This is permissible under current public procurement regulations using regulation 32(2)(c).

A summary of the PPN gives a number of procurement options: • direct award due to extreme urgency (regulation 32(2)(c)); • direct award due to absence of competition or protection of exclusive rights; • call off from an existing framework

agreement or dynamic purchasing system; • call for competition using a standard procedure with accelerated timescales; • extending or modifying a contract during its term.

Jason Stapley, managing director at Pagabo, said: “Our key mission at Pagabo is to make procurement quicker, simpler and more effective – and that is never more important than in uncertain times like this. We are really pleased to see that the government has taken steps to ensure that projects are still able to move through the procurement process quickly in order to get any urgent, critical work underway and keep the construction industry moving. To ensure that we can continue to connect buyers to a wide range of works, services and goods via our frameworks, we have elected to waive all framework fees applied to any of the frameworks we manage for our clients who use this PPN. This means that the only costs paid during the period relating to this PPN will be the costs of the goods, services and works.”

ROCK FALL SAFETY BOOTS STRIDES ON CONFIDENTLY WITH APPOINTMENT OF NEW MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIST The second-generation family owned Safety Boot manufacturer has a reputation for being the goto supplier for Safety Equipment Distributors looking for a single source solution for footwear. The company which operates from one secure site based on Wimsey Way in Alfreton has a range of over 85 styles designed for various industries ranging from sizes as small as a size 2 all the way to a size 16. They sell their range via distributors all over the world.

Following their commitment to “operate as normal” following the COVID-19 outbreak the Rock Fall Senior Management Team are delighted to announce the creation of a brand new, senior position at Rock Fall as a Materials Technologist.

The role, which will involve steering Rock Fall product development into new, existing and sustainable areas has been filled by Cathryn Widdowson. Cathryn is a prominent person in the field have previously sourced materials across the world in China, Vietnam and Netherlands for major brands, including Clarks.

Rock Fall outlined their commitment to sustainable business practises with their 2020 Sustainability Report released in January of this year. Cathryn will work alongside their Senior Team, supply chain,

factories and partner component manufacturers with the aim of making Rock Fall “the sustainable safety boot brand” by 2022.

Quick wins for the company include increasing the amount of styles produced using LWG accredited upper materials. Currently, only 20% of finished footwear is manufactured using Leather Working Group accredited materials.

LWG manufacturers have an average energy use reduction of 48% and water consumption reduction of 35% so any increases in this production have a notable affect on the eco credentials of a manufacturer.

Important next steps include changing materials to be sourced from recycled sources and increasing the amount of material that can be recycled at end of use, as well as removing plastics where possible.

Summarising their plans, the Rock Fall Senior Management Team said: “Cathryn is something of a coup for Rock Fall and strengthens our product design and sourcing team. She joins Rock Fall with a wealth of experience and industry contacts to bring our aims closer to a reality. We have a hardearned reputation for innovation and for prolific levels of new developments in safety footwear, these sorts of positions enable our company to stay at the forefront of the industry.”

22 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

Latest News MIDLANDS CONTRACTOR SECURES PLACE ON £500M MAJOR HIGHER EDUCATION FRAMEWORK Midlands-based G F Tomlinson is celebrating its successful selection as a key contractor on the prestigious University of Birmingham Build Higher framework.

The new £500m 10-year construction framework will focus on improving higher education facilities in the West Midlands, concentrating on the enhancement and development of the University of Birmingham’s own estate as well as procuring capital projects over the next decade.

It is also available to other higher education institutions across the UK.

HOUSEBUILDER HELPS BUILD NEW HOME – FOR FOOTBALL CLUB’S NEW TRACTOR When Cramlington Town FC raised the funds to buy a new tractor and grass cutter, they needed somewhere secure to store it – and turned to local housebuilder Bellway for help.

The housebuilder, which is building new homes at St Nicholas Manor and Arcot Manor in Cramlington, responded by offering to build a garage as an extension to the clubhouse, off Farm Road, East Hartford.

Bellway worked alongside Ely Architects to provide well-designed storage with enough space for the new grounds equipment and football equipment as needed.

The project was completed in February and the garage has now been handed over to the club.

Club President of Cramlington Town FC, Ian Coates, said: “Cramlington Town are so pleased to have had the support from Bellway to build our new storage facility, without this the club would not be able to store our equipment which is used by hundreds of children throughout the season.

“Without the support from Bellway, the project would not have been able to be completed.”

Head of Sales for Bellway North East, Emma Chesterton, said: “As a housebuilder, it’s a key part of our ethos not only to build highquality new homes for local people, but also to build relationships and work with the local community, and we are therefore committed to supporting groups and organisations in Cramlington. We are very pleased with how this wonderful project has turned out, and we hope this space will be of great use to Cramlington Town FC for many years to come.”

Paul Ely, Director of Ely Architects, said: “This project has been a great example of Bellway’s involvement in supporting community projects.

As a result of the additional facilities at East Hartford, Cramlington Town FC will be able to continue to deliver excellent football coaching to the local community.”

Bellway is currently building a range of two, three and four bedrooms at Arcot Manor, off Fisher Lane, Cramlington, and St Nicholas Manor, off Station Road in the town.

The University of Birmingham has significantly invested in its campuses in the last decade and the framework will enable the delivery of innovative academic spaces to facilitate the Russel Group university’s world leading research, and will support ambitious infrastructure and capital development plans as part of this.

G F Tomlinson has been appointed to deliver projects between £2.5million to £10million and was successfully selected on its ability to demonstrate understanding of the challenges and requirements within the higher education sector, as well as capability of working collaboratively with universities to deliver high quality buildings on time and within budget whilst achieving a high level of social value.

As part of the university’s collaborative strategy to build strong, long-term relationships between key contractors and consultants in the construction, design and surveying industries – all contractors will be encouraged to collaborate and collectively develop opportunities for social value, environmental enhancement and sponsorships, to bring benefits to the higher education sector.

Chris Flint, G F Tomlinson’s framework director, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our bid for the University of Birmingham’s new framework, which will see us build strong, long-term relationships with the University of Birmingham and its selected contractors and consultants to deliver the University’s ambitious expansion plans for campuses over the next 10 years.”

We have established a reputation for delivering high quality, sustainable projects in the higher education sector, creating environments which nurture academic learning, research and collaboration. This appointment provides further opportunities to build on this with the University and other HE institutions whilst at the same time reinforcing our presence in the West Midlands.

This announcement closely follows another successful appointment for the regional contractor, to a £30billion national central government framework for Crown Commercial Services Construction Works and Associated Services Agreement; a major seven-year framework for public sector construction.

Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 23

Latest News

BIKBBI CONFIRM NEW APPRENTICESHIP PARTNERSHIP The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is delighted to announce an innovative strategic partnership with the EndPoint Assessment (EPA) Organisation, Achieve+Partners.

Achieve+Partners provides EPA for the furniture, wood and trade supplier industries.

In an industry experiencing huge changes and challenges, Achieve+Partners’ ethos is to work purposefully with a wide range of organisations, bringing the industry closer together. It will use its highly skilled employees to share their expertise and knowledge whilst at the same time providing added-value support to all of its apprenticeship partners.

Achieve+Partners founder Lisa Williamson, believes that this unique partnership approach will unite the sector, bringing together professional and trade bodies with employers and training providers and enabling apprentices to achieve their full potential.

BiKBBI sees this focus on partnership working as an important way of developing, promoting and delivering the Level 2 Apprenticeship for Fitted Interiors and will work alongside Achieve+Partners to review

CORONAVIRUS: CITB PAYING APPRENTICESHIP GRANTS IN ADVANCE CITB is paying in advance apprenticeship attendance grants for 2nd and 3rd year apprentices to help keep skills within the construction industry amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The payments will be made from 6 April for apprentices already subject to CITB grant support and who are currently in the second or third year of their apprenticeship for the remainder of the year.

Employers will need to complete a very brief online request, which is being developed, via the CITB website. As per standard terms and conditions, the advance payment is subject to the reclaiming of grant paid if the apprentice leaves employment or their apprenticeship early.

The payments are expected to be able to support 7,500 apprentices, and will advance £2,500 in attendance grant at a time when retaining apprentices is critical.

the current Level 2 apprenticeship standard in Fitted Furniture Installation.

Damian Walters, BiKBBI Chief Executive stated: “We have worked with Lisa previously and are delighted that we’ll be working closely with Achieve+Partners in the delivery, promotion and development of the Fitted Interiors Apprenticeship.”

The new apprenticeship standards have been introduced as part of the Government’s major apprenticeship reforms and focus on a shift from assessing to learning with the aim of putting employers

Braden Connolly, CITB Director of Products and Services, said: “Apprenticeships are essential to safeguard the future of the construction industry amid the skills shortage.

“The coronavirus outbreak is putting employers, in particular smaller firms, under extreme pressure and CITB will continue to support them through this crisis. We expect this advanced payment will enable some of the smallest apprentice employers to continue with their apprenticeship without the need to furlough.”

This measure is complementary to the support the Chancellor announced for furloughed workers on Friday, and will give construction employers support to continue with their apprentice rather than laying off.

CITB is also working with ESFA and other agencies to discuss the existing funding rules around breaks in learning for apprentices.

CITB urges all employers not to dismiss any apprentices without first contacting the Apprenticeship team: Apprenticeships.COVID19@citb.co.uk Latest coronavirus updates from CITB at www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages/

24 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

more in control. The standards outline the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to deliver a certain job role and also include an End-Point Assessment – a quality mark that checks that the apprentice has gained what they need through the apprenticeship.

As Lisa Williamson explains:

Achieve+Partners are passionate about supporting professional bodies, training providers and employers through the entire process from implementation of their apprenticeships to delivering the End-point Assessment.

We are supporting the BiKBBI with their core education pillar to deliver apprenticeships for both commercial and domestic kitchen, bathroom and bedroom installation. We want to strengthen the industry and give the delivery partners a voice whilst also providing BiKBBI with information of what’s happening on the ground to ensure that the continual review and improvement of standards meets the real needs of apprentices and delivery partners.

As part of the strategic partnership between the two organisations, Achieve+Partners is working with BiKBBI to recruit industry experts to conduct end-point assessments.

They are looking for people who have 10 days or more per year to carry out assessments, which is a paid for service that also covers assessors expenses.

Assessors do not need any assessment experience as Achieve+Partners will provide training and support.

Safety & Security

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Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 25

Project News WILLMOTT DIXON LANDS AGRI-FOOD R&D DEVELOPMENT IN LINCOLNSHIRE Willmott Dixon has secured the role to build the University of Lincoln’s £7m agri-food research and development (R&D) facility at Peppermint Park – part of the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) in Holbeach.

NEW FORTON SITE ADDS TO DEVELOPER’S LANCASHIRE PROMISE A local housing developer is building on its promise to prioritise the engagement of a local supply chain by announcing a recently acquired site which will make way for nine new luxury homes.

Conlon Living – the housebuilding arm of Conlon Construction – will deliver a bespoke development of four- and fivebedroom high specification detached homes at Haighlands, Hollins Lane in Forton, to mirror the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal’s housebuilding ambitions.

The site in Forton has been specially selected given its proximity to Lancaster University, which is eagerly progressing its 2017 - 2027 masterplan expansion.

The phased expansion will bring recruitment opportunities, with the Forton development earmarked as potential new housing for professionals moving to the area.

Since the City Deal was announced, Conlon Living has emerged as one of a

handful of local developers working to meet the target of 17,000 new homes by delivering smaller, high quality developments in line with the changing needs of families living in and wanting to relocate to Lancashire.

For each of its developments, Conlon Living only utilises a local supply chain, sourcing materials and labour from within the region to ensure the economic benefits of the City Deal stay within Lancashire.

Justin Sheil, land & planning director at Conlon Living, said: “Our most recent site acquisition at Hollins Lane in Forton will make way for a development of houses that will be of exceptional specification in a beautiful, rural location for buyers to really feel that they are in the heart of Lancashire and all that it offers.

We have made a conscious decision to buck the trend emerging from the City Deal; the majority of developments in Lancashire are being built by national players, which may benefit the county in the short-term, but they are solely focused on profit and volume. Instead, we are delivering small scale, high demand developments at an excellent level of quality, using local skills and materials.

“With this development, and any others we venture towards, we will continue to champion the craftsmanship, skills and products that are readily available on our doorstep. Doing so enhances what we can deliver and adds sustainability to the area as well as our developments. We encourage other developers – local, national, large or small – to do the same.”

26 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

The new Centre of Excellence in Agri-food Technology, which has been procured via Scape Major Works, part of the National Construction framework, will be the focal point of the new FEZ, which will deliver innovation support services, pioneering research, skills provision and knowledge exchange for agri-food businesses across Lincolnshire and beyond.

Stuart Kerr, operations director at Willmott Dixon, said: “This is a pivotal scheme for Lincolnshire, and we are excited to have reached this significant milestone in its delivery. The region is at the cutting-edge of the agri-food sector and R&D is going to continue shaping this work, especially thanks to the Centre of Excellence.

“We are extremely passionate about Lincolnshire, and the opportunities it presents for growth and investment. Lincolnshire is an excellent place to do business and we have a number of exciting projects in the pipeline as well as recently winning an RICS award for the Lincoln Transport Hub.” The facility will build on the success of the university’s existing Holbeach campus, which is home to the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM). It will include microbiology and chemistry laboratories, a high-tech test kitchen and sensory suite, break space, and seminar rooms, and will act as an innovation hub – promoting the rapid uptake of advanced technologies such as robotics and automation and ensuring the UK’s agri-food industry remains competitive.

Project News Professor Val Braybrooks, Dean of Holbeach and the National Centre for Food Manufacturing at the University of Lincoln added: “The agri-food sector and its supply chains are of enormous importance to the county economically, and evolving global food markets are creating unprecedented opportunities for both established and early stage businesses as suppliers of innovative new products and technologies.

GREEN LIGHT FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF 840 OLD KENT ROAD

This new facility is designed to house a community of leading industrial scientists and their support teams, working to meet the innovation, research and knowledge transfer needs of Greater Lincolnshire’s agri-food businesses.

Developer, PPR Estates has received the green light to develop 840 Old Kent Road.

A ground-breaking ceremony took place on site this week (16 Mar), marking this phase of construction which will see the building completed in early 2021.

The FEZ will be located next to the A17 and A151 and is designed to support agri-food businesses, with a particular focus on the food technology sector. When complete, phase one of the multimillion pound development will create around 16,000sq m of new business space, capable of supporting over 400 jobs.

Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Holbeach Food Enterprise Zone serves a sector which is the world’s largest production industry, and this sector is currently enjoying very strong growth. South Holland is the food chain capital of the UK, with 38% of its GVA derived from the food industry, and this is why we are very pleased to be supporting this gamechanging, university-led building development on the emerging FEZ site with a grant allocation of £2.4m from the Government’s Growth Deal.”

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “The new Centre of Excellence in Agri-food research and development facility will help bring employment and further investment to South Lincolnshire.

By procuring through Scape Group, The Holbeach FEZ will ensure the project is delivered with speed, efficiency and embedded socioeconomic benefits.”

The Holbeach FEZ is funded by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Lincolnshire County Council and the Midlands Engine, with South Holland District Council and the University of Lincoln partners in the scheme.

The scheme will involve the demolition of the existing single storey building and construction of two residential towers comprising 13 and 21 storeys. The development will deliver approximately 16,900 sq ft of new retail space on the ground floor, below the residential towers. This space will rehouse Aldi in a much improved and modernised unit.

The residential towers will deliver 168 apartments between them. 35% of the new residential units will be affordable homes with a 70%-30% social and intermediate split.

This redevelopment is part of a wider regeneration taking shape along Old Kent Road. The site falls in the sub-area of OKR 17 as defined by Southwark’s Area Action Plan (AAP). The AAP calls for new frontages to Old Kent Road with shops, supermarket, cafés and restaurants at ground floor level and residential apartments above. The developing scheme improves upon the outlined Master Plan within the AAP and will be at the forefront of the planned re-generation; given its immediate deliverability.

The total regeneration taking shape in Old Kent Road is set to deliver 20,000 new homes, two new primary schools, 10,000 new jobs, as well as major investment in the Bakerloo Underground Line extension over the next decade.

Snickers New Stretch Work Shorts – Comfortable and Lightweight Work Shorts for the flexible working environment - designed to deliver superior comfort and freedom of movement.

Fabric, Functionality and Fit are hallmarks of Snickers Workwear, it’s the innovation and fabric technology in the design of the new Stretch Shorts for men and women that really set these new garments apart.

These new AllroundWork and FLEXIWork shorts are great for working in the warmer months. Delivering superior flexibility and comfort, these lightweight work shorts come in a body-mapping design and a range of new colours including Hi-vis options.

Made from a self-ventilating stretch fabric with Cordura reinforcements for all-round mobility and durability, they’re packed with comfort and functionality and specially designed for the fastpaced professional who’s always on the go for delivering top class work on site.

For professional tradesmen and women who rely on their gear in demanding environments, Snickers Workwear Work Shorts are a must for everyone who wants the ultimate in cool comfort this summer.

To get more information on what’s right for you in the Snickers Workwear range, visit the website at www.snickersworkwear.co.uk alternatively, email sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk or call the Hultafors Group Helpline on 01484 854788.

Construction UK Magazine - May 2020 27

IMPROVING SHOT BLASTER EFFICIENCY Surface preparation equipment manufacturer releases new shot blaster To increase the capabilities of its shot blaster range, surface preparation equipment manufacturer National Flooring Equipment has released its A series. This range of industry leading shot blasters was manufactured completely in-house and designed and built based on feedback from contractors to improve efficiency in residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Building on the company’s 50 years’ experience as a high-quality, dependable manufacturer, National Flooring Equipment is now distributing its new Apex series of shot blasters to help contractors improve on-site productivity without compromising on quality or safety. Contractors can choose from a range of machines that vary in size and power to meet all potential applications — the series includes the A95, A96, A97, A12 and A30.

The series was built with the customer in mind and the in-house engineers used their personal expertise in the industry to develop machines that are productive but are also easy, comfortable and safe to operate. For example the A95, National Flooring Equipment’s smallest machine, has a height-adjustable handle with built-in operator controls so that users can comfortably operate the equipment.

It also has front swivel casters to increase manoeuvrability and control so that contractors can deliver a more consistent concrete profile.

“Choosing to manufacture our new A series in-house has given us the opportunity to deliver high-quality machines that contractors actually need,” explained Connie Johnson, vice president of marketing at National Flooring Equipment. “We regularly speak

to customers at trade shows, in training sessions and in meetings with sales teams to understand the regular and new challenges that contractors face in the industry. We rely on their feedback and experiences to ensure that all of our equipment helps them to face these challenges efficiently.”

“We worked with team members from areas across the company, such as accounting, customer service, engineering and sales, to make this new range deliver everything that an existing or potential new customer might need,” explained Derek Olson, president of National Flooring Equipment. “Our in-house engineers used this insight from multiple areas of the business to develop equipment with the craftsmanship and advanced engineering to solve the tough jobs that our customers approach us with as well as help them face new challenges in surface preparation.”

National Flooring Equipment’s line of shot blasters are rugged but versatile and can strip, clean and profile concrete in one step.

The company offers machines that vary in size to suit a range of surface removal applications, from the A95 8-inch manual to the powerful A30 ride-on shot blaster.

Shot blasters can produce a wide range of concrete surface profiles, from a light brush blast to an exposed aggregate profile, depending on the power or the machine and the size of the steel shot. Because the applications for shot blasting are now much broader than the machine was originally designed for, it can be difficult for a contractor to know which machine is best for the application. Contractors should assess the job size, budget, production requirements and coatings to choose the right machine from the range.

28 Construction UK Magazine - May 2020

Our in-house engineers used this insight from multiple areas of the business to develop equipment with the craftsmanship and advanced engineering to solve the tough jobs that our customers approach us with as well as help them face new challenges in surface preparation.

Contractors can also rely on National Flooring Equipment to provide the support, training and equipment they need to maximise productivity on the job site. The company offers personal training sessions for customers that want to learn how to efficiently and safely set up, use and maintain their machines. Contractors can also buy accessories and safety equipment, such as magnetic shot-blast sweepers and dust collectors to keep the site clean and safe.

Interested in finding out more about the A series and the rest of National Flooring Equipment’s machines? Visit www.nationalequipment.com and get in touch.

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