Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 by Lapthorn Media

October 2018

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Contents October 2018

Higher Apprenticeships launched to meet construction growth in Wales

First steps in Ecological Assessment for Construction and Development

NFB welcomes Prince William’s plea on mental health

3M launches 2018 architectural finishes collection

Balfour Beatty secures £60M contract for University of Strathdyde building

BakerHicks project wins at the Constructing Excellence Awards

Work on £2.5M new Northumberland Walled Garden House starts

Cloudcell Technologies - Connecting construction sites

Double hire at KAM Project Consultants

Floorcraft fits the FEINest floors (and ceilings) with its new value pack

Makinex - Want a safer, more comfortable way to use a Jackhammer?

Clugston begins work on £39M Newcastle University development

Mi-space upgrades accommodation for service families

RGU shortlisted in international innovation award

05 09 11

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Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 03

Latest News

Top construction firms to double offsite use in five years Two thirds of construction bosses expect to double the amount of construction work they carry out using offsite manufacturing (OSM) over the next five years, although the cost of investment and a lack of knowledge is currently holding the sector back. That’s according to a survey of 31 executives from the UK’s top 50 construction firms conducted by law firm Clyde & Co, as part of its ‘Innovation in Construction Report’. The report contained insight from 15 executives, including Mark Farmer of Cast, Susan-Hone Brooks of the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Jamie Johnston of Bryden Wood, Matt Gough of Mace and Toby Uppington of Aecom. A total of 59% of the executives believe investment costs are the primary factor hindering the implementation of OSM, followed by a lack of expertise in their organisation (48%). Currently 80% of respondents’ organisations only use OSM for 1%-20% of the construction work they carry out.

Nonetheless, 61% expect their use of OSM techniques to double within the next five years, according to the survey. Just over half (55%) of survey respondents invested only 0-2% of revenue on OSM in the last five years, while in five years’ time just 6% expect to invest at this level. The majority plan to invest much more – 39% plan to invest between 3-5% and 42% between 6-20% of revenue in OSM. Robert Meakin, projects & construction partner at Clyde & Co, said: “OSM has been at the bottom of the UK construction industry’s tool box for decades but it is now being heralded by many as the key to tackling chronic low productivity problems. Over the last couple of years momentum has been building and with the government now actively encouraging the use of OSM in some of its projects, the tipping point appears to be within reach.” But Meakin also warned that since the decline of PFI / PPP at the beginning of the decade, the industry has seen a severely limited flow of new schemes, making it a

very difficult commercial decision to invest seriously in OSM technology without a clear plan of how and when it will deliver a return. According to the report, the top three reasons cited for investing in OSM are: • To improve efficiency and reduce costs (97%) • To overcome new challenges in construction (84%) • To help overcome the skills shortage (61%) Meakin commented: “It is ironic that so many would invest in OSM to overcome the skills shortage, when one of the key barriers to implementation is a lack of relevant expertise. This will not be missed by UK construction’s boardrooms.” “It is something of a chicken and egg situation. Those who find a solution are likely to gain a clear advantage over their competition. We may soon find the construction industry starting to look to the manufacturing sector for new recruits.”

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) launches new course in construction quality management The CIOB Academy is launching a brand new course focussed on managing and delivering quality in construction. This follows months of work by a Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Commission of Past Presidents into the issue of build quality, and what practical steps can be taken to support delivery of quality construction and development projects.

we needed people to take pride in the buildings and infrastructure that they were creating. To achieve this, the CIOB has committed to provide practical advice and training to our members and the wider construction community. By creating and promoting the right culture and behaviours I do believe that our industry will change for the better.”

The Commission considered what the CIOB could do to promote a culture of quality in construction, focusing on potential solutions. One of the outcomes is the creation of the CIOB’s Construction Quality Management course.

Adrian Montague, Head of the CIOB Academy, said:

Chair of the Commission, CIOB Past President Paul Nash, said: “Last year the CIOB established a Commission to look into the issue of quality in our industry following a series of high profile failures. We urgently needed to understand what was preventing or promoting the delivery of quality at all stages of the construction process so that we could act to bring about the change that was so obviously needed. Our research highlighted that there was a need to raise standards across the industry. But more than this we needed to change the culture of our industry;

“Poor quality is costing the industry annually more than the combined profits of companies in the industry1. Construction quality management can deliver customer satisfaction and value. Setting and meeting quality objectives requires a sound knowledge of processes, legislation and compliance – the core of our new course. We want to see a “get it right first time” approach embedded in the industry, which should prevent these unnecessary costs and improve customer retention. Quality management is as important to a company’s efficiency and reputation as meeting time and cost targets. Our new Construction Quality Management course comes from the extensive research conducted by the CIOB’s Quality Commission, and will cover all the

04 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

fundamentals of construction quality management.” Those attending the two-day course will gain an understanding of widelyused quality management systems, and will be given the tools to initiate quality management on their own projects and, ultimately, work towards achieving quality on every programme. By the end of the course, participants will be able to: • Understand the fundamentals of quality management for a project-based industry • Demonstrate knowledge of the theories, principles and processes in quality management • Recognise the differences between quality control and quality management • Apply quality management best practice in construction in terms of both processes and attitudes The first course dates are 14 and 15 November 2018. Venue: CIOB’s London office, Kingsway, WC2B 6XF. Cost: £549. More information: www.ciobacademy. org/product/construction-qualitymanagement/

Latest News

Higher Apprenticeships launched to meet construction growth in Wales University of Wales Trinity Saint David is delighted to announce two new Higher Apprenticeship programmes in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying. With Wales set to lead UK construction growth with over 12,000 new construction roles forecast to be created in the nation over next five years, two new Higher Apprenticeships have been developed to meet this demand. The University is working directly with industry partners and in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), The Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to deliver these programmes at The Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering from October 2018. The construction industry has been fundamental in the creation of the new Higher Apprenticeships. Gerald Naylor, Director of CWIC said: “The development of the two Higher Apprenticeships is a complete collaboration between industry and education partners. An industry task-group was established with representatives from construction firms across Wales. Their input was instrumental in the delivery of the new courses, resulting in training that is designed for industry by industry. CWIC was delighted to help co-ordinate this work and we will continue to develop

projects that benefit the construction sector in Wales.” The Welsh Government has been keen to see the continued and increased involvement of professional bodies in the promotion of Higher Apprenticeships. UWTSD’s Lindsay Richards, Head of School of Architecture, Built and Natural Environments said: “This is such an exciting time for the School of Architecture, Built and Natural Environments. All our courses have been designed to respond to Industry requirements. As a university and a provider of construction education we are in a unique position, in that our partnership with The Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) allows us the opportunity to discuss with both employers and professional institutions, the requirements and current shortages within industry ‘first hand’. “We aim to be the number one provider of Construction courses in Wales. Together with our collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), we believe that our courses provide students with the necessary skills required in a rapidly changing industry and sets them firmly on the path to professional accreditation.” Mark Bodger, Partnership Director CITB Cymru Wales, said: “The construction sector in Wales has very much championed the creation of these new Higher Apprenticeships. Industry’s continued involvement has provided the

momentum to see the concept developed to an approved course in a little over 12 months. A wide collaboration working together with CWIC and CITB have produced a Higher Apprenticeship that will appeal to small and large contractors. It is another demonstration of the variety of routes into construction as a career and has the potential to be a life changing opportunity for many young people who will hopefully go on to become the future leaders of this industry.” Gareth John, Chair of CIOB in Wales Cardiff Hub said “We believe that the skills shortages we face as an industry can best be addressed through collaborative working by the key construction industry stakeholders here in wales. Through a collaborative approach with UWTSD, CITB, CWIC and Employers, we have been able to identify both the current skills needed, and also the future skills needed for this fast moving and ever-changing industry.” “The development of these two new Higher Apprenticeships will provide much needed and appropriate good quality training and development opportunities that meet the requirements set by industry employers for their present and future employees. The CIOB are the world’s largest professional body with a very diverse membership and are committed to both supporting its current members within the industry, attracting new people into the industry and are committed to play a big part in the training and development of our existing and future construction professionals.”

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 05

Latest News

Builders spend 2 ½ years driving their van, according to new research by the FMB Builders spend 2 ½ years driving their van over the course of their working lives and almost one year trying to locate a particular tool, according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

supervising junior colleagues or apprentices; • 1 year and 9 months eating lunch; • 11 months trying to locate a particular tool; • 6 months making tea.

The FMB asked thousands of builders across the UK how many minutes they spend each day carrying out certain tasks. The figures reveal that over their career, an average builder will spend the equivalent of:

Commenting on the research, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “This new research dispels the myth that builders spend a big chunk of their time drinking tea. In reality, if builders are downing their tools for any reason, it’s so they can chat to their customers and ensure they have happy clients. Less surprisingly, over the course of their working lives, your average builder will spend two and a half years driving their van and two and a half years shopping for materials at their local builders merchants. Of all the activities

• 2 years and 9 months talking to clients; • 2 years and 6 months driving their van; • 2 years and 6 months at the builders merchants; • 2 years and 1 month training or

that might typically fill a builder’s working day, making tea trails at the bottom of the list.” Berry concluded: “Excellent communication with clients is just one of the qualities that top class builders in the UK have. Today, the FMB is launching the Master Builder Awards 2019, which aims to seek out and celebrate the very best builders in our industry. The Awards highlight examples of high-quality craftsmanship, exceptional customer service, high standards and building excellence. Too often, the minority of dodgy builders give the whole industry a bad name. The Master Builder Awards are all about dispelling any misconceptions and showcasing the quality builders who help home owners and clients realise their building ambitions.”

SHIRKING SAFETY IS A DEADLY SHORT CUT The Assocation for Project Safety demands a central role for health and safety. Failure to take safety seriously or to invest time, money and manpower in proper risk assessment ultimately leads to deaths and serious injuries delegates at the annual conference of the Association for Project Safety heard today (Wednesday 12 September 2018). An audience of professionals in design and construction health and safety risk management heard their president Bobby Chakravarthy say that it was time to shout out for safety and to move to get the Cinderella specialism off the back burner. The APS annual conference heard from a high level line up of industry experts for sessions concentrating on: • the aftermath and consequences of the Grenfell Tower disaster; • issues around infrastructure design, build and management; • developments and use of new technology to cut the risk of death, injury and ill-health; and • the implications – particularly in the light of the collapse of Carillion - for small and medium sized enterprises in an industry where just under half of workers are sole proprietors, consultants or those working in small, local practices.

APS President, Bobby Chakravarthy said: “Safety needs to take centre stage in the design, build, management and operation of Britain’s buildings and infrastructure. For too long - when time is short and budgets tight - safety concerns get pushed to the back of the queue. But it is a false economy with potentially deadly consequences. We have all seen the tragic results at Grenfell, and recently over the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, and whatever the last straw in either case will be found to be the underlying truth is that cutting corners during the whole life of any project builds in flaws and weaknesses which can lead to catastrophic loss of life and injury at some later date.

Safety needs to take centre stage in the design, build, management and operation of Britain’s buildings and infrastructure. For too long when time is short and budgets tight - safety concerns get pushed to the back of the queue. But it is a false economy with potentially deadly consequences. “Professionals in design and construction health and safety risk management

06 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

who make up the membership of the Association for Project Safety are at the forefront of developments in new technology and in the support and advice they provide clients and companies. They pioneer techniques and practices that help cut death and injury and the life changing illnesses that are associated with working in construction. But it is far too common for risk to be at the tail-end. “As the UK needs to gear up to meet the needs of homebuyers and a push to replace and renew national infrastructure we must not take our eyes off the risks we can control – and the possible concerns if it goes wrong. “I am coming to the end of my time as APS President and I see an industry coming to terms with many challenges. From Brexit and the need to attract, train and retrain to quality construction talent to the potential of new technology and computer modelling there is a great deal going on and a wealth of dedicated talent. “But we must keep shouting out for Safety so progress is not bought in the lives and health of construction workers and those who live and work in the projects we design and build.” The conference was held at the Stoller Hall of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.

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First Steps in Ecological Assessment for Construction and Development Construction projects of any size are required to consider multiple disciplines throughout the design, consent process and construction phases. Ecology is one such discipline, and whilst failure to consider the impacts appropriately could potentially result in project delays or even prosecution, early engagement with an ecological consultant has the potential to greatly enhance a scheme for the benefit of biodiversity and make the process of gaining consent and filing applications run smoothly.

Impact Assessment, these could include (but are not limited to):

Project managers are increasingly aware of the need for thorough and effective consideration of the project risks and opportunities in relation to ecology. The first step of ecological assessment is usually termed a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA). This will involve a desk-based assessment for records of sites designated for nature conservation importance such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) and records of protected species as well as a site survey by an ecological consultant to map habitats and features of ecological importance in the area.

Many of these more detailed habitat and species assessments are required to be undertaken at specific times of year, to coincide when species may be visible or active, and comply with published survey guidelines such as those from CIEEM and the RSPB. It is due to these seasonal constraints for detailed species assessments that early project planning is key to submitting applications and delivering projects on time. Early engagement with an ecological consultant will enable surveys to be scheduled

The Preliminary Ecological Appraisal can be conducted at any time of year and is undertaken to inform the relevant members of the project team (e.g. client, architects, planning consultants and landscape architects) of the ecological constraints such as the identification of protected species or habitats and to describe the potential opportunities to enhance a habitat. More detailed survey of habitats and species may be required to inform an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) and potential mitigation requirements. Where further assessments are required to inform an

• Detailed botanical and habitat assessment (e.g. National Vegetation Classification survey). • Protected species surveys for species including bats, badgers, birds, great crested newts, dormice, reptiles, otters and water voles. • Surveys for invasive non-native species (e.g. Japanese knotweed).

The benefits to you and your construction team in having an early assessment of ecological constraints and opportunities are many. appropriately, with the results informing the design team as project plans develop. The benefits to you and your construction team in having an early assessment of ecological constraints and opportunities are many. An ecologist will help you streamline your project and may identify features which are best safeguarded or incorporated into areas of landscaping during the design (thereby saving on

costly surveys and mitigation), ensure that detailed survey assessments are scheduled at the correct times of year (thereby reducing delays to planning submissions) and ensure that good design in relation to ecology and biodiversity results in favourable responses during the planning process. Once the first steps of ecological assessment are complete you and your design team will be more informed of the ecological value of your site, the steps required to submit a planning application and the potential wildlife licensing and mitigation measures which will be required to help construction commence once planning permission has been granted. A good ecology company will work with you through this whole process. Whilst for many construction staff the engagement with ecological consultants occurs immediately before demolition and ground works, it is important to remember the first crucial steps in ecological assessment take place much earlier. It is the early stage surveys and input into the initial design proposals which will determine the stages required when demolition or construction commences. Good, early involvement with Ecologists with input thereafter will help ensure that commencement of works takes place on time, with a design incorporating benefits for biodiversity and all wildlife legislation complied with. Adam Bratt – Principal Ecologist Blackdown Environmental

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 09

Latest News

Brexit woes pushing construction wages up The UK’s vote to leave the EU has pushed construction wages up 11%, according to recent data from Engage Technology Partners. In an analysis of pay trends following the referendum in 2016, the staffing software supplier found that wages are on an upward trajectory in the industry as firms look to reduce a long-standing reliance on international talent. According to the data, in the period 2016 - 2018, Crawler Crane Operators have

seen the greatest pay increase (54%), while Electrical Testers have reported a 34% surge and Steel Fixers a rise of 22%. Drey Francis, Director at Engage commented on the data: “In its report on the potential impact of Brexit on the industry, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) highlighted the sheer extent of reliance on international staff, with some locations such as London reporting that over half of the construction workforce consists

of migrant workers. While there’s certainly no agreement on the terms of our exit, the impact on the industry is already being noted – and we can expect to see wages rise further in the near future as talent demands continue to stretch.” “With staffing budgets on the up, firms are facing greater pressure to control project finances and we are expecting to see growing demand for our staffing supply chain management software, as clients strive to better control costs.”

Construction work is on the up but still underperforming The value of new construction contracts in July reached £4.6 billion, a 6.5 per cent increase compared to June and the first month to see growth since March. However, the two largest sectors, residential and infrastructure continued their slump in July with much lower activity levels, decreasing by 28 and 24 per cent respectively compared to the same time in 2017. The latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI highlights levels of construction contract values awarded across Great Britain. The largest project in July was the £650m House of Commons Northern Estate Refurbishment Programme, more than five times the value of the second largest project on the month.

Across the sectors, commercial and retail projects saw the biggest jump in figures, with a 67 per cent spike in contract value compared to the previous month. This is largely thanks to the aforementioned House of Commons Northern Estate Refurbishment Programme and the sector having three of the four largest construction projects in July. The remainder of the industry was a mixed bag, with the education sector increasing contract value by 20 per cent, whereas medical and health construction disappointingly decreased by 44 per cent on the month. Regionally it was London that led all locations for contract value in July, with 27.5 per cent of the total, a much larger proportion than recently seen in the

10 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

capital across 2018. Following London was the North West with 10.8 per cent and then Yorkshire & Humberside with 9.4 per cent. Commenting on the figures, Michael Dall, Lead Economist at Barbour ABI, said: “Whilst it’s encouraging that the total value of construction contracts increased in July, the sector is still considerably underperforming compared with the figures seen in 2016 and 2017. Part of the issue could be attributed to the lack of ‘mega projects’, particularly in the residential and infrastructure sectors, as the value has been considerably hindered so far in 2018 with, of course, Brexit playing its part, as confidence continues to fall and developers and investors hold back on big construction investments.”

Latest News

Recruitment and retention remain a challenge in the construction sector

Testing products within a system will give clearer picture of real life performance

Research from reward management consultancy Paydata shows that retaining and recruiting staff in the building and construction sectors remains a challenge, especially in middle management.

This year 61% of respondents have had difficulty retaining staff and 57% expect this to continue over the coming 12 months. When these roles need to be filled, the same percentage of respondents (57%) said that they had difficulty recruiting people.

Tim Kellett from Paydata said: “There are few signs of optimism over the coming 12 months as construction firms continue to face recruitment challenges.

The challenges associated with recruiting the right calibre of staff have impacted the reward packages offered to new staff members. 65% of respondents said that they offered recruits’ salaries that conflict with those paid to current employees.

“PayData’s Employee Engagement report shows that the difficulties retaining staff and further compounded by the conflicting salaries needed to replace those who leave, placing a greater level of strain on both company payrolls and internal cultures.”

The salary differences vary, but in the construction sector, 47% offered up to 20% more than existing staff, with some paying over 50% more to recruit the talent they need.

PayData’s Employee Engagement report shows that the difficulties retaining staff and further compounded by the conflicting salaries needed to replace those who leave, placing a greater level of strain on both company payrolls and internal cultures.

While the call by Dame Judith Hackitt for products to be tested within a system is aimed at improving building safety, the principle should apply to other construction components, believes insulation specialist Actis. Its UK and Ireland technical director, architect Thomas Wiedmer, says testing products within a wider system – rather than in isolation – will give a truer picture of how they will perform in real life. “The current problem is that individual elements of a construction are being used as part of a compound system that are not being fully tested as systems,“ he explained. “And test conditions used do not always reflect real-life conditions. Furthermore, products are often substituted throughout the design and specification process of a project, which might have a considerable negative impact on the overall system. “Dame Judith, in her

review following the Grenfell tragedy, says that government should restrict the use of desktop studies and that products should be tested within a full construction system. Testing data should be made transparent and publicly available for a much clearer product classification and labelling as well as product traceability. “She has rightly called for an integrated systemic change, an overall culture change which includes a more effective testing regime. The review reveals that so many products, while performing well on paper or individually, simply do not function as predicted when used as part of a system or in real life.” All products in the CE marked, NHBC approved, LABC and LABSS compliant Actis Hybrid system have been dual tested as individual components as well as within construction systems to measure their as-built performance, U-values, air tightness and ability to eliminate thermal bridging.

NFB welcomes Prince William’s plea on mental health The National Federation of Builders (NFB) applauds the Duke of Cambridge’s work on trying to break the stigma surrounding mental health

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) applauds the Duke of Cambridge’s work on trying to break the stigma surrounding mental health.

Prince William will launch a new website, called Mental Health at Work, which aims to raise awareness about mental health in the workplace.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “Suicide is the leading cause of death for adults below the age of 50 across England and the Office of National Statistics reported that some occupations are at greater risk than others. We welcome the launch of Mental Health at Work and recognise the ever-growing importance of this issue across the construction industry.

The website’s development has been made possible by the Royal Foundation, the charitable trust run by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

“Our health and safety advice lines provide support to our members on matters concerning mental health.”

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 11

Latest News

Solving the skills crisis is top of my agenda, says new FMB National President Attracting more young people into the sector is top of the agenda for Arthur McArdle, the new National President of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Arthur McArdle was elected National President of the FMB, the UK’s largest construction trade association, on Saturday 8th September at the FMB’s National AGM and Conference in Bournemouth. Arthur McArdle, National President of the FMB, said: “I am extremely passionate about ensuring that we have enough skilled workers to help build the nation out of the housing crisis. The skills

shortage the sector is facing is absolutely dire and the only way we can guarantee enough skilled construction workers in the future is by attracting more young people into the sector and training them to a high standard now. The construction industry is an extremely rewarding sector to work in and it should be viewed as such. I want construction to be a career of choice for young people.” McArdle continued: “Although the FMB has spearheaded steps to make apprenticeships more attractive to young people, including playing a pivotal role in the sign off of two high quality apprenticeships in bricklaying and

plastering in June this year, we still have further to go. The FMB is committed to working with the Government to improve the quality and quantity of apprenticeships.” McArdle concluded: “As the FMB continues to grow, I am extremely privileged to be part of the leadership of an organisation that stands for quality and professionalism in the building industry.” At the National Conference, Janet Etchells was voted in as the first female National Vice President.

SELEP and CITB work together to tackle construction skills challenges The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) is taking action to help tackle the growing construction skills shortage in the region following a report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The CITB has produced two reviews of the sector in the SELEP region, one covering Essex and one looking at the situation in Kent, Medway and East Sussex. It found there are significant risks which the industry faces in coming years, notably an ageing workforce, a need to improve the image of a career in the industry, the potential impacts on the migrant workforce resulting from Brexit which will be felt hardest in London and the South East, and the continuing draw for workers to service major projects in London. Additionally, there is a shortage of experienced and skilled staff willing to move into teaching the workers of tomorrow. “The construction sector is the largest employer in the SELEP region, with 27,000 businesses employing more than 100,000 people directly and thousands more in related sectors,” said Christian Brodie, Chair of SELEP. “It is a sector that is seeing high employment growth and which is fundamental to the continued economic

success of the area. We need a workforce in the construction sector that can meet the demands and expected levels of growth, with new large infrastructure like the Lower Thames Crossing and plans for 96,500 homes in Garden Communities across the SELEP area. “We need a highly skilled workforce who can deliver quality schemes, providing opportunities for locally based businesses and employees. As such, it is vital that SELEP plays a leading role in addressing the issues highlighted by the CITB.” The CITB found that in the short term, the occupations at most risk of demand outstripping current employment estimates are civil engineering, plasterers and dry liners, scaffolders and non-construction operatives. It is also likely that demand will outstrip supply for glaziers, floorers and painters and decorators. Further ahead, occupations most at risk of labour supply shortages include civil engineering operatives, plant operatives and construction project managers. The report found there are occupations, such as roofers, specialist building operatives, other construction professional and technical staff, and floorers, where the levels of competence-based training appear to be lower than could be expected.

12 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

Graham Razey, Chair of SELEP’s Skills Advisory Group, said: “The skills shortage creates a vicious circle when it comes to our education providers recruiting lecturers. Because of the shortages in the sector, those with the level of skills and experience required to teach are in demand and our colleges and other training establishments find it hard to compete on salaries and recruit. “The LEP has plans in place to tackle this and the other challenges facing the construction sector. As well as working with the CITB, we have partnered with local businesses and training boards to develop our own Skills Strategy to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy and new National Careers Strategy.”

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Business Development Director Lynsey Kay Porter reveals how Go Develop’s innovative joint venture partnerships are supporting SME housebuilders right across the country. Tell us about the company and what you do… The Go Develop model is refreshingly simple – we cover the total cost of the land, build, stamp duty and soft costs, without a penny in from the developer or housebuilder. We charge 1% interest per month on drawn down funds, which is rolled up and doesn’t need to be serviced. Once the project is sold we split the profits in the developer’s favour. I head up the business development team – we have doubled in size in the last year in terms of employees and also the number of deals being signed with developers, it’s a really exciting time. Right now, we have over 1,100 homes being built nationwide with our joint venture partners. What is the most common pitfall you see developers fall into? We find that developers tend to be great at one or two key skills needed for a successful development project – land sourcing, the actual construction or the sales and marketing. Rarely, do we find someone who has the time, resource and skill to master all 3 - especially the exit. That’s where Go Develop can help. We have a dedicated and experienced team of experts in house to assist at every step from risk and due diligence, to financial planning and strategy to the sales and marketing. Working in partnership, we can ensure that all angles are covered and deliver a rewarding result for both our partner and us. For instance, our marketing team can create a project brand, hoardings, brochures, website, as well as produce CGIs, drone footage and time lapse photography. Plus, we have key connections with other service providers to help push through sales, home staging specialists for example. This is why our tagline ‘more than 100%’ is key to our company ethos; we can provide much more to our joint venture partners beyond funding. Why do developers love to work with you? Obviously, full funding is music to any developer’s ears, but our partners tell us they love that we’re the ones burning the midnight oil and doing all the admin, VAT

returns, valuations and chasing of solicitors and surveyors saving them a huge amount of time and cost. They get their Sunday evenings back! At Go Develop, there’s a whole team of dedicated property experts from marketing to accounting to draw on if you’re a developer wanting to focus on the actual build. We are not financers with a tick box mentality, we are experts in property. Our decisions are made by a proactive and helpful team, with a wealth of build and development experience – we’ve done it ourselves and understand the challenges and opportunities our clients are facing. We’ve a superb track record of going the extra mile and stick to what we say. What are your criteria? It couldn’t be more simple… • We focus on new build opportunities, apartments and value family housing. • We work nationwide but tend to prefer outside the M25. • Our developer partners must have full planning permission in place and some property experience is desired. • The project is up to 24 months duration with a GDV of £2-£15million. • There needs to be a margin of 25% on GDV pre-finance. What should I do if I’ve a project for Go Develop? Please get in touch, either by calling 020 8974 4705 or emailing joinus@go-develop.co.uk. The first step is to send us your development appraisal and cash flow for the project, along with the full planning decision notice. We will review and advise, usually within 24 hours, whether the project is suitable. If it is, we draw up Heads of Terms and formally instruct legals, valuations and professional services. Alternatively, you might consider becoming an introducer for us. With industry leading referral fees, we place great emphasis on building and rewarding relationships with our introducers.

14 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

You’ll find we keep things simple and are known to be easy to do business with. It’s something we pride ourselves on and our returning partners are testament to that. We love giving references – ask us! For more information visit go-develop.co.uk

Audlem, Cheshire - Case Study

100% funding and end-toend support for 24 family homes in Audlem A successful developer approached Go Develop via his broker for 100% joint venture funding to cover the entire cost of a fantastic new development in Audlem, Cheshire. With planning permission in place for the demolition of an existing bungalow and construction of 24 new homes, full funding certainty was delivered, covering everything from land and build to stamp duty and soft costs – no fees or deductions. This exciting residential scheme consists of 7 affordable homes and 17 open market homes with a good mix of sizes; 10 x 3 bedroom houses, 10 x 4 bedroom houses and 4 x 5 bedroom houses. The generous living areas, high-quality specification and beautiful panoramic views provide the perfect area for young couples and families, right in the heart of Cheshire. The developer was impressed with Go Develop’s professional approach, speed of funding and the benefits offered from a great long-term strategic partnership. When during construction, poor ground conditions and adverse weather caused some delays and budget revision, the funder were flexible, as the developer explains… “Go Develop won’t abandon a project half way down the road, they are driven to make things happen and supported our project

from end-to-end. Not only did they provide funding but they also took on the admin and provided a whole range of services to help us reach our goal.” There is a whole team of dedicated and experienced property experts from accounting and legals to marketing and sales to draw on at Go Develop. All the strain and drain of VAT returns and administration are removed allowing the developer to get on with what they do best. The criteria is kept simple: planning permission needs to be in place, with a project that’s up to 24 months duration and a GDV between £2-£15million, it should involve a multi-unit residential new build or conversion. There also needs to be a margin of 25% on GDV pre-finance. In the Audlem scheme, a new ‘SPV’ was set up the same day for the developer, to hold the project until it was finished and sold, and a profit share contract was created for both parties. £5,831,973 was provided over 20

Go Develop won’t abandon a project half way down the road, they are driven to make things happen and supported our project from end-to-end. Not only did they provide funding but they also took on the admin and provided a whole range of services to help us reach our goal. months and on completion and sale of the property the profit has been divided with the developer getting the lion’s share. It’s the start of many projects together. Go Develop pride themselves on being easy to do business with and their 92% rate of returning partners is testament to that. Why not take a look at a selection of case studies on go-develop.co.uk – with over 1,100 units under construction, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 15

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3M launches 2018 architectural finishes collection Hundreds of stylish designs have been added to the DI-NOC architectural finishes range by 3M, taking the total number in this portfolio to more than 1,000. The science-based technology company has created 225 new finishes for its 2018 collection, all based on extensive research carried out by leading architects and designers. In keeping with the latest design trends, each of the new films features an advanced ultramatte top coating, designed and produced at the 3M Research and Design Centre in Japan. This creates an ultra-natural, realistic and elegant look, as well as making the products highly fingerprint and dirt-resistant. The new designs – now available in the UK and Ireland – accurately mimic wood grains, natural stone patterns, metallic finishes, rich fabrics and leather looks, as well as including solid colours. As with all products in the DI-NOC architectural finishes range by 3M, they also adhere to both smooth and rough surfaces bubble-free. This makes them ideal for everything from renewing furniture to covering interior and exterior walls to create unique architectural focal points.

The new products in our 2018 collection represent a major design trend towards ultra-matte finishes, making them a fantastic addition to our ever-expanding portfolio and giving users more creative freedom and control than ever before. The products’ durability and weather resistance mean they are also suitable for external applications including shop fronts, awnings, pillars, signs and even curtain wall renovations on commercial buildings. Pen Webley, marketing manager for the 3M Commercial Solutions division, said: “Architects and designers are increasingly recognising the benefits of using architectural finishes for their projects. Not only can these products save customers money, they can also create stunning looks that could not be achieved using the real material – whether that means wrapping a chair in ‘marble’ or covering an entire wall with a metallic finish. “At 3M, we combine science and creativity to make architectural finishes that give the ultimate appearance and performance. The new products in our 2018 collection represent a major design trend towards ultra-matte finishes, making them a fantastic addition to our ever-expanding portfolio and giving users more creative freedom and control than ever before.” For more information, visit www.3M.co.uk/graphicsolutions

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 17

Project News Construction begins on new sustainable student accommodation Construction work has begun on new sustainable student accommodation for King’s College, University of Cambridge, the first of its kind in the city.

Balfour Beatty secures contract for £60m state of the art learning and teaching facility in Glasgow Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today announces that it has been selected by the University of Strathclyde to deliver its new £60 million learning and teaching building. The contract, worth £33m, has been awarded through the University’s Major Building Construction framework, to which Balfour Beatty was appointed in February 2018. Balfour Beatty will be responsible for the refurbishment and extension to the existing Grade II listed Architecture building and the neighbouring Colville building, linking the two together to create a modern teaching space. Additionally, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick will provide the mechanical and electrical engineering services for the new state-of-the-art learning hub. Facilities provided in the new Learning & Teaching building will include a new large-scale teaching spaces and a learning village for individual study,

student-facing support services and a modern, purpose built accommodation for the University of Strathclyde Students’ Association. Hector MacAulay, Balfour Beatty’s Regional Managing Director for Scotland and Ireland, said: “This award is testament to our longstanding relationship with the University of Strathclyde and to our expert knowledge and experience in delivering modern educational facilities across Scotland. With almost 23,000 students based on the central Glasgow campus, we look forward to providing an exciting and inspiring environment, while also delivering multiple social and economic benefits to the surrounding community.” Work is due to commence on site later this year, with completion expected in summer 2020. At construction peak, the project will employ a workforce of over 200, providing local employment opportunities and graduate positions.

The development, situated in existing College grounds on Cranmer Road, will provide 59 graduate rooms built across two new accommodation buildings to create a unified campus around a shared garden, a short walk from the College’s historic courts. Within the grounds are two existing buildings. The student housing will be built to a Passivhaus standard, a sustainable housing initiative, resulting in ultra-low energy buildings which require very little fuel for heating or cooling. Philip Isaac, the Domus Bursar at King’s College, said: “We are delighted to have been given permission to develop this sustainable building on College land. It will provide much-needed accommodation for our graduates and foster the growth of a community spirit on the site.” R G Carter will be constructing the student accommodation, having become one of the UK’s leading Passivhaus homebuilders, through continued investment, upskilling of its workforce and expertise demonstrated across a number of award winning developments. Each accommodation block will reflect the surroundings in a contemporary way. Cranmer Villa will incorporate red brick walls, clay roof tiles and stone windows that reflects a style with neighbouring buildings. The Garden building has been designed to blend into the conservation of the area, with a glazed terracotta cladding and a sustainable ‘green’ roof. It is expected that students will take up occupation in Autumn 2019.

Broad daylight : MB Crusher sneaked in! (…to do the job) Leicester, UK- It had all the characteristic of a complex project: an historical city centre, heritage site full of tourists, narrow access road. But it did not stop an MB Crusher from sneaking in and reclaim the old Greyfriars car park. This car park is located next to the King Richard III Visitor Centre and a stone’s throw away from the Cathedral Church of St Martin. Usually known as Leicester Cathedral, were the remains of Richard III were buried in 2015 after being discovered nearby.

The renewal is part of a bigger expansion plan that will be carried out in the area, right in the heart of the historical site. Due to the location being a conservation area, accessibility is limited by extremely narrow streets and also the number of heavy equipment needed to be minimise. The key was to recycle as many material on site. So an MB Crusher Bucket BF60.1 was mounted on a Caterpillar 313F excavator, to crush the hardcore available to then reuse it, totally eliminating the need to bring wagons on and off site

18 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

Project News

Gleeds wins key roles on Swansea Council’s Digital Employment Hub

The Kingsway transformation is being made possible by Swansea Council but is also due to benefit from funding via the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal, an investment in 11 major projects across the Swansea Bay City Region. The project is also expected to attract funding from the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the public sector and the private sector.

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“This is a really exciting project and I look forward to progressing from the feasibility stage, on to planning and subsequently seeing the build phase get underway next year”. Chris Pembridge, director at WSP in charge of the project, added: “I am delighted to be working with Gleeds on the Kingsway Digital Employment Hub. The Kingsway is set to become a thriving digital district and the Employment Hub will be vital in achieving the Council’s vision of turning the city centre into a vibrant and bustling centre for business and leisure.”

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Gleeds joins urban design experts the Urbanists, built environment specialists Architecture 00 and commercial property consultants Cushman Wakefield in the line-up of organisations working alongside WSP to deliver the scheme.

The new Employment Hub forms part of a wider programme of redevelopment for The Kingsway under Swansea’s City Deal Digital Village proposal, which will eventually see it transformed into a pedestrian-friendly ‘digital district’. Once complete, it will boast new public areas, landscaped parkland, cycle tracks and a two-way single lane vehicle route.

Simon Williams, director at Gleeds said: “Gleeds is proud to be part of the team selected by Swansea Council to deliver this landmark scheme. Works on The Kingsway, and in particular the new Digital Employment Hub, will serve to attract huge investment and generate hundreds of jobs in the city centre which will be enormously beneficial to the local economy.

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Demolition of the former Oceana nightclub which previously occupied the site has already been completed, and work on the construction of 100,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art office space earmarked for innovative businesses in sectors such as ICT and life sciences is set to begin in 2019. Two vacant properties on Oxford Street have also been pulled down to allow the creation of a pedestrian walkway between the Quadrant bus station and the new workspace.

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International property and construction consultancy Gleeds has been appointed to act as project and cost manager on the delivery of the £30 million Kingsway Digital Employment Hub in the heart of Swansea, as part of a multi-disciplinary team headed up by engineering consultancy WSP.

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 19

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STATE-OF-THE-ART ASEPTIC MANUFACTURING FACILITY WINS AT THE CONSTRUCTING EXCELLENCE NORTH EAST AWARDS BakerHicks, the multidisciplinary design and engineering company, is celebrating the success of one of its major pharmaceutical projects, the GSK Aseptic Manufacturing Facility, at the 2018 Constructing Excellence North East (CENE) Awards. GSK won the Client of the Year category for the project, which was also a finalist in both the Offsite Project and Safety & Wellbeing categories. The new-build project at Barnard Castle will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the aseptic filling of vials and syringes, and handling of cold chain products, securing the future of aseptic liquid filling operations at the site. BakerHicks completed the scheme design phase and is the lead designer for the delivery phase, working alongside the GSK Engineering team, SES Engineering Services, Star Refrigeration, Turner & Townsend, Daldrop and McLaughlin & Harvey. A central element to the success of this large and complex project is GSK’s integrated project delivery (IPD) approach. This has seen a high degree of collaboration between everyone involved in delivering the project,

leading to efficiencies and minimising risk. As part of this approach, BakerHicks is continuing to provide support and technical advice throughout construction stage with a dedicated lead designer and Building Information Modelling (BIM) manager based on site. This allows the company to use its experience and knowledge of designing facilities of this type to support and challenge the other IPD partners on the project to achieve the best solution. BIM is being used to coordinate the project as well as providing digital asset management, supporting GSK’s IPD philosophy. BakerHicks manages one central, fully coordinated model which integrates models from various separate design packages and specialist equipment providers to inform the construction of the facility. This not only ensures the integration of the multi-disciplinary design but also allows the team to quickly and proactively detect and resolve any clashes and respond to any on-site questions on construction and installation.

The level of BIM integration on a project of this type is unprecedented. Making full use of this technology in this way allows for the coordination of the team and design across what is a large scale and highly complex project. Tom Dickinson, head of project management at BakerHicks says: “GSK is a highly innovative client who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries to drive better project delivery and this is a fantastic example of what that approach can achieve. For instance, the level of BIM integration on a project of this type is unprecedented. Making full use of this technology in this way allows for the coordination of the team and design across what is a large scale and highly complex project. It’s this industry leading approach to the project which makes GSK thoroughly deserving of the CENE Client of the Year award.”

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 21

Project News

WORK ON £2.5M NEW NORTHUMBERLAND WALLED GARDEN HOUSE STARTS Plans for a stunning £2.5m walled garden house between Alnwick and Morpeth have moved a step closer to completion, as the first phase of construction work gets under way. The move is the latest phase of an ambitious project by Newcastle architects Pod to create a five-bedroomed property, which will revitalise and safeguard the Grade II listed walled garden in Newton-onthe-Moor under plans already approved by Northumberland County Council. The 1771 built walled garden originally supplied fresh produce for Newton Hall but had fallen into decline following years of neglect. Now, proposals will see a sympathetic restoration of the site, which will include a modern sunken living space folded under the garden landscape. This will enhance the structure’s many original features while adding a new dimension without any visual impact on the external appearance.

modern entertainment wing and convert the disused potting sheds and greenhouses into luxury living accommodation. Featuring a sauna, bar, gym and a spiral staircase leading via a retractable glass roof to a restored walled garden that wraps over the new build element, the scheme has been designed to be sensitive and reflect the gardens original purpose. It was essential the project preserves and respects the heritage of the Walled Garden and its surroundings, said Pod’s project architect and director Martin Clay. Working closely with Northumberland County Council and its conservation officers to get the scheme of the ground, he said: “As architects, you always want to work on challenging projects and for clients

with ambition. Working with Hindhaugh Homes, we have designed a highly creative home that respects the sites heritage and provides an outstanding vision of modern living. On the back of a growing client base and an impressive portfolio of work, we are going from strength-to-strength. The opportunity to work for high-profile individuals is always one that we would welcome as a creatively-driven practice.” Pod was established by Craig and Ruth Van Bedaf in 2007 and provides a range of architectural and design services. It currently employs 12 staff at its office in the Toffee Factory, Newcastle, and undertakes residential work, primarily with large regional housebuilders across the North of England. These include national housebuilders Bellway and Storey Homes, as well as Northumberland Estates.

The news is the culmination of more than three years of hard work by Toffee Factorybased Pod, which has worked closely with client Paul Hindhaugh on designs for the 6,000 sq. ft. innovative property. Construction of the some of the outbuildings and garages is under way and will be followed by plans to build a

Keyhole pipe surgery restores hospital drainage system Drainage engineers from Lanes Group plc have carried out a programme of no-dig drain repairs at a primary care hospital, restoring the system to good health. In a process akin to keyhole surgery on the human body, they inserted 52 ‘patch liners’ in underground pipes at East Cleveland Primary Care Hospital in Brotton, North Yorkshire. The hospital, run by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, provides a wide range of services, including general rehabilitation and assessment, diagnostics, drug initiation and administration, and pain control. Drainage teams based at the Lanes depot at Stockton-on-Tees carried out the drain rehabilitation work on behalf of Team Build Construction without causing disruption to hospital services.

22 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

Project News MARTIN-BROOKS PRESERVES INTEGRITY OF ANCIENT MINE Sheffield’s roofing specialists, MartinBrooks, dug deep to ensure their heritage skills were on top form for repairs on the site of a scheduled ancient monument in Derbyshire. The firm carried out a full reroof of the former smithy at Magpie Mine in Sheldon, near Bakewell, which is widely regarded as the UK’s best example of a lead mine. Magpie Mine is an Historic England Scheduled Ancient Monument and the smithy and adjoining agent’s house are now used as Peak District Mines’ field headquarters. Open access was maintained whilst the work was underway. Chartered building surveyors, Weston Alison Wright, commissioned MartinBrooks to carry out the refurbishment, using like-for-like materials to ensure the appearance of the building was unaltered. Timber repairs were made to the roof structure, before natural stone slates were laid to the rear elevation and Hardrow concrete slates to the front. A bitumen, non-breathable felt also had to be applied, due to the presence of bats. Records show lead mining has taken place on the Magpie site since 1740 and every period of working can still be traced. The smithy and agent’s house were constructed a hundred years later by famous Cornish engineer, John Taylor, who managed the mine from 1840 to 1869.

Lanes Area Development Manager Doug Meynell said: “Rehabilitating pipes by lining them is the least disruptive way to restore drainage systems across busy public sites like hospitals, schools or shopping centres.

Our pipe lining teams take up very little space and are very experienced at working safely and productively in live environments, so NHS patients and other visitors would have barely known we were there. “Our pipe lining teams take up very little space and are very experienced at working safely and productively in live environments, so NHS patients and other visitors would have barely known we were there.” Lanes had previously carried out a full-site CCTV drainage survey, providing details reports backed by HD-quality video clips, gathered with pushrod and robotic

Great care was taken to match all repairs at Magpie Mine to the existing construction, calling on traditional skills and the use of carefully selected products to give the appearance of the original roof. Dale Wright, Martin-Brooks’ contracts director, said: “The purpose of awarding a site scheduled ancient monument status is to preserve it for future generations in

cameras, which showed the extent of damage to the pipes. Problems found included circumferential and longitudinal cracking, displaced joints and root ingress. A programme of drain rehabilitation work was approved by Team Build to resolve the problems. A series of remote structural repairs, also known as patch liners, were installed to strengthen the surface water and foul drainage pipes, and to prevent water from getting into or leaking out of the system. In a repair programme that lasted three weeks, the Lanes drainage teams used a process called ambient cure in place pipe lining (CIPP) to repair each broken pipe. A resin-impregnated glass-fibre sleeve wrapped around an inflatable rubber packer was guided into the pipe to the point where it was damaged. The packer was then inflated with compressed air, pushing the liner against

much the same state. To this end, great care was taken to match all repairs at Magpie Mine to the existing construction, calling on traditional skills and the use of carefully selected products to give the appearance of the original roof.” The work at Magpie Mine was secured after a successful tender and took two months to complete. It was financed by Natural England’s Environmental Enhancement Scheme and overseen by Peak District Mines Historical Society, whose members provide visitor information and tours.

the pipe, where it was left to harden - or cure - a process that usually takes about 90 minutes. With the packer removed, the liner creates a new pipe-within-a-pipe, adding decades to the life of the drain line. A combination of straight liners and special curved liners to accommodate bends in the pipes were installed. Doug Meynell said: “The only alternative to this no-dig CIPP technique would have been to carry out 52 excavations and replace each section of cracked pipe. “This would have been exorbitantly expensive and caused major disruption to hospital services. With careful planning by our teams, and close partnership working with Team Build, all that was avoided. “Also, because the patch lining could be carried out while the hospital’s drainage system was still in use, the work could be done during daylight hours, avoiding the need for more costly night-time work.”

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 23

Project News

Balfour Beatty protects numerous homes in Dundee as it completes vital flood defence scheme Balfour Beatty has completed the £6.5 million Dundee flood protection scheme on behalf of Dundee City Council. The project, which was awarded under the Scape National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework, will reduce the risk of flooding to the new £1 billion Dundee Waterfront area, and protect numerous homes and major roads between Camperdown Dock and Dundee Airport. A variety of materials were used including reinforced concrete, concrete blocks and natural stone to build a new, set-back flood defence wall, as well as flood gates to facilitate pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle access. To minimise disruption to the local community and visitors to the area, Balfour Beatty implemented specialist fencing to segregate the works and maintain right-of-way for members of the public at all times. Iain Lumsden, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s North Scotland Delivery Unit, said: “The local community and visitors to the new Dundee Waterfront area can now fully experience the extensive benefits of the scheme, which

will protect numerous nearby properties and roads from the risk of flooding. “Through Scape’s framework, we have worked closely with Dundee City Council to make a real and sustainable contribution to the local economy, including the delivery of over 600 apprentice hours through the Angus Shared Apprentice Programme.” Victoria Brambini, Managing Director at Scape Procure, commented: “Effectively managing our coast through flood protection schemes is vital. The important work that has been carried out in Dundee, will reduce the risk of flooding to houses, businesses and key infrastructure. Over the last 20 years Dundee’s waterfront has been transformed, with the local community benefitting from new shops, restaurants and museums, this project is an important step in securing the area’s future. “Creating social value is an integral part of our frameworks, and the 600 apprentice hours logged on this project, will have been invaluable for local apprentices. Onsite experience is an essential part in supporting young people to develop vital skills.”

24 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

The Dundee flood protection scheme has been a significant piece of work which has created greater piece of mind for residents and business potentially at risk of higher water levels in the future. Mark Flynn, Deputy Convener of Dundee City Council’s City Development Committee, said: “The Dundee flood protection scheme has been a significant piece of work which has created greater piece of mind for residents and business potentially at risk of higher water levels in the future. “The project has been delivered effectively and efficiently and has had lots of positive comments from people saying that it has enhanced some of the waterfront walks.” Balfour Beatty is the sole delivery partner on the Scape National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework. The £1.5 billion framework allows public sector clients to commission works through a procurement process that provides the fastest route to market and utilises early contractor engagement to deliver the best value solutions for clients.

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Developing risk professionals

Risk Management for Infrastructure An IRM training course delivered in conjunction with

Learn to apply risk management principles to infrastructure projects with the IRM’s latest training course. The Risk Management for Infrastructure one day course will teach you how to develop a functioning risk management strategy tailored to the infrastructure industry. Sign up now for our first London session, 13 November 2018 Find out more at www.theirm.org/infrastructure We also offer a Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management “The risk management field is gaining in prominence within the Infrastructure industry and clients have developed a very high expectation of the risk management function. IRM qualifications are a necessary quality benchmark.”

Companies we have worked with:

Vinay Shrivastava, Group Chair of the IRM Infrastructure SIG Director, Turner & Townsend Infrastructure

“In business you are surrounded by professional people with qualifications in their specialisms and having a formal qualification in risk management reinforces that it is a vital component of successful business.” Phil Parratt, CIRM Risk Manager, Kier Group

Keep up with the IRM’s work in the infrastructure sector by joining our dedicated Special Interest Group www.theirm.org/infrastructureSIG

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Safety News

Shocking facts around asbestos deaths highlighted at annual construction industry event The number of tradespeople in the UK who die each week from work-related asbestos exposure now stands at twenty, far more than those who die through accidents at work. Asbestos-related diseases claim over 100,000 lives around the world every year, and it is estimated it will have caused ten million deaths before it is fully controlled. IOSH vice president, Jonathan Hughes, will present the No Time to Lose (NTTL) asbestos campaign to constructors attending the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS): Image of Construction event at CodeNode in London on 11 September. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) launched the asbestos phase of the NTTL campaign earlier this year. Despite knowing of its fatal properties since the late 1800s, asbestos was used prolifically by industry until it was banned in the UK in 1999. Exposure to asbestos is now one of the biggest contributors to occupational cancer, leaving construction workers at greatest risk of its deadly legacy.

The construction industry is a dynamic and evolving sector and we must do all we can not only to make our working practices ever safer but also to improve the health and wellbeing of all those who work in our industry. Dr Jukka Takala, from the Workplace Safety and Health Institute in Singapore and President of the International Commission on Occupational Health, who revealed the toll of work-related lung cancers last year along with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland, said: “Latest estimates suggest as many as a quarter of a million lives may be lost every year to the workrelated effects of exposure to asbestos. “I have been pleased to support the IOSH No Time to Lose campaign over the past four years as it tackles the global burden of occupational cancer in a practical way by enlisting the support of companies, the occupational safety and health professionals who dedicate their working lives to the health and wellbeing of their colleagues, and transnational organisations like the International Commission on Occupational Health

and the Workplace Safety and Health Institute in Singapore, to which I am affiliated.” CCS is a supporter of the NTTL campaign and is committed to help raise awareness of the risks of asbestos exposure in the construction industry. Edward Hardy, CCS Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to support IOSH’s No Time To Lose campaign – anything that is done to help raise awareness of occupational cancers and the effective prevention programmes that can be introduced by employers will only improve the wellbeing of all involved. “The construction industry is a dynamic and evolving sector and we must do all we can not only to make our working practices ever safer but also to improve the health and wellbeing of all those who work in our industry. “Through the monitoring of the 8,000plus sites currently registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme, we will continue to raise awareness of initiatives such as this, as ultimately this can only lead to a far greater understanding of how we can best care for our workforce.”

QUELFIRE HELPS FIRESTOP SKIPTON MILL The firestopping expertise of Quelfire combined with the installation skills of RA Fire Protection have created a safe, compliant residential development in Skipton. Belle Vue Mills in Skipton, North Yorkshire, is a refurbishment project that will create 39 high quality apartments. The main contractor at Belle Vue Mills was Triton Construction, which has its head office in Liversedge, West Yorkshire and a North West regional office in Warrington. There were a number of challenges on this project arising from the fact that it was an original mill building requiring various penetration for services through existing walls and floors. The walls themselves where thick stone construction, while the curved brick internal ceilings required angled

penetrations that then had to be firestopped. Each of the service apertures in the building had to be correctly firestopped and Yorkshire based RA Fire Protection decided to partner with Quelfire. The company choose to do this because of the complexity of the work as well as the breadth of fire stopping systems offered by Quelfire. The main contractor had also recommended Quelfire because they had delivered a successful outcome for the M&E contractor during earlier phases at Belle Vue Mills. Firestopping in existing and new buildings is essential to retain fire compartmentation. It is these compartments that delay the spread of fire for a given amount of time, allowing occupants to evacuate to safety. It also ensures safe corridors for fire and rescue

services to enter the building, whilst keeping a fire contained for longer delays its spread to other areas. Fire and smoke can also spread invisibly through ducts and penetrations that aren’t adequately fire stopped, which is why a methodical approach, with rigorous, audited checks at each stage, and label tagging of each penetration, ensured a coordinated approach to the firestopping work at Belle Vue Mills. An increasing number of contractors like RA Fire Protection are partnering with Quelfire, because the company has the expertise to identify and firestop all penetrations within walls, ceilings and floors. John Afford, Director at RA Fire Protection, added: “We now use Quelfire on all our sites because they have the technical expertise as well as a product range to meet all our firestopping requirements.”

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 31

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13% Rise in Work at Height Safety Breaches In Q3 of 2018 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released eye-opening statistics based on fatal injuries in the workplace, which showed that 35 fall from height related fatalities had occurred in 2017/18, increasing by 40% from 2016/17.

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Lawrence Waterman, Chairman of the British Safety Council (BSC) commented that “This increase in workplace deaths may be the first sign of the effect of years of budget austerity”. HSE statistics also showed that around one third of the 144 fatalities that occurred in 2017/18 involved self-employed workers, typically in the construction and agriculture industries. Overall, these eye-opening statistics show that the management of Health and Safety risks in the workplace, and in particular Work at Height, are not currently meeting the standards set out in regulations. Marion Diable, Client Director at Heightsafe Systems said, “We are constantly working with our loyal and growing client base to help educate them whilst undertaking statutory compliance works and assisting with reviews of all Work at Height related practices”. As established market leaders in the Work at Height industry, Heightsafe are dedicated to making a significant difference to health and safety management in workplaces nationwide – through Fall Protection and Access Systems, Testing and Compliance services, Fabric Maintenance services including Rope Access and Lightning Protection, Training Courses and specialist Work at Height PPE. Get in touch to speak to a specialist today! info@heightsafesystems.com / 020 3819 7199

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Latest News

Landfill tax policy: Be Compliant with your Soil Re-use or Pay Tax for Waste Disposal As of 1 April 2018, landfill tax is now applicable for waste disposal at any site – including at unlicensed landfill sites where waste disposal is considered illegal. This includes any site where excavated soil has been re-used without the full implementation of either a suitable exemption from waste permitting or under a fully compliant and declared CL:AIRE Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP) Materials Management Plan. With the EA and HMRC set to target construction sites, here is some guidance on how to ensure you are fully compliant in your soil reuse to reduce your landfill tax costs.

The EA have stated that they will be specifically targeting construction sites where soil has been deposited outside of full compliance with the DoWCoP or without a waste permitting exemption. Those construction sites will be referred to HMRC for landfill tax. If non-compliant, the financial penalty and legal burden of being subject to prosecution by the EA are likely to be far greater than the initial costs of being compliant with the DoWCoP from the outset. It is expected that an increased number of non-compliant sites will be affected over the coming months and years.

What are the changes?

What is illegal disposal of waste?

The main aim of landfill tax – first introduced in 1996 - is to make waste disposal to landfill less attractive to organisations, and therefore encourage minimisation of waste volumes and alternative routes of disposal that pose less of an impact on the environment.

The definition of waste is established in European and UK law and includes soil arising from construction sites undertaking excavation and earthworks.

Illegal disposal of waste is now backed by enforceable penalties and costly sanctions. Not only will those responsible for illegal waste disposal be at risk of penalties and prosecution for non-compliance with environmental legislation, they can now also face the very significant charges of landfill tax. Extending landfill tax to unauthorised waste sites enables the Environment Agency (EA) in England or Natural Resources Wales and HMRC – in an operational partnership – to charge and penalise those with a disregard to compliant waste management and the relevant Codes of Practice. With landfill tax rates increased from 1 April 2018, the policy change provided further clarity on what material is considered to be taxable.

Waste can be deposited legally under a suitably applied and registered exemption from waste permitting, following recovery and conversion to a non-waste (for example under the WRAP protocol) or under the full and correct application of the CL:AIRE Definition of Waste: Code of Practice.. If this is not the case then the deposit of waste, including soils arising from construction sites, will be an illegal waste deposit. As well as reducing Treasury tax receipts, unregulated waste disposal can cause significant environmental harm which is why disposing of waste without a permit (or one of the above options) in place is illegal and subject to significant penalties. For example, some organisations stockpile their material waste long term, or essentially create their own landfill by disposing of waste on site to avoid the costs of disposal and landfill tax. If the EA or HMRC choose to audit an

organisation, there must be relevant documentation and reports to validate that the correct procedures have been followed when disposing of or reusing waste material. Without this, organisations could be penalised. Who is affected? Anyone who produces waste, including developers and contractors involved on construction sites, or who is involved in the waste management industry may be affected. Only those who are non-compliant in their waste management, however, will be penalised. If all reasonable due diligence has been carried out, legitimate waste management companies can be assured by HMRC’s statement that: “Safeguards will be put in place to ensure that landowners and people in the waste supply chain who, in spite of carrying out all reasonable due diligence, were unknowingly involved in the illegal dumping won’t be assessed for any tax or penalties.” How can I ensure I’m compliant? If you are responsible for disposing of waste or managing an earthworks or construction site – as an individual or on behalf of your organisation – then you are responsible for keeping waste to a minimum, storing it safely and securely as well as ensuring your waste carrier is registered and legal. Effective waste management is the first stage to ensuring compliance. The waste hierarchy is often used across a range of industries to support the evaluation of waste management processes; the five stages to consider are: prevention, reuse, recycling, other recovery and, finally, disposal. Through correctly managing your waste, classifying it before sending to landfill, and paying the appropriate landfill tax for the waste being disposed, you are likely to be compliant for waste you are sending off site. If you are reusing any materials, especially excavated materials, and do not have a suitable permit, exemption or materials management plan in place then you may not be compliant for your on-site activities. For further clarification and support in waste management, waste consultancies can often provide advice on environmental permits and waste reuse assessments as well as disposal. I currently pay a lot to send my waste to landfill. How can I reduce my costs? Landfill tax is currently in place to mitigate waste being sent to landfill and to encourage waste disposers to seek alternative routes to disposal such as material management, material reuse or treatment.

34 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

Latest News There are two types of landfill tax rates; less polluting material – known as ‘inert’ – costs £2.80 for every tonne that is sent to landfill. All other wastes are £88.95 per tonne (correct for tax year 2018/19). Hefty cost implications of the higher tax band can soon accumulate and become an unexpected financial spend for projects such as remediation works. Not only will reusing and recycling materials mean saving on the landfill tax, it can also minimise your environmental impact. If material is directly suitable for reuse, then it may be reusable (on site or via transfer to another site) under the CL:AIRE Code of Practice using a Materials Management Plan or a suitable exemption. If you are to avoid potential prosecution and a hefty landfill tax bill, you must follow certain steps when using re-material under a U1 Exemption, a the CL:AIRE Code of Practice or under the WRAP Protocol. What are the different options for compliant material reuse? A U1 Exemption requires you to register the exemption with the EA, keep suitable records to demonstrate your compliance and ensure the materials meet the requirements of the exemption. The volume limit for soil is 1000 tonnes. Under the CL:AIRE Code of Practice, you should ensure you have legitimate reason to reuse the material which must be suitable for that reuse purpose. A Materials Management Plan must be prepared to detail the whole process of assessment, tracking, reuse and verification – with a formally Qualified Person to review and declare the MMP.

COURT RULING SET TO IMPACT CONSTRUCTION DISPUTES INVOLVING COMPANIES IN LIQUIDATION A new court judgement will have a major impact on disputes involving companies in liquidation, says leading construction consultancy MPG. The decision in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) means that companies in liquidation will not be allowed to use adjudication to settle financial claims. Michael Gallucci, MPG’s managing director and an RICS accredited mediator, said: “Companies in liquidation and their advisors have often sought to settle claims through adjudication, even though they have generally been unsuccessful. This judgement will put an end to those kind of claims, saving time and costs for the courts and respondents.” The case of Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Ltd against Bresco Electrical Services Limited (in Liquidation) related to claims and counter-claims between the two companies over a sub-subcontract. When Bresco began adjudication proceedings to identify its financial entitlement, Lonsdale responded by calling on Bresco to withdraw the proceedings and also requested that the adjudicator, who had already been appointed, should resign, based on an earlier judgement. After

Bresco and the adjudicator both refused to withdraw, Lonsdale took the case to the TCC. Because Bresco was in liquidation Mr Justice Fraser QC ruled that the claims and cross claims could not be separately enforced. Instead, under the Insolvency Rules, there was a single claim to a net balance once the various claims and counter claims were set off against each other. This meant that the claim could not be settled by adjudication proceedings because it was not a claim “under the contract” and therefore an adjudicator would not be authorised to rule on it. The effect of the judgment is that companies in liquidation will not be allowed to use adjudication proceedings to pursue financial claims where there are claims and cross claims between the parties. The Court also awarded a permanent injunction against Bresco pursuing such an adjudication against Lonsdale. Mr Gallucci added: “It is likely that any adjudicator appointed in a similar case would now resign if a respondent requested that he or she should do so based on the TCC judgement.”

A Verification report should be produced and submitted to CL:AIRE; the EA may audit the site and landfill tax may be payable if there is no verification record. The WRAP Protocol outlines that waste should receive source approval testing, and follows a waste recovery process to meet protocol requirements. Records must demonstrate the end of waste criteria was met. If there is a reason that material cannot be directly reused – because of potential contamination or because it’s not required – the material can either be treated (under a suitable permit) to make suitable, or classified and disposed of. If you do not have a legitimate use for your material on site, there may still be other options as opposed to sending it to landfill. This includes sending to a properly permitted fixed soil recycling centre which will potentially treat and ultimately find a suitable use for some or all of the material on a third party site. If you are unsure how to reduce your costs, using a waste management consultancy can support you in compliant, cost-effective waste management and materials re-use.

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 35

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD

Sorting the wheat from the chaff when connecting construction sites. With some construction site broadband providers making performance claims “up to” a theoretical maximum speed, a practice the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has branded misleading for consumers, building firms should look at characteristics beyond headline speed when choosing the right connectivity platform for their construction site and sales offices: Built for construction environments: A construction site is no place to leave connectivity to chance, balanced precariously on a window ledge, or with wires creating a trip hazard. The on-site equipment must be packaged to withstand the rigours of a construction site, forming the based of a solid connection, regardless of whether mains power is available. Enterprise grade: A simple mobile broadband connection may be useful for some sites. However larger firms require a connectivity platform that provides a secure, reliable connection to their head office network, either through a physical VPN end-point or a cloud-based VPN solution, enabling them to optimise investment in cloud infrastructure. Scalable: The right connectivity platform, incorporating SDWAN technology, will be able to scale: • across single or multiple construction sites, in any location; • from one to many hundreds of users as a site evolves over time; • provide increased speeds, through bonding of multiple WAN connections, for construction sites where this is essential; • and cost-effectively replace expensive dedicated MPLS links, whilst maintaining business continuity Reliable: The right connectivity platform must provide a stable connection even in the most remote locations, using suitable highpowered external antennas. It will also utilise

network failover technology, configurable across a range of parameters, including connection failure, and speed and latency thresholds. Rapid deployment: On occasion construction site connectivity is required in less than two days. Unnecessary delay is not acceptable. However, just because connectivity is required at short notice, this does not mean building firms should be locked-in to a single WAN technology. Flexible: As a construction site evolves through its various stages, the connectivity platform must support a range of WAN technologies (including 4G, 4G+, DSL, and even satellite) exploiting them as they become available. For example, while a site may initially only have 4G coverage, when DSL becomes available the platform should be able to exploit its availability, providing a prioritised cascade between the available WAN technologies. Local network provision: In addition to providing connectivity to the outside world, the platform should also enable a secure Wi-

Fi or wired network for the remote site and provide guest network capabilities for visitors. Single support interface: The right platform must also provide a single support interface, so that existing IT helpdesk staff have instant access to diagnostics and performance insights for every site and gives them the ability to remotely configure connectivity, without the need for expensive site visits. In the event an issue needs to be escalated, building firms must ensure their platform provider has suitable contracts in place with all their suppliers, including their network partners, to enable full end-to-end support. The CloudcellConnect platform enables construction sites of any size, anywhere, to connect to a corporate network or the internet, in under 48 hours. This enterprise grade connectivity platform, from Cloudcell Technologies, provides connectivity plus on-site networking and a business telephone solution, managed through a single support interface.

For more information visit cloudcellconnect.com/gold

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 37

People on the move

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD HAS AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR KATHRYN Cushman & Wakefield has appointed Kathryn Cockburn as a Graduate Planner in its expanding Development and Planning team in Scotland. Kathryn, from Glasgow, has a First Class Honours Degree in Geography from the University of Glasgow and is close to completing her MSc in City Planning and Regeneration there. In her spare time, she has also worked as a conservation volunteer for the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust and took part in an International Development Expedition to Nepal to help restore a school building and build a sun shelter in a rural village in the Himalayas. She will work closely with department head Maria Francké, who said: “I am delighted that Kathryn has joined the team. Her enthusiasm and passion for planning and the built environment and desire to deliver sustainable solutions will be invaluable as we continue to grow the services we offer in Scotland.” Kathryn will play a key role in the experienced team which advises on a wide range of planning matters including

regeneration, mixed use, town centre and commercial developments. Maria added: “These are exciting times for Cushman & Wakefield as we are working on a range of regeneration and town centre projects across Scotland. We have a strong team and are very privileged to work with clients across a variety of different sectors helping to guide development projects of all types and scale through an increasingly complex and ever changing planning policy landscape.” Stuart Dorward, Cushman & Wakefield’s Head of Scotland, said: “Kathryn has an impressive CV and I am sure she will be a tremendous asset to Maria and the team. “Since Maria joined to head up the Scottish planning and development team last year we have seen significant growth in this business division. The team has had an impressive, successful track record of delivering commercially viable schemes for clients who value the importance of having a skilled Scottish team with local experience and knowledge but which is part of a national team.”

Double hire at KAM Project Consultants KAM Project Consultants has expanded its team with the appointment of Laurence Alden as a cost manager and Tom Morgan as a senior project manager. Established in 2013, KAM Project Consultants, which has offices in Milton Keynes and Leicester, is an independent company of project managers and construction cost consultants focused on delivering schemes across two primary markets; industrial/ distribution and varied commercial. With over 23 years’ experience between them, Laurence and Tom, who will be joining the firm’s Milton Keynes office, have both worked on a range of highprofile projects across the country. In his new role, Laurence, who lives in Milton Keynes, will support the team with cost management across a number of industrial and commercial projects. Laurence said: “KAM Project Consultants is a wellrespected firm in the region and has an exciting and broad range of clients, which I’m very much looking forward to

38 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

working with. I’ve worked on a number of projects as both a project manager and a cost manager, but my heart has always been in the numbers. I’m pleased to be working on home soil with a dedicated and passionate, growing team. I’m excited to see my career flourish here.” Tom, who has a degree in Construction Management and Surveying from the University of Reading, joins KAM Project Consultants from Gardiner & Theobald where he worked on a vast range of projects from high-end central London residential schemes to smaller projects in the healthcare sector. Tom said: “My experience has given me a well-rounded range of skills, which I hope will be a valuable asset to the clients and team here at KAM Project Consultants. The firm has quickly established itself as a market leader and I am proud to be a part of its ambitious growth journey.” Kevin Sims, director at KAM Project Consultants, said: “We are very pleased to be expanding our Milton Keynes team. Tom and Laurence have extensive experience of the industry and will

People on the move be a great addition to the team. As the demand for our services continue to grow, we are regularly on the lookout for new passionate team members like Laurence and Tom.

New Chief Information Officer appointed at WSP

“I’m very much looking forward to working with them and would like to wish them both the best of luck in their new roles.”

Engineering and professional services consultants, WSP has recently welcomed the arrival of Lesley Hume as the new Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the UK and South Africa, reporting into UK CEO, Mark Naysmith and Global CIO, Gino Poulin.

Laurence and Tom’s appointment comes just weeks after KAM Project Consultants announced the opening of its new Leicester office, which is part of its Midlands expansion plans. As well as plans to recruit a further four people over the next 12 months at its Leicester office, KAM Project Consultants is also looking to hire an additional senior cost manager at its Milton Keynes office. The firm, which now has a 33-strong team across both offices, is currently working on a number of significant schemes for high profile clients, including Albion Land’s major new distribution centre; Link 9 in Bicester, Clipper Logistics’ new warehouse in Crick for Halfords, and a multi storey distribution centre in central London for GLP Gazeley, all of which are being delivered by the Milton Keynes team.

Lesley joins WSP from her role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the UK Government’s Cabinet Office where she has been positioned since 2008 starting as Director of Governments IT Profession. She was a senior responsible owner for a number of large cross government programmes, Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) working closely with National Security Secretariat and Joint Intelligence. She was also previously the CIO at the Cabinet Office before securing the position of COO, where Lesley held responsibility for all corporate services across the Cabinet Office and 10 Downing Street. Having previously worked as Group Information Services Director at Atkins, Lesley has over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sector. Lesley’s career has encompassed a wide range of digital and senior leadership roles across central and local government and the

engineering consultancy and oil and gas sector. Now part of the 43,600 worldwide strong consultancy, Lesley will be a member of the Global IT Leadership Team at WSP, managing the IT strategy and computer systems for the UK and South Africa. “I am thoroughly looking forward to commencing my role at WSP and to once again be on consultancy soil at one of the fastest growing firms in the industry”, says Lesley Hume. “With recent introductions of new IT services to the company, I am excited to bring experience, innovation and a fresh perspective with a future mindset to support the growth and success of the business.” UK CEO at WSP, Mark Naysmith says, “Lesley’s proven track record in both the public and private sector will be second to none to drive the success of our ICT services across both the UK and South Africa. With a strong background in consultancy, I have great confidence in her ability and versatility to lead the team and strengthen our ICT offering. We are thrilled to have her on board.”

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Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 39

â&#x20AC;&#x153; We puchased a Bay-Lynx mixer because it had the best quality of all the mixers we looked at. In addition their support and follow up are second to none. â&#x20AC;? -Dominic Avelli, Avelli Construction

Made with either steel or aluminum, Bay-Lynx volumetric concrete mixers are tested and proven to be able to withstand all the physical tolls of working on a concrete job-site. Bay-Lynx mixers are extremely precise for mix design with accuracy unparalleled in the industry. Controlling your concrete has never been easier.

Unlike other mixers, we are the only manufacturer to offer the Ultralite mixer with an aluminum aggregate bin that provides weight savings, improved aerodynamics, and will not rust. Combining the Ultralite advantages with the mechanically linked cement metering system, the Bay-Lynx volumetric mixer will transform your business. Contact our UK office to find out how we can provide the right solution for your business.

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Ancillary Site Equipment

• Ladders - Steel • Railway Sleepers • Ladders - Aluminium • RoadCrossing

Plates • Rubbish Chutes • Debris Netting • Tarpaulins • Temporary Site Fencing • Scaffold Lights • Pedestrian Barriers • Castor Wheels • Scaffolding Accessories • Test Cube Moulds • Concrete Skips • Hoarding Panel Clips • Prop and Trestle Pins • Baulk Timber • Many Other Items

BUILDING EQUIPMENT

Construction Site Theft: VPS Site Security backs campaign as equipment theft rockets 35%

CM1018052 Fisco Tools Quarter Page.indd 1

VPS Site Security, responsible for Europe’s largest fleet of CCTV Towers, has backed a ‘Secure It, Keep It’ campaign to reduce a rising trend in construction crime. Ireland’s Construction Industry Federation, together with Ireland’s National Police and Security Service reported a 35% rise in construction crime last year. Vehicle theft from building sites made up over 40% of these crimes. “This staggering rise in thefts in Ireland is likely to be reflected across the UK and Northern Ireland experience also, where the latest estimates calculate plant and equipment worth up to £2 million a day is stolen from construction sites” comments Mark Wilson, Head of Operations at VPS Site Security. “So little of the stolen tools and equipment are recovered, the key to managing down this cost is to get the security right first time.”

17/09/2018 10:18:23

VPS Site Security has listed their ‘Great Eight’ Secure It, Keep it checklist tips:

Control access to the site - and use the CCTV to help monitor and check visitors

Store your tools and equipment in a secure area - some sites use sea containers to lock up and store their equipment

Report all thefts and suspicious activity on sites to the police

Set up CCTV - JCB SmartTowers, with day and night vision cameras, remote control movement and both prerecorded and live response audible warning systems are “like having several guards 24/7 on site.” Check and secure perimeters Fences or hoardings are effective to keep a compound secure

Deploy good lighting especially when the clocks go back (October 28th)

Keep the number of gates to site entrance to a minimum

Temporary security alarms should be used that can operate without external power and be easily relocated as the construction site develops

This staggering rise in thefts in Ireland is likely to be reflected across the UK and Northern Ireland experience also, where the latest estimates calculate plant and equipment worth up to £2 million a day is stolen from construction sites

Construction UK Magazine - [Month] 20xx xx 2018 42 Construction UK Magazine - October

Floorcraft fits the FEINest floors (and ceilings) with its new value pack This issue we join Jasper, a young selfemployed joiner to discuss his work, his views on buying tools and his review of the newly launched value pack range, focusing on FEIN’s new Best of Flooring set. Jasper Cochrane is a 24-year kitchen fitter who last October started his very own joinery business, specialising in flooring. Following years of testing out different careers, he decided to follow in his dad’s footsteps, with him and his younger brother both taking on joinery apprenticeships. “My dad was kind (and patient) enough to put us both through the 4 years of training, creating a family business. After completing my apprenticeship, I worked for bigger joinery firms but decided that I would rather start up my own company, as I wanted to guarantee an excellent finish every time something which wasn’t possible working for a large firm.” So it was that Floorcraft was born, which finds self-employed Jasper undertaking all levels of flooring jobs, ranging from small scale domestic, to large scale commercial jobs. “I often work with high

quality materials, which can be pretty nerve wracking sometimes, because if anything goes wrong, it’s all down to me. The perks of being self-employed! As well as flooring, I ensure high quality finishings and can extend my work to other aspects of joinery; whatever is needed to complete the space. Starting out as a new business can be tough, but I have received support from family and firms, which has enabled me to purchase high performance tools. I love researching tools, saving up and buying the ones I think are the coolest, but also have quality and power. Let’s be honest, you get what you pay for in life. Bottom line - If the tool helps me get jobs completed well, and faster, then ultimately I make bigger profit margins, which is good for the wallet, and for a start-up like Floorcraft. This is why FEIN is now one of my favorite brands because the quality of the tools they produce is excellent and without compromise, something hard to find in modern power tools. Things like the anti-vibration features on the FEIN MultiMaster is world-class, and I jumped on the opportunity to test their ‘Flooring Value Pack’ in the UK, which contains a HSS segmented blade, an E-Cut saw blade and a scraper blade.

FEIN is now one of my favorite brands because the quality of the tools they produce is excellent and without compromise, something hard to find in modern power tools. Things like the anti-vibration features on the FEIN MultiMaster is world-class, and I jumped on the opportunity to test their ‘Flooring Value Pack’ in the UK, which contains a HSS segmented blade, an E-Cut saw blade and a scraper blade. Despite putting money down on the machine, I had used other manufacturer blades in addition to FEIN’s, FEIN’s blades clearly being of higher quality. I’ll be filling my toolbox with FEIN Starlock from now on.” For more information on the Best of Flooring set, or other packs available in FEIN’s value pack range check out https:// fein.com/en_uk/news/promotions/thegreat-british-value-pack-range-0792/

I used the pack on-site whilst loading 6 ceilings with service hatches for a hotel based in Glasgow, and whilst delivering new flooring for a property that was experiencing damp issues around the owners UVC front door. For the hotel fit, I used the HSS blade to cut out sections for the hatches in the plasterboard ceiling, before plastering. I then used a round sanding pad on the multi-tool to sand down the heavier bits of plaster, and some of the MDF hatch pieces, before painting. For the property, I used the E-Cut blade to deliver undercutting of the doors, and facings before sliding the flooring underneath. I also delivered some small cut outs on the flooring itself.

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 43

Want a safer, more comfortable way to use a Jackhammer? Concrete is tough and having the job of breaking it up, is a physically demanding job! With some Jackhammers weighing in at 16kg, they are heavy pieces of kit. Especially if you’re operating one for hours at a time, then your body will take a hammering…pardon the pun. One of the hazards associated with jack hammering are hand and body vibrations which can cause a whole raft of physical issues ranging from nerve damage to lower back disorders. Nasty. There are many ways to minimize the potential impact of these hazards and topping the list is; 1.

Have the right Equipment!

One company who can certainly help with this is Makinex Construction Products who are committed to helping you do your work Safely and Efficiently. One of their products is the Makinex Jackhammer Trolley which is an awesome machine! The Jackhammer Trolley carries most of the weight of the jackhammer while the user positions themselves behind the trolley and pushes it along. The Makinex Jackhammer Trolley is a versatile demolition tool that removes floor tiles, parquetry and mortar beds. It can also prepare surfaces by removing residue from tile beds and concrete floors. It can be adjusted to 3 different positions ranging from 30 – 80 degrees to suit most demolition jobs and has built in anti-vibration systems to protect the user from the dangers of hand and body vibrations mentioned earlier.

The JHT is available with 2 different attachments to ensure you’re using the right tool for the surface been removed. These are the called the Tile Smasher and Flippable Wide Chisel. The Makinex Jackhammer Trolley; was first created back in 2004 and since then has helped thousands of Jackhammer Operators reduce their operating hazards all around the world. Users report on been able to do their jobs up to six times faster due to the decrease in operator fatigue provided by the Jackhammer Trolley.

FLOORING PRODUCTS

Products that save you time and money

Simon James of Mark James Complete Building Services had this to say from his experience with the Jackhammer Trolley; “Breaking up floor tiles is something we do on every job and the Jackhammer Trolley have made it so much quicker. But even better is the fact it reduces the hand vibration and the bending over. We have now used these on every job.” Some other tips to help minimise the physical impact when jackhammering include; 1. 2. 3.

Ensure you have adequate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Non negotiable items include, gloves, boots, safety glasses, ear protection and long pants. Take regular breaks Suppress potentially harmful Silica Dust with a portable constant pressure water unit such as the makinex Hose 2 Go

Jackhammer Trolley

Innovative design for clever contractors

By following these simple guidelines, you will be able to complete your demolition work safely and more efficiently.

To learn more about the Makinex Jackhammer Trolley or Makinex Hose 2 Go, please visit our website: makinex.co.uk or contact Russell Boswell-Munday on 0121 280 3012.CONTACT US AT

44 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

makinex.co.uk

Company News

OAG hits new heights with multi-billion-pound Battersea redevelopment Architectural glazing experts OAG are set to take part in the multibillion-pound transformation of one of London’s most famous and recognisable landmarks. For decades, Battersea Power Station didn’t just provide electricity – it was a cultural icon, featured on album covers, in films and on TV. Since 1983, when it finally ceased production after thirty years, the building has laid derelict. But in 2012, it was acquired by developer’s SP Setia and Sime Derby – and now, it’s the site of an £8bn redevelopment that will see the construction of hundreds of homes, workplaces, restaurants, galleries and community spaces aimed at rejuvenating the entire district. Over twenty years, OAG has built itself into one of the biggest names in UK architectural glazing, providing bespoke solutions for end-users as diverse as O2, the Tate Modern and Network Rail, and collaborating with market-leading main contractors like Lendlease, Mace, Costain and Sir Robert McAlpine.

Now, fresh from taking part in another multibillion-pound renovation at London Bridge Station, OAG have been contracted to provide a comprehensive package to the Battersea development, including shop fronts, glass doors and floors, metal porticos and fire-rated glazing. “To be appointed to work on such a prestigious project is a huge achievement for OAG,” comments Director Gary Evans. “Two decades of hard work and expertise have made us the obvious choice for a project of this size and scale, and I believe no-one else in the industry can provide the quality and versatility we can. We have been working together with the project team for 3 years to develop an innovative solution that will compliment this remarkable scheme. “This is a hugely ambitious undertaking – when it’s finished, it will have transformed a run-down part of London into one of the most exciting and innovative business, retail, cultural and residential centres in the world.

“Undoubtedly, a project of this scale and complexity will present challenges. Battersea Power Station itself is a Grade II* listed building, and the wider development is subject to stringent English Heritage restrictions. Our experience gained on the glazing packages at St Pancras Station and other heritage sites provided us with invaluable expertise in this area. “This will be one of the most exciting projects we’ve undertaken – and the perfect opportunity to show why we’re the best in the business.”

Take a bite size slice of the 18th Edition with Electrium Electrium, the UK’s leading electrical group, home to brands such as Crabtree, Wylex & Appleby, has created a Bitesize look at some of the new content in the 18th Edition wiring regulations. It has been produced in order to help simplify and emphasise certain key points and it’s ideal for anyone who works on electrical installations. The BS7671:2018 Requirements for Electrical Installations was published on 1 July 2018 and will be fully effective from 1 January 2019, so it’s important for everyone to understand just

how these new regulations may affect installers and their customers. The bitesize document includes requirements for overvoltage protection, prevention of unwanted tripping of RCDs and the use of AFDDs - to name a few. Mike Cash, Group Marketing & Channel Manager at Electrium, “We get asked a lot of questions about the wiring regulations, and we are delighted to be able to provide some assistance to installers and specifiers with our catalogues and guides”

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 45

Not all awarding bodies are built the same Not all awarding bodies offer you a dedicated account manager. Not all awarding bodies offer you a range of Construction Qualifications, backed by quality support and excellent service. But then not all awarding bodies are SQA. www.sqa.org.uk/constructionqualifications

T: 0303 333 0330 E: mycentre@sqa.org.uk W: www.sqa.org.uk/constructionqualifications

Civil Engineering & Construction: Structural Steel Failure 016892A1_DFM_PSE 180 x 132 APR & JUN editions_F2.indd 2

When water gets into constructional steel structures it causes damage, corrosion, weakness and eventual failure. Keeping liquid water out is relatively easy with a simple barrier – but just about impossible with water vapour as in this state it can permeate through any material. Worse still, once through it condenses and is trapped there as a liquid. There is no perfect solution – but with the right equipment you can usually optimise coatings, claddings and other materials to suit the lifespan of the structure – albeit a bridge tunnel, dam, skyscraper or simple building. And that’s where Versaperm comes in with its Water Vapour Permeability Meter (WVTR).

21/05/2018 11:20

PPB range. This is particularly important for both new product development and quality control. It can measure the permeability of anything from a cladding through to a film, laminate or coating. Traditionally, measuring vapour permeability has been very expensive and could take several weeks, but with the latest product range from Versaperm it can now be done in as little as thirty minutes for some products and vapours, at the same time as producing increasingly more accurate measurements.

In some cases, such as bridges, tunnels and oil platforms, hydrocarbon permeability can also be an issue and this (or virtually any other vapour) can optionally be determined with the same Versaperm equipment. Versaperm is a world-technology leader and offers, as well as the equipment, a fast turn-around laboratory-based vapour permeability measurement service and a technical consultancy.

Part of the problem with vapour permeability is that it is not just affected by the materials and environment, but also by the way coatings, barriers and cladding are manufactured and applied. These processes can easily increase flow of vapour by a factor of four. The latest Versaperm vapour permeability measurement system measures this to an accuracy in the Parts Per Million (PPM) to

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 47

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Project News

Clugston begins work on £39m Newcastle University development Clugston Construction, part of the privately owned Clugston Group, has been given the go ahead to start construction of a new state-of-theart learning and teaching centre for Newcastle University. Due to open in January 2020, the £39m scheme will provide teaching and learning facilities for sport and exercise science, human nutrition, the School of Psychology, as well as specialist facilities for the School of Medical Education. Located at the Richardson Road site in Newcastle, the brand new 9000m2, six-storey building will feature a lecture theatre for 300 students, social learning spaces, seminar rooms, clinical suites, and academic and postgraduate offices. Procured through the North East Universities Major Capital Projects Framework which was established in 2017, the scheme will be delivered by Clugston and the design team, led by GSS Architects, both of whom have been involved in regular engagement sessions with the University and a group of key

stakeholders from the Faculty of Medical Sciences from the outset of the project. Situated alongside the recently completed Park View Student Village on Richardson Road, the new facility represents the last phase of the development of this key University site, which includes a new Sports Centre which is currently under construction. Rod Fry, construction director at Clugston Construction, said: “We are delighted to be working with Newcastle University to deliver such an innovative project. The collaborative approach adopted by the University has enabled all parties to contribute to developing the state-of-theart facility. Over the coming weeks, we will

be engaging with our suppliers to deliver what we know will be a valuable resource for the University, its staff and students.” Emma Stevenson, professor of sport and exercise science at Newcastle University, added: “This exciting new project is part of Newcastle University’s £500m investment in quality facilities that deliver an outstanding student experience and an excellent environment for our students’ learning, teaching and research. “This new facility will be used by the whole University, promoting the development of cross-disciplinary research and teaching in sport and exercise science, psychology and nutritional sciences.”

Balfour Beatty Far East joint venture appointed to oversee completion on the M+ project in Hong Kong Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today announces its 50:50 Far East joint venture, Gammon Construction, has been appointed by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) as the management contractor to oversee completion of the M+ project a museum for visual culture - in Hong Kong. To ensure safe and efficient project delivery, Gammon will employ advanced technologies such as Building Information Modelling, 3D scanning, and radio-frequency identification

technologies and will also adopt design for manufacture and assembly methods during the course of the construction programme. Thomas Ho, Chief Executive of Gammon said, “Gammon is delighted with the opportunity to play a key role in facilitating the sustainable development of Hong Kong as an international arts and cultural metropolis and an attractive tourist destination in the region. “We are fully committed to embracing the challenges ahead and are confident that we will safely deliver the M+

project to the highest quality within the construction schedule.”

Gammon is delighted with the opportunity to play a key role in facilitating the sustainable development of Hong Kong as an international arts and cultural metropolis Construction will commence shortly with completion expected by the end of 2019.

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 51

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Project News

Science park given green light to grow The cutting edge of energy, nanotechnology and aerospace research has been given room to grow in Cherwell, following a meeting of the district Council’s Planning Committee last month.

committee said: “The Science Park is within the Green Belt, but the principle of development on the site is well established and on balance we concluded there is a special reason for allowing it to go ahead.

Owned by Oxford University, Begbrooke Science Park just south of Oxford Airport brings together the brightest minds from a range of disciplines and aims to shape their research into the sustainable businesses of the future.

“Oxford University is known worldwide, so it is no surprise that there is constant pressure on the science park to grow.

Cllr David Hughes, chairman of the Cherwell District Council planning

“So much so that previous extensions have been filled within months, there is currently a waiting list for some buildings and the Government has allocated the science park £4.2million.

“There is already good access to the site, adequate parking and these proposals maximise the use of the available land rather than encroaching into the Green Belt further. “We’re glad to have done our part in helping the University realise the potential of the great minds it produces.” During the Planning Committee meeting on Thursday, 23 August the Cherwell Planning Committee approved recommendations to grant outline permission for up to 12,500sqm extra floor space.

Mi-space upgrades accommodation for service families Service family homes across Plymouth are undergoing a major upgrade as part of a project by Mi-space working in partnership with CarillionAmey and the Ministry of Defence. Mi-space, part of the Midas Group, is working across a total of 132 homes carrying out energy efficiency upgrades and installing External Wall Installation. Initial works included new windows and doors for some 50 homes in the city. The ongoing project is part of the South West arm of the National Housing Prime Contract which covers the repair and maintenance of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) on behalf of the MoD.

And in the coming weeks, works to the latest batch of 12 homes are due to be completed. AJ Eaton, Divisional Director for Mi-space, said: “We are thrilled to be part of this ongoing project and to provide upgrades to homes that are clearly needed. We are working closely with our partners to provide excellent maintenance and upgrade work that is timely and effective. “We pride ourselves on providing top-quality work alongside excellent customer service for the residents to these properties, which has already been reflected in the positive feedback we have received.”

Mi-space has extensive experience in carrying out planned and reactive maintenance to homes across the south of England and Wales on behalf of a wide range of local authorities and housing authorities. One occupier, Kristine Conway, from Plymouth, was thrilled with the refurbishments carried out to her home. She said: “Mi-space have done a fantastic job with the refurbishment, not only making the houses look great, but the improvements will benefit the estate for many years to come. With a friendly and professional team throughout, we cannot thank Mi-space enough!”

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 53

Awards News KAM Project Consultants shortlisted for national Building Award KAM Project Consultants has been shortlisted for a prestigious award in the 2018 Building Awards. The Building Awards are the industry’s longest running and most prestigious recognition of excellence, that allow companies across all aspects of building to have its achievements acknowledged. KAM Project Consultants, which has offices in Leicester and Milton Keynes, is an independent company of project managers and construction cost consultants focused on delivering schemes across two primary markets; industrial/distribution and varied commercial. The firm has been named as a finalist for the Construction Consultant/ Surveyor of the Year (fewer than 100 staff) award.

Kevin Sims, director at KAM Project Consultants, said: “We are really proud to be shortlisted for this prestigious award amongst several other impressive firms across the country and so early in our company’s life.

forward to attending the Building Awards later this year.”

“We pride ourselves on developing long lasting relationships with our clients and ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the delivery of every project. All of our staff are empowered to forge and maintain relationships with both clients and other consultants. This shortlisting is testament to each team members commitment to the firm and to providing our clients with a first-class service. It’s an exciting time for the company and we’re very much looking

KAM, which has a team of 33 across both of its offices and is capable of handling projects of any size, has been appointed to work on a number of significant schemes nationally over the last 12 months including the regeneration of Wokingham Town Centre, expansion of JD Sports’ distribution centre in Rochdale, four speculative distribution centres for First Panattoni throughout the UK and a number of distribution projects for GLP Gazeley.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 6 November at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

It has experienced significant expansion over the last 12 months, with the opening of its Leicester office, a 40% staff increase, and 66% revenue growth.

RoSPA Gold Award for structural glazing experts OAG Structural glazing specialists OAG have won the prestigious RoSPA Gold Award. Each year, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents seeks to recognise businesses leading the way in health and safety with a highly esteemed awards scheme. The Society recognises firms for excellence in everything from site safety and workforce involvement to environmental protection - but it’s a Gold Award that’s always the most coveted.

To win one, a business must show ‘very high levels of performance, demonstrating well developed occupational health and safety management systems and culture, outstanding control of risk and very low levels of error, harm and loss’.

“This feeds into our broader ethos of providing the most efficient, least disruptive service possible. No accidents mean no delays – and on the sort of extremely complex projects that are OAG’s speciality, there’s no room for error.

OAG Managing Director Andy Grey comments: “At OAG, we’ve always strived for excellence in everything we do – and that includes health and safety. It’s not a case of ensuring the wellbeing of just our employees – It’s about guaranteeing the safety of every other contractor on site, too.

“That’s why we have a dedicated full-time health and safety team, who conduct regular internal audits, both on-site and otherwise, and a highly efficient incident reporting and management system, which allows project managers, site managers and company Directors to be instantly notified of any safety issues. “We’re delighted to have been recognised by RoSPA in this way. We’ll keep striving to do better – constantly working to ensure our health and safety performance is as outstanding as it can possibly be.” OAG has recently completed work on the extensive refurbishment of London Bridge train station and secured a major contract as part of the multibillion-pound regeneration of Battersea Power Station. The company has also just received Gold Certification from the Supply Chain & Sustainability School. With a number of other exciting developments on the horizon, it’s shaping up to be another exceptional year for OAG.

54 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

Awards News

AJC are granted a Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice in the Green Apple Awards 2018 Luton based, AJC Trailers are celebrating further successes in the 2018 Green Apple Awards. The award organisers, The Green Organisation, have just released the 2018 finalists which confirm AJC Trailers status as a winner in this highly sort after accolade. The company has been nominated in the Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice 2018 category for their EcoSmart Solar product. This brand new product is designed to help to protect the environment using sustainable energy. EcoSmart Solar technology improves energy efficiency, reduces emissions and limits generator operation. An operator of an AJC EasyCabin unit fitted with an EcoSmart Solar will benefit from an estimated 93% increase in energy efficiency when compared to a continually running 6.0kVA generator. The set-up has fully automatic operation, guaranteeing all essential services; i.e. hot water, lighting is always available. Commenting on their nomination, Jav Samsa, AJC Trailer Managing Director said, “To be selected for a second time is indeed an honour. This is a testament to the ingenuity of our engineering team along with the market awareness of our sales and marketing people. We have always believed that we are in the forefront of environmental excellence in our market sector and this second award backs up our beliefs.”

HEALTH & SAFETY HEROES CELEBRATED The Association for Project Safety announces winners of annual CDM awards. Projects and professionals showcasing ways to cut the risk of death and life-changing injury and illness were celebrated today (Wednesday 12 September 2018) at the annual Association for Project Safety’s (APS) awards ceremony. The awards aim to drive up skills and professional practice across design and construction health and safety risk management and to help the industry respond to and prevent a disaster like the Grenfell Tower fire. Prizes were awarded for:

AJC Trailers were previously honoured in both the UK and World the 2017 Green Apple Environment Awards for their creativity in the design and manufacture of energy saving devices used in their temporary accommodation products. In 2018, AJC Trailers competed against more than 500 other nominations and they will be presented with their trophy and certificate at a glittering presentation ceremony on 12th November. The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries. The Green Organisation is an international, independent, non-political,

• Principal Designer of the Year - Prosurv Consult Limited & Safety for Design Limited • CDM Consultant of the Year - Safer Sphere CHS Limited • Client of the year - Earls Court Partnership Limited • Health, Safety & Wellbeing Initiative of the Year – Overbury PLC & Cowry Consulting APS President Bobby Chakravarthy said: “A rigorous, professional and innovative approach to health and safety is vital in winning the war on the risks that are inherent in the construction industry. Beacons – like today’s winners of the Association for Project Safety’s annual CDM awards - highlight best practice and new thinking. They are vital to educate, enlighten and encourage all professionals in health and safety risk management. Our winners lead the construction sector to challenge and improve its ways of working.

non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world. The Green Apple Awards are supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies. AJC Trailers operate under their EasyCabin brand and manufacture a wide range of temporary accommodation and welfare units for UK industry. The company has been producing a range of mobile units since 1964 and presently operate from a modern 32,000 sq. ft. plant, based in Luton, Bedfordshire.

“There are still too many people killed, injured or permanently robbed of good health because of work in construction. “But, increasingly, the professional specialism of design and construction health and safety risk management must look beyond the building site to the whole life of all buildings and projects. We have all seen the tragic effects of cutting corners and we need to redouble our efforts to put safety first. “The winners and worthy runners-up in this year’s APS CDM awards showcase how everyone can play a part in making design and construction risk management safer. I applaud them all and encourage professes across the sector to learn from their leadership.” The awards were presented at the Stoller Hall of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 55

Awards News

RGU shortlisted in international building innovation award An innovative all timber housing design by a professor of architecture at Robert Gordon University (RGU) has been shortlisted for an international award. Professor Gokay Deveci’s ‘Integra House’ is one of four shortlisted in the TRADA, TTJ Timber Innovation Awards 2018 ‘Innovative Product Development’ category, which celebrates pioneering product design. The Integra House, the first of which is being built in Tyrie in rural Aberdeenshire, is designed to offer an affordable and a lowenergy concept for rural living by applying the roof truss concept to the whole house including walls, floors and roof. The project has been developed at the university with support from Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), and two industry partners, Sylvan Stuart and Pasquill ltd. Professor Deveci, who was in London this week to deliver a presentation to the Innovation Awards panel, is thrilled to have been recognised. “I’m absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted in the TTJ Timber Innovation Awards and it’s great for RGU and the

Industry partners involved in the project to gain this recognition. At present there is an acute shortage of affordable homes in rural communities - just one in ten homes are considered affordable, in comparison with one in five in urban areas. In addition, the fuel poverty still a main problem.”

floors, walls and the roof.

The Integra House’ offers an entirely new construction concept for rural living. Roof trusses are the most common and cost effective way to build roofs in the UK and the house will use the wellunderstood concept and technology of truss manufacturing to design a new truss types that will provide the super structure and envelope for the entire house, including

Professor Deveci added: “The design enables a reduction of operations on site and the time spent erecting the structure while simplifying the processes involved. Also, the project targets the ease of buildability as well as addressing the fuel poverty and healthy living in remote rural locations using locally available workforce or self-build opportunities.”

The design utilised the 600mm thick blown wood wool insulation solution to meet the ‘breathable’ wall construction, as well as meeting the very low-energy standards in a cost effective manner.

WILKINSON CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS NAMED ONE OF UK’S TOP ‘SMALL BIZ 100’ BY SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Wilkinson Construction Consultants based in London Victoria have been named as one of the UK’s top ‘Small Biz 100’ by Small Business Saturday. The company have been selected as a trailblazer in the official count-down to Small Business Saturday, which takes place across the UK on 1 December 2018. The achievements and contribution to the local community of Wilkinson’s will be celebrated and spotlighted on one the 100 days running-up to Small Business Saturday. This is part of the campaign’s mission to celebrate small business success, and encourage the nation to ‘shop local’ and support British small businesses. Wilkinson Construction Consultants are multi award winning Approved Inspectors providing Building Control services across

London & South East England as an alternative to Local Authority Building Control. In the wake of Grenfell Tower the provision of Building Control services has been thrust into the limelight, with Wilkinsons leading the charge to raise standards. Managing Director Geoff Wilkinson say’s “It is great to have been picked because our business is niche and most people still don’t realise that they can use our services rather than the Local Council for Building Control Approvals. People often think we are just a subcontractor to the Council and don’t realise we are a complete alternative and are licensed to issue the Approval, making us the actual decision makers. By using our services you still get the

56 Construction UK Magazine - October 2018

same plan and site checking offered by the local authority, but without the bureaucracy associated with the public sector. We also find that people mistakenly think that because they don’t need Planning Permission they don’t need Building Regs approval either and end up with problems when they come to sell. Even minor building work such as removing a chimney, installing a toilet under the stairs, or putting up or taking down walls in their homes or workplaces can need approval. So it’s fantastic that Small Business Saturday have recognised our hard work and helped spread the word about what we do. Together we really are “Building Standards in the UK”

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Skills shortage will hamper housing delivery, FMB research reveals Small house builders predict that skills shortages in the building industry will hamper housing delivery and will eventually overtake access to finance as a bigger barrier to building new homes, according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Key results from the FMB’s House Builders’ Survey 2018, the only annual assessment of small and medium sized (SME) house builders in England, include: • The percentage of SME house builders saying that a shortage of skilled workers is a major barrier to their ability to build more new homes rose to 44% (up from 42% in 2017); • A lack of available and viable land tops the list as the most commonly cited barrier (59%) to increasing housing delivery and almost two-thirds of SME house builders (62%) believe that the number of opportunities for small site development are actually decreasing (up from 54% in 2017); • Nearly half of small house builders (46%) say access to finance is a major barrier to their ability to build more new homes; • More than half (51%) of SME house builders view the planning system as a major constraint on their ability to grow and ‘inadequate resourcing of planning departments’ was again rated as the most significant cause of delay in the planning application process for the third year in a row;

skills crisis, the construction industry needs to encourage more entrants into the industry and develop higher quality qualifications. It is critical therefore that the Government doesn’t pull the rug out from under the sector by introducing an inflexible and unresponsive immigration system.” Berry continued: “Our research also shows that the Government must continue to address the issue of access to finance for SME house builders. Although concerns over access to finance have eased slightly in recent years, in part thanks to the Government’s funding schemes such as the Home Building Fund, there is more that can be done. Our research suggests that it is the low percentages of project cost that builders are able to borrow that remain the greatest financial barrier to increasing their levels of house building.

Our research also shows that the Government must continue to address the issue of access to finance for SME house builders. Although concerns over access to finance have eased slightly in recent years, in part thanks to the Government’s funding schemes such as the Home Building Fund, there is more that can be done.

This latest research suggests that if firms were able to borrow 80 per cent, rather than the current 60 to 65 per cent of project cost, SME builders would be able to bring forward on average 40 per cent more new homes. “This latest research suggests that if firms were able to borrow 80 per cent, rather than the current 60 to 65 per cent of project cost, SME builders would be able to bring forward on average 40 per cent more new homes. Given the ambitious house building targets the Government is working towards, we cannot afford to ignore such a chance to significantly increase housing delivery.” Berry concluded: “A lack of available and viable small sites tops the list of frustrations for SME house builders for the fourth year in a row. Worse still, nearly two-thirds of these small builders believe that the number of opportunities for small site development are decreasing. “However, the recent reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, which specify that 10 per cent of a local authority’s housing delivery must be on sites no larger than one hectare, will help to address this problem. This will help to speed up the delivery of homes and lead to a more diverse and resilient housing supply.”

• When asked to look ahead over the next three years, more firms cited skills shortages as a likely barrier to growth than access to finance. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Nearly half of builders believe the skills shortage is a major barrier to their ability to build new homes. The construction sector is heavily reliant on EU workers with just under one in ten workers in the sector born in the EU. Brexit, coupled with the end of free movement, threatens to further intensify the skills shortages we already face. Given that the UK will leave the EU in less than six months, house builders are understandably concerned that skills shortages could worsen and choke housing delivery. In order to combat this

Construction UK Magazine - October 2018 57

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