ISSUE 203
BUILDING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
BUILDING DESIGN &
CONSTRUCTION ISSUE 203
LEICA
GEosystems:
MEASURING THE WORLD Also inside:
FREEDOM LEISURE
BARNSLEY COUNCIL
JEWSON
PLUS: THE GEOINFORMATION GROUP PAGE 8
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SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS: JEWSON
A LOT MORE...
WITH OVER 600 BRANCHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, JEWSON IS THE UK’S LEADING SUPPLIER OF SUSTAINABLE TIMBER AND BUILDING MATERIALS.
ewson is the UK’s leading supplier of sustainable timber and building materials with over 600 branches across the country. Since 1836, when the company was first established, Jewson has been supplying building materials and supporting the trade. Key to its success is the offer of the widest range of quality materials and products from everyday core essentials to the latest sustainable innovations. This is complemented by Jewson’s friendly and knowledgeable staff who continue to provide the highest levels of customer service. Jewson also provides specialist landscaping, joinery, insulation, tool hire, brick, kitchen and bathroom centres up and down the country. Jewson is part of Saint-Gobain, a world leader in the design, production and distribution of construction materials that is established in 59 countries. As a supply chain partner, Jewson perfectly places customers in a position to access all of the products, services, innovation and expertise avail-
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able through its sister companies in the SaintGobain Building Distribution division (SGBD). Furthermore, the service will be completely tailored to the specific needs of the client’s business. As the UK’s foremost timber and building materials supplier, and part of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution, Europe’s largest distributor of building materials, Jewson is in the unique position of being able to offer more than 400,000 products from the world’s largest suppliers. As a supply chain partner that prides itself on progressive thinking, it understands that every customer is different. Focused on building long-term relationships, the company can help support customers achieve a more integrated supply chain that will help save time and money by sharing knowledge and best practice. Its national presence means it can provide economies of scale that benefit all the partners it works with. However, Jewson’s strength as a supply chain partner is not limited to the scale of its operation. The vast range of project management, technical and administrative skills it offers is what
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makes the real difference when it comes to delivering such an exceptional service. In the last few years the company has made great strides in improving sustainability within the working practices, operations and products. Importantly, Jewson recognises the need to operate sustainably. In the way we build, refurbish, live and work in our buildings it all plays a vital role in saving energy, reducing carbon emissions and affecting our impact on the environment. Just look at the statistics. 50% of UK greenhouse gas emissions are from running buildings, while 30% of those emissions could be cut by cheap and simple measures. 10% of UK emissions come from the production of building materials and 20% of those materials on every new building end up in a skip. The challenge for us is to use less energy and utilise the materials we use more wisely. It seems simple, and it is. We will then create less carbon dioxide when we manufacture, build and live in our buildings. Jewson’s proactive approach has seen it develop its sister brand Greenworks. This has grown to
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JEWSON RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED SYSTEM OF ASSESSING THE ‘SUSTAINABILITY’ OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS AND SPECIFICATIONS. become the UK’s recognised authority and market expert in sustainable building products and solutions. Greenworks provides in-depth advice and support on the range of sustainable building solutions available in the marketplace, including renewable energy products. As well as being an authoritative voice on the green agenda, Jewson also offers unbiased training and consultancy. Greenworks is integral to Jewson in the delivery of renewable and sustainable solutions to its customers and is at the heart of Jewson’s commitment to a more sustainable future. It also supports cutting edge brands and supply partners while forming the core of Jewson’s expertise in training and development of sustainable solutions. Indeed, the Greenworks Training Academy provides multi-disciplinary courses to enable Jewson customers to develop their knowledge and
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skills around the sustainability agenda. This centrally located academy offers a suite of industry relevant training, allowing customers to learn about new products, enhance existing skills and acquire new ones. Courses will be scheduled in line with customer demand and changes to legislation, product and market drivers. The Greenworks Learning Gateway gives Jewson account customers the opportunity to access e-learning modules on a range of sustainable products and solutions, renewable technologies, market drivers and legislation updates. It also gives information on current promotional activity and relevant e-learning that might support them. This offer is now available from the Greenworks Learning Gateway, and is an additional service to help educate and train, within this ever-changing marketplace.
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SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS: JEWSON Working with BRE, the independent and impartial, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, Jewson has enjoyed its expertise in every aspect of the built environment and associated industries. BRE helps clients create better, safer and more sustainable products, buildings, communities and businesses. Jewson recognises the importance of an independently verified system of assessing the ‘sustainability’ of different products and specifications. The most comprehensive system is currently published online by BRE (Building Research Establishment). The environmental rankings are based on Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), using BRE’s Environmental Profiles Methodology 2008. Materials and components are arranged on an elemental basis so that designers and specifiers can compare and select from comparable systems or materials as they compile their specification. The elements covered are: External walls; Internal walls and partitions; Roofs; Ground floors; Upper floors; Windows; Insulation; Landscaping; and Floor finishes. Ratings for floor finishes, windows and insulation are assessed in isolation without any other materials within the specification; the rating therefore directly refers to the product. Across these building element categories the Green Guide provides an extensive, but not exhaustive, catalogue of building specifications covering most common building materials. Elsewhere, Jewson has worked closely with the Energy Saving Trust, an organisation that helps people save energy and reduce carbon emissions. By providing expert insight and knowledge, EST enables people to take action in their homes. The UK has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 and just over a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our homes. This is a considerable challenge, but
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Jewson is part of a growing group in construction to believe it’s achievable. The Code for Sustainable Homes provides a clearly laid out agenda to ensure higher levels of performance in new homes. There is, however, a pressing need to radically boost the performance of existing homes, and this will be a major undertaking in coming years. So we’re looking at a complete transformation of housing stock over the next decades. For the housebuilding industry, that’s a lot of work – and a big opportunity. As a culture we’re starting to get the basics right – insulating lofts, draught-proofing and buying more efficient appliances. But there are the
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bigger fabric measures such as solid wall and floor insulation, and of course own energy generation, which will really start to make the difference. Feed-in Tariffs are here and the Renewable Heat Incentive is to come, so these are exciting times in the housebuilding, renovating, and renewables industries. “With the support of partner organisations like Jewson, we can bring together our knowledge of both consumers and the trades to help transform our housing stock, both in terms of building new homes to the highest standards of energy efficiency and making big strides forward in the retrofitting of our old, inefficient houses,” said Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust. One project Jewson was recently involved in was a retrofit with BRE. The Victorian Terrace Retrofit Project is the result of a BRE, Government and industry partnership. It is aimed at generating knowledge of the most effective ways of upgrading existing solid wall, private and public housing stock, so that it is highly energy efficient, costs less to run, emits significantly less carbon and meets the requirements of the UK’s ageing population. The project has involved the transformation of a Victorian stable block building (on the BRE site in Watford) with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of F, into a row of Victorian terraced houses that are A and B rated. The terraced houses have been retrofitted with a range of innovative products from Jewson and other partners. These products and systems include materials that are commercially available today, as well as those which are expected to feature in the homes of tomorrow. Elsewhere, Jewson was involved in the University of Nottingham’s H.O.U.S.E (Home Optimising the Use of Solar Energy) project. Designed and built in the UK, the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E. shows how low energy architecture can lend itself to the mass market with an L-shaped, CONTINUED ON PAGE 35 4
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ENCOURAGINGLY, JEWSON ACHIEVED A NUMBER OF SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS LAST YEAR AND EXPECTS TO MAKE FURTHER GROUND THIS YEAR. modular design, so versatile it can be worked into terraces, rows or stacked as apartments. The resulting concept is a highly marketable, zero carbon starter home for a new family – a major requirement in the UK. Products from companies including SaintGobain Isover, British Gypsum, Weber, Saint-Gobain Glass, International Timber and Jewson/Greenworks are incorporated, providing total solutions to optimise energy efficiency. The house was shown at the EcoBuild exhibition 2010, and then taken and exhibited in Madrid along with projects from 19 other universities from around the world. All the projects were scrutinised in ten separate areas including: architectural merit, market viability, construction, solar systems, electrical energy balance, comfort conditions, communication of the project to a wider audience, household functionality, innovation and sustainability.
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Encouragingly, Jewson achieved a number of sustainability targets last year and expects to make further ground this year. It recently released its annual Sustainable Development Review for 2013, detailing the merchant’s proactive approach to its environmental, economic and social agenda. Key achievements for 2013 include over 93% of timber certified, 59% of waste recycled as well as a 31% reduction in water consumption. As a sustainable builders’ merchant, driving the green building agenda, Jewson prides itself on being an ethical business. After becoming the first builders’ merchant to publish Key Performance Indicators, Jewson continues to release its Sustainable Development Review to benchmark its progress towards targets in place for 2020. In 2013 there have been a number of notable successes. Jewson has reduced carbon emissions by over one tonne per million pound turnover and
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its work to monitor and reduce water usage has resulted in a 67,000 m3 saving. This means Jewson will meet its 2020 target of a 20% reduction on its 2012 figure, seven years ahead of time. Furthermore, the launch of a pioneering 360° agreement with waste management and recycling specialists Biffa has meant that site waste from all Jewson branches is now converted to energy in the form of refuse-derived fuel for the generation of electricity. This has helped the merchant to ensure that 59% of waste is now diverted from landfill and indicates that Jewson is on course to achieve its target of 0% of waste to landfill by the end of 2014. “Our Sustainable Development Review is an essential tool,” explained Rod Leigh, Sustainability Director at Jewson. “Setting targets, working towards them, evaluating our achievements and recognising that there are
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ways to improve is absolutely crucial if we are to build a sustainable future. Therefore, Jewson continues its efforts to lower our environmental impact, contribute positively to the local communities in which we operate and to create safe, healthy environments for our staff and visitors. I am very proud of what has been achieved to date and with the help of our staff and our supply chain – we can continue to make positive achievements.” As a forward-thinking company, Jewson was proud to have launched the first ever Foundation Degree in Builders’ Merchanting at Birmingham City University. Ian Lucas, Business Minister with responsibility for construction said: “The launch of a skills based Foundation degree by Jewson is an example of how successful a partnership between industry and universities can be. I welcome this move by
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Jewson to invest in the skills of its workforce, particularly at a time when budgets are tight. This new Foundation degree will give those Jewson employees the higher level skills they need to not only get on themselves, and benefit from higher education, but also reap benefits for the company.” Peter Hindle MBE, Managing Director of Jewson and Chief Executive of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK & Ireland, explains: “The Jewson Foundation Degree is an industry first and something that everyone throughout the business is extremely proud of. We recognise that investing in our people, particularly in today’s challenging economic climate, is essential if we are to maintain our position as the UK’s leading builders’ merchant and ensure that Jewson emerges from the recession ahead of its competitors.” He added that sustainability would feature strongly in the foundation degree. “The Jewson Foundation Degree will also reinforce the crucial role of the builders’ merchant in helping the construction sector deliver a more sustainable built environment. It will further professionalise our involvement with the relevant supply-chains and ensure that our students are well-equipped to play a leading role in the future of the construction industry.” The Jewson Foundation Degree is aimed at new and existing Branch Managers and Assistant Branch Managers, who have completed Jewson’s in-house Potential Branch Manager programme, and will be delivered through face-to-face modules, e-learning and telephone conference calls. The 14-month course will be supported by Birmingham City University lecturers and the Jewson training department, culminating in a major project presentation where students will be required to demonstrate creative thinking that has led to a bottom-line impact on the Jewson business. The learning modules include management and leadership, law for merchants, customer service and marketing, and personal professional development. Elsewhere, Jewson was also awarded the Employer of the Year award from Welsh apprenticeship training provider and youth support charity Rathbone. Jewson was selected as the winner after hundreds of nominations were received from
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across the entire breadth of Wales. Jewson has a longstanding relationship with Rathbone and remains committed to working with the charity to give young people the chance to learn valuable skills and experience to help gain long-term employment. Kevin Whitmore, Area Director for Jewson said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award from Rathbone because we believe that supporting young people into employment is not just good for our business but the local economy as a whole.” Jewson believes that investing in people is essential for future growth. The apprenticeship scheme has been developed to offer both academic and vocational training, enabling people with a variety of skill sets to excel and contribute towards the development of the company. This is, of course, complemented by sustainable thinking within all aspects of construction. www.jewson.co.uk Tel: 024 7643 8400
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