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The UK’s newest university, ARU Peterborough with its signature building, ‘University House’, has opened as part of a project delivered through a unique partnership between the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, Peterborough City Council (PCC) and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). The project was recently awarded the AUDE innovation of the year.
Designed by Cambridge-based and education specialist architects, MCW, as part of a MACE-led multidisciplinary team, the 5,300sqm building launched as Phase 1 of the development in September 2022, welcoming its first students for the start of the academic year.
As planned, University House
was completed in less than 2 years, despite the supply-chain and labour challenges brought by COVID. It was recognised that the site had to represent a civic asset for the city – an open-access campus created specifically to allow the community to engage with and be inspired by the campus and the university.
Designed to encourage access by communities in a city where levels of participation in higher education are below national averages, and specifically focused on providing skills needed in the local economy, it is hoped that the ARU Peterborough expansion will meet the economic needs of the region. Peterborough is currently ranked in the bottom 10%
in the UK for skills levels, something ARU Peterborough aims to help change. Subject to the conclusions of an independent review, the University will seek to secure Unlimited Degree Awarding Powers and secure university title following the 2029/30 academic year.
Courses are being delivered through a mix of on-campus lessons, in-work training, and apprenticeships, with distance learning and outreach programmes to improve accessibility and widen participation. ARU Peterborough's portfolio of courses has been co-created with employers to ensure students will graduate with both the industry-specific and transferable skills in demand, regionally and nationally. It is hoped this will drive participation in higher
education among local people, with a clear link between skills and great careers in the local economy.
Extensive consultation with the local authorities, the local community and ARU stakeholder and ‘end user’ groups ensured an iterative dialogue that contributed significantly and positively to the emerging ideas and final design proposals – from the biggest thinking to the smallest detail.
Sitting on the site of a former car park, University House, with its distinctive cantilevered solar veil and terrace views onto the city, signals a new chapter for Peterborough. The campus’ first building was designed to directly reflect the principal values of the institution – open access for the community, visibility of learning and cross disciplinary collaborative working in a building that is accessible, contemporary, welcoming and sustainable.
The campus has been designed to be publicly accessible as part of a wider approach by MCW that will offer links to the Embankment and the River Nene and which forms part of the context for the campus’ future growth.
The landscape design results in a permanent step-change in environmental quality. By replacing an underused and unattractive car park with a bustling university campus, open to all, the architecture succeeds in creating a strong sense of place, radically improving the
visual and physical connections of the site.
There is ongoing work to develop an arts and culture strategy integrated with the landscape and buildings.
Spread over three floors, a range of spaces have been provided for students, designed specifically for large collaborative lectures,
specialist skills and quiet and group study.
Arranged around a central ‘heart’ for informal learning, to encourage interaction and peer collaboration, the building’s core optimises natural light and visual sight lines to each side of the building.
Extensive internal glazing offers views of campus activity throughout, animating the learning environment; and the open central stairs and an extensive range of roof funnels bring light and ventilation through the depth of the building.
Controlled external glazing balances the desire for transparency with thermal performance standards. The south façade is dominated by a solar veil. Suspended from roof level, the design meets the needs of solar protection with visibility through a unique motif influenced by patterns seen on the city’s cathedral ceiling and stained glass.
The ground floor has been designed to facilitate community engagement through a welcoming reception, a 140-seat collaborative hall, with views out onto the campus offers space, an indoor/outdoor community café and spaces for exhibition and pop-up events
The lecture hall signals arrival
from the city through a retained tree belt offering glimpses inside on approach and a 2nd floor tree top terrace giving views back to the cathedral and city centre. It is clad in a distinctive patterned black, glazed terracotta, contrasting with the more neutral main building.
The building is designed to be adaptable and flexible to accommodate future change.
Transforming a largely brownfield site on the edge of the city, the sustainability philosophies for Phase 1 see people prioritised ahead of cars. Arrival on foot, cycle, or by public transport is encouraged through the provision of over 140 sheltered bike racks, new pedestrian paths, and minimal on-campus parking.
Extensive green roofs and photovoltaics provide renewable energy, and the design is suitable for the future connection to
Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure (PIRI) low carbon community heat and private wire networks. This means that fossil fuel-free heat and hot water has the potential to be generated in the future.
The landscape retains the majority of existing established trees, and is enhanced with the new tree planting throughout the campus site. The integration of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems enhances flora and fauna biodiversity on site.
Lien Geens, Associate, MCW, says “Working collaboratively with clients
and stakeholders who value a strong community and sustainability ethos to design buildings and landscapes that will transform lives is some of the most rewarding work we do. There is a buzz of excitement when we see the project is brought to life by the people it is designed to support. And this is just stage one!”
Professor Ross Renton, Principal of ARU Peterborough said: “From the outset we’ve wanted ARU Peterborough to be an inspiring, inclusive, environmentally friendly campus that the people of Peterborough can be proud of, and MCW have been instrumental in helping us realise this vision.
“University House, our new home, is a stunning first building, combining cutting-edge facilities with a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere. We’re delighted to be working with MCW on the next stages of ARU Peterborough’s development.”
Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Combined Authority Skills Committee chair, Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, said: “A key part of the ARU Peterborough project has been the delivery of a new civic asset for the city. Making it an attractive, welcoming and pleasant place to be, which actively encourages the community to feel a part of the new campus, has been a notable achievement so far of the design.
“The sense of value brought to the city will only increase as the new phases of the campus are built and become operational. The third phase, with a new publicly accessible ‘Living Lab’, will inspire
and engage the city and wider region in technologies and careers of the future. Set in the context of the city council’s own ambitions for the wider Embankment site, we want to make ARU Peterborough a new cultural focal point for the city and the design is absolutely essential to achieving this.”
As lead consultants of the Mace-led multi-disciplinary team, MCW are currently working on the Peterborough Innovation & Research Centre and a second teaching building, incorporating a Living Lab. An Outline Planning Application for the extension of the campus with the University Partners and project stakeholders is being progressed, and will support the delivery of a programme business case for further development of the University campus.
It is anticipated that tenants will be moving into the Peterborough Innovation and Research Centre, in 2023. The Centre will provide research, development and commercial space, and complement the dynamic academic activities at University House. The Living Lab public science facility and second teaching building will house further teaching spaces, workspaces, and social learning areas. The Living Lab is a large double-height room designed to offer a flexible space for a variety of events and activities throughout the year.
https://mcwarchitects.com
Morgan Sindall Construction’s Essex business has begun work onsite to provide a new extension and renovate parts of the Cedar Hall SEN school in Benfleet, Essex.
The tier one contractor was appointed to deliver the £4.3 million project by Essex County Council (ECC). When complete, the upgrades will enable the school to teach an additional 80 students in a high-quality environment tailored to the requirements of its pupils.
The construction work was procured through Essex County Council’s Construction Framework 2 (ECF2) and is being delivered in partnership with design and property consultants Concertus. ECF2 is a local government programme designed to rejuvenate elements of the local area to meet modern requirements, such as a growing demand for SEN facilities.
Scheduled to be ready for the September 2023 term, the new development includes a two-storey main building complete with admin space, five classrooms, art room, library and a vehicle maintenance workshop to support the current curriculum.
As part of Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach, modern methods of construction (MMC) are being utilised throughout the project. This includes the use of Structured Insulated Panels (SIPs) as a key aspect of the new two-storey building’s construction.
Cedar Hall school works with children aged 5-16 with moderate learning difficulties and additional needs. The design of the new spaces has been tailored to suit the needs of its students. This will include design features such as blocking corridors to soften the noise created by air vents.
The Morgan Sindall team have factored in a number of logistical challenges, such as operating amongst the confines of an existing school complex while minimising disruptions for the pupils and staff. To ensure that the
work will be completed on time intelligent scheduling of the works will play a key role, for example the extension of major works such as water mains during holiday periods.
Cedar Hall SEN school is set to achieve an EPC rating of A*. An energy efficient building fabric, photovoltaic panels on the roof and an air source heating system will help the school to achieve its sustainability goals.
Andrew Harper-Rowe, Morgan Sindall Construction’s Essex area director, said: “We’re aware of the invaluable role specialist educational facilities such as Cedar Hall play in delivering the educational support today’s communities require. Recent projections suggest that the number of SEN places across the country need to be significantly increased, and thanks to this extension Cedar Hall will be able to teach an extra 80 students in facilities that have been built with them in mind.
“Having worked on similar projects in Essex, such as Ramsden Hall Academy in Billericay, we’re able to provide invaluable insights and experience into delivering SEN focused facilities. We look forward to working closely with Cedar Hall, Essex County Council and Concertus throughout the delivery of this vital work and we know that the upgraded site will provide an amazing educational experience for Benfleet’s pupils when it opens its doors later this year.
Cllr Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Life Long Learning and Employability, said: “Essex County Council’s Everyone’s Essex strategy set our desire to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups including children with special educational needs and disabilities.
“We are committed to ensuring every child in the county has the support they need to meet their educational potential, and that they receive all the necessary support and resources.
Tiger Developments and main contractor Shore Construction held a ceremony to mark the milestone at the six-storey development on January 31st 2023. The site, situated at 17a Christchurch Road within the Lansdowne Campus of Bournemouth University, was purchased by Tiger Developments in January 2020 and, once complete, will be managed by its sister company Host, the award-winning student accommodation provider.
The new building, designed by architects Stride Treglown, replaces a 1950’s light industrial unit that previously occupied the site. The finished building will house 206 future students in three, tiered blocks, in a mix of high quality studios and clusters of between four and ten beds The development will include additional facilities including a gym, cycle storage, communal lounge, outdoor terraces and outdoor courtyard.
In recent years, Central Bournemouth has experienced a well-publicised shortage of student beds, where the purpose-built sector has not met the growing student demand in the city, where more than 19,000 students now account for 10% of the town’s population.
James Hobden, Managing Director, Shore Construction commented:
“We’re delighted that our first PBSA development will help ease the shortage of student beds in Bournemouth, easing the pressure on student accommodation and private rental housing in the area.”
The finished development in the East Cliff Conservation area, will be clad in a mixture of brick and fibre cement rainscreen and incorporates a feature
tower
cladding in 3 different earthy colours. The building will also feature solar panels and air source heat pumps, helping it to a achieve a Very Good BREEAM sustainability rating.”
John Nesbitt Managing Director at Tiger Developments and Host, said:
“We are delighted to have reached this important milestone in the development of this new student accommodation for Bournemouth. This will be a fantastic place for students to live and, in line with the increasing popularity of the town and its Universities as a place to study, we are already seeing a lot of interest in the rooms.
We look forward to completing the development later this year, at which stage our highly experienced team at Host will take over the day-to-day operation and management of the accommodation and ensure students receive a warm welcome in September.”
During the project which commenced in February 2022, main contractor Shore Construction has focused on employing local contractors and workers to maximise the direct benefits to the local economy. In addition, the developers have hosted ‘Introduction to Construction’ courses which offer valuable health and safety training to new construction workers as well as providing free CSCS cards.
The 17A Christchurch Road marketing suite is located at 54 Holdenhurst Road and is now taking reservations for September 2023 occupation.
A significant milestone of a University’s Estate Masterplan has been completed with the use of an acoustic system solution provided by Sto. The company’s StoSilent Distance system and StoDecosit interior plaster now provide a practical and comfortable acoustic environment for the new 25-metre, 8-lane pool at the University of Portsmouth’s £57M Ravelin Sports Centre.
“When it comes to coping with the warm and humid atmosphere found in swimming pools, the StoSilent Distance system is the most rugged and reliable solution on today’s market,” comments Sto’s technical consultant, James Gosling. “That made it an obvious choice for the University of Portsmouth sports project.”
The StoSilent Distance system was installed as a suspended ceiling using Sto’s specially protected subconstruction, which is epoxy powder-coated to protect against corrosion. StoSilent Distance acoustic boards were then fixed to the sub-construction, which can be adjusted to any shape of room to form a homogeneous, seamless surface. These high-performance acoustic boards are manufactured from blown glass granulate and are bonded to a backing laminate. This prevents any air from flowing through them and causing marking or staining on the completed ceiling, but still allows them to attenuate sound waves. For this project the boards were finished with StoSilent Décor M – a sound-permeable silicate acoustic coating which creates
a seamless, clean and attractive appearance that will resist attack from the humid atmosphere.
“The system can be installed as a suspended ceiling or as a wall covering, adds a spokesman for the Broadsword Group who installed the Sto materials. “It’s easy to cut and work, and can be adjusted, allowing you to create sound-absorbent, smooth surfaces or sharp joints and creases as required.”
“The building has been designed to set new standards for sustainable sports buildings, and this made StoSilent Distance an excellent choice as the insulation boards are manufactured using 96% recycled glass granulate,” adds James Gosling. “Providing a reliable and effective acoustic treatment in the harsh environment of a swimming pool can be a real challenge, but our StoSilent Distance system has been proven on this type of application many times over.”
Sto also provided an interior plaster solution for the walls of the Ravelin Sports Centre swimming pool. The company’s StoDecosit plaster is ideal for this type of application as it combines the best properties of emulsion-based plasters and silicate plasters into a single product, and has excellent mold-resistant and moisture management characteristics. Made-up of 97% natural ingredients, preservative-free and Naturepluscertified, it meets the highest environmental standards, and it creates a rugged, impact-resistant and hardwearing finish for the walls
Sto helps keep the noise down for new university swimming pool
One of the most versatile work utility vehicles on the market, the Carryall 500 has the power to replace pickup trucks at a fraction of the cost. With a rustproof, aircraft-grade aluminum frame, and cargo box, along with best-in-class ergonomics, the Carryall 500 is the perfect solution for your industrial and commercial jobs.
Glasgow-based climate tech firm IES has renewed its Living Lab partnership with the University of Nottingham, meaning students and staff will continue to have access to its cutting-edge digital twin technology until at least 2025.
Through its Living Lab partnerships, IES works with universities to help them create digital twins of their campuses. Digital twins are fully scalable virtual models that behave just like their real world counterparts, and the technology can help uncover data to fuel decisions on where energy, carbon, capital and operational savings can be made.
IES’s digital twin of the University of Nottingham Park campus includes 280 buildings, and is used by academics to add new, interesting and diverse projects to their undergraduate portfolio in the area of ‘decarbonisation of the built environment’. The collaboration equips future engineers, architects and technology professionals with invaluable digital twin training and real world climate tech experience.
The Living Lab also enables the Estates team to better manage their building energy efficiency and plan interventions at lowest cost, lowest risk and maximum impact.
IES has been working with the University of Nottingham on various projects since 2013 including Trent Basin, a low-energy community situated within Nottingham Waterside bounded by the River Trent. IES created an interactive platform to enable the community
to visualise its energy data in real-time.
IES founder and CEO, Don McLean, said of the renewed partnership: “IES is over the moon to be continuing to help the University of Nottingham carve out its route to net zero. It is also brilliant that through this partnership, more of the university’s students will be trained in our pioneering digital twin technology.
“Digital twins will continue to be the centrepoint of our work with the University of Nottingham over the coming years, and we look forward to providing them with the data and insight they need to make informed decisions about improving energy efficiency across the campus.”
Professor Mark Gillott, Chair in Sustainable Building Design at the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham, said: “As we plan to hit our carbon reduction targets, we are delighted that our strategy will continue to be informed by data gathered by IES’ ground-breaking technology.
“This initiative also allows our students to gain realworld experience which they’ll carry with them into their professional lives too, so we are delighted to be able to offer this training to them through the partnership.”
Don McLean will be delivering a keynote speech on the use of Digital Twins for Decarbonisation at the 20th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies, which will be held at the University of Nottingham on 15th – 17th August 2023.
Northeastern University London recently relocated to a brand new, 21st century campus within Devon House, St Katharine Docks, where students enjoy a vibrant, collegiate community that delivers academically rigorous degree programmes.
Working with contractor, Workplace Creations, Style was asked to create flexible, collaborative space in the main foyer of building.
Delivering an innovative partitioning solution that enhances the contemporary, open plan feel of the room, a series of panels with decorative cut-outs can be manoeuvred to any point along a track system to form a cordoned off area within which small groups can gather.
With sound absorption properties, the panels reduce reverberation levels which is essential in a wide-open area such as this. When not required, the panels can be simply stacked to one side.
“Rather like our already established Working Wall system, this is less to do with formal room division and more to do with creating a solution that offers an aesthetic divide within the space,” said Michael Porter, Style’s group sales director.
“It’s also a good example of Style’s versatility
as a moveable wall specialist, as it demonstrates considerable lateral thinking in helping Northeastern University develop adaptable, highly functional space.
“The end result is perfect for informal collaborations, breakouts from lectures and brainstorming sessions where students want to work in a public space but have some degree of separation from the main room. It’s also useful to create a screen so that students can enjoy a game of pool or some social time while others in the area are studying.”
In addition to being the sole UK distributor for Dorma Hüppe and Skyfold moveable wall systems, Style has their own Working Wall creative partitioning solution.
Consisting of individual panels that slide and spin across an open space to create informal, collaborative meeting spaces, the Working Wall is great for brainstorming, with panels featuring optional magnetic, writeable whiteboards that can be swivelled round to share ideas with other groups.
For further information visit www.style-partitions.co.uk
Shared with Middlesex University, its newly built West Stand provides a state-of-the-art research/training facility that houses the MDX London Sports Institute as well as the Nursing & Midwifery and Natural Sciences Faculties.
StoneX Stadium in Hendon, North London, is home to the Saracens Rugby Club. Shared with Middlesex University, its newly built West Stand provides a state-of-the-art research/training facility that houses the MDX London Sports Institute as well as the Nursing & Midwifery and Natural Sciences Faculties.
The centre includes teaching areas specifically designed for biomechanics and strength and conditioning, as well as, physiology labs, clinical simulation labs and community-based simulation rooms. BPR Architects designed the interior fit-out for these rooms while the furniture was specified by refurb and fit-out specialists, Wagstaff.
The furniture needed to be of a standard that reflected the state-of-the-art facility, but that also encouraged movement. After being reviewed, KI’s Strive stacking chairs were seamlessly incorporated into many of these spaces.
All of the chairs are on castors, which gives the
classrooms plenty of flexibility. Non-upholstered chairs were used for clinical areas for ease of cleaning, while the rest were upholstered in either Camira Era CSE43 Late, or Chieftain Just Colour Greyfriar.
For one of the classrooms, the Strive chairs have been fitted with the KI ‘Change-up’ tablet arm. This provides students with an accessible worksurface for notebooks or laptops. The tablet also pivots 45 degrees to allow plenty of space to manoeuvre in and out of the chair.
Richard Store, Consultant at Wagstaff commented, “We specified the Strive chair for its versatility and durability. Stackable even with castors and with a mix of upholstery applications, Strive allowed us to meet the requirements of the various unique settings whilst maintaining a degree of continuity across the whole building. The flexible backrest provides an element of comfort, and the new Change-Up tablet is one of the most durable of its kind compared to many alternatives and is reflective of KI’s tested pedigree within the HE market”.
For further information visit www.ki.com
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Leading furniture manufacturer and workplace solutions supplier to many Universities and HE institutions, Southernsbroadstock has been appointed as an authorised dealer for the 100+ year old manufacturer and innovator, Herman Miller.
The announcement aligns with Southernsbroadstock’s mission-driven strategy to provide customers with access to a comprehensive and evolving portfolio driven by research and innovation incorporating both inhouse manufacturing and Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment supply chain partners.
Established over 35 years ago, Southernsbroadstock is a recognised specialist in workplace design with a major presence higher education. Projects have included Kings College London; Manchester-based University Academy 92 (UA92); The York Management School; and Nottingham Trent University Clinical Skills Building. The addition of Herman Miller’s award-winning product range and related services is a decisive progression. Commenting on the announcement, Mike Rowen, Channel Development Manager at MillerKnoll, said: “As part of the on-going strategy to grow our presence in the North of England and to broaden our success in the ever-evolving Higher Education market, we are delighted to welcome Southernsbroadstock into the Herman Miller family.”
Recognised for its industry insights initiative and expert research, Herman Miller will support Southernsbroadstock in delivering its ongoing series
of customer CPD programmes with topics focussing on learning spaces research; the future of work; diversity and inclusion; the workplace experience and the impact of design.
“Our appointment as a Herman Miller authorised dealer is a recognition of our influential role and growth strategy,” says Ashley Hayward, CEO, at Southernsbroadstock.
“Herman Miller is renowned and respected for its visionary approach and problem-solving designs. With our values and commitments to customers, communities and the environment being closely aligned, we believe this will be a successful and mutually beneficial relationship. We look forward to working collaboratively to develop progressive and innovative environments that focus on an organisation’s performance, embed culture, and deliver positive social and environmental outcomes.”
Southernsbroadstock has also recently published the latest edition of its Sustainability Pledge incorporating its carbon reduction plan and commitments to social value. Examples include its initiative with Kings College London to support the institution’s own social value programme.
Southernsbroadstock is an appointed supplier across multiple framework contracts including Crown Commercial Services (CCS), Government Property Agency (GPA), North East Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC), North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC).
Amidst ongoing challenges, research from school transport specialist Kura reveals that sustainability is taking a backseat for school leaders, highlighting a disconnect between targets and action.
Despite carbon footprint reduction being a top priority for 42% of school leaders, there is little action being taken, particularly when it comes to the carbonemitting school run.
Just 9% plan to invest in buying or leasing new electric vehicles this year, 7% in car share initiatives and 27% in cycling and walking schemes.
Research also highlights concerns regarding levels of traffic and pollution around the school gates. Unicef’s Toxic School Run report found that children are disproportionately exposed to higher doses of pollution during the school run and research by Admiral revealed that, during term time, there are 68% more accidents occurring during morning school run hours.
Encouragingly, 66% of school leaders agree that levels of pollution and congestion at peak hours need to be cut and 62% believe that the number of parents driving children to school should be reduced.
When asked about the future of the school run, 34% of school leaders said they expect to see more electric vehicles, 27% think there will be more shared transport (coach and minibuses) and nearly half (43%) believe walking and cycling infrastructure will be developed.
However, of the 250 school leaders surveyed, just 34% say that their school is part of a scheme to reduce traffic. Whilst schemes such as School Streets are growing in popularity, with over 300 educational establishments introducing them in the UK, it’s clear that the majority of schools still have action to take to reduce congestion around the school gates.
The research also found that just 28% of the schools surveyed currently provide a home to school service and only 6% have invested in improving
school transport in the last year. When one 49-seater school coach can take as many as 31 cars of the road*, provision of school transport can be key to schools' sustainability efforts.
Commenting on the findings, Godfrey Ryan, CEO of Kura, said: “Schools are undoubtably under pressure to make budgets stretch further and shifting priorities are leading to a stall in action when it comes to sustainability.
“However, our research highlights a disconnect between what school leaders expect to see and what they’re investing in. For example, 34% believe that there will be more electric vehicles for school transport in the next three years, but just 9% intend to invest in this area.
“With the government expected to introduce sustainability targets for schools from 2025 and research revealing worrying levels of pollution around the school gates, school leaders can’t afford to put the brakes on reducing emissions.
“To help tackle the issue, schools can invest in school transport, car share schemes and initiatives to reduce traffic at peak pick up and drop off times. A quarter of rush hour traffic can be attributed to the school run and this can be significantly reduced with the right measures in place.
“Transport technology also has a role to play. For example, route optimisation means that drivers can take the most efficient route to pick up students, shortening the school journey and reducing emissions.
“It’s no longer just a sustainability issue. Whilst schools have a vital role to play in reducing emissions, high levels of traffic and pollution also pose a significant safeguarding risk to students and the local community. As a result, schools must get on board with the school run revolution.”
The University of York has appointed Siemens to design and deliver a solar array located at the Institute for Safe Autonomy (ISA) as part of a £1.5 million research project.
Funded through the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), the project will enhance the Institute’s research capabilities to develop and use AI and robotic systems to inspect and maintain solar arrays.
The 193 kWp solar farm will create a ‘living lab’ to give insight to landowners and operators of solar farms on how best to integrate robotic technology in the field.
The project will also enable the Institute to become energy self-sufficient by 2025, generating approximately 170 MWh of power annually.
The farm, which spans more than 1,400 square metres, will consist of a range of different panel configurations including static ground installations and sun-tracking arrays. Solar panels will also be deployed on the side of the Institute’s building and the rooftop to maximise light exposure.
Following successful completion of the design phase, installation work will be carried out on site by specialist installer Lynx later this month, with the project expected to be fully operational by July.
Patrick Reilly-O’Donnell, Head of Project Execution at Siemens, said: “The University’s Institute for Safe Autonomy provides a first-class ecosystem for research
and innovation in the world of robotics and connected autonomous systems.
“As we continue to integrate autonomous technology into our everyday lives, understanding how we can safely deploy them to maximise efficiencies within those sectors connected to the green transition is becoming increasingly important.”
Professor Miles Elsden, Director of the Institute for Safe Autonomy at the University of York, added: “Robotics, autonomous systems and AI have the potential to transform the way we live, travel and work in the future. Integrating them with the production of renewable energy will ultimately play a key role in the journey towards net zero.
“This innovative research project marks an important milestone for the Institute and reaffirms our commitment as a university to sourcing sustainable energy."
The Institute for Safe Autonomy (ISA) is a new initiative at the University of York which takes a safety critical approach to the design, development and testing of robotics and connected autonomous systems. ISA’s purpose-built facility combines a range of experimental laboratories and test spaces where academics from across the University work closely with industry, government and third-sector partners to explore trustworthy solutions to real-world problems.
Contractor Clegg Construction has started work on an exciting £5.9m renovation scheme to repurpose the derelict Maltby Grammar School near Rotherham into a community resource and education facility.
The company has pledged to support a range of local health and wellbeing projects and employment and skills development opportunities during the contract, and it is estimated that up to £1.25m will be pumped into the local economy after Clegg Construction committed to use as many local sub-contractors, suppliers and enterprises as possible.
Pre-Construction Director, Ross Crowcroft, said: “Maltby Grammar School has played a pivotal role in the local community over many decades and the team at Clegg Construction is very pleased to be breathing new life into this historic building and giving it a future.
“This project will provide significant new facilities for the area in terms of learning and development. We have pledged to support the local community in a number of ways during the duration of this project as part of our commitment to the communities that we work in.
“We are pleased to have now made a start on site and look forward to the renovation project progressing over the coming months. We have wide experience of working both within the heritage sector and the education sector, so this scheme is a perfect fit for our expertise at Clegg Construction.”
Built in the early 1930s, the school closed in 2012 and had fallen into a state of disrepair after being mothballed.
Maltby Learning Trust is now bringing the historic building back into use with plans which include the creation of incubator space for training and apprenticeships, bookable workspaces and serviced hot-desking, and start-up support for the leisure and hospitality sectors.
The re-purposed building – known for its impressive clock tower – will also extend Maltby Learning Trust’s Post 16 specialist facilities for students who attend Maltby Academy and Sir Thomas Wharton Academy
sixth form provision.
Clegg Construction has just started work on site to refurbish the building and also to build a new steel frame extension in the existing courtyard to provide space for an exhibition hall.
The company is also exploring opportunities to work with the school’s estates team to create outdoor space for tree and flower planting, along with bee and butterfly corridors.
David Sutton, Chief Executive Officer of Maltby Learning Trust, said: We are absolutely delighted to announce that work has now started on redeveloping the old Maltby Grammar School.
“The works will see the old Grammar School building repurposed and will create a community resource that accommodates local services, supports wellbeing, employment and enterprise, and provides substantial learning opportunities for the Maltby community.
“This is an exciting time for Maltby Learning Trust and this project will see us taking a building that hasn’t been occupied for nearly a decade and create an inclusive multi-functional space that will host a series of community events and learning activities.”
The redevelopment project was part of a winning bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund secured by Rotherham Council, which focused on boosting the leisure and hospitality sectors in the area. The Levelling Up Fund will provide £4.5m towards the project.
The renovation is due to be completed at the end of this year. Other members of the team working alongside Clegg Construction include Self Architects, engineer GCA Ltd and employer’s agent and project manager Cube.
Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects.
The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors.
For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk
Jon Hill, Business Development
Educational campuses have had a wealth of physical security solutions introduced to the market over the years. Video management, access control, to automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and more have all made a difference to how students, staff and assets are kept safe. But integrating these solutions together doesn’t mean that they’ll operate seamlessly. Sometimes the results can be limiting. This is where a unified physical security platform
can be more effective.
Integration – the challenges with siloed systems
For campus security departments that are using an integrated system, it can become complicated when operators have to communicate and move between these systems to complete a task.
If an organisation decides to integrate access control with video, the two systems will appear on the same screen but they are not
necessarily communicating both ways. This means that, while an operator can monitor video as people access the facility through doors and gates, many of their other day-to-day tasks, like emitting cards to employees, unlocking doors for visitors, or running reports to see who accessed an area after the fact, still require the operator to switch between systems. These remaining silos distract operators from the task at hand and introduce more overhead and inefficiencies, such as still having
to learn two interfaces, longer time to resolve investigations and general fatigue from working across systems.
Imagine if all of your physical security activities, functions and data came through one solution – then you could harness the flow of data across all of your security activities. It would also make it easier and more efficient to secure your campus while also supporting your organisation’s operational activities. This is unification.
A unified platform is built from the ground up to consolidate all of the data that you collect, so you can easily and efficiently manage security policies, monitor events and run investigations all from one single platform. It provides a seamless and unified view of your entire security operation, giving security operators the ability to monitor, track and proactively address security concerns using actionable and relevant information. Instead of toggling between multiple tabs, screens, or workstations, operators can manage alarms, maps, schedules and privileges from a single central interface so that security efforts
are coordinated and centralised for consistent and swift responses.
For example, if a fence sensor is triggered with a traditional system, the operator will only receive the pre-defined corresponding information, such as a short video feed of the area around the fence. But a unified system goes beyond just co-locating more data: it allows that data to interact in new ways. Video analytics and other sensors confirm the fence sensor isn’t a false alarm; doors are locked in response to the threat; speakers sound a warning that personnel is on their way to intercept the intruder. Unification expands the operator’s reach so they can better address the situation.
One view – a comprehensive security approach
The security coordination of your campus is crucial to managing day-to-day operations, large events and emergencies.
A unified physical security platform optimises resources by sharing common servers and databases for authentication and permissions, licensing, configuration settings, alarms and events, audit and activity logs, video recording, access logs and schedules. Deploying
a unified platform means that users only need to learn, configure, upgrade and backup a single software suite. This makes installing and managing a unified platform easier than an integrated one. Access is also easier as administrators can manage the system through a single application, regardless of the number of servers or systems.
With a comprehensive view of security where both routine activities and unanticipated incidents are managed within a single unified platform, security teams can decrease response times and improve decision-making.
Imagine a campus with hundreds of buildings and thousands of staff and visitors each day. With a unified platform, the security team can have an overview of thousands of doors, intrusion sensors, automatic license plate recognition and even intercoms and public address speakers, for example - and each of these devices would be visible on a single map in the security operations center, allowing operators to quickly dispatch the closest officer when a security event occurs. And before even reaching the scene, officers could review the video and any other details from their mobile devices.
Ensuring campus security has what they need at their fingertips allows them to deliver a faster and safer response to any type of issue that comes up.
Open architecture – scale and adopt new technology without limitations Open architecture is the foundation of a physical security platform that gives you the ability to choose any software. It’s non-proprietary and flexible, which means that whatever software you select will be compatible. An open platform guarantees that as your organisation grows, you can swap out or add technology to match your needs at that moment without having to start from scratch.
Does your organisation have plans to expand or change? With the increasing amount of new security technology and sensors available, you need to consider open architecture.
Sure, an integrated physical security solution gives you the ability to add new systems. But in reality, trying to add more data to a user
interface that’s designed for a single set of activities can quickly show its limitations. As soon as one system needs to be updated, compatibility issues will probably arise and slow down or even prevent updates. A unified physical security platform with open architecture offers more flexibility and evolves with you since it can grow to any size as new systems are added. It’s able to monitor thousands of devices, from door readers, IP cameras, to intrusion sensors, intelligent lighting and more.
Maintaining several integrated systems can also be costly since paying for multiple vendor agreements, training operators and maintaining multiple, disparate systems can quickly add up. However, operator training is simplified with an open, unified platform since alarm management, event to action, reporting, investigation and incidentrelated workflows all take place in one familiar environment. This significantly reduces the learning curve for new operators and existing staff can easily stay up to date with
system improvements.
Get on the path to unification
An effective and unified campus security system doesn’t require an all-or-nothing approach. Security leaders can start by focusing on the basics, such as unifying video and access control systems. Getting on the path to unified physical security can allow campuses to expand, scale and add solutions as their needs evolve.
Unification enables organisations and campuses to unlock business intelligence and improve organisational efficiency. Instead of numerous data silos, unification puts operators and administrators in front of valuable and actionable business intelligence. The right security system does more than just protect people and assets — it also provides business and situational data to enhance overall operations. Helping campus security teams to work smarter and more efficiently.
For further information please visit www.genetec.com/unified
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Join us at Europe’s richest and most extensive range of facilities management solutions and expertise, and get up to speed with:
Retrofitting to Achieve Net Zero
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Brian Sofley, Managing Director of ASSA ABLOY Door Group, discusses the issue of fire door safety in education buildings and why inspections are vital to ensure the safety of staff and students.
New Home Office figures have revealed that 219 primary and secondary schools were damaged by
blazes in 2021/22, compared to 162 the year before – an increase of 35%. What’s more, six schools suffered damage to the whole building or more than two entire floors .
With the average school posing a fire risk 1.7 times greater than non-residential buildings , fire doors are one of the most essential safety
features in an education building. Regular fire door inspections are necessary to ensure health and safety measures are met fully.
Doors in schools and universities are subject to extremely high levels of traffic, and subsequently a higher level of misuse and abuse, which can then lead to functional problems
resulting in non-compliance.
An education building should be a safe and secure place for students and staff in which they are free to learn and work. While statutory inspections are completed for the entire building, the necessary attention to fire door compliance is often overlooked.
Our team of BRE-qualified engineers have found a large percentage of fire doors to be non-compliant when completing a dedicated fire door inspection in schools in recent years.
For example, in one school, 163 of the 164 fire doors we inspected were not fire compliant, posing a significant
risk to both staff and students in the event of a fire.
Education buildings can present challenging requirements for fire doorsets, with exceptionally varied legislation and building regulations surrounding fire doors in schools.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires schools to undertake risk assessments to identify the general fire precautions needed to safeguard the safety of occupants in case of fire, including their safe means of escape.
Additionally, all schools are legally required to have a fire safety plan called a Fire Safety Risk Assessment (FSRA), to make sure
a strategy is in place to reduce the likelihood of fire, maintain fire detection and alarm systems, and ensure staff and pupils are familiar with emergency evacuation plans.
It is also crucial that fire assessments are kept up to date, and fire precautions remain current and are reviewed when there are significant changes to the building.
Under the Regulatory Reform - Order Article 17, it is a legal requirement for the responsible person to ensure that fire-resisting doors and escape doors are correctly installed and adequately maintained. The British Standard documents recommend six-monthly inspections of fire doors .
A fire in an education building can cause financial hardship, a delay in learning, and emotional trauma for anyone involved. With most secondary schools accommodating in excess of 3000 students, schools face not only issues surrounding the well-being of the students, but the delay in education, with repairs to the building potentially lasting months.
Larger fires in secondary schools can cost on average, £2.8 million to repair, and in some cases, over £20 million . If you couple this with the posttraumatic effects that some students and staff may feel after the disaster, it is paramount that fire safety is a priority.
With so many factors to consider, it can be challenging to ensure compliance not only at the installation or retrofit stage but also on an ongoing basis. However, help is available to those responsible for providing educational facilities to meet fire door safety regulations.
As part of its commitment to fire door safety, we provide a fully comprehensive inspection which can be carried out every three, four, six or 12 months to suit specific requirements.
Following inspections, we offer detailed reports containing advice and recommendations on necessary improvements, with the knowledge that identifying potential issues
impacting safety and product performance can be lifesaving.
If any issues occur, a tailored repair proposal includes anything from replacement doors to a regular maintenance program. Door Group inspectors are BRE-certified and will ensure all fire doors are inspected to meet all necessary standards and regulations.
With regular and thorough inspections, we can ensure the compliance and performance of fire doorsets to improve overall fire safety in the educational environment while minimising the risk that a fire could negatively impact learning.
For more information on ASSA ABLOY Door Group, please visit our website
Businesses across the economy are feeling the squeeze of rapidly rising prices – while also racing to reduce their carbon footprint.
In the wake of COP26 and the implementation of the Government’s Net Zero strategy, sustainability is high on the agenda for every business. . In fact, almost two-thirds of companies in the UK and northern Europe cite sustainability as a key part of their success strategies for the years ahead. But change isn’t just about looking at how the
business functions—it can start with the core facilities and products found in our commercial spaces. But many are put off by the misconception that going green will be expensive when they’re already struggling with inflated costs.
However, saving money and the environment are not mutually exclusive goals – a focus on sustainability can actually impact your bottom line.
Our past experiences are changing the future of key amenities, and pushing us to implement more innovative, environmentally-friendly
solutions throughout. One of the key areas within a business’ space that can reap the rewards of this is the washroom. Experiencing high volumes of traffic, the washroom must be made as hygienic and sustainable as possible, both for user confidence and to help businesses lower their carbon footprint. In fact, Dyson’s 2021 Washroom Attitudes Survey showed that 75% of respondents are washing their hands five or more times a day, illustrating the importance of clean washroom facilities. Yet are some practices as beneficial for people and the planet
At a time where 75% of people are concerned about the use of singleuse consumables, it’s clear that using paper towels is an unsustainable solution to an ongoing problem. But with research showing that damp hands can transfer up to 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands, facilities managers need to provide a way for users to dry their hands thoroughly and sustainably. Many businesses may install a cheaper solution like a paper towel dispenser, but its impact on the environment can be detrimental. Globally, millions of tonnes of paper towels are used every year, with most going into landfill since they cannot be recycled. What’s more, the manufacturing process for paper towels includes transportation of products, leading to further CO2 emissions, and involves a large amount of water; it takes over 20,000 gallons to make one ton of paper towels.
Sustainability is not just a business goal, but one that translates
to consumer values too. Fortunately, businesses can upgrade their washrooms with more innovative and reusable hand drying solutions, without compromising on hygiene or quality.
Swap costly, unsustainable paper towels for pioneering technology
Paper towels, on the other hand, in general don’t cause hygiene concerns but they can come with environmental issues that can’t be overlooked in today’s world. To create, transport and dispose them at scale requires processes with higher CO2 emissions. With society becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues and the sustainability of the products they use; we need to create hand drying solutions that address them.
Single-use paper towels are notoriously bad for the environment. Their production contributes to deforestation and wildlife destruction, and demands large amounts of energy and water. Then the majority end up on landfill or in an incinerator since they cannot be recycled.2 They
create a lot of in-house work and cost, too – requiring a relentless cycle of purchasing, delivering, storing, disposing and restocking.
Despite all this, billions of tonnes are still used globally every year. This is because people are often reluctant to adapt to new technologies and can be deceived by the cheaper upfront costs. Some also still think that paper towels are more hygienic than hand dryers or that hand dryers spread bacteria. But this couldn't be further from the truth.
Dyson hand dryers are just as hygienic as using paper towels, capturing 99.95% of particles, including bacteria and viruses, through their HEPA filter.3 And they’re independently proven to aerosolise no more than paper towels, too.4
In a time when businesses are embedding sustainability at their core and using Corporate Social Responsibility teams to showcase progress, there’s a real opportunity to standout and make washrooms a point of differentiation.
At Dyson, our innovative technologies negate these concerns. All Dyson hand dryers include air-cleaning HEPA filters and touchless activation as standard. What’s more, Dyson hand dryers are just as hygienic as using a paper towel.
The Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryers is are significantly more sustainable and cheaper than paper towels. It’s one of the simplest ways you can reduce paper and energy waste – and save money.
Firstly, it creates no waste.
Secondly, it produces up to 88% less CO2 than paper towels5 and uses only a sixth of the energy of conventional dryers. And thirdly, it’s cheaper to run.
What’s more, it’s certified by the Carbon Trust, BREEAM, WELL Building Standard, LEED and Quiet Mark.
It’s clear that the hand drying solutions often available in workplaces, educational settings, hospitality – we could go on – are in need of an upgrade.
Dyson Airblade™ hand drying technology places hand hygiene, the reduction of CO2 emissions, and cost efficiency at the forefront of its design.
Dyson hand dryers are also engineered to alleviate the public’s key washroom concerns and prioritise hygiene through touch-free design and HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters capturing 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns.
Effective hand drying is a key part of effective hand hygiene, but the options too often in use are problematic. We need raise awareness about the importance of
effective hand drying, and promote hand drying solutions that improve hygiene, reduce business costs and CO2 emissions.
As organisations continue to drive their sustainability agendas forward, they must not forget the core facilities within their commercial spaces. In the race to Net Zero, facilities managers must work with business leaders to change the narrative surrounding single-use products like paper towels and upgrade to innovative technology solutions, which support sustainability goals and protect the future of our planet.
For further information please visit www.dyson.co.uk/sustainability
Further education has endured a turbulent few years, with the Covid-19 pandemic requiring institutions to pivot almost overnight to enable digital and remote learning, institutions having to forge a way in the ‘new normal’, ongoing funding constraints, staff shortages and a time-poor workforce looking to maintain and continually drive high standards. With many of the same challenges set to continue into 2023, FE institutions need to make sure their tools and technologies – from teaching platforms to back-office systems - are
working as hard for them as possible to relieve some of the burden and ensure that employees can focus their time and energy on their core job functions.
This is especially true when it comes to accounting. Accounting and finance professionals within the education sector hold a significant amount of responsibility. From budgets and grant management to reporting and bookkeeping, each of these tasks play a key role in the smooth running of the organisation and its financial health. Within the FE sector, institutions have been very responsive to cloud-based accounting
software as a digital solution to manage the challenges they face.
As the time approaches for FE institutions to review the effectiveness of their internal systems, it's key that they understand and make use of the features and functions at their disposal to improve visibility of data, free up staff resource and boost operational efficiencies. Here are just some of the key software requirements forwardthinking FE institutions should be looking for in order to stay ahead.
The fundamental ingredients There are several features of cloud accounting software that we
tend to take for granted, but when exploring a new solution, it’s crucial to check it delivers these things as standard, and in a way that suits the organisation. Intuitivity is one key factor that is often overlooked. The solution must be capable of carrying out all the necessary functions and processes with ease, enabling time poor staff to understand and find their way around it straight away without having to rely on lengthy instructions or guidance manuals. Staff simply don’t have the time to invest in navigating complex new systems or rewriting existing processes to fit.
Multi-device access from anywhere is another basic – but crucial – feature. At the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, many finance teams across the country experienced an initial slowdown, as many systems and processes weren’t set up for remote access. With remote or hybrid working here to stay for many finance professionals, secure access from anywhere is vital to continuity of operations.
Automation capability should also be a key consideration, allowing teams to automate more time consuming manual processes and move away from monotonous and error-prone tasks like data entry. Instead, their time can be reallocated to activities that benefit from manual input and strategic thinking.
As well as enabling the day-to-day processes and operations, finance and accounting systems should also provide a higher level overview of accounts to give professionals the bigger picture. Crystal clear reporting is key in helping to identify costly inefficiencies, and if and where essential revenue may be going missing. Not only does this help FE institutions make data-driven decisions, but it also helps them remain more agile in the face of cost restrictions and funding challenges.
Just as the finance department never operates in silos, financial software needs to be able to integrate with
the necessary programmes and processes to be truly effective. Interoperability, referring to when software from different third-party suppliers interacts and shares information in real time without human intervention, is no longer seen as a ‘special’ or advanced feature of accounting software. It’s becoming increasingly essential to enable institutions to overcome the difficulties created by disparate systems and data silos and means that information only needs to be input once for it to be replicated across all systems used by the organisation automatically.
This can be invaluable in tackling the spike in workload usually experienced by FE institutions in the Autumn when enrolling students for the new academic year. In our experience working with numerous FE partners, each annual enrolment might mean anything from 20,00040,000 new students; all of whom must be entered into the institution’s myriad of systems individually, taking dozens of hours and leaving
significant potential for human error. With interoperability, staff only need to enter the information once for it to be automatically updated across all other systems, resulting in significant time savings and greater accuracy. Not only this, but interoperable systems can also help increase job satisfaction and fulfilment for these employees, freeing up more of their time to spend on more interesting and strategic tasks that can make a real impact.
Furthermore, when effectively interacting with and leveraging data from other areas of the business, financial software can become a more powerful tool for performance insight and act as a wider decision support mechanism.
While AI might still seem like a far-off development, its uses and application can be more practical and immediate than many thought. And, while it may not be high on the list of priorities when looking for a new accounting system, FE institutions should not be closed off to or deterred by it. It can be used to make software more
proactive and helpful to customers, asking questions and highlighting issues or areas that may need attention, for example, asking, ‘have you forgotten to attach an invoice?’ or suggesting actions that it can handle automatically, like, ‘would you like me to chase this payment?’
There are undoubtedly more complex and powerful use cases for it that will become more accessible in future, but for now, FE institutions should remain open to the benefits AI can bring and how it might transform operations in future.
While these features and functions aren’t entirely advanced or specialist, they’re essential to ending silos, improving data visibility and reporting, freeing up staff time and making roles more strategic and fulfilling, and providing a crucial tool for performance insight and decision support mechanism. Their importance – and necessity – within FE institutions shouldn’t be overlooked as FE institutions need accounting systems to do more than simply enable basic finance processes, and look to them as more
of a mission-critical, interconnected solution that underpins wider business functions.
bluQube is an innovative and unique accounting platform, designed to help make the world of the finance professional that little bit easier. Whether that’s reducing administrative tasks with a unique user-friendly interface, eliminating data entry thanks to interoperable technology, or removing all those tech headaches with a marketleading cloud platform, now 10 years strong.
With 25 years of expert development and implementation by consultants and qualified accountants, bluQube is adaptable for a vast array of business finance needs, spanning both on-premise and cloud systems.
Privately owned, UK based and without re-sellers, bluQube prides itself on doing things differently.
Find out more about bluQube at www.bluqube.co.uk
As part of a campus-wide commitment to setting the standards in sustainability, Leeds Beckett University (LBU) partnered with ReFood to recycle the food waste arising from its food court. Since implementing the initiative, LBU has eliminated its reliance on landfill, with plate scrapings and spoiled produce now used to generate renewable energy.
Ranked seventh in the ‘University of the Year’ category in the WhatUni Awards 2022 , Leeds Beckett
University offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses to more than 24,000 students every year. Every year, the university delivers a £1.43bn impact on the UK economy. This represents a return of more than £6 for every £1 spent on university operations.
Alongside delivering teaching excellence and economic impact, LBU prides itself on state-of-the-art facilities, an unmatched student experience and its campus-wide commitment to sustainability. The first English university to achieve ISO
140001 accreditation for international environment standards, LBU has reduced its carbon output by 65% since 2005 and produces 9% of all electricity needed on site via solar panels.
As part of an ongoing drive to further improve its sustainability credentials, waste management has become a crucial component to the university’s day-to-day considerations. Alongside systems to capture and collect dry recyclables, such as packaging and coffee cups, LBU also recycles 95% of all waste
generated on its construction projects – reusing 10,000 tonnes of demolition material on site.
However, one area previously overlooked was food waste arising from the university’s food court – with ten outlets preparing a large quantity of fresh food daily. Recognising an opportunity for improvement, the sustainability team turned to ReFood – the UK’s leading food waste recycler – to implement a solution.
Working with UK businesses from across the food supply chain, ReFood collects more than 400,000 tonnes of food and drink waste every year, turning it into renewable energy and sustainable biofertiliser at its three state-of-the-art anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities.
The process sees food waste collected from dedicated bins by ReFood’s fleet of collection vehicles. From here, waste is transported to the company’s site in Doncaster and recycled to create renewable energy and biofertiliser.
Anaerobic digestion is a natural process that biologically breaks down organic material to produce biogas, which is then captured and used to generate heat and renewable energy – both gas and electricity. The remaining residue can be used as a sustainable fertiliser; enabling beneficial nutrients to be retained and reinvested back into the beginning of the food chain.
The service is upheld by
‘The Green Standard’, ReFood’s promise that food waste is handled responsibly, sustainably and efficiently through a closed-loop, end-to-end service ensuring biosecurity – and always in line with current legislation.
While food waste recycling may be considered complicated to implement, the ReFood process demonstrates how easily the services can be integrated into existing waste management practice. All types of food, including preparation waste, scraps and even packaged products, can be collected and recycled making disposal straightforward.
As part of ReFood’s unique approach, organisations also benefit from a ‘bin swap’ service, which sees full bins collected and switched for empty, sanitised replacements.
This allows bins to be used directly in kitchen areas and helps staff to separate at source.
Since implementing ReFood’s food waste disposal service, Leeds Beckett University has diverted 99% of waste produced in its food court away from landfill. What’s more, the collected food waste has been used to generate renewable energy and biofertiliser, as well as preventing greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere.
Mark Warner, sustainability manager at Leeds Beckett University, said: “When looking for ways to reduce the amount of waste we sent to landfill, food waste was quickly identified as a key stream. Integrating a food waste recycling service was the obvious next step and what better partner to enlist than the market leader!
“Not only does the ReFood service provide a solution for all types of food waste, including scraps, spoiled and packaged goods, the team are flexible, reliable and committed to providing a personalised solution to fit exacting requirements. The partnership has proven hugely beneficial, contributing to our wider waste initiative, resulting in only 1% of our waste being sent to landfill.”
Philip Simpson, commercial director at ReFood, added: “Food waste is a key waste stream for educational institutions and our service offers a simple solution for this. We work with several universities across the UK to reduce their reliance on landfill, while also
improving their green credentials.
“As demonstrated by Leeds Beckett University, our secure service does not require extensive changes to existing facilities and yields significant results. Our commitment to recycling food waste
wherever possible is demonstrated through the flexible nature of our services, ensuring that companies across the food chain are given the opportunity to do their bit.
“At ReFood, we’re urging businesses and institutions to make
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a natural process that sees organic material biologically broken down in the absence of oxygen to generate large amounts of biogas – a combination of methane and carbon dioxide. It works in a similar way to a compost heap, only on an industrial scale.
ReFood operates AD facilities across Europe, including three sites located in the UK - Dagenham, Doncaster and Widnes. At its Doncaster plant, biogas is used to fuel CHP engines, generating and exporting electricity directly to the National Grid (enough to power 10,000 homes per year).
Alan Macklinfood waste recycling a priority and divert as much waste as possible away from landfill.”
For further information please visit https://refood.co.uk
At its London and Widnes sites, biogas undergoes a further refining process to remove carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). An odorant is added, before the biogas is pumped directly into the National Gas Grid (enough gas to supply 12,600 homes per year).
By using biogas from the AD process as a sustainable fuel, ReFood displaces the use of fossil fuels. This, in turn, reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Nothing is wasted during the process. Even the resulting digestate is used to produce a PAS110 accredited liquid biofertiliser, which is used by local arable farms to reduce reliance on expensive chemical fertilisers.
ReFood is the UK’s leading operator, with each of its AD sites custom designed and built to divert food waste from landfill.
From smart building sensor technology to modular storage series that span the entire workspace, demonstrations of wireless sensors, facility monitoring systems and even a water dispenser that can deliver 30 different tastes of mineralised water from the mains, exhibitors showcase hundreds of new FM products and solutions at Facilities Show when it returns to ExCeL London 16-18 May.
As the world's largest dedicated facilities management event, Facilities Show welcomes thousands of global FM professionals to discover innovative products and solutions from over 100 exhibiting companies specialising in everything from maintenance, health, safety,
energy, mechanical and electrical, workplace, outsourced FM services and more.
Chris Edwards, Informa Markets Group Director, said, “Every visitor will come away from Facilities Show with knowledge and inspiration to help make offices and workplaces run more sustainably and efficiently.”
Visitors to this year’s Facilities Show will also have a chance to see:
SMART BUILDING IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
In association with master systems integrator, Vanti, the Smart Building Immersive Experience allows visitors to take a walking tour of a full-size replica smart office and see how the latest tech innovation brings together facilities management, security, fire
safety and wellbeing in a unique smart building environment.
SMART BUILDINGS TECH TALKS
These bite sized Tech Talks feature presentations on the latest innovations in workplace technology. The sessions cover everything from PIR sensors, security products, AloT, Zero Carbon Tech and more.
THE CONVERGED SECURITY CENTRE
The converged Security Centre in partnership with Advancis, is collaborating with several vendor partners, including Nedap, Eagle Eye Networks, Harper Chalice Group, Network Optix and Hanwha Techwin, to showcase the benefits of open, integrated security management platforms.
With inspirational speakers, including:
• Sebastian Bachelier - Living Wage Foundation
• Chris Weyell - Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise
• Kam Singh - Emcor Group
• Billal Vindhani - Spacewell
Plus, many more as this year’s seminar sessions tackle the biggest topics affecting the FM industry including ESG, people and culture, workplace as a destination, property and corporate estate, and futureproofing FM.
Dozens of exhibitors will be showcasing brand new products at Facilities Show this year, including:
OPHARDT Hygiene Technik GmbH & Co. KG (FM.2800) – showcasing Kanary
Showcasing the innovative Kanary, hand hygiene monitoring system. Suitable for the healthcare sector and facility management, the hand hygiene monitoring system offers different functions depending on demand.
LUQEL (FM.3418) – demonstrating the new LUQEL water dispenser
Showcasing a new water dispenser that can deliver 30 different tastes of mineralised water from the mains and reduce the need to purchase different varieties of pre-packaged mineral waters, meaning fewer purchasing complexities, storage and cooling costs, as well as less plastic and aluminium waste.
Slingsby (FM.3070) – product demonstrations throughout the show Slingsby, one of the UK leaders in the supply of industrial and commercial equipment, will be offering product demonstrations of its powered products at Facilities Show, including its wide range of innovative, safer manual handling products, aimed to improve efficiencies and reduce workforce fatigue.
Sensors and Monnit Facility Monitoring Systems. The team will show how data is collected and analysed, as well as its capabilities and what can be done with APIs.
Glassfibre Flagpoles LTD TA Harrison Flagpoles (FM.4220) – relaunching Harrison Eco fabric range
Leading UK flagpole manufacturer, Harrison Flagpoles, is relaunching its Harrison Eco fabric range. This innovative material is made from single-use PET plastic bottles, industrial polyester waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill and more.
Selecta UK Ltd (FM.3640) –showcasing AquaBlu tap
Showcasing its latest filtered and flavoured water tap: the new AquaBlu. It’s a flavoured, filtered water machine with added vitamins. Water can be still or sparkling and all flavours are 100% natural.
Selecta UK will also be bringing its new Intelligent vending solution – a revolutionary digital vending machine that can interact with people around it, hide out of stock products and offer promotions and product suggestions.
Humly / RGB Communications (FM.2820) – showcasing the new Humly booking device
Visit the stand for a demo of the Humly Booking Device, which addresses the evolving challenges of the hybrid workplace, providing users with a high-resolution touchscreen solution to view and reserve bookable spaces on campus. Its flexibility is balanced with a compact, stylish design that reduces the total cost of ownership without compromising on quality or sustainability.
Your Workplace (FM.4268) –demoing Your Workcharge powered by Zens
SV365 Technologies
Visit the stand for demos of the 24/7 Deli tech, in partnership with Sodexo. In response to the growing need for on-site food options for healthcare workers, the 24/7 Deli is a cuttingedge automated retail technology that provides hot and cold food any time of day or night.
TION Global Limited (FM.3218) –launching whitepaper research
Showcasing its fume cupboard and biosafety cabinet technology, including its red-light alarm system. The team will also launch a fume cupboard purchasing whitepaper to help facilities managers, procurements teams, and laboratory managers select the right product to facilitate their application.
PestSense Pty Ltd – (FM.4671)
– showcasing PestSense remote rodent monitoring system
Showcasing PestSense – the remote rodent monitoring system that enables a real time, risk-based assessment of rodent activity in buildings, letting FMs tacking infestations proactively and quickly
GoBright (FM.4010) – showcasing Smart Workplace concept
GoBright supplies software and hardware solutions for a Smart Workplace including software for room, desk and parking booking, plus visitor registration and digital signage. GoBright will be showcasing its Smart Workplace concept at Facilities Show and welcome visitors to its fully interactive stand.
AJ Products UK (FM.2810) –showcasing QBUS storage range AJ Products will be showcasing it’s the newly launched QBUS storage range at Facilities Show, a comprehensive, flexible, modular storage series that spans the entire workspace and is designed to modernise storage solutions throughout the office.
(FM.2828)
Visit the stand for demonstrations of its commercial and industrial remote building and equipment monitoring solutions, including Monnit Wireless
Your Workplace is bringing a fully interactive stand to Facilities Show and will be demoing ‘Your WorkCharge powered by Zens, an innovative and integrated smart workstation management system that not only helps facilities teams manage desk allocation and space, but also saves time and resources on cleaning.
Spacewell (FM.2845) – showcasing latest smart solutions Spacewell will present its latest smart solutions for facility managers, maintenance managers and energy managers at Facilities Show. Its workplace app is enriched with multiple new features that visitors
can experience for themselves on the stand throughout the show.
Fellowes Brands (FM.4078) –launching Fellowes Array
Launching it’s a new Air Quality Management System, Fellowes Array – the most advanced networked air quality system that combines the benefits of H13 true HEPA filtration, a full suite of indoor air quality sensors, and monitoring with real time data, to detect and improve every breath faster than ever before.
Ubiqisense (FM.3434) – showcasing occupancy solution
Ubiqisense will showcase its occupancy solution at Facilities Show. The software offers real-time and anonymous insights into how workspaces are utilized, simplifying workspace-related decision-making.
Pressac Communications (FM.4670) – showcasing new additions to portfolio
Pressac design and manufacture smart building sensor technology for facilities management companies and professionals who want to have full visibility of how their buildings are utilised and where further improvements and savings could be achieved. Pressac will be showcasing brand new additions to its product portfolio that make installation even easier and faster than currently available.
Yodiwo S.A (FM.4430) – showcasing YodiFEM
Showcasing modular systems and integration under YodiFEM - its all-in-one platform for sustainability management. From energy consumption to operational patterns and human behaviour, YodiFEM systems will demonstrate how modern various ESG factors intersect in modern facilities.
Bywaters (Leyton) Limited –announcing Net Zero by 2030 pledge Bywaters, a waste material and environmental management service provider, will be sharing its key milestones towards an entirely Net Zero waste management service at Facilities Show.
Joblogic (FM.3078) – showcasing new features
Joblogic provides an all-in-one software solution for all facilities management companies to help streamline their operations and will be showcasing new features of its Joblogic software at Facilities Show, including instant messaging, task reminders and improved compliance for planned maintenance work.
SwipedOn
SwipedOn’s software streamlines visitor and employee sign in resulting in detailed, audit-ready data and simplified health and safety procedures. First-time exhibitors
SwipedOn will be showcasing its software to visitors for the first time at Facilities Show.
MEMCO by AVIRE
At Facilities Show, MEMCO by AVIRE will be showcasing its SENTINEL service, the only resilient, managed connectivity solution for lift alarm systems in the UK. By collaborating with lift maintenance providers, MEMCO by AVIRE ensure that lift emergency communications will continue to work during a power failure, making the connectivity transition simple and reliable across entire lift portfolios.
Kolleno (FM.3060) – showcasing Kolleno software
Kolleno, the ultimate cash acceleration solution for facilities management businesses looking to streamline their financial operations, will be launching several new features to its Kolleno software at Facilities Show, including reporting, reconciliation and general improvements in performance and visual appearance. The team will be on hand to explain each feature and how the target audience can benefit from them to improve their finance operations and save time.
The full exhibitor list can be viewed here
100+ exhibitors
7,000 visitors ExCel London
The Cleaning Show is the largest and longest running event in the UK dedicated to cleaning, hygiene and facilities management. Now established as the ultimate destination for the cleaning and hygiene sector to connect, learn and discover new products, services and suppliers.
As Europe’s leading supplier, installer and integrator of digital television and audio visual equipment, Airwave can deliver your vision. With a presence in all key sectors including: healthcare, education, retail & leisure, stadia, prisons and transport, Airwave’s customer base is diverse.
www.airwave.tv
The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. Our offering covers products and services related to openings, such as locks, doors, gates and entrance automation solutions. This also includes expertise in controlling identities with keys, cards, tags, mobile and biometric identity verification systems.
www.assaabloy.com
Club Car boasts nearly 60 years of industry-leading innovation and design, initially focused on golf cars and then expanding to commercial utility vehicles and personal-use transportation.
www.clubcar.com
Hysopt is unique design software that helps building managers get the most out of their heating and cooling systems. In collaboration with installation companies and engineering firms, we can cut your annual energy bill by 10 to 50%.
www.hysopt.com
As the UK’s market-leading provider of technology led compliance and risk management solutions, our purpose is to help organisations be safer, healthier, and stronger. Our guide explains a range of measures and safety commitments so that universities are fully prepared and to keep the spread of the virus under control.
www.alcumusgroup.com
Buildings today don’t only provide a safe, functional place for people to live and work. They can also cater for – and even respond to – their needs, while helping them work more efficiently and sustainably. At Bosch Building Technologies, we are at the forefront of these new developments.
www.boschbuildingtechnologies.com
Our education solutions are developed from the ground up to increase campus security and safety while extending the capabilities of student, faculty and staff ID badges. Our solutions can be used for convenient access to buildings, computer login, cashless vending and campus activities.
www.hidglobal.com
LapSafe® created its first products to meet the needs of the education market and although we have since expanded into many other sectors, this remains our largest and most established area of expertise. Our products have been thoroughly tested by every type of education and academic institution
www.lapsafe.com
Originally founded in 1921, the company known today as Mitsubishi Electric has almost 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high quality products and support to installers, specifiers, corporate clients and general consumers all over the world.
https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk
From its inception in 2001, SALTO was created with one objective: to devise a world-class access control system that was simple to use and extremely efficient, giving users the ability to control all their access needs and secure all their doors without complex and expensive wiring.
www.saltosystems.com
As a trusted advisor and reliable partner, as a system integrator, service provider and a product vendor, Siemens offers energy-efficient, safe and secure buildings and infrastructure. With our people, our global footprint and our technical expertise, it's our passion helping you to create the perfect place – your perfect place.
www.siemens.com
Award-winning AV integrator, providing bespoke AV solutions with a strong company ethos, collegiality and partnership approach. Evolving with developments in AV technology allows Strive AV to deliver excellence across education, corporate, health and retail environments, providing AV solutions which transform communication and enhance end user’s experiences.
www.striveav.com
With more and more consideration being given to energy usage and the increasing implementation of green legislation, PumpSmart Limited is able to assist with the identification of areas where real energy savings can be made. New products, aimed at energy consumption reduction, are constantly entering the market with potential to improve existing installations.
www.pumpsmart.co.uk
We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies to realize the full efficiency and sustainability opportunities for your establishment. We provide end-point to cloud integration connecting products, controls, software and services.
https://www.se.com
Everything we do is about improving people’s daily lives. We believe healthy school meals make kids do better. That relaxed patients recover faster. And organizations with engaged employees perform better. With our unique wide range of integrated services, this is what we do every day.
www.sodexo.com
Veolia Water Technologies UK (VWT UK) is a leading water treatment solutions and services provider with a unique global presence and 160 years of experience. VWT UK strives to provide innovative solutions such as the new PURELAB Quest compact water purification unit that can generate Type I, II and III water.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.co.uk
