National Construction Magazine Issue 110 by SNS Publishing

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ISSUE 110

EDITORS NOTE INTERNATIONAL trade, innovation, and excellent customer service were three aspects that stood out to me from this month’s features. These are just some aspects that have given companies the edge during a difficult economy. A lot of the companies we spoke to this month indicated that their growth during the recession has put them in a good place to take on new business as the economy recovers. And according to statistics revealed at the beginning of May, that may not be as far off in the distance as it once seemed. The Markit/ CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 49.4 in April from 47.2 in March, slightly below the 50 level that divides growth from contraction but well above economists’ expectations for a reading of 48. April also saw the biggest performance in the sector for six months, indicating that perhaps the better weather, but more so the higher levels of residential house building, have boosted the sector that has been the worst hit by the recession over the last few years. This news, I am sure, will be a welcome relief for many companies that are struggling to make it through, but for some the recession has almost been a blessing in disguise. Webster Equipment, for example, used the economic downturn as a turning point for the company’s operations, and as a result has been able to focus more closely on their design work instead of sales. It is companies like Webster, who have seen the economy as an opportunity, that have been most successful during the last few years.

Office Manager Anthony Hamilton Features Manager Joanne Cowan Jenny Pollard Nick Maldzinski Dale Livesey Features Manager - Scotland Stacey Aitcheson Editor Sabeeha Coates Design and Artwork Mark Alsop Admin Beverley Wood Publisher Mohammed Faraz Steve Rushworth

Elsewhere in the magazine we spoke to Roy Stewart about the North West Regional Construction Awards, who explained the significance of the award to companies who are tendering for work. Awards have been another identifying factor in this issue, with a lot of the companies distinguishing themselves from the rest and being recognized for it. It has been a busy month in the National Construction office, but one that has enlightened us and made us proud to be working with companies that show such determination, creativity, and success.

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S&S Publishing Ltd T/A National Construction Magazine UK 5 Huddersfield Road Liversedge West Yorkshire WF15 7EN Tel: 01924 910 483 Fax: 01924 910 484 Email: editor@snspublishing.co.uk Web: www.ncmagazine.co.uk Hours of business: Mon-Thursday Friday

9am - 5pm 9am - 4pm

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CONTENTS ARW

CARROCK DESIGN AND BUILD - PG 10

ELEKTRA PG 18

DRUCEGROVE PG 46

PG 8

CARROCK DESIGN & BUILD

PG 10

DROMAD HIRE

PG 15

ELEKTRA

PG 18

EARLS SCAFFOLDING

PG 20

HELLY HANSEN

PG 22

HEPPLETHWAITE

PG 24

MAJIK HOUSE

PG 28

AVALON

PG 32

BRUNSWICK ESTATES

PG 34

WEBSTER EQUIPMENT

PG 37

STONE TEC SERVICES

PG 40

RC LIGHTING

PG 42

DRUCEGROVE

PG 46

SJL BRICKWORKS

PG 48

R-TECH WELDING

PG 50

NWRCA

PG 53

BUILD IT INTERNATIONAL

PG 59

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CONTENTS

SMALLMAN & SON PG 65

FROGHEATH LANDDCAPES PG 74

FAIRFAX PLANT PG 76

OSSIE STEWART CONTRACTS

PG 62

SMALLMAN & SON

PG 65

G&D ROOFING

PG 68

HALL-FAST

PG 70

FROGHEATH LANDSCAPES

PG 74

FAIRFAX PLANT

PG 76

THE NATURAL HOME

PG 81

SCAFFA

PG 84

INSPIRE HOME AUTOMATION

PG 87

JEREMY LEAF

PG 90

WH SURFACE PREP

PG 92

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NEWS Sustainability in store at Metal Technology

METAL Technology has installed a number of its products on recentlycompleted Tesco store projects at Salford in Greater Manchester and on a “zero-carbon” store in Dublin. The Dublin store is the latest step in an on-going programme to reduce the environmental impact of the supermarket group’s outlets. Meeting Tesco’s aim to continually refine the design and include more innovative environmental features at their new stores, Metal Technology’s System 17 Curtain Walling profiles give limitless flexibility in specification. Offering a wide range of structural mullions, transoms and feature caps, System 17 can meet the character and performance requirements for expansive glazed applications on any building. The Tesco project saw System 17 installed for the optimum in structural integrity, weather performance and thermal enhancement. Finishes can vary internally and externally, adding to the design possibilities, while the intrinsic qualities of aluminium – infinite recyclability, durability, strength and lightness mean it is one of the most sustainable building materials in use today. All

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Metal Technology aluminium products are 100 per cent recyclable. Metal Technology’s Commercial door system was also installed on the new store. The range offers single / double– action pivot doors, in both standard and anti-finger trap forms, and a fully rebated option with butt hinges is available. Double and single door leaf options are included in the suite, with a variety of door jamb and stile formats offering the designer the ability to achieve the entrance required. To meet Tesco’s “zero-carbon” standards the Dublin supermarket has been designed to curb energy demand and use onsite renewable energy technologies to ensure that over the course of a year it transfers as much renewable energy to the National Grid as it uses, helping Tesco to achieve their goal of becoming a zero-carbon business by 2050.

MAC Security: A new approach to protecting your assets and guarding your profits in the tough economic climate PLANT theft is costing the construction industry an estimated £650 million per year; £800 million when additional costs are taken into account. These costs include plant replacement costs, hire of replacement equipment, loss of business and increased insurance premiums.

at each site individually to offer the most effective system possible on your budget. Allianz Cornhill (insurer) have identified that thieves and vandals have become more sophisticated in the methods they employ even posing as plant manufacturers maintenance workers in order to remove vehicles/parts from site. Mac Security understands these advancements in the sophistication and efforts thieves and vandals will take. Mac Security’s innovative new approach has seen interest across the construction industry with 14 sites contracting Mac Security to install bespoke security systems. Throughout the country the economic climate and pressure for prices to be slashed is continuing to squeeze the construction industry. Commercial building has dropped at its fastest rate for just over two and a half years. This, along with the rate of inflation hitting a six-month high and low stocks at suppliers, resulted in further lengthening on lead-times for raw material is causing construction companies across the country to begin to worry. Construction in the North East is forecasted to increase at an annual average rate of just 0.6 per cent between 2010 and 2014; this is weaker than the UK figure of 1.7 per cent. Mac Security is based in the North East and strives to support local companies in tough market conditions against avoidable costs such as theft and vandalism. [1] Source: Medical Research Council

With new business few and far between, it is vital to reduce costs such as Plant theft, which can be significantly reduced with the correct security systems implemented. Man guarding has traditionally been used on construction sites, but due to the high cost making it not efficient on both a small and large site. MAC security understands one system does not fit all sites and focus on looking

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NEWS CONTINUED Labour plans welcome rogue landlord crackdown but needs to also focus on building new rented homes CALLS for a national crackdown on rogue landlords have been welcomed as property chiefs pressed Labour over the need to focus on delivering vital new homes for rent to deal with both quality and supply issues. The Labour policy review, published in May, calls for a national register of private landlords as well as far more stringent regulation in an effort to drive up standards in the private rented sector. Shadow ministers said they would consider how compliance could be monitored – potentially through a regulatory body - introducing tougher sanctions, including the potential to strike off criminal landlords. Property industry calls for proper regulation of estate and letting agents who deal with vast sums of cash each year have fallen on deaf ears across all three major parties. But moves to encourage more professional landlords would raise the bar of quality solving both the problem of housing supply and standards. Essential Living, the first institutionally backed UK firm designing, developing and managing homes to rent, has responded warmly to the Opposition’s recommendations, agreeing that the fragmented nature of the private rented sector and lack of reprisals was fuelling a culture of poor standards for consumers. However, they have also urged Labour to focus more urgently on the wider issue of getting rental developments higher up council priority lists. Many new developments are sold abroad for prices well beyond what typical workers can afford, so providing a greater supply of rented homes that are affordable to young professionals would greatly enhance the housing market. At the same time, it would also create developments in which investors had genuine long term interests – rather than typical ‘build to sell’

developments that are sold off after completion.

• Allow payment in kind in lieu of the levy;

Essential living has $500m backing from M3 Capital Partners to deliver 5,000 rented homes across London and the South East over 10 years. Together with growing investment from housing associations and other private developers, by creating the right planning environment for developments to come forward, politicians can help enhance delivery of new homes.

•

The firm has so far acquired Berkshire House in Maidenhead, Kent, 100 Avenue Road in Swiss Cottage, the Helix building in Canary Wharf and, most recently, two warehouses on Three Colts Lane in Bethnal Green.

Development tax reform welcomed, but property industry warns of ‘frustrated growth’ THE Government’s reform of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should ensure the per square metre tax on property development focuses on economic growth and introduces speed and certainty to the sector, according to the British Property Federation (BPF). However, in its response to the Government consultation the BPF warned that where local authorities had already set levies, they were often too high and acted as a brake on development, contrary to the Government’s other pro-growth measures aimed at kick starting the industry. CIL is designed to largely replace s106 obligations, with the money raised spent on a wide range of infrastructure needed to support development. The Government is proposing, among others, to: • Strike a balance between funding infrastructure and effecting the viability of a development; • Allow councils that have not yet adopted a levy an extra year to do so;

Remove the vacancy test, meaning CIL will not generally be payable on buildings that have been vacant for a period of time.

Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, said: “We’re pleased the Government has listened to the concerns of the property industry and has sought to amend a policy that would have otherwise have erected another barrier to development. “Concerns remain that where councils have already set their levy, it’s too high and will only serve to frustrate growth and development. Time will tell, but it would not be a huge surprise to see these councils having to reset their levy at a more realistic rate in the near future. “

Leading property management and development group looks for efficiencies by mapping supply chain sustainability data ONE of the UK’s leading property management and development groups Places for People has joined forces with sustainability open data platform Ecodesk, to map its supply chain’s sustainability data. The deal is part of a wider initiative to ensure efficiencies are exploited from the building stage to people placement and from procurement to building management, in the face of increased funding challenges. Places for People believes that as a social organisation, it has a great responsibility to ensure it fulfills its duties in the areas of sustainable development and neighbourhood management so that its services have the highest possible positive impact both locally and globally. To ensure that suppliers up and down the supply chain share this ethos and are doing their part to streamline processes, the company

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NEWS CONTINUED is using Ecodesk to look in detail at the environmental metrics of its wide supply chain. Places for People will have access to a dedicated dashboard which features its entire supply chain sustainability data and it will be able to identify top performers and areas of possible improvement. The aim is to promote best practice in the area of sustainability within the social housing industry, and furthermore the industries that supply to it including construction, retail, facilities and utilities all of which are facing similar pressures. “As the Government has made a number of changes to the way social housing is funded, the industry as a whole is looking for different ways to reduce costs, as well as maintain and enhance efficiency and service quality. We have taken the decision to do this by looking into the supply chain,” said Katy Mills, Group Head of Procurement at Places for People. “As a business we are extremely excited to be embarking on this project. Our procurement and sustainable development teams will be working with Ecodesk to ensure that suppliers are taking their environmental metrics seriously and utilising them as an opportunity to create cost savings and operational efficiencies.”.

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER RESTORATION AND RENEWAL CONTRACT NOTICE ISSUED A Contract Notice and PreQualification Questionnaire has been issued for an independent appraisal of the approaches to the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster. The Palace, an iconic and internationally recognised building, is a key feature of the Westminster UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Responses are required by 12.00pm on 14 June, bidders can view the Contract Notice online at http://ted.europa.eu/ udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:1619942013:TEXT:EN:HTML

The successful bidder will be tasked with examining the costs, benefits, risks and general feasibility of three possible approaches to the restoration and renewal of the Palace, which are: • continuing repairs and replacement of the fabric and systems in the Palace over an indefinite period •

a defined, rolling programme of more substantial interventions, but still working around continued use of the Palace

•

scheduling the works over a more concentrated period with parliamentary activities moved elsewhere and unfettered access to the Palace for the delivery of the works

New study reveals green credentials of aluminiumclad and other timberbased windows AN authoritative new study commissioned by The Wood Window Alliance (WWA) confirms that all timber-based window frame materials, including aluminium-clad, are significantly more environmentallyfriendly on every measure than PVC-U. Conducted within ISO 14040 and PAS2050 guidelines, using SimaPro 7.3.2 software and the Ecoinvent 2.2 database, the study, conducted by Dr Gillian Menzies at Heriot Watt University, builds on earlier work by Imperial College London and sets a new standard for the Whole Life Analysis of windows. For the first time, the industry can use authoritative data to compare the durability, value and environmental impacts of different window frame materials. The report concludes that, in normal conditions, timber window frames made to WWA specifications offer the best value, with a service life of approximately 56-65 years, and are the most environmentally-friendly choice. For severe exposure conditions, such as high-rise buildings or coastal developments, aluminium-clad and modified timber frames can provide

even better value, thanks to their exceptional durability and longer maintenance intervals, whilst retaining much of the environmental benefit of timber. While the initial cost of PVC-U windows is the lowest, all timber-based options offer better long-term value. The Whole Life Analysis features a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) which shows all timber-based window frames, including modified timber and aluminium-clad, have a negative Global Warming Potential (GWP) and can save considerable amounts of CO2e. For instance, using a timber frame instead of PVC-U saves roughly 260kgs CO2e over 60 years, while using aluminium-clad instead of PVC-U saves roughly 240kgs CO2e. In the average house with ten windows, that’s a saving of around 2.5 tonnes CO2e - the equivalent of driving 10,000 miles in a small family car. Taking all energy inputs into account, from cradle to grave, all the timberbased frames tested were ‘carbon negative’ over a 60-year period, thanks to the carbon sink effect of the forests and the carbon store in the wood. The LCA study also looked at a number of End of Life (EoL) scenarios and concluded that in every scenario considered using SimaPro analysis, all timber-based window frame materials have a lower environmental impact than PVC-U alternatives. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, which is the final stage in a three part Whole Life Analysis of timber frame materials, compared timber, modified timber and aluminium-clad window frames to PVC-U, with a specific focus on the environmental impact of each material. The first two stages assessed the Service Life Planning and Whole Life Cost of each. The complete report can be found on the Wood Window Alliance website.

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RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS PUTS ARW AHEAD UNDERSTANDING the vital bond between the company and the client is what sets ARW Specialist Building Contractors Ltd apart. Established in 2005, ARW is a leading UK Commercial Refurbishment Contractor providing full Refit Services to offices commercial, and industrial premises, across a broad range of business sectors. 8

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PRESTIGIOUS TEAM

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

The ARW office team currently consists of 20 staff and approximately 20 Subcontractors, all of which have been hand selected to represent the company with their highly skilled attributes. ARW utilise a prestigious database of subcontractors to make sure clients are receiving the best possible work on their end-to-end approach.

ARW takes customer satisfaction very seriously. From the very first conversation to the final brush stroke, the company negotiate and comprehend all of the responsibilities the client has given them, an attribute that is unique and enviable.

ARW pride themselves on their selection of highly trained and highly skilled sub contractors. By identifying the customer’s needs and aspirations they are then able to apply the subcontractor that would best suit them. By using trustworthy and reliable suppliers supporting each other, ARW has progressed smoothly through the benign economic occurrences. “Over the years I have come to learn that if you are good to your staff they will be good to you. Not only do we provide staff training to meet company standards, but company vehicles, work wear and other extras that other local contractors do not offer. By offering these sort of basic yet fundamental benefits I feel they promote higher levels of moral among the team,” explains ARW’s Director Adam Wake. The ARW team have a wealth of certifications and qualifications; they have worked for Government and Public Sector Agencies so the majority of their staff are fully police and security checked. “We consider everyone at the company to be part of the ‘family’,” emphasises Adam. “From the outset of forming the company we have had a core team that knows what we are striving to achieve. From our site operatives and foremen through to our office manager Jane Delaney, our core team has been with us since the start. As we have expanded we have brought in new employees and subcontractors that have stayed with us, and with our continued growth I look forward to taking on new members in the future. We also employ members of my immediate family, which helps keep a close network within the organisation”.

EXPECTED GROWTH Currently maintaining and encouraging higher levels of business is essential to the company; however expanding the company’s attributes into the full turnkey and design and build sector would allow ARW to give their clients a full one stop shop encouraging their client database.

Adam’s hands on approach allows him to understand what the client wants and work together with his team to enable the best outcome. “I trust my staff to deliver to their best potential and I can’t ask any more than that,” asserts Adam. ARW can also endorse their works with many recognised certificates and licenses including being NICEIC approved, Gas Safe Registered, CSCS Committed, ISO 90001 International Contractors and Safe Contractor Approved. Just some of their extensive range portrays to clients that they are fully focused on providing the best of the company’s expertise.

MILESTONES “Successfully supplying large and well known companies including the Metropolitan Police, First Capital Connect, Vinci Facilities to name a few are some of the biggest achievements to date,” shares Adam. “These advantageous projects boosted our reputation and allowed ARW to become nationally recognised as a commercial contractor”.

HEALTH, SAFETY, AND THE ENIVRONMENT As a building contractor, the company are obliged to provide health and safety courses to ensure that their staff are trained to keep accidents and fatalities to a minimum. Through thorough risk assessments, method statements and the ARW induction, the company are able to educate all employees on their Health and Safety policy. With regular safety checks, toolbox talks, and meetings, they can keep the team up to date with any changes in the ARW Health and Safety policy. Customers are demanding more economical and sustainable materials and methods of labour and ARW can happily state that all the waste they created is utilised by Eco Waste and Recycling; a Waste Transfer station that is located at the same premises as their head office. Eco Waste currently achieve a 90 per cent recycling rate with endeavours to raise this to 95 per cent by 2015.

They have currently been introducing this over the last couple of years with great success, and look forward to maintaining and expanding this service over the coming years. With Adam having a firm hold on all the processes, procedures and systems within the company, the company are hoping to see significant expansion within the next few five years, with an anticipated increase in their turnover of £2m, bringing their current £3m to an impressive £5m+. “Our current Annual Premium Income is £3m, which enables us to expand our limitations and aspire with new directions for future contracts,” says Adam

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CARROCK DESIGN & BUILD: “CRAFTING CUMBRIA’S HERITAGE” AS a small but thriving family-run business, Carrock Design & Build see themselves as being defined by the recession. The company’s current turnover exceeds £2m, with considerable future growth forecast. 10

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Established in 2004, the company has built up an enviable portfolio of renovation projects and new builds, focusing primarily on the small but highly active niche segment of heritage construction. Success has led to year on year growth, with many projects gaining recognition for outstanding architectural design, coupled with Carrock’s trademark of fastidious attention to detail and the constant pursuit for perfection. The company’s “right first time” construction philosophy rewards clients with an outstanding quality of finish throughout. As proud members of the Federation of Master Builders, Carrock Design & Build are delighted to have such work acknowledged through Regional Awards in 2007 and 2010, recently going on to secure double recognition in 2012 for Best Small and Best Large Renovation Projects.

THE COMPANY Whilst just as comfortable with statement new builds, Carrock Design Build are particularly passionate about older buildings, specialising in heritage and conservation architecture. Over the years, the business has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with older traditional and Listed buildings, both within and outside the Lake District National Park.

homes, subtly marrying the very best of traditional and contemporary building techniques. Our trademark is often a carefully balanced blend of the finest exposed hardwood joinery, juxtaposed against splendidly honed stonemasonry, resulting in stunning homes for life”.

offering timely manufacture, delivery and installation, whilst ensuring the highest standards of quality control.

SKILLED TEAM To achieve outstanding results and ensure the highest quality of construction, the business employs 25 highly skilled local craftsmen and tradesmen. This team is led by Architect and Managing Director, Malcolm, who is in turn supported by a five-strong management support team, based rurally in Cumbria at the foot of Carrock Fell, at the company’s Carrock House Headquarters at How Hill, Hutton Roof, west of Penrith. Malcolm maintains a hands on role, throughout every function and facet of Carrock Design & Build’s Business. He is actively responsible for all elements of new business development, having successfully maintained a full order book, proudly protecting employment of his skilled workforce, throughout the prolonged and ongoing recession. In addition to architectural design, Malcolm leads all project management and construction supervision, spending much of his time on site, personally overseeing quality control. At present Malcolm also prefers to remain the primary client contact throughout all construction projects, regardless of size. This commitment is particularly valued by clients, differentiating Carrock Design & Build from its competitors.

Similarly, the company’s team of longserving stonemasons and plasterers are highly experienced and skilled in wide ranging traditional techniques, enabling them to restore, recreate and enhance the original design and styling of some of Cumbria’s finest Lakeland properties. They frequently construct rubble filled, solid masonry walling with lime, along with Ashlar stone walling and detailing, often utilizing their own extensive reclamation and salvage stocks. The company has expertise in specialist

Malcolm holds membership of: ARB; RIBA; Guild of Master Craftsmen and the Federation of Master Builders. Most importantly he holds a CSCS Gold Heritage Skills Card, which is a key requirement to many of the prestigious projects now undertaken. He is extremely passionate about breathing new life into Cumbria’s most prized older buildings, through his unique architectural vision.

“We share a passion and respect for such beautiful buildings, with their enthusiastic owners,” says Malcolm. “Together, new life is breathed into such

With over 50 years’ of local joinery experience, a true time-served traditional craftsman, Keith Iredale (father to Managing Director, Malcolm) leads Carrock’s highly skilled team of eight joiners. The combined talent of this team is invaluable and very much the cornerstone to each and every construction project. The majority of Carrock Design and Build’s fabrication requirements are handled in-house,

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heritage, lime and hemp plastering techniques plus tried and tested holistic breathing wall technology and Lime / Leca floors. In order to provide customers with a timely and reliable installation service expected, Carrock Design & Build has its own dedicated Plumbing and Heating team, employing highly qualified engineers. In turn, this has ensured that they deliver a high quality service, whilst developing essential experience and specialist expertise in all the current and emerging technologies. These include customer preference for under-floor heating, advanced control systems and renewable technologies, such as biomass boilers.

IN-HOUSE With specialist roofing materials and labour costs continuing to escalate, Carrock Design & Build have again stepped forward recently, launching their own brand new in-house roofing business in April 2013. Not only do they now employ their own very skilled traditional Cumbrian roofing team, but they also now hold substantial and wide ranging stocks of reclaimed roofing slates. Once again, this development offers customers considerable advantage, in terms of controlling timing, cost and quality. Whilst the local Painting and Decorating market is somewhat saturated, reliability and quality of finish can prove variable. To this end, Carrock took a decision to carefully recruit their own time served, City & Guilds qualified decorators in 2012. In addition to traditional, carefully prepared, high quality painting

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and decorating, they provide expert paper hanging, ornate work and cornicing. Their team is also heritage lime and earth based paint specialists. Finally, with longevity and sustainability in mind, Carrock Design & Build are strong advocates of Renewable Energy Sources. They have first-hand experience of a wide variety of installations, to suit varying needs. To support education and assist clients in their own personal decision making, they now offer their own highly informative demonstration site. The business has also actively led the installation of green technologies, to include: ground and air source heat pumps; solar panels; wood pellet and log boilers.

With a rebranding exercise currently underway, the company has determined a tagline to help define their business, namely “Crafting Cumbria’s Heritage”. In essence, by employing (rather than sub-contracting) the best and most skilled craftsmen, Carrock Design & Build aims to become Cumbria’s best and preferred Heritage builder, painstakingly constructing outstanding renovation designs, effortlessly blending traditional and contemporary craftsmanship of the very highest quality.

DEFINED BY THE RECESSION In many respects Carrock Design & Build is defined by the current recession, with certain clients recognizing this as a golden opportunity for major renovation projects. As a small but growing family business, the employment of each and every skilled craftsman has felt like a major milestone. Similarly, the proud completion of each and every project to the very highest standards has also felt like a major achievement. Thus their specialist expertise and confidence has grown, in order that they have been able to deliver more challenging projects over time.

STANDING OUT Carrock is accredited with Investors in People and prides itself on striving for perfection, providing clients with an individually tailored and bespoke service level, from initial design through to build completion. The company maintains that by employing only the best, highly skilled craftsman, they have been able to develop a “right first time” culture of attention to detail, essential to delivering exceptional construction quality. The business has remained a “niche” heritage builder from the outset, thus building up a unique base of highly specialist expertise and experience over many years. For example, they are local experts in the fabrication of heavy oak trusses, sliding sash windows and lime pointing etc. They have always been confident in taking carefully calculated risks, not always following industry norms e.g. employment rather than subcontracted labour; seeing the need to invest in substantial reclamation stocks to fulfill future customer needs.

Perhaps joining the Federation of Master Builders has proved one of the most significant milestones for Carrock Design & Build. Certainly, winning their first major award back in 2007 was a major boost for all their staff who work so tirelessly. Again, finding out that they were Double 2012 Award Winners was a fantastic achievement, really spurring them on to go even further in the future. Carrock are determined to win the national awards soon. In order to survive, the company has had to live by the most stringent financial and cash-flow controls from the outset. This has forced the business to keep overheads to a minimum, resulting in a lean and healthily structured business, going forward now. Being a family business has enabled Carrock to depend on unstinting support from immediate family members. Malcolm himself places significant value on the foundation of family, sighting his wife Gillian Iredale (also a Director) and their parents as Carrock’s firm bedrock. Thereafter, the loyalty and work ethic of all Carrock’s employees is very much prized and key to both survival and success. With a full order book for the next 18 months, Malcolm is highly optimistic about the ongoing prospects of Carrock Design & Build. His primary aim is to further extend the business’ portfolio of prestigious clients, preserving Cumbria’s Heritage. To some extent he feels that demand led growth is inevitable. However, he also recognises the need for transition into more planned future growth, in order that the very best quality standards can continue to be delivered from a larger business base. This is likely to necessitate the appointment of key additional staff in the near future. Contact Details: Mr Malcolm Iredale Carrock Design Build Ltd Carrock House, Hutton Roof, Penrith, Cumbria. CA11 0XY Tel: 017684 88859 Mail@carrock.co.uk

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DROMADâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMMITMENT LEADS THEM TO THE TOP OF EUROPEAN MARKET WINNERS of Hire Company of the Year 2013, Dromad Hire provides a wide range of equipment to both commercial and domestic customers.

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As the North East’s leading Hire Company based in Dundalk, Co Louth, Ireland the company’s ethos is to provide customers with the most modern, up to date, hire equipment possible.

HIRE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Europe) Hire Company Of The Year, and in the process became the first ever Irish company to do so. With over 800 Hire companies throughout Europe in the running, Dromad once again showed their commitment to service, customer relationships, standard of equipment ready for hire, and investment in both equipment and staff. According to Seamus Byrne Managing Director of Dromad Hire: “In the run up to the awards we were intensely mystery shopped, the results showed we excelled in customer service. This is a great reflection on all the team working here and they should be very proud of themselves. We always strive to improve and we realise there is always room for improvement. Our aim is to make the hiring process as simple as possible for both educated and uneducated customers by simply caring, listening, giving professional advice and making things happen hassle free”.

The Hire Awards of Excellence 2013 took place at the stunning Savoy Hotel in London on the evening of Saturday 27 April 2013. Independently judged, the Hire Awards of Excellence are designed to genuinely recognise excellence throughout the Hire Industry. Acknowledging the successes of the hirers and suppliers as well as those successful individuals who truly set the standard, these Awards are the industry’s most sought after accolade. Against the industries best, Dromad won the overall award, HAE (Hire Association

EXTENSIVE RANGE Dromad stock a full range of height for hire, cherry pickers, spider lifts, tracked boom lifts, spider boom lift hoist, everything from stick booms to skylifts, electric scissor lifts to access platforms, & articulated boom lifts. They also stock a full range of floor care products from drum sanders, to buff sanders, edging sanders and carpet cleaners, not to mention the range of floor polishers, power washers and scrubber dryers. Their landscaping and ground-works range stocks all sizes of mini-diggers, augers, 4x4 dumpers, tracked dumpers,

and excavators. Their Toilet Division stocks a full range of cabin-toilets, portaloos, disabled toilets, and stand alone urinals in maintained to the highest of standards with excellent delivery and weekly on-site servicing. The company’s climate control division stock a full range of air condition units, energy saving patio heaters, indoor kerosene heaters, cooling fans and dehumidifiers. In essence, their Tool Hire shop is the one stop shop for all rental needs, both DIY and commercial. Dromad are constantly expanding their product range. Their most recent

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expansion is in fitness equipment hire Fitness4hire.com - where customers can exercise and shape up in the comfort of their own home. Another addition has been the opening of Dromad Service Shop where the company repair and service all makes of equipment. They also stock a massive range of spare parts and accessories. Dromad Hire has an extensive range, with over 800 hire products available in store. They have earned the reputation of being the leading hire company in Ireland.

MISSION Dromadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to provide value and in the current economic climate, it is essential for them that they provide low cost discounts, weekend deals, loyalty cards and still deliver the most up to date equipment to customers. It is crucial to them that they continue to assist their customers in these challenging times. With their head office in Dundalk and the recent improvements in road infrastructure, the company is now in a prime position to service anywhere

throughout Ireland, with up to seven delivery and support vehicles working around the clock. Dromad understands the value and importance of providing their customers with equipment that is safe, capable and maintained to the highest standard. This is their ethos and it is deeply instilled within the team at Dromad.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A FEATURE OR AN ADVERT IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL STEVE RUSHWORTH AT S&S PUBLISHING ON 01924 920 483 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO STEVE@SNSPUBLISHING.CO.UK

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INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED ELEKTRA LIGHTING BOASTS ENVIABLE REPUTATION WITH an ambition to be recognized as a world leader in hospitality lighting design, Elektra Lighting places emphasis on the diversity of their projects, an important aspect of their business that has been pivotal to seeing them through the recession. 18

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As an independent lighting design consultancy founded in March 2000, the company create lighting solutions for hotels, retail, restaurants, bars, private houses, workplaces, commercial spaces and exhibitions amongst others. They do not manufacture, sell or install lights; their income is from design fees alone.

STAFF COMMITMENT With just six members of staff, the company boasts an impressive turnover, and staff receive ongoing training to ensure that they remain at the top of their field. “You learn by doing, with constant quality control and feedback. Our work is project based so staff work on a specific project from start (concept design) to completion (focusing and control programming) to allow people to see the results of their design and incorporate knowledge into their work,” explains Owner and Director Neil Knowles. It is the commitment of the staff that has ensured Elektra Lighting’s enviable reputation for outstanding customer

service. “We don’t advertise, all work comes from repeat business or word of mouth,” says Neil, emphasising the company’s standing within the industry.

STANDING OUT Elektra Lighting have a background in theatrical lighting (the company was originally founded as a subsidiary of theatre lighting company White Light, although they split from them 13 years ago), which enables them to see light differently from many others; they focus more on the effect than the fitting, making them unique within their field. The company’s work has gained much recognition, and they passed have won Lighting Design Awards for the Hospitality category in 2004 and 2009. The award is open only to UK projects, but as the company has got busier, they have been unable to enter since 2009. The diversity of their projects has been important for the company getting through the recession as Neil explains: “Russia, for example, has not been

particularly affected and we have four hotels on site in this country, not to mention satellite states (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and so on). We spread out”. With their ongoing success, Elektra Lighting hopes to continue developing high quality lighting design for projects over the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). Their workload is relatively homogenous, with around 80 per cent comprising hotel and restaurant work Around 75 per cent of this is outside the UK – currently they have 21 projects on site in 13 different countries.

ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE Elektra Lighting are a major force for the uptake of low energy lighting across the hospitality industry, winning for example the Low Energy Awards for their work on Jumeirah Hotel, Mallorca. They work within the regulatory framework of many different countries but always endeavor to secure low energy solutions that do not compromise the appearance of the project.

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SAFETY-FIRST FOR EAST MIDLANDS BASED EARL’S SCAFFOLDING SAFETY is at the top of the agenda for Earl’s Scaffolding, a family-run business that has been in existence since the beginning of 2008.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY Earl’s Scaffolding privately employ a Health and Safety Officer who has written and provided them with a scaffold specific Health and Safety Policy. He keeps in constant contact with the company, rolling out any new regulations. The Policy is reviewed annually, and any changes are explained to workers. The company’s mission statement is to not rush any jobs at the risk of safety or error. They rate themselves extremely highly in the field of safety for their operatives and the people they work with.

FAMILY RUN Established by Mark Earl, the company is run by himself and his father Stephen. Between them, they offer over 50 years’ experience within the scaffolding and building industries. Over the last few years, they have grown in leaps and bounds, keeping in touch with the local community whilst working alongside larger commercial companies. “Our reputation depends largely on the work we complete, and as we are a family owned, run, and named business, if we don’t do a good job it is our family name that gets tarnished and therefore our business would fail along with the pride we hold in putting our name to our work,” explains Company Secretary Sheylene Hunt.

“Each year that we complete productively and safely is an achievement, especially in these trying times for small businesses. We are proud of how far we’ve come from a start up at home in 2008 to our own premises and yard built in 2011. We now have a fleet of vehicles servicing numerous sites across the East Midlands”.

SUPPORTING APPRENTICES For the last 30 years, Mark and Stephen have worked on a large cement site providing daily scaffold requirements like access towers and handrails, to large scale birdcage scaffolds and temporary roofs.

STAFF

Their employees receive all relevant training that they require, and more if possible. Their operatives hold everything from standard CISRS skills (as a basic) to first aiders, IPAF/cherry picker and Rescue trained to name a very few. Staff benefits include nights out at the casino or go-karting. “The staff are very competitive and not only do they enjoy these activities, it builds relationships and team work from within,” says Sheylene.

The company’s continued work within the local community whilst servicing larger corporate companies (some sites hold over 100 tonnes of scaffold material at any one time) keeps them grounded and productive. They are able to hold onto their roots, keeping them from forgetting where they started, and still able to grow with demand.

“If it means taking longer to complete a job so that it’s right and safe the first time round then so be it,” says Sheylene.

“We benefit by running a family business as we are closely knit and all keep an eye out for each other from the office to site”.

Earl’s Scaffolding currently employs 15 operatives, although the numbers do triple during their busiest period, which usually falls between December and February.

from inception to completion for new builds to extensions/renovations.

GROWTH The company has survived the recession by keeping an honest business and not letting anyone down for any job promised no matter how big or small. They are committed to never promising what they cannot deliver. With a current annual turnover of £2.6m, Earl’s Scaffolding plan on staying at the top of their field; keeping their workers at the peak of knowledge and training whilst they expand further into the building trade with sister company Earl’s Access & Construction Ltd. Their plans are to be involved in building projects

“Our busiest time of year on this site is their shutdown (for maintenance of the kilns etc). Our workforce increases to around 30-40 men working 12-hour days, seven days a week. No one could ever tell us our workers don’t earn their paycheck!” explains Sheylene. “Also, while covering our commitments, we work closely with the CITB and currently have two workers coming up through an apprenticeship scheme who should become fully fledged and certified scaffolders by the end of 2014. “We feel it’s important to give the youth of today a fair chance in trade knowledge and training while they earn a pound. We all know how difficult it can be to accommodate costs for university these days, and apprenticeships are another way of furthering your education while working alongside your peers in the real day to day thick of things”.

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– THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK? “WORKWEAR…Helly Hansen?” A typical reaction to whenever those words are heard in the same sentence. Despite being a brand recognised globally for technical sportswear and urban fashion, Helly Hansen Workwear is one of the most significant players in the ever developing workwear clothing market today. The success of Helly Hansen Workwear is largely due to the power of the Helly Hansen Global Brand. No other workwear brand, emerging or in existence today, has the same powerful brand platform to sit on like Norwegian Workwear Brand Helly Hansen. The HH logo is instantly recognisable in over fifty countries worldwide and it represents

a symbol for quality, dependability, functionality and most important – style. To many people’s disbelief, Helly Hansen has been producing technical workwear clothing since 1877 when the company was founded by Helly Juell Hansen, a Norwegian sailor who at the age of thirty five came up with a creation that would change the outdoor

world forever – “waterproof clothing”. Although somewhat primitive by today’s standards, course linen coated in linseed oil, the invention was a huge success with sales of more than ten thousand garments achieved in the first five years of production, signalling the start of the 135 year journey so far of the Helly Hansen machine.

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“A technical innovator of functional clothing for both leisure and workwear” is how anybody from Helly Hansen would describe what the brand is about. Several milestones along the way have paved the way for Helly Hansen to gain the respect that it has within the outdoor and workwear markets: • In 1949 Helox, a thin sheet of translucent PVC plastic sewn into waterproof coats, took over from oil based outerwear and became the musthave protection for outdoor use. With a production of 30,000 coats each month, the success was almost immediate. • The original fleece, the fibre pile, was developed in 1961 and has been perfected for almost 50 years since. This new insulation layer was warm, lightweight and fast-drying, ideal for wearing under the protective layer. It was soon embraced by workers because it offered extraordinary insulation against the cold, and ventilated well during hard, physical work. It even protected against snow and light rain, staying extremely durable and warm after many washes. • Baselayer Technology - the development of a wonder fibre called LIFA®, kept the skin dry and warm by pushing moisture away from the body, making it the ideal baselayer fabric for outdoor and workwear use. The latest generation of LIFA® is still used in HH baselayers today. • In 1980, the Helly Tech® technology was launched, using both hydrophilic and microporous technology, which meant the apparel, was both waterproof and breathable. This meant that anyone who participated in high-activity outdoor sports could expect their clothing to work with them, not against them. The evolution of breathable, waterproof jackets had a profound effect on the outdoor industry. Helly Tech® is a technology that is widely used within both sport and workwear garments within the Helly Hansen range.

overshadowed by the huge growth of the Sport and Leisure division of Helly Hansen which has enjoyed enormous success in the UK for over four decades. This is why there is an element of surprise when people learn that Helly Hansen is also a workwear brand too. By carefully choosing to marry up with key distribution partners in the UK, Helly Hansen Workwear is being driven into the market at a remarkable rate. The “high street” presence of the brand seems to be central to the success that the workwear division is currently enjoying. “Brand Association” seems to be very prevalent in the consumer’s mind when making a choice on what workwear clothing to select. Primarily the clothing needs to do the job, but it also needs to look good too. Tradesman account for a large proportion of who is wearing Helly Hansen Workwear - functional clothing, fashionable designs, wear it to work, wear it down to the pub etc., but there is a growing trend in Health and Safety Executives specifying Helly Hansen Workwear for their employees because the product is dependable and it doesn’t break the bank. Having a safe workforce is crucial, but having a workforce that is happy with what they are wearing means a more productive team. Helly Hansen Workwear has a long history of being associated with high profile end users of their product; BP, Scottish Water, London City Airport, TUI Travel plc. British Gas, Chevron and Laing O’Rourke are just a few companies who are currently using Helly Hansen product. These organisations choose to use Helly Hansen Workwear not just because of the functionality of the product, but because they have a premium brand and they like to see their product sat alongside a quality clothing brand.

A multi-functional clothing brand is truly what Helly Hansen Workwear is. Covering all areas from baselayer, midlayer, outerlayer, waterproof breathable, polycotton, flame retardant, hi-vis, accessories, cutting edge multinorm garments, fishing , etc., no other workwear brand has so much to offer in as many different areas. Despite misconceptions about the Helly Hansen Workwear brand, they are by no means an expensive label. “Premium Product at Affordable Prices” is how the brand communicates to its customers. You will be pleasantly surprised when you actually take a look at some of the products that are on offer. Helly Hansen Workwear has a network of key partners that offer an extensive range of products to the UK and the rest of the world. To view details log on to www.hhworkwear.com , here you will find information on stockists and an overview of their fashionable and innovative Scandinavian designed workwear. The heritage from Helly Juell Hansen is still the company’s cornerstone. Today their gear is used by world-class sailors, skiers and adventurers and workers who spend their time between human will and nature’s forces, and demand full protection and performance when the conditions are at their worst. Not the “New Kid on the Block”, far from it, “The Longest Established Workwear Clothing Brand in Existence Today” is a more fitting description for the true pioneers of technical clothing – Helly Hansen Workwear.

• 2013 saw the creation of H2Flow™, technology that allows the wearer to stay warm under harsh conditions, but also to be able to adapt and to cool down easily, as well as being lightweight. Although long established within the Scandinavian regions of the world, Helly Hansen Workwear is relatively new to the UK in comparison to other workwear brands which works to Helly Hansen’s advantage, as the consumer is demanding something different to what the market is currently offering. Helly Hansen Workwear has been around in the UK for several years but it has been

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HEPPELTHWAITE – YOUR LOCAL PLUMBING AND HEATING ENGINEERS OFFERING customers the highest quality workmanship and services, Heppelthwaite’s experienced, equipped and fully-trained engineers take a great deal of pride in the work they undertake, ensuring satisfied customers and repeat business.

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SERVICES Heppelthwaite pride themselves on offering customers a cost effective, friendly, and professional service. The company offers a range of services to a diverse group of clients. With more than 80 per cent of their work coming from repeat clients, they understand the importance of customer satisfaction. So whether replacing a tap washer or installing a large commercial boiler, their attitude to service remains the same: “At all times strive to provide a high level of service, ensuring customer satisfaction and repeat business”. With such a wide range of service available, the company ensures that there is always someone on hand to offer customers advice over the telephone. Below are just some of the many services offered by Heppelthwaite: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Gas Boiler installations Oil and LPG Boiler installations Boiler servicing Boiler repairs Central heating installation Bathrooms, wet rooms, and showers Disabled upgrades Solar thermal Solar PV Air to Air Air to Water Landlord Safety certificates Power flushing General plumbing

FAIR PRICING Heppelthwaite rely on the repeat business and recommendations of satisfied customers. It is therefore vital to the company to ensure that they charge correctly and fairly for the work they undertake. All of their charges are transparent with no hidden extras, and they are consistently monitored to ensure that they remain cost effective for customers. The company offers a host of discounts to customers for recommending their friends, family, and neighbours, and is happy to provide estimates and quotations free of charge.

TEAM Heppelthwaite aims to employ and retain the very best plumbing and heating engineers. All their Gas Safe registered staff are experienced, equipped, and fully trained. They all drive tracked vehicles, are CRB checked and carry identification. All staff are directly employed to ensure that the company has complete control over quality of workmanship and service. Heppelthwaite provide their workers with both internal and external training, and their engineers are kept up to date with industry developments. They all hold the relevant gas qualifications and regularly attend manufacturer training days. The company also boasts an exemplary apprenticeship scheme, which they believe promotes and develops new talent within the business. This has served them well, with some of their longest serving and senior engineers starting out at the company as apprentices. Heppelthwaite take pride in their ability to retain the best engineers, as their long term service awards demonstrate.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT The community is at the very heart of the business for Heppelthwaite, and the company therefore does a variety of work to give back to their local community. The company is proud to be associated with the London Wasps who provide a lot of enjoyment and encouragement for young people and the disadvantaged in the local area. In the 2009/10 season, the company was the match day sponsor for the team’s home game against Gloucester. They are also the shirt sponsor for Dave Walder, who has played for England, and has been a regular at Wasps for several years. The business has also donated to the Harlington Hospice which provides a day care centre incorporating bereavement counseling and a lymphodemia clinic. Nurses from the hospice also provide palliative care within the community.

EVANS GROUP Heppelthwaite is part of a group of companies which provide a range of plumbing and heating services to a diverse group of clients. Together, they provide the complete package. If Heppelthwaite cannot help, a company within their Group will. To learn more, visit the Group’s website at www.rgevans.co.uk

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A FEATURE OR AN ADVERT IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL STEVE RUSHWORTH AT S&S PUBLISHING ON 01924 910 483 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO STEVE@SNSPUBLISHING.CO.UK nc_magazine http://www.facebook.com/NCMagazine

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Creating Electric Dreams for Fifteen Years. One of the UK’s leading home entertainment specialists celebrate a business milestone and reflect on their achievements and future challenges. Technology moves fast. So fast, we probably don’t even consider everyday items to be “technology”. Televisions, hi-fi, lighting and mobile phones - these are just things that we all have in our lives, right?

Since they established in 1998, The Majik House have embarked on quite a journey with more than their share of high profile clients and industry awards along the way. But more of that later where did it all begin?

“We’re not in the technology business.” says Tim Burrow of The Majik House, near Kirkby Lonsdale, “We’re in the business of creating exceptional living spaces - full homes, single or multiple rooms where our customers want to enjoy their lifestyle.”

Tim’s background was in precision engineering and home cinema and hi-fi was something of a hobby, with friends and family regularly approaching Tim to repair adapt or, increasingly, improve the home entertainment kit they had. “Back then, I personally couldn’t buy the equipment that sounded or looked right, and getting different components to work together was a nightmare!”

“For many of our customers, technology is the last thing they are interested in they just want to have a beautiful home, enhanced by the best in vision, lighting and audio.” Are you still with us? In short, The Majik House are one of the leading lights in the ‘home automation’ industry. Everything from home cinema (including bespoke, dedicated full cinema rooms) and dynamic audio to beautiful lighting design and intuitive controls, all backed-up by assured and accredited installation. “The phrase ‘home automation’ usually gets a blank expression,” adds Carol Burrow, “but when we show people what can be achieved with a remote control, an advanced light switch or, increasingly, with their iPhone then it all becomes perfectly clear.”

Award-winning cinema and games room created in a house basement.

After leaving his engineering career and following a short spell working with a hi-fi and home technology company, Tim and Carol decided it was time to do their own thing and The Majik House was created. “Having Carol involved in the business was, in my opinion, absolutely paramount - home tech is often (wrongly) considered to be in the male domain, and we wanted to ensure whatever we did would incorporate the ‘wife acceptance factor’.” With two fellow directors - Ken Nowell and Jit Mistry - as well as a highly skilled and experienced sales and installation team, The Majik House were soon turning heads across the UK.

Their first premises comprised a fully operational house; “What better way of showing what we could achieve than by creating our own ideal home?” says Carol. But as the business grew, and interest was received from people wanting to buy the original Majik House itself, then it was time to move to their current location near picturesque Kirkby Lonsdale. The new showroom afforded a ‘blank canvas’ on which to expand and showcase just what could be achieved throughout a home. The feedback from both customers and industry partners led the premises to be appropriately named “The Majik House Experience Centre”. Even through testing economic times, the company has seen consistent growth with a client-base that stretches the length and breadth of the land. Their reach also extends beyond the UK as, at time of writing, Tim and Carol had just returned from St Lucia in the Caribbean where one customer (a premier league footballer) is planning a new home cinema and considers The Majik House the only team for the job. This may sound incredible, but The Majik House take it all in their stride as they can list countless celebrities and famous sporting personalities amongst their approving customers.

www.majikhouse.com

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A luxury, yes, but one which the whole family can enjoy time and time again.

Sales Manager Gary Cunningham tells us more, “Our clients include a number of famous faces including professional footballers, international cricketers and very well known TV celebrities.

A beautiful traditional living room is quickly transformed into a home cinema.

But we always say we’re only ever as good as our last project. The recommendations we receive from our all our clients - even the well-known names - is testament to our work.” As you can appreciate, some of the commissions undertaken fall into the realms of the very wealthy clientele, but these customers are very much the exception and many projects undertaken for clients with quite modest homes and requirements.

No need to compromise on style when a projector can be hidden in the ceiling!

“The bigger projects are the ones which really capture the imagination: multi-seat cinemas, with high definition projectors, dynamic speakers hidden in walls and behind the screen, lighting which changes with the action and luxury recliners for an exclusive move theatre experience. But you’d also be surprised at what can be achieved in a modest home and on a budget within the reach of most of us - so many people are quietly delighted with what they can have in their home and, planned correctly, what can be introduced in the future to expand their systems.” says Jit Mistry. With such glowing testimonials, an enviable client list and quality-driven approach to business, it’s understandable that the home automation started to take note.

Lighting design to enhance any room or setting.

Think you’ve not got enough space for a home cinema? Think again...

Examples of accolades in recent years include Best Showroom in the North of the UK as well as being winners of the Best UK Cinema Installation for 2012 for a project for a client in the Trough of Bowland.

This could also be added to in the coming months as The Majik House have no fewer than four projects (all for clients in the North West) shortlisted for national awards. “Naturally we’re delighted to be nominated and to win any award but, for me, the most pride comes from hearing clients tell us about how pleased they are with our work, the pleasure everyone in the family gets from a new cinema room or how everything is so easy to operate.” adds Tim Burrow. And what are the plans for The Majik House for the next fifteen years - is there any inside information on the changing face of home technology? “Who can tell!” says Tim, “We know we need to keep right on the edge of technology, but we’re not in the business of jumping on the back of every new gadget. Our reputation is everything and that includes the equipment we install: we need to be certain that we’re using the right kit in terms of high performance, reliability, build quality and, most importantly, ease of use. As long as we benchmark our customer’s requirements against these key principles then we know we’re creating high quality solutions that will continue to stand the test of time.” If you’d like to find out more about The Majik House and to get a flavour of just what could be achieved in your home, visit www.majikhouse.com The Majik House Kirkby Lonsdale Business Park Kendal Road Kirkby Lonsdale LA6 2GT Telephone. 015242 73578 Email. info@majikhouse.com www.majikhouse.com

Members of the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A FEATURE OR AN ADVERT IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL STEVE RUSHWORTH AT S&S PUBLISHING ON 01924 920 483 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO STEVE@SNSPUBLISHING.CO.UK

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building & decorating contractors ltd

AVALON : PUTTING CLIENTS AHEAD OF PROFITS RELIABILITY, trust and client care are three primary goals for West-London based Building and Decorating Contractors, Avalon. Founded seven years ago by Miros Bogdantsaliev, who was at the time a self-employed decorator distributing door to door leaflets and doing small decorating and repair jobs to residential clients, the company has seen steady growth and last year saw an outstanding turnover of £1.7m. They have projects ranging from about £20k to £1.2m at present as well as small maintenance and

repair jobs, allowing them to maintain long term relationships with their existing clients. Avalon provides a full range of Design and Build services such as: Planning, Building, Design and Architectural, Project managing, Renovations and Refurbishments services.

CLIENT SATISFACTION With two Managing Directors, and full time in-house subcontractors from self-employed builders and teams to specialists engineers, architects, etc. that the company have been working with for a very long time, Avalon strive to ensure that their clients are kept happy every step of the way.

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“Our key ambition is, and should be before anything else, satisfying our clients and providing services up to their required expectations,” says Miros, “Everything else such as growing and developing the business, introducing additional services etc. etc., is a consequence which comes inevitably if the above is followed”. It is the trust that customers place in Avalon as well as their aim to totally satisfy their clients, as opposed to growing profits and turnover, that really sets the company apart. “Good craftsmanship and organization can be achieved by many other companies, but reliability, trust, and looking after the Client is something that not many companies would set as their primary goal,” explains Miros. As owner as well as co-Managing Director, Miros’ role in the business is quite broad, ranging from making sure the business is going and growing well, coordinating things like client relations, marketing, business insurances, health and safety policies and statements and its implementation, accounts overseeing, dealing with the larger projects, making sure the service clients receive is of highest quality and the end result is completely satisfactory.

Miros admits that there is still a room to improve their marketing and management and to develop further the Planning, Architectural and Design and Engineering part of the business.

Avalon also has an extensive environmental policy which they are currently implementing on all their sites. Additionally, they use only licensed waste removal specialists who separate and recycle waste from their sites.

HEALTH, SAFETY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRAINING

With the continuous health and safety training and NVQ opportunities, Avalon are able to ensure that their staff enable them to put their clients first.

As a company that serves a larger area but focuses more specifically on West, South West and North West London, health and safety is taken very seriously at Avalon. Their health and safety is overlooked by a third party specialist firm who prepared their policy and statement and is ensuring that it is implemented and managed correctly. The company also makes sure that their managers and workers are competent and have ongoing health and safety training.

“Avalon wishes people all the best with their refurbishment or building projects, as mostly this would be for their home and they want the best for their homes,” concludes Miros.

GROWTH “Our major achievement is starting a business with zero investments to the point where we are at present and having all these satisfied customers,” shares Miros, “There have been many small milestones along which all contribute to the prosperity of our company”. Working harder and investing more than before the recession helped the company a lot, as well as being wise with spending but not compromising the quality of their service. “What may have also helped is that we do not do any commercial construction contracts where companies by my opinion struggled more,” says Miros. Present and future plans for the business include in the first instance steady growth and making sure growth does not compromise the quality of the service and business as a whole. Avalon is looking at expanding in the Property Developing business in the near future as they feel that it is an area in which they have the required expertise.

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CONSTRUCTION PERFECTION AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AT THE HEART OF BRUNSWICK ESTATES This month we had the opportunity to talk to business owner, Alan Whyke about the company he owns and runs by himself, Brunswick Estates (Construction) Ltd. He tells us a little about the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services and commitment to the environment.

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Please supply some history/ background information about your company/ organisation. With over 20 years of industry experience, I pursued my passion for Architectural Design and Construction with the aim of providing a high quality one stop shop services.

What is the full range of your services? Our mantra was always to provide excellent quality workmanship at affordable prices and deliver the same excellent levels of service no matter how large or small the contract size. Brunswick Estates (Construction) Ltd is fully committed to the principles of partnering and to working in collaboration with our clients, our supply chain and other Industry Professionals. This in turn enables us to provide a wide scope of related services and the ability to cover a wide geographic spread without compromising the integrity of the services provided.

close collaboration with Brunswick Architectural to offer the following complimentary services: Professional services • • • • •

Architectural Design Interior Design Structural Surveying Quantity Surveying Environmental Surveys

All in all Brunswick Estates offers a true ‘Concept to Completion’ service that is second to none!

What is your average contract size? We have completed projects from building small extensions with a budget of £30k to large period house conversions and renovations costing £2.5 million. Basically we have no set parameters for contract size. We will consider each potential contract on it’s own merits

What is your company’s key ambition and commitment? My ambition is simple. It’s about delivering what the customer wants, it’s about being totally committed to achieving and maintaining the highest possible levels of customer satisfaction. I firmly believe that by delivering excellence across our design and construction services, making each and every property that we work on realize its full potential, both from a design and functionality aspect. I’m also committed to providing an enjoyable working environment for my tradesmen. As the industry and moral has suffered in recent years. I found that a happy working environment equates to a better job being done and the client’s experience of the process being less stressful. It’s a win, win situation. Not to mention the good press that flows from this approach.

Please tell me about some of the company’s milestones and major achievements. Apart from the industry benchmark badgers such as Investor in People Award, ISO Certification, CHAS and Construction line qualification prior to recession. I consider our main achievement to be the positive feedback and satisfaction that we achieve from our customers. This is purely down to delivering all that we’ve talked about throughout this interview

Our Company infrastructure means that we have the ability to undertake a wide variety of projects across the following: • • • • •

Residential Education Industrial Commercial Retail.

Construction and Maintenance services • • •

New Build Renovation & Alteration (works to listed buildings) Facilities management

Over last decade Brunswick Estates (Construction) Ltd has worked in

What are your present and future plans for the business?

I really feel a sense of pride and satisfaction when considering the improvements that we’ve made and at times complete transformations of their homes.

Present: To maintain our current trading levels throughout the recession Future (1-2 years): To obtain more works in our area of specialty (renovation and interior design) and achieve moderate growth Future (3-5 years): Obtain higher value contracts in our preferred areas of Construction and to establish ourselves as the provider and project management contractor of choice within the (West) Yorkshire area.

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What do you feel sets you apart from other companies in your field? An absolute to commitment to a) working with the client at the design and planning stage, creating a buzz before we’ve even started the works b) a happy working environment with construction perfection and last but no means least striving for customer & personal satisfaction.

What has helped you get through the recession and what have been your coping strategies? • • •

Changing company structure Better value for money and lower margins Customer satisfaction leading to referrals and repeat custom

environment and that the company has responsibilities to clients, third parties and employees alike. Environmental issues are addressed as an integral part of our management processes through the application of an Internal Environmental Management System. The IEMS informs the management activities and commitment to control and minimise the environmental impact of their services. It ensures that sustainability is considered during the planning & design phase and further, procurement and construction of the project. This approach includes: • • • • •

Identifying the environmental impact of all operations Managing site waste generated Reducing the amounts produced Reusing materials and recycling where possible Monitoring and reporting on performance.

In addition to the IEMS, Brunswick Estates has adopted a holistic approach to waste reduction encompassing the design, construction and management processes of the company. Recycling has become an integral part of our construction management and it is standard practice within the Company to seek opportunities for recycling wherever practical.

What is your health and safety policy within your business and how is this rolled out?

Brunswick Estates is also ISO 14001 certified which brands the business as environmentally responsible and demonstrates that the company is committed to reducing their environmental impacts and to meet stakeholder expectations of sustainability.

Brunswick Estates (Construction) Ltd is fully committed to achieving and maintaining the highest standards of Health and Safety for its employees and subcontractors alike. As such we have a well-established Health and Safety Policy accompanied by method statements, risk assessments and other procedural frameworks.

Is there anything else that you would like to add to this? We as a company strive for constant improvements within the company itself as well as outside. We continuously pursue the development and regeneration of the local areas, and work closely with the community and statutory bodies in order to make improvements within our locality and for our immediate residents. One of our current goals is to achieve higher safety, better street lighting and improvements to the condition of public pathways and car parking facilities within the area of Highfields.

Do you have any environmental policies and what is your company’s contribution to the environment?

What training do your employees receive?

Yes, we recognize that construction activities have an impact on the

Brunswick Estates is a member of CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) which is the Industry Training

Board for the UK Construction industry. Each year, a tailored training plan is prepared for both the employed and self employed staff in order to improve the labour skill set and thus deliver higher quality service. Training is delivered in collaboration and with support of CITB and other construction training providers; evidence of training is submitted at the end of each period.

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DESIGNING AND RENTING ARE KEY FOCUSES FOR WEBSTER EQUIPMENT INNOVATION is central to Sheffield-based Webster Equipment. Founded in 1965, the company initially focused on manufacturing equipment for the mining industry, but later diversified and today works closely with the construction industry. 37

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Headed by Ian Webster, the business currently has six employees and focuses very heavily on design work, although they do have a plant hire division. Both sides of the business are invested in greatly to ensure that clients receive the best possible service and equipment.

DESIGN Webster prides itself on providing unique and innovative solutions to the construction industry. Over the years they have introduced a host of new products, specifically new types of excavator attachments. The company is also wellknown for their hydraulic cutting machinery that is used in the construction, mining, tunnelling, and nuclear industries. The company recently launched the Webster Rock wheel range, a series of hydraulic excavator mounted attachments (otherwise known in the industry as rotary cutters or transverse cutting units). Currently the company is working on finalising designs for a breaker hammer which Ian started working on about 15 years ago. Over the last 14 months they have redesigned the unit and are confident that they have it to a standard where it is ready to promote after a few more trials. The hammer is approximately four times more powerful than a traditional one, and yet it is still quieter on operation. It also incorporates a hydraulic system, which means it will bring substantial fuel savings, making it in essence a green product. The power and noiselessness of the hammer is displayed online via the following link: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=TzAUpEfSAOA. The company are currently looking for investors in the product.

RECESSION = OPPORTUNITY Before the financial crisis hit in 2009, Webster Equipment were manufacturing equipment which they were then selling globally. While this was profitable, it meant that less time was spent focusing on the design aspect of the business, as more resources were being used in international sales. The recession provided a turning point in which the company realised that selling should not be the main focus. As a result, they entered into contracts with external companies who have now taken over the responsibility of selling the product. “The effects of the recession have been tough, but we have made it work. Before it began and we changed things, I wasn’t getting enough time work on the hammer design, and the change definitely helped a lot in that regard,” shares Ian. “I believe in this product and know that it is completely different from other products out there, so to be able to reach the stage where it is ready to promote is really good”. “I am now personally much happier than at any other point during my career”.

RENTAL FLEET Despite their heavy focus on design, Webster Equipment still runs a successful rental fleet. They are the authorised Kennametal distributor for the UK (North/Midlands) and Ireland. The company regularly have units coming in and going out, and this ensures that they have a continued flow of income. Webster Equipment are looking to focus on the rental side of

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the business more within the UK over the coming months, although this in turn means an increased focus on developing new products. “We are very much in the attachment business, and we are looking to expand. We don’t want to be competing with other rental companies, we want to be able to rent out our own in-house designed products,” explains Ian. With their sights set on obtaining larger premises and more staff, there is clear planned growth for the company as a whole.

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MORAL COMPASS GUIDES STS THOUGH RECESSION INTO ASTOUNDING GROWTH REMAINING true to their morals and ensuring they provide a problem-solving service as construction and structure experts has provided Stone Technical Services Ltd with the edge required to continue growing at a time when most companies were merely struggling to survive. 40

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A BRIEF HISTORY Brothers Dave and Grahame Stone founded Stone Technical Services Ltd (STS) in Darlington, County Durham in 1998. Steeplejack by trade Dave decided to sell his car to buy a van and necessary materials to start up the business with his brother. After a successful first year, the brothers were able to move into offices in Nestfield industrial estate, Darlington. STS bought out local outfit, EP Services employing 10 further operatives. In 2008, due to continued growth, the company moved to larger premises at Yarm industrial estate, Darlington to accommodate more staff and provide more storage space.

and looking at avenues in which to move forward and expand into new markets.

Today the company employs 35 operatives and boasts a staggering turnover of £1.8m.

Ultimately, their aim is to be number one within their sectors and recognized throughout the country for their high quality services.

STANDING OUT

SERVICES

As a company who prides themselves on “providing a solution, not just a service”, STS continue to work for a number of prestigious clients. They are currently the primary contractor in lightning protection for St Paul’s Cathedral, a position they have held for the last 20 years.

STS offer a comprehensive range of services as listed below:

The company has gained national recognition in National Trust circles, all accreditations, and various other projects and relationships with the likes of the Royal Courts of Justice, Westminster Abbey, Selfridges, Ineos Teesside, Roch Castle Wales and Merchant Taylor’s. STS abides by a mission statement of “Your Building – Our Reputation” as they believe that they are only as good as their last job. This encourages faith in their customers that regardless of the size of the project at hand, they will always bring quality to the table.

• • • • • •

throughout their years of trading, and coupled with their zero tolerance to bad practice, it is hardly surprising that they have thrived despite the difficult economy.

Restoration and Conservation Lightning Protection: Design, Installation, Annual Testing, Repair and Maintenance Facilities Management Steeplejack Services Building Condition Surveys Safety Systems

Further information can be found on their website at www. stonetechnicalgroup.co.uk

All relevant and necessary training is provided to employees to ensure they are working at the highest standards. STS pride themselves on quality, and as a result believe that training needs to be at the highest standard in order to sufficiently reflect this.

GROWTH

The business refuses to compromise on their quality, attention to detail, and customer service. These are three main focus points that they have maintained

The business is currently family-run, which allows the development of strong relationships and unity. However, as the company grows, they are becoming a lot more corporate in order to adapt and cope to necessary changes within the business. STS are investing into the growth of the business, analyzing all business needs

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INNOVATIVE RCL WIN PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR UNIQUE DESIGN AWARD-winning lighting specialists, RCL, are the only company in the world to specialise in the design and manufacture of low cost remote controlled spotlights. 42

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PROBLEM SOLVERS RCL was founded as a solution to a common problem: Aiming spotlights mounted on high ceilings is both difficult and time-consuming. Previously, ladders, scaffolding or mechanical lifts had to be employed, but using these can be hazardous, expensive, cause delays and require the floor space to be clear before adjusting the lights. In 1998 the banqueting staff at a Hilton hotel in West London faced this problem. They wanted to light a range of table layouts without having to focus the spotlights by hand. Lighting Design International, the designers working on the project, approached the team at Precision Lighting Ltd who set about creating a solution. What they came up with was a spotlight that could be aimed and dimmed simply and quickly using a handheld remote control. After the lights were installed in the hotel, it was quickly realised that the benefits of the system could be attractive to a much wider market including art galleries, stores and showrooms and Remote Controlled Lighting (RCL) was born. RCL are a British company, with products designed and engineered within the UK. They currently employ approximately fifteen people, split between their London headquarters and their offices in Hong Kong and Japan. RCL has also built up a global infrastructure of distribution partners to help support their clients around the world.

ensured that RCL’s fixtures continue to be specified around the world today.

recognition from one’s peers is obviously a great reward,” continues Simon.

However, at around the same time that portable touch-screen devices began to hit the market, RCL started to see their products being specified on larger projects with higher and higher ceilings. With heights extending to 20 or 30 metres and beyond, selecting and adjusting lights using their traditional system was proving to be a problem, so they began to look at alternative control methods.

The Lighting Design Awards are famous in the industry, recognized as the pre-eminent architectural lighting competition on the lighting calendar.

As a technology-driven company, RCL are always looking to new technologies to help improve their products and to diversify their range. They realised that they could harness the versatility of a touch-based platform to develop a new way to adjust their lights. For a number of years they have designed their lights to be compatible with the DMX protocol, however the interfaces for DMX are often confusing, especially when adjusting pan and tilt, and certainly require the presence of an experienced AV technician. What RCL proposed was something that combined the two – touch-screen and DMX – but with a strong focus on the user experience. “We wanted to design a product that was intuitive and could be used by nontechnical personnel in any situation,” explains Marketing Manager Simon Harrison-Wallace. “What we came up with was iDirect: a gesture-based system that was simple to use and included pioneering features such as Light Plans and the Gesture Pad”.

AWARD WINNERS RCL have won awards at the Lighting Design Awards on multiple occasions, their latest being this year under the ‘Lighting Controls’ category. For over ten years, their ‘Select & Direct’ control method has remained at the core of every product they have developed. The simplicity and ease-of-use of the system is key to the company’s success and have

RCL’s design philosophy clearly struck a chord with the judges at the Lighting Design Awards who described the system as “A great innovation that brings together knowledge and understanding, technology and creativity to solve a practical requirement.” “Just to be nominated for an award was an honour in itself, but to actually win such a coveted prize feels fantastic! It’s the culmination of a lot of work from everyone at RCL and to receive

RCL has had a long history with the awards, winning their first prize in 2003 for their original remote controlled spotlight, the Director DR2. In 2010, they were highly commended for their DR6 Retractable spotlight and now to win again in 2013 illustrates RCL’s commitment to designing innovative products and remaining world leaders in remote controlled technology.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES RCL offer a range of remote controlled lights that can be individually controlled in pan, tilt and intensity using a simple handheld remote controller. Their patented technology allows lights mounted on high ceilings to be aimed from floor level without the need for ladders, scaffolding or mechanical lifts. The obvious benefit of the system is that it minimises the need for expensive, time-consuming and risky activities. Their products are available for a wide range of applications and include both track-mounted and recessed luminaires, compatible with a variety of light sources including LEDs.

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Although the hospitality and art market remain key areas for RCL, the nature of their technology means they are often fortunate enough to work on some really exciting and unusual projects. In the last few years, their products have been used in a variety of applications, from Christie’s Auction House in London to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore. More recently, RCL provided the accent lighting at the Porsche Autostadt Pavilion in Wolfsburg, Germany and will shortly be supplying fittings to the Mercedes Museum, also in Germany. Since the launch of iDirect, the company have secured a number of jobs that will incorporate the new system, the first of which is set to open in Doha. QELA is a new luxury brand that is being launched by the Qatar Luxury Group, complete with boutiques around the world, the first of which will be located in the Qatari capital. RCL is providing over 300 luminaires for the project that will include retail space spread over two floors and a multi-function area incorporating an art gallery. iDirect will be used to adjust spotlights in the gallery area which will change frequently, whilst the remainder

of their remote controlled fittings will be used to provide general lighting. “We are very lucky that the UK has such a strong lighting design industry,” shares Simon. “Designers in the UK are chosen to work on some of the most prestigious buildings from around the world and RCL has benefited enormously from being close to them. We also work with lighting designers in the USA, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai. As a result of this association, RCL has strong overseas sales. In our last financial year, 60 per cent of sales were in Asia”.

SET APART RCL are the only company in the world to specialise in the design and manufacture of low cost remote controlled spotlights. For over ten years, the company have focused on producing moveable lights that can be controlled quickly and easily by non-technical staff. Their patented ‘Select and Direct’ technology offers users the ability to take control of their lighting and adjust it to suit their individual requirements. RCL prides itself on tackling any job – big or

small – and as a result have worked on a wide variety of projects, many of which have required bespoke elements. “For us, the customer comes first and we will always endeavour to meet our clients’ needs,” says Simon. The first major milestone for RCL would definitely be the Director DR2. After RCL’s Managing Director, Joe Ruston, had developed a successful remote controlled solution for the Hilton hotel in 1998, the potential for the system was clear. The Director DR2 took this initial concept and transformed it into a viable product, winning the Internal Luminaires category at the Lighting Design Awards in 2003 and still remains one of the company’s biggest sellers. Over the years, RCL products have been specified on a wide variety of projects. Many of these have required bespoke elements to fit specifications, however none more so than for Christie’s Auction House in London. In 2008, when Christie’s made the decision to refurbish their premises, lighting was a key aspect of bringing the famous salesrooms up to date. To fulfil the brief for a scheme that was both flexible and discreet, the

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lighting designer turned to RCL. None of the company’s existing fixtures would fit in the narrow ceiling troughs that had been specified for the installation, so RCL worked in conjunction with the lighting designer to produce a new product – the DR8. The new luminaire was designed and manufactured in just four months and over 500 fittings were installed and operating on time. Since then the number has risen to over 1000 and RCL continue to receive orders from Christie’s as they create new salerooms. The success of iDirect at the Lighting Design Awards this year marks RCL’s most recent achievement. The new system embodies everything that the company stand for at RCL: combining the latest in remote controlled technology with a simple interface that anyone can use. The response so far has been extremely positive and points to a very exciting future for the company.

CUSTOMER SERVICE “At RCL, we pride ourselves on producing high-quality luminaires at an affordable price. Our team of in-house designers and engineers are continually exploring ways to improve our product range, ensuring that our spotlights always offer the best value to our clients,” says Simon. As well as providing a low cost lighting solution, RCL’s fittings offer a number of ways for customers to reduce overheads, or in some cases, to actually provide an additional source of income. Their technology minimises the delays and expenses incurred when aiming lights by hand, and in hospitality environments such as hotel ballrooms, can offer an extra revenue stream for clients who charge for table spotlighting during events.

LOOKING FORWARD RCL will continue to innovate, both in the lights they design and the systems used to control them. They have recently made a major investment in R&D, which will ensure that RCL remains competitive in the future.

Their policy of continuous product development will also see improvements made both to the current range of lights as well as new products. One area of particular interest to the company currently is tunable white LEDs. iDirect offers a fantastic platform for development in this area and they are exploring how to include this technology into their luminaires.

Looking forward, RCL expect to see continued growth in developing regions such as India and The Americas as well as continued demand in Asia, where projects are expanding in size and complexity as more and more specifiers come to recognise the full potential of their technology.

“At RCL our clients are our business; because we offer a niche product, we rely on a lot of return custom. We are pleased to say that we have a very loyal customer base, which continues to expand, and we always strive to meet their needs. This ranges from providing bespoke solutions for individual projects to an excellent after sales care package. Spotlights that were first installed over ten years ago when the company was formed are still in use today. At RCL we build products to last and this achievement reflects that,” asserts Simon.

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DRUCEGROVE: CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF INNOVATION IN their 30 years of existence, Drucegrove have built up an outstanding reputation as leading suppliers of quality parts to the lift industry.

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THE COMPANY

CUSTOMER RELATIONS

Formed in 1983 by Dennis Kelly, the company is at the forefront of innovation, supplying equipment to major contractors across the globe. Now headed by Dennis’ son Darren, who has worked at the company for 21 years, Drucegrove operate from their base in Waltham Abbey, Essex, where they develop and design products in-house.

Although Drucegrove design and manufacture their own highend products in response to their research into requirements of the Lift Industry, they pride themselves on customer liaison. Their products are fully customisable to suit the needs of the client.

With Darren’s background in research and design, the company focuses heavily on these two areas, whilst maintaining their reputation for quality and service. As Managing Director, Darren’s role is very much “steering the ship”, but he gets very involved, even driving the forklifts if required! Drucegrove are essentially niche suppliers of high end products. Their international sales are dealt with from their office in the UK, and they ship worldwide including to America, Australia, India, and Europe. The company have seen tremendous success over the years, with a significant number of notable achievements.

ACHIEVEMENTS Among their wealth of achievements over the years, there are two that really stand out and are testimony to the company’s position as a market leader. 2-Wire System Drucegrove are well-known for their creation of innovative products used by leading companies within the industry they serve. The company are particularly proud of their development of a unique patented 2-Wire system, designed to save time and reduce wiring when installing equipment.

“We tend to listen to the client rather than forcing our product on them. I think this sets us apart from other companies. Our products are all very flexible and can be modified to suit their needs,” explains Darren.

LAUNCH In May Drucegrove attended the Liftex exhibition that took place in the heart of London’s Docklands. Organised by UK trade body LEIA, the event attracted exhibitors from across the UK and further afield. Among them were Drucegrove, who launched a completely redesigned version of an existing product of theirs, the Firefly™. Utilising the latest in TFT technology from Sharp, the Firefly™ is a 4.3 inch full colour indicator that incorporates a bright, simple, ultra-modern and versatile display with an unparalleled viewing angle. It is, in essence, a cost-effective alternative to other indicator devices. With a goal to increase their exports and become a worldrenowned, major supplier, Drucegrove are constantly working on a range of products, some of which they hope to launch very shortly.

The company’s range of 2-Wire indicators, gongs, hall lanterns and speech units are the only range on the market to eliminate the need for more than two expensive screened or twisted pair cables. The system’s 2-Smart™ IND55 Master Controller operates on a unique patented 2-Wire Bus System, supplying both the power and the data signals using only two standard cables. This dramatically reduces the cost of labour and materials for new installations or refurbishments contracts. The company’s Master Controller is normally mounted with the Lift Controller in the Machine Room. All 2-Wire products come equipped with two pairs of power in/out terminals to enable installation in a “daisy chain” connection down the lift shaft. Additional 2-Wire branches can be added to the network, on the CAR of the LANDING, retrospectively. Mass Transit Railway, Hong Kong A number of years ago, Drucegrove were one of many companies from around the world who tendered for a job to design and develop equipment for Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway. The products required by the client did not exist as yet, and despite the fierce competition, Drucegrove were successful in winning the job. Despite there being a large amount of construction involved in the project, Drucegrove were able to deliver the product on time and to the client’s satisfaction. In fact, they were so impressed that several years later they came directly to Drucegrove when they were completing a similar project in Singapore.

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SJL BRICKWORK SET SIGHTS ON OPENING DOWN UNDER TAKING the company abroad is one of Steve Lynnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest ambitions for his company, SJL brickwork.

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Established in 1999, Steve decided to start his own business at the age of 25 after working in Germany and then London. Initially, he began by placing a very small advertisement in the local paper, and the business has since grown gradually into what it is today, employing in the region of 25 workers. Despite this, Steve still is still very much involved in the day-to-day running of the business, working both on-sire and in the office to ensure all the health and safety regulations are followed and to price any new work.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE With over 20 years of bricklaying experience behind it, and the company’s ‘hands on’ experience over the years, they believe that they are ideally suited to meet the demands of the UK construction industry. Based in Sunderland, SJL offer bricklaying teams on projects throughout the North East of England. Their geographical area of work covers; Sunderland, Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Durham, Seaham, Peterlee, Hartlepool, Chester-LeStreet, Stockton, Houghton-le-spring, Northumberland and Teesside. They also do work outside of the North East region. The company strives to help and ensure that all projects run as smoothly and efficiently as possible, working on time and within budget. Their strength is rooted in their highly skilled team; many of their sub-contractors have over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. They pride themselves on having a team who are professional, efficient, friendly and helpful.

that they always meet the Construction Health and Safety Standards and UKAS requirements.

EXPANSION SJL have worked with some of the largest contractors in the UK and with their client list expanding, they identify each client’s requirements individually. They have many well established contacts within all sectors of the construction industry and successfully completed contracts in the following: Education, Private and Social Housing, Luxury Housing, and Retail. The company’s hand’s on experience has given them the opportunity to work in other sectors of the construction industry. They are fully equipped to supply all clients with labour only packages; they also offer smaller labour, materials, and plant packages. Although the majority of the work undertaken by SJL is commercial, they also offer a multitude of services to domestic clients, and this has aided their continued growth despite a troubling economy. Getting through the recession is in itself a milestone for the company, who hope to expand further. “At the moment the construction industry is still struggling, especially in Sunderland, but we are taking it week by week. When the economy picks up we should be in a very good position to take on more work,” says Steve. With his sights set on taking the company to Australia after a UK investment trip educated him on the possibility, the growth of the company is far from over.

SJL believes in a very high quality workmanship for all their projects, both small and large, and often work to complete work within a four week programme. They include the full washing down of all brickwork in their standard build to provide a professional finish. All workers are highly trained to ensure they meet the company’s standards and work effectively with each of their clients. SJL encourage all their staff to continue training at all levels and they work closely with local training centres and colleges to support and encourage workers and any future employees from apprentice level upwards. The company regularly reviews their Health and Safety procedures to ensure

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CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMPETITIVE PRICING TAKES R TECH TO THE TOP GIVING customers the best service and support is pivotal at R Tech Welding Equipment, a family-run business founded 20 years ago.

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Initially the company was known as Industrial Plant Repairs, and then RJW Industrial Repairs. R-Tech was started in 2006 and became incorporated on 1 August 2007. Established by Managing Director Robert White and his father, the company started off offering service and repair work to all major brands of welding equipment. It was a natural progression for the company to offer the marketplace the R-Tech brand of welding machines. The launch was well received as their reputation for their technical knowledge and outstanding service at unbeatable prices stood them apart from other companies within the industry.

ACHIEVEMENTS Establishing R-Tech as a leading brand within the UK and European welding market is one of the company’s proudest achievements. Obtaining flagship customers such as Morgan Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Nuclear Power, MOD, and Rolls Royce is also very notable. The company has achieved levels of service and value for money that have caused the industry to recognise and acknowledge them through forum postings, press releases, and other media outlets. The recession has been kind to R-Tech as the industry wised up to overcharging, bad service and general complacent attitudes. By offering the very best support and service at realistic prices, their demographic widened from the bottom to the top, enabling R-Tech to experience sustained growth throughout this period.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION “Our key ambition is to give our customers the best service and support in our industry so we become the number one choice for their welding equipment and consumable supplies,” shares Sales Director Dylan Emery. Dylan’s role consists of the marketing and sales of Welding industry related machines and ancillary items. R Tech prides themselves on their high levels of customer service and satisfaction. They boast competitive pricing and machine quality/specification, placing them at the top of their field.

DEDICATED TEAM 51

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With a team of 12, training is a priority at R Tech. All R-Tech sales staff are fully trained in the operation of the welding machines and industry knowledge required to offer genuine support. Their technical department is in-house trained to the very highest level of inverter repair and service. R-Tech welding is a very technical company with their understanding of electronics second to none within the welding industry. R-Tech is a family business spanning three generations. This enables them to have a firm company ethos of support and service, with genuine accountability and a combined policy of togetherness. The team works together for a shared end goal. With their current turnover standing at ÂŁ2m, the company hopes to expand cutting edge welding equipment sales and increase their market share.

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SHOWCASING THE REGION AT THE NORTH WEST REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION AWARDS 2013 THE North West hub for Constructing Excellence, the Centre for Construction Innovation (CCI) are delighted to announce the seventh annual North West Regional Construction Awards (NWRCA) 2013 in association with Constructing Excellence in the North West. 53

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Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT) UK Restoration Services Integration & Collaborative Working Award Laneshawbridge Primary School, Lancashire submitted by Conlon Construction (Client: Lancashire County Council) Manchester Town Hall Complex, Transformation Programme submitted by Laing O’Rourke (Client: Manchester City Council) Ni SmartBuild submitted by Mpulse (Client: Plus Dane Group) ‘The Hive’ Supplier Relationship Management Initiative submitted by the Co-operative: Trading Property Waterhead Academy, Oldham submitted by Willmott Dixon Construction (Client: Oldham Council) The Awards provide an exclusive opportunity for the North West built environment sector to celebrate outstanding examples of best practice within their field. They aim to recognise exceptional companies and projects from across the region that has demonstrated strength, passion and commitment in a collaborative and sustainable manner.

MULTIPLE BENEFITS The first NWRCA Construction Awards were held in 2007, and other regions have since picked up on the idea, holding annual awards for their respective regions. Winners from each region are then put forward to a national final, which is usually held in November each year. “The awards are a fantastic showcase for all that goes on in the region. It shows that there are companies that are able to take a collaborative and integrated working approach successfully,” says Roy Stewart, Operations Director at the CCI. “Especially now, it also shows that there are companies within the region that have been able to do well despite the difficult economy, and that they haven’t had to drop all the ‘nice’ things to survive. Sustainability is not just about the environment, it is about how well the company can survive.” “Winning an award can add an extra edge to company’s when tendering for work. Often they mention the award in tender submissions as collaborative

evidence that they are doing what they say they are doing. For the companies that go on to win national awards, it is a testament of how well they are doing and shows clients the type of company they are”.

THIS YEAR’S SHORTLIST A total of 75 companies entered this year’s NWRCAs under various categories. Judging has already taken place and the winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony taking place on Thursday 6 June 2013 at the prestigious Palace Hotel, Manchester City Centre, hosted by Constructing Excellence. “Once again all the Judges, including myself, could not believe the quality of this year’s submissions – even in these tough economic times, the construction industry in the North West continues to produce quality projects, with quality companies, people and clients, delivering added value in everything they do. In these times of ‘more for less’, the industry here in the North West shines as a beacon of best practice and innovation and this year’s awards shortlist proves this beyond a shadow of a doubt,” says Roy.

Business Innovation Award Artez Ltd. CombiSave submitted by Mole Group Ltd. Ni SmartBuild submitted by Mpulse (Client: Plus Dane Group) Responsible Innovators 2.0 submitted by Create Construction Ltd. WhiteCrate submitted by WhiteCircle

Health & Safety Award Taken from Contractor of the Year and SME of the Year submissions:

The following companies made the shortlist:

Artez Ltd

Leadership & People Development Award

B4Box

B4Box Create Construction Ltd. Kier Construction

Aspect Construction Carillion Civil Engineers nominated by Faithful+Gould Create Construction FT Finley

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Galliford Try

Client of the Year

Project of the Year

Kier Construction

Cheshire West & Chester Council nominated by Kier Construction

This year a winning project from each of the 5 sub-regions for Regional Project of the Year (judged by our Regional Best Practice Club committees), and one overall successful winner for the North West, will be announced on the evening.

Mitchell’s Scaffolding McGoff & Byrne Pinington Pozzoni LLP UK Restoration Services

Liverpool City Council nominated by Austin-Smith:Lord Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT) nominating themselves & CITB Construction Skills Talent Pool

WhiteCircle

Oldham Council nominated by Willmott Dixon Construction

Sustainability - Our Legacy Award

Salford City Council nominated by Faithful+Gould

1 Angel Square, Manchester - Cooperative Group Head Office submitted by BAM Construction (Client: Cooperative Group)

Young Achiever of the Year Aimee Bond, Blackpool Coastal Housing

Armstrong Point , Wigan submitted by Tolent Construction & Kingspan Environmental (Client: Armstrong Properties)

Brendan Hutton, WMB (Installations) Ltd.

Cherry Mill, Liverpool submitted by Denovo Design (Client: Plus Dane Group)

Mohamoud Hersi, Wates Construction nominated by Atom Regeneration

St. Mary’s Development, Oldham submitted by Keepmoat (Bramall Construction) (Client: Contour Homes) Toxteth Fire Fit Project submitted by Wates Construction (Client: Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service)

Debra Bunn, Cundall Holly Brunt, Kier Construction

Sean Millican, Wates Construction nominated by Atom Regeneration SME of the Year B4Box Create Construction Ltd. FT Finley

Heritage Award Chester Town Hall Refurbishment submitted by Lovelock Mitchell Architects (Client: Cheshire West & Chester Council) Florence Institute, Liverpool submitted by Purcell (Client: Florence Institute Trust) Liverpool Central Library submitted by Austin-Smith:Lord (Client: Liverpool City Council) Peckforton Castle Refurbishment & Extension, Cheshire submitted by Andy Foster Architects (Client: Majorstage Ltd) Royal Oak Brewery, Stockport submitted by Equity Housing Group Contractor of the Year – Sponsored by Hill Dickinson Artez Ltd Carillion Civil Engineers nominated by Faithful+Gould Galliford Try Building North Kier Construction UK Restoration Services

McGoff & Byrne Pozzoni LLP

CHESHIRE, WARRINGTON & WIRRAL REGIONAL SHORTLIST: Allingham House Care Centre, Timperley, Cheshire submitted by McGoff & Byrne (Client: New Care Projects LLP) Bank Farm Farmhouse & Threshing Barn, Cheshire submitted by UK Restoration Services (Client: Carden Hall Estate) Chester Town Hall Refurbishment submitted by Lovelock Mitchell Architects (Client: Cheshire West & Chester Council) Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub, Warrington submitted by Galliford Try Building North (Client: Warrington Borough Council) Peckforton Castle Refurbishment & Extension, Cheshire submitted by Andy Foster Architects (Client: Majorstage Ltd) University Church of England Academy, Ellesmere Port submitted by Kier Construction (Client: Cheshire West & Chester Council) CUMBRIA REGIONAL SHORTLIST: Northside Bridge, Workington submitted by Birse Civils / Balfour Beatty (Client: Cumbria County Council) Rigg Beck, Cumbria submitted by Knox Bhavan Architects LLP (Client: Private Homeowners) LANCASHIRE REGIONAL SHORTLIST: Armstrong Point, Wigan submitted by Tolent Construction & Kingspan Environmental (Client: Armstrong Properties)

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Laneshawbridge Primary School, Lancashire submitted by Conlon Construction (Client: Lancashire County Council) Oasis Academy, Oldham submitted by Willmott Dixon Construction (Client: Oldham Council) St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Development, Oldham submitted by Keepmoat (Bramall Construction) (Client: Contour Homes)

Darwen Vale High School, Blackburn submitted by John McAslan + Partners (Client: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council) Kingfisher Communty Special School, Oldham submitted by Mansell Construction Services Ltd. (Client: Oldham MBC\The Unity Partnership)

LIVERPOOL REGIONAL SHORTLIST: Florence Institute, Liverpool submitted by Purcell (Client: Florence Institute Trust) Liverpool Central Library submitted by Austin-Smith:Lord (Client: Liverpool City Council)

Parr Swimming & Fitness Centre, St Helens, Merseyside submitted by Yearsley Ltd (Client: St Helens Council) University of Liverpool, Veterinary Building submitted by Aspect Construction (Client: University of Liverpool)

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MANCHESTER REGIONAL SHORTLIST: 1 Angel Square, Manchester Co-operative Group Head Office submitted by BAM Construction (Client: Co-operative Group)

Diatomites & Corolites Retrofitting Scheme, South Manchester submitted by Wates Living Space (Client: Southway Housing Trust) Fabrica, Great Ancoats Street, Manchester submitted by Cundall (Client: Royal London Asset Management - RLAM)

Greengate Public Realm, Salford submitted by Faithful+Gould (Client: Salford City Council) Royal Oak Brewery, Stockport submitted by Equity Housing Group Ltd The event is supported by Hill Dickinson, Kier Construction, McGoff and Byrne, Willis Insurance, Capita Symonds, Equity Housing Group, Liverpool Housing Trust, Conlon Construction, Laing.

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BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES BUILD It is an innovative UK charity that delivers a practical and sustainable response to the chronic need for basic infrastructure and jobs in Zambia, one of the poorest countries in Africa. 59

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Many communities in Zambia are in desperate need of essential facilities and many men and women struggle to find work in a country where over half the population are unemployed. Build It provides essential community buildings and skills based training. Build It’s approach is different because they don’t just build buildings. Through their unique approach, they help people to build a future for themselves and their families. The charity builds schools and clinics whilst running an innovative Training into Work programme. On every project, Build It will select 10-15 unemployed men and women from the local community to take part in their training programme. The trainees learn both practical and theoretical skills, including: how to mark out a work site, how to lay foundations, health and safety, laying blocks, and plastering. The initial training will last between six and nine months and is done on-site as the school or clinic is being built. The trainees will also take an exam to gain a nationally recognized certificate from TEVETA (Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority).

environmental impact and energy costs on all their building projects. They use local materials, sustainable technologies and improved designs. This helps to make the facilities cooler, lighter and as low maintenance as possible. The charity has published a review of Sustainable Building and Design which can be downloaded from their website at www.builditinternational.org.

This year, the charity is undertaking five building projects that will impact over 26,000 people. Their training programme will help 75 people earn a new skill and access work within the construction sector. • Stabilised Soil Blocks (SSB) are made on site from a mixture of local earth, stone and a small amount of cement. A hand pressed machine is used to compress this mixture into a block.

2013 will see the expansion of Build It’s Training into Work activities. This will see existing graduates provided with followup support to help them progress quickly and successfully in their new careers. They will have access to business skills training to help them win contracts and will be able to apply for equipment loans until they can afford to buy their own tools. Build It will also work with the graduates to facilitate small work contracts to help their trainees develop their own careers in the construction industry.

• Hydraform Blocks are stabilised soil blocks made in a machine that can produce 1,000 blocks every day. This is extremely practical for larger scale projects.

LUPUKA COMMUNITY SCHOOL APPEAL Build It is urgently fundraising for a new school for the Lupuka community. In order for building to start this summer, they need your help to raise £60,000 as soon as possible.

“Thanks to Build It, things have changed a lot, good changes. This work is helping me; I can now solve my problems. It feels good.” Nathan Shempe, Build It Graduate Trainee Build It are also passionate about sustainable building. They believe in doing everything they can to reduce the

Build It’s unique approach not only provides skills training and employment for local people, they also improve the education and health of the communities by giving people access to the schools and clinics that they so desperately need. The buildings themselves provide an opportunity for people to come together and take part in educational evening classes and socialise. The new buildings have a long lasting impact on the community in which they are built.

“We have used Build It to showcase a hands-on approach to training which has great potential to increase access without compromising graduate quality.” David C. Chakonta, Director General, The Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (Zambia)

• Parry micro concrete roof tiles are made using a hand powered machine mould from a mix of cement, sharp sand and fine aggregate. The roof tiles reflect heat to create cooler buildings.

• Rammed earth is a simple construction technique, using compacted soil inside formwork to create walls. Using no cement, earth is compressed layer upon layer, creating a solid block of earth.

The people of Lupuka are in desperate need of a fit for purpose school building. The current school at Lupuka was founded in 1991 by local subsistence farming families, and has operated on and off for the last 20 years. The current temporary two classroom school was constructed in 2010 from sticks and mud bricks, but is woefully inadequate, especially in the rainy season.

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Build It are currently raising funds to make this basic amenity a reality for the 1372 families in Lupuka. If you would like to donate to this rewarding construction project, please fill in the donation form found at the end of the feature. “Build It is an ambitious, fast growing charity making a huge impact in Zambia. In partnership with National Construction readers. we can make an even bigger, lasting difference to the lives of thousands in Zambia, starting with the building of Lupuka School” Build it are working to build a two classroom block which will enable the school to expand, accommodating students up to the seventh grade. They are also hoping to include two houses for teachers and separate ventilation improved pit latrines. Build It will use the project in Lupuka to train 15-20 people, like Nathan, in building skills. They will be taught a trade which will allow them to earn a living in the future and make a difference to them, their families and their community. 150 children currently attend the school, but with improved facilities, there is the

potential to provide much needed education for many more. There is enthusiastic support for the school amongst the local community. The Parent Teacher Association is well organised and has shown great commitment by building the current classrooms themselves and collecting 100 tonnes of sand and stones for new works. Once a new classroom block is built, the school will become a Government primary school and benefit from Ministry of Education Support, which means that it will be provided with trained teachers and learning materials such as chalkboards, exercise books, and stationery.

Andrew Jowett, Chief Executive, Build It International Build It can only make a new school a reality for the people of Lupuka with your support. Not only will your donations help to provide skills and employment for young people within the community, your support will also have a big impact on future generations to come. For more information on this Construction Charity please visit their website at http://www.builditinternational.org/ or call 01743 246317.

Yes! I would like to help build a new school for Lupuka Please fill in this form or donate on our website at www.builditinternationaI.org.

I would like to donate £......................... towards Build It International’s Lupuka Appeal. Name:____________________________________________________________________ Home Address:____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Postcode:_______________ Telephone no:_____________________ Email address:___________________________ Signature:____________________________________Date: ________________________ I enclose a cheque. Please make cheques payable to Build It International and send to: Build It International, The Pump House, Shrewsbury, SY1 2DP [ [ [ [

] I don’t require a receipt/thank you letter ] I would like to know more about making a regular donation ] I would like to know more about remembering Build It International in my Will ] I don’t wish to be kept up-to-date with Build It’s work and fundraising By email

By post

By phone

Make your donation worth 25% more. If you are a UK tax payer please tick the gift aid declaration below. I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 that I gave up to 5 April 2008 and will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008. Please notify the charity or CASC if you 1) Want to cancel this declaration 2) Change your name or home address 3) No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains. We are currently raising funds for the Lupuka appeal. However, if our target is reached, any excess funds will be used at the discretion of the Trustees in accordance with our charitable aims and objectives. Build It International The Pump House, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury, SY1 2DP Tel: 01743 246317 Email: info@builditinternational.org Website: www.builditinternational.org UK Charity No. 1115989

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COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND EXCELLENT CUSTOMER CARE FROM OSSIE STEWART CONTRACTS JOINERY, construction, and refurbishment are three key services offered by Glasgow-based Ossie Stewart Contracts. 62

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Set up in early 2008 just before the recession hit, the company was run solely by Ossie Stewart until they went limited in 2010. It is now a family-run multi trade contractor that employs two apprentices and three joiners.

won £20,000 worth of subcontracting work with engineering group, C Spencer at Waverley Station, as well as working for Bell Building Projects, Welding Engineers, Nestle and Perth and Kinross Council. The company class themselves under a number of trades including: Carpenters and Joiners, Electricians, Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Heating Engineers, Bricklayers, Ground Workers, Plasterers and Rough Casters, Roofers, Painters and Decorators, Tilers, and Blacksmiths. The fact that they are able to professionally be a multi-trade company means that Ossie Stewart Contracts offer their customers a complete service, from the beginning to the end, and cuts out the need to hire separate tradesman to complete a job.

BEATING THE ECONOMY BLUES

Amongst the services they offer their clients is Project Management, Extensions, Conservatories and Porches, Loft Conversions, Kitchens,, Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Doors and Furnishings, Windows and Doors, Roofs and Roofline, Decking and Patios, Driveways and Landscaping, Hardwood Flooring, Structural Work, Insurance Work, Preservation Work and Surveys, Shopfitting, Office Fit Out, and Subcontracting.

Despite starting up during an economic crisis, Ossie Stewart Contracts has managed to continue growing at a substantial rate over recent years allowing them to move to new, larger premises last year. Part of the secret to the company’s success is the commitment of all staff, but particularly Ossie himself, who often works nights and weekends to ensure his business keeps going. As a small company, the business has managed to keep their overheads to a minimum, although this has not in any way compromised the quality of their work or their high level of customer service. Their excellent reputation and quality work lead to a contract with Everest Home Improvements, an aspect that was pivotal to their survival in a difficult economy and competitive industry. With the move last year being one of their biggest milestones and the completion of a £150,000 contract Ossie Stewart Contracts has grown to a size that Ossie himself is comfortable with: “We’ve grown to where we want to be”.

UNRIVALLED CUSTOMER CARE Despite being a small company that offers such a varied range of services, Ossie Stewart Contracts never compromise on their customer care. One of the factors that sets the company apart s their policy to remain in constant communication with their customers. In fact, they speak to customers every day while a job is going on to ensure that any potential problems are dealt with before they become bigger and customers are completely happy every step of the way.

SERVICES Ossie Stewart Contracts offers a wide range of services to customers. Although a large percentage of their work is domestic, they do subcontracting to other larger building companies as well as other commercial works. They have just

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Ossie often communicates with clients himself, as well as carrying out his other roles which include appointing and managing any subcontractors, pricing, ordering and hands-on on-site work. It is this attitude that Ossie hopes can take the company through the recession and hit a milestone of 20 years trading. “We have an ambition to be the best in the area, and that’s not just me but all the men who work with me,” says Ossie. The company’s testimonials speak

for themselves, with one customer commenting: “I engaged Ossie Stewart to construct a large conservatory to my property. Ossie was very hands on throughout the whole building process as well as coordinating the various trades involved. He dealt with the inevitable snags and problems which arise with bigger projects and the level of workmanship was first class. In light of the success of the conservatory Ossie Stewart will be my first port of call for any future work I require.”

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A FEATURE OR AN ADVERT IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL STEVE RUSHWORTH AT S&S PUBLISHING ON 01924 920 483 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO STEVE@SNSPUBLISHING.CO.UK

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FAMILY VALUES & ENVIABLE REPUTATION ALLOW SMALLMAN & SON TO CONTINUE GROWING CHARITY is an important part of the work at Leicestershire-based Smallman & Son Ltd. Founded by Robert and Mark Smallman, the construction business is run with strong core beliefs and family values.

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VALUES As a well-established construction company, Smallman & Son Ltd is built on the promise of outstanding quality and professionalism. Their client list has a selection of blue chip companies and organisations from both the private and public sectors. Through their values, the company has built long lasting relationships with their clients and pride themselves on their flexibility and commitment in order to offer quality and value within specific timescales.

The company has also recently joined the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce and are members of Pro Con - a property and construction networking group based in the East Midlands Additionally, they have signed up with the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, and are currently taking part in a European Internship Programme. “This involves a young person from Strasbourg, Leicester’s twin city in France, joining the team for two months to gain experience within an office environment,” explains Business Development Manager Alexandra.

EXPANSION With a strong experienced team, Smallman & Son Ltd have seen active expansion over the last few years, and hope to continue the growth of the business without losing sight of their core beliefs and values. Over the last nine months alone, there have been three additions to the management team; Alexandra Kowalczuk as Head of Business Development, Darren Finney as Commercial Manager, and Allan Taylor as Contracts Manager.

Alexandra’s role is very much focused on the expansion and reputation of the business: “I joined the Company six months ago. My role entails looking for new business opportunities, raising the profile of the company, and undertaking the marketing and PR for the company. I am also involved with the strategic direction, and work closely with the Senior Management Team in business planning, and ensuring that we have the necessary policies and procedures in place in order to move the company to the next level”.

SERVICES Smallman & Son is a midlands-based construction company which provides building and refurbishment services nationwide. The company specialise in the commercial, retail, leisure and public sectors, working with large and small organisations on new builds, fit outs and refurbishment projects. Smallman & Son have extensive experience undertaking listed building projects and also working within conservation areas. As building contractors, they always aim to develop long term relationships with their clients and have built a reputation for quality, flexibility and reliability. Their team of professional Leicester builders and skilled craftsmen can undertake all or any aspect of a building contract, from design to complete project management. The company also boasts their own in-house joinery in Leicester for the manufacture of retail shop fitting and office furniture.

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Building Services include: · · · · · ·

Design and build of new premises Commercial and Retail Fit outs and refits, including shop fitting, interiors including a bespoke joinery service Fast track building refurbishment, renovation, and repairs DDA building works, including new installations and alterations Turnkey project management Conceptual/Visualisation Service

CHARITY “We have recently set up the Smallman & Son Foundation Fund to support local charities,” shares Alexandra. “This foundation was introduced to enable the Company to donate to those local charities that need it most. This is a great way for us to give back to the local community and to those charities linked with protecting the environment”

“We regularly support charity events in Leicester and Leicestershire, and we previously sponsored the Leicester City Girls Football Team. I also represent the company on the Lord Mayor of Leicester’s charity appeal committee, which this year has raised nearly £80,000 for the Leicester General Hospital Stroke Ward.

Projects include: · · · · · · · · ·

Offices and industrial units Shops, showrooms and retail developments Leisure, sports and Community centres Restaurants and Bars Schools, Colleges and Further Education Hospitals, Medical Centres including specialist units such as Neurology Prisons, Magistrate and County Courts Conservation and listed buildings, including Churches Warehouses and factories

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A FEATURE OR AN ADVERT IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL STEVE RUSHWORTH AT S&S PUBLISHING ON 01924 920 483 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO STEVE@SNSPUBLISHING.CO.UK

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39 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG FOR FAMILY-RUN G&D ROOFING COMPETITIVE prices and excellent customer service has been key to keeping family-run G&D Roofing in business for the last 39 years. 68

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The company have been providing an exceptional service to many homeowners, commercial property owners and house builders for over 30 years. They specialise in providing solutions to the most difficult of roofing problems, and are experienced in all aspects of roofing work. They guarantee customers that their work is completed to their satisfaction, first time, every time. Services provided by the company include: Slating, Tiling, Guttering, Lead Work, EPDM Rubberbond, Stone Work, Pointing, GRP Fiberglass, Re-roofing, Sheeting, and Flat Roofing.

HEALTH AND SAFETY G&D Roofing is owned and directed by Derek Pearson, who oversees all the operations within the business. The company currently employs three members of staff in their office and up to 21 subcontractors at any one time. As a result of their size, Derek has also taken on the role of Safety Officer, giving him the additional responsibility of overseeing, implementing and monitoring health and safety procedures in the Company, and for giving feedback to the staff on the same topic. The company’s health and safety policy is accessible by all their employees and subcontractors. The policy includes First Aid and Accident Reporting; Fire Risks; Access and Egress; Use of Tools and Equipment; Manual Handling; Transport and Company Vehicle Safety; Training; COSHH Assessments; Working At Heights; Undertaking Risk Assessments; General Rules; and the inclusion that all subcontractors and contractors must abide by such policies.

customers satisfied and expanding the business. The company’s turnover for last year was £270k, and he hopes to build on this while maintaining competitive prices and ensuring that all work is delivered correctly and on time.

As a family-run business, G&D have a very close knit and friendly team, better enabling them to help the local community and go the extra mile, as well as helping to uphold their trusted reputation.

Being a small company has meant that G&D has managed to keep overheads to a minimum, a factor that has important in their ongoing success during the recession.

The company value customer satisfaction, and as a result of their high quality work, a large number of jobs come from customer referrals.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY The company has a Certificate of Registration under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 as well as a policy to comply with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, other associated statutory legislation and Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP). This includes complying with the requirements of Site Waste Management Plans where it relates to the works under our control.

CONCLUDING NOTE G&D Roofing are proud to have successfully made it through 39 years and are looking forward to their 40th birthday next year. They are the only company in the North of England who are “Rubberbond” agents (“Rubberbond” is said to be the Best Flat Roof System).

FUTURE GROWTH Derek’s main goal in the coming months and years is to continue keeping his

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DIVERSIFICATION IS PIVOTAL TO HALL-FAST’S SUCCESS MULTIPLE award-winning family business, Hall-Fast consider themselves to be the ‘’partner of choice’’ for the effective sourcing and efficient supply of specialist fasteners, industrial equipment, and associated products to industry worldwide.

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SUCCESSFUL DIVERSIFICATION Hall-Fast commenced trading from a backroom in August 2006, with the start-up business being financed by the sale of a car. Initially, the company solely supplied specialist fasteners into the UK automotive industry, and by achieving ISO9001 quality accreditation, they were able to supply into all sectors of the automotive industry; this resulted in them achieving rapid growth. Prior to September 2007, Hall-Fast was 95 per cent reliant on the UK automotive industry, and since then they viewed the downturn within the sector as an opportunity to diversify their product range and now over 48,000 standard items are supplied, including work wear, tools, PPE and access and handling equipment into many other general industrial sectors. In 2009, at the height of the recession, Hall-Fast decided to look at exporting; three years on they have now supplied into 74 countries and export sales are expected to be circa 35 per cent of their turnover this year.

Hall-Fast has remained self-financing throughout and now has an even stronger base for rapid growth in the coming years. The company plan to develop their export sales by launching numerous fully multilingual websites this year.

GIVING BACK With just eight employees, Malcolm maintains a very much hands on role in the running of the business: “As an owner manager of a family run business, I pretty much get involved in most things, from supplier and customer development to marketing, PR and overseeing the financials”.

“When three of Hall-Fast’s four biggest customers went into administration in January 2009, the company acted quickly to diversify and enter into new UK and overseas markets. We took an additional 35,000 products on from 85 new suppliers,” explains Managing Director Malcolm Hall. The company have seen a dramatic increase in their sales and profitability over the last few years, with a significant percentage of this being into new sectors both within the UK and overseas markets. Their growth has been based on the successful, early implementation of a new product and market diversification strategy in previous years, and the company is now also seeing the benefits of investing in the development of their employees.

Hall-Fast is a family company, and therefore the family’s own values run throughout the business. Hall-Fast has a strong desire to ‘put something back’ and that is why their name is often connected with a wide variety of initiatives and sponsorship in which they invest time, resources and finance. Managing Director Malcolm Hall is board member of networking Group Mansfield 2020, a Governor of the Fountaindale School and a Governor of West Notts College. He is also regularly referenced by UKTI to businesses interested in exporting and gives his time freely to explain his story to businesses and school groups in the hope of inspiring others.

STANDING OUT Hall-Fast may be one of many family-run small businesses within the construction industry, but their resilience and innovation during the difficult economy really makes the company stand out. They stock over 90,000 items within their standard range, giving their customers the choice of top named brands including Helly Hansen, Snickers, Dickies, DeWalt, Makita, and Karcher. The company’s health and safety policy is in accordance with current UK law; this is communicated to their employees via the Company Handbook. Hall-Fast endeavors to ensure that their effect on the environment is limited and they recycle the majority of their waste. Staff training is given as and when required, and every employee has a quarterly performance review Over the last three years Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies have won sixteen awards and this has helped raise their profile and win work which previously they might not have been considered for.

“We like to think that Hall-Fast believes in, and demonstrates genuine community spirit,” asserts Malcolm.

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Since 2009, Hall-Fast has won 16 awards, and they are the current Nottinghamshire Business of the Year and they have won the Midlands Exporter of the Year for the last two years. Their other successes include:

• Malcolm Hall – Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year – Finalist 2013

• Malcolm Hall Newark Business Awards - Business Person of the Year 2011 Winner

• Malcolm Hall Business Personality of the Year – Mansfield CHAD Awards – 2012 Winner

• Malcolm Hall DNCC Entrepreneur of the Year - 2011 Winner

• FSB Streamline Awards National Finalists – 2013

• Guardian Newspaper Best Practice Exchange - Overall winner in the Export Category – 2012

• Nottingham Evening Post Business Awards - International Trade Award - Finalists 2013 • Red Ribbon Family Business Awards - Best Family Business - National Finalists 2013 • Red Ribbon Family Business Awards - Corporate & Social Responsibility National Finalists 2013 • Red Ribbon Family Business Awards - Small Business of the Year - National Finalists 2013

• British Chamber East Midlands Achievement in International Trade 2012 Winners • DNCC Nottingham Business of the Year - 2012 Winners • Midlands Exporter of the Year 2012 Winners • British Chamber Achievement in International Trade National Award - 2011 3rd

• FSB Streamline East Midland’s Best Area Finalist – 2013 Winners

• Malcolm Hall British Chamber Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 Finalist

• FSB Streamline Micro Business of the Year – 2013 East Midlands Winners

• British Chamber East Midlands Achievement in International Trade - 2011 Winners

• Midlands Exporter of the Year – 2013 Winners

• British Chamber East Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 Winners

• Malcolm Hall – Midlands Business Person of the Year – Finalist 2013

• DNCC Achievement in International Trade - 2011 Finalist • Malcolm Hall Insider Mag - Listed in 42 under 42’s Leading Bus People - 2011 • Nott’s Post Small Business of the Year - 2011 Finalist • Mansfield 2020 Business of the Year - 2011 Winners • DNCC Nott’s Business of the Year - 2010 Finalist • Malcolm Hall DNCC Entrepreneur of the Year - 2010 Finalist • Malcolm Hall Nott’s Post Business Person of the Year - 10 Finalist • HSBC Start Up Stars - 2009 Semi Finalist • DNCC Most Promising New Business - 2009 Winners • Mansfield 2020 Best New Business - 2009 Winners

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A FEATURE OR AN ADVERT IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL STEVE RUSHWORTH AT S&S PUBLISHING ON 01924 920 483 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO STEVE@SNSPUBLISHING.CO.UK

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AWARD-WINNING FROGHEATH LANDSCAPES CELEBRATES 20 YEARS CELEBRATING their 20th year in business, Sussex-based garden design and build company Frogheath Landscapes boasts a wealth of experience and satisfied customers.

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THE COMPANY Run by Stephen and Alison Moody, Frogheath continues to strive for ever higher standards of craftsmanship and customer care. The well rounded combination of skills and contacts ensure the quality of all their work. Their existing clients find that their practical approach means that they implement what they want, on time, to specification and within budget.

• Planting up, from specimen trees to alpines • Laying of paths in brick, gravel or other suitable materials • Soft landscaping, hard landscaping, help with design and landscaping ideas.

Frogheath work on projects of all sizes from courtyards to large estates, offering landscaping and planting work within a 25 mile radius of their base in Burwash Weald. They have developed strong links with many specialised nurseries which enables them to source a broad range of plants of the highest quality. The majority of their work comes through recommendation, as a direct result of customer satisfaction. Alison and Steve are both qualified horticulturalists and have worked in the industry since they left school. Steve worked and studied at the following prestigious units; Rochfords Nursery and Landscaping. He also trained and worked in Germany and America. He qualified at Hadlow and Sparsholt horticultural colleges with distinctions from both. Alison is originally from Dundee and studied there gaining an SCH (Dist) then at Auchincruive NDH (Merit), a year at Blooms of Bressingham, four years at Sussex Country Gardens, Kingston. She went on to lecture in horticulture at Hadlow College before busying herself with 4 children. Alison works for the business including arranging free site visits, arranging plans, giving talks and part-time lecturing at Plumpton.

SERVICES Frogheath Landscapes offer a wide range of services to their customers, including: • • • • •

Complete garden design, creative practical design and build Individual features, pergolas, ponds and walled gardens Quality decking incorporated into house or garden plans Laying of terraces or patios in sandstone, york stone or the customer’s own selection Borders: Design, planning, soil preparation and improvement

AWARD-WINNING This year Frogheath were fortunate enough to win the Supreme Award and Overall Design and Build category at the APL Awards 2013, held at the Roof Gardens in Kensington. Their entry was a cliff-top garden near Hastings set on a steeply sloping site with very difficult access. The client asked for level areas to be created in the garden for entertaining, safe and easy access through the garden and more opportunities to enjoy the stunning views. The designer Frogheath works with regularly, Tina Vallis MSGD, really rose to the challenge of the client’s brief and created a garden that was described by the judges as being “a beautifully detailed project which demonstrates what good design and superb craftsmanship is all about. A totally unpretentious scheme which blends beautifully with the surroundings and demonstrates a superb showcase of skills.”

PETER BELTON Director of Frogheath Landscapes, Stephen Moody, takes great pride in developing and training local staff. All the company’s employees are in some form of training. Their most recent success story is 17 year old Peter Belton who won the APL Young Achievers Award 2013. Peter Belton came to Frogheath Landscapes as a work experience student while still at school. On leaving school at 16, Peter joined Frogheath as an apprentice attending college one day a week. At the end of his studies he received a Level 2 Diploma in Landscaping and a Lantra Intermediate Apprenticeship in Horticulture in the Landscaping Sector. When he finished this course, he was regarded as a hard-working student and his tutor said that “his practical work was excellent throughout and he showed attention to detail”. Peter went on to pass his Level 1 course in Brickwork with Distinction and is currently doing very well on his Level 2 Brickwork course. His attention to detail and determination to get things right so impressed the judges of the 2013 APL awards that they declared him “an employer’s dream; exactly what someone would look for and what the industry wants.”

Frogheath’s team also rose to the challenge, overcoming the many difficulties posed by the site including having to carry over 40 tonnes of concrete by hand in buckets up a cliff to build the steps from the beach leading to the garden before any landscaping could even begin.

OVERCOMING THE RECESSION Frogheath’s strategy for overcoming the current recession is keeping customers happy so that they are always recommended combined with maintaining an interesting and up to date website which seems to bring in a lot of business. Like any business, their immediate goals are to survive the recession and to come out the other end in a profitable position.

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YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH FOR FAIRFAX DESPITE ECONOMIC CRISIS THEY may not be the biggest, but Yorkshire-based Fairfax Plant Hire aspires to be the best self-drive and operated plant hire company within the geographical area they serve. 76

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Established more than 25 years ago, Fairfax began with just one dumper and one digger; today it has grown to be a business that boasts in excess of a 500-strong fleet of plant and equipment. Run by brothers Matthew and Mark Love, sons of founder Ken Love who is still on hand with advice and guidance, and mum Carolyn who looks after the accounts department, a real family affair. The company has diversified slightly and now offers a tool sales and hire service in the Selby area in addition to their wellestablished plant hire business.

economic times in the construction industry. Their high levels of flexibility and understanding of customer needs has also played a major role in their success. “We very rarely turn anyone away,” says Sales & Marketing Manager Ian Davidson. “If a customer wants to hire a piece of equipment and we don’t have it, we will always try to find a solution and keep our loyal customers happy”. Since joining the company in January this year, Ian has managed to develop the company’s Public Relations and has worked with Mark to improve the FPH website which went live in April. He is currently working on a company brochure, shop rebranding and new signage in order to enhance the sales and hire of the plant and tool hire divisions. The company has also begun sponsoring Selby Town Football Club, a move that has helped them give back to their local community as well as maintaining their status as the area’s leading plant and tool hire company.

SERVICES

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS Fairfax Plant Hire Ltd is one of Yorkshire’s leading independent Plant Hire Companies based near Selby in the heart of Yorkshire. Their fleet of machines available for hire includes those from major manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Kubota, Case, JCB, Thwaites, Terex and Bomag. The company regularly invests in their fleet to maintain their position as market leaders in Yorkshire. An important aspect of the company’s success is attributed to the strong relationships they have built with suppliers that always deliver the very best. These include T.C. Harrison, Caterpillar, Venco Plant Services, and Britcom.

Fairfax’s central location with easy access to the M1, M62, M18 and A1(M) Motorways allows them to offer their services throughout North, East, West and South Yorkshire and means that they can supply into major cities including Leeds, York, Hull, Doncaster, Wakefield, Sheffield and Bradford. They have also supplied plant to sites in Manchester, North East England, North Midlands and even sent a machine to a site in Inverness in the North of Scotland for a valued customer.

EXPANSION Expansion, product development and innovation is something that Fairfax does on a continual basis, and they recently attended the Plantworx exhibition where Mark finalized a deal to purchase six new 13 Tonne CASE excavators. Over the last few years the company has been able to continue expanding at a much higher rate than they thought possible, and their stock level has grown significantly.

About four years ago they purchased the G.S. Hire Centre in Selby which has been relocated into a 2000sq ft building and has increased stock levels to over 3000 items of tools and small plant. They have concentrated on major blue chip manufacturers including Makita, Bosch, Belle, Paslode, Reisser, Duro, Stanley, Marshalltown, Stabila, Ryobi and Silverline. A new range of Italian safety footwear from Aboutblu and Herocks Workwear has recently been added to the range available.

The company are able to provide all of their clients’ self-drive plant needs, from a 0.8 Tonne Micro to a 33 Tonne Excavator with Optional Attachments, a range of Dumpers from one Tonne High Lift to 10 Tonne, a wide range of Compaction Equipment, Telescopic Handlers from 5m to 17m, Forklifts, Skidsteer Loaders and Fuel Bowsers.

Fairfax’s many years of experience of listening to their customer requirements and exceeding their expectations gives them the confidence to know that they can deal with all plant and equipment requirements in a professional and efficient manner

The growth within their main plant business has been enviable. They have seen an increase in the turnover, volume and profit every year. They have also managed to win contracts with prestigious blue chip clients such as Balfour Beatty, J Murphy & Son and Speedy Hire Services.

As a well-known name in the area, Fairfax boast a fantastic reputation which has given them the competitive edge needed to get through the difficult

Their shop has been rebranded as Fairfax Hire Centres, which the company decided on after recognizing that there is potential for expansion further down

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the road, although this is something that is not on their immediate agenda. Ultimately, their aim is to be the best plant and tool hire business in Yorkshire.

DAY-TO-DAY As a family business, staff have more day-to-day control which in turn allows them better contact and much closer relationships with their customers. Decision making happens very quickly within the company, and their levels of staff retention are extremely high. With just under 50 employees who include office staff, service engineers, delivery drivers, welders and machine operators, the company are able to maintain their informal staff relationships, an aspect they regard very highly for the successful running of the business. No one is just a number at Fairfax. As a result of their loyal staff, many who have been with FPH for over 15 years, the company is able to provide better customer service. A staff member is matched to each job, and they are the contact person for clients from the beginning until the end. This ensures that clients are able to deal with just one

person and ensures that they get only the very best in terms of service. All Fairfax Plant Hire Operators are CPCS qualified and some have gained additional qualifications for specialist work on rail contracts and overhead power lines. The company will match their operators experience to customer needs, giving clients confidence in their ability to meet the demanding requirements on their site.

In addition to keep both staff and clients happy, Fairfax focuses on tackling the worrying levels of youth unemployment within their local area by taking on apprentices regularly who usually become an important member of the team in the long term.

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A FEATURE OR AN ADVERT IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL STEVE RUSHWORTH AT S&S PUBLISHING ON 01924 920 483 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO STEVE@SNSPUBLISHING.CO.UK

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THE NATURAL HOME : BUILDING CLIENT CENTRED HOMES WITHOUT LOSING THE NATURAL TOUCH Highly Commended in the Green Shoots New Business Category at Cornwall Sustainability Awards in December 2012, The Natural Home Eco Building Consultancy isa start-up SME in its second year of trading. 81

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Set up by Adam Rowse and Sara Samuelsson, the company have been invited to speak at Eco Build 2013 as part of the Natural Materials panel. With Adam’s background in conventional construction and Sara’s in the Arts, the pair met on a Masters of Science course in Sustainable Architecture at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales. Post graduating and returning to their small holding in West Cornwall they embarked on setting up their own green building consultancy, design and project management practice.

SERVICES The Natural Home offers a range of services from advice regarding suitable insulation materials and energy efficiency measures for traditional, historic buildings to the full new build design and planning permission package as well as project management, liaising with contractors and budget control. Whether making sure your cottage is in sound health or embarking on an eco new-build the company is able to offer expert, bespoke advice helping you live your dream lifestyle in comfort. Both Adam and Sara are building designers specialising in natural materials, however Sara fronts the Interior Design and Space Layout side. “My approach to building design is different in the way that it takes an insider view of interiors, meaning spending a considerable amount of time working in-depth with the client to establish their needs and living patterns. My approach is not so much about fashion and trends but instead a human-centred one, concernedwith giving a home a personal connection to its inhabitants allowing them to grow and be supported within their everyday surroundings,” explains Sara. “In combination with this human-centred approach I also bring my knowledge and expertise on sustainable and natural materials into the design process. Incorporating natural materials connects the inhabitants to the wider environment, but also allows them to benefit from their health and well-being enhancing properties”. “I see my role vary as a facilitator and coach, reflecting and guiding the client towards a deeper understanding of their needs, helping them in turn to make informed decisions”.

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NATURAL HOMES FOR THE FUTURE A Natural Home is a space to be yourself in, with opportunities for physical and mental shelter as well as stimulation and development, which is why the practice encourages client involvement to make a house your home. Specialising in natural materials with smaller carbon footprints, holistic client driven design, architectural psychology, healthy design technologies and practical aesthetics, The Natural Home is a practice with a difference. Looking to the future Sara says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our plans are modest, and as a start up to survive in our financial climate practising what we are passionate about is our goal first and foremostâ&#x20AC;?. As a business that started up during the recession, Adam and Sara have kept their overheads low, such as designed a self-contained office. As a knowledge based business, their overheads and initial investment is generally low. Currently, they have no employees and run every aspect of the business themselves. The Natural Home Ecobuilding Consultancy Tel: 01736 740696 www.thenaturalhome.co.uk

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START UP COMPANY SCAFFA CONFIRMS A SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR HANDMADE furniture company SCAFFA pride themselves on their uniquely designed stylish, comfortable and eco-friendly products. 84

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Founded in early 2012 by Ferdie Le Fevre to introduce a revolutionary new idea in affordable, handmade furniture, the company has grown from Ferdie being a sole trader to a full time business in just a matter of months. The idea came from abroad where Ferdie saw far greater use of ex-scaffolding planks than was evident in the UK.

more popular over time due to the distinguishing features of its furniture. During the process of making a SCAFFA piece, the reclaimed scaffolding boards are sanded three times. The furniture is screwed and glued together using stainless steel screws and water resistant adhesive, meaning that the pieces are equally usable in and outdoors and are very robust. One of the beauties of a SCAFFA piece of furniture is that it will change over time. As a natural product, wood will respond to its environment and shape itself accordingly. As a result the SCAFFA furniture has a rustic and natural charm which suits most settings.

size options and can be customized to suit the needs of the customer,” says Ferdie. “As our company is designing and producing eco-friendly products, the environment is at the heart of our policies. We therefore do not only treat our furniture with eco-friendly products but also wrap the furniture with eco-friendly protective material for transportation. Where possible, delivery journeys are combined to minimise unnecessary mileage”.

The colour finishes which SCAFFA offer are both eco-friendly and that little bit different, helping give the furniture that “distressed” finish so often seen in Home and Garden magazines. This coating not only creates a good look, but also means that the furniture is equally at home in the garden or inside the home.

FIRST YEAR Ferdie combined his love of wood and his skill as a craftsman to breathe new life into retired scaffolding planks and turn them into stylish modern furniture. He received a wealth of positive feedback from potential customers and this fuelled his decision to transform SCAFFA into a full time business venture.

SCAFFA’s mission statement is to “Supply the Nation with Comfortable, Eco-friendly and Stylish garden furniture”, and their key ambition is to be a recognized brand and to attract interest in the design and quality of the product through feedback and word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers.

Since SCAFFA’s inception last year, the company has reached a number of important milestones. In June 2012, they designed and built commercial breadshelves for a local organic farm shop leading to the same shop wanting to showcase some of the company’s other designs in their restaurant area.

Although for most of the first year Ferdie worked on his own, in January 2013 he took on a young apprentice who is employed under the Youth Employment scheme of the South Lanarkshire Council, and so began what is expected to become a well-known brand. Ferdie’s role as company owner of this start up business means that he covers many roles, right from sourcing reclaimed timber, to designing and making the furniture itself. He is also responsible for all the book-keeping, admin, marketing, website maintenance and trying to attract new customers and build contacts in the business as well as develop the product ranges and analyse customer feedback.

THE BRAND Operating from the Scottish borders, SCAFFA is expected to become

MILESTONES AND GOALS

In August, SCAFFA Products were for the first time stocked and advertised in a well-known reclaimed furniture store in Edinburgh. Then in September the company designed and built a complete beer-garden including seating and bar tables for a large pub in Edinburgh city centre.

“What makes our furniture stand out from other handmade reclaimed furniture is that it is recognisably stylish, chunky but not oversized, and comfortable. Additionally the wood is treated three times with an eco-friendly wash and shipped in one piece for the customer to enjoy straight away – no self-assembly necessary. All our products have different

In January this year Ferdie had reached a stage in his business wherein he was able to open a new workshop with a small showroom space. The company’s latest milestone was reached in March when SCAFFA’s website was launched (www. scaffa.co.uk) which gives customers the ability to purchase products online. The company’s next key milestones is firstly to commission and design new marketing material, which they hope to h

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STARTING UP IN A RECESSION As a start-up company with a very little to no budget, Ferdie has had to be creative in his approach to getting his product out into the market place as cost has of course been a major issue.

ave achieved by the end of May, and to exhibit Scaffa products at Gardening Scotland 2013 at the Ingliston Show Ground in Edinburgh between 31 May and 2 June. “My present plans are to showcase our existing eco-friendly products to a wider audience, in both the domestic and commercial markets,” explains Ferdie. “As a startup business, getting your products and name seen by as many people as possible is key to business development. I try to be as innovative as possible in my approach and I always welcome customer feedback and input”.

Initially display space at a local organic farm-shop was negotiated in return for supply of some small pieces of furniture for their restaurant. Then in the first year, small agricultural shows were attended to gain first hand feedback from visitors on what their perception was of SCAFFA’s products. At the same time, an Edinburgh based furniture shop was approached asking if they would consider stocking SCAFFA furniture. This resulted in a very positive relationship and a recommendation of the company’s work to supply furniture for a beer garden. Finally, Ferdie applied for, and was awarded a business grant from the local council which helped financially to develop a proper marketing campaign and build his website. Looking to the future of the company, Ferdie shares: “Appreciating that Scaffa is only in its infancy, we as a company are keen to work with customers to develop new product ranges and get Scaffa recognised as a household name in furniture”.

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FAMILY BUSINESS WORKING TO ENSURE PEOPLE “NEVER COME HOME TO A COLD HOUSE AGAIN” WITHIN just seven months of beginning to sell their product, Inspire Home Automation Limited wielded a turnover of £40,000, immediately setting the standard and expectations of the business very high. 87

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that are very easy to use”. After the initial idea, major milestones for the company were developing the concept on an extremely tight budget, and doing a beta test with a prototype unit. Following a successful beta test, the next major milestone was securing funding by selling shares to family and friends, to take the project from prototype to finished product. Perhaps their most notable achievement to date was releasing their first thermostat in October last year.

REMOTE THERMOSTAT Incorporated in May 2012, Inspire Home Automation has designed, developed, manufactured and sold their Internet Room Thermostat, allowing users to control their central heating over the Internet from their smart phone or via the company’s website. This innovative solution was inspired by the fact that many people these days work much more flexible hours than they used to and that with ever-increasing fuel bills, people are looking to save money where they can. The company currently has two internet thermostat available, a standard model and a version aimed at landlords and holiday lets. The latter is a recently launched model, developed with the help of owners of holiday lets who can spend thousands of pounds on gas a quarter, partly due to holiday makers leaving the central heating on when they leave the property. “Home automation is nothing new, however in the past it has been very expensive and you had to be a bit of a computer geek to set it up,” says Matthew Smith, one of the company’s thee active directors. “Our aim is to bring home automation to the masses, with competitive pricing and products

CUSTOMER BENEFITS The products Inspire Home Automation offers provides multiple benefits to users, allowing them to save on fuel bills by only heating the home when it is occupied. This will reduce their overall carbon footprint. They have been designed to be very easy to install and set up. There is no router configuration or advanced IT skills required. Customers just need to connect it up and register on the company’s website.

product range,” shares Matthew. “We have had a number of requests for new features which we are working on. These features will be incorporated into a higher spec model allowing us to offer customers a range of products”. For Winter 2013, Inspire Home Automation are looking to expand further into selling within Europe. They already have resellers lined up in Spain and Sweden.

Although their current offering is aimed at the retro fit market (hence the wifi capability), the team at Inspire Home Automation realise that for new builds, probably a wired product would be better suited. The company is always keen to work with potential customers to modify or design new products to meet their needs. As a small company with lower overheads, Inspire Home Automation feel that they can offer custom solutions at competitive prices.

As a small company, Inspire Home Automation offers a personal touch to both their customers and installers.

CAPITALISING ON AN EMERGING MARKET

The company use recycled packaging in their products, and where possible, they source items from the UK. All their products are made in the UK.

Inspire Home Automation was established during the recession. With extensive research, the team was able to capitalise on an emerging market. This market has arisen recently due to rising gas prices and an ‘always on’ internet connection becoming standard in most homes. This increase in gas prices has helped make this market area no longer a gimmick but a real money saver, with some users expecting to recoup their investment within just six months.

MOVING FORWARD The success of Inspire Home Automation’s first product has allowed the company to invest into creating new products. They are currently developing a fully wireless internet thermostat and internet hot water controls, which they hope to release towards the end of this year. “Our present plan is to increase our

As a family business, the team at Inspire Home Automation is all very committed to the same cause and do not have any hidden agendas. They are able to work

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A FEATURE OR AN ADVERT IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL STEVE RUSHWORTH AT S&S PUBLISHING ON 01924 920 483 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO STEVE@SNSPUBLISHING.CO.UK

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through ideas very quickly, allowing them to “discuss in the morning and implement in the afternoon”. Where necessary, they can work late to get things done. “We have a number of extended family volunteers when needed, for example when a new batch of units needs assembling,” says Matthew, asserting the value of having a family business.

Inspire Home Automation work to fulfill their slogan: “Never come home to a cold house again”. For further details about the company, please visit their website at: http:// www.inspirehomeautomation.co.uk/

The company have, however employed various freelancers throughout the 3D modelling and graphical design phase.

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IN HIS OWN WORDS... JEREMY LEAF DISCUSSES WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE HIS COMPANY OVER OTHERS…

“Why do people choose Jeremy Leaf & Co? I’m not sure I know the best answer: people give me so many different ones! It was in February 1979 that I started Jeremy Leaf & Co Chartered Surveyors to carry out surveys and valuations on most types of property. The addition of a residential estate agency department five years later coincided with the opening of more prominentlylocated premises in High Road, North Finchley. Fast forward another ten years and we were ready to add our new branch, this time in High Road East Finchley.

We have undoubtedly become best known since for residential development and new homes. Not surprising, probably, when one realises that the firm have been directly involved in the acquisition and sale of well over two hundred schemes - mainly in North London and the Home Counties - with completed values of well over £250 million at current prices. And many more are in the pipeline ranging from single house plots to schemes comprising no fewer than 200 apartments! When I contemplate our modest beginnings, it is a source of some satisfaction that no other agents locally can match these figures..

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Although I remain sole principal of the company, it is no one-man band. I was joined about 25 years ago by another chartered surveyor, Michael Zucker, who later became my associate partner, and the firm employs 22 people today. We like to hold on to expert and experienced staff so I’m happy to say that most of my colleagues have worked with us for over ten years and all live in the immediate area. Of course, it is no surprise that employing so many local people undoubtedly helps when it’s a question of providing customers with accurate information about local values and market trends. Apart from generally overseeing the business, my main responsibility is as head of the Land Team. We always try to maximise the value of vacant or under-used land and buildings by working with architects and planning consultants. That gives us a valuable lead when advising clients on suitability for development and the likelihood of obtaining necessary consents.

All in all, Jeremy Leaf & Co has been serving since the 1970s what seems to be the right recipe. The success of our business is based on simple ingredients: highly skilled, independent, personal service and long experience, blended with unrivalled local knowledge. It has proved an unbeatable formula for us and, of course, for our numerous clients over so many years. And that is the way we intend to continue. Customers seeking advice from Jeremy Leaf & Co can be confident that an independent, expert, professional opinion is theirs in the quickest possible time, while any transaction undertaken will always be at the best possible rate!”

Most transactions begin with a no-obligation consultation, followed by detailed negotiations between landowners, developers and planners. The unrivalled experience we have been fortunate to gain over so many years has provided us with the necessary knowledge to assess the potential likely to generate the most appropriate planning permission. We are able to offer the widest choice of brand-new houses and land for development too. As a local independent business competing with national multiples for so long, we have had to “fight” for our market share by offering the best possible value, customer service and advice as well as innovative online and conventional marketing - including social media. I think it is this in particular that has helped us and our clients successfully through the recession. But we have never believed in resting on our laurels. We’re always trying to improve the business. For instance, at the time when confidence in the economy started to collapse we were building for the future. We re-trained staff, increased their knowledge in lettings and management while at the same time ensuring we could still offer the best possible solutions. Our lettings service today is unparalleled. It includes initial advice on the most suitable property for investment and ways to maximise rental income. We hold regular up-to-date staff briefings to exchange information – both ways. We attend seminars to keep up–todate with the newest regulations, legislation and topical issues. And we can therefore ensure our clients themselves are fully and properly advised. I ought to add what people are always asking me about. It arises from the honour for over 20 years of acting as National Housing Spokesman for the 120,000+ members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). People question me about my frequent appearances on TV and, radio and in the national press as well as on twitter and Facebook, giving property information and advice to all. It has helped, I believe, to raise the profile of the firm. And of course I am always ready to offer the same quality of advice to customers – and in person! After holding, arguably, the most senior elected position in the residential property industry for nearly five years, I now sit on the RICS residential board as well as its sales and lettings groups. I have regularly represented the Institution in meetings with Government Ministers and senior civil servants and frequently invited to address the experts at property conferences.

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THE HIRE OF SURFACE PREPARATION EQUIPMENT IS WHAT THE WORK IS ALL ABOUT AT W H. SURFACE PREPARATION UK LTD NICK Forbes, Director at W.H. Surface Preparation tells us more about the business and the industry at large... 92

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W.H. SURFACE Preparation was formed in 2002 to fill a gap in the hire market for a specialized hire company to offer a unique service across the UK for a range of equipment dedicated to the surface preparation market. Another important aim of the company was to offer add-on products and ancillary items to give customers a full service from the start of a job or project where a surface had to be removed using blasters, planers, grinders, scabblers and strippers prior to new coating or covering being applied, but then hire of mixing, spraying and application equipment to apply the coating, followed by use of scrubbers, sweepers polishers and biodegradable chemicals to keep the surface looking good.

while they get on with the job. In the early days we were asked what the “W H” stood for, it means many things but mainly “We Hire” since we are not contractors (as we would upset 50 per cent of our customers who are) and yet with over 15 years in the surface prep hire industry we can offer valuable hands-on experience and pass that on to you. In turn we are always being asked for the names of contractors and looking to add them to our database for future use.

if it breaks down or stops working we can swap it usually the same or next day and when they are finished using it we clean, service, test, and store it ready for next user. Should customers want to buy equipment, then when WE sell them a machine we offer the service that should the machine break down, they can hire one from us the same or next day at a greatly reduced rate while we inspect and advise what is wrong with theirs. If it is found to be covered under warranty

And so the creation of our tag line “If you fail to prepare your surface, prepare for your surface to fail”

EXPERT SERVICES From day one, we have strived to ensure we take the time to offer an expert service with concentration of the correct equipment for the task in hand, combined with expert knowledge of its use and application added to a strong service regime on all items. Following each hire items are fully serviced with sometimes up to a 50 per cent strip down and rebuild to make sure there is less chance of mechanical failure whilst being used- since most contractors work evenings and weekends when everyone else is shut. We always have the back up to make sure someone is available to sort out any technical problems even if it means having to travel to a site 200miles away after hours. We have also tried to network between contractors and clients and are frequently asked whether we know contractors who could do the job rather than the client doing it themselves - just as we have networked between manufactures and end users to ensure right product at the right price. Our client base has grown over the years and you will now find our products are hired by national and local tool hire companies. At the same time, we can offer our customers general hire on a local basis, so if we have a customer who hires a machine from us and travels to a job 100 miles away and then realises they need an alloy tower or something of a general hire nature just one call to us and we can access a hire company within proximity and arrange what they need

DELIVERY We have always tried to offer a nationwide delivery service either through our own dedicated vans (which are enclosed large space hi top vehicles fitted with state of the art sat-nav, computer tracked, one-ton capacity integrated folding ramps yet are economical to run and comfortable for our drivers) that helps us maintain a excellent cost effective service - so to get equipment to London or Birmingham next day before 12 can cost as little as £125.00. Additionally, we can offer to our experienced contractors a next day pallet service for less than £75.00 helping to keep their costs down. We also use parcel companies to send smaller attachments and accessories around the UK for less than £20.00.

SAVINGS THROUGH HIRE One major saving is that most of these machines can cost several thousand pounds to buy and need regular preventive maintenance to keep them fully operational, whereas they can be hired at a fraction of the cost from us. Customers also have the advantage that

they may get the costs covered and can be assured that we will give back the item in a better condition than when we had it following our in house policy of only allowing clean machines in our building and to be worked on. If you buy a machine from a manufacturer or other agent all you will get is a RTB (return to base) warranty and so you could lose the machine for several days and would have to hire one in (hopefully from us).

STAFF There are currently eight people here including myself and my co-director who offer many years experience within the hire industry from workshops and transport to hire desk and administration. Our staff are very flexible and are able to operate within various roles in the business to make sure all departments are kept operational - from our service staff who can also do technical deliveries, to hire desk staff who can service our equipment. Being the founder of the company (over 10 years ago) and having over 25 years experience in the hire business with

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many roles from sales manager, depot manager, plant manager and general manager for a variety of market leaders, I have a greatly varied role at W.H., from Technical Director which involves being able to read the job being requested, convert it into an approx price to hire with plenty of technical literature and instructions, then visit the job and advise best use and practices, train and certify operators too managing the direction internally on a technical and financial level to ensure the company maintains its standing in the market place.

My role is supported by my co director Mark Gater who, with over 30 years in same industry, looks after the sales, marketing and general ops of the business. Since joining the company a few years ago his job has been to give the company its corporate colours and identity to make sure the name looks the same across all mediums, his aim is to make sure we remain available and reliable and offers a service second to none. Between us we are constantly updating our websites, marketing our products and giving great technical advice on the full range of equipment.

PRODUCT RANGE Our wide variety of equipment ranges from the smallest hand tool to the largest ride on scrubber with vast stocks of diamonds and blades to chemicals and coatings - just about everything you would need to keep your surface prepared, cleaned, coated, and maintained, we try to keep a minimum of 3 machines available which is some cases means we have a core stock of 15 to 20 machines. We are currently have the largest stock of SPE Floor blast machines

for hire in the uk with over 10 machines on the fleet as well as selective specialist machines that very few if no one else hires out, such as ride on tile strippers, DFG700 grinders and 3 phase bench saws to name a few. We can arrange a site visit where we come along with a selection of equipment to establish which works best for you and leave it there for hire with the knowledge that it does work.

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Using our technical website and the full details enclosed therein on machines, approximate daily coverage as well as full prices, you can easily get a quote on what your surface preparation costs will be.

equipment across the UK as well as local tool hire to the local market of builders and DIY-ers.

Some of our equipment can be technically challenging and may fail in inexperienced hands. We therefore offer to train your workers on site or at your premises, and this training can be certified and is approved by most manufactures such as SPE on the range of their equipment.

GETTING THROUGH THE RECESSION AND FUTURE GROWTH

So from our approx. 4000sqft facility here in South Wales we endeavor to offer a full range of surface preparation

We have invested in a world leader Orion software (Sirius) in a hire industry computer system which is based in Canada but has many varied users across the globe where a combination of backgrounds constantly feedback to ensure the system is at the leading edge of technology.

Using modern technology, keeping control of costs and investing in the core equipment of our business as well as searching out new markets and new opportunities has helped us greatly in getting through the economic recession.

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With this system we can offer immediate hire and sale quotations which can emailed to you within seconds. They can easily be converted into reservations that give us the daily operational needs and then quickly converted into hire contracts and delivery, pick up slips and finally invoices all of which can be emailed immediately. Furthermore, it also gives us our workshop and fleet information which has helped us invest almost ÂŁ500,000 in our hire fleet equipment and accessories. It has always been believed that hire shops should grow through a recession as there is less reason to buy and more reason to hire to keep costs down. Also, a lot of people take on work themselves and so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the money to buy and maintain new equipment or invest in major capital purchases, but still need to get projects done within budget.

We have looked at how the market has changed through facilities such online websites for used equipment which can be purchased for a fraction of new cost and following a small refurbishment can perform the same as new. We have also offered to purchase from our customers any unwanted equipment for surface preparation and after refurbishment either resold them to other contractors or grown our own hire fleet without major capital outlay. Additionally, we have identified our vehicle fleet to be modern and fully loaded to help deliver our goods safely and on time. We have invested in our workshops to make sure it can handle the variety of equipment by daily testing using modern PAT testers with printers to computerised service records that are completely traceable and help keep track of any or all work carried out after each hire. Looking to the future, our ambition is to have a network of depots across the UK in most major cities: London,

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Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Exeter, and others, all within a few hours of each other, all offering the same level of availability, reliability, and service, on a local basis with national support. We want to be the first choice for contractors, factories, construction sites, end users and most equipment and coating manufactures.

and feedback from our customers. We try to make sure that our staff have the right facilities, tools, vehicles as well as achievable targets and bonuses to make sure the company can maintain its high standards of customer support across the UK.

looking to the future of employment and thinking outside the box so the facility to be operational 24 hours a day running staff on a shift basis to help support an industry that works outside normal working hours but having three times

We use the support of our equipment manufacturers such as SPE who can offer on site or in house sales and technical training on their full range of surface preparation equipment. We are also

the amount of staff in each depot to have a lot more flexibility so that they do not get overworked, the same as other industries are currently doing.

We are constantly searching for new ways to make hiring the right equipment with the right accessories affordable and achievable to current and future customers. This will involve looking at geographical areas where we could benefit from having remote satellite branches to give better service to our customers and save them time and money, but all controlled from a central point so it is just â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;one call does it allâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

TRAINING The hire industry does suffer from a lack of training. On a local basis there is no facility to get a young person trained with basic requirements needed to get them ready for the complex world of the hire industry, so we are the same as most companies, meaning that we have to use our experienced staff to teach and learn from each other based on daily use

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IN CONCLUSION... The hire of surface preparation equipment can be less than 25 per cent the cost of a job and yet can have the biggest impact on a coating failure or having to redo the same surface on a regular basis, so regardless of whether you spend £500 or £5000 on your choice of coating just remember our tag line: “If you fail to prepare your surface prepare for your surface to fail”

Eight hEads arE bEttEr than onE… With a full range of accessories and sanding discs available, the C43 floor sander is one of the most versatile pieces of kit you will ever buy, tackling jobs such as: • diamond grinding • removal of adhesive, foam backing and vinyl flooring • cutting back old concrete • finishing freshly poured concrete • latex smoothing • providing a key on power floated concrete • light cleaning to heavy dirt

When you need a smooth and level finish to your concrete floors there is only one choice. Call Stonegate now for more information.

Call 01482 620400 email info@stonegate.org.uk website www.stonegatetooling.com

ISSUE 110

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