Construction National Spring 2019

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COVER STORY

All the latest in health and safety under one roof!

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London’s ExCeL will once more be home to Safety & Health Expo in June. The leading event in the health and safety sector will offer a showcase of everything from PPE and safety tech to working at height and wellbeing.

The full programme of related seminar sessions will be headlined by three household names from the worlds of sport and business. Steph McGovern, Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards and Jonny Wilkinson will be offering insights into the high and low points of their very different careers.

Find out more from page 20. Register for your free ticket HERE

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NEWS 9

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Windscale’s familiar chimney begins to disappear

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Garden towns set to provide 64,000 new homes

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February ‘bounce-back’ can’t belie shrinking market for architectural services

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Competition body investigates construction services

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Plant hire association seeks its future ‘stars’

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Technology funding aims to transform construction

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Scotland’s Planning Bill under threat from increased costs

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Survey finds increasing satisfaction with new-build purchases

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Welcome to a new innovation in lead generation

SAFETY & HEALTH EXPO 2019 20

Safety & Health Expo: all the latest in H&S under one roof!

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Celebrity trio promote the safety and health message

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Fall protection specification-switching: it’s a risk too far!

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The industry recognises its Rising Stars

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Safety & Risk Management qualifications at the University of Strathclyde

CARE HOMES

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In with the new: refurbished homes provide the latest facilities

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Expanding care provider looks forward to its latest opening

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New home arises from the old after extensive makeover

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Fourth home draws operator to his alma mater

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Redevelopment completes overhaul of former council homes

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Opening marks completion of double care home rebuild

MODULAR & PORTABLE BUILDINGS 32

Three-dimensional modular building solutions to the housing crisis

DRONES

ENQUIRIES: Advertising

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Editorial

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Subscriptions

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We don’t like to drone on about it, but…

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Drones save time and aid safe working on M6 upgrade

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Drones in construction: offering unlimited information, all of the time

For all other enquiries: Tel: 0161 710 3880 Fax: 0161 710 3879 Email: editorial@dmmonline.co.uk Suite 2, 61 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 3AW Editor: Chris Stokes Copyright Construction National.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission of Construction National. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company Plc www.magprint.co.uk

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CONTENTS WORKING AT HEIGHT 36

Temporary roof workshop paves the way for new NASC guidance

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Two contractual guidance notes updated

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Compliant product list expanded

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Scaffolding company’s HS2 contract is leading the way

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NASC appoints new training officer

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CISRS training set for capital growth

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MPs’ work-at-height group publishes first report

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Roof fall results in fine

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Trespassers at risk of fall-from-height injury

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TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS 42

Reform Apprenticeship Levy to train more workers, says FMB

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Report highlights significance of next five years for digitisation

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Skills plan will protect Scotland’s history

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CIOB Fellowship recognised as Master’s level

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MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES 44

Museum’s body acts as a conduit for specialist skills and supplies

GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS 45

Heat pump body hails end of fossil fuel heating

GREEN TECHNOLOGY 46

How can we capture the value of green technologies?

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Concrete production could actually reduce CO2

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Event discovers how procurement changes can aid sustainable development

ZOOS

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A case of transferable skills

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The Bear flies into Birmingham

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Longleat says ‘G’day’ to its latest inhabitants

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Attraction celebrates first birthday

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Specialists pool resources for water feature

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Welcome to the chimpanzees’ very own Eden!

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There’s more going on at the land of the white lions

ON THE ROAD 57

New reg, new Transporter

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VW scoops clutch of van awards

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Khan announces van scrappage scheme

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Construction Supplies........58 www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Constructive

comment

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IT IS AXIOMATIC that we live in an increasingly digitalised world. Technology is developing at a faster pace than most of us can keep up with, and that means the construction site of the future will be a radically different place than it is now.

Two recent initiatives have painted pictures of what developments might mean: the government has committed £18m in funding to a variety of research projects aimed at increasing automation and off-site construction, while the CITB has published a report into the opportunities that technological skills can offer the construction industry – but only if decisive action is taken now.

The prospect of robots on building sites and 3D printing of materials is not so far away.

• One of the areas of technology that is finding a warm reception in the industry is that of drone technology. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles, as they are correctly known, is expanding apace. The devices offer a number of advantages over traditional techniques: speed, economy and accuracy being just three.

Drones can also be used to access places that would prove hazardous for human operatives – a major plus in terms of health and safety, particularly when operating at height.

• Working safely at height remains a major concern throughout the construction industry. Falls from height are still a major cause of workplace injury and fatalities.

In 2017 the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height was formed, chaired by Alison Thewliss MP. Almost immediately it set about holding an inquiry into the issues surrounding the continuing dangers posed by such work. In January this year the APPG published its report, making a number of recommendations and calling on government to act.

Whether any action will result remains to be seen.

• All areas of health and safety in the workplace are the remit of the annual Safety & Health Expo, to be held in London in June. Each year sees at least one keynote address from a public figure sure to fire the imagination. Last year comedian Ruby Wax had the audience on its feet: this year there is a triple bill of personalities.

As in the past, Construction National is proud to be acting as a media partner for the event.

• A further area in which technological advance is seen to be of benefit in the construction industry is in helping to improve sustainability and environmental performance. Green technology can be seen in the construction industry at every stage of the process, from designing-in sustainability via the use of BIM to low-carbon production processes and off-site construction.

Latest research has even shown that some construction materials, such as concrete, can trap the CO2 that we have been so profligately belching into the atmosphere.

• Green performance in operation is also now seen as an integral part of building design. It is no longer enough to simply stick a heating system into a building after it has been built. The government’s new commitment to phasing out fossil fuel heating in new buildings means heating and cooling have to be considered at the very start.

• On a wider environmental level, the UK’s zoos are continuing to develop more sophisticated ways of looking after endangered species, in their efforts to aid conservation. We continue our series of reviews of new developments.

• All the efforts of the housebuilding industry to improve the quality of build are also paying dividends, according to the latest survey from the HBF. A record 86% of buyers of new build homes are happy with their purchase, with a whopping 90% saying they would buy new build again. It’s good to see the industry getting some praise for a change. q

Chris Stokes Editor, Construction National

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Windscale’s familiar chimney begins to disappear

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AT THE END of February the first blocks of concrete were removed from the top of one of the world’s most recognisable – and dangerous – chimneys, marking the start of the demolition of Sellafield’s Windscale Pile One stack. The 125m tower – the scene of Britain’s worst nuclear accident – will now start to disappear.

Workers are cutting out six-tonne ‘chunks’ of concrete using diamond wire saws. The blocks are then removed with the help of a giant crane, which at 152m is the tallest structure ever built at Sellafield: just six metres shorter than Blackpool Tower.

Stuart Latham, head of remediation at Sellafield Ltd, said: “Following a period of intense planning, we’re delighted to share this very visible demonstration of the work being done to make Sellafield a safer place. Not only does it reduce the risk associated with this historic, redundant stack, but it will also change the Sellafield skyline forever.

Garden towns set to provide 64,000 new homes

“This is a huge step in our clean-up mission at Sellafield, so everyone was incredibly proud to see those first blocks safely removed. This is thanks to the dedication and collaboration of the Sellafield and supply chain teams involved.”

The Windscale Pile One chimney, with its distinctive top-heavy appearance, has dominated the Sellafield skyline for nearly 70 years.

The first piece to go will be the square-shaped ‘diffuser’ at the top, which will disappear before 2022. Famously, the bulky filtration system was a last-minute addition, placed unusually at its summit. Despite being mockingly referred to as ‘Cockroft’s Folly’, after its designer Sir John Cockroft, it turned out to be a masterstroke.

In 1957, fire broke out in the Windscale Pile One reactor. The sky-high filters captured an estimated 95% of the radioactive dust created. Now, the chimney is a decommissioning project.

The project is a collaboration between Sellafield Ltd and its supply chain. Because buildings containing nuclear material surround the stack, traditional demolition techniques like explosives cannot be used. q

[THE ANNOUNCEMENT by Housing Minister Kit Malthouse MP

of five new garden towns will bring the number of so-called ‘garden communities’ under development to 28.

The minister announced the five successful bids on 25 March.

They are: • Grazeley Garden Settlement • Hemel Garden Communities • Easton Park, North Uttlesford and West of Braintree Garden • Communities • Tewkesbury Ashchurch Garden Community • Meecebrook, in the north of Stafford borough Between them they are expected to unlock up to 64,000 muchneeded homes across England.

The new communities will receive a share of £3.7m of funding in order to fast-track specialist survey and planning work necessary for each new town’s development.

Kit Malthouse said: “These new towns will not only provide homes for families, but will be vibrant communities where everyone, including neighbouring communities, can benefit from new infrastructure – leaving a legacy for future generations to be proud of.

“I congratulate these councils who have put forward ambitious proposals, which will build many thousands of high-quality homes, and am pleased to support them as they work to make these plans a reality.”

Garden communities can take the form of new villages, towns or cities and have the potential to deliver well-designed homes at an increased scale, boosting the local economy and creating new jobs.

Including a project in the garden communities programme does not prejudice or presuppose the planning system – the appropriate planning processes will still need to be followed. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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February ‘bounce-back’ can’t belie shrinking market for architectural services [IN FEBRUARY the RIBA Future Trends

Workload Index bounced back from the previous month’s low, rising to +4 from -3 in January.

Each quarter participating practices are asked about the value of their work in progress compared with 12 months ago. In the past three months, overall workloads were 6% lower than in the equivalent period last year, suggesting that the market for architectural services is now shrinking quite significantly on an annualised basis.

The private housing, commercial and community sector forecasts changed very little in February. While the private housing sector workload forecast fell slightly (to +1 from +3), the commercial sector forecast saw a slight uplift (to zero from -1) and the community sector remained unchanged (balance figure -4).

The public sector workload forecast experienced the biggest movement (falling to -8 from -2), suggesting that participating practices remain sceptical about any significant uplift in public sector commissions in the short to medium term.

RIBA’s executive director for members, Adrian Dobson, commented: “February 2019 seems to be the month when the political uncertainty over

Brexit really hit home hard for the architectural profession. Many of our participating practices reported a stall in enquiries and evidence of increasing reluctance from clients to commit to projects. Practices also reported a significant drop in job applications and speculative CVs from EU students and architects.

“The overall tenor of the anecdotal reports was of frustration at the Brexit impasse.

Several practices commented that the political and economic context created a difficult environment, leading to slow decision making by prospective clients and renewed pressure on fees.” q

Competition body investigates construction services [THE COMPETITION AND MARKETS AUTHORITY (CMA) has disclosed that it is investigating

‘suspected anti-competitive arrangements’ in the supply of construction services, which it says may infringe Chapter One of the Competition Act 1998.

According to the CMA, the case is at an early stage and no assumption should be made that the Competition Act has been infringed.

In a statement, the authority said: “The CMA has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to any of the parties under investigation. Not all cases result in the CMA issuing a statement of objections.”

The CMA’s initial investigation and evidence gathering process is expected to continue until September, at which time it will come to a decision on whether to proceed with or close the investigation. q

Plant hire association seeks its future ‘stars’ [ THE Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) is

holding its Stars of the Future awards ceremony on 26 June 2019, to showcase some of the industry’s brightest and most promising talent and reward them for their commitment, ability and potential.

It is the seventh consecutive year that the CPA has held the ceremony, which will take place at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre near Coventry.

Traditionally, Stars of the Future has only rewarded plant mechanic apprentices, but for 2019 the scope of the event has been widened. Two new national titles of CPA Plant Operator Star of the Future and CPA Lifting Technician Star of the Future are also now up for grabs.

Triumphing in the competition marks a winner out as someone special among their peers and as a star with a bright future.

The new accolades are being introduced in recognition of new trailblazer apprenticeships. There will be one national winner for both the plant operator and lifting technician categories and the awards naturally come with a prize package.

To be eligible for each new category, all nominees must: • Be employed as either a plant operator using one or more types • of ride-on construction plant, or a crane operator using either a • tower, crawler or mobile (wheeled) crane • Be on a recognised apprenticeship or formal training programme • of at least 12 months duration (Plant Operative) or at least 18 • months (Lifting Technician) for the occupation • Be working towards or have achieved a relevant NVQ, SVQ or • other form of formal occupational competence-based qualification

• Follow a formal training programme where appropriate off-the-job • training is taking place • Operate ride-on plant or one of the listed crane types.

As in previous years, plant mechanic apprentices are eligible to enter through their college. All entries will be scrutinised by a judging panel and winners will be announced at the awards ceremony.

Organisations are urged to make nominations before the closing date of 22 May 2019. The application forms for each category can be downloaded from www.cpa.uk.net/starsdownloads/. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Technology funding aims to transform construction [THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY could be transformed using

3D-printed concrete, teams of robots to manufacture and assemble buildings and off-site manufacturing, thanks to £18m of government funding from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

Construction Minister Richard Harrington commented: “The use of artificial intelligence, digital techniques and off-site manufacturing help us harness new methods of working. This delivers on the government’s Construction Sector Deal, which pledges to build better performing buildings, using less energy and providing better value for taxpayers.

“These new methods to help the construction industry are a testament to the government’s modern Industrial Strategy’s aims of building a better tomorrow for us all through scientific and technological advances.”

Four new research projects that aim to speed up assembly, save money and improve the quality of UK building projects will share £5m. The projects, announced on 31 January by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), range in their scope from exploring the use of digitally-designed 3D-printed concrete components that are created offsite, to developing ways to organise teams of robots – either on or off-site.

Another project will research how voice-activated artificial intelligence and augmented reality can be integrated with the assembly of components to speed up

construction and increase productivity, without compromising health and safety.

The Research Leaders Awards will support challenging research programmes offering successful research leaders the opportunity to build and develop a group of talented individuals around them to pursue their research vision within the context of the Transforming Construction Challenge.

In addition, UKRI announced £13.3m to fund 24 collaborative research and development projects in the construction sector – to be delivered by Innovate UK – that address the three core aims of the Transforming Construction Challenge programme. They are: • Designing and managing buildings through • digitally-enabled simulation • Constructing quality buildings through off-• • site manufacturing approaches • Powering buildings with active generation • and storage UKRI chief executive Professor Sir Mark Walport added: “Technologies being developed in the UK provide a significant opportunity to transform the way we build, such as the use of augmented reality to improve design or robotics to aid complex building assembly.

“Through projects such as these, the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund allows us to catalyse innovation across the UK’s vital construction industry improving productivity, sustainability and safety.” q

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Scotland’s Planning Bill under threat from increased costs [

SCOTLAND’S Planning Minister Kevin Stewart has said the significant increase in planning costs associated with amendments made at the latest Parliamentary stage of the Planning (Scotland) Bill threaten the very aims of the legislation. Mr Stewart was speaking as the Financial Memorandum for the Bill was published on 20 March.

The memorandum shows that proposed new duties introduced at Stage 2 of the Parliamentary process could increase costs to planning authorities by up to £75m and more than £400m for business.

Mr Stewart said: “Our aim in bringing forward this Bill was to streamline planning and create savings that could be redirected towards working with communities and developers to achieve real and positive change for our places. Throughout the Stage 2 process I made it clear that it wasn’t simply amendments being added to the Bill; it was added costs, added bureaucracy. The Financial Memorandum paints a stark picture.”

The figures were described as ‘eye-watering’ by RTPI Scotland, saying that they could lead to a planning service that is unable to function properly.

Craig McLaren, the RTPI’s Director of Scotland and Ireland, said: “The new duties and responsibilities included in the current Bill will have a massive financial impact on planning authorities, developers and communities. None of them have funding attached to them and their imposition could cause the planning service to grind to a halt entirely.

“There is surely a need now for MSPs to look again at whether the 91 new duties and responsibilities introduced during the scrutiny of

the Bill are an essential part of it or whether they could be introduced through new and existing policy provisions or secondary legislation and regulations.”

The Scottish Government is currently considering how best to remove unnecessary burdens at Stage 3 of the process.

Kevin Stewart continued: “As things currently stand, we risk losing the savings that could have been achieved through streamlining, and creating millions of pounds of new costs for planning authorities. It is difficult to see who benefits from that. As the Royal Town Planning Institute has said, the burden of new duties could see the system grind to a halt.

“Many MSPs have indicated their willingness to work constructively to rescue this Bill, and I am grateful to those who have already engaged with me. Returning this Bill to a shape that allows it to support inclusive growth will require co-operation.

“My aim remains as it always was: a Bill that supports the ability of the planning system to create quality places with the housing, infrastructure and investment that people need. I hope that others support that aim.”

On 6 March, the chairman of the Scottish Property Federation said that the Bill was unrecognisable from its original purpose.

Speaking at the federation’s annual conference, Miller Mathieson said: “Our planning system is broken and is in severe danger of being made worse. The proposed Planning Bill has been hugely changed at Holyrood and while it started out with good intentions it has lost its way.” q

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Survey finds increasing satisfaction with new-build purchases [

AN OVERWHELMING and increasing majority of new-build homeowners are happy with their housebuilder and their new home: that was the finding of the annual industry customer satisfaction survey.

The survey showed that 86% were satisfied with the quality of their new home and over 90% would buy new again. Moreover, 87% of new buyers would ‘recommend their builder to a friend’: the key question on which the HBF ‘star’ ratings are based.

The results, published on 26 March, marked a second successive year of improvements across all question areas and mean that last year saw more satisfied new homeowners than in any year since the survey began in 2006.

As output increased rapidly between 2014 and 2017, the survey reported falls in satisfaction levels across all question areas – something the industry was heavily criticised for. As a result, there has been an intense focus both within individual companies and at an industry level on build quality and customer service. This has been allied with a massive recruitment and training drive that has seen tens of thousands of new employees boosting industry capacity.

Last year that drive to enhance the customer experience led to a reversal of the negative trend, including an improvement of two percentage points in the key ‘recommend’ score. This year’s scores

demonstrate the continued progress being made, which is being delivered alongside further increases in supply.

Speaking at HBF’s annual policy conference, executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: “The survey proves conclusively that the people who buy and live in new-build homes are overwhelmingly happy with their purchase. There has been a huge focus on quality and service across the industry and this is reflected by successive annual improvements across all question areas.

“The intense focus on quality and service, allied to a huge recruitment and training campaign, has enabled builders to further raise standards while increasing output.

“New-build buyers already have far more protection than second-hand buyers, with the security of a consumer code and 10-year warranty. The vast majority of customers are already happy with the service and quality of their home, but the industry is determined to deliver even higher levels in the years to come. The industry is committed to further increases in protection and redress and is working with a range of stakeholders on how an ombudsman can be introduced.”

The survey covered the 12-month period from 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018 and is one of the largest of its type undertaken in the UK. This year 98,876 surveys forms were sent out, more than double the number sent five years ago, 60% of which were returned. q

Welcome to a new innovation in lead generation [THE BEST BUSINESS IDEAS often come from identifying

processes and systems which no longer work, are out-dated or are too complicated. That is what led business partners Jason Kay and Gareth Alexander to launch The Marketplace: an online portal giving live and flexible access to thousands of construction-related leads in the UK. Specialists in their field of procurement and supply chain management, and with over 35 years experience in the construction industry, Jason and Gareth knew that there must be a far simpler way to access tenders and live leads – all in one place.

They launched The Marketplace to provide a flexible, simple and proactive service, and offer access to opportunities that traditionally would never even be advertised (95% of planning applications are for private works). They have also changed the game plan on the cost of using the system, by moving away from the traditional model of minimum-term subscriptions or annual contracts – a win-win for SME’s with tight budgets and the need for a flexible approach.

They began looking at how the construction industry finds leads – especially how they could help the SME market. It was clear that the systems currently available, which ‘follow’ contracts down the chain so smaller companies can bid for sub-contracts, was seriously flawed.

The companies winning the larger contracts have done that type of work many times before: that's how they grew to the size they are. It means that they generally already have their supply chain in place, so when the smaller companies inquire about the sub-contract work it’s usually too late – the work has already been dished out.

Jason explained some further benefits of how The Marketplace takes a different approach: “We have shown that the process used

by The Marketplace works, and generates a steady stream of work opportunities direct to clients’ inboxes every week.

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“By using our planning leads database, you will know about opportunities before they go to tender or quote, allowing you to get to know the clients before they are even looking for your services. This proactive approach means they will already know you when they are ready to buy, and will ask you to price the work: all without becoming that annoying and often desperate ‘salesperson’.

“How many times have you driven by a job, wishing you’d had the chance to quote? Building contacts with the right people and mastering the ‘know, like and trust’ process is vital.

“One of the principal ways this system differs from existing services, other than by drawing everything together in one place, is that it includes archived records of planning applications, so you can see where previously-completed works – such as a 10-year-old housing development, for example – may present new opportunities for the entrepreneurial contractor.”

The new system has been designed to be easy to use; and by clicking on the ‘common-sense' filters users can adapt their search and drill down into the thousands of records on The Marketplace database. For example, a simple search for conservatories that are more than 10 years old could bring up nuggets of information involving a potential demand for a builder, electrician, furniture supplier, reflective heat film supplier and so on.

The Marketplace portal offers low-cost national access to the entire system, on a rolling monthly basis for as long as a subscriber wishes, with a seven-day, no quibble money-back guarantee for all new users.

Quarterly and annual subscriptions are also available. q • To find out more visit http://bit.ly/ConmagUK or call The Marketplace on 01652 631510.

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To get your company’s website listed on this page just give us a call on 0161 710 3880 or email ian@dmmonline.co.uk

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Your partner for working safely at heights

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Safety & Health Expo: all the latest in H&S under one roof!

[THE UK’S LEADING health and safety event, Safety & Health

Expo, will be returning to London’s ExCeL from 18-20 June. Running alongside The Facilities Show, IFSEC International and Firex International, registration is free and a must for anyone with a health, safety and wellbeing remit, to source solutions across occupational health, wellbeing, PPE, site safety and more. It offers unique access to leading suppliers, as well as world-class education across the health and safety sector.

Thousands of health and safety professionals from around the world will be in attendance, with the largest range of health and safety and wellbeing solutions on offer. Last year saw Safety & Health Expo’s most successful year yet, welcoming thousands of visitors and connecting them with over 300 exhibiting companies from over 20 countries – and 2019 promises to be even bigger, as the profession continues its shift towards a modern, ‘new safety and health’ approach.

The exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive seminar programme taking place in six theatres. The theatre in the new Workplace Wellbeing Show will be home to a series of sessions exploring mental health and occupational wellbeing, led by speakers from organisations such as Lang O’Rourke and Mates in Mind, while those attending the Leadership Forum will be hearing about health and safety cultures in the NHS and the water industry, among others.

The Occupational Excellence Theatre will see Robert Candy from the Scaffolding Association discussing working at height, Chris Keen of the HSE charting the Breathe Freely campaign to combat respiratory disease in construction and Martin Stear of the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management outlining current competency in dealing with asbestos.

Technology lovers will head for the Safety Technology Zone, which will see the latest technological innovations on display – including a demonstration of a robot invented by schoolchildren that can help reduce musculoskeletal disorders!

The Networking Forum will see delegates doing it for themselves, with sessions led by experts in their field and opportunities to take part in the action. It will also see a special Rising Stars networking event ahead of the SHP Rising Star Awards.

Keynote addresses will be given in the Keynote Theatre. Among the stellar array of experts and inspirational speakers, each day will see a well-known personality telling their own story. This year the trio are journalist Steph McGovern, Olympics legend Eddie the Eagle – aka Michael Edwards – and rugby star Jonny Wilkinson.

Following the theme of workplace wellbeing, refreshments will be provided at the Healthy Eating Café, where salad boxes and delicious protein power bowls will help promote healthy eating in the workplace.

Alongside the technology, the theme of PPE will also be accentuated, with the very latest PPE and workwear in accredited tests in a brand-new feature: PPE Attack Zone. q • Find out more at www.safety-health-expo.co.uk – and register for your free ticket HERE

Celebrity trio promote the safety and health message [ FOR OVER A DECADE Steph McGovern has

reported on business and finance from around the world – from international summits to small business success stories. She is an established part of the BBC Breakfast team, covering business developments daily, and also regularly taking to the sofa as main co-host.

On 18 June Steph will be headlining the speakers’ list at Safety & Health Expo 2019, as part of the show’s Women in Health & Safety feature.

During her session, Steph will talk about how she went from working as an apprentice engineer at Black & Decker in Durham to becoming an award-winning financial journalist and BBC household name. On top of that Steph will be talking about why we need to value skills more in the UK and the importance of vocational training.

The following day, 19 June, the Olympic ideal and legendary British indomitability are to the fore as Eddie the Eagle takes to the stage to talk about his amazing life – and his most serious accident.

In 1988 Eddie – real name Michael Edwards – made world headlines by representing Great Britain in the 70m and 90m ski jumping event at the Calgary Winter Olympics.

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Steph McGovern, Eddie the Eagle and Jonny Wilkinson CBE will all be speakers at this year’s event There is always the risk of failing when you’re trying something new – and in the case of Eddie, his ambitions also put him at risk of severe injury.

Not landing the 90-meter jump at Calgary could have had terrible consequences. But actually, his most serious injury was caused by something completely different. Eddie will be joined on stage

by Larry Wilson, CEO and author of Safestart UK. The final day of the event will see rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson share some of the highs and lows of his sporting career.

Arguably one of the best-known rugby players in the world, Jonny Wilkinson CBE famously kicked

the drop goal that won England the 2003 World Cup with just seconds left in the final.

Much of Jonny’s success on the field, however, took its psychological toll. He has dealt with depression, anxiety and panic attacks. In his honest, unguarded speech, entitled Success on the field and mental health: a personal account of understanding what matters, Jonny will recount how his focus and dedication to the sport he loves meant overlooking important parts of his life. He will consider what that experience has taught him about mental health and will talk about his personal journey to acceptance. q

Fall protection specification-switching:

it’s a risk too far!

By JAMES SAINSBURY, fall protection sales leader at MSA

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CLEANING GUTTERS AND WINDOWS; accessing or installing solar panels; servicing ventilation and air conditioning; inspecting roofing – these are all essential maintenance tasks that require safe access. Yet over the past five years, Health and Safety Executive statistics show that falls from height have accounted for 26% of all fatal accident injuries – an average of 37 fatal injuries per year. Half of all those deaths – 19 per year on average – have been within the construction sector.

Creating a totally risk-free new building is clearly unrealistic; but whenever a new building is being conceived, all stakeholders have a unique opportunity to design-out risk as far as possible. CDM 2015 Regulations and principal designer/contractor roles should mitigate exposure by forcing assessment of risk. Yet, despite these protocols, all too often principal contractors are still presented with scant specification guidance surrounding appropriate fall protection systems.

A catch-all ‘fall protection by specialist’ annotation on a drawing suggests that HSE compliance, rather than safety-led building design at the outset, is the motivation. Why is that?

How price overshadows performance It’s often the start of a hidden thorny issue. A design project may proceed on through tenders and approvals without any more thought to safe access until a contractor is bidding. At that point, one or more specialists are asked to price ‘a system’ – without a clear understanding of what it’s actually required to do. And as there is still no approved scheme or detailed risk-based specification in place, contractors have no way to decide if one supplier’s system is suitable, or better, than another’s.

Switching from one supplier to another based on price may aid a contractor’s bid, but ignores the fact that systems fundamentally differ in quality and performance. Superior products will comply with more rigorous testing standards and may also offer specific compatibility with the type of structure and application required for access.

Clear documentation can help de-risk Future-proofing is also an important consideration. Managing total cost of ownership and change efficiently through the whole lifecycle is increasingly important. With the advent of building information modelling (BIM) systems, owners and operators have the ability to document and explore a structure through its entire lifecycle. My own company, for example, is currently one of the only safety system providers to offer full BIM support, allowing detailed specifications to be embedded and ensuring continued compliance as structures change over time.

As a principal contractor, you have a duty of care to your client.

You should ensure that the fall protection system you put forward doesn’t simply tick a compliance box; rather it provides the appropriate strategy based on the risk assessment for the structure. It’s never too early to consider how safety measures will reduce the risk of injury or death for those tasked with working at height. q

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The industry recognises its Rising Stars [ SAFETY & HEALTH EXPO will

including Docklands Light Railway, Sellafield, Thames Water and Tideway. be the stage for the fifth SHP Rising Chris Edwards of Safety & Health Star Awards. Launched by SHP in Expo explained: “I was involved in 2015, the awards recognise young the judging last year and there was professionals under 30 years of age in debate and disagreement across every health and safety who are raising the category – the best sign that these bar. This year there are eight categories awards are taken very seriously across and nominations are open until 3 May. the industry and further testament to As well as categories recognising those that eventually won.” the International Rising Star and the Last year the entries that received the Rising Star UK, there are individual most attention from the judges were industry categories, including the those that provided clear examples construction industry and utilities, and of where a nominee was going above two new categories to recognise the Last year’s Rising Star UK winner Jyssica Murphy, health and and beyond their normal role, affecting issues occupying the industry: Rising safety advisor at housing group Torus, is presented with her award by Karl Simons from Thames Water change in their organisation and Star Wellbeing Award and Rising Star showing real innovation.

Innovation Award.

Winners of each category will be invited to a two-day training A panel of judges, made up of senior health and safety programme in London. Day one will give them a chance to hear professionals, will assess applications on 6 June. Shortly thereafter, from several leading health and safety professionals on specialist candidates who have made the shortlist will be contacted and the health and safety topics. The second day, in association with Acre shortlist announced.

Frameworks, will focus on developing soft skills such as leadership, All finalists will be invited to attend a special networking event communication and presentation skills. at Safety & Health Expo. Representatives from the London H&S “Last year one of the real benefits we heard about from the finalists Directors Forum and the judges from the Rising Stars Awards will was the opportunity to meet likeminded people at a similar stage in be meeting with them for a series of round table speed networking their career. We want to take this further by facilitating a two-day discussions, after which the winners will be announced. training programme for all winners where they will not only be able The round table event is an opportunity for everyone shortlisted to meet to further their professional knowledge but they’ll be able to form a some of the most experienced health and safety professionals leading network of people in similar positions,” said Chris Edwards. q the major safety-critical organisations in the capital and the wider UK,

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Safety & Risk Management qualifications at the University of Strathclyde [ THE UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE offer a postgraduate

programme in Safety and Risk Management, designed to develop highly effective occupational safety and health practitioners capable of operating across the full spectrum of working environments.

The programme is delivered through part time, online distance learning, enabling those with full time work commitments to participate and study in their own time, from any location, and achieve a valuable qualification to benefit both the individual and the organisation.

Written and supported by a dedicated team of tutors and practitioners engaged in health and safety practice across a variety of workplace settings, this course offers a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and expertise in a highly practical context. Each student is supported by a personal tutor throughout their studies.

The Postgraduate Certificate (Year 1) is recognised by the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) for Graduate Level Membership (GradIOSH). For those who already hold GradIOSH membership, the university offers direct entry to the Postgraduate Diploma (Year 2), meaning students can achieve their MSc in less than two years.

Open to students from a range of industries and locations, the programme offers flexible entry and exit points, meaning they can exit at any level of the programme and receive an appropriate award.

Prospective students without a first degree are welcome, with relevant work experience and training being considered for entry.

The programme continues to receive positive feedback from its students, enabling them to be a ‘better health and safety professional’. Students from the programme were recently recognised at an international safety conference where they claimed the top two positions in a student competition entitled ‘Future leaders of OSH’.

The winning student submitted a paper that examined how safety is communicated to contractors and the techniques that could be implemented to improve this communication pathway. The second paper examined workers in the rail maintenance and construction industry and considered fatigue management in 24/7 rail operations.

In addition, the university offer continuing professional development courses, including the highly popular IOSH Managing Safely and a Professional Certificate in Radiation Protection. The IOSH Managing Safely course is held on campus in Glasgow City Centre and is led by an experienced Chartered Safety and Health professional. The course

runs over three days and is often offered on consecutive weeks to minimise the disruption to the working week. q • To find out more about the University of Strathclyde’s Safety and Risk Management Programme email scosh@strath.ac.uk or visit the website at www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning

• • • • • • • • • • •

Open to those without a first degree Practical and work based approach to the subjects Individual guidance from dedicated personal tutors Progress based on continuous assessment of study unit activities, does not require attendance at an examination centre Programme is recognised by IOSH for Graduate Membership.

“I cannot recommend this course more highly if you are fully intent on pursuing a career in this area. It will be a lot of work, but if committed, you will find the support you need to succeed in your education and certainly thereafter professionally” Cedric Auge, MSc Safety & Risk Management Student www.constructionnational.co.uk

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In with the new: refurbished homes provide the latest facilities

[THE THEME OF this issue’s feature on care home provision is

the updating and upgrading of existing facilities to provide a service fit for the 21st century. Recent budgetary constraints have seen local authorities move away from the operation of residential facilities – in some cases by transferring ownership and operation to private operators; in others by abandoning facilities altogether.

Warwickshire County Council transferred ownership of eight properties to national care provider Runwood Homes Senior Living five years ago. The last of those to be refurbished has now seen its transformation into a luxury provider complete.

In Hereford, meanwhile, a brand new home has been constructed on the site of a former county council home. It is the latest in a collection of homes by Wales-based care provider Dormy Care Communities.

In other cases homes that were constructed for private operators

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in the past have found new life by being taken over by more forwardthinking operators. We reported last year on the opening of the first of two homes being constructed by Wessex Care on the site of a single former home. The second phase of that project is now complete.

Similarly, in Cambridgeshire a care home dating from 1995 has been rejuvenated by Black Swan Care Group at a cost of £600,000.

Although the building is the same, the resultant facility is very much state-of-the-art. Much of the refurbishment has been carried out by Black Swan’s in-house maintenance arm.

The advantage of engaging a single company to take on the complete refurbishment programme was also recognised by Marjara Care Group when they took over a former home in Sheffield. Everything from the interior configuration to the furnishings, fixtures, fittings and medical facilities were delivered as a package by specialists Blueleaf. q

Expanding care provider looks forward to its latest opening [LAST SUMMER we reported on the opening

of Foxhunters Care Community in Abergavenny

by Dormy Care Communities. That family of care homes is now in the process of expanding further with the development of Brockington House in Hereford.

The new care community is being built by one of Wales’s leading construction companies, Carroll Ltd of Ruthin, while the project managers were Cardiff-based Chessmann Consulting.

It was designed by Harris Irwin Architects of Richmond, North Yorkshire. Kelly Wilson Interiors – who successfully fitted out Foxhunters – is responsible for all the interior furnishings and design.

Scheduled to open in the summer, Brockington House is on the site of a former Herefordshire County Council facility and will consist of 70 suites – all furnished to a particularly high standard.

The suites are purpose-built to suit the needs of the residents, while offering a homely feel. They will feature built-in oak furniture and be fitted with a state-of-the-art Aurum Nurse Call system with falls assist provided by Eclipse Nurse Call Systems.

Each will have an en-suite wet room with specialist

BROCKINGTON HOUSE CARE HOME, HEREFORD equipment and the option for a TV, internet and phone to be installed in the main suite.

Many of the downstairs suites will have patio doors that lead out onto the beautiful landscaped gardens, with wheelchair friendly pathways and seating areas designed for the older person.

Brockington House will also feature companion suites, where couples can stay together. The suites will have a bedroom, private sitting room

and en-suite bathroom, giving couples their own living space.

The new care home will offer residential, nursing and dementia care and feature a range of exceptional services for residents to enjoy, including a bar, cinema, coffee shop, gym, a number of lounges – including an activities lounge – and a choice of dining rooms offering varied menus from fine dining to lighter bites, created by

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the home’s own chef. There will also be a wealth of outside space with the landscaped gardens.

Dormy Care will even be providing a free chauffeur service for residents to make trips to the surrounding area, encouraging residents to live active lifestyles. Being situated in the historic cathedral city of Hereford, the home offers exciting opportunities for site seeing.

Brockington House will be the fourth addition to the Dormy Care Communities family and will provide the same standards and services as the company’s other homes – offering luxury living with quality care.

Potential residents and relatives will have an opportunity to tour part of the home before it opens when a marketing suite launches on 23 April. Furnished accommodation will be available to view and there will be a chance to reserve one of the stunning garden-access rooms.

Plenty of information about the home has already been available since January, when Dormy Care officially opened its information centre for Brockington House on West Street in Hereford. The centre is helping people to find out more about the home, as well as the nursing, ancillary and administrative roles available.

Anyone interested in the home can drop by for a cup of tea and a chat and to ask any questions they may have.

The centre was officially opened by Canon Chancellor Christopher Pullin of Hereford Cathedral. Dormy Care CEO Helen Davies-Parsons said: “We were delighted that Canon Chancellor

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Christopher Pullin from the magnificent Hereford Cathedral came along to officially open our information centre.

“We are thrilled to be able to work together to support the community of Hereford. The cathedral offers regular dementia-friendly services and we are pleased that we will be able to offer more premium services locally.” q • For further information visit www.dormycare. co.uk/our-homes/brockington-house/

New home arises from the old after extensive makeover

SOUTHWELL COURT CARE HOME, MELBOURN

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SOUTHWELL COURT is a purpose-built care home for the elderly in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire. It was originally constructed in 1995 but until last year had been dormant for several years. Last October the home was acquired by Norwich-based Black Swan Care Group, who then began a comprehensive refurbishment programme.

Unusually for care providers, Black Swan has its own in-house property maintenance arm – Black Swan Property Group – which has carried out a substantial proportion of the work, including electrics, tiling, decorating

and carpentry, as well as acting as project managers.

The new owners have completely gutted the property and spent over £600,000 on upgrades, which are now nearing completion. The home now has 40 en-suite wet room bedrooms which have all been completely renovated to a high standard. Other features include a salon, cinema room, dining facilities – including a private dining room for families – library, games room and lounge areas.

Managing director Tom Lyons said: “Southwell Court is a fantastic property in a great location in Cambridgeshire. We will be recruiting more than 30 staff to support the home and are looking forward to being part of the community.

We pride ourselves on providing exceptionally compassionate care and are sure that Southwell Court will be no exception.”

Southwell Court is due to open in May, although show rooms have been available for viewing since 18 March, and manager Loreta Moss has already taken up her post. Loreta comes directly from another care home management post where she achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission at its last inspection.

Black Swan owns and operates 19 care homes throughout East Anglia.

Having begun as business consultants to the care sector in 1991, primarily instructed to give advice to UK banks, the company purchased its first care home in 1994. q

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Fourth home draws operator to his alma mater [

APRIL SEES A FLURRY of activity at the newly-redeveloped Pingley Court Care Home in Sheffield. Located in the popular Woodseats area of the city, Pingley Court is the latest in the stable of care homes owned and operated by the Marjara Care Group.

After hand over of the home to Marjara Group there will be a Public Open Day, at which potential residents and their families can view the facilities on offer, followed by a Professional Open Day, when referring partners such as local authorities and clinical commissioning groups can get the low down on what’s on offer from the management.

The home will provide both residential and dementia care on full-time and short-term PINGLEY COURT CARE HOME, SHEFFIELD respite basis, and also day care.

Pingley Court is the fourth in Marjara Care’s – known as Sam. Sam studied at Sheffield Hallam University – before portfolio and the first outside the company’s base in Scunthorpe. The achieving an MBA in healthcare management from Harvard – and has a location is possibly a reflection of the personal input of Sumeet Marjara strong connection with the city.

He said: “Sheffield is a thriving city, with plenty of investment in recent years. However, there is a real need for good quality dementia beds.”

The building is a purpose-built care home dating from the 1990s that has been newly renovated this year to a very high standard. The home is registered for 54 residents. Most of the rooms are standard en suite singles, but a number – that under previous ownership had been shared rooms – have been converted to ‘premium’ singles.

All the bedrooms are sited on the ground and first floors of the threestorey building. The lower ground floor, which has access to a patio overlooking woods, houses a ‘community living room’. That will act as a point of contact for the community and enable everyone to partake in the activities and events at the home. The lower ground floor will also house a hair salon and the administration areas of the home.

The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable – built to a specification that anticipates any future changes in legislation – and all include en suite facilities.

The first floor has been designed specifically to cater for people living with dementia. There are no barriers or trip hazards and the colours and signage are carefully chosen to avoid alarm and agitation.

Each floor has its own seating and dining areas, which provide picturesque views of the adjoining woods and stream. Access to the upper floor is made easy by the passenger lift; corridors are wide and have conveniently-located handrails to make moving around comfortable and secure.

The refurbishment has been undertaken as a turnkey project by specialist design and supply company Blueleaf, acting as project managers, with ethical construction company Canopy Construction carrying out the building work.

Blueleaf’s unique service offers full interior design and fit-out, utilising more than 30 years experience in the care industry to take a project from initial discussion stage, through design to delivery.

Marjara Care Group have owned and operated care homes since 1990, built on a wealth of knowledge both from personal and professional experiences. Their aim is to serve their residents and the community with the highest standard of personal care and support. That care is tailormade to customers’ needs and requirements, while always giving them the choice and dignity to personalise their care experience.

Said Sam Marjara: “We prioritise the normal at all times, regardless of Alzheimer’s or any type of support required.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Redevelopment completes overhaul of former council homes FOUR ACRES CARE HOME, STUDLEY

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NATIONAL CARE PROVIDER Runwood Homes Senior Living has invested £6m in a project to rebuild Four Acres – a former Warwickshire County Council-owned care home in Studley near Redditch. The new owners have turned it into a modernised and expanded version of the former residential care setting, benefiting from a thoughtful design and completed to the highest specification.

The turnkey development, creating a 66-bedroom facility, was carried out by Greenchurch Developments to a design

by Connect Space Design and completed in October last year. In addition to the construction phase, Greenchurch provided pre-construction consultation, commissioning and registration.

The state-of-the-art home has been specially developed to cater for older people, including those living with dementia, resulting in a spacious and homely assisted-living facility perfectly suited to accommodate seniors seeking a luxurious residential offering.

The accommodation is housed in a traditionally-built two-storey building arranged

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around a central courtyard. In addition to the beautifully-decorated bedrooms the home boasts a number of lounges and dining areas, a courtyard garden, hairdressing and beauty spa, sociable café and kitchenettes for residents to prepare their own food – encouraging independent living. All have been meticulously furnished by Renray Healthcare.

Four Acres residents can be assured they will find an exemplary care home experience, offering a truly professional 24-hour service where person-centred care and attention to detail are of everyday importance for residents to thrive. Indeed, the home’s manager, Abdul

Chirwa, provided a service rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission in his previous role as manager of another Runwood home.

The redevelopment of Four Acres brings to a conclusion an impressive and ambitious programme of developing the eight former Warwickshire County Council care homes acquired by Runwood Homes five years ago. The programme has seen the dramatic transformation of the company’s portfolio of residential care homes in Warwickshire – part of a 70-plus strong national group providing residential, dementia, nursing, respite, daycare and reablement services. q

Opening marks completion of double care home rebuild KIMBERLY EAST CARE CENTRE, SALISBURY

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FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL launch of the Kimberly West Care Centre back in May 2017, Salisbury-based Wessex Care has now completed part two of the Kimberly project.

Kimberly East opened on the same site on 30 January. The new care centre provides another 27 beds for customers requiring intermediary rehabilitation care; that is to avoid going to hospital or for rehabilitation post-hospital.

The facility will help to care for vulnerable adults and older people in a safe, well equipped, well staffed and – most importantly – homely setting.

The new home was built on the site of the former Kimberley House care home and sits alongside Kimberley West. The new building features

extensive steelwork erected by locally-based specialists Ozweld International.

Wessex Care is a family-run business that has five specialist care centres across the city of Salisbury. Directors Matthew and Pauline Airey each has over 35 years experience in the health and social care sector.

On the launch of the Kimberly East project, Matthew said: “This is the second development of our £14m redevelopment of all five Wessex Care residential and community services in our home town of Salisbury. These state-of-the-art facilities, supported by the NHS and Wiltshire Council, are for adults and older people of our community in South Wiltshire.

Kimberly East’s health & beauty salon and spa (left) and the outside space at the rear of the care centre (right)

“These are not stand-alone nursing homes but multi-disciplinary, dedicated care centres focused on ensuring all customers and residents can receive the highly-professional specialist support, rehabilitation, training and care they need to live their life the way they want to.”

The new facility was launched at an opening ceremony attended by senior members of Salisbury City and Wiltshire County Councils, together with members of the team involved in the build process – including project manager Mark Bugden of Front Row Projects.

A tour of the building was provided during the day for the local councillors and in the evening the Wessex Care team welcomed local neighbours to come in and have a look around while enjoying some light refreshments. All were very complimentary of the project. q

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Three-dimensional modular building solutions to the housing crisis [AS LEADING EXPERTS in modular and portable building processes,

the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) supports members with advice founded on consistent research into the offsite construction industry and technical advice to enhance innovation and modular advancement. One of the current major areas for the development of offsite solutions is the residential sector.

The MPBA recognises that the best building solutions go through many incarnations in iterative processes until they morph into optimal methods and procedures. Adopting this approach, the association and its members are addressing the shortfall in quality housing stock and understand that housing markets require practical, three-dimensional solutions that deliver at scale to increase quality and productivity.

Up until recently, traditional brick and block methods have usually been predominately employed in the housing sector, but an escalating need for affordable homes that can be built at speed without compromising quality has led to a surge in modular and portable building popularity.

With the MPBA’s consistent research into modular technologies and building techniques, MPBA members have access to technical advice that helps them to remain competitive in the modular building industry, which is now worth billions of pounds. The future no longer requires the dust and dirt of traditional building sites; instead, futuristic homes will be built using components that are pre-fabricated offsite and delivered to site in volumetric format to minimise cost, disruption and hazardous risks.

Once considered the budget option for hotels and student accommodation, modular technology is now core to the housing industry, suitable for all price ranges and sectors – from architecturally-designed homes to affordable housing projects.

The fourth dimension – time A critical concern in the construction industry is poor levels of productivity, which are all too prevalent. When assessed against other industries, the disparity is obvious. As other industries have embraced and harnessed technical advancements and process improvements, MPBA recognises that the offsite construction industry can also undergo a metamorphosis by driving end-to-end delivery in the three-dimensional design, manufacture and installation of modular and portable buildings.

The MPBA’s chief executive Jackie Maginnis said: “Through modular construction, offsite building companies can revolutionise the house-building sector by introducing methods and procedures used in other industries, such as automotive and aerospace, to improve productivity and address the extreme shortage of UK homes.

“Our members are addressing the continuing shortage of UK housing and recognise the importance of developing housing solutions. Through working with the MPBA, offsite construction companies are gaining innovative insights into building vibrant, high-quality home communities to suit all budgets.” q

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• To learn more about how modular and portable building can provide housing solutions, get in touch or book a place at one of the MPBA events. Call 0870 241 7687, email mpba@mpba.biz or visit www.mpba.biz

We don’t like to drone on about it, but… [

CONSTRUCTION IS ONE of the industries that has embraced the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – commonly known as drones – over the past few years. UAVs can vastly reduce the amount of time spent on projects by collecting accurate data in a much shorter timeframe. Because of that, their return on investment figure is considerable.

There are other benefits, too: drones eliminate the need for humans to physically access hard-to-reach and dangerous locations. To put it simply, UAV technology makes access more efficient, profitable and safe. Moreover, because they fly at slow speed and low altitude, and are capable of precise control, they offer an accuracy of data collection unattainable by conventional aircraft or ground survey methods.

Announcing an inquiry by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, its chair, Rt Hon Norman Lamb MP, commented: “Increased drone usage represents a significant technological development and offers a range of opportunities across a variety of UK industries.”

According to leading operator Bionic Eye: “UAVs provide highresolution imagery at key stages of the construction build, allowing

stakeholders, funders and construction teams a clear overview of the progress of the build which can be compared to the proposed programme.

“This information presents an overview of progress to funders and stakeholders allowing key milestone decisions, such as a fund release, all from a remote computer.”

Carrying out surveys – either prior to and during construction or for maintenance purposes – is perhaps the most widely-known function.

That is particularly true of the maintenance of older buildings, which were constructed without the regard to operative safety we have today.

Churches in particular offer drones the perfect theatre of operations. Steeples are often accessible only with the erection of complex scaffolding, which can be prohibitively expensive, or via a hazardous staircase.

When engaging a UAV operator to do any aerial work, clients should always ensure that the chosen provider is appropriately certified and insured, and has a current Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. That is a legal requirement in order to operate a drone commercially. q

Drones save time and aid safe working on M6 upgrade

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CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE giant Balfour Beatty is using drone technology on its contract to upgrade the M6 in the Midlands to a ‘smart’ motorway. The company is using a number of machines flown by its own in-house pilots and supplied by UAV specialist Heliguy.

In 2015, Balfour Beatty – in partnership with VINCI Construction – was selected to deliver a smart motorway package on the M4, M5 and M6, worth up to £607.4m. Among the components of the package was a 13.6-mile section of the M6 – from Junction 2 at Coventry to Junction 4 near Coleshill – at a cost of £212m.

Extra capacity will be added to the motorways through the conversion of the hard shoulder to a permanent running lane. Electronic signs, operated by a regional control centre, will be installed to manage the flow of traffic in response to driving conditions.

For Balfour Beatty, drones are playing an important role with this major M6 transformation. The drones have been used to carry out a number of functions, including mapping and capturing aerial shots, and the company has found that this technology has reduced the amount of hours spent onsite, as well as numerous other benefits.

According to Craig Matthews, principal UAS manager at Balfour Beatty: “The drones are a great time saver. Take the recycling compound

for example. If we were to measure stockpiles with traditional survey tools, it would take a lot longer to measure the site and gather the data, whereas drones enable the team to do fairly rapid measurements of different types of materials and earthworks. It would take a surveyor, using traditional handheld equipment, about a day to measure the stockpiles and process the data. But using the drone, we can fly over the compound in 15 minutes and process the model in about two hours.”

It’s not just in terms of time saving, however, that the machines come into their own: they offer great advantages to health and safety by operating in potentially hazardous locations.

Craig Matthews continued: “They are fantastic tools, supplementing the work of the surveyors on-site and helping us to get out to places where boots on the ground wouldn’t necessarily be the best option.

“It takes people away from places where they could be in harm’s way and it means that we haven’t got people climbing over stockpiles.

Instead, the drones can fly over the site and generate a model afterwards, which we can review in the office.”

Balfour Beatty has been operating drones since 2015 and see them as an integral part of the future of construction, as outlined in its paper Innovation 2050 – A Digital Future for the Infrastructure Industry. q Images courtesy of Heliguy

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Drones in construction: offering unlimited information, all of the time ANDREW EIO, managing director of The Bionic Group, explains some of the reasons construction has embraced the technology

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DRONES HAVE SEEN an exponential increase in their application in the construction industry over the past few years. In fact, according to market analyst Skylogic, the construction sector is the largest user of commercial drones – making up 32% of commercial drone use across 12 sectors.

The reasons for this unusual industry boom are some unique features and benefits associated with quick, high-resolution data capture. Drones have proven to be easy to deploy, very capable of reaching difficult or aggressive environments and able to support more and more integration of groundbreaking technology.

The key to successful use of drones is having data-driven technology.

Drones will act merely as a vehicle – to get the sensor in the air for it to capture what you need and then get it back down, safely.

The Bionic Eye, a specialist commercial drone services firm, offers regular site flights to gain a range of data; and when combined with their 4D phasing models, typically generated in the bidding phase, these can offer an exponential level of valuable data.

Pre-construction Drones do not have to get started when you break ground: many main contractors and subcontractors are seeing tremendous benefit from deploying drones in pre-construction. The use of drones typically results in an 80% reduction in required field time and provides an unprecedented overview. That is very useful for quick volumetric analysis, of course, but also for documentation and monitoring of subcontractors, to establish the condition of the site accurately.

Construction In the construction phase, the non-invasive overview provided by drones enables you to look at up-to-date, real data – rather than having to consult plans which may not accurately represent in-situ site conditions. The construction industry is keen to adopt drones for this specific reason, as it becomes very straightforward to calculate ROI from drone operations. UK-wide, drones have resulted in £16bn in savings, according to accountants PwC. Roughly one in five commercial drones in the UK are being used by the construction and civils industries. Besides the overview and monitoring capabilities of a drone survey, the industry has also embraced the effects

on subcontractor compliance. Surveys provide real-time information and a powerful backlog of data, enabling unwanted consequences to be avoided by timely action. This also has a massive benefit in terms of health and safety, ensuring procedures are followed properly throughout the site. Of course, the biggest benefit is that the data is available off site and can more easily reach you and your stakeholders.

Post-construction After construction concludes, further opportunities can be found in a number of uses for drones – such as façade inspections, where quick flights provide you with all the information and data you need.

Additionally, 3D mapping can be utilised to study watering reach, drainage and to assess any risk of flooding throughout the site. Finally, data captured at altitude can protect your company by acting as an audit tool, clearly showing your operations and handover conditions.

Ultimately, investment in drone flights goes a long way in all facets of operation in construction. With 12% of money in the sector being spent on reworks and errors, if only a fraction of those can be seen in time – and prevented – you will see a massive ROI from the use of drones.

In an industry with margins as tight as construction, delivering a project on time and on budget is crucial. To do that as much as possible, insight and informed decision making is a necessity. It is clear that the construction industry is adopting technology to smooth operations and increase profits. While the 3D model (BIM or 4/5D models) and drones are readily available in construction, we believe that the right combination of the two makes for an exponentially more powerful asset.

We allow our clients access to current information on the site that is cross-referenced to its 3D model. Current site information can be acquired in many ways, such as from site webcams or via repetitive drone survey.

The big benefit is that not only is the information up-to-date – to the minute – it is also fully accessible on and off site.

Our mission is to offer a cost-effective platform that is easy to use and understand – but above all saves our clients significant time and money through consistently successful projects. q • The Bionic Eye is a company specialising in commercial drone operations and data capture, set up to support the construction and real estate services offered by The Bionic Group. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Temporary roof workshop paves the way for new NASC guidance

[ THE NASC IS DEVELOPING a good practice safety guide

dedicated to the erection, maintenance and dismantling of temporary corrugated iron roofs, with assistance and input from scaffolding industry stakeholders and experts.

The move comes in response to calls from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the scaffolding industry generally, for a definitive system of work relating to scaffolding temporary roofs.

As the first part of the process, the NASC held a Temporary Roof Workshop at Simian’s Waltham Forest CISRS training centre to establish the methods scaffolders should employ to erect a temporary roof as safely and efficiently as possible.

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The new safety guidance is being developed by a working group consisting of members of the NASC’s H&S and Technical committees as well as representatives from HSE, ASITO and CISRS. The new application-focused guidance will complement NASC’s existing technical guidance TG9:18 Guide to the Design and Construction of Temporary Roofs and Buildings.

Alan Harris, chair of the NASC H&S Committee and managing director of Pro-Fix Access Ltd, said: “The NASC is recognised both nationally and internationally as the leading organisation in the scaffolding industry with a long and established track record of providing industry with H&S and technical guidance to carry out a wide range of scaffolding projects in a safe and compliant manner. So when we were asked to produce a guidance note for the erection of tin roofs we were more than happy to take on this task.

“The Temporary Roof Workshop, attended by experienced scaffolding professionals with a diverse range of expertise, was the first step on this journey. The hands-on event gave us the opportunity to see how the erection of temporary roofs is currently taught as part of the CISRS Advanced Scaffolder’s course and how this differs to what we know is carried out on sites up and down the country.

“Furthermore, it allowed us to agree on safe systems of works which can now be converted into a guidance document and incorporated into the CISRS training course, providing a checklist for the all those involved in the erection of tin roofs and also a basis for checking and managing the safe methods used. It will also prove a great asset to the HSE teams that have to monitor and investigate the way our industry operates.”

John Underwood, HSE Inspector and NASC H&S Committee member, said: “The workshop proved extremely useful and will lead to a new, practical temporary roof guidance document.

“This will help end confusion and poor working practices relating to the erection of temporary corrugated iron roofs and provide scaffolders with all the practical information they require to carry out the job in a safe and effective way.” q

Two contractual guidance notes updated [CONTRACTUAL GUIDANCE NOTES focused

on the hiring of hoists and contract clauses have been updated and amended.

CG5:19 Contractual Issues Relating to the Hiring of Hoists and CG12:19 Contract Clauses were reviewed and amended by the NASC Contracts Committee as part of the confederation’s ongoing efforts to ensure all reference materials remain up-to-date and fit-for-purpose.

They are all available for purchase via the NASC online shop. A new guidance note – CG20:19 A Guide to Monitoring and Chasing Debt – is currently being finalised and will be published in the summer. As the title suggests, the 12-page document provides assistance with the control and collection of debts.

David Brown, chair of the NASC Contracts Committee, said: “By updating CG5:19 and CG12:19, and introducing the new guidance note CG20:19, we believe that we are providing our members with high quality guidance that will assist them in their day-to-day activities.”

NASC managing director Robin James added:

“We are pleased to have updated two further CG notes and to be adding another commercially beneficial title in the coming months.

“The confederation looks to review all published materials every five years, bringing them up to date with legislation and the evolving requirements of scaffolding contractors.” q

Compliant product list expanded [THE NASC HAS added a seventh category to its Code of Practice (CoP) compliant product list –

pre-fabricated structural transom units.

Member scaffolding product suppliers and manufacturers are required to comply with the requirements of the associated product audit form. Samples are then subjected to UKAS accredited independent laboratory testing, with those deemed as meeting the necessary British and European standards then listed in the CoP compliant product list.

The other products included on the list are: EN 39:2001 tube [4mm]; EN 10219-1:2006 high tensile tube [3.2mm]; BS 2482:2009 timber boards; EN74-1 couplers, aluminium beams; and BS EN 12810/11 system scaffolds.

The NASC published a suite of scaffolding product purchasing guidelines for these products in November 2018. These six product guidance (PG) documents – numbered PG1:18 to PG6:18 – provide contractors with a simple, go-to resource to use so they can ensure that the equipment they source is up to standard.

Each PG note details purchasing best practice and outlines the standards to which customers should check that products they are sourcing are manufactured and tested. This includes what to look for, what relevant information they should request and what a test certificate looks like.

The PG note relating to pre-fabricated structural transom units will be published this year. The NASC CoP compliant product list will be further expanded as required. q

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Scaffolding company’s HS2 contract is leading the way

[

MORE AND MORE COMPANIES in the construction sector are benefiting from contracts with HS2 – Britain’s largest infrastructure project – providing jobs and skills opportunities for people across the country.

One specialist company that has seized the opportunity is Palmers Scaffolding UK Ltd. Palmers, who have a base at Aviation Park in Chester, designed and built a special access scaffolding structure for St James’s Gardens in Euston, where HS2 is carrying out part of its extensive archaeology programme. The structure includes a 10,000m2 temporary roof and was built by 30 scaffolding specialists working for the company.

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CEO Colin Butt said: “Palmers are excited to be involved in one of the UK’s largest ever infrastructure projects, HS2. Providing our unique methods of bespoke special access and modern scaffolding systems on HS2 has brought a range of benefits to our business. It has created jobs, boosted brand awareness and raised our already high standards to the best in the scaffolding sector, with first rate safety and training schemes and imaginative engineering solutions.”

Palmers, together with near-neighbours DataScope Systems – who have also landed a contract on the HS2 project – were visited recently by its CEO Mark Thurston.

Mark Thurston said: “The HS2 project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for firms from all parts of the UK to get involved and help deliver Britain’s new high-speed railway. Palmers Scaffolding and DataScope Systems are great examples of businesses that have already got on board with HS2.

“These companies are really benefiting from the investment happening now, being able to sustain jobs for local people, increase their capacity and enable them to grow.

“As we move ahead with the project, there will be thousands of opportunities on offer, and now is the time for businesses in Wales to get involved. We’re looking for everything from engineering to catering services, designers to ecologists, and concrete to electronic components. It is not just about track and trains. I encourage any business interested in working on HS2 to look out for the opportunities on offer.”

The size of the HS2 project means that there will be thousands of opportunities within the HS2 supply chain, across many business sectors and requiring a wide range of capabilities, over a number of years. It is expected that every 10 tier-one major works contract will result in over 10,000 indirect supply chain opportunities.

Last year, HS2 Ltd launched its Skills, Education and Employment Strategy, setting out interventions that will ensure that the UK has the skills not only to deliver the HS2 project, but to become a world leader in high-speed rail. At peak construction, 30,000 jobs will be supported by the project and 2,000 apprentices will be on offer. q

NASC appoints new training officer [THE NASC HAS STRENGTHENED its

learning and skills capabilities through the appointment of a new training officer.

Henry Annafi (pictured) brings a wealth of training, apprenticeship and stakeholder engagement expertise to the NASC team, having previously managed multiple high-profile training initiatives for the public and private sector.

In his new role as NASC training officer, Henry will support members with any training issues they may have and also encourage more people to take up positions in the scaffolding industry.

Henry said: “I am excited to be joining the NASC and look forward to helping members reach their training objectives as well as

engaging with jobseekers, both directly and indirectly, to bring more people into the industry.”

Robin James, NASC managing director, added: “I am really pleased to welcome Henry to the NASC. His role will see him working with the members, but also with third parties to address industry training needs and access additional funding opportunities.

“He’ll also play a key role in promoting the industry as a worthwhile and rewarding career choice for people who are interested in becoming scaffolding operatives as well as those looking to take up a broad range of other roles, such as supervisors, estimators, health and safety advisors, surveyors, designers and trainers.” q

CISRS training set for capital growth [ CISRS SCAFFOLDER TRAINING in the capital

has been boosted through the opening of a new facility near Wembley.

The new Park Royal training centre is situated on the West London College Campus, which offers a diverse range of construction-related courses.

Managed by Safety and Access, the centre will host a number of CISRS courses including the COTS New Entrant Course, Basic Scaffolding Inspection Course and the Manager and Supervisor Course.

There are also plans to introduce the CISRS Scaffolder CPD and System Scaffolding courses in the near future.

Rick Statham, joint managing director for Safety and Access, said: “We are extremely happy to finally have a permanent presence in the capital to support our clients. We have been planning this move for almost two years and believe we have got this model right and can help to meet some of the demand in the region.”

CISRS scheme manager David Mosley visited the new facility earlier this week and said CISRS accreditation would be finalised in the coming weeks.

“This modern, well equipped centre is a very welcome addition to CISRS delivery in the West London area,” he said. “Safety and Access has a long and proven track record as CISRS provider and I am sure they will be successful in this new venture with the college.

“There has previously been no CISRS provision in the west of London so this new centre will make it more convenient for those in the surrounding area to undertake CISRS training.” q

Pictured (l-r) David Mosley (CISRS), Rick Statham (Safety & Access), Dave Wilson (Construction Manager for West London College) and Rob Nicholls (Safety & Access)

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MPs’ work-at-height group publishes first report [

ON 26 FEBRUARY the All Party Parliamentary Group on Working at Height published its inaugural report on how to improve the safety environment for the 10 million people in the UK who work at height.

The report, Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height, is the result of a 12-month inquiry by the APPG. In the introduction to the report, the APPG’s chair, Alison Thewliss MP, writes: “From the early days of the APPG to the publication of this report, it is clear that serious injuries and fatalities from falls at height are still too prevalent. In the past year alone, 35 families in the UK have been devastated by the loss of loved ones and many more will have had to deal with life-changing injuries.

“These figures are too high. There should be no question or doubt over workers’ ability to return home safely to their families each evening. I hope that this report and the future work of the APPG, alongside government and industry, will help to bring about action to see these numbers drastically reduced, and ultimately brought down to zero.”

In the report the committee makes six specific recommendations.

• The introduction of enhanced reporting, through RIDDOR. • The appointment of an independent body that allows reporting of • near misses and accidents that do not qualify for RIDDOR reporting.

• The extension of the Working Well Together – Working Well at • Height safety campaigns to industries outside the construction sector.

• An equivalent system to Scotland’s Fatal Accident Inquiry process to • be extended to the rest of the UK.

• The creation of a digital technology strategy to include a new tax relief • for small, micro and sole traders.

• A major review of work at height culture, which should include an • investigation into the suitability of legally binding financial penalties in • health and safety.

Commenting on the report, Richard Whiting of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) said: “This inquiry has reached into every corner of work at height across the UK and has received very detailed feedback from across industry, including from the powered access sector thanks to engagement from IPAF and its members.

“The recommendations flag up many issues, such as the onerous requirements of RIDDOR, which can make reporting falls from height unnecessarily burdensome. This in turn means many falls and near misses simply are not recorded. Better sharing of data will allow organisations to understand the most common causes of falls from height.

“We also welcome the commitment to boost investment in safety campaigns to remind those organising work at height to plan properly, carry out risk assessments and to deploy trained, experienced operators using appropriate powered access equipment.”

The report was launched at a reception at the Palace of Westminster.

Speaking at the reception, Alison Thewliss MP said: “We have made comprehensive recommendations to government, but the APPG’s work does not stop here. Our report must be the first step in a wider process of systematic and cultural change. It is now time for policy-makers to act.” q

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Roof fall results in fine

[A ROOFING COMPANY has been fined £20,000 for

safety breaches after a worker fell about three metres through a rooflight and suffered a fractured pelvis and spinal injuries.

Leeds Magistrates court heard how, on 17 March 2016, a self-employed roofer working for PNR Roofing and Building Services Limited (PNR) was on a roof laying wooden ‘lats’ and roofing felt, when he fell through a skylight that was covered with felt. PNR was subcontracted to carry out roofing work at Globe Mills in Slaithwaite.

An investigation by the HSE found that, while PNR initially provided air bags as a means of mitigating any falls by employees, the air bags had been moved to remove debris and the worker hit the floor instead.

PNR Roofing and Building Services Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. In addition to the £20,000 fine, the company was ordered to pay £1,100 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Chris Tilley commented: “Falls from height through fragile surfaces and skylights remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply adopting reasonably practicable safe working practices such as using netting instead of relying on fall bags.” q

Trespassers at risk of fall-from-height injury [

FALLS FROM HEIGHT from scaffolding or incomplete buildings following unauthorised access by the public frequently involve children and can result in major and sometimes fatal injuries, according to advice from scaffolding supplier George Roberts Ltd. For that reason, security of a construction site, including scaffolding and ladders, is vital to prevent unauthorised access onto scaffolding or other work platforms.

According to George Roberts: “Access points may be designed for access or be opportunistic. All such routes may need to be secured by a combination of perimeter fencing, local fencing and ladder removal out of working hours, or securing ladders using a suitable ladder guard to make them unclimbable.”

Last summer HSE issued a Safety Alert regarding ladder guards. The alert stated that, where a ladder guard is used, it should cover at least six rungs of the ladder, thus preventing a foot being placed on at least five rungs, and must make each rung unusable by allowing no more than 50mm of rung to be exposed when the guard is pushed as far sideways as possible.

A guard needs to be matched to particular ladders and not used on others. A narrow guard is only suitable for a narrow ladder – if it is used on a wide ladder sufficient rung width could be exposed to allow the ladder to be climbed.

The Ladder Guard is The guard must be locked or padlocked in place when not available from George Roberts in use: rope lashing is not acceptable. q

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Reform Apprenticeship Levy to train more workers, says FMB [ THE APPRENTICESHIP LEVY is exacerbating the construction skills

shortage and must be reformed urgently, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Statistics released by the Department for Education in March show that the number of new construction apprenticeship starts for January this year has fallen to 950, compared with 1,216 last year. In particular, the number of starts for Level 2 apprenticeships – that is equivalent to GCSE level – has dropped to 555 in January from 712 last January.

The FMB’s chief executive Brian Berry declared: “These latest statistics point to a serious failure of the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. Their publication comes at a time when 64% of construction firms are already struggling to hire carpenters and joiners, and 61% are struggling to hire bricklayers. The Government needs to make the Apprenticeship Levy work for small construction firms by increasing the proportion of the levy vouchers that are permitted to be passed down the supply chain from large to small companies from 25% to 100%. After all, small and

medium-sized construction firms train two-thirds of all apprentices in our sector and, more importantly, they offer training in the skills the industry actually needs – the on-site trades like plasterers and plumbers.”

Brian Berry concluded: “Looking ahead, as part of its post-Brexit immigration proposals, ministers want to close the door to Level 2 tradespeople by dubbing them ‘low skilled’ and preventing them from entering and working in the UK for more than 12 months at a time. It takes years to train quality tradespeople to become a Level 2 worker; and even if we did have the time to train at this scale, there aren't enough UKborn workers to go around as we are almost at full employment.

“The construction industry is facing a cliff-edge when it comes to skill shortages, and I'm concerned that we will not be able to continue growing and delivering on the government's housing and infrastructure targets if this state of affairs continues. The government must fundamentally rethink the Apprenticeship Levy and its post-Brexit immigration proposals, or else the construction sector will not be able to deliver what's required.” q

Report highlights significance of next five years for digitisation A NEW REPORT published by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) shows that construction can reap major rewards from digital skills and technology, but only if it takes decisive action in the next five years. CITB's report, Evolution or Revolution?, looks at a range of scenarios for the pace of technological change in construction which will inform the forthcoming Construction Leadership Council Future Skills Plan.

The research finds that, as a less-automated sector, construction stands to gain much more from modernisation than other parts of the economy.

Embracing digital technology and cutting-edge skills can help address ongoing industry challenges like wafer-thin profit margins, the need to recruit, upskill and retain the future workforce, and improving health, safety and mental wellbeing.

The next five years will likely see technological adoption evolve, then speed up – but only when the right conditions are in place, including: • Building a shared definition of what digital construction means and the • skills it requires

• Sharing best practice much more widely • Liberating leaders and managers to take calculated risks and drive new • approaches.

Stephen Radley, CITB’s director of strategy and policy, said: “Construction has lagged behind other industries in harnessing the benefits of digitalisation, but is now looking to catch up. New technology has enormous potential to make construction greener, safer and smarter, while boosting productivity.

“This research shows that while it may take two decades for the industry to achieve full technological adoption, the next five years are critical. Skills will be at the heart of these changes and we will work with government and industry to agree digital skills goals and a plan to meet them. The CLC Future Skills Strategy – scheduled for publication in April – will provide more details on how we can take this critical work forward as a whole industry.”

“In the meantime we have committed some £7m to help industry get the skills it needs to modernise through investments in off-site, digital skills and immersive learning.” q

Skills plan will protect Scotland’s history [

AN ACTION PLAN has been launched in Scotland to ensure the country has the skills it needs to manage, protect and conserve its historic environment. The Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector has been developed jointly by Skills Development Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland.

It identifies a series of actions needed to address the skills challenges and opportunities in the sector, which supports an estimated 20,000 direct jobs across Scotland covering construction, the creative industries and tourism.

The plan was launched on 25 March at the Engine Shed in Stirling (pictured) – Historic Environment Scotland’s national building conservation centre.

The publication of the plan was welcomed by Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop. Ms Hyslop said: “Scotland’s historic environment is significant in a number of ways, from its sizeable economic impact to the fundamental role it plays in our cultural identity and wellbeing. The delivery of Our Place in Time, Scotland’s strategy for the historic environment, relies on partnership

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working, and so the publication of this Skills Investment Plan is a key step towards fulfilling our strategic ambitions.

“Strengthening and deepening our pool of talent in this sector is essential for ensuring Scotland’s historic environment can be valued, cared for and enjoyed for years to come.”

The plan focuses on three broad themes for action: engaging the sector in skills and innovation; attracting future talent and improving access; and workforce development.

Gordon McGuinness, director of industry and enterprise at Skills Development Scotland, commented: “The broad range of skills required by the historic environment sector reflects its diverse nature, encompassing everything from traditional building skills, surveying and archaeology to digital skills, leadership, management and marketing.

“The Skills Investment Plan provides a framework through which the industry can respond to the challenges and opportunities before it, developing further its skills base and providing exciting career opportunities.” q

CIOB Fellowship recognised as Master’s level [ THE Chartered Institute of Building’s

award of Fellowship status has been benchmarked by UK NARIC, the designated national agency for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills, as being comparable to Master’s degree level for those completing the process from November 2018 onwards.

The CIOB Fellowship route is also now more open than it has ever been. Driven by the existing body of CIOB Fellows, there have been changes to the assessment for Fellowship status, including development of a new pathway for those who aren’t CIOB members.

That route doesn’t rely on qualifications to apply but requires an applicant to demonstrate effective leadership of people, leadership within organisations and a contribution to the improvement of the sector.

The route to Fellowship for current CIOB members is similar to the previous route,

but the character of the process was changed to reflect the changing needs of the construction industry.

Ros Thorpe, the CIOB’s associate director of education and standards, said of the revised Fellowship process: “The intention behind the changes was to better highlight the leadership qualities candidates have developed and make sure the standard is keeping up with the needs of the construction industry in the 21st century. I also hope it encourages more candidates to go for Fellowship in the middle of their careers, really demonstrating their skills and the value of their roles.”

The assessments, both for existing members looking to upgrade and those looking to gain the Fellowship directly, include a ‘reflective account of practice’, focusing on one project or initiative they’ve led. That is followed by a panel discussion with the candidate, which is essentially a

Construction training courses and/or apprenticeships are available at the following colleges: Accrington and Rossendale College T: 01254 389933 F: 01254 354001 E: info@accross.ac.uk W: www.accross.ac.uk

peer review of their written submissions plus a question at the end of the session on a current industry issue. The requirements for those who aren’t members are a little more testing: the written submissions must be longer and the panel discussion sessions will take at least an extra 30 minutes.

Denis Leonard FCIOB, of construction company GRAHAM, was one of the first to be awarded the Fellowship under the revised process. He said: “Achieving FCIOB was very significant to me. It was a watershed moment in my career and, after years of hard work, it felt like I had reached the pinnacle of my profession. Earning the Fellowship made me reflect on my career, particularly the steps it took me to achieve this prestigious qualification.” q • For further information visit the website at www.ciob.org/fellowship-fciob

New College Lanarkshire

T: 0300 555 8080 E: info@nclan.ac.uk W: www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk Motherwell Campus, 1 Enterprise Way, Motherwell ML1 2TX

Apprenticeships at Salford City College T: 0161 631 5555 E: apprenticeships@salfordcc.ac.uk W: www.salfordcc.ac.uk

Broad Oak Campus, Broad Oak Road, Accrington BB5 2AS

Frontier House, Merchants Quay, Salford M50 3SR

Bath College T: 01225 312 191

The Sheffield College

W: www.bathcollege.ac.uk E: apprenticeships@bathcollege.ac.uk

City Centre Campus, Avon Street, Bath BA1 1UP

T: 0114 260 2600 E: info@sheffcol.ac.uk W: www.sheffcol.ac.uk

Somer Valley Campus, Wells Road, Radstock BA3 3RW

City Campus, Granville Road, Sheffield S2 2RL

Barking & Dagenham College

Stoke on Trent College

T: 020 3667 0294 E: admissions@bdc.ac.uk W: www.bdc.ac.uk

T: 01782 208208 E: info@stokecoll.ac.uk W: www.stokecoll.ac.uk

Rush Green Campus, Dagenham Road, Romford RM7 0XU

Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DG

Easton & Otley College

Warwickshire College Group

T: 01603 731 200 E: info@eastonotley.ac.uk W: www.eastonotley.ac.uk

T: 0300 456 0047 E: info@wcg.ac.uk W: www.wcg.ac.uk

Easton Campus, Easton, Norwich, Norfolk NR9 5DX

Warwick New Road, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5JE

New City College

Wiltshire College & University Centre

Falkirk St, London N1 6HQ

Trowbridge Campus, College Road, Trowbridge BA14 0ES

T: 020 7613 9123 E: info@ncclondon.ac.uk W: www.ncclondon.ac.uk

T: 01225 350035 E: info@wiltshire.ac.uk W: www.wiltshire.ac.uk

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Museum’s body acts as a conduit for specialist skills and supplies [

IN RECENT ISSUES we have been reporting on a number of exciting developments at the country’s museums.

Preserving and interpreting the past involves a vast panoply of skills – not least in terms of the construction-related skills needed to carry out specialist capital projects.

While many of the most eye-catching projects have been undertaken by national, publicly-owned and funded museums – the magnificent Tate Dundee, for example – most projects being carried out throughout the country are on behalf of smaller, locally-based museums: independent museums. Many are former local authorityoperated facilities that have moved into the independent sector as a result of budget pressures.

The independent sector includes a wide range of types of museums, with two thirds dealing with specialist subjects – transport, military, industrial heritage, galleries and famous persons being the most numerous. A third are more general in their collections, ranging from major ‘civic’ museums to numerous medium-size museums in county towns and over 300 small museums concerned with local and community history.

The organisation representing the interests of the sector is the

Association of Independent Museums (AIM). AIM is a membership organisation, established in 1977 by the directors of independent museums who wanted to create a network for mutual help and support to share good practice and create a voice for the specific needs of the growing independent sector.

According to Sassy Hicks from AIM: “Independent museums are longstanding, successful social enterprises, run on a business-like basis and playing valuable roles in their communities, contributing to a sense of place and making up an important part of the tourism economy.

“Independent museums and galleries are more numerous than all other types of museum, making up more than half all museums in the UK with at least 1,600 independent museums and galleries in the UK.” What most of the projects undertaken by independent museums have in common is funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), formerly the Heritage Lottery Fund. Funding by the NLHF requires meticulous preparation and planning, and the contractors appointed must meet strict criteria.

The AIM holds a register of Associate Suppliers – suppliers and service providers who can offer the specialist services needed by the sector.

Construction-related companies who meet their criteria can access a full membership of museums looking for contractors.

AIM also publishes numerous guides for members – including a guide to Successfully Managing Capital Projects – together with regular newsletters. There is also an annual conference: this year being held at the Civil War Centre in Newark in June. q • For more information visit www.aim-museums.co.uk

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Heat pump body hails end of fossil fuel heating [

THE Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA) has welcomed the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of new standards ‘…mandating the end of fossil fuel heating systems in new homes from 2025, delivering lower carbon, and lower fuel bills too’.

The announcement came in Philip Hammond’s Spring Statement to the House of Commons on 13 March.

GSHPA chairman Bean Beanland said: “The GSHPA welcomes the Chancellor's announcement in his Spring Statement to end fossil fuel heating in all new homes from 2025. The ground source heat pump industry is ready to meet the challenge with a proven and efficient technology that can deliver to home owners and tenants the lowest operating cost and lowest carbon solution.

“We look forward to working with the Government and others to make this a reality by contributing to the training and standards that will be required to ensure the strongest possible consumer confidence and protection in this growing market.”

A study into the implications of a widespread uptake of heat pumps in London’s new developments was commissioned by the Greater London Authority. The study, Low Carbon Heat: Heat Pumps in London, concluded that: • Heat pumps are likely to play a growing role in the delivery of low • carbon heating, both as part of low-carbon heat networks and as • building-only heating systems. New buildings offer an opportunity to • generate faster changes in the market for this type of low-carbon heating.

• When applying an up-to-date carbon factor for electricity, heat • pumps provide substantially lower carbon emissions than gas-based • heating or direct electric. The electricity carbon factor is projected to • decrease steadily.

• In order to deliver low-carbon affordable heat, the efficiency of heat • pumps needs to be better understood by the building industry. The use of • low-temperature distribution emitters, the method used to generate

• domestic hot water and the correct • installation and commissioning of heat • pumps can all help to deliver low • carbon emissions and lower operational • energy costs.

The Chancellor’s measure was also welcomed by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Its chief executive, Chris Stark, commented: “The fossil fuels we burn to keep our homes warm are a significant chunk of UK emissions – we need a credible plan to tackle them.

Today’s commitment to phase out fossilfuelled heating in new homes by 2025 is in line with the committee’s recent recommendation. It represents a genuine step forward in reducing UK emissions.”

The committee had prompted the government to adopt the measure in a report published in February, in which it concluded that homes in the UK were ‘unfit for the challenges of climate change’.

Launching its report, UK housing: Fit for the future?, the CCC says: “From 2025 at the latest, no new homes should be connected to the gas grid. They should be heated using low-carbon energy sources, have ultra-high levels of energy efficiency alongside appropriate ventilation, and be timber-framed where possible.” q

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How can we capture the value of green technologies?

By MAGGIE FENNELL, Green Roof Expert at Boningale Ltd

[

WE KNOW PLANTS serve us in many ways, and we know that introducing them into urban environments makes us healthier and safer.

But how do we measure these benefits? The multifunctional services provided by plants are both their blessing and their curse.

Our obsession with measuring progress and benefits to prove the positive impacts of our work is rooted in the financial cost-benefit analysis model – and ensuring value for money is usually a worthwhile goal.

However, it may push us towards options that are less effective but easier to quantify, over those which are harder to measure but more useful.

Vegetated green technology has had to find ways to overcome this, as plants have often been relegated to an ‘ornamental’ afterthought – a nice decoration if you have enough money at the end of a project. That is not enough, because this approach leads us to miss out on their potential – and vital – environmental performance.

Imagine a scene where engineers are tasked to reduce the levels of harmful pollutants from a busy road leading to a school playground. They plan to cut down some of the surrounding trees to erect a synthetic wall which will provide a physical barrier and an easy-to-measure reduction in pollutants. Unfortunately, this would lose the vegetation’s pollution reduction value, plus all of the other services the trees were providing: water run-off absorption, cooling, wildlife support, mental health benefits and increases in productivity to name just a few.

Scenarios such as these have prompted the creation of natural capital valuation tools. These have been developed using models that capture

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the myriad of ecosystem services and translate ecosystem services into objective numerical measures.

Our hypothetical pollution-reducing engineers can, fortunately, now access I-tree, which can provide a sophisticated analysis of the multiple benefits of different types of tree planting, including the removal of carbon dioxide and pollutants. There are many other tools available such as Ciria’s BEST tool, NCPT (Natural Capital Planning Tool), and GI-Val for example.

They all have different strengths, weaknesses and target users but are worth exploring to support, and measure, the already commonly understood benefits of vegetated infrastructure. After all, how many parents would agree that replacing trees with a wall is a sensible solution to protect their children from pollution?

Plants can now be measured as an effective solution to solve both local and larger scale engineering problems – not as easily or as accurately as inorganic materials, but we have taken a big step in the right direction. q • GreenSky is the award-winning green roof division of the Boningale Group and member of BALI and GRO. GreenSky continues to develop market-leading horticultural products and guidance in partnership with the technology experts at the University of Sheffield’s Green Roof Centre.

For more information on their sustainable landscaping innovations contact Maggie Fennell on 01902 376500 or visit the website at www.boningale-greensky.co.uk

Concrete production could actually reduce CO2 [CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS such as cement have for many years

contributed to climate change, largely due to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in their production; but new research from Heriot-Watt University has found that might not always be the case.

The study, led by Dr Phil Renforth from the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions and funded by the Greenhouse Gas Removal Programme, shows the future production of these materials could, in fact, help capture a significant amount of CO2 from the atmosphere. The paper, Greenhouse Gas Removal in the Iron and Steel Industry, was published in the journal Nature Today on 28 March.

The study also reveals that materials such as cement, as well as steel slag and lime, may be able to react and trap more CO2 than previously thought, thanks to their alkaline content.

Industrial alkaline materials are composed of calcium silicate minerals chemically similar to naturally-occurring minerals found in igneous rocks such as basalt. The chemical make-up of artificial materials makes them much more reactive with carbon dioxide and research is ongoing to better understand the most cost-effective way of achieving that.

Traditionally, the potential for building materials to help combat climate change was considered to be relatively low, given their intensive production process. However, the research suggests that if industries were to cut emissions in the process by using renewable energy, the extra carbon dioxide reacting with alkaline minerals may be enough to make those companies carbon neutral or even carbon negative.

Dr Renforth said: “We found the forecasted global potential of these materials to capture carbon dioxide may be three to seven times greater than previous estimates based on current production.

“That will not be enough to make a drastic difference on current emissions; but if industries combined this with an extensive reduction in emissions, it may be enough to tip the balance.”

In 2015, the world’s governments signed up to the Paris Agreement, proposing to limit global temperature change to less than two degrees above the pre-industrial average. Scientists have since pointed out that in order to achieve that, emissions should be reduced to zero by mid-century and we may need to remove up to 15 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year by later in the century.

Some have suggested that planting trees or using biomass energy and carbon capture and storage, could provide this carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere, although, it is unlikely that any single proposal could be scaled to meet the requirements.

The study suggests the storage potential of up to 7.5bn tonnes per year of CO2 could be ‘hidden’ in existing industries, but would only be realised if current emissions are drastically reduced.

Dr Renforth continued: “Preventing climate change will require a range of technologies, as well as changes in our lifestyle. Locking up carbon dioxide using alkaline materials may be an important part of our toolbox.” q

Event discovers how procurement changes can aid sustainable development [HOW THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY can better embed sustainable

solutions when delivering major projects was discussed at a recent workshop by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the West Midlands.

Senior procurement professionals from Highways England, Midland Metro Alliance and Cordelis Consulting talked about how sustainable development principles can be applied in the region, echoing the ideas behind Project 13.

Project 13 is an industry-wide and industry-led movement to change infrastructure delivery models to provide better outcomes for the public and customers while moving to a more sustainable and collaborative business method.

Mark Borland, Head of Procurement Delivery at Highways England, said that collaboration was crucial to sustainable solutions.

“Moving away from a risk-based procurement model to collaborative contract environments based on value and resilience has been key in delivering sustainable outcomes at Highways England,” he said.

That collaboration needs to be with the wider community as well; not just among the contractors.

Paula Gray, head of procurement at Midlands Metro Alliance, said: “Driving innovation and collaboration to get added value from the procurement process requires engaging with people and communities.

Greater value can be sought by engaging with clients to understand their goals and achieve sustainable results.”

Malcolm Corlett, chair of ICE West Midlands, chaired the panel of speakers.

He said: “Too often, projects are procured on price and lowest cost, rather than the environmental impact and security of the planet’s resources. Today’s event will help inform a report due in the autumn about how the West Midlands can embed sustainable development principles into major projects to deliver the best balance for the environment, people and the economy.”

The event was hosted by law firm Pinsent Masons in Birmingham. q

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A case of transferable skills [

THE STORIES IN this feature on zoos and visitor attractions demonstrate eloquently how the expertise gained in providing an exciting experience can help make zoos more attractive to visitors and how advances in animal care can add a natural element to a day out at a park.

Past masters at both – and old friends of this publication – are the team at Nautilus in Weymouth. Their experience and specialist knowledge has been brought to bear in three of the five projects featured: three very different projects.

Bear Grylls has few, if any equals when it comes to interacting with the thrills and risks of outdoor adventure. The new attraction in Birmingham that bears his name offers enough of both for any thrill-seeker. It also showcases Nautilus’s skills at reproducing the great outdoors to good effect.

Those skills have also been employed at Longleat on a series of new exhibits – in particular the newly-opened koala exhibit, the only home to

southern koalas in Europe. They have also helped recreate the swamps of Central and Southern America to house crocodiles and giant otters.

At Paradise Wildlife Park the team have been responsible for the whole project to build a new home for white lions. These so-called ‘ambassador cats’ are representatives of lions across Africa, which have been in serious decline over the past decade.

From Africa’s biggest cats our attention turns to some of its smallest rodents. Little Africa at Paultons Park has been open for a year and offers a look at some of that continent’s furry inhabitants, such as the desert fox. The exhibit centres on a bespoke pool created in situ by a specialist supplier and installer.

Meanwhile, at Twycross, looking after chimpanzees can be a tricky operation, and keepers need to have control over who goes where. A sophisticated circulation system ensures the animals’ inquisitiveness isn’t detrimental to their health. q

The Bear flies into Birmingham THE BEAR GRYLLS ADVENTURE, NEC BIRMINGHAM

[ON 29 OCTOBER more than 250 VIP guests arrived at the NEC in Birmingham to celebrate the official opening of the Bear Grylls Adventure – bringing together climbing, diving, indoor free-fall experiences and Europe's highest free-roam high ropes course.

Bear Grylls was also joined by members of the Royal Marines Commando to open the attraction with an adrenaline-fuelled roping stunt out of a Chinook helicopter above the entrance to the attraction.

Bear Grylls is one of the most recognised and celebrated adventurers in the world, with global media distribution in over 180 countries reaching an estimated 1.2 billion people. The celebrity has teamed up with Merlin Entertainments, one of the world’s leading visitor attraction operators, to create the new attraction, targeted at the rapidlygrowing market for adventure-based activities.

Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, commented: “The market for adventure-based activities has incredible potential. Our research shows that nine out of 10 young adults are actively seeking adventure and challenge experiences, and this trend is set to continue. We already have plans to expand the concept to other geographies, including

the US and China, where Bear has a similarly strong following.”

The new adventure park covers around 8,000m2 and cost approximately £20m to build. It took its inspiration from Bear’s reallife adventures across mountains, deserts and jungles around the world – bringing them all under one roof.

Speaking prior to the opening of the attraction, Bear Grylls commented: “This past year has been such a journey and I want to thank everyone involved in Bear Grylls Adventure for turning this vision into reality. Seeing the attraction really take shape from our initial designs and getting to try out the activities has given all the team such a sense of pride and achievement.”

The developers harnessed the expertise of theming experts Nautilus to provide some of the settings for the activities. In particular, Nautilus was responsible for the design and fit-out of the ‘dive’ experience. That included a video ‘flythrough’ of the experience, GRP tank lining and glazing of large windows of the dive tank – the largest window weighing over 2,000kg.

It also involved the design and construction of a giant fossilised, walk-through megalodon jaw, all the coral reef theming and painting, and the design and construction of GRP and acrylic cages, platforms and access steps.

Nautilus also designed and constructed rock theming at the outside entrance portal and reception areas. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Longleat says ‘G’day’ to its latest inhabitants

KOALA CREEK, LONGLEAT SAFARI PARK

[ ON 29 MARCH Longleat unveiled its major new attraction to the

public. Koala Creek – home to a group of southern koalas – opened following a VIP reception attended by the Agent General for the South Australian Government, Viscount Weymouth and a representative from Cleland Wildlife Park in Australia. For the first time ever at Longleat, visitors have the chance to discover the wonderful world of these iconic animals – the furthest travelled residents there.

The new habitat also houses two endearing southern hairy-nosed wombats. They all share their new antipodean abode with long-nosed potoroos: rabbit-sized, kangaroo-like marsupials.

Longleat is the only place to see koalas in England – there are only two locations in the UK – and the only one in Europe to look after southern koalas. The marsupials’ arrival is part of a groundbreaking initiative by the Government of South Australia to enhance the management and conservation of the koala. Longleat is acting as a European hub for the newlycreated International Koala Centre of Excellence – in partnership with Cleland Wildlife Park near Adelaide and Singapore Airlines.

The spacious new enclosure includes a natural stream, eucalyptus trees, climbing poles, naturally-themed indoor and outdoor habitats, viewing areas and interpretation boards, as well as a Koala Care Unit. It has been designed so visitors have the chance to come eye-to-eye and within almost touching distance of the mesmerising koalas.

It has been designed and constructed by Weymouth-based Nautilus.

The service provided included the full design and theme book for the exhibit, as well as the physical build of the project. That involved the construction or three large exhibits with both indoor and outdoor areas, a chilled food store and kitchen, veterinary/quarantine room and extensive areas of theming and mural artwork.

Director Paul Bullimore said: “Nautilus felt privileged to be asked to design, with the zoo team, this exciting project to showcase Europe’s only southern koalas and hairy-nosed wombats.”

The outdoor part of the exhibit is kept cool in the summer by a series of specially-created sail shades, built and installed by Solent Sail Shades.

Interactive interpretation posts dotted around the spaces allow visitors to discover the ‘down-under lowdown’ on the fascinating adaptations of the marsupials.

For example, did you know

that koalas have curved backbones, which help them to curl up comfortably and sleep in trees?

Project manager Chris McCormack of CNMC Ltd echoed the feelings of early visitors: “Koala Creek really fits in with the Longleat brand and the environment is sensitive to the animals’ welfare and requirements.”

Koala Creek is one of a series of new habitats being opened at Longleat this year. It is located next to the new home for giant otters from the Amazon and a pair of 2m-long critically endangered Cuban crocodiles. Later in the year they will be joined by dozens of brightlycoloured tropical butterflies.

To mark the arrival of the koalas, Longleat is staging a series of special activities from July to September, to form part of an Australian Summer event. There will be shows and workshops during the day, culminating in a colourful end-of-day ‘stomp’ – a lively performance featuring dance, music and a chance for visitors to get involved in the show celebrating all things antipodean. q

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Attraction celebrates first birthday [ FEBRUARY SAW the first anniversary of the

opening of the Little Africa attraction at Paultons Park in Hampshire – voted the UK’s leading family theme park.

The African-themed attraction houses a number of animals native to the continent – including some that many visitors will not have seen before. They include the fennec fox (or desert fox), crested porcupines, meerkats, savannah monitor lizards and giant train millipedes, as well as one of Africa’s largest rodents – the Gambian pouched rat – and its smallest, the African pygmy mouse.

At the centre of Little Africa is an impressive aviary, where a mix of bird species such as the trumpeter hornbills, Madagascan teal and black-crowned night herons will share the environment that has been designed to replicate an African water hole.

Paultons Park is a family-run theme park that opened in 1983. It covers 140 acres and has more than 70 rides and attractions, as well as a collection of around 80 species of birds and animals. Its two best-known attractions are Peppa Pig World and the dinosaur-themed Lost Kingdom.

The park has won TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice award for best amusement park for three consecutive years and last year was crowned Family Theme Park of the Year at the inaugural Park World Excellence Awards Europe. q

Specialists pool resources for water feature [

THE MAIN CONTRACTORS for the water hole feature at Little Africa were locally-based Ambassador Pools, using materials supplied by Aquaflex.

Specialist pool liner company Aquaflex has been supplying the aquatic and leisure industries for over 25 years, with PVC membranes for a vast and varied range of projects. From ponds, lakes and reservoirs to swimming pools and animal pools, their reinforced PVC membranes are site fabricated, meaning they can cater for the most complex designs. And with 10 installation teams covering Europe, there are no projects too big or too small when it comes to PVC membranes.

On the Little Africa project for Paultons Park, Aquaflex were instructed by local specialist Verdun Bailey of Ambassador Pools, who has over 30 years of knowledge and expertise in commercial and domestic water projects. It was just one of a number of water features at the theme park for which Aquaflex were pleased to join forces with Ambassador Pools.

Ambassador Pools had taken care of all the preparation works before Aquaflex’s on-site lining team covered the water feature with felt, creating a protective layer between the substrate and the PVC. Once the felt was in position the teams tailored the PVC to the water feature’s contours. The PVC was then welded together using hot air or solvent and the welds sealed with liquid PVC, ensuring a watertight finish.

Ambassador Pools and Aquaflex revealed that they are looking forward to working on more joint ventures throughout 2019 and will welcome any future enquires for new projects. q • For further information visit www.ambassadorpools.co.uk or www.aquaflex.co.uk www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Welcome to the chimpanzees’ very own Eden!

[CHIMPANZEES ARE AMONG the most

popular attractions at any zoo: with their energy and curious nature they entertain children and adults alike. Last year Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire opened its Chimpanzee Eden habitat, designed to encourage the animals to behave as they would naturally in the wild. The new habitat replicates their natural environment and provides abundant space for the chimpanzees to interact together.

As part of the Chimpanzee Eden project, CLM Services Ltd were awarded the specialist works packages to undertake the installation of the viewing windows and the design and installation of animal circulation systems. CLM specialise in the design, fabrication and installation of complex animal containment systems for zoos throughout the UK. Ensuring keepers can safely move the chimpanzees around their habitat is an essential part of their care. An animal circulation system allows the keepers to separate the animals if necessary, undertake health checks and research activities, and keep their living areas clean and hygienic.

CLM Services designed and installed a

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bespoke system of 23 slides and nine doors.

Operated using pulleys, wire ropes and speciallydesigned safety ratchets, the system allows doors to be quickly and safely closed as the animals move, allowing certain zones to be closed off efficiently and effectively.

Working closely with the design team was essential in ensuring a successful exhibit was developed. The design considered the various tasks that the keepers need to undertake as part of their care routine, as well as the behaviour of the animals. Chimpanzees are strong and sometimes unpredictable, so the materials selected were robust and of extremely high quality, to guarantee the protection of the keepers and the safety of the animals.

The chimpanzees’ curious nature also had to be considered and all the fixings are tamper-proof.

CLM installed a range of viewing windows to allow visitors to observe the animals closely.

The viewing areas were designed to ensure high levels of animal welfare and privacy, while also guaranteeing an optimum visitor experience. CLM also installed the glass in four overhead tunnels, which the chimpanzees use to access their outdoor area. The glass tunnels pass right above visitors’ heads, providing a unique experience!

The Chimpanzee Eden exhibit is one of Twycross Zoo’s most popular attractions. The high-quality animal circulation system installed

by CLM Services has provided a bespoke solution which meets the individual requirements of the chimpanzees and the keepers. The company’s priorities were to support the keepers by providing user-friendly systems and to contribute to the overall safety and welfare of the animals. q

There’s more going on at the land of the white lions

LION PRIDE LANDS, PARADISE WILDLIFE PARK

[THE EASTER HOLIDAY will see the opening of Lion Pride Lands at

Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire – the new home of their small pride of four white lions.

The new enclosure is the first animal habitat visitors will see once they are through the newly-reconstructed animal park entrance.

White lions are not a separate species from the familiar tawny lion, but are a genetic adaptation found only in the Timbavati National Park in South Africa. One in every 30,000 or so lions are born with the distinctive white areas on their fur. Because of the nature of the genetic aberration, it is unethical to breed white lions, which are so-called ‘ambassador cats’ at the park.

The new habitat – project managed by Craig Whitnall, operations and development manager at Paradise Wildlife Park, and Mike Thomas of APT

Building and Maintenance – is considerably larger than the white lions’ current habitat in a corner of the park. It is also a lot more interactive and conservation focused.

Among the highlights of the new habitat is a hollow ‘tree stump’ (below) – a 5m-high, 6m-wide structure into which visitors will be able to walk and have the lions surround them. Another notable feature is a safari jeep which appears to be embedded in the perimeter fence. The lions will be able to leap onto the bonnet of the jeep, providing a unique, upfront photo opportunity.

Both were designed and manufactured by specialist habitat creators Nautilus, who have been involved in the project from initial design, production of theme book visuals and enabling works, through to completion.

Nautilus also created the large lion house – the indoor sleeping area for the animals which carries through the theming by emulating a cave – and a Lion King-inspired ‘pride rock’.

The CEO of paradise Wildlife Park, Lynn Whitnall, explained: “Lion Pride Lands will bring our visitors closer to lions than ever before, while at the same time educating them more about the threats facing these incredible big cats in the wild – and what we here at Paradise, alongside other wildlife parks and charities, are doing to protect them in Africa and India. Over the next decade, we will gradually be increasing the size of all of our animal habitats to ensure the best possible welfare for our animals and a brilliant day out for our visitors.” q

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New reg, new Transporter [

THE ADVENT of new registrations on 1 March brought with it the opportunity to invest in a brand new Volkswagen van – and the opportunity to take advantage of a number of special offers.

The multi-award-winning sixth-generation Volkswagen Transporter has already set new standards for comfort, style and safety features.

The latest and classiest variant was introduced in September and takes the ownership and driving experience to a new level.

The Transporter Edition model (pictured below) is the most comprehensively equipped model in the range and features a design package that is guaranteed to make it stand out from the crowd. Based on the already generous specification of the existing Highline model, the Edition features 17” Cascavel black diamond surfaced

VW scoops clutch of van awards [THE TRANSPORTER was one of two Volkswagen vehicles to win

accolades in the 2019 Business Van Awards, announced on 27 March.

Its T28 low roof 2.0 TDI model was joint winner in the Best Large Trades Van category.

Announcing the award, the Business Vans online forum observed: “Compact it may be, but most business users will be satisfied with a 5,800-litre load volume even in this low-roof version, which adds the urban advantage of being able to enter most multi-storey car parks.”

Volkswagen’s Kombi T30 SWB 2.0 TDI manual low-roof Startline took the award for Best Crew Van. Business Vans commented: “For the business user this is a very practical and spacious load-carrier, available in multiple sizes as a van, and comes in a variety of alternate body styles including the Transporter Kombi double cab.”

Volkswagen also triumphed behind the scenes. Its commercial vehicles arm won Best Manufacturer Conversion Programme.

The judges said: “Making the buying process much easier for customers, with servicing and aftersales support now available in one place, the new Converter Recognition programme will also extend the range of off-the-shelf and bespoke conversions on offer and guarantees the quality of products available directly through Volkswagen’s dedicated Van Centre network.”

Meanwhile, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Financial Services collected the award for Best Van Funding.

The awards website stated: “Especially for SMEs, choosing and finding vans in the right way can have a huge impact on cash flow and business finances. VW has a website with simple explanations, a finance calculator and 72 Van Centres with dedicated finance managers who can advise and support.

“And once the acquisition is done, there is a series of servicing options to keep everything running smoothly.” q

alloy wheels on 150PS models, and 18” Springfield black alloy wheels on 204PS models. Other design additions include high-gloss black roof and mirror housings, unique Edition decals and blacked-out LED tail lights.

In its numerous variations the Transporter offers the latest generation of TDI and BiTDI common-rail direct-injection diesel engines, designed to Euro 6 emissions standard. A five or six-speed manual gearbox comes as standard, while the 150PS and 204PS engines can be specified with a dual-clutch direct-shift gearbox, providing a smooth power-flow when changing gear.

The modern Transporter offers two wheelbases and two roof heights, offering a load volume of between 5.8-9.3 m³ and with space for up to three Euro-pallets.

Driver comfort and safety are also to the fore with the Transporter.

Features include driver alert and brake assist as standard, as well as optional adaptive cruise control and lane assist – which can help maintain speed and warn the driver when the vehicle is in danger of unintentionally changing lanes. q

Khan announces van scrappage scheme [

IN THE LEAD-UP to the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London on 8 April, London Mayor Sadiq Khan launched a scrappage fund to help microbusinesses and charities scrap their older, more polluting vans and minibuses and switch to cleaner vehicles.

The £23m scrappage fund is aimed at tackling the toxic air pollution which leads to 40,000 premature deaths annually across the UK and increases the risk of asthma, cancer and dementia. Polluting vehicles account for around 50% of London’s toxic NOx air emissions.

To apply for the scheme, businesses must employ 10 people or fewer and either be registered in London or have driven the vehicle in question in the Congestion Charging Zone 52 times or more in the six months up to 22 February. To be eligible a vehicle must be noncompliant with the emission levels required by the ULEZ. There are a number of options: • A payment of £6,000 to scrap a non-compliant van or minibus and • help with running costs of a new electric vehicle • A payment of £3,500 to scrap a non-compliant van or minibus.

• That can be used to purchase a newer, ULEZ compliant Euro 6 • vehicle, access third-party offers from rental and sharing services • across London or support on-going business operations.

The scheme is also available to charities that fit the same criteria.

Announcing the measure, Sadiq Khan said: “To get a grip on London’s lethal air and protect public health we need to rid our streets of the most polluting vehicles. Motorists need our help and support to take positive action, and I am proud to today open this £23m scrappage scheme.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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