Construction National Summer 2023

PARTNERSHIP IS SET TO PROPEL GENESIS TO NEW HEIGHTS

Our cover picture shows a line-up of XCMG Access Equipment’s articulated boom lifts. The leading Chinese manufacturer has recently entered into an exclusive agreement with newly-formed supplier Genesis Equipment Sales – a move that looks set to transform the powered access equipment market.

The new partnership has already hit the ground running with successes at a trio of industry shows and has created a ‘buzz’ in the industry.

One of the goals of Genesis Equipment Sales is to provide its customers with a fully-comprehensive package of support throughout the whole equipment lifecycle.

Find out more on page 13.

7 Constructive Comment

Constructive

[SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY are two themes that crop up repeatedly in this issue. Since April the Building Safety Regulator has been accepting registrations of high-rise buildings. The mandatory process has seen a flood of registrations prior to the deadline of September. The new regime applies to buildings over 18 metres in height or with seven or more floors. All new buildings have many safety-critical elements that have to be addressed at the planning stage. To help developers and architects deal with those elements in a structured way, the CIOB and RIBA have produced a free guide, available to all.

• The move towards more sustainable buildings applies to all areas of a development, including the drainage system. Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are increasingly being included in new developments, as well as being retrofitted into existing buildings.

• The construction process has been transformed in recent years by the emergence of modern methods of construction (MMCs). At the forefront of that transformation has been the modular building industry. The modular industry in turn is being driven by rising demand in the health, education and housing sectors. That latter has been boosted by the announcement of the £1.2bn NH3 framework for public sector housing in England.

• In Scotland the picture is not nearly so rosy, as a roundtable of MSPs and others at Holyrood heard. Two in five homes in Scotland do not conform to quality standards, leading to a call for a major retrofit programme.

• A threat to health that has hung over both construction workers and building occupants for over a century is the presence of asbestos. It’s still there, as the HSE is reminding all construction workers. Another source of potential ill health on site is the presence of rats and other pests. They, too, need to be dealt with by suitably qualified contractors.

• In terms of safety on site, the main cause of serious and fatal injury is work at height. Ladders are often the culprit, either because of misuse or, it transpires, poor quality of manufacture. The Ladder Association is warning both tradesmen and the public to ensure their ladders are fit for purpose.

• More work at height these days is being carried out from the safe environment of powered access equipment, albeit appropriate training is still needed. The safe use of such equipment is one of the priorities of a new entrant to the market. Genesis Equipment Sales is devoted to providing its customers with a full programme of after-sales support throughout the lifecycle of their machines. A line-up of examples of one of the prides of their fleet creates a stunning image for our front cover.

• Training is, of course, the bedrock of any construction industry and the key to its future. In April the CLC launched its Skills Plan, outlining a number of projects aimed at equipping the industry of the future with the modern skills it will need. The outcome of that skills training is showcased annually by the SkillBuild competition. This year’s national final will be held in Milton Keynes.

• Showcasing the skills and prowess of those who have already been working on site for some time is the role of the NHBC’s Pride in the Job Awards. The winners of the first round have been announced and we congratulate them all.

• Hand-in-hand with health and safety on site goes sustainability. The drive towards net-zero carbon applies as much to the building site as it does to the buildings themselves. The latest string to the CLC’s CO2nstruct Zero programme’s bow is the Zero Diesel Sites Route Map. Its aspiration is to see the use of diesel on sites reduced by 78% by 2035. q

Chris Stokes Editor, Construction National

RESEARCH GRANT AIMS TO DEVELOP TIDAL POWER

[

RESEARCHERS WORKING to cut carbon emissions and boost energy security using tidal stream power are set to benefit from a £7m investment by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The project, Co-design to deliver Scalable Tidal Stream Energy (CoTide), will bring together three multidisciplinary teams from the universities of Oxford, Edinburgh and Strathclyde. The group will work to make renewable energy generation from ocean tides cheaper, more reliable and scalable.

Achieving the UK’s target to reach net zero by 2050 requires the decarbonisation of all our energy supplies and a huge expansion of renewable generation from the current 50GW to 120-300GW, the EPSRC says. The powerful tides that surround the UK remain underutilised but have huge potential as a source of greener power that could make a significant contribution to that goal. Plus, unlike the wind and the sun, tides ebb and flow at predictable times every day and so have the advantage that they can provide power that is both renewable and reliable.

World-class engineering

The CoTide project will be led by the University of Oxford’s Professor of Engineering Science, Richard Willden. He explained: “We have a huge opportunity as a country to harness the powerful tides that surround us and use innovative engineering to develop greater energy security and clean energy to help us meet our 2050 net-zero goals. This EPSRC investment in CoTide allows us to bring together worldclass engineering expertise and drive forward the kind of creative, collaborative research that will ensure the UK remains a world-leader in tidal stream development and deployment.”

Benefits of tidal stream turbines

Unlike more traditional tidal barrages and tidal lagoons that require

turbines to be installed in structures such as dams or sea walls, tidal stream turbines are fixed directly out at sea in the line of the strongest, most suitable tidal flows. They are cheaper to build and install, and crucially have less of an environmental impact.

But technical challenges remain and tidal stream systems require careful design to maximise power while providing reliability in hostile marine environments characterised by corrosive seawater and unsteady loading caused by waves, turbulence and sheared flows. To tackle that the CoTide team includes a spectrum of expertise in all relevant areas.

Sue Barr, chair of the UK Marine Energy Council, commented: “In order for tidal stream energy to become more competitive, we need real step changes in system performance, reliability metrics and scalability of the technology. This will require integrated tools which can be utilised by the sector to not only improve performance, but also increase confidence for investors and guarantors.” q

WEST YORKS BUSINESS PARK DEVELOPMENT GOES TO TENDER

CALDERDALE COUNCIL in West Yorkshire is moving forward with its longstanding ambition to transform a large site in Clifton, near Brighouse, into a thriving business park creating 1,300 jobs.

The council has been seeking funds to make the land viable for sustainable development. Following unsuccessful bids for the government’s Levelling Up Fund grants, the council has now launched a tender to potentially bring a specialist developer on board as a partner with expertise to ensure the delivery of commercial units at Clifton Business Park.

If the tender process results in a suitable joint venture, the developer would work alongside the council to finance and manage the design, planning, construction and marketing of the scheme. They would work together to explore ways to maximise the value of the scheme and combine their individual expertise to deliver maximum benefit to local and regional businesses.

The site already has planning permission and there is high demand from businesses to locate there, not least because of its

proximity to the M62. There is also a strong local workforce and Brighouse town centre nearby. As an Enterprise Zone, Clifton could be transformational, making a large impact across the entire borough and West Yorkshire region. Enterprise Zones are designated areas aimed at new and expanding firms that provide tax breaks and government support.

Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s leader, said: “We want people to feel pride in the place where they live and do business, and a key part of this is the council’s commitment to support all parts of Calderdale

to thrive. We also want to build on our borough’s strong contribution to the wider West Yorkshire economy.

“The proposed Clifton Business Park – a major regeneration project – aims to do just that. It’s an example of our ambition for Calderdale, and our aim to make things happen in line with our Vision 2024 for Calderdale and the Local Plan.

“The site has the potential to create 1,300 high-quality new jobs for Calderdale and West Yorkshire, attract significant investment and new businesses into Brighouse, support our inclusive economic recovery through sustainable development and add to local climate action through new walking and cycling routes, trees and plants.

“So, we’re being bold and saying Clifton is worth investing in. We’re determined to make the Business Park a reality through an enterprising new route, exploring the option of bringing in an external partner with expertise in moving sites like this forward.”

Work will progress throughout the year to consider tender responses and confirm whether a joint venture is appropriate. q

Photo courtesy of University of Oxford

RIBA ANNOUNCES ITS NATIONAL AWARDS FOR 2023

[ON 22 JUNE the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced the 30 winners of the 2023 RIBA National Awards for architecture. The awards, which have been presented since 1966, recognise the UK’s best new buildings and provide insight into the country’s architecture, design and social trends. The 2023 awards are sponsored by Forterra.

From an intricately patterned extension to a listed synagogue that is the Manchester Jewish Museum (pictured) and a fish bone-shaped bridge in a community park – Swing Bridge – to the remodelling of a theatre to create an immersive cabaret experience in The Kit Kat Club, this year’s winning projects showcase the extraordinary breadth and brilliance of UK architecture today.

Key themes among this year’s award winners include building communities in a post-pandemic world and modelling sustainability.

Building communities in a post-pandemic world

This year’s awards feature a range of generous buildings that enrich their communities, creating opportunities for people to connect.

The University of Warwick’s Faculty of Arts brings students from all arts disciplines together under one roof for the first time, offering dynamic and open spaces that foster collaboration. The John Morden Centre in Greenwich provides older people with homes, stimulating social spaces and care facilities, and in north east London, Lea Bridge Library Pavilion extends an Edwardian public library to provide an engaging new community café space overlooking a garden.

In Birmingham, a development of mews houses enclose a communal garden, deliberately blurring the boundary between private and public space to promote a sense of community. In east London, an innovative and affordable live/work model provides resident artists with spaces to deliver free creative programmes for the neighbourhood.

The refurbishment and extension of a gym in London’s Holborn has created a more accessible and visible community building and two award winners form part of a wider regeneration plan in London’s Camden: Central Somers Town Community Facilities and Housing includes a post-school club and adventure playground, while Edith Neville Primary School replaces a dilapidated 1970s building and extends the surrounding parkland.

Modelling sustainability

RIBA’s National Awards continue to evolve to encourage best practice in sustainable development. All the projects have been ‘in

use’ for at least one year and have submitted data demonstrating their environmental performance.

Examples of sustainable design and development include the regeneration of the Agar Grove Estate in Camden, described as being ‘on track’ to becoming the UK’s largest Passivhaus scheme. An extension to a traditional 17th-century longhouse set in the Brecon Beacons is an exceptional example of using locally sourced materials and workmanship, designed to minimise environmental impact; and in the historic Woolwich Arsenal a series of Grade Two-listed buildings have been reinvented as a flexible arts venue.

Commenting on the winning projects, RIBA president Simon Allford said: “At this time, when building collaboratively and working towards a sustainable future are paramount, the 2023 RIBA National Award winners offer a rich source of inspiration. Each project looks, in its own way, to address both its client brief and the wider role architecture can play in serving society.

“Among the winners are a number of projects that offer a model for an architecture that is more widely responsible. These buildings intelligently illustrate the potential of well-designed spaces to bring people together and, ultimately, architecture’s power to change our world for the better.

“Our awards are a marker of progressive excellence in sustainable design, very much aligned with our wider commitment to a low carbon future. These are examples of forward thinking and ingenuity that raise the bar for us all.”

The full list of 30 winners are available to view on the RIBA website at www.architecture.com q

NEW DATE SET FOR CIOB AWARDS

[THE SEARCH FOR the construction industry’s most influential managers and leaders is back on as a new date for the coveted CIOB Awards is announced. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) will host the event, formerly known as the Construction Manager of the Year Awards, at London Hilton Metropole on 9 April 2024.

Categories include Client of the Year, Team of the Year and the prestigious Construction Manager of the Year.

Following their introduction in 2022, categories recognising teams and individuals paving the way for sustainability and equality, diversity and inclusion in the industry will also make a return in 2024.

The closing date for entries is 31 August. CIOB will reveal the list of finalists later this year before the winners are announced at the glittering ceremony in London next spring. Anyone who submitted an entry for the postponed 2023 event does not need to enter again.

Caroline Gumble, CEO of CIOB, commented: “The CIOB Awards provide an important platform to cheerlead for our sector and to share the stories of some of the best and brightest built environment professionals.

“I am absolutely delighted that we have now confirmed a new date for the awards and can look forward to celebrating this important industry in the spring next year.

“I know there are many people who are doing amazing and innovative work within construction and I can’t wait to see them recognised and celebrated for their achievements.”

The most recent Construction Manager of the Year award was scooped up by Kier’s Joe O’Connell for his work on Exeter’s St Sidwell’s Point Leisure Centre. The same project saw his team take home the CIOB Team of the Year award. q

HS2’S BIRMINGHAM BRIDGE GRANTED PLANNING CONSENT

[AMID THE TROUBLES besetting HS2, there has been the occasional glimmer of light for the project. One of them has been the granting of Schedule 17 approval for a 150-metre section of viaduct carrying trains into Birmingham’s new Curzon Street Station, including a 25-metre-high truss which will create a new icon on the city’s skyline.

Birmingham City Council have approved the design of the Curzon No 2 viaduct, which will be the tallest structure in the sequence of viaducts and structures that make up the Curzon Street Approaches taking HS2 trains into Birmingham.

The gently-curved truss in weathering steel will carry HS2 over the Victorian brick rail viaduct below, and will reach 40 metres into the air, resting at least 17 metres above the ground. The bridge will carry three parallel high speed rail tracks over the existing east-west rail line. Closer to Curzon Street, the tracks will split further to serve the seven platforms being built at the station.

A major light artwork by British artist Liz West will introduce a dynamic colour palette to the apertures of the steel truss, framing views of the city. Entitled Out of the Blue, the artwork will establish the bridge as a stunning feature of the city’s landscape at night, when the artwork will come to life. The council has asked HS2 to develop the proposals detailed in the art strategy to enable a separate Schedule 17 submission.

HS2 Ltd’s design director Kay Hughes said: “We’re thrilled that our design for the Curzon No 2 Viaduct has been approved by Birmingham City Council, which marks another significant milestone for the HS2 project in the West Midlands.

“We took an ambitious approach to create an iconic structure for the city, working with leading contemporary artist Liz West and our architects to create a distinctive light installation which will provide a fitting addition to the Birmingham skyline.”

Nick McGough, lead architect for the Balfour

Beatty VINCI Design Joint Venture, said: “We wanted our design to reference the area’s industrial heritage whilst embracing the continuing evolution of Digbeth as the city’s Creative Quarter. We’re delighted that the bridge design has been approved and look forward to continuing our collaboration with the artist Liz West and our on-going dialogue with the council to develop the detail of the light installation which, when complete, will form Birmingham’s largest public artwork.”

The truss bridge will be light but strong, composed of connected elements that form triangular units and constructed using a relatively small amount of material. It has been designed to ‘wrap’ around the viaduct, extending the bottom of the steel to wrap underneath the viaduct deck and forming a visual connection to the steel girders of the adjacent structures. The nodes where the diagonal members meet will have curved corners to provide longevity to the steelwork whilst softening the silhouette of the bridge. q

GET SNAPPING! ICE WALES LAUNCHES PHOTO COMP

[ BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS have been challenged to capture and celebrate Welsh civil engineering projects on construction sites or the built environment. The yearly photo competition organised by ICE Wales Cymru encourages ICE members and the public to photograph interesting or unique buildings, bridges, construction sites and projects.

In keeping with the institution’s focus on working towards net-zero carbon, a new category has been introduced in the competition: projects that were restored, reused or recycled in their creation.

Judges have been nominated to browse through entries which last year hit an all-time high. Among them is head judge Adam Johnson, principal engineer at Mott MacDonald, who noted the ‘extremely good’ standard and variety of photographs received last year.

“This competition provides a unique window on civil engineering in all its forms in Wales and much is expected from entrants in 2023!” he commented. Mott MacDonald has joined AECOM and Arup as sponsors of the competition.

Entry is free, with top prizes of £100 on offer for the best photos. Creative compositions of places discovered on the photographer’s travels are also welcome.

Submissions should be sent with the entrant’s name, contact details and a title for the photo to wales.cymru@ice.org.uk . Multiple entries are allowed.

The deadline for entries is Friday 8 September 2023. q

The 2022 winning photo by Cai Newell Jones depicts three bridges spanning the River Dovey

NORDIC ROYAL BEACON SHINES BRIGHTLY

[IRELAND’S FIRST Tibetan Buddhist temple has taken a step towards completion with the installation of distinctive tiered roofs clad in Nordic Royal – an innovative golden copper alloy from Aurubis.

At the heart of the Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Meditation Centre on the Beara Peninsula overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in West Cork, the new building was designed in the style of a traditional Tibetan temple acting as an inspiring symbol of the Buddha’s teachings.

The temple is built over three floors, each defined by a Nordic Royal clad roof with a curved profile and deep overhanging eaves. Dragon heads and other sacred ornaments, hand-crafted from copper in northern India then gilded with gold leaf by members of the Dzogchen Beara community, adorn projecting corners and the top roof ridge.

Leon Rossiter, one of the directors who headed up the temple project, explained: “We trialled different styles of copper facing our harsh marine environment for 18 months. Only the Nordic Royal delivered just what we were looking for. We couldn’t have achieved the look of the temple’s roofs if we had used any other material.”

The stunning new copper roofs will be seen for miles along the coastline and from boats at sea.

Innovative copper alloy

The Nordic Royal roofs have been installed using traditional, hand-crafted techniques. All the craftspeople involved were locally based, including Wychbro Coppersmiths from Clonakilty, Stroker Fabrications from Enniskeane and the main contractor Beara Building Services from Eyeries.

The local area also has long historical links with copper. The nearby Allihies Copper Mine Museum presented Dzogchen Beara Temple with one of two surviving copper ingots mined deep beneath the area during the 1800s. This was inserted for posterity into the main sacred ornament on top of the temple at a special ceremony.

Nordic Royal is an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, giving it a rich golden throughcolour and making it very stable. It has a thin

protective oxide layer containing all three alloy elements when produced. As a result, the surface retains its colour and simply loses some of its sheen over time, as the oxide layer thickens with exposure to the atmosphere to give a matt finish.

Extensive architectural range

The Nordic Copper range of architectural copper and alloy products is available from Aurubis, part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler. It includes Nordic Standard mill finish and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper offering lighter or darker shades of brown determined by the thickness of the oxide layer.

The extensive Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise ranges have been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. As well as the solid patina colours, ‘living’ surfaces are available for each with other intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material. In addition to Nordic Royal, other copper alloys include Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass which can be preweathered. q

• A growing series of on-line ‘copper stories’ showcase the diversity of surfaces, forms and applications available with Nordic Copper today for all architectural typologies. For more information visit www.nordiccopper.com or email NordicCopper@aurubis.com

Photo: Leon Rossiter

Photo: Derek Corr

PARTNERSHIP IS SET TO PROPEL GENESIS TO NEW HEIGHTS

[IN A GROUNDBREAKING MOVE set to transform the powered access equipment market, Genesis Equipment Sales, a part of the esteemed Ballyvesey Holdings Group, has made an immediate impact as the exclusive authorised distributor for XCMG Access Equipment in the United Kingdom.

The newly-launched company aims to provide a comprehensive range of high-quality powered access solutions for construction companies and businesses across various other sectors such as TV and film studios. With their presence at industry-leading exhibitions – including Plantworx, APEX and Vertikal Days – Genesis Equipment Sales is already experiencing significant success and has generated a palpable buzz within the industry.

Genesis Equipment Sales specialises in offering a diverse portfolio of powered access equipment, including telehandlers, forklifts, scissor lifts, articulated booms, telescopic booms and other mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). The cutting-edge machines are designed to enhance efficiency, productivity and safety in various work environments, particularly in sectors that require access to elevated areas.

One of the key factors that sets Genesis Equipment Sales apart is their partnership with XCMG, a renowned Chinese manufacturer with a global reputation for supplying innovative and reliable equipment. As the sole authorised distributor for XCMG Access Equipment in the UK, Genesis Equipment Sales proudly brings the superior quality, advanced features and technological prowess of XCMG’s products to the UK market.

The launch of Genesis Equipment Sales has been met with tremendous enthusiasm and a positive reception within the industry. The company’s presence at Plantworx, APEX and Vertikal Days provided an exceptional platform for industry professionals to witness at first hand the exceptional performance and capabilities of their equipment range. Visitors were impressed by the extensive selection of state-of-the-art machinery and the unwavering commitment of Genesis Equipment Sales to customer satisfaction.

Speaking about the launch, Genesis managing director Mark Kennedy expressed excitement for the future: “We are thrilled to introduce Genesis Equipment Sales as the sole distributor for XCMG Access Equipment in the UK,” he said. “Our mission is to provide our customers with top-of-theline powered access solutions that revolutionise their operations, enhance productivity and prioritise safety. We are committed to delivering exceptional customer service, expert advice and a reliable supply chain to ensure our clients have the best possible experience.”

Beyond the construction sector, Genesis Equipment Sales recognises the growing demand for powered access equipment in other industries, such as TV and film studios. Those dynamic sectors often require versatile equipment

that can facilitate the safe movement of personnel, cameras, lighting and other equipment at various heights. By catering to those specific needs Genesis Equipment Sales aims to become a trusted partner for businesses involved in the entertainment industry, ensuring seamless operations and optimal safety standards.

As Genesis Equipment Sales embarks on its journey, the company is devoted to supporting its customers throughout the entire equipment lifecycle. That commitment encompasses services such as equipment maintenance, repairs, spare parts and comprehensive training programmes. By providing on-going support, Genesis Equipment Sales ensures that clients maximise the longevity, reliability and value of their powered access equipment investments.

Looking ahead, Genesis Equipment Sales aims to become a dominant force in the powered access equipment market. The company will continue to expand its customer base by building lasting relationships, exploring strategic partnerships and actively participating in industry events. By prioritising innovation, quality and customer satisfaction, Genesis Equipment Sales aims to revolutionise the way businesses across the UK approach their powered access needs.

With the successful launch and the positive response received from industry professionals, Genesis Equipment Sales is well on its way to transforming the powered access equipment landscape in the UK. Their partnership with XCMG, commitment to customer service and dedication to excellence position them as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

As businesses and construction companies across the UK seek reliable, efficient and cutting-edge powered access solutions, Genesis Equipment Sales stands ready to provide the answers they need. q

(L-R) Eden Qiao of XCMG, Mark Kennedy of Genesis, along with Hans Aarse and Edwin van der Laar of XCMG

2023 SAFETY REPORT SHOWS REDUCTION IN ACCIDENTS

[THE LATEST NASC SAFETY REPORT reveals the lowest accident incident rate (AIR) and accident frequency rate (AFR) since they began tracking data in 1975 – even with a 10% year-on-year rise in scaffolders surveyed, totalling 17,315 operatives – proving regulated, audited membership makes for safer scaffolding.

It is a criterion of NASC contracting membership to supply the trade body with official accident and injury statistics year on year. These are compiled into the conclusive report which features all the data and analysis, accessible for everyone to see, along with a speech from new NASC president David Brown.

The 2023 Safety Report indisputably proves that audited, regulated NASC membership leads to safe scaffolding and access operations.

The organisation’s 240-plus contracting member firms recorded a reduction in RIDDORs from 90 in 2021 to 67 in 2022. That represents a 26% RIDDOR accident rate reduction in 2022 – with a 63% reduction in the 16-20 age bracket – despite the 10% rise in scaffolding workforce numbers.

The 2023 NASC Safety Report also revealed the lowest accident incident rate and accident frequency rate – of 3.87 and 0.20 respectively – since data started being collected back in 1975, resulting in even more NASC member company employees working without incident or harm at work.

NASC president David Brown, of IBN Scaffold Access Ltd, said: “We are fast approaching our 80th anniversary in 2025 and when we look back on our previous years, the figures for 2022 speak for themselves –proving that our members are proactive in their approach to improving health and safety for their employees and also for the wider construction industry who use our scaffolds on a daily basis.

“All contractor members are continually audited to ensure the highest health and safety standards, which is borne out by the annual accident statistics which have shown an overall reduction in RIDDOR accidents this year. And it is especially pleasing to see a 63% reduction in injuries to the 16-20 age bracket, which shows the importance of arranging early CISRS training, such as COTS, for trainees and labourers.

“And the NASC’s updated SG6 User Guide on manual handling should assist in reducing incidents further. I’d like to thank each and every one

of our NASC members for sending in their accident returns in order to produce the 2023 NASC Safety Report and their continuing efforts in preventing harm.”

NASC managing director Dave Mosley said: “Another safety report and another year of data that proves that our strictly audited, highly regulated, well trained and proactive membership operate in the safest possible manner – proving why main contractors should only specify NASC member companies, who are fully transparent with their accident data.”

NASC health and safety manager Steve Kearney added: “We can all be very proud of the work that the NASC and its contracting members are doing to make this safety critical industry safer, day by day – ultimately meaning more people work on and safely go home from NASC membership scaffolding structures. It’s great news for the sector.” q

• The 2023 NASC Safety Report is available to view on the NASC website at nasc.org.uk/information/ safety-reports/ Should you like to receive a printed version contact the office on 020 7822 7400 or by emailing enquiries@nasc.org.uk

NASC UNVEILS ENHANCED SG6 USER GUIDE

[ THE National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has unveiled the updated SG6 User Guide , reaffirming its commitment to improving safety standards in construction.

The comprehensive guide highlights safe manual handling practices and reduces the risk of slips and trips on construction sites.

As the leading trade body in the scaffolding and access sector, NASC plays a crucial role in enhancing the industry.

The refreshed SG6 User Guide features captivating illustrations and provides detailed instructions for safe manual handling. It also highlights the importance of considering other NASC guidance documents – such as SG5, SG31 and SG34 – to ensure comprehensive risk assessment.

Priority access to the updated SG6 User Guide has been granted to NASC members, who receive hardcopies of the pocket guide and also benefit from exclusive networking opportunities, industry insights and comprehensive support, including grants, legal advice and advertising opportunities. By reinforcing safety and efficiency, NASC continues to demonstrate its pivotal role in the industry. Employers and professionals are encouraged to join NASC and tap into the offered benefits, positioning themselves at the forefront of best practices for a safer and prosperous future. q

NASC WINS ‘BEST HEALTH & SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION’ AT SHE AWARDS

[ RUN IN CONJUNCTION with the long-established British Safety Industry Federation Awards by Western Business Media Limited – publishers of Health Safety Matters and HSM Magazine – the SHE Awards ‘celebrate innovation and achievements in the British health and safety industry’.

The 550-strong attended awards ceremony was billed as ‘promoting the importance of innovation and underlining the highest standards of excellence within occupational safety and health’.

NASC health and safety manager Steve Kearney entered the UK’s longest standing scaffolding trade body in the category for Best Health & Safety in Construction for its positive work publishing industry standard-setting technical and core safety guidance notes such as:

• TG20:21 Good Practice Guide for Tube & Fitting

• Scaffolding

• SG4:22 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations

• SG6:22 Management of Manual Handling in the

• Scaffolding Industry.

The work of the NASC and its 480-plus member companies in supporting health and safety best practice was also singled out – creating access to £280,000 of training grants, publishing over 100 toolbox talks, granting SSIP accreditation and offering specialist advice on health and safety, technical matters, employment, net zero, taxation, legal issues, contractual issues, credit checks and debt recovery, to name but some from the award entry application.

Speaking about the award win, acting NASC managing director Dave Mosley said: “It’s absolutely fantastic for the NASC to win this award. Championing health and safety within the scaffolding and wider construction sector is our whole raison d’être and it’s marvellous to get recognition for the efforts of the hard-working NASC staff, working parties, committees and scaffold sector experts that make this fine organisation what it is.”

Steve Kearney added: “The NASC works tirelessly throughout the year to produce standard-setting health and safety, technical, contractual, environmental and other such guidance for its members and the whole construction industry. Our guidance helps to keep people safe, it’s great that this has been acknowledged by the wider health and safety industry. The work matters. It’s nice for that to be acknowledged by the health and safety industry.”

The NASC saw off competition from Jarvis Contracting and the Stockport Homes Group to take the title in Best Health & Safety in Construction. q

• The SG6 User Guide is available to non-members for purchase via NASC’s online shop. To explore NASC membership benefits visit the NASC website or contact the membership team directly

(L-R) Dave Mosley, acting managing director of NASC; Sophie Price, marketing manager at NASC; Alan Harris, CEO of Pro-Fix Access Ltd; and Steve Kearney, NASC health and safety officer

CONSTRUCTION COLLEGE MIDLANDS

LAUNCHES STATE-OF-THE-ART £1M SCAFFOLDING TRAINING FACILITY

[ IN A LANDMARK MOVE towards promoting sustainable practices in the construction industry, Construction College Midlands (CCM) has officially launched a state-of-the-art £1m scaffolding training facility and an innovative suite of green skills courses.

That significant investment is coupled with the introduction of several pioneering ‘green courses’, marking the college’s commitment to sustainable practices in the construction industry.

The upgraded facility enables the college to provide additional capacity for apprenticeships and a wide range of CISRS courses.

CISRS auditor Trevor Donoghue attended the launch event and said: “The event was a huge success and the new building is very impressive and a great addition to CISRS delivery at the centre. Additional training capacity is always very welcome and shows that the scheme is in high demand in the Midlands region.” q

• CISRS course details at the training centre can be found by visiting www.constructioncollege.co.uk

TONY BARRY APPOINTED

AS CISRS COMPLIANCE

DIRECTOR

[CISRS are very pleased to have announced the appointment of Tony Barry as CISRS compliance director, after joining the CISRS board in April.

Tony has worked as CISRS compliance manager since July 2021 and has quickly become an integral part of the team. His depth of knowledge and experience within the industry and its recognised training scheme have seen him quickly rise to board level.

Tony’s role is to ensure that the CISRS training scheme courses remain relevant, robust, cost effective and fit for purpose. He has been heavily involved in the recent review and development of the Scaffolding Apprentice Standard working with IFATE and the industry trailblazer group.

He has over 40 years experience: 23 years as a working CISRS scaffolder, supervisor and manager, and 20 years with the Construction Industry Training Board’s National Construction College as an instructor, assessor and national scaffolding training programme manager for access and rigging training. q

UNSAFE LADDERS ARE STILL ON SALE IN UK, RESEARCH FINDS

[UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ladders continue to be sold online to unsuspecting consumers in the UK, according to a new safety report from the Ladder Association.

The latest report is a follow on from the telescopic ladder market surveillance report undertaken by the Ladder Association last year, which found that over 80% of commercially-available telescopic ladders tested failed to meet the minimum safety requirements designed to keep users safe. Worse still, the research found over half of the failed ladders were marked and sold as ‘compliant’ in a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers.

Despite on-going campaigning, no action has been taken to improve the problem. In a bid to see if the retailers have addressed the issue, the Ladder Association re-tested a proportion of the same products from last year’s study, bought from some of the world’s best-known online retailers.

Following identical testing procedures, every set of telescopic ladders failed the required safety tests, meaning they are non-compliant and dangerous, and proving that the earlier failures were not ‘one-offs’. The latest study also

FEDERATION CELEBRATES FOUR DECADES OF REPRESENTING POWERED ACCESS SECTOR

MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF IPAF – the International Powered Access Federation – have been invited to share their industry memories, featuring favourite moments, innovations and influential people from the past four decades, as part of the federation’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

IPAF officially launched its 40th anniversary celebrations at the IPAF Summit in Berlin in April by screening a short film featuring reminiscences from IPAF CEOs past and present, including IPAF’s founder Paul Adorian who has published a memoir, Don’t Look Down, about his life in powered access.

Meanwhile, 16-17 November have been confirmed as the dates for IPAF Elevation 2023 to take place at the Belfry Hotel and Resort in the West Midlands. The event will bring together the IPAF community in celebration of this special year and will include a networking lunch, a half-day conference, a drinks reception, a gala dinner with entertainment and a special par or spa option the following day.

IPAF has also announced it has reviewed and modified its mission to ‘promote the safe and effective use of powered access’, to ensure it is still relevant after 40 years.

Peter Douglas, CEO and managing director of IPAF, said: “While we think it is still absolutely relevant, we’ve updated it with the addition of the word ‘enable’, as we feel this better reflects the work IPAF does in 2023. So, our updated mission is to ‘promote and enable the safe and effective use of powered access worldwide’.

“In terms of helping IPAF to celebrate this very auspicious year in our history we would be delighted if you can join us later this year at the Belfry for Elevation 2023; and in the meantime we’d love to hear your key memories from across the past four decades in powered access. Simply post on your preferred social media platform using the hashtag #IPAF40. IPAF will share these and feature a selection of your memories at IPAF events throughout 2023.”

Over the past 40 years, IPAF’s membership has risen to more than 1,650 members worldwide, expanding to 80 territories. IPAF has launched a range of global targeted safety campaigns, based on data collected via the IPAF Accident Reporting portal.

The campaigns promote awareness of specific hazards involved in operating MEWPs and aim to significantly reduce the most common types of accidents, such as falls from the platform, electrocutions, entrapments and MEWP overturns. q

found over 80% of the ladders re-tested claimed to be compliant with product standard EN 131 – but not one of the products met the standard.

As things stand, online marketplaces selling products supplied by thirdparty sellers have no responsibility to prevent unsafe goods being sold on their platforms and no legal obligation to inform consumers if they have purchased unsafe goods. That gives rogue manufacturers and suppliers based anywhere in the world free rein to sell unsafe – and in worst cases deadly – products direct to unsuspecting consumers in the UK. In many cases no checks are being made at all before consumers receive the products and use them at home.

The Ladder Association points out that working at height can be risky enough, without the additional danger of poor-quality ladders: every 11 minutes in the UK someone attends A&E after sustaining an injury involving a ladder. A fall from height can cause life changing injury, and in some cases, can even be fatal.

Peter Bennett OBE, executive director of the Ladder Association, commented: “The Ladder Association is calling for the government to step in urgently to make regulatory changes to hold suppliers and online platforms accountable for ensuring the products they sell are compliant and safe to use…if you think the ladder is unsafe or dangerous don’t use it!” q

NEW STANDARD SHOULD ACCELERATE THE MOVE TO PERMEABLE PAVING

SuDS

[THE 2010 Flood and Water Management Act included provisions for mandatory sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) on developments, controlled by local authority SuDS Approval Bodies (SABs). But the provisions were not implemented at the time in England under Schedule 3 of the Act – although they were in Wales – relying instead on planning policies for flood protection.

Finding itself under mounting pressure and recognising that the planning-based system has not worked, government is now moving towards implementing Schedule 3 in England to make SuDS mandatory, as announced in a review from Defra in January. Public consultation later this year will help to shape the new approach, with implementation expected during 2024.

National SuDS Standards and other related changes will then be applied to England and SABs will be set up within unitary authorities or county councils. SAB approval will be required before construction of drainage systems on new and redeveloped sites – except single buildings or permitted development under 100m2 – or connection to public sewers. That is an important step forward, not just in the fight against flooding but also in enabling the numerous multifunctional benefits of well-designed SuDS to be realised, particularly in response to climate change.

An exemplar project

To demonstrate the government’s SuDS approach, Defra’s report cited one particular project as an exemplar: Lamb Drove in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire (pictured) – a monitored SuDS demonstration project. An Interpave case study on the innovative scheme is available at www.paving.org.uk

Completed in 2006, Lamb Drove is a 35-home development on a onehectare site, with a conventional layout but still delivering SuDS. It was

compared with a similar, neighbouring development using piped drainage.

Lamb Drove demonstrates various techniques to collect, clean, convey and infiltrate or store and release water at greenfield runoff rates – two litres per second per hectare – from development to watercourses or sewers. The design is regarded as two discrete sub-catchments, each with a micro-catchment of concrete block permeable paved roads: all managed by flow control chambers. That enables full storage within landscape features and permeable paving, while roof-water discharges directly to green space.

Lamb Drove has an integrated SuDS system with predictable performance and is still operating successfully today. The monitoring report highlights lower capital costs – saving £314 per property at the time – and lower maintenance costs, with potential for further improvements and savings. It identifies that the scheme successfully attenuates surface water flows and significantly reduces peak flows, with reductions in concentrations of pollutants and other water quality indicators, and with an increase in wildlife species and diversity.

The report also confirms that with only minimal maintenance: “The permeable pavement infiltration study specifically illustrates the robustness of the performance of this feature to limited maintenance. The infiltration capacity of the permeable pavement is able to adequately cope with the highest recorded rainfall intensity at the study site.”

Paving renewal and replacement

The welcome move towards wider use of permeable surfaces will also help to reverse the ‘sealing-up’ of our towns and cities, highlighted in a November 2022 National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) report on reducing flooding from surface water. It recommends urgent action to move away from impermeable surfaces, both for new developments and in existing settings. The NIC is an executive agency of the Treasury and provides government with

The wider application of concrete block permeable paving to reverse the ‘sealing-up’ of our towns and cities is being presaged by imminent

requirements on developments, as well as action on the renewal of existing impermeable paving, as Interpave’s Chris Hodson explains.

impartial, expert advice on major long-term infrastructure challenges including water, drainage and flood risk management.

The NIC report highlights that, currently, around 325,000 properties in England are in areas at the highest risk – those with more than 60% chance of surface water flooding – in the next 30 years; and that, without action, up to 295,000 more properties could also be put at risk.

The report aims to ensure that: “We should not let surface water flooding continue as a stealth threat. We have the means to address it – what’s largely

required is impetus for a range of bodies to act, and better co-ordination between them.”

The NIC also recognises that, by 2055, some 50,000-65,000 properties may be put in areas at high risk due to ‘unplanned’ increases in impermeable surfaces, such as front gardens being paved over – which increase the volume of water entering drainage.

Although permitted development rights for replacement or new paving around existing homes and some other properties have been removed for impermeable surfaces for some time, enforcement and compliance have been limited.

So a review is recommended of options for managing unplanned increases in impermeable surfaces and potential policy changes to prevent it adding to the problem. In addition, some water companies already apply ‘area-based charging’ to commercial properties where impermeable paving drains to sewers; and Ofwat is encouraging trials with residential customers as well. Clearly, we shall soon see a much wider application of permeable surfaces – notably concrete block permeable paving – reversing the sealing-up of urban areas.

The key to SuDS

Having proven itself over decades of successful use around the world, concrete block permeable paving is unique as a SuDS technique in combining proven engineering design solutions with nature-based water management near the surface. Replacing the impermeable surfaces that cause the run-off issues SuDS seek to address, it not only provides a particularly useful source control technique at the head of a SuDS ‘management train’, but also achieves all four required pillars of SuDS: Quantity…Quality…Amenity…Biodiversity.

Of course, safe and attractive hard surfaces are needed in any development; but concrete block permeable paving offers the potential for multifunctionality and integration with SuDS, without additional land-take. Its unique capabilities offer the potential of a gradual supply of clean, treated water for safe, open SuDS features, landscapes and amenity. It can also meet the latest planning requirements for street trees with long-term maintenance, providing diffuse rainwater infiltration and retention, plus free air movement to roots without surface disruption. q

• For more information on Interpave, the trade association for modular concrete paving, visit www.paving.org.uk

Plan courtesy of Robert Bray Associates

Photos courtesy of Chris Hodson

PERMEABLE RESIN-BOUND PAVING IS THE IDEAL CHOICE FOR SUDS IN DEVELOPMENTS

[A POPULAR AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTION in the field of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) is SureSet resin-bound paving. SuDS are designed to mimic natural drainage processes, reducing the risk of flooding and pollution caused by traditional impermeable surfaces. As a porous paving material, SureSet resin-bound paving offers an excellent SuDS solution, while adhering to new standards in the construction industry.

SureSet resin-bound paving is made by combining high-quality aggregates with a UV-stable resin binder. That results in a durable, smooth and visually appealing surface that allows water to permeate through to the ground beneath. The permeable nature of SureSet paving helps to manage surface water run-off effectively, reducing the pressure on existing drainage systems. It also filters pollutants, preventing them from entering watercourses and protecting the environment.

The use of SuDS is increasingly becoming mandatory in many construction projects, with local authorities and regulatory bodies imposing strict regulations to mitigate the impact of urbanisation on water management. SureSet resin-bound paving meets those requirements by providing a sustainable and environmentally-friendly solution. It complies with the principles of SuDS by allowing water to infiltrate, attenuate and cleanse the site naturally, minimising the risk of flooding and reducing pollution.

Furthermore, new standards in the construction industry are emphasising the importance of sustainable practices and materials. SureSet resin-bound paving aligns with those standards by offering a longlasting and low-maintenance solution. Its permeable nature reduces the need for additional drainage infrastructure, saving costs and resources.

The durability of SureSet paving means it can withstand heavy traffic loads, making it suitable for various applications such as car parks, footpaths and public spaces.

In addition to its functional benefits, SureSet resin-bound paving also offers aesthetic versatility. With a wide range of aggregate colours and textures available, it can be customised to suit any design requirement, enhancing the visual appeal of a project.

Overall, SureSet resin-bound paving is an excellent choice for SuDS and construction projects seeking to meet the mandatory standards for sustainable drainage and environmental impact reduction. Its permeable properties, durability, low maintenance requirements and aesthetic versatility make it a reliable and environmentally-conscious option in the construction industry. q

• For more information email mail@sureset.co.uk, tel 01985 841180, or visit www.sureset.co.uk

NHBC ANNOUNCES PIJ FIRST ROUND WINNERS FOR 2023

[ THE BEST SITE MANAGERS across the UK are being recognised for their proven dedication and making a mark after winning a Quality Award in the annual NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. The Pride in the Job Awards celebrate the very best UK site managers and their commitment to raising standards in housebuilding.

Running for 43 years, the accolade – which is awarded by the UK's leading new homes warranty and insurance provider – is the most highly regarded in the housebuilding industry and a prestigious benchmark for exceptional site managers. With only 444 winners selected out of over 8,000 entrants across the UK, the recipients are among the country's best housebuilders.

Pride in the Job covers England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. NHBC automatically enters every site manager with a site registered for a Buildmark warranty into the competition. There are no entry fees or forms.

Commenting on the awards, NHBC CEO Steve Wood said: "Congratulations to all the winners who should feel proud to have received a Pride in the Job Award. Pride in the Job is firmly at the heart of NHBC's mission to raise standards in the housebuilding industry. It is important we recognise the vital role site managers play in ensuring new homes are delivered on time, on safe sites and to exacting construction quality standards. This accolade recognises the best site managers across the UK and celebrates how much all the winners have inspired their teams by going the extra mile to deliver homes of the highest quality."

Judging for the awards is rigorous, with the current competition beginning in July last year. Each site manager is assessed across six key areas: consistency, attention to detail, leadership, interpretation of drawings and specifications, technical expertise and health and safety. Thousands of site inspections and meticulous scoring and verifications have taken place to decide the winning site managers.

The flagship competition has a variety of categories: three for different sized businesses – small, medium and large housebuilders – plus a multi-storey category where site managers are working on projects up to seven storeys for multiple occupancy and finally the high-rise category for multiple occupancy projects over seven storeys.

The Quality Award winners will now go on to compete for Seal of Excellence and Regional Awards in the autumn, with the national Supreme Award winners unveiled in January 2024. q

RETROFITTING CAMPAIGN TARGETS SCOTLAND’S LEAKY HOMES

[TWO IN EVERY FIVE occupied homes in Scotland do not meet quality standards, with the highest failure rates relating to energy efficiency. Now, construction industry experts are calling on the Scottish Government to develop a long-term, joined-up retrofitting strategy to urgently tackle the problem.

Members of the Scottish Parliament, experts in construction and housing, and school pupils gathered at the Scottish Parliament on 18 May to explore ways to tackle the retrofit challenge now and into the future.

Around 30 people, including Grand Designs presenter Natasha Huq, joined the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) Retrofit Roundtable in Holyrood to discuss the need for a collaborative strategy to improve the energy efficiency of homes and buildings across the country.

Jocelyne Fleming, policy and public affairs officer for CIOB in Scotland, said: “It was encouraging to have cross-party support from MSPs, along with representatives from the construction sector, at our roundtable to discuss the important role retrofitting will play in cutting energy bills and improving the quality and sustainability of the built environment.

"Action to improve the condition and energy efficiency of Scotland’s existing housing stock is urgently needed. Meeting Scotland’s necessarily ambitious housing and decarbonisation targets will not be possible without collaborative, proactive action from government and industry.”

Retrofitting measures reduce heat loss from properties, therefore reducing energy consumption and in turn costs to residents. Less

energy used also means a reduction in carbon emissions from homes which are powered or heated by fossil fuels.

Over two days, and aligning with the roundtable event, pupils from four schools took part in a retrofitting skills workshop outside Holyrood, led by industry organisations and colleges, where they tried their hands at activities including roof slating, thermal imaging and stonemasonry and working with sustainable materials. Presiding Officer for the Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone (pictured above right), also took part.

The construction sector constantly struggles to recruit and retain enough skilled people to meet demand, and it is widely recognised that any strategy on retrofitting will need to start with a co-ordinated approach to recruiting, training and retaining skilled workers to carry out retrofitting measures.

Gordon MacDonald MSP commented: “If we are to ensure that everyone in Scotland has a warm, safe, affordable and energy-efficient home that meets their needs, our existing housing stock will need to be retrofitted and repaired.

"Creating an environment that makes retrofit projects accessible and affordable to households across Scotland will require collaborative, innovative action. It was great to hear from stakeholders and practitioners from the built environment sector about the challenges they face when retrofitting and preserving buildings and to brainstorm policy solutions to tackle them.” q

PREVENT PEST PROBLEMS: GET PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FROM THE START

[ LEADING PEST CONTROL COMPANY CLEANKILL is seeing a surge in enquiries from developers and construction companies experiencing problems with rats on construction sites.

That is not entirely surprising, explained Cleankill’s technical manager Chris Davis, citing the increase in construction on brownfield sites as a factor.

“Workers often disturb rat habitats when old sewage systems are damaged. The rats will then look for harbourage in other areas of the site or nearby properties. Demolition of buildings with a pest infestation can result in a dispersion of the pests into the surrounding area and them later moving into and infesting the new buildings. Professional pest control advice should be sought before demolition or construction starts,” Chris stressed.

Construction taking place in the countryside, where there are new housing developments, may also disturb and displace many rats by disturbing and destroying their burrows.

In its guidance document Pest minimisation: Best Practice for the construction industry, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health says that developers and construction contractors should employ qualified pest control professionals to develop and follow safe, effective and environmentally responsible pest management strategies. That is an important part of ensuring a safe working environment for employees, contractors and others who may be affected by the work, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Pests including birds, mosquitoes, squirrels and mice, as well as rats, can spread diseases such as salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, ornithosis and leptospirosis.

Planning and design

Rodents can have a serious structural and financial impact on buildings – damaging thermal insulation, electrical wiring and drainage systems. The aesthetics of new buildings can also be rapidly spoiled by bird fouling. Architects and building designers need to recognise and take into account pest minimisation and management issues in the design of their projects.

The design of new property should not have points of pest ingress and harbourage and should consider accessibility for cleaning, sanitation and pest inspection. Suitable pest-proofing like interceptors should be used in drains and earthenware should be used below ground in preference to plastic systems.

Cracks and crevices in floors, walls and ceilings must be avoided or sealed. Supply pipes and cables – such as for gas, electricity, water, computer and telephone – must be tightly sealed where they pass through floors and walls.

Six weeks prior to the commencement of any demolition, the property and the surrounding area should be surveyed by a professional pest controller to identify any infestations. Where infestations are identified, appropriate treatments must be implemented to eliminate infestation before demolition.

Unprotected exposure to the debris arising from bird infestation in disused buildings can result in diseases such as ornithosis. Debris should always be removed by fully trained staff wearing appropriate PPE.

Staff facilities, including canteens, accommodation and toilets, should be constructed and maintained in a clean and hygienic manner and in accordance with relevant regulations and codes of practice. Waste must be stored safely in suitably located, pest-resistant, closable containers and removed frequently.

It is always going to be easier and more environmentally friendly to have buildings designed and constructed to exclude pest activity than to have to eliminate them at a later stage. For example:

• Avoid storing external waste bins too close to the kitchen door as that

• will attract a whole variety of pests, including flies, birds and rodents,

• that will be hard to keep out of the kitchen. Make sure there are

• adequate sealed waste bins available on a hard, flat, cleanable

• surface away from the house.

• Avoid providing large open window and roof ledges where feral

• pigeons and herring gulls can roost.

• Don’t permit areas where standing water can accumulate: that can

• provide breeding areas for midges, mosquitoes and other flies.

• Favour standing plants around the perimeter with open ground cover

• to reduce the potential for rodent and pest hiding places around the

• building.

• Remember that climbing plants may look nice but they also provide

• protection and cover for pests to climb up buildings.

Only a properly qualified pest control operator should be employed to carry out any work required. The usual minimum general qualification in the pest management industry is the RSPH/BPCA Level 2 in Pest Management.

Award-winning Cleankill Pest Control offers eradication and preventative services for all public health, including mice, rats, cockroaches, wasps, fleas, squirrels and pest birds. As a registered waste carrier Cleankill can also remove pigeon debris and other waste.

With offices in Surrey, East Sussex, Bristol and Buckinghamshire, Cleankill operates throughout London, Surrey, Sussex, the Home Counties, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset. q

• For a free survey visit www.cleankill.co.uk

(L-R) Damage to electricity cables by rodents; all drains should be fitted with interceptors to stop rats

CONSTRUCTION NATIONAL WEBSITE AtoZ

Welcome to our A to Z guide of the websites of some of the industry’s leading players. If you are one of our many online readers simply click on any of the logos listed below and you will be automatically directed to that company’s website.

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

Flexible finance options and quick lending decisions

Commercial Canopies and Shelters from the Canopy Experts. www.ablecanopies.co.uk

Speak to us today, we’re here to help. closeasset.co.uk/cn

We’re here to offer flexible funding that works for your construction business aldermore.co.uk/businessfinance

Huck Tek has the experience and expertise to design and install netting solutions to meet your specific requirements. www.hucktek.co.uk

Manufacturer and supplier of top quality scaffold towers www.aluminium-scaffoldtowers.co.uk

Manned Construction Site Security Service. We can provide an integrated, fully insured security solution for your construction, redevelopment or demolition site. www.knight-owl-security.co.uk

The UK’s leading health and safety compliance and accreditation provider www.chas.co.uk

Cream Rises to the Top

www.nasc.org.uk

The recognised UK scaffolding qualification for over 50 years www.cisrs.org.uk

Working within the Construction Industry

• Health & Safety Training • Roofing Training www.nimrod-training.co.uk

Contact Cleankill for

Online Tradesman Search Facility & Directory www.stockporttradesmen.com

NEW FRAMEWORK BRINGS MMCS TO THE FORE IN SOCIAL HOUSING

[A RAFT OF construction sector companies have been named for a £1.2bn public-sector framework to provide thousands of homes using modern methods of construction (MMCs).

The new modular and off-site homes will be delivered under the new Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) New Homes (NH3) Framework of the not-for-profit public sector construction framework provider LHC Procurement Group.

It is designed to help boost the speed and quantity of delivery of the homes required to fulfil housing needs across communities in England, Scotland and Wales.

Dean Fazackerley, head of technical procurement at LHC, explained: “NH3 is a vital addition to support more programmes to build low-carbon, modern homes from housing associations and local authorities across the country. It will adopt MMC and off-site techniques to produce energyefficient homes for the communities they serve.

“Now we are looking to build on the success of our previous framework, NH2, which has so far enabled £93.5m-worth of off-site homes projects with a total forecast value of £277m.

“NH3 has been developed to be a market-leading framework providing a wide range of systems and project delivery models to give public sector organisations the flexibility to deliver MMC projects the way they want. With the range of manufacturers and contractors appointed to this framework, NH3 provides an excellent choice for clients to access a range of MMC solutions and providers and is built to facilitate greater collaboration between suppliers and the public sector.”

NH3 replaces the previous NH2 framework and has been shaped by extensive engagement with housing contractors and manufacturers. It allows for a range of housing types, from low-rise and medium/high-rise through to specialist accommodation such as care homes. The framework also provides for delivery of ‘room in the roof’ projects and adaptive pods.

Dean Fazackerley added: “Through NH3, LHC is looking to support the public sector to increase the use of modern methods of construction and deliver low and net-zero carbon homes with high levels of premanufactured value. It will support social housing providers in addressing some of their new housing challenges around the need for sustainable methods of construction and a greater supply of housing stock that is environmentally fit for the future.

NH3 fulfils a key LHC guiding principle to increase the public sector’s access to regional and local supply chains, encouraging SME involvement and driving economic uplift to regional areas.

Covering the full range of MMC categories, the workstreams covered by NH3 are:

• Workstream 1 - Three-dimensional (3D) modular systems, category 1

• Workstream 2 – Two-dimensional (2D) panelised systems, category 2

• Workstream 3 – Main contractors delivering MMC solutions, all

• categories

• Workstream 4 – Groundworks and site preparation for MMC housing

• projects

The NH3 framework runs until 1 May 2027. q

MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN BY INCREASED DEMAND

Scanning industry headlines you could not fail to notice that some relatively new entrants to the volumetric modular arena are facing challenging times. But as Richard Hipkiss, development director of the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) explains, the outlook in mature commercial markets is more positive, driven by increased demand in the healthcare and education sectors.

[MANY CONSIDER modern methods of construction (MMC) to be relatively new, but the transformative technology has evolved over many decades. It is hard to believe that Wernick Group has been around since 1934. Not long after, other major players in today’s industry joined the ranks, with the foundation of Portakabin in 1961 followed by Elliott Group (Algeco) in 1963, Pickerings in 1969 and Thurston Group in 1970.

So how have these companies stood the test of time? There is no one simple answer; but in the main it is down to developing technical solutions to overcome inherent industry issues, while also having a keen eye on the future and anticipating what is coming down the track.

A simple but effective tactic

It is universally agreed that a robust and regular pipeline of work is essential to ensure that the overheads incurred in running the high-tech manufacturing facilities associated with MMC are covered. Planning ahead for the peaks and troughs is essential. That can be managed in various ways, but experienced operators have a simple and effective tactic. By using a series of interconnecting factories, manufacturing facilities can be expanded at times of high demand and closed off if a project, for example, suffers planning delays.

Evidencing value

Pre-manufactured value (PMV) is another driving force in the specification of volumetric technology in the commercial sector. PMV is a core metric for measuring the level of MMC in a project and is central to the UK Government’s procurement programmes. To secure a contract,

suppliers are required to show that pre-manufacturing will account for 70% of their construction cost, which plays to the strengths of a volumetric modular approach.

Acquisition and investment

Portakabin has recently confirmed the acquisition of healthcare modular buildings specialist Darwin Group. Both companies say the move will offer significant benefits to healthcare providers across the UK. The acquisition was driven by a shared belief that every patient should have access to world-leading healthcare facilities that empower clinicians and the broader healthcare system to deliver exceptional care.

And while Legal & General (L&G) has made the decision to close its modular housebuilding factory – citing the impact of the pandemic and planning delays – Aviva Capital Partners (ACP) is investing £20m into TopHat. That equity funding will support TopHat’s major new factory in Corby and the creation of 1,000 new jobs. The factory, anticipated to operate from summer 2024, has been designed to be capable of manufacturing 4,000 ultra-low carbon homes a year and will be Europe’s largest modular housing factory.

The answer to the UK housing crisis?

Fast-build modular homes are certainly one of the answers to the UK housing crisis. The quality, energy efficiency, speed and sustainable manufacturing processes achieved in a factory environment are difficult if not impossible to replicate using a traditional site-based construction approach.

Taking a long-term view, ACP state that their investment was driven by the sustainability credentials of TopHat’s low-carbon homes. In 2025, compliance with the UK Government’s Future Homes Standard will become mandatory. Its aim is to ensure that new homes built from 2025 will produce

DECADES OF EXPERIENCE GIVES FAMILY BUSINESS A COMPETITIVE EDGE

[AN INDUSTRY-LEADING, nationwide supplier of shipping containers and on-site accommodation is Storage on Site: a family-run business with a reputable experience spanning nearly six decades. With a wide range of sizes and colours always available for sale or for hire, their high-quality containers are built to the highest specifications and are perfect for many projects, large and small. For those who require something unique, they have on-site modification facilities at their head office in Southampton.

Ordering is an extremely simple process, offering very competitive pricing and always with a customer-first, personal and friendly service – with no hidden extras ever.

Storage on Site owns its large fleet of crane-assisted delivery and after-sales vehicles outright, meaning that from order right through to delivery, customers are always talking to the same team, often with just one point of contact. That also ensures the fastest response times from the initial point of enquiry.

Storage on Site also offer added value with free-of-charge site visits, to help assess and advise how to best manage the accessibility and location of units. q

• For further information visit storageonsite.co.uk

75-80% less carbon emissions than homes built under the current Building Regulations. The UK housing stock’s operational emissions are also vital for the UK to meet its legally-binding net-zero targets and modular homes can provide a fast and effective solution.

Transformative technology

The MMC sector for category one (volumetric) and category two (panelised) systems is an interesting place to be. The levels of investment and innovation are astounding and, as with any transformative technology, there will be hurdles to overcome. Our industry, unlike others, has nothing to fear from the legislation surrounding the predicted standards and the road to achieve netzero targets in commercial buildings is a well-mapped route.

The MPBA and our members firmly believe that the benefits of manufactured buildings begin in the factory, continue on to the construction site and last through the lifetime of the building. q

• The Modular and Portable Building Association plays a key role in supporting all sections of the industry. Leading best practice principles, the association is represented on many committees working for the benefit of members. Most importantly, the MPBA ensures evolving government policies and decisions are not made on behalf of the construction industry without due consideration for the impact they may have on the volumetric modular sector. Regardless of the size and type of a business, becoming an MPBA member will open doors to valuable business development, training and collaboration opportunities. For more information contact www.mpba.biz.

Images courtesy of Portakabin Group

PLAN AIMS TO PLACE SKILLS AT THE HEART OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

[ON 20 APRIL the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) launched its new Skills Plan –aimed at helping young people into highly-skilled, well-paid jobs. In the plan CLC highlights how much the construction and built environment industry has to offer society, while providing solutions to both short and long-term challenges.

Construction is a major engine of the UK economy, the CLC points out, employing 2.7 million people and contributing 8% output to the economy. But it also faces a major skills shortage, with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimating an extra 225,000 workers will be required across the UK from 2023-27.

To tackle the shortage, while supporting net-zero goals, CLC’s Skills Plan focuses on four main priorities: culture change, routes into construction and built environment, competence and future skills. That includes meeting employers’ demand for skilled workers, training and retaining people, ensuring competency, expanding the career appeal of construction and built environment, while also training experienced workers to become teachers.

As part of the Skills Plan, CLC has developed a range of projects for 2023-24, including:

• The launch of a new competence approach to ensure there is an

• accepted, accredited definition of competence for all construction

• and built environment occupations.

• Expansion of the new entrant apprenticeship brokerage service

• and introducing a new apprenticeship mentoring standard to

• increase apprenticeship starts, continuation and completions.

• The launch of Phase 1 of the Career Pathway Hub, an online

• portal aimed at defining high-value career pathways for net

• zero, digitalisation, smart construction and repair, maintenance

• and improvement.

• A pilot scheme to give schoolchildren a chance to learn about a • career in construction

Adrian Beckingham, CITB’s strategy and policy director and cochair of CLC’s People and Skills Network, commented: “Construction will be at the forefront of arguably the biggest challenge –supporting the transition to net-zero – which makes our industry a career of meaning and value.

“At the same time, we have a pressing need to attract and support new entrants into the industry. This new Skills Plan by CLC will tackle these challenges by creating opportunities to get young people into highly-skilled, well-paid jobs, while encouraging workers to adopt modern, green skills across the globe.”

Nick Roberts is chief executive of Travis Perkins Plc, the Industry Sponsor of CLC’s People and Skills Network. Nick added: “I'm looking forward to helping the whole of our industry support the CLC in the delivery of this plan. Partnering for skills is paramount: this means employers of all sizes investing in people, improving industry’s working culture and attracting new talent for future skills demand.” q

BRICKS HELP NURTURE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP

[RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUSINESS PARTNERS are critical for the long-term success of any college and West College Scotland, based in Paisley, Greenock and Clydebank, works with hundreds of companies, big and small, across the west of Scotland region.

It is a symbiotic relationship, where students gain the valuable experience they need and businesses ensure they have a pipeline of highly-skilled graduates and apprentices.

Every year at West College over 1,800 Construction and Building Services students choose from 20 courses on offer – from introductory to preapprenticeship, apprenticeship, HNC and Advanced Craft – providing them with the necessary practical, meta and green skills to enter a growing sector in Scotland, supporting housebuilders such as Persimmon Homes.

But the tools and materials needed by the college to deliver those courses are getting ever more expensive; so when Persimmon recently offered to donate 6,000 bricks, the college was quick to take them up on the offer. Immediately put to good use, they allowed final year apprentice bricklayers to go through their skills tests with the very latest materials.

The bricks were then cleaned, re-stacked and are ready for the fresh intake of apprentices this coming August.

The college’s Nathan Tyler commented: “If you're a business looking to make a difference and to be paid back through the talents of a highlyqualified future workforce, be sure to connect with your local college.” q

• For further details visit www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk.

STRATHCLYDE LAUNCHES CENTRE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

[A NEW CENTRE for education, research and professional development in health and safety has been launched by the University of Strathclyde.

Strathclyde Centre for Occupational Safety and Health (SCOSH) has been established to support the increasing demand for highquality management of occupational health and safety, partly driven by a shift in how business leaders think about employees’ physical and mental health since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strathclyde is already the largest provider of postgraduate safety related education in the UK and the new centre will build on this strong learning legacy with the continued provision of the popular MSc in Safety & Risk Management and the market-leading Certificate of Professional Development in Radiation Protection.

New course development is already underway and one of the centre’s first initiatives is a series of introductory level courses in Health and Safety Risk Management funded by the Scottish Funding Council.

The new centre will bring together a university-wide network of academics

engaged in work relating to occupational health and safety. This collaborative approach will drive the development of research, teaching and knowledge exchange, leading to unrivalled learning opportunities for those with an interest or responsibility for health and safety.

Callum MacDonald, head of SCOSH, said: “The team involved with SCOSH have been delivering online and blended learning relating to health, safety and

risk management for approximately 20 years. Through this large, expert group of professional practitioners, SCOSH will deliver learning that is immediately useable in the workplace. In addition to defined courses such as the postgraduate programme, SCOSH will also offer shorter term consultancy and training.”

The centre’s dedicated team of professionals – including consultants, practitioners and academics – have been delivering the MSc in Safety & Risk Management for over 15 years and are well placed to support the future development of innovative and relevant courses to address the evolving health and safety landscape. q

• If you are interested in finding out more about the MSc in Safety and Risk Management or other health and safety related learning opportunities, please visit the website at www.strath.ac.uk/ studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/ safetyriskmanagement/

The centre also welcome enquiries relating to bespoke training and consultancy services – get in touch to find out how they can support your health and safety strategy by emailing scosh@strath.ac.uk.

NEW CITY COLLEGE PIONEERS GREEN SKILLS AGENDA WITH LAUNCH OF LOW CARBON TECHNOLOGY LAB

(L-R)

The low carbon technology lab at New City College; a

NEW CITY COLLEGE is proud to announce the launch of FE’s first low carbon technology lab which will provide green skills training for London’s workforce.

The lab, equipped with cutting-edge technology, was launched at a special breakfast presentation on Thursday 4 May, attended by industry experts and business leaders who had the chance to tour the new facilities and hear about the benefits they will provide in the challenge for a new way of working to meet cleaner energy and net zero targets

The launch followed the creation of the Central London Forward Partnership, led by New City College, which comprises nine colleges across Central London. The partnership successfully secured a £2.7m bid from the Strategic Development Fund (SDF) to deliver high-quality technical education in the low carbon energy industry.

The lab has been developed at New City College Hackney and will be invaluable to employers who need to retrain employees in green skills and low carbon technologies. Courses and training for the next generation of installers include Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Air Source Heat Pumps, Electric Storage, Electric Vehicle Charging, Retrofit and Energy Efficiency.

Gerry McDonald, CEO and group principal of New City College, said at the launch: “This new and innovative training facility represents a major step forward in our commitment to sustainability and makes us the sector leading college for the low carbon energy agenda. We have invested in it and have delivered, making us well placed to be pioneers in this essential work.”

To the attendees, Gerry added: “You are the people who are going to make this happen. And you need a college to work hand-in-hand with industry and other partners, to make sure that London and the UK has the right people and skills to make the necessary changes to reach net zero.”

Guest speaker Catherine Barber, director of environment and energy for the GLA, congratulated New City College on the lab

launch and said: “The Mayor wants London to be net zero by 2030, so this agenda on climate change, on clean technology and providing the skills that London needs to meet this ambitious target, is so vital.

“There are currently about 4,000 people working in retrofit in London but that figure needs to be closer to 60,000 people, so there is an enormous demand for skilled workers and the training you are offering.”

As well as tours of the facilities, guests also saw Gerry McDonald unveil a commemorative plaque and present awards to two Low Carbon Skills Champions – industry experts

awards

In accepting the award, Dan said: “There is an immediacy about where we are in renewables. They are not our future, they are our now. One of the greatest challenges is persuading employees out of their old ways and into the new. Older people need to retrain in the middle of their careers – and this is the first challenge we are facing.

“Right now the market is going crazy, searching for skilled staff. We need to lift the standard of training, of qualifications and of competence in low carbon technologies –that’s what the customer deserves. And this lab is where it will all start.”

Jamie Stevenson, NCC group executive director for apprenticeships & business development, who leads the SDF project for Central London, thanked key partner Quantum Group

He said: “I am delighted this project has culminated in FE’s first low carbon lab, which is an excellent resource for Londoners and industry. We can now deliver tailored, handson and bespoke training to existing employees and the future workforce to help London work towards net zero.

“The SDF funding has enabled us to invest in facilities, resources and our staff, to deliver the green skills required for today and for future proofing our tomorrow.

“We’re excited about the impact our project is having on the local community. We will continue to develop our offering and invest in the next generation of low carbon energy professionals.”

Guests at the launch were treated to a fantastic breakfast prepared by NCC Hospitality and Catering students who train in Hackney’s OKN1 restaurant q

• For more information visit Central London Forward Green Skills Partnership at www. ncclondon.ac.uk/working-with-businesses/ central-london-forward-green-skillspartnership.

Dan White from MCS and Hazel Mealy from Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark Councils – who had been instrumental in helping to set up the lab.

tour of the new lab; Jamie Stevenson with Hazel Mealy and Dan White with their

The commemorative plaque for the new lab

Dan White speaks at the launch

REVIEW WILL ASSESS CITB’S PERFORMANCE

[ THE CITB is preparing for its scheduled review by the Department for Education (DfE). The review will look at the role and effectiveness of both the CITB and its parallel body for the construction engineering industry, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).

Last undertaken in 2017, the Industry Training Board (ITB) review will assess the extent to which each Arm’s Length Body (ALB) performs effectively and delivers services that meet the needs of industry. The review is a requirement set by the Cabinet Office for all public bodies to be reviewed periodically. It is part of a wider programme across government to ensure that ALBs remain effective into the future.

CITB has stated that it will be working closely with the review team to make visible its present impact and to demonstrate its plans and industry collaboration to deliver skills and training for the challenges ahead.

The review will be led by independent lead reviewer Mark Farmer, CEO of Cast Consultancy. He will be supported by a team of civil servants from the DfE. The review will also access expertise from the respective industries that the ITBs support as well as from across Whitehall.

He will set the extent of the review, but it will also be influenced by guidance provided by the Cabinet Office. The overall purpose of an ALB review is to ensure there is still a need for the functions carried out by that ALB and that it is the right vehicle to carry out those functions. It will also consider alternative approaches to deliver the functions, assess the impact the ALB has and determine any ways of making the ALB more effective and efficient.

It is anticipated that the DfE will shortly announce a call for evidence from stakeholders, on GOV.UK, and would particularly welcome contributions from employers who are within the scope of the existing CITB levy orders, as well as trade bodies and representative groups from the construction industry. The call for evidence will inform early recommendations to ministers in late summer.

The DfE will provide contact details for submissions of evidence in the near future. A final report and recommendations are expected to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Education at the end of this year. Ministers will then assess the recommendations and determine the government’s response, having taken CITB views on the recommendations into account. q

BRIGHTON MET LAUNCHES DECARBONISATION ACADEMY

BRIGHTON METROPOLITAN COLLEGE (MET) are setting their sights on a more sustainable future by establishing a Decarbonisation Academy for green construction training. The goal of the academy is to teach the local community about sustainable building practices. The Decarbonisation Academy will be based at Brighton MET’s East Campus on Wilson Avenue and will be led by Chris Ferguson. It will offer a range of green construction courses both online and on-site at the campus. The majority of courses will start in September and include heat pump systems and solar panel installation.

A free introductory course for unemployed and low income earners will be running throughout the summer. This is a practical introduction to construction and plumbing and students will complete a sustainability based project during the course. One student had this to say about the course: “I have learnt about sustainability during my time with the college and it has brought me a new perspective, something I did not expect to leave the course with.”

The main focus of these courses is to help adult learners and young people upskill and learn sustainable construction methods such as different heat pump systems and retrofitting. Alongside the range of courses, the college are also offering electric vehicle charging installation at Northbrook College’s Shoreham Airport Campus.

As part of the Decarbonisation Academy the MET are also retrofitting a bungalow at their East Campus. The building will meet green credentials and be used as a learning hub for students to develop their skills. It will include the following sustainable installations: solar panels on the roof, a ground source heat pump, underfloor insulation and fenestration modifications to windows and doors.

Brighton MET are excited to begin this new chapter in green skills development. Chris Ferguson said: “We are working with the local community to upskill the next generation of workers so we can all look forward to a more sustainable future.” q

• For more information visit www.gbmc.ac.uk/decarbonisation-academy or contact marketing@gbmc.ac.uk

DONATION HELPS STUDENTS BUILD THEIR CAREERS… ONE BRICK AT A TIME

[

PERSIMMON HOMES SOUTH WEST has made a donation of 10,000 bricks to Exeter College to support the training and education of future construction professionals.

The bricks, enough to construct a three-bedroom house, were delivered to the college's state-of-the-art construction facility at an event attended by local apprentices and Exeter City Council’s leader, Cllr Phil Bialyk.

Dave O'Connor, head of faculty of construction and the built environment at Exeter College, commented: “On behalf of Exeter College I would like to offer our sincere thanks to Persimmon Homes for its generous donation of 10,000 bricks, which will support the learning and development of our apprentices and students.

“The bricks will provide students with further opportunities to hone their skills in our state-of-the-art, industry-standard construction facilities, and ensure we continue to deliver a first-class learning experience.

“Our partnership with Persimmon goes from strength to strength as the college continues to develop a quality supply of talent for a multitude of partners across Devon’s construction industry.”

The brick donation was part of Persimmon Homes South West’s partnership with the Building Greater Exeter initiative. The public and private sector employability and skills programme supports the built environment to shape the future workforce by inspiring new candidates, supporting employers and promoting a culture that makes it a great place to work across Exeter, East Devon and Teignbridge.

Persimmon Homes South West’s construction director Harlan Bevis declared: “Exeter College is an outstanding teaching college with superb facilities for students looking to embark on a career in construction.

“The demand for new housing for local people in Exeter and right across

Devon is well known and as a local business it’s vital we support local construction students to maintain and develop a talented and diverse workforce.

“Persimmon is proud of our record developing the next generation of construction workers here in the South West, and we believe our partnership with Exeter College and Building Greater Exeter will further promote the many exciting careers the industry has to offer.

“We want local workers building homes for local people in Devon, and if we can develop our local apprentice pipeline and talent at Persimmon, we believe our ability to meet the local housing demand will only go from strength to strength.”

Cllr Phil Bialyk added: “I very much enjoyed my visit to Exeter College’s excellent construction training site at Sowton and seeing this fantastic facility. I was very impressed by what I saw. It was great to see the number of young people engaged in apprenticeships. Construction is so important and those skills are very much needed locally. I applaud the work that Exeter College is doing in training our young people and equipping them with skills for the future.” q

• For further information visit www.exe-coll.ac.uk

BRIDGWATER & TAUNTON COLLEGE UNVEILS NEW CONSTRUCTION & CIVIL ENGINEERING BUILDING

BRIDGWATER & TAUNTON COLLEGE (BTC) was proud to officially open its brand-new Construction & Civil Engineering and Motorsport facilities recently, two years after they were destroyed in a terrifying blaze.

In the early hours of 18 February 2021, a huge fire broke out in the Motorsport workshops, devastating the building which was also home to the college’s plumbing and electrical teaching facilities and staff rooms. More than 15 fire crews from across Somerset worked tirelessly to control and put the fire out without causing further damage to the Bridgwater campus.

BTC was delighted to welcome former student Owen Cheffey to officially open the building. Owen completed his Public Services studies at BTC in 2018 and little did he know that his first major incident as a firefighter would be back at the college three years later.

The new Construction & Civil Engineering building, which sits on the same footprint as the old building, is a purpose-built training facility designed to meet the increasing local and regional skills demand in the construction industries. Built with the support of Hartnell Taylor Cook Project Management and CTS Construction, it maximises the available space and offers an open learning environment to support the delivery of training and assessment. Alongside the new plumbing and electrical workshops, there are brand new IT suites and state-of-the-art equipment including gas training facilities and air source heat pump technology.

(L-R) Jason Kilduff, assistant principal – apprenticeships & workforce skills, former student Owen Cheffey and Andy Berry, principal and chief executive

The building will support hundreds of learners each year on training programmes that include traineeships, apprenticeships, City & Guilds qualifications and full-time vocational courses. q

• To find out more about construction courses at BTC call 01278 655004, email CSIC@btc.ac.uk or visit www.btc.ac.uk

CSCS AMENDS PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

YOUTHBUILDERS IMPRESS AT HOUSE OF LORDS RECEPTION

[OVER 65 specially invited guests attended the Youthbuild UK Sponsors’ and Patrons’ Reception at the House of Lords in the spring. Hosted by Lord Lingfield, the reception was held in the prestigious River Room, which is not open to the general public.

[THE CONSTRUCTION SKILLS CERTIFICATION SCHEME (CSCS) has announced changes to its Professionally Qualified Person (PQP) card requirements.

In a statement, CSCS said: “Following a review of the recognition of professional bodies for the issue of the Professionally Qualified Person card, CSCS is amending its procedures to only recognise professionally qualified members of such bodies for the issue of the PQP card, effective from 30 June 2023.

“Professional members of approved bodies can continue to apply for their PQP cards via their respective organisation as normal; however, those not yet professionally qualified should apply directly via CSCS.uk.com for their required card – most likely the Apprentice, Trainee or Academically Qualified Person (AQP) cards.”

The decision will not affect the renewal of cards for those who hold professionally qualified grades of membership that are currently recognised by CSCS.

Explaining why it has carried out the review and why is it necessary, CSCS explained it is:

• To ensure its compliance with Construction Leadership Counci requirements that

• require proof of a competence assessment for the issue of skilled, advanced craft,

• supervisor, manager and PQP cards.

• To limit potential harm from fraudulent activity around CSCS card applications.

• To address any confusion around the requirements for members of professional bodies

• who do not hold a professionally qualified grade of membership attaining CSCS cards.

From July CSCS will conduct an audit of all professional bodies that it has given recognition to, in order to ensure their membership grades that are recognised for the issue of the PQP card are compliant with the proposed changes. q

Leaders from construction companies, colleges and training bodies, charities and other third sector organisations attended the invitation-only event. They heard from Youthbuild UK’s president, the Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP, on the importance of YBUK’s work in supporting disadvantaged young people on their journey into training and employment in the construction industry.

Moving stories were told by finalists of the 2022 Young Builder of the Year Awards: Kye Belmont, Reiss Doherty and Lola Fannon. Each told of how they overcame barriers and setbacks in their early lives to go on and train and gain employment in the industry.

The event was successful in recruiting new sponsors and patrons to support YBUK’s cause.

Cyfle Building Skills from South Wales joined NHBC, Toolstation, Building and Civil Engineering Charitable Trust, Bromford and the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation as sponsors of the Young Builder of the Year Awards.

MPB Structures and The Skills Centre became new patrons, alongside Durkan, Hammerson, London Region Construction Training Group, Action for Construction, Ballymore, Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Countryside Properties, O’Halloran and O’Brien, Crawford Contractor Connection, Galldris and Redrow. q

WHATEVER YOUR TRAINING NEEDS, THERE’S A COURSE FOR YOU AT CROYDON

[THE RANGE of construction courses on offer at Croydon College provides young people with the opportunity to unlock their potential and embark on a rewarding career. With programmes in plumbing, carpentry and construction multi-skills, the college caters for a variety of interests and aspirations.

Courses are available at various levels – from Level 1 to Level 3 –allowing students to choose the one that best suits them. The college's lecturers are industry professionals with extensive on-site experience. They bring real-world knowledge and insights into the classroom, ensuring students receive practical and relevant skills to enable them to thrive in the construction sector.

Practical learning is a key focus at Croydon College. Excellent construction facilities and workshops replicate real-world working environments, allowing students to work on simulated projects. That hands-on experience helps develop the necessary skills and

confidence to excel in their chosen career.

Croydon College has strong partnerships with local businesses, providing students with opportunities for work placements and industry exposure. Those connections offer invaluable practical experience and enhance employability prospects for students after completing their course.

By enrolling in a construction course at Croydon College, students are investing in their future. They gain recognised qualifications and acquire the skills which are in high demand within the construction industry. With a thriving sector offering numerous opportunities, Croydon College equips students with the knowledge and expertise to pursue successful careers.

• To learn more about the construction courses offered at Croydon College visit croydon.ac.uk. q

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR INNOVATIVE NEW DUNFERMLINE LEARNING CAMPUS

[AS THE INNOVATIVE construction project continues its build at pace, new Fife College principal Jim Metcalfe has been on site with builders Balfour Beatty to check progress on the state-of-the-art facilities for pupils and students at the Dunfermline Learning Campus (DLC).

The campus will provide a streamlined pathway from school through to further and higher education, as well as meeting the learning and training needs of local businesses and the community.

Jim spoke to community leaders at the site to highlight the benefits to the local area: “It is hugely exciting to see construction on the site progressing,” he said “and we look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to complete our shared vision of creating a truly unique place of lifelong learning here in West Fife.”

Due to open in Spring 2025, the new state-of-the-art campus will include:

• Industry-standard workshops for engineering and construction

• A university hub, allowing learners to study to degree level with a range of

• university partners

• Conference facilities, enabling the college to engage with local businesses

• and provide catered conferencing events

• Innovation and events hub, to cater for college and community events

• Multi-court sports pavilion, allowing for expansion in the provision of sport

• and wellbeing

• Year-round outdoor learning spaces

• And much, much more!

The Fife College campus and the development of the wider DLC

represents a significant, once in a generation investment in Dunfermline and Fife in general. The college’s brief made it clear that the project delivers value for money, not only through the main construction works, but through the legacy it creates for surrounding communities.

Balfour Beatty, the main contractor for the works, has set out an ambitious and extensive programme of social impact commitments across a range of key areas.

“The Dunfermline Learning Campus project is a ground-breaking initiative that we firmly believe will revolutionise the way we approach education and training here in Fife,” said Jim Metcalfe. “Ultimately, the Dunfermline Learning Campus will be more than just a building, it will be a community.

“The campus is an incredible opportunity for us all, one that represents a bright and exciting future and one that is built on a foundation of education, innovation and collaboration.” q

• Find out more at business.fife.ac.uk

NSCG’S SKILLS AND INNOVATION CENTRE SET TO OPEN

[NEWCASTLE AND STAFFORD COLLEGES GROUP (NSCG) is looking forward to welcoming students to their brand new Skills and Innovation Centre at Stafford College this September.

Work on the £28m facility (above left) will complete at the end of June in time to welcome new and existing students to the state-of-the-art facility located in the heart of Stafford town centre.

Learners will benefit from a variety of pathways in construction and engineering with courses including bricklaying, carpentry, design, surveying & planning for construction, electrical installation, hybrid motor vehicle technology, engineering in motorsports and HNC/HND’s in engineering with practical, technical and academic qualifications up to levels 4 and 5.

Learners at NSCG can choose from A Levels, T Levels, BTEC’s and apprenticeships – and from September 2023 a number of Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) at levels 4 and 5 will also be launching in the specialisms of digital technology.

With NSCG celebrating record-breaking student recruitment numbers, the college’s new facility will ensure all learners are equipped with futurefacing skills with students benefitting from high-specification classrooms and teaching spaces.

The 7,500m2, three-storey facility will include a 300-seat auditorium,

a four-court sports hall and fully-equipped gym.

A significant investment has also been made in installing the facility with leading-edge technology including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) classroom kits to provide high-quality learning experiences that mimic real-life situations in construction.

The modern, cutting-edge facilities and technology will provide a flexible means of learning in an ever-demanding world in an effort to bridge the STEM skills gap. Adding to this, the college are pleased to announce plans are moving at pace with the development of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology (IoT).

Along with a consortium of partners, led by NSCG, the £18m IoT (above right) will bring together key industry, education and research opportunities to the county and will see employers and academia working together to widen participation in targeted STEM areas.

All construction and skills programmes which are currently run from the Palmbourne campus will move to the brand new Skills and Innovation Centre to make way for the IoT which is predicted to open in December 2024. q

• Places are still available for the September intake. To apply or to find out more visit www.nscg.ac.uk or call 01785 223 800.

ENFIELD CONSTRUCTION SKILLS ACADEMY OFFICIALLY OPENS AT MERIDIAN WATER REGENERATION SITE

[A NEW Enfield Construction Skills Academy has flung open its doors to provide training to support the Meridian Water regeneration in the borough and tackle a skills shortage in the industry.

The Skills Academy will support the demand for skilled workers across the sector including the huge redevelopment project to build 10,000 homes and create 6,000 jobs.

Delivered in partnership by Capital City College Group (CCCG), Enfield Council and Countryside Partnerships, the Skills Academy aims to train 500 people a year.

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL), part of CCCG, will provide courses and apprenticeships in construction skills with a focus on sustainable development based on industry needs.

Students will benefit from a range of facilities including dedicated indoor and outdoor workspaces to give them hands-on skills using various construction methods and equipment.

According to the Construction

Industry Training Board, 225,000 extra workers will be required to meet the demands of the UK construction industry by 2027.

The Skills Academy was officially opened at a ceremony on 14 June attended by representatives from the partner organisations, construction employers, education providers and other organisations. Guests were given demonstrations and invited to try their hand at different construction skills by CONEL students, some of whom could be going on to apprenticeships at the Skills Academy.

Plumbing student Alfie Merry, 20, said: “I’ve been training to become a plumber at CONEL. The teaching and facilities on my course have been brilliant. The Skills Academy looks amazing. I’m confident of getting a great career after college.” q

• Find out more about the Enfield Construction Skills Academy and apply at capitalccg.ac.uk

COULD YOU JOIN THE RANKS OF THOSE WHO ARE TEACHING?

[DO YOU WANT to move your career in a different direction while still using your existing construction skills? Are you able to pass on your wealth of knowledge and expertise to the next generation of talent in your industry?

Those are two questions posed by Wiltshire College & University Centre (WCUC) to skilled construction professionals looking for a new career in education. The move from a career in industry to teaching can seem daunting, but it’s probably not as difficult as people might think.

To find out more, they have introduced a new ‘We Are Teaching’ taster programme to enable potential teachers to get a taste of teaching without making a commitment to a full career change.

WCUC’s communications manager Katy Clark explained: “The programme will be tailored to fit around your current work, giving you the opportunity to discover if teaching could be for you without having to make a commitment to changing your career.

“You’ll teach our enthusiastic young tradespeople who are looking

to gain the skills they need to start a career in a wide range of exciting construction fields.

“There has never been a better time to join WCUC. Whether you are experienced in teaching or assessing already, or looking to start a new career in education, we’re always looking for passionate, talented people with new ideas who are keen to make a difference to our students.

“Most of our lecturers come from industry and teaching is their second career, often while continuing to be active in their primary profession.”

WCUC is one of Wiltshire’s largest employers and has more than 800 staff on either a full-time, part-time or casual basis. It also provides a wide range of benefits, including excellent holiday entitlement and a pension scheme with generous employer contributions, along with a focus on continuing professional development. q

• To find out more about working at WCUC and their ‘We Are Teaching’ taster programme visit www.wiltshire.ac.uk/weareteaching

Construction training courses and/or apprenticeships are available at the following colleges:

Abingdon & Witney College

Tel: 01235 541 111

E: apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

W: www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk

126 Churchill Road, Bicester OX26 4XD

Accrington and Rossendale College

Nelson & Colne College Group

T: 01282 440319 E: apprenticeships@nelsongroup.ac.uk

W: www.accross.ac.uk and www.nelsongroup.ac.uk

Accrington and Rossendale College, Sandy Lane, Accrington BB5 2AR

Bolton College

T: 01204 482000

E: info@boltoncc.ac.uk

W: www.boltoncollege.ac.uk

Deane Road Campus, Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5BG

Bridgwater & Taunton College

T: 01278 655004

E: CSIC@btc.ac.uk

W: www.btc.ac.uk

Bath Road, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4PZ

Brighton Metropolitan College

Tel: 01273 667788

E: admissions@gbmc.ac.uk W: www.gbmc.ac.uk

Central Brighton Campus, Pelham Street, Brighton BN1 4FA

City College Southampton

Tel: 023 8048 4848

E: enquiries@southampton-city.ac.uk

W: www.southampton-city.ac.uk

St Mary Street, Southampton SO14 1AR

CCG Training

Apprenticeships ccgtraining.ac.uk

crawley.ac.uk 01293 442333

chichester.ac.uk 01293 812948

Exeter College

T: 01392 400500

E: info@exe-coll.ac.uk

W: exe-coll.ac.uk

Exeter College, Hele Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4JS

Fife College

Tel: 0344 248 0132

E: sales@fife.ac.uk

W: www.fife.ac.uk

Pittsburgh Road, Dunfermline, Fife KY11 8DY

Grantham College & University Centre

T: 0800 052 1577

E: enquiry@grantham.ac.uk

W: www.grantham.ac.uk

Stonebridge Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 9AP

Low-carbon Technology Training Centre of Excellence

Courses in EV, Battery Storage, Solar PV, Water Harvesting, Solar Thermal, Underfloor Heating, Air Source / Ground Source. Contact us to find out how we can upskill your workforce. To find out more: kitchenerp@hlcollege.ac.uk

Kirklees College

Tel: 01484 437000

E: info@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

W: www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Brunel Construction Centre, Old Fieldhouse Ln, Leeds Rd, Huddersfield HD2 1AG

Leeds College of Building

T: 0113 222 6041

E: info@lcb.ac.uk

W: www.lcb.ac.uk

North Street, Leeds LS2 7QT

T: 0330 135 9000

E: info@ncclondon.ac.uk

W: www.ncclondon.ac.uk

Epping Forest | Hackney | Havering | Redbridge | Tower Hamlets

Croydon College

T: 020 8686 5700

E: info@croydon.ac.uk

W: www.croydon.ac.uk

College Road, Croydon CR9 1DX

New College Durham

T: 0191 375 4000

E: help@newdur.ac.uk

W: www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk

New College Durham, Framwellgate Moor Campus, Durham DH1 5ES

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group

T: 01782 715111 / 01785 223 800

E: info.newcastle@nscg.ac.uk

E: info.stafford@nscg.ac.uk

W: www.nscg.ac.uk

Knutton Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 2GB • Victoria Square, Stafford ST16 2QR

MK TO HOST 2023 SKILLBUILD FINALS

[THE NATIONAL FINAL of this year’s SkillBuild – the annual construction skills competition – will take place at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

SkillBuild is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and showcases some of the brightest talent, as highly-skilled learners and apprentices go head-tohead to be crowned winner of their chosen trade. Competitors are tested on their technical abilities, time management, problem solving and skills working under pressure. The prestigious competition comes with many benefits, having been proven to improve technical and employability skills, as well as advancing career options.

From 27 April to the end of June colleges across the UK have been hosting the regional qualifiers of the largest and longest-running competition of its kind, with approximately 1,000 students taking part.

Following the regional qualifiers the top eight scoring competitors from each trade category will take part in the UK national final. This year is the first time the national final will take place at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, on 21, 22 and 23 November 2023. The arena has previously played host to the National Badminton Championships, darts tournaments and various music concerts.

West College Scotland

T: 0300 600 6060

E: info@wcs.ac.uk

W: www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk

Paisley Campus, Renfrew Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA3 4DR

Tim Balcon, CITB’s chief executive, commented: “SkillBuild is a wonderful initiative which aims to attract a diverse range of recruits; and with the current skills gap it places even greater importance on the competition and its ability to promote construction careers to a wider audience.

“SkillBuild not only helps young people to grow personally, increasing their confidence and social skills, it’s also proven to assist them professionally by developing their technical and employability skills.”

Running alongside the competition, venues have been hosting Construction Showcase events, inspiring young people to consider a career in construction.

Jade Oakes (pictured top) won Gold in the Painting and Decorating category last year. Speaking about the competition, she said: “The whole experience from beginning to end was fantastic. I was able to compete against some of the best across the country, meet professionals in our trade and make so many new friends along the way. It felt like a dream come true to win gold at such a prestigious competition.

“For those about to compete, I would say enjoy every second. It’s not all about competing; it’s about putting yourself into an environment to thrive and meet so many amazing individuals along the way. Good luck, have the best time and paint your very best!” q

Wiltshire College & University Centre

T: 01225 530150

E: info@wiltshire.ac.uk

W: www.wiltshire.ac.uk

Located in Chippenham, Lackham, Salisbury and Trowbridge

DIESEL TO BE PHASED OUT ON SITES FOLLOWING LAUNCH OF ‘ROAD MAP’

[ THE Minister for Industry and Economic Security, Nusrat Ghani MP, joined industry leaders in June to launch a plan to eliminate the use of diesel from most UK construction sites by 2035.

Over the past year, representatives from across the construction industry have been collaborating on the development of a ‘Zero Diesel Sites Route Map’ – a key element of the Construction Leadership Council’s CO2nstruct Zero programme to decarbonise the industry.

Minister Nusrat Ghani said: “Cutting carbon emissions in construction is vital to achieving our net-zero ambitions by 2050. That’s why I’m pleased to see the leadership the sector is showing by publishing this new Route Map, helping us move forward towards a cleaner, greener industrial future.”

Following consultation on a draft plan late last year, the Route Map affirms that the industry will:

• Put in place support to roll out hydrogen, electricity and other

• cleaner power sources

• Promote early wins by boosting efficiency and cutting diesel use

• by existing plant and asking companies to reduce the use of diesel

• generators

• Help businesses to develop their own company’s diesel reduction plans

• Engage with clients to secure commitments that ban diesel use

• Track data on diesel consumption in the industry to confirm progress

• over time

The launch event took place on HS2’s Old Oak Common Station site, which is itself progressing towards cleaner construction as part of HS2’s target for all its sites to be diesel-free by 2029.

Neil Wait, head of environmental delivery at HS2 Ltd and chair of the Zero Diesel Route Map Working Group, commented: “The carbon challenge we face is significant and can only be overcome if we show

real determination in a push for change. HS2 Ltd has played a key role in the development of the Route Map and is already making great progress, with 19 diesel-free construction sites on the project.

“Today’s launch is a tangible demonstration of the industry’s shared commitment to radically cut our reliance on diesel. I would encourage companies to get involved and support the move towards cleaner, greener construction.”

There are currently an estimated 300,000 items of non-road mobile machinery used by the UK construction sector. Typically, such plant is powered by diesel, consuming 2.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent and generating significant carbon emissions.

The Zero Diesel Sites Route Map sets out practical measures to reduce that volume by 78% by 2035, in line with the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget published in 2021.

Matt Palmer, CO2nstruct Zero programme sponsor and executive director of Lower Thames Crossing, said: “One of the strengths of the Construction Leadership Council is its ability to bring the industry together to identify and commit to actions that will change our sector for the better. The Zero Diesel Route Map is a perfect example of this, setting a clear mission that everyone can sign up to support.” q

AWARD WINNER LEADS THE WAY TO NET-ZERO IN LONDON’S PROPERTY SECTOR

CONSTRUCTION CARBON , a proptech company that focuses on reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry, has won the Tech London Advocates CBRE Net Zero Carbon challenge. The challenge, launched by Tech London Advocates and CBRE, sought to identify and support innovative technology solutions that can help the real estate sector achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

It was to put forward a consistent approach to sharing information of existing and new construction and fit-out materials, particularly concerning environmental impact and circularity, between landlords and tenants, to support their circular reuse at end of life and reduce resource use associated with the built environment. Construction Carbon was selected as the winner of the challenge for their innovative and collaborative approach to reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry.

Construction Carbon’s mission is to enable all responsible construction stakeholders to hit

their net-zero goals through accessible turnkey solutions, straightforward processes and trusted industry-backed verification.

The judges of the Tech London Advocates CBRE Net Zero Carbon challenge were impressed by Construction Carbon's comprehensive approach to reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry. Their innovative solutions and tools offer a practical and effective way for construction companies to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their sustainability goals.

Mark Jenkinson from Tech London Advocates said: “We were pleased to give Construction Carbon this award in recognition of their efforts to enhance collaboration and accessibility of the journey towards net-zero for the construction industry.”

Matthew Ingham from CBRE added: “We put together the challenge knowing that it was a daunting task for any one company. Whilst it was difficult to select a winner from such a strong field of candidates, we selected Construction Carbon due to their on-going

efforts to bring rigour and access to embodied carbon assessments, making net-zero carbon in construction more achievable for all built environment stakeholders.”

Speaking about the win, Construction Carbon’s CEO Gilbert Lennox-King declared: "We are delighted to have won the Tech London Advocates CBRE Net Zero Carbon challenge. Our platform is designed to help accessibility and consistency for construction companies to take real action on reducing their carbon emissions, and we are thrilled to be recognised for our efforts.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in the construction industry to create a more sustainable future."

The Tech London Advocates CBRE Net Zero Carbon challenge highlights the growing importance of technology solutions in the real estate sector's efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Construction Carbon's win demonstrates the significant impact that proptech, or property technology, companies can have in creating a more sustainable future. q

SIMPLICITY AND SERVICE MAKE DURITE TRACKERS

THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR DAF DEALERS

[A MAJOR TRUCK DEALER says simplicity and service levels have led it to switch some of its fleet to Durite telematics.

Motus Commercials is the largest DAF Trucks dealer group in Europe, with 29 dealerships across the UK, employing more than 1,500 people. In South West England it has installed 30 Smart Nano Trackers from Durite on its service vans and courtesy cars, replacing telematics units from another UK provider. Motus procured the trackers through DAF, whom Durite supplies, which has a direct relationship with Durite.

Mark Price, head of aftersales for the South West region, covering Motus depots in Avonmouth, Swindon, Frome, Gloucester and Hereford, said: “The trackers are great, they only take 20 minutes to fit. It is a very simple and reliable solution that provides precisely the functionality we need.

“If we change vans, all we have to do is email Durite and they will update the vehicle information on the system for us. The simplicity of the system and the quality of the support from Durite is what sold it to me. In our business it is not just about dealing with a problem but how you deal with it. So, what puts Durite head and shoulders above other telematics providers is they are always responsive. They always jump on an issue and if they can’t fix it remotely, they will replace the tracker. It means I don’t have to worry about the telematics at all. With Durite we also have the flexibility to upgrade in the future.

“For our delivery vehicles the track and trace functionality is the most important element, but we’ve also been able to do more with it. We are able to set up geofencing around Clean Air Zones so if one of

our vehicles enters a zone in Bristol or Bath, we are instantly notified and can pay the fees in good time. It helps us to avoid issues further downstream and that makes us more efficient.”

The Durite Smart Nano Telematics Tracker is an affordable fleet management solution that enables users to locate their fleet in real time. Installation is extremely simple, as it simply connects to any power source on the vehicle. The fleet manager can view vehicle location and historical journeys in the Durite telematics portal as well as generate over 80 valuable reports, so fleet operators can select the most suitable ones based on their business needs.

“Our courtesy cars are a complementary service and goodwill gesture to our clients so we’re not trying to monitor everything they do with the vehicles,” added Mark. “We just need telematics to keep track of our assets – for example we might deliver a vehicle at one end of the region but have to collect it from the other end, so location data is critical. The tracker can also deter drivers from using those cars for personal trips as they know we know where the vehicles are at all times.”

Durite offers a range of telematics products for trucks and vans, including hardwired and OBD plug-in units, plus integrated telematics cameras. Durite is the UK’s leading brand in vehicle safety, lighting and auto electrical parts for commercial vehicles and the general automotive aftermarket. q

• For further details visit www.durite.co.uk

HIGH-RISE OWNERS QUICK OFF THE MARK TO REGISTER WITH BSR

[HUNDREDS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS have been registered with the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) since the stricter regime to protect residents began.

Around 750 applications were opened with the BSR in the first month after its registration process for high-rise buildings opened in April.

All high-rise residential buildings (HRBs) must be registered with BSR by law. Those responsible for the safety of buildings have until the end of September to register or face prosecution.

BSR said it was pleased with the early response from the building industry, but is urging all owners and managers to act now. Up to 12,500

JOINT GUIDE

DEFINES

SAFETY-CRITICAL ELEMENTS TO BE AWARE OF

THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF BUILDING (CIOB) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have jointly published a free guide to managing safety-critical elements (SCEs) in building construction, aimed at both their members and the wider built environment sector.

The Guide to Managing Safety-Critical Elements in Building

Construction helps to identify high-risk elements in and around buildings. It outlines systems that should be adopted to ensure that SCEs are properly incorporated and will serve as an important tool to ensure good practice and deliver safe, high-quality buildings.

The joint guide recognises the cross-industry need for a rigorous and structured approach to the design, construction and inspection of safety-critical building elements. It highlights elements that, if omitted or installed incorrectly, can pose significant risk to people in and around buildings, including:

• Safe means of escape for occupants and access for firefighters

• Combustibility of cladding and insulating materials

• Effective fire compartmentation including smoke control,

• firestopping, cavity-barriers and fire doors

• Structural integrity of masonry cladding panels and the proper

• incorporation of necessary brick accessories into them including

• fixings, bed-joint reinforcement, wind posts and ties

• Structural integrity of balconies

CIOB past president Paul Nash, who chaired the Safety-Critical Elements working group, said: “At its heart, this guide is about ensuring that the buildings we create are safe for those who use them. That means ensuring every element that goes into a building is designed and installed correctly and this is independently verified before a building is occupied. The guide is another step towards creating a safer built environment.”

Former president of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) and current member of RIBA's Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, Professor John Cole CBE, said: “This guide is a spur to the industry. We have seen much evidence showing how poorly safety-critical elements have been installed in too many buildings. We all have to stand up, be serious and take appropriate responsibility. We want to push the industry to ensure that, on every project, all SCEs that could potentially impact the safety of future building users are properly designed, installed and inspected, with supporting evidence of compliance.”

The Guide to Managing Safety-Critical Elements in Building Construction is available to download from the CIOB website. q

buildings in England are covered by the new regulator, set up in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and officially launched earlier this year.

BSR is an independent body set up by the Building Safety Act 2022 and part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its launch is the biggest change in building safety for a generation.

HSE’s director of building safety Philip White said: “We’re pleased with the early response from industry, but I urge owners and managers to act now and register their buildings if they haven’t already done so. This is a legal requirement they will have to meet by the end of September.

“Registration is a crucial part of the new regime and our efforts to ensure residents of high-rise buildings feel protected and safe in their homes.”

High-rise residential buildings that are at least 18 metres in height or have seven or more floors containing at least two residential units must be registered with BSR.

Information on how to register and what details are required can be found on Gov.uk. Building owners or managers must provide the number of floors at or above ground level, height in metres, the number of residential units and the year of construction.

Guidance on the key building information (KBI) that will also need to be recorded under the new building safety laws has also been published on Gov.uk. The KBI registration element will then be added to the HRB online registration portal later this summer, allowing sufficient time for owners and managers of buildings to submit their KBI by the end of September. q

HSE REDOUBLES EFFORT TO HIGHLIGHT ASBESTOS DANGER

[IN APRIL the HSE widened the scope of its Asbestos and You campaign to warn all tradespeople of the hidden dangers associated with asbestos.

Around 5,000 people a year die from asbestos-related illnesses and asbestos can still be found in buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000. HSE is warning that, despite the ban on its use, many buildings still contain asbestos and it is still a serious risk to anyone exposed to it at any age.

Tim Beaumont, HSE’s acting head of construction policy sector, commented: “Asbestos can be found in things like Artex, cement boards under eaves, garage roofs, old bath panels, boiler houses and fires – and even mortar between bricks can contain asbestos.

“There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure, but that’s not to say it can’t be managed safely. All tradespeople should make sure they know the basics about identifying asbestos. Before carrying out any construction work, there’s a legal requirement to identify whether asbestos is present and could be disturbed.

“Younger tradespeople need to know the dangers behind asbestos as it could

ASBESTOS DEADLINE REJECTED BY GOVERNMENT

[LAST YEAR the Parliamentary committee on Work and Pensions published the report of its inquiry into how the Health and Safety Executive manages the continued presence of asbestos in buildings.

The committee found out about the current risks posed by asbestos in the workplace, the groups of people who are most affected and how well the current laws and regulations for the management of asbestos are working.

With asbestos still in around 300,000 non-domestic buildings and a likely dramatic increase in disturbance from net-zero retrofitting, the committee said that reliance on the current asbestos regulations will not be good enough. It concludes that a cross-government and ‘system-wide’ strategy for the long-term removal of asbestos is needed.

The report calls for the government and Health and Safety Executive to back up their stated goal of removing all asbestos by committing to a clear time frame and strategy. The plan should strengthen the evidence base on safe and effective asbestos removal in the first instance before prioritising removal from the highest risk settings, including schools.

The committee called for a deadline of 40 years for that goal to be achieved.

In response the government rejected the committee’s key recommendation of committing to a strategy with a 40-year deadline to remove all asbestos from public and commercial buildings.

Commenting on the government’s response, the committee chair Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP said: “The government argues that fixing a deadline for asbestos removal would increase the opportunity for exposure, but the risk is likely to increase anyway with the drive towards retrofitting of buildings to meet net-zero aspirations. Setting a clear target should just be one part of a new properly joined-up strategy.

“This strategy should prioritise the highest-risk buildings and urgently boost the evidence base for the safe removal and disposal of a material that is still the single greatest cause of work-related fatalities in the country.” q

affect them in later life like it is affecting older tradespeople now.”

Craig Evans, chief operating officer of the United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), said: “I wholeheartedly support HSE’s campaign to raise asbestos awareness and the importance of training across industry. The dangers of asbestos are very real, with over 5,000 people in the UK dying each year from asbestos-related diseases.

“It is crucial that tradespeople are aware of the risks involved in disturbing or damaging asbestos-containing materials, as inhaling these fibres can lead to devastating diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

“UKATA members are committed to providing high-quality asbestos training, delivered by highly-experienced and competent professionals with extensive knowledge and expertise in their field, to help prevent unnecessary exposure and protect the health and wellbeing of all those working in the industry.”

If asbestos cannot be safely managed, it should be removed by a licensed asbestos contractor. Where it is present, asbestos should be closely managed by those responsible for the building. q

ASBESTOS UMBRELLA BODY HOLDS FIRST AGM

[

THE FIRST annual general meeting of the Asbestos Management Institute was held on 6 April. The meeting was conducted via Zoom Video Conferencing and was well attended by members. CPD certificates were issued to those attending.

The Asbestos Management Institute is the professional body for the asbestos management industry, formed to recognise and promote best practice in asbestos management.

An informative presentation on the financial and operational performance of the institute was delivered and a council of management was elected for the 2023-2025 term.

Tony Church was elected as president, with Eddie Strong as vicepresident and Christian Jones as treasurer. The National Federation of Demolition Contractors and Asbestos Removal Contractors Association nominated members and there were three ordinary members elected.

There were presentations from Vernon Watson of the Institute of Demolition Engineers, Saranjit Sihota of Mesothelioma UK, and Matt Greenly and Rose Bricis of the HSE. q

PARLIAMENT RESTORATION TEAM VISITS PUGIN’S HOME FOLLOWING MEETING WITH LOCAL COMPANIES

A GROUP OF A DOZEN leading businesses and representatives from across the South East attended a supplier event at Ashford in Kent on 27 April to meet the team delivering Parliament’s Restoration and Renewal (R&R) programme and discuss how the complex work can support jobs and opportunities across the region.

Local experts in everything from architecture to further education attended the event to share their skills and experience and to hear from the R&R team about the approach to getting local businesses involved in the major project to restore the Palace of Westminster.

Andy Haynes, commercial director of the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority, said: “We’re travelling around the country to make sure that small businesses across the nation are aware of future opportunities from the works to restore and renew the Houses of Parliament.”

Following the business event, experts from

R&R examined restoration work at Dover Town Hall and visited the National Pugin Centre in Ramsgate, South Thanet, where Augustus Pugin, the palace’s interior designer, lived and worked from 1844-52.

Augustus Pugin was one of the most important designers and architects of the 19th century and from 1846 he worked with architect Charles Barry to produce thousands of detailed designs for the new Palace of Westminster.

Andy Haynes added: “Kent has a special connection to the Palace of Westminster as the designer of the interior of the building – Augustus Pugin – lived in Ramsgate, so it’s great to involve a new generation of local people and businesses involved in this important project to restore the building for future generations.”

The Palace of Westminster is enormous and complex: the size of 16 football pitches, with

the whole building sharing the same water, electric, sewage and gas system. Many of the services are more than 50 years old and have reached the end of their lifespan. Hundreds of miles of pipes and cables need replacing.

The scale of the challenge means more extensive restoration and renewal is needed as part of the overall plan for the Parliamentary buildings. Currently there are dozens of major projects underway to repair and restore key Parliamentary buildings by teams with which the Restoration and Renewal programme will work closely to learn from and build the lessons into the overall restoration plans for the Palace.

The volume and future scope of the main restoration works are not yet certain until approval is given by Members of both Houses to costed proposals, and in advance of this Members will be asked to vote on the way forward by the end of 2023. q

NORWICH’S HISTORIC HALLS SET FOR MAJOR REFURB

[THE HALLS in Norwich is set to benefit from improvements to create an iconic venue which is an active and dynamic cultural centre in the city.

The Halls (pictured) is a multi-use cultural venue owned and run by Norwich City Council, and a Grade One-listed ancient monument. The complex comprises St Andrew’s Hall and Blackfriars’ Hall – former friary church and convent buildings. The buildings passed into public ownership during the Reformation in 1538 and form the most intact medieval friary in England in secular use.

The venue has been used regularly for civic events since 1544, when the first mayor’s feast was held for the inauguration of Henry Fuller. Today, the venue is used for conferences, weddings, concerts and meetings, with different halls available to hire.

Following Norwich City Council’s successful bid for Town Deal funding in 2020, the project to upgrade The Halls received £3.6m.

In March a survey found that urgent works need to be carried out on St Andrew’s and Blackfriars’ Halls within 24 months or they could face closure.

Upgrades to the venue will be achieved by investing in the facilities, including audio-visual equipment and lighting, a major redesign to improve flow and accessibility, a revamp of the outside space and an enhanced café and bar offer.

Essential structural work will also be completed alongside the refurbishment project. They include work to the roof, stained glass

windows and secondary glazing in St Andrew’s Hall.

A spokesperson for Norwich City Council said: “The Halls is a hugely important and unique heritage building that contributes so much to the fantastic cultural offer we have in Norwich. By carrying out these upgrades, we’re excited about the potential to create an iconic venue that will host community and cultural events for many years to come.

“We look forward to sharing our plans in more detail later in the year and will be keeping everyone that makes use of The Halls up to date as the project progresses.” q

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