UKCO Excellence - JULY

JULY 2016

BREXIT RICS on the implications of leaving the EU.

British Sea Power Is Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon in doubt?

Feeling Lucky?

Google double down on Irish commitment.

Welcome to the latest edition of UK Construction Excellence; celebrating the very best in British building.

On Thursday 23rd June, Great Britain elected to leave the European Union – a monumental decision which will fundamentally change the way in which our country is run. As part of an exclusive interview, Jeremy Blackburn – Head of Policy and Parliamentary Affairs for RICS – considers the

construction industry perspective.

What impact will the outcome have on the availability of much-needed funding and skilled workers?

Stefan Mordue – architect, author and NBS Business Solutions Consultant at RIBA – is also on-hand to explain how Building Information Modeling is revolutionising Health and Safety best practice, while Dr Mike Page – a Cognitive Psychologist with the

30 The Cube Project Can microhomes alleviate the UK housing crisis?

University of Hertfordshire – discusses how energy efficient microhomes might mitigate the UK housing crisis.

All this and more can be found inside, along with contributions from guest commentators and breaking news from Great Britain and beyond.

Robert Atherton Publications Editor

36 Skills Shortage UCATT assess the Government’s apprenticeship levy.

38 BIM and CDM2015 How is BIM benefiting Health and Safety industry-wide?

Publications Editor Robert Atherton

General Manager Ian Parker

Designer James Ormerod

Head of Operations Gareth Trevor-Jones

Publications Officer Abigail Burr

Product Development Seamus Norton

Support Team Beka Patterson Sarah Livesley

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The Benefits & Risks of Becoming a Contractor WITH BRITISH BUSINESS ON THE BRINK OF CHANGING FOREVER AFTER THE BREXIT RESULT, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENT ARE THINKING OF THE FUTURE. Whilst some argue that EU migrants working in British construction are vital to the workforce, others feel this is an opportunity for Britain to support its own industries. For those embracing the change, or simply looking to secure their livelihoods, more and more tradespeople and Construction SME’s are considering the prospect of becoming a self-employed contractor.

Choosing to move into a contractor role in your industry can be a hugely beneficial move. It can give you the freedom you want to focus on your passions in your sector and it can be your chance to gain some experience in those business areas which may not have been key to your role when employed. Becoming a contractor comes with many benefits but is important to also factor in the risks before making your decision.

YOUR CONTRACTOR SKILL SET Companies look for particular qualities in their contractors so before making any decisions consider yourself in relation to the following qualities: · Industry Skill Set: Do you have the skills that clients in your sector are looking for? Are you up to date with all the latest industry developments? · Reputation: Do you offer a professional service? Have you got the correct business insurances? · Personal and People Skills: Do you get on well with other people? Some contractors choose this route as they don’t want to work in a world packed with office and workplace politics However, you will still need the ability to diplomatically get along with clients

and their employees. · Costs: clients are looking for cost effective solutions, with an explanation for every element of your costings.

Can you offer all they need for the budget they have available? · Delivery: no client will be satisfied if you can’t deliver what you’ve committed to. When you’ve committed to it, make sure you are convinced you will be able to commit before agreeing to any contract.

BENEFITS OF CONTRACTING The main benefits of becoming a contractor include: · Freedom: you are your own boss and therefore you can choose when and where you work and only select those projects which really interest and inspire you. · Finance: once you are established you have the potential to earn as much as you like, you will usually be paid more money than a permanent employee as you are offering a specialised service within a set time period. · Experience: you can seek out those contracts which broaden and diversify your experience and expand what you already know. · Holidays and Breaks: as a contractor you can structure your working year as you like. Many contractors work for 9-10 months and then take the rest of the time as holiday whilst others only work afternoons, once or twice a month or whatever suits their schedule.

RISKS OF CONTRACTING It would be naïve to consider becoming a

contractor without thinking about the risks that come with the decision, they include: · Less Security: You are your own boss and so you are responsible for finding work and keeping it. You won’t receive pay if you don’t complete your contracts and there may be periods between contracts which are a little tighter than you would like. If you have issues with saving and money management, you may want to think very carefully before becoming a contractor. · Higher Responsibility: When you are hired as a contractor you are hired as an expert, and so all of the onus is on you to complete the task which you are assigned for. You have to complete the work to a good standard and do it in good time; there are no excuses for not doing so if you want to keep your client happy. Another key responsibility you have to bear in mind is finding all your own work. · Increased Admin: Whilst working as an employee you rely upon your employer to sort out most of your admin, especially relating to tax and National Insurance. This is no longer the case when you are a contractor, and it is your responsibility to ensure your taxes and accounts are in order. Help is always available from other professionals, but you still need to keep good records.

Contracting certainly isn’t for everyone but if you believe you have the skills and the drive to succeed then it can be a very successful career move.

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CIOB backs military recruitment initiative THE Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is throwing its support behind a cross-industry initiative to boost construction industry worker numbers by recruiting members of the armed forces.

The CIOB is supporting BuildForce to increase awareness of careers within the construction sector for armed forces leavers and veterans, and boost recruitment routes from the services into the industry.

A recent CIOB survey revealed that 77% of 700 construction professionals surveyed felt that ex-armed forces personnel could help alleviate the management skills gap in the sector.

It is estimated that around 230,000 new workers are required in the construction industry by the end of the decade. With three quarters of UK contractors working at or near full capacity, skills shortages affect not just trades but also lead to a rise in demand for professional technical and managerial staff.

Around 20,000 men and women leave the armed forces every year, with the skills desperately desired

for management roles within the construction industry. These include strong team-working, leadership and communications skills, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments, work with people from diverse backgrounds and take responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of large numbers of workers.

Chris Chivers CIOB President said: “Construction is a people-based industry, and it needs leaders just as urgently as those with technical skills. For ex-military personnel, there has never been a better time to join the sector. Technological advances are creating new and exciting opportunities.

“But without a pipeline of new decision makers, the UK construction sector’s growth and global competitiveness will be severely under threat. It’s important that we act together to establish and strengthen recruitment paths across the armed forces, tapping into this very valuable resource, supporting our exmilitary personnel and boosting the UK economy.”

Andrew Parker, Director of Defence at Morgan Sindall and Chair of BuildForce

said: “With nearly 20,000 men and women leaving the armed forces every year, this provides a natural resource of managerial talent for employers. In many cases, ex-military personnel have already developed strong leadership and management skills, but may lack specific construction knowledge.

“Our aim at BuildForce is to bridge that gap, alerting people to the opportunities in the construction sector at an earlier stage in their military career, providing access to training, mentoring and working with organisations such as CIOB to help them gain built-environment qualifications before they leave the services.

“We would like BuildForce to become the go-to organisation for enabling ex-military personnel to get into construction whilst also helping smooth the transition into civilian life.”

BuildForce is part-funded by CITB and led by a group of founding companies: Carillion, Crossrail, EY, Lendlease, Morgan Sindall and Wilson James.

Following a successful 18 month pilot, BuildForce is expanding to include more industry partners.

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Greybull brings British Steel back GREYBULL Capital has paid a nominal £1 fee for Tata Steel’s Long Products Europe business.

The deal will preserve 4,400 UK jobs and revive the British Steel name.

Workers accepted changes to terms and conditions in April, and a 3% pay cut in a bid to salvage the business - now renamed British Steel.

The sale includes the steelworks in Scunthorpe and sites in Teesside, Workington and York.

New phase for Manchester’s smart motorway THE latest phase of a major project on the M60 and M62, which aims to tackle congestion and improve journey times, has commenced.

Stef Wilson said: “Over 180,000 drivers travel along this stretch of the M60 and M62 every day, making it one of the busiest routes in the country.

Work has begun to upgrade 56 overhead gantries on the 17-mile smart motorway route between junction 8 of the M60 near Sale and junction 20 of the M62 near Rochdale, so that they can be fitted with new electronic signs.

“The new smart motorway will use variable speed limits to help tackle the stop-start conditions many of us have experienced in the past and an extra lane will be created on a five mile stretch of the M62.

Four specialist contactors will be brought in to upgrade the gantries, using cranes, scissor lifts and cherry pickers to remove existing signs and fit new steel support structures, cables, electronic signs and lights to each gantry.

“We need to close sections of the motorway overnight for the next 11 months for the latest phase of the project to upgrade 56 overhead gantries. We’re carrying out the work when the motorway is at its quietest, and are encouraging drivers to consider using alternative routes or allow extra time for their journeys.”

From Monday to Friday over the next 11 months, various short stretches of the motorway will be closed overnight, when traffic levels are at their lowest.

The smart motorway scheme will see the latest technology being used to monitor traffic levels and keep vehicles moving by using variable speed limits.

The hard shoulder will also be permanently converted into an extra lane between junctions 18 and 20 on the M62 to increase capacity on the route between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Highways England Project Manager

Greybull has said that the Firm had returned to operating profit over the last two months as a result of a turnaround plan, and that it had £400M ready to invest in the business.

Mr Bimlendra Jha, Executive Chairman of the Long Products Europe business and CEO of Tata Steel UK said: “As a responsible seller, Tata Steel is delighted to have secured a buyer for this business and we hope that under Greybull Capital ownership, the business will continue the momentum of the improvement program that has been initiated in the last 12 months.

“Employees and trade unions have worked closely with the Long Products Europe management team to improve the business’s prospects, putting it in a more competitive position than it has been for many years. It is through their dedication and hard work that we are in this position today in spite of continued challenges in the market."

The first closure will take place over six nights, excluding Saturday and Sunday night, on the eastbound M62 between junction 18 at the interchange with the M60 and M62 and junction 19 (Heywood). The closures will be in place between 10pm and 6am, and drivers will be able to follow clearlysigned diversion routes.

The smart motorway scheme is due to be completed by autumn 2017, with 350 electronic signs in place to warn drivers of changes in the mandatory speed limit, lane closures and incidents ahead.

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Tower Bridge to close for three months TOWER Bridge will be closed in October for three months to undergo essential maintenance work, bringing the possibility of travel chaos on both sides of the Thames.

From 1 October, Tower Bridge Road will close to vehicles to allow the works to take place. These will include the replacement of the decking on the bascules; corrosion prevention and repair operations; replacement of worn expansion joints; resurfacing of fixed roads and walkways; waterproofing of approach viaducts; maintenance of key mechanical and lift components; and general repairs to the towers, as well as the replacement of river navigation and traffic signal lights.

The 122-year-old bridge is a vital connection in crossing the Thames with over 40,000 people, including 21,000 vehicles, crossing it every day.

This heavy use has had an effect on the timber decking of the bridge, which was last refurbished in the 1970s.

The City will be working closely with TfL and the London Boroughs of Southwark and Tower Hamlets to minimise disruption caused, and comprehensive traffic management plans will be in place for the duration of the work.

A crossing for pedestrians will be maintained at all times. Subject to final design and agreement with the local authorities, the bridge will remain open to pedestrians for all but three

weekends of the three months of planned works, during which time it is proposed that a free replacement ferry service be provided. The viewing gallery along the walkways of the bridge will remain open to visitors for the entirety of the works, and exhibitions will continue as planned.

Chris Hayward, Chairman of the Planning and Transport Committee said: “This decision to close Tower Bridge to vehicles has not been taken lightly, and this course of action has been taken after extensive consultation and planning in conjunction with numerous stakeholders.

“We will use this time to repair, refurbish, and upgrade London’s most iconic bridge, which has gone without significant engineering works for more than 35 years.

“We will work hard to minimise disruption to both pedestrians and motor vehicles, and the bridge’s viewing walkways and exhibitions will stay open for the entirety of the works.”

AA President Edmund King lamented the planned works, saying Londoners had only just got back their sense of traffic normality. He commented: “Just when traffic will have got back to normal following the disruption caused by the Cycle Superhighways construction, London drivers will be hit by another dead end.”

Lord Heseltine encourages growth in Tees Valley IN response to the closure of Redcar’s SSI steelworks, which resulted in a loss of 2,200 jobs, Lord Heseltine has authored a new report, in which he looks at encouraging growth in Tees Valley.

Lord Heseltine explains: “I was delighted to receive an invitation from Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, to support inward investment in the Tees Valley, and to look at the SSI site following its closure.”

Within the report, Heseltine proposes a new development corporation for the area, more starter homes, apprenticeships, and changes to the industrial identity of Teesside to attract the tourist trade.

The 90 page document, written by former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister, endorses a new development corporation for the area, with a board made up of local authority leaders and business people. They have been asked to draw up proposals for the use of the former steelworks site.

Lord Heseltine concluded: “The Government is driving forward the Northern Powerhouse.

“The new combined authority can stamp its own imprint, break out from the shadow of Newcastle, exploit its past, secure the interconnectivity of transport infrastructure, establish Darlington as its gateway, and add an escalating range of new industries to those on which its past depended."

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Help to Buy scheme not helping many first-time buyers A recent BBC investigation has found that the Government’s Help to Buy scheme is not helping everyone, with many homes branded “too expensive”.

buyers to put their deposit into a taxfree savings account and get a 25% bonus, up to a maximum of £3,000 when buying their home.

exceed the cap in a third of boroughs, with only 10% of average threebedroom homes in London being below the cap.

The price of a house under the scheme cannot exceed £250,000, or £450,000 in London. However, the investigation found that starter homes exceeded the price cap in many areas across England.

However, the Help to Buy ISA only gives savers a £3,000 bonus on their deposit if the price of the house is below the cap.

Personal finance commentator Martin Lewis, of MoneySavingExpert.com, said savers should not be put off opening a HTB ISA.

Housing charity, Shelter, said it only helped “a lucky few” and the Government should focus on building more homes.

He said: “It is a cash giveaway from the taxpayer. Even if you don’t end up using it to buy a house, you still have savings with a very favourable rate of interest.”

Help to Buy was introduced last year to help people save up for a home, with the Government claiming that the cap allows the scheme to be aimed at the first time buyer.

It was introduced to allow first time

Analysis of a two-bedroom starter home found that overall, outside London, two-bedroom homes exceed the cap in 28% of areas.

Average asking prices exceed the cap in 67% of areas in the South East, 65% in London, 61% in the South and 53% in the East.

In London, an average two-bedroom flat exceeds the cap in two thirds of boroughs, while one-bedroom flats

Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of housing charity Shelter, added: “Soaring housing costs have left millions of people stuck in a rent trap and struggling to save anything towards a home of their own.

“The Help to Buy ISA only helps the lucky few who are better off, or able to live with their parents while they save for a deposit. For the vast majority of renters who want to move forward in life and put down roots, this scheme brings them no closer to that dream.

“If the Government genuinely wants to help the nation’s renters get a foot on the housing ladder, it needs to look beyond quick-fix schemes, and invest in homes that people on ordinary incomes can actually afford.”

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MediaCityUK set for £1Bn expansion NEW plans submitted to Salford City Council will see MediaCityUK double in size over the next decade, in a £1Bn expansion of the site.

granted in 2006. A condition of that permission was that detailed proposals, including all building designs and specifications, needed to be brought forward this year.

The creative and digital hub already houses 250 businesses including the BBC and ITV.

The plans are expected to be considered

by Salford’s planning panel in September.

Key developments include 50,000sq m (540,000sq ft) of office space, 1,800 apartments, retail and leisure outlets, public areas and a promenade.

Steven Underwood, Chief Executive of The Peel Group, said: “This application is another major step forward in the evolution of MediaCityUK.

MediaCityUK is a joint venture between ‘Peel Land and Property’ and ‘Legal and General Capital’.

“Our partnership with Legal and General Capital, alongside continued support from the public sector, provides a strong platform to deliver future development phases of the UK’s

Outline approval for the plans was

fastest growing hub for the creative and digital industries.

“MediaCityUK is a shining example of what can be achieved across the Northern Powerhouse, combining the talents of great people with ambition and vision.”

Paul Stanworth, Managing Director, Legal and General Capital, said: “Urban regeneration of the scale being delivered at MediaCityUK has the ability to make a sizeable economic impact, both locally and nationally.

“We hope to deliver much-needed homes, hubs for businesses and new retail, leisure and public spaces for residents, workers and visitors to enjoy.”

Keepmoat to deliver 5,000 homes for rent KEEPMOAT has struck a deal with investment partner Sigma Capital Group to invest £800M in private rental schemes.

More than 5,000 properties will be built across England by 2021 – the intention being to deliver 1,000 rental homes in the first year alone. The homes will be sited throughout the North West, Yorkshire, the Midlands and north of London.

Developments will comprise of two-, three- and four-bedroom properties for private rent on land owned or to be

acquired by Keepmoat.

Sigma will manage investment and lettings while Keepmoat will procure the land and take the lead on the design, planning and building processes.

Dave Sheridan, Chief Executive at Keepmoat, said: “This is a significant milestone for our business, and we are proud to be working alongside Sigma to scale-up their PRS (Private Rented Sector) growth ambitions.

quality market rented homes alongside our Keepmoat homes for sale, which will allow the pace of housing delivery on strategic sites to be increased, to deliver the Government’s aspirations and provide people across the country with much-needed housing options.

“To deliver this target, we are working closely with our supply chain – many of which are small and medium sized businesses – to help them to grow and respond to the market need.”

Construction on the initial site is due to commence this summer.

“The partnership will deliver great

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Worryingly, the residential building work rose at one of its slowest rates since the beginning of 2013.

Construction output growth continues slowdown UK construction output growth in May continued to slowdown and saw the first fall in new orders since April 2013, according to the latest Markit and Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) figures.

The UK construction PMI figure for May fell to 51.2, down from 52.0 in April, and is now hovering precariously just above the growth threshold rate of 50.0.

Output growth is currently at its weakest level for nearly three years. Market conditions were reported to have dropped amid continued uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum.

Worryingly, residential building work rose at one of its slowest rates since the beginning of 2013. Commercial activity was also at its slowest for almost three years.

Civil engineering was the worst performing sector as growth stagnated during May.

Mood within the construction industry continues to be quite positive, however, with 51% predicting an increase in output over the next 12 months. Only 14% expected to see a decrease.

A positive for the construction industry came in the shape of employment with job creation in May hitting its highest level for four months.

Respondents were asked a special question on the impact of the EU referendum, with the results showing one in three businesses felt that the uncertainty surrounding the issue was having a negative impact. 5% said the impact was ‘strongly detrimental’.

55% reported no significant impact, while 9% of respondents were unsure whether ‘Brexit’ worries were a factor impacting on their business.

Tim Moore, Senior Economist at Markit, said: “Survey respondents noted that the forthcoming EU referendum has

disrupted new order flows and the timing of client decision making in particular. Heightened uncertainty and subdued general economic conditions in turn contributed to the first outright fall in new work received by construction firms for just over three years.

“The main positive aspect was a pickup in staff hiring to its fastest since the beginning of the year. Positive employment trends not only contrasted with falling new order volumes in May, but the gap between these indices was the largest since the survey began in 1997.

“An optimistic interpretation is that construction firms are looking through the second quarter weakness and feel that workloads will recover momentum. However, should this fail to materialise later in 2016, then job creation is likely to come under pressure given its elevated trend relative to current demand patterns.”

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Construction workers to receive pay rise

UNIONS GMB, UCATT and UNITE reached an agreement for workers covered by the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC).

With inflation currently standing at 0.3%, the two-year deal will see an increase of 2.5% from 25th July, increasing to 2.75% in June next year.

Sick pay and subsistence allowance will also rise in line with the basic pay rate increases. Other benefits will include an extra day’s holiday from 1st January 2017, which is worth an additional 0.4%. Annual leave will also see more flexibility.

The Unions have warned, however, that the CIJC agreement, which covers around 400,000 workers, is increasingly becoming unfit for purpose. Areas of concern include rates of pay, the need to recognise the London Living Wage, and the need to make sure the agreement applies to company supply chains.

Phil Whitehurst , GMB National Officer for Construction, said: “After protracted negotiations GMB, Unite and UCATT have attained well over inflation

increases over the length of a two year deal, with retrospective increases in sick pay and subsistence allowances from July 25th 2016 and an extra day’s annual leave from January 2017. GMB will consult its members with a firm recommendation of acceptance.

“That being said, the CIJC working rule agreement is still by no means the agreement of choice for the whole construction industry being well behind the terms and conditions of other construction agreements such as NAECI and JIB. All three Unions have tabled warnings to the employers that the agreement needs a thorough overhaul to bring it into the 21st century or it will wither at the vine and become unfit for purpose in a future innovative construction industry.”

Brian Rye, Acting General Secretary of UCATT, commented: “This deal ensures that workers will enjoy above inflation increase for the next two years. However, employers need to understand that the CIJC agreement does not meet the needs of the workforce and unless it is radically reformed it will soon cease to be relevant to the industry.”

Improving major project delivery: Project Initiation Routemap THE Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has launched new content for the Project Initiation Routemap – a tool that can help to avoid many of the problems that emerge at the beginning of a major project. The tool allows sponsors and clients to address those problems, setting themselves up to succeed.

It forms part of the Government’s National Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which sets out how the Government will deliver key projects and programmes over the next five years. Routemap assessments have been used for 20 major projects, including Crossrail and Anglian Water’s Alliance Strategy, helping to ensure their successful delivery.

The new content includes a module on risk management, which will help project leaders identify and mitigate the factors that can prevent a project from meeting its objectives. The second new module on asset management will help projects secure best value for taxpayers and investors by ensuring they focus on managing assets across their whole lives.

These two new modules are designed to complement the five existing modules.

Following the launch, the IPA will begin to broaden the scope of the routemap from economic infrastructure to include construction and transformation projects in the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio.

During a launch event at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Tony Meggs, Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, said: “I’m delighted to launch this new content for the IPA’s Project Initiation Routemap.

Studies have demonstrated that many problems encountered in the delivery of projects can be traced back to issues

in the early stages of development. The routemap is a vital tool for setting up major projects to succeed and I look forward to applying it to the full range of projects in the government’s Major Projects Portfolio.”

Nick Baveystock, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Director General, said: “Today’s Project Initiation Routemap update will further strengthen UK clients’ capability to deliver infrastructure and construction projects to time, budget and specification. ICE is delighted to have supported the work of the Infrastructure Client Group. This is industry working together to solve our own issues. In bringing together a broad collection of industry leaders from major UK clients and subject matter experts to develop these new modules on risk and asset management of major projects, decision makers will be able to ask better questions about their from the outset. I would encourage all major clients to use the framework and also to give us feedback so we can continue to improve it.”

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New Shadow Chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships appointed ANTONY Jenkins has been appointed Shadow Chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships – the new independent, employer-led organisation created to support the Government’s plan to create three million apprenticeships by 2020.

As Shadow Chair, Mr Jenkins will be an ambassador for the Institute for Apprenticeships and will also play a key role in designing its structure and providing strategic leadership and

direction to the Institute during the critical phase of its development. He will work closely with the current team in preparing the Organisation to start operations in 2017.

Mr Jenkins background includes a stint as Chief Executive of Barclays plc and he is the current Chairman of Business in the Community – an organisation that supports businesses in acting socially responsible to create a fairer society and a more sustainable future.

He is also a patron of the Government’s employee engagement programme.

Mr Jenkins began his new role in June. With the Shadow Chair in place, the remaining board members of the Institute for Apprenticeships will be chosen through a public appointments process by the end of 2016. The Institute for Apprenticeships’ primary responsibility will be to act as the ultimate decision maker on approving apprenticeship standards and assessment plans to ensure they are of high quality. It will also make recommendations on the maximum

level of government funding available for those standards and how much employers can claim for them. The Institute for Apprenticeships’ ultimate goal is to ensure employees get the skills they need to succeed from the apprenticeship system.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “Antony brings more than three decades of experience from the heart of business to the role and will help shape the Institute for Apprenticeships so it meets the needs of employers. We’re putting employers in control when it comes to apprenticeships because its employers who know the skills, training and experience their future workforce needs to succeed.”

Antony Jenkins added: “Apprenticeships are something I care passionately about. I am delighted to be taking on this role and working closely with different sectors which will be important in helping to create opportunities for millions of our citizens and providing great talent for business.”

FTA: Vans key to UK economy THE FTA Logistics Report has claimed that vans and their drivers are crucial to the UK economy – with more than four million currently on the road – due to a significant shift in consumerist trends.

At the end of last year, retailers predicted that over 860 million parcels would be delivered to UK homes, due to a massive surge in e-commerce.

These statistics have been supported by the latest Department for Transport (DfT) Road Traffic Estimates, which showed that van traffic grew faster than any other vehicle type in the UK, and covered around 48 billion miles in 2015.

Mark Cartwright, FTA Head of Vans, said: “If ever there was a need for evidence to support how vans power our daily lives, the latest DfT figures provide it. There are now over four million vans on UK roads, covering more miles than ever before, and their numbers are growing at a rate faster than any other type of vehicle.

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“This is further confirmation of the humble van’s importance to the UK’s economic activity. It’s been recognised for a while that there is a clear correlation between UK GDP and van ‘traffic’ but we’re now seeing the growth in ‘van traffic’ outstrip economic performance, primarily due to internet shopping and entrepreneurial activity.”

The key role played by vans has been the focus of the FTA’s Van Excellence Operational Briefings, along with how seriously operators should consider safety and compliance in their day-today work.

The last in the series of Van Excellence briefings recently took place at Ashton Gate Stadium – home of Bristol City FC and Bristol Rugby – and gave van operators an opportunity to examine best practice across a range of major areas including road safety, the psychology of driving and driver distraction.

Mr Cartwright commented: “It is important for van operators to take safety and compliance seriously if they want to continue enjoying the operational flexibility vans provide. Selfregulation is the key to stopping moves to impose ‘truck-like’ legislation across van fleets. Van Excellence provides a very straightforward route for operators to adopt industry best practice and become an Accredited Operator.”

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THE EVALUATIVE MEDIATOR – ENTER STAGE LEFT I am currently involved in a large mediation which I am struggling to settle. It isn't a complete train wreck. A gap of over £10 million has been reduced to less than £500K and the Parties are still talking to each other and otherwise exploring options to avoid spending the equivalent of the GDP of a small African country to litigate the dispute; so we will see.

In my private sessions with the Parties, both sets of lawyers over two long days said that they had started to lose confidence in the mediation process. I have heard this from

other lawyers recently and it concerns me that Parties may be losing faith in a system of dispute resolution that I fervently believe in.

So why are Parties losing faith in mediation? Could it be because they enter the process with expectations that are simply unrealistic? Do Parties refuse to look objectively at their own case when negotiating? Do instructed experts lose sight of their roles and sometimes end up polluting the settlement well?

Are the lawyers themselves to blame for encouraging their clients to set unrealistic

objectives. Are there hidden agendas that the mediator cannot identify? Yes, you've guessed it, I have encountered all these problems over the last 20 years (with many more besides) and sometimes with all of them arising in the same mediation! Happy days!

But what about the mediator's role? Do Parties select a Mediator who is merely going to facilitate the dispute, or do they select a mediator who has specialist knowledge of the industry and who might be willing to evaluate a Party's position in a private session, if only to break a deadlock?

Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204 362808

tvp@vinden.co.uk www.vinden.co.uk

Is this approach a legitimate technique for a mediator?

What if one Party desires this approach but one or more of the others doesn't want to know?

There is no doubt that if a Mediator begins to evaluate the dispute there is a possibility that he or she could risk losing the trust of one or more of the Parties. Care must therefore be taken in how you approach the evaluation of a Party's position, if indeed you should adopt this approach at all.

OK, hands up! I admit that I am often inclined to tell a party that I think a position is going to be "difficult" (diplomatic speak for hopeless) to sustain, if I am convinced that they really need to hear what can be a difficult message to deliver.

I justify this approach on the basis that a party is better to hear bad news within the confines and relative safety of a mediation as opposed to finding out after it is too late in an arbitration, adjudication or court case. Care needs to be taken in delivering such a message but I would argue that it cannot be right for a mediator to say nothing when he or she hears something that is plainly incorrect, particularly if a failure of the mediation is

then likely to be the end result.

It is not about the Mediator having an easy life, it is about trying to get the job done.

But I can only adopt this approach if the dispute falls within my specialist knowledge. So, in construction, civil engineering and professional negligence claims involving construction professionals, I consider it is legitimate to express a view in private if I hear a position being advanced which I know I would not entertain as adjudicator or arbitrator.

Clearly, in cases where I don't have specialist knowledge, for instance personal injury or medical negligence, it would be inappropriate for a construction professional to express a view on a party's case and so I stick to my knitting in such cases and adopt a facilitative approach.

But this doesn't mean that I can't reality test a Party's position by asking probing questions and looking for the all-important breakthrough and concessions.

compromise are all important factors. BUT, above all else, make sure you pick a mediator who will be willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.

Finally, ask yourself if you or your Client ought to select a mediator who will be willing and able to evaluate a position if he or she identifies that this approach is or may be needed in order to reach a settlement. Perhaps it is time for a different approach and Mediators who are willing to evaluate will stimulate renewed interest in the mediation game. Evaluative Mediators – enter stage left.

Peter Vinden is a practising Arbitrator, Adjudicator, Mediator and Expert. He is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership and can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk. For similar articles please visit www.vinden.co.uk.

So how do Parties improve their chances of success in mediation? Clearly, approaching the mediation with an open mind, being willing to listen, negotiate and

Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204362808

tvp@vinden.co.uk www.vinden.co.uk

Another Invalid Payment Notice: Jawaby Property Investment I have previously commented on the line of recent cases in which contractors have succeeded in obtaining payment of sums applied for, in the absence of a valid employer’s payment notice or pay less notice. I have also commented on the recent cases where the contractor’s application has been found in court not to be valid: Leeds City Council v Waco UK Ltd (2015), Caledonian Modular v Mar City Developments (2015), Henia Investments Inc v Beck Interiors Ltd (2015) and Grove Developments Ltd v Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Ltd (2016). The courts have stressed that it is important that the validity of these notices is scrutinised, as they have potentially severe financial consequences if not acted upon correctly; it is therefore vital that they are clearly recognisable as payment notices.

differently. TIG would send a valuation by email, with detailed back-up sheets, followed by a statement of the final sum applied for at the conclusion. Each application valued the works up to the due date, which under this contract was the 8th of each month. These applications by TIG complied with the requirements of the contract. The email of 7th January was a reply to a request. Critically, it was also described as TIG’s “initial” assessment. It could not objectively be construed as a statement of what TIG considered was due under the contract. It was only what TIG considered might be due, subject to further consideration. It was unclear whether the valuation was to 5th or 7th January, but in any case it was not, unlike all previous valuations, up to the due date (8th January).

In the most recent case, Jawaby Property Investment Ltd v The Interiors Group Ltd (2016), JPIL and TIG made an agreement based on the standard JCT 2011 Design and Build Contract, with amendments. The contractor, TIG, wanted to rely on an email dated 7th January 2016 attaching what the email described as “our initial assessment for Valuation 007”. The email was a response to an email from JPIL of 5th January requesting TIG’s valuation “tomorrow morning so that I can review it prior to our meeting on Monday”.

The valuation was in the gross sum of £2,352,937.29.

The valuation therefore did not comply with the contract. It did not state what TIG considered to be due to it. A mere statement of what the contractor considered might be due did not meet the requirements of the contract. The reasonable recipient would not have regarded it as unambiguously informing it that this was an interim application for the purposes of the contract.

Valuations 1-6 had been dealt with

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On the basis of the earlier cases referred to above, the judge concluded that this is an area where there is little scope for latitude, stating: “If a contractor wishes to have the benefit of the interim payment regime such as that contained in the contract, then its application for interim

payment must be in substance, form and intent an interim application stating the sum considered by the contractor as due at the relevant due date and it must be free from ambiguity. The valuation here was not such an application.”

The position might have been different if the history of valuations 1-6 had been different. If, for example, the contract had required valuations to be provided in hard copy delivered by hand or by post, but the employer or his agent had in fact accepted applications for payment 1-6 by email and proceeded to deal with them and treat them as valid, it would then be difficult for the employer to take the point that valuation 7 was not valid because it was sent by email.

The employer would have waived the contractual requirement, or the doctrine of estoppel by convention would apply.

This doctrine relates to agreement post-contract not to apply the letter of the contract in some respect; on this example the parties’ convention would be that valuations could be sent by email. There was also an example in Leeds City Council v Waco Ltd (2015), where it was held that the irregularity constituted by the making by the contractor of applications up to three or four days late had been waived by the employer. The employer had paid out on ten such irregular applications over a period of eleven months or so.

Peter Sheridan Partner at Sheridan Gold LLP

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Inside the Tornado FROM construction to the public sector, insurance to retail, virtually every organisation is looking hard at the Internet of Things (IoT) to assess opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance customer experience. The networks are in place and the devices available by the billions – but how can organisations actively make sense of the data tornado delivered by IoT to realise the benefits?

These connected devices must be continuously available to drive realtime operations, from preventative maintenance to proactive customer communications. In addition to the investment in devices and networks, where is the infrastructure to store and analyse the data and then immediately deliver it back to operational systems?

With many organisations yet to determine exactly where IoT will deliver financial returns, and how much, the challenge of interlinking so many complex components with no proven business case is a potential stumbling block. Yet there are serious benefits to be attained with the right approach.

PERFECT STORM The widespread deployment of high bandwidth mobile networks in tandem with the creation of a vast array of low cost sensor devices has created a perfect storm: the IoT is now both viable and affordable. But while organisations are flocking to device vendors in a bid to get involved, there are two major stumbling blocks: defining the business outcome and creating the business case.

The business outcome is, of course, easier to define in some markets than others. Within the construction industry, for example, downtime due to equipment failure can have very significant consequences, especially given the use of penalties for late completion. With projects run on very

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tight timelines, failure of one piece of equipment can knock out the whole schedule.

The chance to leverage IoT data to embrace proactive maintenance is, therefore, compelling. With real time information from sensors measuring temperature, vibration and current, for example, an organisation can track variances to identify likely problems and undertake preventative equipment maintenance. To realise this vision requires an investment not only in multiple sensors but also a secure wireless mesh network, database to store the information and an analytics tool that can identify trends in temperature variation and flag up those pieces of equipment at risk before they fail. In this case, replacing the traditional break/fix model with a proactive approach significantly reduces the likelihood of downtime, producing immediate savings that can make the IoT business case.

QUESTIONS QUESTIONS In other markets, however, the business case is less clear cut and will demand rigorous analysis of data collected from sensors to reveal potential opportunities. How much, for example, will customers pay to sign up for a parking service that leverages IoT to both identify available parking spaces and allocate them to individuals on the fly? Is the model workable and will the demand justify the up-front investment in sensors, networks and cloud based data storage and analytics?

The insurance industry is also massively interested in the data that could be collected via IoT - most notably the wearable technologies that track everything from an individual’s blood pressure to daily activity. The potential of this information has actuaries salivating – but issues of personal data protection and data security are a concern. Again, would

individuals be willing to sign up?

Given the somewhat nebulous nature of many potential business cases, organisations are questioning how best to embrace IoT without incurring massive up-front costs. While individual device price is low, many IoT deployments will require hundreds if not thousands of devices. Add in the costs associated with the network infrastructure, which will require more than one network to ensure resilient 24x7 operations, plus the need for massive storage and excellent analytics to make sense of the data, and this is no simple deployment.

END TO END There are growing alliances between technology vendors and a strong move to develop IoT standards. However, the majority of organisations just want a simple, single vendor model; an approach that enables them to embrace the IoT concept without huge upheaval or investment.

End to End IoT integrators will have an increasing role to play in enabling organisations to realise their IoT visions; but organisations need to make sure that this new generation of service providers can offer all the critical elements of the IoT solution – not just devices and network transport.

And this is key because once the end to end IoT deployment is in place, organisations have a wealth of data that can be used to drive incremental business value. Within construction, for example, while the preventative maintenance value justifies the initial IoT deployment, the data also enables a company to gain far more insight into the overall performance of equipment within different construction environments, supporting better long term planning.

Performance information can also be consolidated into Key Performance

The widespread deployment of high bandwidth mobile networks in tandem with the creation of a vast array of low cost sensor devices has created a perfect storm: the IoT is now both viable and affordable.

Indicator (KPI) dashboards; to ensure everyone from maintenance experts to site managers have real time access. A concrete example is temperature sensor data collection while concrete is being poured – in order to prevent cracking, the temperature of concrete has to remain within certain ranges during the pouring process. By measuring this and producing a report, a construction company can mitigate against future liability. In addition, this information can be securely shared with relevant third parties, such as insurers, risk assessors, academics, equipment design and manufacturers, building management companies, and used by the customer services team to undertake proactive communications programmes.

Given the potential business benefits on offer, IoT is the hottest tech ticket around right now for good reason.

But organisations need to be aware that while data is a critical part of the solution it is just a part. Without every component of the solution in place and a trusted end to end provider, organisations will struggle to make any sense of this data storm and fail to make a compelling business case.

Nick Sacke Head of IoT and Products at Comms365

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Improve operator safety without compromising network reliability MODERN society depends heavily on an uninterrupted supply of electric power. Prolonged power outages cause loss of business to the power supplier and loss of production to the power consumer.

Regardless how safe a power system is, faults do occur. The damage caused by power system faults must be kept to a minimum. The ultimate solution is to selectively isolate the fault as fast as possible, while maintaining the operation of the healthy network parts.

ARC FLASHES An arc flash is the release of energy through light and heat produced by an electric arc. Sufficient levels of arc flash energy can cause substantial damage both to workers and the equipment in close proximity to the incident. Facility owners will have strategies in place for reducing arc-flash incident levels, but it’s important to understand what is happening inside your systems in order to effectively mitigate the problem.

minimised.

CONTAINING THE BLAST

An arc protection system can principally be implemented in three different ways: as an autonomous master unit system, as a part of a protection relay system or as an intersection between a master unit system and a protection relay system.

Containing arc flash energy is critical. In these settings, arc-resistant equipment that protect against blasts may be required. Such products, including medium and low voltage arc resistant switchgear as well as arc resistant low voltage motor control centres, are able to contain the rated values of arc flash incident energy that are not able to be reduced through relays or other methods. Per testing standards, all of the exhaust gases and thermal energies are directed away from the front, sides and rear of the equipment, protecting employees and preventing the proliferation of an arc flash to other systems. This includes preventing the arc flash from:

WHY ARC FLASH PROTECTION? Traditional protection techniques may not provide a fast enough defence against substation faults. Further, highimpedance earth-faults may cause prolonged operation times for earthfault relays. This in turn can lead to a significant release of arcing energy.

This can pose a considerable risk to human life and high-value assets.

To choose the most appropriate means for addressing potential arc-flash incidents, specifying engineers need to understand the safety and reliability goals of a particular site.

REDUCING THE RISK

• Causing doors or covers to open or blow off during the event.

• Fragment and eject parts within the protected area.

• Allowing the arcing fault to burn through the enclosure.

ARC PROTECTION RELAY An arc protection relay is a protective device used to maximise personnel safety and minimise the material damage to an installation in the most hazardous power system fault situations. Arc protection systems detect an arc in an installation and measure the fault current.

In an arc flash situation, the arc protection relay immediately trips the related circuit breaker(s) to isolate the fault. An arc protection system operates much faster than conventional protection relays and thus damage caused by an arc short circuit can be

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Arc flash incident energy builds in direct correlation with the length of time of the incident. For example, double the duration of the arcing fault and the available energy doubles; halve the duration and you cut the energy in half. A number of methods can be employed to reduce the arc flash duration including incorporating Zone-Selective Interlocking Schemes, Arc Flash Maintenance Switches, Low Arc Flash Circuit Breakers, or Arc-Flash Protective Relays. These options can clear faults faster than the over current protective device’s normal operating trip settings, reducing the clearing time and arc flash incident energy released.

• Allowing cotton indicators spaced about the gear to ignite.

• Have any of its grounding connections become ineffective.

To maximise reliability and ensure safety, increased facility performance and arc flash mitigation have to work in tandem.

Brendan Dolan Offer Manager, Power Products, Schneider Electric Ireland

zappshelter

Welcome to Zappshelter With our unpredictable weather conditions, innovation is needed to keep projects on track and on budget.

Zappshelters are the smart way to get under cover fast. Rapid to install and using only the most basic of equipment, Zappshelter usually require no planning permission to erect, and are easy to dismantle and relocate as needed. temporary or permanent covered areas for your location. They are available in a great range of widths, and the lengths work perfectly with standard steel containers.

0208 0505 121 | sales@zappshelter.com Typical applications :

• plant and vehicle storage • plant/vehicle maintenance areas • bulk material storage • steel fabrication areas • aggregate and salt storage • timber kit assembly areas • delivery and stores areas • site workshops • site training areas • wash bays • welfare areas • shot-blast and paint bays • precast areas

• animal housing • hay, straw and feed storage • farm equipment shelters • exhibitions, festivals and events • aircraft hangars • marine repair facilities • emergency services facilities.

Paragon Protection Systems Ltd

www.zappshelter.com Inveralmond Industrial Estate | Perth | PH2 9LW

Taking note of standards – the doorway to effective home security WHEN it comes to creating a secure property, a holistic approach should be taken in order to fully consider the property as a whole, the risks it faces and the best ways to mitigate them.

Effective home security can be as simple as ensuring that the doors and locks in place are of a high standard, especially since physical security measures are often known as the backbone of any security plan and can effectively defend against unwanted intruders. Having high quality measures in place is of such importance that there is actually a British Standard that doors should comply with. Titled PAS 24-1 ‘Doors of Enhanced Security’, the standard sets the minimum requirements that both doors and windows must meet in order to provide an appropriate level of security. The standard ensures that doors and windows are fit for purpose and measured by an array of key performance markers, including weather tightness, strength and operation.

External doors should be solid in their construction and should not be easily smashed or ripped away from locks, hinges or hinge bolts. It is advised that there should be three or more hinges on a door and recommended that external domestic doors should open inwards.

If this is not possible however, then the hinges should be protected using hinge bolts. Locks should also be of a high standard, with five-lever mortise looks

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being fitted to doors and high quality locks on all windows of a premises.

It is the smallest details that can end up being the most impactful when it comes to crime deterrence. In terms of glass doors, it can be wise to consider the type of glass being used. Glasses can act as weak point, both in terms of breakability but also visibility, allowing potential intruders to see straight into a property.

Fully glazed doors, however, can add a more robust layer of security along with an effective level of privacy. Properties with sliding doors, such as patio doors, should be fitted with anti-lift devices, as such doors run the risk of being levered out of their tracks. These doors should also be fitted with multi-locking systems with at least three locking points or mortise locks that have removable keys fitted on all doors at both the top and bottom. French windows can also pose their own security issues, as often there are two leafs to the door that rely on the strength of the other door rather than a secure frame to lock against. In these cases it can be useful to fit mortise locks with removable keys on each door at the top and bottom that are fixed into metal plates on the frame in order to provide extra strength.

As mentioned before it is the smallest details that count, and this can be right down to the letterbox on the door.

Generally, a door with a letterbox or ‘letterplate’, can weaken the security of a property as it forms an opening that an intruder could use to infiltrate the premises by extracting nearby items or attacking the locks. Letterplates can also make a property more vulnerable to other vicious crimes, like arson attacks.

It is generally recommended that a property fits an external letter box, away from the door. However, in cases where this is not possible, letterplates must not be positioned close to any locks and the opening should not be larger than 260mm x 40mm. There is even a British Standard for letter boxes, titled BS EN 13724, showing just how important it is to take note of relevant standards when securing features for a home.

As always, high quality standards remain at the forefront of any security agenda.

It is not enough to just be aware of the standards required for a product.

It is absolutely essential that security measures are chosen from a reputable supplier that meets with the relevant British and European Standards for their products or service. BSIA members are all inspected to these standards and provide a reliable service. To find out more visit: www.bsia.co.uk/home James Kelly Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA)

Is it worth it? Rated People, My Builder and Checkatrade explored NOWADAYS there are a heap of marketing businesses claiming to help builders and construction companies find new work. Rated People, My Builder and Checkatrade are among the most prominent.

It’s a problem when you run a construction business. There are lots of companies trying to sell to you, including several new internet based marketing companies. The question is whether any of them are actually worthwhile.

YES AND NO Having polled more than 1,000 homeowners using an independent research company, we found that 12% had managed to get work done after finding their construction or trade business on My Builder, Rated People or Checkatrade.

However, almost six times as many chose a company that they had used before, or that family or friends recommended. So personal recommendation is still king of the pack.

MORE BUSINESS THAN YELLOW PAGES BUT LESS THAN GOOGLE Yellow Pages remains on the decline and less people had found their trade companies from Thomson, Yellow Pages or a local paper than used the new boys on the block. But 18% had found their supplier directly on Google.

A UNIQUE BENEFIT One of the big advantages is that with Rated People and My Builder, lead generation can be turned on and off. That provides the possibility of

generating more work when times are quiet and turning down the wick when you are busy.

Neither Checkatrade nor traditional advertising with directories has this benefit.

STARTING UP AND THE PROBLEM WITH REVIEWS Our research said that 50% of homeowners see reputation as very important.

Rated People, My Builder and Checkatrade all ask for reviews after they have sourced a supplier. If you’re committed to quality, that should be a good thing.

The problem is how to get going. With no reviews it’s hard to win jobs. But until you win jobs you can’t get any reviews. This does encourage gaming the system.

THE FEES Not surprisingly, all of these new companies provide a free service for homeowners who are looking for construction companies.

Rated People and My Builder both sell leads to members with slight variants, with Rated People usually charging more.

Checkatrade claims to check out all prospective members and then charges them annually.

THE BOTTOM LINE The new services sell on the basis that they help both homeowners and construction companies. But in the

trade, there’s plenty of scepticism.

Mark Goodchild of Electric - Call suggests: “A lot of tradesmen game Rated People by getting their friends to do feedback” and, from the UK Business Forums, a marketing person advises: “I haven't found a trade directory that offers fully legit ratings… they are all manipulated.”

In contrast we have found people using each service that have had a good experience: • “GHS London” posting on UK Business Forums suggests: “Personally, as a new business owner, Checkatrade has worked well for me.”

• Jamie Barnes on Facebook says: “Rated People is good to fill in gaps in your work or if you’re just starting.”

• A tradesman on the Builders Talk Group on Facebook simply says: “Yeah defo My Builder. Getin (sic) loads of work off it.”

THE BOTTOM LINE All of these contradictory views make it hard to know what to do. My best advice is to be careful. However, if you are ambitious, these services are probably worth a try. More than one in ten jobs can likely be found through them, at least for residential work, so they are a potentially good source of leads. Good luck!

Benjamin Dyer CEO & co-founder of Powered Now

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Why off-site could boost the construction sector ALTHOUGH the UK construction industry is finally starting to grow and evolve after years of stagnation, it still lags behind some equivalent economies when it comes to embracing the latest modern methods of construction.

that expectations are managed and concerns dealt with promptly.

One of these is off-site construction, to which there is resistance in some sectors despite its many proven benefits.

One of the main barriers to increased take-up is the perception that off-site construction is more expensive or has hidden costs.

But with contractors increasingly looking for ways to maximise efficiency and minimise costs, off-site’s advantages and reduced risks compared to sitebased construction should make it an attractive prospect.

According to government figures, the offsite construction sector currently accounts for 7% of total construction output in the UK, and is worth more than £1.5Bn to the economy.

While not suitable for every project, when properly planned and managed off-site construction can be an effective solution for a variety of construction types.

Many of the challenges of the off-site approach can be overcome by the relationships between the parties and especially the way they communicate.

Because the fabrication is taking place elsewhere and is therefore out of the control of the on-site team, it is essential all parties are in constant communication with each other on all aspects of the project, and

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The risk is increased if this relationship is not developed, or if it breaks down during the project.

While this may be true in some cases in the short-term, especially when the costs of extra transport are factored in, often the whole-life cost of the project is lower due to increased quality and reduced snagging and defects.

Costs can be reduced further if individual pieces or modules are manufactured en masse off-site for use in a range of projects.

What’s more, specialist modules that would be difficult and expensive to construct on-site can be made more easily and cost-effectively elsewhere.

Another perception is that off-site construction requires a longer leadin time. If expectations are managed properly and the supply chain is engaged early enough this should not be a problem, but if not it could delay the start of the project on site.

On the other hand, project completion times could actually be reduced, and significant savings made, if off-site and on-site processes are started in parallel.

Less time on site also means savings in labour costs and reduced disruption to the client and local community, something particularly important if the site is in a residential area.

However, the benefits of off-site are not just financial. With construction taking place in a controlled environment, risks can be significantly reduced. The quality control and assurance processes of these facilities should result in a more consistent product with fewer defects, and therefore fewer issues after installation.

Off-site construction is also a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of building that brings benefits such as reduced waste and increased energy efficiency.

Investing in an off-site production facility can have many positive effects. The plant can be located where building, land and skilled labour costs are cheaper, bringing cost savings in the long term.

It also creates secure jobs for local people, boosting the economy, and provides a potential base from which to offer construction training opportunities to help plug the industry’s skills gap.

Richard Selby Director of Pro Steel Engineering Ltd

Sustainability demands see increase in waste wood recycling AS the UK looks to reduce its carbon footprint, how it disposes of its wood will play a key role in hitting sustainability targets.

The Paris climate deal reached last December saw a commitment from all countries to cut emissions and limit the rise in global temperature to less than 2C. It is estimated that the UK generates around 4.5 million tonnes of waste wood per year. In the mid-nineties, less than a quarter of that was recycled and by 2011 the figure had risen to 60% – almost 2.8 million tonnes. This amount is expected to increase further as the number of wood recycling companies grows.

According to a study by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), some of the largest sources of waste wood come from three areas: Municipal waste: This consists of disposed items such as furniture, packaging and DIY waste from households.

Industrial and commercial waste: Waste wood from this area comes from manufacturers of wood products and construction materials.

Construction and demolition waste: This is made up of surplus structural timber unable to be used, wood packaging for construction materials, etc. from the construction industry; torn down structural wood

or unwanted furniture from the demolition industry.

Despite efforts to recycle wood effectively, there is still a significant amount that ends up landfills across the UK every year. This is both expensive and not environmentally sustainable.

In recent years, the range of uses for recycled wood has expanded to include landscaping products, equine surfaces and animal and poultry bedding.

Recycled wood has lower moisture content (around 20%) than virgin wood (60% to 70%) creating more durability.

Consumers can get the same weight of wood but pay for less when it comes to recycled wood.

Improvements in technology have led to greater efficiency in the recycling process. Modern machinery can cope with greater quantities of waste wood and the automation and improvement in the quality of the process to remove contaminants such and nails and screws from waste wood means a higher quality of recycled wood can be produced.

Biomass fuel has also provided a new market for recycled wood chip and provides a drier alternative to sawmill chips.

collaboration with the British Standards Institution (BSI) and extensive consultation with the wood recycling industry.

PAS 111 seeks to give a specification for individuals and organisations recovering and processing postindustrial and post-consumer waste wood into wood products so that potential customers can be assured that they are procuring a material of consistent and verifiable quality.

If the minimum specification is met or exceeded then the material is PAS 111 compliant; if the minimum requirements are not met, then the material is noncompliant, even if an end user’s specification is met.

Sectors that make up the majority of recovered wood consumed in the UK and covered by PAS 111 include panel board manufacturing; biomass energy generation; animal bedding; mulches; equine surfaces; pathways and coverings; and industrial and commercial applications.

It seems certain that the increase in demand for sustainability and the lowering of carbon footprints will mean the wood recycling industry will see continued growth in the years ahead.

When it comes to processing wood waste, the BSI PAS 111 was commissioned by WRAP in

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Euro 2016: A look back at the construction of the Stade de France WITH the Euro 2016 tournament in full swing, UK Construction Excellence takes a look back at the construction of the final’s venue – Stade de France.

The 80,000 capacity stadium is situated in Saint-Denis, 1.5km from Paris and is the home of the French national football team. It was built ahead of the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the venue for the final as hosts France beat favourites Brazil 3-0.

The Stade de France also has painful memories for the English, as it was the venue for their defeat in the Rugby World Cup Final in 2007 as South Africa ran out 15-6 winners. This gives the stadium the unique honour of hosting both the football and rugby world cup finals.

It has played host not just to Les Bleus home games but also to other major events in football such as two UEFA Champions League finals. The first occasion in 2000 saw real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 and the second resulted in more English heartache, with Barcelona beating a 10-man Arsenal 2-1 in 2006.

The Stade of France is able to be reconfigured for athletics meets, with the lower stands being able to be slid back to uncover the running track and other track and field areas.

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It is not just the world of sports that has taken advantage of the Stade de France’s facilities; super group U2 held three dates of their 360° Tour there in 2009 and 2010 attracting a combined attendance of 283,084. Other notable artists to have played there include Beyonce, the Rolling Stones and Justin Timberlake.

of the strongest cranes available was used to raise the 36 sections, each one weighing in at 350 tonnes and suspended at a height of 42 metres.

When France was selected as the hosts for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in 1992, one of the reasons behind the choice was France’s plans to build a new stadium with a combined open-air and covered seating capacity of 80,000.

The total capacity for football and rugby matches is 80,000, dropping to 65,000 for athletics. The standing capacity on the field for music concerts is around 23,000.

In 1994, MZRC were selected as architects on the projects after being backed by Bouygues-Dumez-SGE consortium, and a submission for a building permit was lodged in December 1994 and approved on 30 April 1995.

The following month work began on the site. November saw the installation of 18 steel masts placed at 40m intervals, each with a maximum diameter of 274m and a minimum diameter of 234m to support the roof of the stadium.

The roof was designed to withstand 90mph winds, which exceeded the highest recorded wind speeds in Paris.

The roof size is six hectares, five of which are covered and one glazed. Due to the extreme weight of the roof sections, one

The stands and seating construction was finished in March 1997, with the roof completed in October 1997.

In addition to the Stade de France, a neighbouring stadium was constructed, along with two underground car parks on three levels with enough room for 4,000 vehicles and an above ground car park with 2,000 parking spaces.

The stadium was officially completed on November 30 1997, after a 31 month build, at a total cost of €299M. It officially opened on 28th January 1998 with a friendly match between France and Spain. Zinedine Zidane scored the only goal of the match.

The Stade de France will host the final of Euro 2016, as well as being the venue for four first round group matches, one round of 16 match, and one quarter final.

The largest FREE exhibition and conference for the construction sector

Thursday 6 October Kent Event Centre, Detling 8.30 am - 4.30 pm To provide a highly focussed gateway to capitalise on the regions major construction opportunities

10 Reasons to come to Construction Expo 1. More networking opportunities – this is the South East’s largest gathering for the construction and related sectors 2. More than 200 exhibitors – from a diverse range of sectors, all showcasing their services and products 3. Over 600 Free Meet the Buyer appointments – a fantastic opportunity to get in front of leading purchasing managers 4. Business breakfast - Learn why people are more important than business with speaker, Kevin Bryne, founder of Checkatrade.com

Speakers Business Breakfast Guest Speaker Kevin Byrne Founder of Checkatrade.com 7.00am - 8.30am

Sponsored by

£19.50 + VAT | includes full English breakfast

Fenlon Dunphy

Nigel Brook

Jim McCelland Sustainable Futurist, Publisher and Editor

Peter Trebilcock

Chief Financial Officer at London Resort Company Holdings

Executive Director, Kier Director of BIM at Balfour Group Plc - Construction Beatty Construction and Infrastructure Services Services UK

Paul Spooner

Richard Hawkes

Chief Executive, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

Director of Hawkes Architecture Ltd

Monika Slowikowska

Christina Lanz-Azcarate Leonardo Wood

5. Business Dinner - Reward your team or entertain clients at the Expo Dinner with speaker Gyles Brandeth 6. Find out the latest project update with London Paramount’s Fenlon Dunphy 7. Join senior director’s from leading national construction businesses Kier Group Plc, Balfour Beatty and Golden Houses Developments Ltd

Alex Mortimer Director, Supply Chain Academy

8. Discover how to multiply your customers and sales using the 3 step iMarketing process 9. Learn why supply chain should be incorporated into your business strategy 10. The Grand Designs Eco Arch – the House with no Bills Hear inspirational, contemporary architect, Richard Hawkes discuss the house he designed and built

Book now... or just turn up on the day bookings@kentinvictachamber.co.uk 01732 758530 Text BOOK to 66777 www.constructionexpouk.co.uk

Director, Golden Houses Developments Ltd

London and South East Founder of LGX Ltd. and Chair National Association Creator of MULTIPLY Women in Construction

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www.constructionexpouk.co.uk | 01732 758530 | bookings@kentinvictachamber.co.uk

The Cube Project: Microhomes for the modern age WITH the UK in the grip of a housing crisis, alternate means must be considered if the industry is to make up the shortfall. Enter, the Cube Project – a novel initiative intended to broaden the appeal of energy efficient microhomes.

In an exclusive interview, Dr Mike Page – Cognitive Psychologist for The University of Hertfordshire and the mind behind the Cube Project – discusses his latest creation, QB3, and how the microhome mentality might be applied elsewhere to benefit both the skills shortage and the UK housing crisis.

Could you provide a bit of background to the Cube Project?

What is your involvement and how did the initiative come about?

I am a Cognitive Psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, which might seem odd, although my first

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degree was in engineering at Oxford.

My field of study is human memory but, in 2008, I began to feel that this wasn’t a very practical way of contributing to the world. I’ve always been interested in ‘green stuff’, as it were. I wanted to combine those green interests with my psychology and engineering experience to do something around pro-environmental behaviour change - how we might get people to be more environmentally friendly.

At the time, I was working on a European Regional Development Fund project - going out to companies and advising them on how they could cut their carbon emissions. The University had a bit of funding available, and I thought that it would be really useful to have a little building that we could take around to show the practical

things that people could do to cut their carbon emissions. And so, the Cube Project was born.

In terms of design, how does QB3 build upon your own experiences with QB1 and QB2?

I initially proposed a 3m x 3m x 3m home - QB1 - in which one person or two friendly people could live with minimal environmental impact. Into this, we would put all the things that anybody could use in any size of building.

I came up with the design in autumn 2010 and, in spring 2011, we brought the building to the Edinburgh International Science Festival. QB1 had a couple of thousand visitors and we hosted a walkthrough on our website, which had between one and two million hits. It was very popular and

people began to ask if they could buy one. They couldn’t, of course, because we had literally only built the one.

I then set about turning this into a commercial proposition - QB2. This was a redesign from the ground up as I didn’t like the way we had built the first building.

QB1 was a timber-framed, wallpanelled structure, which took two experts three days to construct. I remember thinking, it’s got to be easier to build a 3m cube than that. So, I started afresh with a post and beam structure and approached a company called Bolton Buildings for assistance.

It worked much better than QB1 and featured on ‘George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces’ in December 2013.

We were then approached by a local authority that currently pays for hundreds of people to stay in Bed & Breakfasts because they haven’t enough homes to house them in. They proposed using land adjacent to their hostels to put some of our buildings on.

Consequently, QB3 was designed to fulfil a slightly different function. While QB2 had three separate levels, QB3 had to be accessible to people with movement difficulties or wheelchair users.

It was a completely new design – a post and beam structure that featured moving walls to maximise space. We opted for the same volume (approx.

36cu m) as QB2, but decided on a 6m x 3m internal floorplan and an internal height of 2.1m.

Commercially, we’ve just put a marketing plan together and we’ve signed an agreement with Bolton Buildings as the sole distributor in the UK. However, the frustration for us is that there’s a disconnect – the people that can’t get access to housing, whether in the middle of cities or on the outskirts, are the same people that haven’t got land to put a QB2 or QB3 on. Being self-contained dwellings, they need the planning permission of a static caravan – which legally is what they are.

Recently, a number of London hospitals complained that they couldn’t attract workers because no one could live within two hours. Now, hospitals must have loads of land and they’ve certainly got lots of flat roof space where we could put half a dozen of our buildings. And that’s really what we need – customers that require 10 or 20 microhomes – because one isn’t enough incentive to set up a production line. We’re able to build one, and will happily do so, but we need to build 10 or 20 for it to be as efficient as possible.

Can the innovation of the Cube Project be applied elsewhere to alleviate the UK housing crisis?

I should say, I certainly don’t expect everybody to live in a microhome but for some it would be very convenient.

During the development of QB2 and QB3 we designed joints and put into practice new building methods, and I’m now designing full size houses

which take advantage of some of those techniques. The idea is that we could put together a near-Passivhaus standard energy neutral home, ready for furnishing in about two weeks. It would be off-site preparation rather than off-site manufacturing, as you might prepare a Meccano building by assembling the pieces. All of the components would be engineered off-site by computers so that the whole thing could be put together on-site.

Interestingly, one of the problems with housebuilding at the moment is the skills shortage – no bricklayers or plasterers. Well, we don’t use bricks or plaster or any wet trades in fact. We line our buildings with coated plywood, which gives stiffness to the structure.

Strictly speaking, the only tool you would need is a spanner at the joints and a nail gun for the sheet materials.

We reckon we could train people in a day, and that those people could probably build the houses themselves.

Obviously, there is an amount of skill involved in building a full size house but we’re working along the line that you wouldn’t need all the things that are constricted by the lack of labour.

Though the housing market has its own issues – the availability of land for example – a lack of demand certainly isn’t one of them, and I’m currently working with some colleagues to spin out this new venture in quick-to-build carbon positive houses.

For more information please visit: www.cubeproject.org.uk

We had previously piloted the use of moving walls on a programme called ‘Gadget Man’ with Richard Ayoade and Jimmy Carr. It worked really well and we knew it could be incorporated into QB3.

Inside, we specified a full size double bed, an air source heat pump, heat recovery ventilation, LED lighting and an LED TV. Everything, including the triple glazed windows and doors, has been optimised for energy efficiency; so much so that, with solar panels on the roof, you wouldn’t be far off being energy neutral over the course of a year.

The idea was always that it wouldn’t be living in a yurt in mid-Wales. The view was that you would never get anybody to change their behaviour if you expected them to live in a way that they weren’t prepare to. The Cube Project is all about showing people, albeit in small spaces, that you can live in a perfectly comfortable way with all essential mod cons.

How has commercial uptake been?

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Brexit: An Exclusive Interview with Jeremy Blackburn – RICS

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AHEAD of the EU referendum, UK Construction Excellence spoke exclusively to Jeremy Blackburn, Head of Policy and Parliamentary Affairs for RICS.

and land economy paper at the Oxford farming conference, manifestos for all of the devolved elections, response to Budget 2016, and an analysis of the EU referendum for property.

Jeremy is responsible for RICS relatzionships across Whitehall and Westminster, and with the devolved administrations. His role focuses on the development of RICS policy positions across land, property and construction, and on providing a RICS opinion on topical issues. He works with members to develop coherent and commercially relevant policy, which guides government on how to achieve its public policy objectives.

Jeremy has been with RICS since 2011, including a stint as Interim Director of External Affairs in 2013. He has previously worked in the Parliamentary Resources Unit in the House of Commons, in the Welsh Assembly, as speechwriter to the Director-General at the National Trust, at a major farming trade body, in the Commission for Rural Communities and as a Private Secretary to Junior Minister Richard Benyon MP in DEFRA.

This has included RICS’ residential policy paper launch at last year’s party conferences, responses to the Autumn Statement & Spending Review focusing on infrastructure investment, a rural

What affect would leaving significant funding streams such as the European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund have on key UK projects?

These are significant funding streams that have helped both London transport and the electricity network in The Highlands, to name but two significant infrastructure projects. Losing the £8.4Bn these represent – along with EU regional and structural funds – would have a definite effect on project delivery and start-ups, particularly across the devolved nations. That said, the UK Government has ear marked £100Bn for infrastructure spending by 202021, with local government pension funds following and more on attracting private sector investment. That helps to put the EU funds in perspective.

Do you think the UK would be able to replace these streams of funding if it left the European Union?

Conceivably yes but much depends on how effective we are at attracting

Were a Brexit to occur, it could allow UK public procurement to stipulate the use of UK construction firms and materials, essentially becoming protectionist but to the benefit of domestic businesses.

private sector investment, and the continued interest in investing in UK projects in a Brexit scenario – dependent on foreign funds perception of risk and return in a country likely to be still negotiating new trading relationships.

Do you think the loss of free movements of goods could have a positive or negative impact – or both?

In terms of construction, and particularly material imports and exports, the EU accounts for 59% of imports (with China the only none EU nation in our top five importers).

The loss of access to the single market is therefore less important for UK construction product exporters; however the loss of free movement and return of trade tariffs could push firms to look onwards and purchase domestic materials and potentially increase the cost of production for projects using imported materials.

What is your view on, for example, the recent steel industry crisis, which occurred largely due to imports from outside of the UK being cheaper?

UK steel production should be regarded as a strategic asset, and part of an overall industrial strategy.

The Government is grappling it’s way slowly, no matter how unwillingly, to just that. This was a complex situation in which EU regulation and trade agreements played only one part; whilst the UK Government puts measures in place for Port Talbot, like an enterprise zone with enhanced capital allowances, the EU should look at how to supports all member states strategic steel assets and maximises their ability on the world stage.

In your recent construction market survey, the availability of skilled workers is decreasing. What impact will leaving the EU potentially have on the skills shortage that this country already faces?

Were a Brexit to occur, it could allow UK public procurement to stipulate the use of UK construction firms and materials, essentially becoming protectionist but to the benefit of domestic businesses.

Labour from across the EU is already vital to the UK construction sector.

London has become particularly reliant on importing skilled labour. Leaving the EU would exacerbate this situation; with the potential knock on of greater costs as labour demand outstrips supply.

Access to the single market – and EU procurement frameworks – do befit those of sufficient size and ability to take advantage of them. Overall though OJEU for example, is viewed as a burden on industry.

In a post-Brexit world though, control of our immigration policy would mean the ability to target certain trades and professions on the world stage. The need for workers is however driven by overall economic activity and that may lessen after an exit from the single market and whilst trade negotiations are on-going.

In terms of the UK’s membership with the EU creating a framework of directives and regulations, could a Brexit allows UK procurement to stipulate the use of UK firms and materials alone?

What affect would leaving the EU have on SME’s in the UK construction industry?

The potential shock of a Brexit, and its reverberation through supply chains, could see many SMEs on already wafer thin margins suffer badly – particularly outside of London and the south east.

We have already seen many delayed or postponed investments and projects, as the referendum came into sharp focus.

The differences between big and small business organisations on Brexit are clear, and so are the basis on which they’re assessing the referendum. The FMB’s survey shows that small builders are following personal opinions and perception around burden of regulation to vote leave.

Whilst many small construction firms are looking at very present concerns, they are invariably downstream in the supply chain and need to consider what the impact of Brexit would be on major clients and contractors.

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Britain comes from “position of strength” THE fall out from the result of the EU referendum may take some time to settle but the Government has moved to reassure the markets and industry that Britain is well placed to adjust to life outside the European Union.

The Chancellor, George Osborne, emerged for the first time since the Leave campaign’s seismic victory on Thursday to make a statement in an effort to calm the storm raging since the result became known in the early hours of Friday 24th June.

News of the Brexit saw the Prime Minister, David Cameron, announce his resignation and sent the pound tumbling and markets into turmoil.

The Chancellor had campaigned for Britain to remain within the EU but said the will of the people must be accepted and delivered upon.

He acknowledged that there would be an inevitable period of readjustment but backed Britain to respond robustly.

Mr Osborne said: “Britain is ready to confront what the future holds for us from a position of strength.”

The Chancellor ruled out an emergency budget in the next few

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weeks, instead saying that OBR should be give time to assess the economy in the autumn and for the new Prime Minister to take up office.

The responsibility to trigger Article 50 – the process that begins a country’s exit from the European Union – should lie with the new Prime Minister.

Mr Osborne said that despite this delay it will be very much business as normal for Britain’s companies. “No one should doubt our resolve to maintain the fiscal stability we have delivered for this country. To all companies large and small I would say this: the British economy is fundamentally strong, we are highly competitive and we are open for business.”

The Chancellor said that Britain must strive to agree a long-term economic relationship with the rest of Europe to ensure the best trade deal can be stuck.

Confirming his plans to continue as Chancellor in the short term, Mr Osborne said he was completely focussed on bringing “stability and reassurance”.

Backing away from the idea of a Britain retreating into splendid isolation, he said he didn’t want Britain to turn its back on Europe and intended to take an “active role” in determining the best terms for Britain: “I want this great trading nation of ours to put in place the strongest possible economic links with our European neighbours, with our close friends in North America and the Commonwealth, and our important partners like China and India.”

OPTIMISM Prior to the Chancellor’s statement, Secretary of State, Sajid Javid, had spoken of his desire to “make Brexit work for British business”. Mr Javid had pushed for Britain to remain a part of the European Union but struck a note of optimism and determination to ride out the initial shockwaves to get the economy back on track. He said: “Despite the current turmoil and uncertainty, I genuinely believe there are grounds for optimism.”

Like the Chancellor, Mr Javid underlined the British economy’s “deep, strong foundations” as key reasons why Britain “remains open for business, continues to grow and

continues to thrive.”

the rest of the world.

Striking a positive note for SMEs across Britain, the Secretary said the freedom that would come with the removal of the EU’s excessive red tape would allow small business to prosper.

Whilst he said he understood concerns about uncontrolled immigration, Mr Javid said that closing the door completely was not the answer: “For centuries, foreign businesses, foreign investors and skilled foreign workers have come to the UK and helped build the world-beating economy we have today. That outward-looking attitude must continue.”

The Government would also be able to make the tax system more competitive in an effort to help local businesses attract overseas investment.

He said: “A fresh start also gives a unique opportunity to shape a bright future for the UK as a global trading nation and open economy. But that chance will be squandered if we react to the referendum result by pulling down the shutters and turning our backs on the world.”

FRESH START Mr Javid predicted a bright future saying the Brexit vote would give Britain the chance to make a fresh start as a global trading nation with an open economy.

However, he warned that this “unique opportunity” would be wasted if Britain were to shut itself off from Europe and

In an effort to reassure the 16 million plus people who voted to remain, the Secretary said their views should be considered when it comes to developing new business relationships with Europe.

He said: “Whether you voted in or out, whether you run a kitchen-table startup or a Canary Wharf multinational, if you’re involved in British business you should be involved in shaping its future.

And the government is determined to help you succeed.”

The Secretary of State said that he planned to sit down with heads of industry and leaders of the biggest businesses to outline plans for the future. He backed British businesses to

overcome the short instability, saying they had survived greater challenges and come back stronger than ever.

He concluded: “I’m confident that, together, we can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we can make this work.”

The man expected to become the next Prime Minister, former Mayor of London Boris Johnson has stressed that despite the Brexit vote Britain will remain committed to playing a lead role in European affairs and continue to trade successfully on the continent.

Mr Johnson said: “There is every cause for optimism; a Britain rebooted, reset, renewed and able to engage with the whole world.

He played down fears surrounding Britain’s exit, saying they are being “wildly overdone” while the positives of withdrawing are being largely ignored.

He said: “The fundamentals of the UK economy are outstandingly strong – a dynamic and outward-looking economy with an ever-improving skills base, and with a big lead in some of the key growth sectors of the 21st century."

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Apprenticeships, the skills shortage and Brexit: An Interview with UCATT’s Brian Rye UK Construction Excellence speak exclusively with Brian Rye, Acting General Secretary of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) about the skill shortage, the apprenticeship levy, and the impact upon the construction industry of a Brexit.

Brian Rye was Regional Secretary for the Eastern Region for over a decade before becoming National Secretary.

He is currently Acting General Secretary of UCATT. Is there too much emphasis on getting young people into construction rather than encouraging more mature people into training?

No. Construction is an excellent industry for young people and provides skills for life. However, easier avenues should be created for more mature people to enter the industry.

Do you think the Government is being proactive enough in tackling the skill shortage?

No. it has washed it hands of the problem. If the Government was serious they would introduce strict procurement rules that forced companies undertaking public sector contracts to train young people as apprentices.

What’s your opinion on the Government’s plans to introduce an apprenticeship levy?

Supportive in a cautious way. It has got to be used for genuine training and not as a subsidy to be milked by large companies who have used other schemes to pay existing employees.

The construction industry seems to be the first to bear the brunt in times of economic uncertainty or crisis; do you think anything could be done to protect the industry?

Yes. The industry needs to be much better regulated and public sector projects better managed and spaced out. The industry should be managed to grow at an even pace rather than the current boom and bust approach.

How do you view ‘Brexit’ impacting on the skills shortage?

It will make things worse. The inevitable economic slowdown will lead to companies ditching what little training they are currently undertaking.

Thinking about the scandal of umbrella companies being used to deprive construction workers of key benefits, do you think the role of the construction worker is valued enough by the government?

No. The Government has no interest

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and does not value traditional blue collar craft skills. There is no attempt to improve the industry’s image by creating greater security of employment.

Is there an argument that years of under-investment has led to a need to undertake a huge number of infrastructure and housing projects in a short space of time, putting the construction industry under a great deal of stress?

That is one argument. The counter argument is that years of missmanaging the economy and a failure to invest in infrastructure and housing consistently over many years has placed stress on the construction industry.

The recent report of young people completing construction courses that failed to lead to an apprenticeship or an employment is extremely worrying. Where does the blame lie for this?

The blame lies with the Government.

They are funding courses which are not leading to the correct qualifications in order to massage figures about NEETs etc. This investment should be re-focussed on ensuring young people are undertaking genuine apprenticeships.

Demonstrating the business case for BIM THE UK Government Level 2 deadline date has come and gone yet BIM adoption across the built environment industry remains largely static. Has anything changed, what progress has the industry made and what remains to be done?

It is clear from the recent CIOB’s BIM whitepaper that the industry adoption of BIM is a gradual process however general confidence is still low particularly with end user clients who haven’t yet seen the benefits that digital engineering and information management can bring.

The survey also highlighted the issues around cost and the understandable reluctance of our clients to pay a premium for BIM. There are some significant challenges for Tier 2 and Tier 3 of the supply chain to digitise their businesses – investment in software, hardware, training and, of course, cultural shift and people change.

Demonstrating the benefits In an industry which is emerging from recession and low margins, investment is limited and given the choice between using tried and tested traditional methods and a new way of working, many will opt for the former as a way of safeguarding their position.

Until businesses can make that investment and the leap of faith while then concurrently reproducing the benefit to their own business, the value will not be passed on to the client in terms of reduced costs, shorter construction programmes and better quality buildings.

SES is hugely proud to have recently become the very first mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractor (MEP) in the UK to achieve BRE Accredited BIM Level 2 Certification.

It puts us in a position to undertake Level 2 BIM projects with confidence and offer a validated service to our partners and clients.

We certainly expect project partners across all disciplines to follow suit, however, there remain a number of extremely pressing industry concerns over the complexity of the suite of standards - the ‘eight pillars of BIM’ that now defines Level 2 BIM. The standards are very detailed and provide the necessary framework for us to operate within, however, it is now up to industry to define more disciplined specific standards and protocols that fit within the framework to ensure that we can maximise the potential of digital workflows.

It could be argued that the most

critical of these is the standardisation of product data which will enable a single source of information to be used consistently by many stakeholders including manufacturers, consultants, contractors and clients throughout the design, build, operate lifecycle.

This vital piece of work which has been initiated and developed by the CIBSE BIM Steering Group is an excellent example of how subject matter experts can take the initiative to define specific standards and drive industry change for the benefit of all.

The tipping point?

Will we see full BIM adoption across the M&E sector? Yes. When will it happen?

We can’t be sure, and a target of 2020 in line with the timescales of the new Government Construction Strategy is still very ambitious.

However, given the Chancellor’s commitment to supporting Level 3 BIM in his budget announcement and the incredible industry strides made over the last few years, I am sure that we are all moving in the right direction.

Martin Howe Head of Digital Engineering for SES Engineering Services

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BIM and CDM2015 Regs: An Exclusive Interview with Stefan Mordue UK Construction Excellence speak exclusively to Stefan Mordue about how BIM can play a key role in Health and Safety and the CDM2015 Regulations.

Stefan Mordue is a chartered architect, construction project manager, writer and NBS consultant. He is co-author of a number of publications, including ‘BIM for Construction Health & Safety’ and ‘BIM for Dummies’, and was part of the team that delivered a joint project for NBS and the UK BIM Task Group to produce a BIM toolkit in preparation for the Government’s BIM mandate.

Stefan is a visiting lecturer at HeriotWatt University in Edinburgh, and he sits on a number of industry and technical standard committees, including the British Standards Institute Occupational Health & Safety Management and the Architects Council of Europe BIM working group.

He was a founding member of the CIC BIM2050 working group.

How can BIM benefit those responsible for Health and Safety risk management?

Everybody has something to gain, from the client to the end user – everybody can benefit from the introduction of Health and Safety information into BIM. Having data that’s readily available, consistent, structured and in an open format makes it easier to read, digest and interpret.

When it comes to Health and Safety, it’s really about getting critical information to people when they need it and at the right time. While Health and Safety should be an on-going concern for a whole project timeline, what BIM can allow us to do is have an earlier consideration of hazards and risks within the design as we are sharing

and coordinating information within the project team.

It can benefit such things as construction sequencing and virtual reality simulations. These processes are about constructing in a safe virtual environment without anybody getting hurt right the way through to the construction phase. We can use BIM for training, hazard detection, etc. but while techniques such as 4D sequencing and simulations are useful tools within Health and Safety, we can use less technically advanced methods. They can be just as powerful by showing information in a graphical way so all can understand it. Just recording hazards or decisions on risk in a structured way using an open format such as COBie is again very powerful.

Do you think that there is enough awareness amongst those responsible for Health and Safety risk management of the advantages of BIM? I would say it’s increasing. If we went back to the 2011 Government Construction Strategy, Health and Safety wasn’t mentioned at all. It was mentioned, however, as a key driver within the Construction 2020 – 2025 Strategy. This acknowledged Health and Safety would play a vital component in a roadmap to success.

It’s extremely positive to see Health and Safety coming into these larger strategies and we are now realising that to have a construction industry we can all be proud of, we need to bring younger people through and we are only going to do that by having a safe industry.

Contractors, particularly the large Tier 1 contractors, have been using BIM

for Health and Safety management for quite some time now but we need to start to use it as an early intervention.

The best form of any prevention is at the pre-construction stages.

Is there an obvious link up between BIM and CDM2015 Regulations?

There are many synergies there. It’s all about managing information and making it readily available to people so they can use it effectively.

A lot of the benefits of BIM are discussed in terms of monetary value or cost savings and efficiency gains, but there are real opportunities for health and safety management to be incorporated into that BIM process.

It doesn’t have to be a really high tech solution; collating relevant and crucial information in a very simple and graphical way that can then be communicated to the relevant people is really powerful, particularly when you consider that some of the unfortunate injuries and fatalities that have happened in recent times come down to a language barrier. Having information that is readily available and easy to understand can be a very powerful tool when it comes to Health and Safety.

When we consider how important the construction industry is to the UK economy and we look at some of the facts and figures around the industry, although it is improving it is still quite a dangerous industry to work in.

Given the fact that it is so vital for our economy, we really need to start to think how we can make the industry safer and how we can produce safer assets. Only by doing this can we make an industry that the next generation of professionals can be really proud of and one that they want to work in.

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With the new CDM2015 Regulations now in force and the creation of new role of the Principal Designer and all of its responsibilities, presumably BIM will have a vital role to play?

Yes, it will. People are certainly using BIM during the construction phases but with any safety intervention the best form is do it before you even put a spade in a ground. It needs people to start thinking about these things a lot earlier; we need to start embedding this within the design chain.

The change in the CDM2015 regulations with the introduction of the Principal Designer is really promising because that role is best placed and has the most influence to design out and coordinate health and safety information at the preconstruction stage.

How could a resource like Construction Operation Building information exchange (COBie) be used in relation to Health and Safety?

COBie is simply a model view of the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) schema. The idea is that it is used to improve processes of how we collect BIM information and how we handle that information and share it with asset owners, occupiers or operators, helping them to manage their asset more

effectively. COBie isn’t asking for any more information than we currently deliver but what it is asking for is it in a structured way.

It’s interesting if you look at the BIM Task Group website. It originally described COBie as being a means of sharing structured information just like CDM and BIM. COBie has an issues column, which is quite useful as it provides the designer with the opportunity to record information such as risk ratings or CHARM (Chemical Hazard and Risk Management).

This is all structured and can be shared within the design team.

Other simple approaches include recording risks in other open standards.

The IFC4 has a property set called P Set Risk so you can start to highlight information or tag BIM objects and communicate information in a very simple way – for example through a colour-coded system. Some of the nongraphical information and attributes can then be scheduled and risks and hazard can be easily located.

Can a digital model of a building still be useful in terms of managing Health and Safety even after the physical construction is complete?

One of the real value propositions of BIM is as well as procuring a physical asset; you also procure a digital one.

Throughout the process you are getting this digital creation as a by-product but that digital model has the power to become the basis of many things going

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forward. It can help inform training or simulation and post construction can be used to plan or execute safe methods of operation and maintenance. It becomes a really powerful weapon in the arsenal of the building owner.

How do you see the role of BIM developing in the future with regards to Health and Safety?

That will be interesting. There have been lots of attempts to try and automate the processes such as regulation and legislation over the years. Sometimes that’s quite difficult because a lot of them aren’t black and white so it still needs a lot of human participation to understand some of this information.

What we’ll see is BIM will start to develop so that we have information close to hand to allow us to make informed decisions.

We’ll also see immersive technologies coming from the gaming industry. This will give the ability to put yourself in a situation and really start to understand your surroundings and maybe some of the impacts that your decisions may have on Health and Safety.

In terms of the BIM Level 2 mandate in April, how well prepared do you feel the industry is?

I don’t think we should get too hung up on the date that has just been and gone.

April is just the mark of the start of the journey for many.

I think the industry is equipped with a lot of the tools now to go forward. Some people are more advanced than others but now we have the Government website up and running with more information being added to that over time.

There are lots of good resources, many of which are free, and we have standards and protocols in place now.

It’s just about making a start on that journey and realising you’re not going to implement everything first time because the whole thing is a big change in culture and approach as well, so managing expectations is going to crucial.

Do you expect the private sector to play a more significant part in the uptake of BIM? We are seeing a lot of the private sector using BIM. I believe a lot of that will be dependent on the client. It will most likely be down to the private sector and construction professionals advising the client of the advantages of BIM. Hopefully, we will see the private sector using it because it is a better way of working – it’s more efficient and you get a better performing asset at the end of the day.

Is it fair to say that BIM is as much about changing people’s outlook/ behaviour as it is about new technology?

It is, and in my personal opinion there’s not enough emphasis or guidance given in this area. BIM is very much about a behavioural change programme than it is about technology or process change debate.

It’s going to require changes to policy and how we use technology and devices. For example, how we use our mobile devices on construction sites and file-sharing sites such as Youtube, which have historically been used for viewing music videos and the like; we need to think about these resources in a different way. Social media is another example and unlocking its power to get access to a whole online community of like-minded people where you can share, exchange and collaborate ideas.

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Digital Britain: The New Differentiator SOFTWARE is currently revolutionising not only the way in which buildings are conceived and constructed but also how they are operated and maintained.

The lofty concept of Building Information Modelling (BIM), first endorsed by central government in May 2011, has brought about renewed interest in 3D modelling software and the possibilities it affords collaborative thinking throughout the construction process.

BIM is but one avenue however, and companies across the supply chain are now beginning to consider how the right software might benefit their business.

Just Housing Group (JHG), an east London-based housing and support services business, is one such organisation.

Working in partnership with the Derbyshire-based social landlord Futures Housing Group, JHG has implemented an extensive procurement system that will allow the social housing provider to make substantial efficiency savings, curtail unnecessary spend and avoid potential pitfalls in the Group’s contract management programme.

The software management system integrates a full contracts register with supplier performance management and contract compliance monitoring – effectively managing the delivery of multiple contracts across a housing portfolio some 8,000 properties strong, while simultaneously creating opportunities for increased efficiency.

The results are undeniable. In recent

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months, Futures Housing Group has been hailed as a beacon for contract management delivery, having secured ‘Contract Management Initiative of the Year’ at the Government Opportunities (GO) Excellence in Public Procurement Awards and an ACA Annual Award for Innovation in Partnering.

John Thornhill, Procurement and Contracts Manager for Futures Housing Group, said: “We needed an uncomplicated system that would appeal to service users yet provide a robust platform of recording and monitoring contracts that leaves service users able to get on with their day jobs.

“In the background, the JHG system keeps an eye on progress providing timely contractor surveys and assessments. It drives our procurement programme allowing my team to provide budget holders ample time to help us prepare for re-tender.”

Ian Hippach, Partner at Just Housing Group and Head of the Group’s Systems and Technology Division added: “We are delighted to have implemented a system that has transformed the way in which Futures Housing Group works with its contractors and as such has led the housing association to now be seen as an innovative and progressive leader in the supply chain.”

Elsewhere, Essential Living – a developer and operator of private rental homes in the UK – has employed similar methods to better manage its own portfolio, which includes a pipeline of 5,000 homes across London and the south east.

Sophisticated new procurement software is enabling Essential Living to track project spend against budget for greater control over costs and expenditure. The entire purchase to pay workflow cycle has been streamlined with a web portal for invoice approval by authorised personnel, while a range of comprehensive reports give an instant view of all business operations.

Historically, the construction industry has been slow to embrace innovation, but these examples underscore the impact of construction software on business performance and process.

When implemented correctly, the right software can revolutionise the way in which companies do business and, in a highly competitive landscape, this may prove to be the deciding factor.

Conversely, if the software chosen is a poor fit for the business or implemented incorrectly, the results can be disastrous. Considerable investment is therefore critical – both financially and in terms of time, training and manpower.

Such costs can easily spiral out of control however. Companies are therefore urged to exercise caution when implementing new systems.

What are your requirements? What alternatives are there? Is the software being used to its fullest or is it an unnecessary drain on resources?

April’s BIM Level 2 mandate is the most recent milestone in the construction industry’s cultural shift towards digital integration. Increasingly, software is proving the differentiator, and those businesses that opt not to invest risk being left behind.

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Radical overhaul pays dividends for Severn Trent WITH the financial end of year firmly behind us, Severn Trent Water has announced a two-fold increase in pre-tax profit. The figures, which fly in the face of analyst expectations, are the result of a comprehensive rethink of the organisation’s management practice and expenditure.

sewer flooding has decreased by 31%, external sewer flooding by 28%, and serious pollution incidents by 80% – thanks in part to the streamlining of business practice. Customer complaints have also fallen by more than a quarter, despite a potentially damaging chlorine warning in March.

Despite reporting a lower total revenue of £1.78Bn, pre-tax profit for 2015 finished at £322.3M – up from £148M in 2014 – while underlying pre-tax profit, which factors out one-time costs, amounted to £313.6M – 10% higher than predicted.

For Liv Garfield, CEO at Severn Trent, this upward trend signifies a concerted effort on behalf of the Organisation to better standards industry-wide: “We’ve worked really hard to embed customers at the heart of our business and I think that is reflected in the reduction of customer complaints, which are down 28% year-on-year.

We’re also delighted to have the lowest water bills in Britain again with customers paying on average less than £1 a day for their clean and waste water services.

Last year, Severn Trent set itself an ambitious target – a £670M saving over a five year period, which represents a £260M increase on the amount forecast by water regulator Ofwat.

The numbers are a clear endorsement of Severn Trent’s recent restructuring.

The Organisation has, over the past 18 months, rationalised its working habits.

Layers of management and needless bureaucracy have been removed to improve the decision making process and shore up response times to developing issues.

According to Severn Trent, internal

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“We’ve also more than doubled the number of vulnerable customers we support through a variety of new initiatives and we’ve made improvements in areas such as sewer flooding which is down 31%.

“We know there is still more to do to make sure we’re consistently providing a great service to all of our customers

every day, but we’re pleased with this promising start to our new five year plan.”

Severn Trent has also pledged to spend an approximate £1,400 per household or business during the current five year AMP6 period (20152020). This investment will be put towards improvements to vital services – whether fixing leaks more efficiently, reducing sewer flooding or bettering the quality of rivers and the wider environment.

The Organisation has also announced its intention to enter into a 50:50 joint venture with United Utilities – the plans for which were approved in May. Liv concluded: “Our ability to achieve all of this is down to the improvements we’ve made over recent years, and the hard work and dedication of our people.”

With the sector set to shift away from the regional monopoly model by the end of the decade, supplier performance is likely to be under intense scrutiny – from both Ofwat and the consumer – in the months and years to come.

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Phase I of UK’s first fully connected road test environment announced A project to create one of the world’s most advanced environments for connected and autonomous driving has begun, after a successful application for funding from the Government’s £100M Intelligent Mobility Fund.

The fund, which has been established to accelerate research and development in connected and autonomous vehicle technologies, is administered by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and delivered by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. The only one of its kind in the world, the UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UK CITE) project – which could see trials on public roads as early as next year – is worth a total of £7.1M (including investment from the Government) and will enable automotive, infrastructure and service companies to trial connected vehicle technology, infrastructure and services in real-life conditions on 40 miles of roads within Coventry and Warwickshire.

The project will investigate how technology can improve journeys, cut traffic congestion and provide in-vehicle entertainment and safety services through better connectivity.

The UK CITE consortium comprises leading industry, academic, and local and national governmental

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organisations. It is jointly led by Visteon Engineering Services Limited and Jaguar Land Rover, and includes Coventry City Council, Coventry University, Highways England Company Ltd, HORIBA MIRA, Huawei Technologies (UK) Ltd, Siemens, Vodafone Group Services Ltd, and WMG at University of Warwick.

The UK CITE project will create the UK’s first fully connected infrastructure on public roads using a combination of wireless technologies, which can enable real-world testing in a safe and managed way.

Phase I of the project will continue until the end of 2016 and will include the preparation of infrastructure on routes along the M40, M42, A46, and A45 – as well as an urban route in Coventry – and the preparation of a Vehicle, Systems and Gantry App, which will ensure variable roadside messages appear in-vehicle, either on the vehicle display or smartphone.

Finally, pre-test trials will take place on HORIBA MIRA’s City Circuit.

Claire Lewis, Senior Business Development Manager at lead consortium partner Visteon Engineering Ltd, said: “The UK CITE project is an ideal opportunity for automotive manufacturers, technology and infrastructure providers and service operators, and infrastructure operators to collaborate to develop

a real-world test bed for connected technology in a non-competitive environment. The UK CITE project will enable all partners to accelerate their learning on cyber security and safety whilst exploring the commercial opportunities of the connected vehicle area.”

Tony Harper, Head of Research and Technology at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This test route with its mixture of road types and technology deployment is challenging the technology operation in real world environments and will provide the insight needed for deployment. This test route is exactly the sort of innovative infrastructure the UK needs to compete globally.

“The connected and autonomous vehicle features we will be testing will improve road safety, enhance the driving experience, reduce the potential for traffic jams and improve traffic flow. These technologies will also help us meet the increasing customer demand for connected services whilst on the move.”

The trials are likely to start on public roads as early as next year, following comprehensive initial tests on HORIBA MIRA’s City Circuit, which is a safe and fully controllable purpose built environment for the development and validation of Connected Autonomous Vehicle technologies and services.

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High Speed Knotweed WHEN considering the thorny issue of Japanese knotweed, most minds alight on the UK property market. But what of the roads and railways on which we so heavily rely? UK Construction Excellence examines the hidden pressures invasive species place on transport infrastructure nationwide.

trunk might, for instance – widespread growth can soon overwhelm linesides. Indeed, the mere presence of Japanese knotweed can drastically complicate improvement programmes and electrification works, with contamination a serious and costly consideration.

Brought to Victorian Britain in 1850 at the behest of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew, Japanese knotweed was initially used to line large stretches of railway track. Its rapid growth, now bemoaned by homeowners the world over, was prized by industrial era engineers looking to ‘pretty up’ an ungainly lineside landscape. It is for this reason that the invasive species has such a considerable railway presence to this day.

Worse still, Network Rail has an obligation to protect neighbouring properties. If an invasive species were to encroach on a nearby household, for example, Network Rail would be liable for a significant £20,000 fine.

Responsibility for this unfortunate legacy now falls to Network Rail.

Here, vegetation management is proving absolutely vital to the safe and reliable working of Britain’s railway network. Often disregarded as simple busywork, vegetation management requires detailed assessment and public consultation to preserve lineside biodiversity without compromising passenger safety.

While Japanese knotweed doesn’t pose a ‘serious’ threat to railways – blocking train tracks as a downed tree

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Knotweed is a notoriously voracious invasive species, able to carry over and quickly infest large tracts of land. Any soil within seven metres of the plant could contain rhizomes, which are highly regenerative and able to form new shoots. Without the proper care, this material can be carried unknowingly offsite to contaminate parts unknown.

Curtailing Japanese knotweed is a tricky proposition then, and there are no easy answers. In addition to roads, canals and watercourses; railways have become a natural habitat for invasive species of all shapes and sizes. For Network Rail, the control and eventual eradication of Japanese knotweed therefore represents a significant drain in terms of time and investment – resources that might otherwise be

spent elsewhere.

Buddleia davidii – a fellow native of Japan, found also in China’s Sichuan and Hubei provinces – is another invasive species introduced to the UK during the 1800s. Like Japanese knotweed, buddleia has flourished along railway lines and wastelands, encouraged by recent wetter and milder winters. It is one of an increasing number of opportunist plants that Network Rail must contend with.

Typically, the Organisation’s vegetation management teams are tasked with the control of invasive species, spraying herbicide from weed-killing railcars or by hand when closer to stations.

In more extreme cases however, plants must be excavated for burial or carefully removed and incinerated elsewhere.

In truth, Japanese knotweed is now so entrenched that effective management is far more realistic a solution than total eradication. Last year, George Eustice – Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) – ruled out national extermination, due in part to a prohibitive £1.5Bn price tag. Knotweed remains a resilient species then – one that resists all attempts to restrain it, meaning that Network Rail’s efforts are more important than ever before.

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The UK is getting tied up in knots!

Invasive Weeds: A Growing Problem…

Japanese Knotweed is responsible for property and structural damage in the UK to the tune of £2.1 billion per year according to figures from the Environment Agency and Department of the Regions. Did you know that there are three species of Knotweed currently growing in the UK, up from just one a few years ago?

But, why is this a problem for property owners, transport and utilities networks and the construction and estates management/FM sectors? According to Neil Huck, Ground Control’s National Training Manager and Invasive Weeds expert, this is becoming a serious problem due to the increasing requirement to manage properties and structural assets ranging from electricity pylons, sub stations and reservoirs to railways, tunnels and bridges in often difficult access areas where these invasive weeds are growing. Allowing the spread of Knotweed in neighbouring properties could subject you to fines and removal cost as well as law suits.

Additionally, mortgage lenders are now recording Knotweed in their surveys and if present could affect the property value.

And it’s not just Japanese Knotweed, although this is the most pernicious to control. A further example is Himalayan Balsam, which spreads its seed through biological ‘explosions’. These seeds can remain viable for five years, meaning a long-term treatment regime is

crucial. Additionally, giant Hogweed contains sap that can cause horrific blisters on contact with skin. The only good news is that it is susceptible to herbicide if treated correctly.

Overall, the problem has got so bad that building and landowners will now be served with a species control order to manage any invasive species on their property.

Failure to control the invasive species when an order has been served will result in fines of up to £20,000 for companies.

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State of the Economy report released CHIEF Economist, Dr Gary Gillespie, has published Scotland’s latest State of the Economy report.

The appraisal, which offers a fuller picture of the country’s economic performance, documents an annual growth rate of 1.9% in 2015, with independent forecasters predicting continued growth throughout 2016 and into 2017.

According to Dr Gillespie, while the labour market has proven resilient, employment levels have dropped off in comparison to the previous year. Subdued export markets – coupled with the domestic challenges associated with the oil and gas sector – persist, though the potential for growth remains as impacted regions readjust to create new opportunities.

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown, said: “Today’s State of the Economy report shows that Scotland’s economy continued to be resilient in the face of extremely challenging global headwinds, with the construction sector supported by Scottish Government investment in public infrastructure.

“There are opportunities as Scotland also continues to be a very attractive location for business growth and inward investment.

Just last week, the Ernst and Young Attractiveness Survey ranked Scotland as the top region outside London for Foreign Direct Investment in 2015, creating over 5,300 jobs.

“With such strong foundations in place, the Scottish Government will continue to work with businesses to focus on growing the economy and promoting Scotland as a great place to do business.”

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Funding boost for low carbon transport The environmentally conscious now have even more opportunity to go green, thanks to a newly-announced electric vehicle funding boost.

In total, £7.8M is to be made available, interest free, via the Low Carbon Transport Loan Fund. The move is intended to assist those looking to reduce their carbon emissions.

Individuals will have access to a maximum of £35,000, while organisations will be able to apply for up to £100,000.

purchasing an electric vehicle.

“Making the switch to electric enables businesses and individuals to make a direct contribution to local air quality, whilst also improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.”

Harry Mayers, Energy Saving Trust’s Head of New Services, added: “This new funding will help save Scotland more than 11,000 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of removing over 4,000 cars from Scottish roads for a year.

Businesses will also be able to invest in a range of sustainable transport initiatives including vehicle telematics, video conferencing and cycling facilities.

“Encouraging people to swap petrol and diesel cars for electric also has a big impact on air quality, so this initiative will help to improve people’s health in Scotland.

Applications will be accepted – via the Energy Saving Trust – up to 31 March 2017, or until the entire amount has been allocated. Successful applicants will have the option to repay the loan over a period of six years.

“Although running costs for electric cars are lower than petrol or diesel, the initial purchase cost is generally still a bit higher. These loans will help make it possible for more people to choose a better option for the longer term.”

Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf, said: “This £7.8M investment in interest free loans presents a significant increase on previous years funding and presents a fantastic opportunity for those who have been seriously considering

There has been steady growth in the number of electric cars on Scotland’s roads in the last ten years. Last year alone saw a 54% increase in the number of plug-in electric vehicles registered.

Stratheden Hospital celebrates £4.4M IPCU completion STRATHEDEN Hospital, Fife, now houses a newly built £4.4M Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit (IPCU).

The state-of-the-art eight-bedroom facility – designed to provide specialist care to those experiencing acute episodes of mental illness – achieved completion in early May, with main contractor Graham Construction at the helm.

Sited towards the north eastern boundary of the hospital grounds, adjacent to the Radernie Low-Secure Unit, the IPCU replaces an existing facility on Stratheden’s western edge.

Remarkably, the development has been informed by the experiences of patients past and present as Clinical Service Manager, Lesley Tweedie, explains: “We recognised that if we were to deliver the standard of facility our patients deserved, then we needed to ensure that patients with experience of our IPCU played a role in informing the design.

“A group of current and former patients

were asked to identify the features that would be important to them at the point where they are most unwell. The feedback we received from this patient group, coupled with a similar focus group of staff, was presented to the architects and almost all of these were encompassed in the finished build.”

Patient privacy quickly became a key consideration, with individual bedrooms prioritised over shared dormitories.

Similarly, the provision of dedicated space has enabled patients to meet with visiting friends and family in isolation, while a striking central courtyard – accessed via a double height communal lounge – offers an outdoor environment for exercise and relaxation.

NHS Fife Chief Executive Paul Hawkins commented: “I am delighted to see patients move into the new Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit. We recognise that providing modern, therapeutic environments support us to deliver the high standard of care our patients deserve.

This facility will enable some of our most

vulnerable patients to be cared for in a safer and more supportive environment, designed specifically to meet their needs.”

Envisioned as a means of nurturing patient recovery and shortening treatment and rehabilitation times, the IPCU has lasting clinical benefit also. It represents a significant first step towards an improved mental health service in Fife.

Sandy Riddell, Director of Fife’s Health and Social Care Partnership, concluded: “Replacing the IPCU at Stratheden Hospital is a key part of our efforts to enhance mental health services in Fife.

“This new facility provides a more modern and secure environment for patients, enabling greater privacy and allowing our specialist staff to deliver more rehabilitative and therapeutic interventions.

“We are determined that patients in Fife should receive the very best care available and this impressive new facility will certainly support us in this end.”

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Queensferry Crossing delayed until 2017 Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) has revealed that more time will be required to complete the muchanticipated Queensferry Crossing.

According to FCBC – the consortium responsible for delivery of the new bridge – extremes in weather have stymied construction efforts, sending the proposed schedule into a tailspin.

Since September 2015, downtime due to inclement weather – specifically wind – has risen to 40%, a 15% increase on contractor estimates. While FCBC initially believed that the implications of this could be mitigated, the consortium experienced a disastrous April and May – losing a further 25 days to adverse conditions. As such, the December 2016 target is almost certainly beyond reach.

Scottish households continue to rise

The downtime has also created an unavoidable knock-on effect for subsequent activities such as road surfacing – many of which will now take place during the wet and cold autumn/winter period.

Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, commented: “We have always been ambitious about this project and have always worked towards a deliberately ambitious target. However, it is important to recognise that FCBC still fully expects the project to complete within the timeframe of their contract.

This project is not late and there will be no impact on the public purse.”

Though FCBC’s contract extends to June 2017, the consortium had hoped to handover the scheme six months

THE number of households in Scotland has continued to rise, albeit at a smaller rate of growth than before the economic downturn.

According to National Records of Scotland (NRS), 2.43 million households were recorded in 2015. The newlyreleased figures signify a 160,000 increase over the past decade, with household numbers growing faster than the total population.

Since 2005, Scotland’s population has risen by 5%, while household numbers have ballooned by 7%. NRS attribute the trend to an increase in people living alone and in smaller properties.

Indeed, this trend is reflected by the average number of people per household, which has fallen from 2.21 in 2005 to 2,17 in 2015.

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ahead of the contractual completion date. Despite the delay, Queensferry Crossing is now anticipated to open in May 2017 however – one month ahead of June’s deadline.

Mr Brown concluded: “It is important to remember that, in the space of around nine years, remarkable progress has been made in advancing this project from feasibility study to near completion. By the end of 2016 the project will be largely complete with the approach roads on both sides ready for traffic and a continuous structure spanning the Forth – and by the middle of next year, traffic will be flowing across it. The Scottish Government will continue to ensure that this iconic structure brings benefits to the people of Scotland at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Tim Ellis, Chief Executive of NRS, said: “These latest figures from the National Records of Scotland show household numbers continue to rise but the level of growth has changed, with the number of households rising by a much smaller amount each year after the beginning of the economic downturn.

“In most council areas, average household size continues to fall, but average household sizes are now rising in the four city council areas of Aberdeen City, Dundee City, City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City, and in Perth and Kinross. This may be linked to the trend we are seeing of more young adults living with their parents or renting rather than buying a home.”

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Trio of Scottish buildings among RIBA National Award winners THREE exemplary Scottish buildings number amongst the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) newlyannounced National Award winners.

City of Glasgow College’s Riverside Campus, Glasgow Academy’s Saunders Centre and Murphy House in Edinburgh have each been recognised as outstanding examples of British architecture.

Crucially, the shortlist for the muchcoveted RIBA Stirling Prize will be drawn from these 46 award-winning entries, meaning that the trio may yet be in line for the UK’s best new building accolade.

The Riverside Campus development a joint venture between Michael Laird Architects and Reiach and Hall - fulfils three purposes; it forms a striking new gateway to the city of Glasgow, reasserts the College’s importance as a civic institution, and creates an instantly recognisable local landmark.

According to Paul Little, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at City of Glasgow College: “Its seven-story atrium provides a beating heart at the centre of this vibrant building, and is the entrance to the most modern, most technologically advanced and most future proofed maritime campus

of all 230 such colleges anywhere in the world.”

Designed by Page \ Park Architects, Glasgow Academy’s state-of-the-art Saunders Centre is similarly groundbreaking. Incorporating a 178-seat auditorium with first-class teaching facilities and a generous foyer, this substantial new urban block makes for a stunning accompaniment to the Academy’s existing school building.

Elsewhere, Murphy House – named for its creator Richard Murphy Architects – is a valuable example of highly efficient housebuilding within a World Heritage Site in New Town, Edinburgh. Despite having a modest 11m by 6m footprint, the 165sq m household contains three bedrooms, together with living, dining and kitchen facilities spanning various levels. Most importantly, Murphy House illustrates how contemporary design principals might enable developers to work within the constraints of a historic city space.

RIBA President Jane Duncan said: “The RIBA National Awards are a great indicator of UK design, economic and construction trends.

“One stand-out trend from this year’s crop of winners is the huge scale of investment and ambition shown by

many of the UK’s universities and colleges; almost one quarter of the winning projects are in this category.

As universities and colleges in the UK are competing for students from here and overseas, it is encouraging to see so much emphasis placed on the power of architecture to help institutions to attract students and stand out from the mediocre.

“I am pleased to see a strong selection of new housing developments amongst our winners, including new models for public housing and semirural development. We urgently need new homes, but too often we see projects which have cut corners in quality which fails the people these new homes are meant to serve. I hope these achievements in housing inspire other developers.”

Ms Duncan added: “The RIBA National Awards put a spotlight on some of the smaller and unique, but no less ambitious. They show that budget, location or many other challenges are no constraints to the production of superb quality architecture as long as you have the commitment of an imaginative and capable architect working with a great client. These 46 buildings are what the best architecture looks like today.”

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Welsh Water unlock additional funding opportunities DWR Cymru Welsh Water’s notfor-profit model has freed up £32M of additional funding – equivalent to dividends paid to stakeholders elsewhere in the industry. The investment will go towards: • Providing financial support to struggling households.

• Investigating renewable energy initiatives to cut carbon emissions and customer bills.

• Infrastructure improvements in problem areas.

• Part-funding a new visitor centre at the Llys y Frân reservoir, Pembrokeshire.

The water provider previously announced a £1M-a-day capital investment programme, totalling £1.7Bn between 2015 and 2020. Welsh Water has also pledge to keep average household water and sewerage bills

below the rate of inflation until 2020.

Robert Ayling, Welsh Water Chairman, said: "I am glad and proud to report that after 15 years of our ownership, Welsh Water is in very good shape both operationally and financially. Our sole purpose is to achieve the highest standards for customers at the lowest possible cost. We have shown that our non-shareholder model of ownership can deliver that."

Welsh Water’s Chief Executive, Chris Jones added: “Our unique ownership model allows us to use, for the benefit of our customers, money that in other companies would be paid to shareholders. This will help cut our costs – and therefore customers’ bills – by generating more energy on our own sites; by improving the service in areas where we’re having repeat problems; providing additional support

for customers struggling to pay; and to help build a new environmental visitor attraction in Pembrokeshire.

“Customers have indicated that they want to see us strike the right balance between keeping bills low today, improving performance where it isn’t to the standard they expect, and investing now to cut the cost for future customers. The additional £32M of funding announced will help us strike that balance and our research shows that customers support this package by four to one.

“We also believe it is important that customers have a voice in how the value generated by our not-for-profit model is used in the future. We will shortly launch a consultation over the summer months inviting our customers to have their say on this most vital of public services.”

Welsh construction industry needs to overcome challenges to fulfil potential THE Strategic Director of CITB Cymru Wales, Mark Bodger, has urged policymakers to tackle the issues that are preventing the Welsh construction industry from achieving its full potential.

In an article published by Wales Online, Mr Bodger welcomed plans that would see the creation of a National Infrastructure Commission, believing it could provide the impetus the industry requires.

He said that the potential of the construction industry; the increase in the number of young people taking on apprenticeships, and the expected expansion of the country’s infrastructure make the necessity to address the challenges facing the sector all the more pressing.

Mr Bodger commented that more

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certainty is needed on major projects such as the Circuit of Wales, the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant.

He also called on the new infrastructure commission to focus on skills development within the construction industry.

He commented: “Embedding a strong skills element from the outset in the commission will also be vital. This is because training the Welsh workforce – through apprenticeships, upskilling and attracting people back into construction – will reduce the skills gap and lead to a positive ripple effect across the Welsh economy.”

Mr Bodger also claimed that, by increasing skills, a positive impact could be seen through a fall in poverty, homelessness and unemployment.

He added: “Securing long-term investment for the Welsh construction sector will be essential to provide the certainty that’s required to see the sector invest in its people.”

Quoting Prime Minister David Cameron’s words, Mr Bodger concluded that rather than delaying decisions, it is now time to “get on with it”.

Inward investment continues at record pace The 2015/16 fiscal year was the second best on record for inward investment, with Wales attracting 96 new projects, Economy Secretary Ken Skates has announced. More than 6,000 jobs have also been created or safeguarded over the same period.

Speaking ahead of the International Festival for Business 2016, Mr Skates said: “This is another positive year for inward investment in Wales as we continue to win record-breaking levels of investment.

creating wider economic benefits, jobs and new business opportunities for Welsh companies through supply chains.

“These inward investment projects were from companies based in 23 countries around the world. They could have chosen to invest anywhere in the world but opted for Wales. It is a clear indication of the regard in which Wales is held as a business location and that the pro-business approach of the Welsh Government is paying dividends.”

“Project numbers are the second best on record, beaten only by the previous year’s exceptional results. We are attracting new investment from high quality companies like Aston Martin and re-investment from global businesses like General Dynamics and Raytheon that are creating a substantial number of new, highly skilled, well paid jobs and career opportunities.

One of the largest and most significant investments has come from Aston Martin. The Manufacturer has opted to assemble its DBX crossover vehicle in Wales – a move which will generate around 750 skilled jobs in St Athan, with 1,000 more to be created across the supply chain as a direct result of the investment.

“The value to the Welsh economy from these investments is at least £660M

Secured with the full support of the Welsh Government, the St Athan site

faced fierce competition from more than 20 potential locations across the globe.

Aston Martin CEO Dr Andrew Palmer said: "Aston Martin’s decision to invest in Wales for the DBX crossover came after a lengthy global study. Wales won through for their ability to meet our demanding requirements on quality, cost and delivery of the project at the St Athan site.

“Since announcing the project, we have been consistently impressed with the quality of the local workforce applying to work at Aston Martin and the engagement from the Welsh Government to help us in the early stages of setting up this new facility.”

The provisional inward investment figures are indicative of an upward trend for Wales. According to Mr Skates, employment levels are now at a record high, having risen faster in Wales than in any other part of the UK.

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British Sea Power: Is Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon in doubt?

SINCE it’s unveiling in 2013, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon has emerged as one of the most innovative and imaginative infrastructure schemes in the UK. Envisioned as a means of meeting a significant portion of Wales’ current energy requirement, the as yet unapproved development also represents a valuable opportunity for Wales’ construction and engineering industries.

Tidal lagoons are a relatively simple concept – a harbour-like structure that houses hydroelectric turbines, through which seawater travels. The ebb and flow of tidal water has the potential to provide not just Wales but the entirety of the UK with an additional source of sustainable electricity.

If greenlit, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon would become the world’s first manmade energy generating inlet. With a 350MW capacity, the proposed lagoon would have a dependable yearly output of 495GWh – energy enough to power more than 155,000 Welsh homes for over a century. There are regenerative, recreational and economic benefits to be had as well, with substantial gains to

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be made in national employment and inward investment.

Forward momentum has been stifled however, with the Government remaining non-committal as to whether the development will go-ahead. Earlier in the year, the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) commissioned an independent review to investigate the feasibility of tidal lagoon energy. According to DECC, greater understanding is needed to determine whether or not the technology offers lasting value for money.

Tidal Lagoon Power – the proposed developer of Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon – has been invited to take part in the review alongside other industry stakeholders, while discussion regarding the fate of the long-awaited development continues.

Energy Minister Lord Bourne stated: “Tidal Lagoons on this scale are an exciting, but as yet an untested technology. I want to better understand whether tidal lagoons can be cost effective, and what their impact on bills will be - both today and in

the longer term.

“This review will help give us that clarity so we can determine what role tidal lagoons could have as part of our plans to provide secure, clean and affordable energy for families and businesses across the country.”

Responding to the review, Mark Shorrock - Chief Executive of Tidal Lagoon Power - commented: “This is a huge step from the UK Government and a clear signal that it sees potential advantage for the UK energy consumer in very long-dated tidal energy infrastructure assets.

“There is vast potential for tidal lagoon power to provide cheap long-term renewable energy at scale and to be taken formally into national policy.”

Mr Shorrock cautioned against inaction however: “A welcome review should not be a substitute for action. There is a serious and growing gap of electricity generation capacity. We need 16 new large scale power stations. The cheapest new power stations will be tidal lagoons, rooftop solar power and gas fired power stations. We need

all three and quickly. And when the nuclear stations are ready, we will probably need them too, but their timescales are more uncertain.”

According to research undertaken by ComRes on behalf of Tidal Lagoon Power, backing amongst Conservative councillors and MPs is considerable.

Of the 150 MPs – 61 of which were Conservative representatives – and the 303 Conservative councillors polled, four out of five backed the proposal, recognising it as a potential first step towards harnessing a hitherto untapped source of sustainable energy.

Given that Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon featured in the Conservative Party’s 2015 manifesto, the results are perhaps unsurprising. The findings are indicative of the groundswell of support for sustainable alternatives such as tidal power however.

Katharine Peacock, Managing Director of ComRes - the consultancy responsible for the findings - explained: “This research demonstrates the clear consensus of support among Conservative MPs and councillors

for construction of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. There is a consensus around the need to invest in energy infrastructure now to develop cheaper energy in the future. Not only do Conservative politicians feel that tidal power delivers on their energy priorities of providing a long-term, sustainable source; they also view Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon as a project which has the potential to open the UK to a significant means of generating low carbon power.”

Andy Field, Tidal Lagoon Power’s Head of Communications, concluded: “We’ve always found support for tidal power to be intuitive and that has been as true of politicians in Westminster as it has community groups in Port Talbot or manufacturers in the Midlands. What’s interesting about this research is that support for Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon runs deeper: there is a common appreciation among Conservatives that this project signals the start of something different in UK energy. And as the scale and cost efficiencies of tidal lagoons are better understood, we’re confident support will grow further still.”

The support of Conservative councillors and MPs means little without formal government backing however. To date, much of the development remains up in the air, with Tidal Lagoon Power severing ties with chosen contractor CHEC (China Harbour Engineering Company) in May – a move which could further complicate matters. According to the developer, the preferred bidder’s designs had “limited workability” and came at great expense. Though the decision will necessitate a retendering, Tidal Lagoon Power insists that the project can still be delivered within projected timeframes.

In the end, the results of the independent review may well prove the deciding blow. Till then Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon remains in limbo.

Perhaps the Government’s reticence is understandable – tidal lagoons are seen by some as inefficient and costly in comparison to other forms of sustainable energy generation. If those costs could be mitigated however, coastlines across Wales and rest of the UK might finally be capitalised on.

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Enterprise Ireland exports pass €20Bn LAST year saw an increase of 10% in exports for Enterprise Ireland companies in comparison to 2014, reaching a record total of €20.6Bn. Enterprise Ireland is a government body that help and develop Irish companies to enable them to export to international markets.

According to the newly-released figures, the increase means that the amount has now nearly doubled over the course of a decade.

A substantial increase in growth was recorded in all sectors, with the biggest rises being seen in software, construction and manufacturing: • 32% in exports for internationally traded software companies to €1.8Bn. • 21% in exports for construction and consumer companies to €2.8Bn. • 11% in exports by manufacturing

companies to €3.4Bn. • 3% in exports by food companies to €10.6Bn.

The figures revealed that exports increased across most territories with exports to the USA and Canada increasing by 27% to nearly €3Bn; exports to the UK increasing by 12% to €7.5Bn, and exports to Northern Europe increasing by 8% to €4.2Bn. Commenting on the results, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD said: “Irish companies continue to deliver for the Irish economy and the figures announced today show the strength and capabilities of Irish companies competing at a global level. I would like to congratulate the exporters and also Enterprise Ireland for supporting these companies in achieving these record exports.”

Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland said: “Enterprise Ireland’s role is to help Irish companies export globally.

The 2015 export figure of €20.6Bn demonstrates the scale of the success that Irish companies are seeing in terms of winning business at record levels internationally. Significantly, growth was recorded across all sectors and we are seeing that diversification into high growth markets is a focus for our clients.

“The UK remains our largest export market, but we are seeing a trend whereby the exports to the UK as a proportion of our total client exports has declined from 45% in 2005 to 37% in 2015, as more companies have diversified their export strategies into Northern Europe, the USA and high growth markets including China, India, the Gulf and Brazil.”

£175M funding allocation announced FINANCE Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has unveiled £175M of funding allocations to executive departments as part of the June Monitoring Round.

The agreed amount includes an additional £72M for health, £30M for education, £28M for infrastructure and £20M for skills. The Minister explained: "This positive monitoring round represents a determination on my part to work with ministerial colleagues to deliver a 'fresh start' - not just through words but demonstrated in deeds. Despite huge pressures on budgets as a result of the Westminster austerity agenda, we have managed to bring forward a monitoring round which does not contain cuts. The allocations made in this monitoring round will deliver positive outcomes by supporting funding for key public services.

Commenting on capital allocations, the Minister added: "Whilst this monitoring round supports key Executive

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priorities - I am also proud that it aims to support our local communities. I have made £5.5M available for coownership homes to ensure that more of our citizens can enjoy the right to a roof over their head and £2M to fund welfare advice centres which will support the vulnerable, ensuring they receive their full benefit entitlements.

“As well as additional funding to help maintain our local roads infrastructure

and provide flood prevention measures, I have also recognised the importance of working positively with communities to support local tourism projects and I have provided £1.3M to ensure the HMS Caroline museum project can be completed.

“Additionally, I place great importance on the regeneration of border regions.

Cross-border co-operation puts those communities at the heart of an allisland economy and that’s why I’m proud to be the first minister since 2010 to make a capital allocation to a crossborder body in a monitoring round.

Speaking of the challenges facing the new Executive, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir concluded: “This monitoring round demonstrates what can be achieved by working together, in spite of the financial constraints, and I will continue to make best endeavours to prevent the least well off from shouldering this burden.”

Road improvement programme commences at Temple Crossroads INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Chris Hazzard has announced the start of a £950,000 road improvement programme at Temple Crossroads in Lisburn.

Beginning in June, the project will provide a new roundabout at the junction of the A24 Carryduff Road and the B6 Saintfield Road – known locally as Temple Crossroads.

New Special Delivery Unit to tackle Irish housing crisis HOUSING Minister Simon Coveney is to create a new Special Delivery Unit in an effort to fast-track housebuilding in Ireland – a move set to see local councils sidelined.

Project managers will be appointed to oversee specific housing projects throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Mr Coveney will also investigate the possibility of fast-tracking large infrastructure projects to An Bórd Pleanála. It is envisaged that this would shorten the decision-making process and keep delays caused by objections and procedure to a minimum.

The move would replicate the process currently used for strategic infrastructure projects such as roads, which go straight to the planning board as part of a more streamlined route.

Mr Coveney said: “There is an emergency in Ireland that needs an emergency response and that means we need to do things differently, and we will do things differently.”

The Minister will look publish his housing strategy shortly and will seek to create more starter homes for first time buyers in Dublin. It will include plans to end the boom-bust cycle

of construction and housing supply “through better management of the land supply and development process”.

Current housing prices mean that houses in Dublin can’t be bought for anything less than €300,000. Mr Coveney said the current property market is freezing out 40% of people and is “a big issue”.

He has pledged to build 25,000 houses per year – more than the 2020 target put forward in the Programme for Government agreed in May. The Minister said: “Ultimately, we will need 35,000 houses to be built every year for the next ten years to make up for the absence of building over the last decade. I believe that target can be reached once we get over initial blockages.”

Housing has become a key priority for the Irish Government following its admission that the system was completely broken.

The Minister said: “This longawaited scheme will significantly improve safety for road users and local residents. The provision of a roundabout at this busy junction will improve access from the Saintfield Road across the main A24 Carryduff Road.

“This investment will also provide a Park and Share facility on the western side of the Saintfield Road, close to local bus stops.”

Construction of the new four leg roundabout, together with the realignment of the Saintfield Road approach, will take around seven months. Overall completion is expected for February 2017, though this provisional date is subject to favourable weather conditions.

With public inconvenience a key consideration, TransportNI has scheduled operations and traffic management arrangements accordingly. Lane restrictions will be in place however, which may result in some localised delays. Motorists are advised to allow for additional time when traversing this route.

Advanced warning signs will also be erected to inform drivers of the commencement of works.

Education Minister Richard Bruton said: “There is no system more broken than the system of housing in this country.

The system is completely broken and needs to be rebuilt.”

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Taoiseach unveils €150M Google data centre 64

AN Taoiseach Enda Kenny has officially unveiled a state-of-the-art €150M data centre in West Dublin, courtesy of one of the world’s most recognisable companies – Google.

The West Dublin based development marks the Multinational’s second major investment in Irish data centres, and represents the newest addition to Google’s global fleet of energy efficient cloud computing facilities. Crucially, its completion is further evidence of Google’s lasting commitment to the Irish economy.

During the unveiling, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced: "The opening of this new €150M data centre opens a new chapter in Google's story in Ireland. With the number of people employed by Google now surpassing 6,000, the Company is a fantastic leader within Ireland's digital community. The Government's priority is to make Ireland a more competitive location for new investment and job creation, and the ongoing development of Ireland's digital industry is a key part of that plan."

To date, Google has invested upwards of €750M in Irish capital assets, while Google Ireland’s workforce now amounts to more than 6,000 personnel – a remarkable 20% increase on last year’s employment figures.

Of that amount, around half are directly employed by Google, with the remainder filling an assortment of contracted positions.

Ronan Harris, Head of Google Ireland and VP of Google EMEA, remarked: "Google has continually invested in Ireland since we first arrived here in 2003. Today’s announcement is part of Google’s plan to build the world’s most energy efficient computing network and the work of our engineering team in Dublin is central to this success.

We now employ 6,000 people here in Ireland both direct and contracted employees and we’re continually hiring, with over 250 open positions currently available at our EMEA headquarters.

As Google grows globally, Ireland will continue to benefit from that growth.”

environment and skills available in Ireland.”

Mr Harris continued: “Google in Dublin is a growth engine for businesses in Ireland and right across EMEA, driving job creation and economic growth.

Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do and our teams of analysts, data scientists and engineers are recognised experts in developing new and innovative solutions for our advertisers, publishers and users across the globe.”

Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’ Connor, concluded: "Google's continued investment in Ireland is very welcome and this new data centre further enhances Google's presence in Ireland and is a vindication of the competitive advantage we can offer high technology companies. It is also a further commendation of the skilled Irish workforce available to such companies. I want to ensure that we create a supportive environment for enterprise to develop and attracting more companies in Ireland will contribute to developing our economy as only a strong economy supporting people at work can pay for the services needed to create a fair society. The extensive Google operation in Ireland has grown very significantly in recent years and we look forward to our very successful relationship continuing to develop in the years ahead."

The announcement was also welcomed by Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland: “Google started out with modest plans for Dublin when it first landed here back in 2003. It is now one of the largest employers in Ireland, making a significant contribution to the economy. Google’s ability to build its business across a number of highly skilled functions and to increase its talented team of Googlers year on year is a great testament to the business

Ireland has become a beacon for foreign investment in the aftermath of the economic downturn, attracting a host of internationally renowned organisations from across the globe.

In addition to Google, Amazon has also invested heavily in Irish interests – most recently announcing the creation of 500 highly skilled jobs over a two year period. IDA Ireland attribute this ongoing success to the strength of the Irish economy, stable labour costs and a competitive corporate tax rate.

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8build are a central London based Main Contractor who offer unique solutions for procuring and delivering fit out, refurbishment and new build projects throughout various sectors.

Jonathan McNichol from 8Build has been working as a QS/Estimator for 13 years. He prices a wide range of different work and finds the variety really interesting. He tells us that he is pricing projects up to a value of £15m which can be anything from refurbs, office fit out, new build, schools, colleges and offices. He has also been involved in pricing some very specialist refurbishments of historic buildings, these have to be tailored following on from site visits to suit the client, it is important they are accurate.

Before he joined 8Build, Jonathan had been using another system for nearly 7 years. After using ConQuest for only 6 months we asked him the big question; which does he prefer? ‘’Definitely ConQuest, the way it is set up and the On Line Enquiries, I can’t fault it to be honest. I had been using the other system for quite a few years but ConQuest is so much better, you just can’t compare them.’’ So he must have won a few jobs us-ing ConQuest even in the 6 months that he has been using it?

‘’I have, yes. I have just won one worth £4.6m and before that one for £3.6m and another for just under £900,000.” The pressure is off then?

“With ConQuest you can load all the pricing schedule in to it so you know you have covered everything. Using other systems it is easy to skip over and miss stuff. With ConQuest you can put everything in from one man and a shovel to a crane driver. We have 4 estimators here and we are all very impressed. I definitely wouldn’t go back to another system. I also think it will be very beneficial for my career, if I was to ever move on or want to progress to a higher level it is a great thing to have on my CV as most of the industry want estimators with ConQuest experience’’. Estimators are finding it difficult to get prices back from subcontractors at the moment, there is no doubt that contractors are having to send out a lot in order to get a reasonable portion back.

ConQuest’s cloud based On Line Enquiry module really makes a big difference. The fact that it is fully

ConQuest Ltd Derwent Suite, Paragon House, Paragon Business Park Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6HG T 01204 669689 • F 01204 667689 • E sales@conquest.ltd.uk

integrated with the rest of the system means you can use Subcontractor Comparisons, Valuations, and Estimating as one. ‘’It is very difficult to get prices back at the moment but On Line Enquiries makes it really easy, once you have the enquiry set up it is fast. Because you can assign 3 or 4 trades to items in the bill you can let ConQuest do it all for you in one go. The tracking system gives you the ability to see who has seen the documents that you have sent and keeps track of those who have sent you their prices back’’ 8Build also use ConQuest’s On Screen Take Off measurement software which gives the facility to measure directly from PDF or CAD/DWG files.

Jonathan likes how it directly takes the measurements into the Estimating module. ‘’The Take Off software is very good, I like that it all just appears in ConQuest for you to manage, you don’t have to do a lot of setting up manually’’

www.conquest.ltd.uk

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