THE UK’S leading independent builders’ merchant has launched a bumper prize bonanza for customers and trade clients at its new Whitchurch branch.

The company is giving away hundreds of gifts including £2500 worth of holiday vouchers, tools, products and more from today (Monday) until Friday September 20.

The store will also hold an open day on Wednesday September 25, with more than 25 suppliers in attendance for a free hog roast, demonstrations and a special appearance by TV favourite, the Dulux dog.

Huws Gray only opened the 8,700 site – which includes a showroom – in June but has already had a positive response from the community.

“The first few months here have been incredible, and the numbers are growing all the time,” said manager Gavin Martin.

“That’s why we decided to come up with some fantastic special offers and a free event for the public.

“Anyone who spends £10 or more with us will be given a scratch card and the opportunity to win one of dozens of great prizes, in association with our trade partners.

“It’s another example of Huws Gray putting people first, and how we partner with industry giants to give back to our loyal customers.”

The Whitchurch branch was built on a three-acre site at Waymills, which had lain empty for years.

There was great demand for another Huws Gray outlet in the region, to complement nearby sites in Wrexham and Shrewsbury, and with eight staff working at the store their arrival has given the local economy a boost.

Now employing 1,800 people at more than 100 sites across the UK, the Llangefni-based organisation has had a successful 12 months, acquiring Ridgeons – which had 40 branches across East Anglia – and holding a GIANT trade event in Colwyn Bay, which was attended by more than 1,500 people.

Managing Director Terry Owen says growth and job creation are pivotal as the business moves forward, but the consumer experience is at the heart of all decisions.

“The reason we have been successful is because we put our staff and customers at the forefront of everything we do,” said Mr Owen.

“This campaign is for people in the Whitchurch area who have been behind us since we arrived, and we are thankful for that.”

Makita, Reisser, Dandy’s topsoil, Sherwin Williams, Velux and Wavin are among the firms supporting the campaign and supplying prizes and incentives. Others exhibiting on the day include DeWalt, Pavestone, Ronseal, Dulux Trade and Rockwool.

For more information, visit the website www.huwsgray.co.uk or call the Whitchurch store on 01948 258303.

COLEG CAMBRIA is to build a £1.2million community learning hub at its land-based Denbighshire campus.
Llysfasi college has been earmarked for a project supporting the Welsh Government’s Prosperity for All vision to provide more education links in towns and villages across the country.
Work is expected to begin next year on the Ruthin Road centre, with facilities and services to include bilingual adult and community family learning resources, meeting rooms, IT and multimedia digital technologies, and development of new partnerships with the private, public and third sectors.
Chief Executive David Jones said the new building will further strengthen the relationship between the college and its communities, and their commitment to the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015.
“The project provides an innovative approach to widening the community use of local facilities by providing a central hub that would facilitate a variety of services in a single setting,” said Mr Jones.
“The centre itself would also support communities in north east Wales and have a broader geographical reach for some specialist provision, making education more accessible in more rural areas.”
He added: “Together with the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council we are also aiming to support local businesses with valuable training and skills development in ICT, business, marketing, farm diversification and more.
“Crucially, we are listening, as always, to our partners and people in the area to find out what they want and where there is demand.
“This hub will deliver a lot of the services and resources that are essential for rural growth, as well as learning, so we see it as being of huge benefit to our Llysfasi site and surrounding communities.”
Coleg Cambria Llysfasi will be working alongside agencies including the Rural Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI), the Farm Community Network and local health boards to deliver opportunities.
There will also be a strong emphasis on bilingualism and increasing the number of Welsh community and workplace courses linked to Cymraeg 2050 in a bid to boost the number of fluent employees of all ages across the country.
Iain Clarke, Head of Llysfasi, added: “At Cambria we are all about challenging the norm and providing opportunities for people to explore and achieve their full potential.
“The new community learning hub will allow us to do that, giving learners in hard-to-reach places in this area a chance to upskill and develop themselves personally and professionally, while working with some of the biggest and best organisations in North Wales and beyond.
“It will also have a positive impact on the rural economy, as well as supporting and enriching the social, cultural, economic and physical well-being of the communities we serve.”
Cllr Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire County Council, added: “”Coleg Cambria and particularly the excellent facility at Llysfasi work very closely with the council, and we are therefore very pleased see this further investment in the site.
“Llysfasi has a long and proud history of supporting rural and other local communities in the Vale of Clwyd and the broader agricultural sector in north and mid-Wales. This new project will support further development and the realisation of the ambitious longer-term plans for Llysfasi.
“We are delighted to support and be part of these new plans and congratulate Coleg Cambria on securing the funding for this significant new investment.”
For more on Coleg Cambria, visit the website: www.cambria.ac.uk

The IAD Company has restructured to become a not-for-profit organisation.

The award-winning design consultancy will support a host of worthwhile causes through the course of its work moving forward, with two Welsh organisations in place for year one.

Cardiff-based AP Cymru – The Autism Charity, and Many Tears Animal Rescue in Carmarthenshire, are the first to benefit from the move.

Rebecca said: “As a company we have always looked for ways to support great causes, either through donations or by providing consultancy services free of charge.

“IAD’s progression to a fully not-for-profit organisation was a natural next step for us, therefore, and one we feel is really going to guide our efforts as we continue to grow and develop the company.”

As a breast cancer survivor who attributes much of her post-cancer mental health recovery to her beloved dog Daisy, as well as an ardent champion of design for mental health professionally, Rebecca has chosen two causes close to her heart to receive IAD Company proceeds in its first 12 months as a not-for-profit organisation.

From nationally acclaimed, bespoke classroom solutions to award-winning residential facilities, IAD Company’s work supporting individuals with a diagnosis of autism through the built environment is as long-standing as it is varied.

After an appointment with her consultant confirmed all the cancer had been removed, Rebecca chose to visit her local dogs’ home and brought Daisy back to mark the occasion. IAD became involved with Many Tears Animal Rescue Centre on a voluntary basis soon after as a result of her strong bond with Daisy.

Rebecca said: “I don’t think the importance of Daisy in my recovery mentally from what happened can be overestimated really. I was helping her in bringing her home, but what surprised me was she was also helping me – we were just there for each other.”

“That was hugely cathartic and ultimately led me to become involved with the development of the site at Many Tears, where they do an unbelievable job supporting dogs which need their care and attention – but where they are in desperate need of a new veterinary surgery, office space and much more, with a budget reliant almost entirely on donations with which to achieve it.”

“Likewise, AP Cymru provide an invaluable service to those with autism, and their families, at all stages of their journey – which is a cause very close to all of us here at The IAD Company. As a charity there is constant demand for their services but everything they provide is achieved through donations, volunteers and the monumental drive of charity founder Karen Sullivan.

“Our long-time involvement with AP is what originally set in motion all of the specialist design work we have undertaken within the care sector over the years.”

The IAD Company is a design consultancy with a focus on researching and creating nurturing environments that enable people to flourish in their daily lives. They are experienced providers of architectural and interior design solutions across the hospitality, education, healthcare, commercial and domestic sectors.

IAD has won two national awards in 2019, at the Design In Mental Health and the Inspire Awards, for its work transforming a ruined barn complex into a state-of-the-art residential facility for adults with autism.

More information can be found at www.theiadcompany.com

A LEADING architectural practice has laid the foundation for further growth after taking on new staff and unveiling plans for expansion into the north west.

Lawray Architects, which has studios in Wrexham, Cardiff and London, has been at the forefront of advances in the design and construction sector for almost half a century.

Directors Keith O’Hanlon and David Hughes lead the North Wales team and have an impressive list of buildings in their portfolio.

Among them are the Centre for the Creative Industries at nearby Glyndwr University, the new Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust headquarters in St Asaph, the striking re-imagining of Wrexham’s Oriel Gallery for North Wales Police and Coleg Menai’s STeM Engineering Centre.

The award-winning and sensitive conservation of Wrexham Cemetery and the Football Association of Wales’ National Development Centre at Colliers Park in Gresford are further examples of their work.

Add these to a long list of schools, emergency services sites, apartment developments and student accommodation complexes and you can see what an impact the firm has had on the footprint of the region, and beyond.

Currently employing 35 people, Lawray Architects is set for continued growth – including plans for a new North West base – and Keith and David (pictured) have a clear vision for the future.

“We have seen our commissions increase in the last five years, especially in the North West and the Midlands, and are growing in response,” said David, a former President of the North Wales Society of Architects.

“But for us it’s about doing so in a sustainable manner, building upon the talented team we’ve assembled here in Wrexham and across our other studios.

“Our clients, many of whom we’ve worked with repeatedly over many years, come back to us because we ensure that in expanding we employ people who share our ethos – at Lawray the personal touch and forming relationships is at the heart of everything we do.”

Their ‘people-first’ philosophy contributed to Lawray being named Constructing Excellence in Wales SME of the Year in 2017, an accolade of which the practice – no stranger to design awards – is especially proud.

“This industry has changed beyond all recognition,” said Keith, who joined Lawray Architects in 1984.

“However, one thing that has never changed is our ethos and attitude towards using our abilities for the good of communities, pushing boundaries and doing things differently, doing them better.”

David added: “At some stage it’s likely that you, or someone you know, will have been taught at a school we designed, or been to a hospital, a police or fire station, worked at a business park, or visited a hotel or theatre that Lawray conceived.

“We drive past these buildings and feel a sense of pride at the practice’s significant contribution to the built environment.”

And the environment is a major factor in the sector, notably in recent times.

Keith and David say a commitment to sustainability undoubtedly brings new challenges, but they welcome a more positive focus on conservation and renewable energy.

“It can only be a good thing, and as a result we are designing ever more sustainable and ‘greener’ developments and working on increasingly varied and exciting schemes – not just in North Wales but also Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and other areas of the UK,” said Keith.

But while the parameters may change depending on the client and other influences, the methodology is always the same.

“We have the same approach at the beginning of every commission and set off without pre-conceptions,” said David.

“We don’t believe in a house-style, but in the design process. As a result, you’ll see that our buildings and design solutions differ from one project to the next; each a bespoke response to the brief and site.

“Ultimately, it’s about communication, it’s about building relationships and understanding the dialogue that’s required to achieve successful architecture.”

He added: “Whilst we’ll continue to make technological strides and invest in our infrastructure to keep us at the forefront of current best practice, there is still great joy in sitting with a client over a coffee, scribbling initial ideas and concepts down on paper, developing them with the team and seeing them come to fruition – we would never want to lose that.”

For more on Lawray Architects, visit the website: www.lawray-architects.co.uk or follow them on social media at @LawrayArchitect.

A SCAFFOLDING company plans to double in size and continue making its name in the European offshore windfarm industry.
That’s the vision of Ben Badham, Managing Director of record-breaking North Wales firm, BGB Scaffolding.
Previously a roofer and tower crane operator, Ben later became a trainee scaffolder and was named in the top three Apprentices of the Year at CITB National Construction College in Birmingham, before deciding to set up on his own in 2007.
It was just Ben, a labourer and a van, with a shipping container for storage, yet he grew and grew the organisation through word of mouth and by building a solid reputation for quality and safety.
His enthusiasm and knowledge also played a major part in their initial success, and a passionate approach to all projects.
Twelve years on and based in Kinmel Bay, BGB Scaffolding employs 26 people, 18 of which are GWO (Global Wind Organisation) and HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) qualified.
The business has also become an international player having signed major contracts with Orsted, the global leader in offshore wind, to supply and erect scaffolding on the world’s two largest windfarms – Walney Extension off Barrow-in-Furness, and Hornsea One off the east coast of Yorkshire.
This has secured their place among the UK’s major players, and they look set to grow even further after opening a new office and yard space on Grimsby Docks in Humberside – the world hub for green energy – alongside associates Offshore Painting Services.
The 38-year-old, originally from Rhyl, says BGB Scaffolding is on an upward trajectory and expects that to continue, but never at the expense of the health and safety of his employees, in what he admits can be a challenging job.
“I think how seriously we take safety is vital as it is important to know we have done everything within our power to ensure colleagues arrive to work and get home safe each and every day, ensuring that we are working to our industry Best Practices and also that we as a company are fully aware of our duties under the Construction Design and Management Regulations (2015),” said Ben.
“Within the company we continue to professionally develop our work force and safety is paramount to all of this; some of the training courses completed by our team includes NEBOSH in Construction, IOSH Managing Safely and Site Management Safety Training Scheme, to name just a few.
“This has enabled us to enhance our safety culture within the workforce and ensures our clients are supported by a professional contractor.”
He added: “I was only 25 when I started the company but from day one the ethos was the same, to always develop and learn and to stay ahead of the curve.
“As with any trade within construction, scaffolding can be a very dangerous industry if work is not planned and coordinated correctly, then mistakes and incidents happen, especially when we are working on offshore platforms in difficult weather and an ever-changing environment.”
Despite these pitfalls, since BGB started recording its working persons hours three and a half years ago, they have amassed a staggering 175,000 person hours without a single Lost Time Injury.
The company’s profile as a leader in its field has also seen them write their name in the record books as the first company to ever erect scaffolding on a floating wind turbine, and the first to ever work on four platforms simultaneously on the same project in UK waters, on Hornsea Offshore Windfarm Project One.
An innovative approach is what sets them apart, whether inland or offshore, using the latest technology to plan where scaffolding and materials will be placed before even visiting the site.
“Companies using the correct technical guidelines have made the biggest strides,” said Ben.
“We can map out the whole project from our computers here in the office and pre-design every job we do. You shouldn’t really be erecting any scaffolding up without design, but sadly there is still a vast majority of firms who are working outside these practices, which is an archaic mentality.”
With the UK Government pledging that 30% of green electricity will be provided by offshore energy by 2030, more and more windfarms are to be built in the years ahead.
While BGB continues to acquire contracts on home soil, including St Bueno’s spiritualist retreat in Tremeirchion and a new build housing estate and office blocks in Tattenhall and a solar panel project throughout North Wales and the North-West, he is confident a blend of onshore and offshore schemes will sustain and push the business onto even greater things.
Next up is completion of their ISO accreditation and further professional development of his workforce, notably in health and safety and within our industry, and cementing their place among the giants of the sector.
“The future is green, so I envisage more work offshore while focusing on both sides of the firm,” said Ben.
“Our ultimate vision is to at least double the size of the business and our workforce in the next five years, opening the Grimsby site and looking at more work in Europe. We already cover all areas within the UK, Belgium, Denmark, and Germany, but have plans to reach further afield.”
He added: “When I started out, I never dreamt it would be like this, working with such huge organisations and employing so many people, but I always wanted it to be a success.
“Doing so means we have witnessed first-hand how to grow and raise our profile, and as a result we have just introduced an internal App so our teams can complete and update risk assessments, method statements, inspections and more key aspects required for scaffolding.”
As a new Dad with a young daughter, Ben revealed it can be tough being away for several days or weeks at a time, but with the support of his family he has been able to continue to commit himself to building up a client base while focusing on company growth.
“As well as my family I must thank Dave Abraham and Jen Wood from Fulcrum Scaffolding Safety and Training Ltd, who’ve been a huge help and resource for all our training, policies and procedures and guidance,” he said.
“And thank you to all of our staff, who take pride in their work and have enabled BGB to provide a service of the highest standard to UK and Europe. Without them buying into our safety-first ethos then none of this would be achievable.”
Ben added: “It’s good to take a step back and look at where you’ve been and where you’re going. When you’re busy you don’t always take time to reflect, your aspirations just grow steadily in line with the work and the people you work with, and that’s helped us to get to this position – long may that continue.”
For more information on BGB Scaffolding, visit the website: www.bgbscaffolding.co.uk

South East Wales’ largest independent accountancy firm is urging businesses in the construction sector to take notice and ensure they are well prepared ahead of VAT changes due to take place in October of this year.

Legislation has been introduced in a bid to close a VAT loophole which HMRC say will save them £500m over the next five years.

Presently, if a sub-contractor makes a supply of construction services to another VAT registered construction business, the sub-contractor will issue an invoice, which the business settles. The business reclaims the VAT paid as input tax and the sub-contractor pays over the VAT as output tax. Sometimes, when a business has paid the invoice and reclaimed the VAT, the sub-contractor does not pay the VAT as output tax to HMRC and so gains a cash advantage and HMRC can lose out.

The changes affect the way VAT is accounted for between VAT registered businesses in relation to VATable construction supplies that fall within the remit of the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

The new rules will come into effect on 1 October 2019. On or after this date, the business customer will pay output tax to HMRC and reclaim it in the same VAT return as opposed to a sub-contractor charging VAT, which is currently common practice.

The new rules will affect both services and goods supplied with construction services when there is a single supply. Businesses that are registered for VAT and receive CIS services but do not make supplies of building/construction services themselves are known as ‘end-users’. End-users and those connected to end-users are excluded from the changes.

As a result of the new legislation, there are a number of practical issues to consider for both sub-contractors and main contractors operating in the construction industry. Whilst the biggest impact will be on cashflow, additional thought needs to be given to invoicing requirements, staff training on the rules, adaptations to the accounting software, identifying customer status, treatment of mixed supplies, amending contracts and the interaction with self-billing.

Mary McDonagh, Partner at Kilsby Williams said:

It’s really important to us that affected businesses are prepared for these changes.

We invite anyone who would like advice or help reviewing their business transactions to get in contact with us at Kilsby Williams. We can help identify the changes that construction businesses may require in order to comply with the new domestic reverse charge and ensure businesses are aware of how it affects them.”

Established in 1991, Kilsby Williams offers clients expertise in a number of key accountancy areas, delivering a bespoke service to meet their specific needs. The business works with clients from across South Wales, the Midlands and London, ranging from sole traders to companies in international quoted groups.

For further information please visit www.kilsbywilliams.com.