Tag Archives: construction

News

BCS Launches Latest International Survey Report

According to the findings of the latest BCS Summer Report 2022*, there is a firm commitment amongst respondents to move towards a renewable-sourced future.  However, there are also strong concerns that regulation could be placed on the industry to push initiatives for the greater use of renewable sources of power at a more rapid rate, with around 90% of the 3,000 of those surveyed believing that this could be introduced to ensure greater compliance.

 

James Hart, CEO at BCS, comments: “With ambitious targets to be achieved by 2025 and 2030 under the green deal, it begs the question that if our sector doesn’t get ahead of these targets, will the self-regulatory initiative become legislative and regulated? We believe our sector is at a crossroads with one route being proactive, investing in new technologies, self-generation and looking at innovative storage solutions to reach climate neutral targets. The other route is having legislation and regulation imposed on us and having to react to the imposition of energy, water and emission targets that we have no influence over.”

 

However, confidence in the sector continues with a 5% increase in respondents seeing a rising demand against a falling supply (up to 90%) which was further reinforced by a near 100% response that demand will either rise or remain the same over the next 12 months. This is despite the concerns voiced by our respondents around energy supply, skills shortages and sharply increasing costs across the board.

Disruptions to global supply chains continue to plague the data centre industry and 87% of our respondents stated that they had experienced such an eventuality in the past year, a marginal decline on the 91% recorded in our preceding survey.  There are also some indications of an easing in the challenge of sourcing of construction raw materials. In 2021 just over half of respondents experienced sourcing difficulties for concrete/cement, steel, cladding materials, and dry lining materials – this has fallen to around 32% in 2022 for the concrete /cement and two-fifths for the other materials.

“The long-term effects of the global pandemic, coupled with new geopolitical issues mean that the world now faces some robust challenges. Whilst an economic slowdown across Europe may have its own consequences for growth in our industry, perhaps the most immediate and stark issue is the inflationary pressures on energy pricing that has already hit consumers and business.  With the backdrop of economic indicators that suggest that stagnation and recession are at the foremost in the thoughts of the markets, the optimism shown by our respondents on the current state and future growth prospects of our sector even more remarkable.

 

“At BCS we are continuing to help clients navigate these global challenges and undertake the transformation that is necessary to prosper in the Green Deal environment. Our current services include informing clients of Green Deal levies, the financial modelling of impacts and supply-chain transformation that will form the map to reach our green destination,” concludes James.

Apprenticeships, Construction, Construction News, News, South West

New apprenticeships launched by RGB Building Supplies

RGB Building Supplies has launched a new apprenticeship programme helping to bring young people into the builders merchant industry.

Two new branch operative apprentices will be based at RGB depots in Barnstaple and Porthleven and will learn all aspects of the industry, including managing stock, raising quotes, assisting customers, processing orders, liaising with suppliers and completing paperwork. They will gain a broad knowledge of industry-leading products and develop their communication, customer and teamwork skills.

At the end of the 12-month apprenticeships, the apprentices will receive a Level 2 Trade Supplier qualification with any additional maths or English exams taken during the period.

Helen Mahoney, HR Manager at RGB Building Supplies, commented:

“There is a generational skills gap in the builders merchant industry, so it’s vital that we do something to help change that. It’s not an industry that many young people consider when thinking about a future career, but there is a wide variety of roles and positions available, and it is a sector that is constantly seeing innovative products being launched.

“An apprenticeship gives young people the perfect balance between training, working and earning by allowing them to gain experience and a qualification at the same time.

“Our apprentices do not need any experience, as they will be given full external and internal training throughout the 12 months. They just need to be enthusiastic, well-presented, friendly and have an interest in delivering exceptional customer service.”

Further information about the RGB branch operative apprenticeships can be found on the careers page of RGB’s website – rgbltd.co.uk/careers. Those interested in joining RGB as an apprentice can apply by sending their CV and covering letter to HR@rgbltd.co.uk.

Construction, Construction News, News, North of England

Roann Limited appointed exclusive kitchen worktop supplier for £82 million Leeds-based project

Granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, has been appointed as the exclusive supplier of kitchen worktops, for the £82 million Leeds city centre apartment project, the Phoenix.

Set for completion in the summer of 2023, the Phoenix scheme off Saxton Lane, consists of two residential blocks, with a total of 367 apartments, rising to 18 and 22 stories high.

Appointed by Leeds-based contractor Torsion Developments, Roann Limited is supplying £165k worth of Fugen White Shimmer Quartz with Upstands and Fugen Carrara Quartz worktops, to both apartment blocks.

The new accommodation will offer a number of disabled accessible compliant apartments, alongside communal facilities, basement car parking, landscaping and public open spaces.

Scott Wharton, Sales Director at Roann Limited, says: “We’re delighted to have been appointed as the exclusive supplier of kitchen worktops for this Leeds-based project! We’re passionate about providing high quality, durable and aesthetically-pleasing quartz worktops to projects around the UK, but it’s great to be a part of this local investment. Here at Roann Limited, we’re currently experiencing substantial business growth and we’re thrilled to add this project to our ever-growing portfolio.”

Construction, Construction News, News, North of England

MC Construction brings historic cottages back to life in £1.1m project for One Manchester

A row of historic cottages in Manchester which lay empty for nearly a decade have been brought back to life as affordable homes following a £1.1m refurbishment project.

The six terraced houses known as Westwood Cottages, which have Grade II listed status and are owned by One Manchester, have been given a facelift by Salford-based contractor MC Construction.

The cottages, in Raby Street, Moss Side, were built in 1876 as alms houses by prominent industrialist John Robinson in memory of his sister, Edith Marianne Robinson. They stand as individual dwellings in one block built in Flemish Gothic style.

The cottages were vacated almost a decade ago and their condition subsequently deteriorated. They became a target for vandalism and anti-social behaviour, and many of their original features were removed.

One Manchester, which provides housing and community services across the city, appointed MC Construction to carry out the renovations following the granting of planning approval and listed building consent.

The cottages are in an area of Moss Side earmarked for regeneration, including the delivery of new and suitable housing stock.

MC Construction’s team carried out a comprehensive programme of internal and external repairs and refurbishments and the cottages have now been returned to use as two-bedroom homes for affordable rent.

The project team worked closely with planning and local heritage officers to ensure the building was sympathetically refurbished. This involved retaining and restoring key features, including original gothic arched front doors, and using heritage-approved materials such as cast iron guttering, timber framed casement windows, and ironmongery.

Each cottage has had a complete internal refurbishment, including the installation of a new kitchen, bathroom, boiler and heating system and a rewire. Additional living space has been created at each property with a single-storey rear glazed extension to form a conservatory, making the homes more suitable for family accommodation.

Historical features such as mosaic porch floor tiles and the front doors have been retained.

The external works have included a refurbishment of the roof, new windows, repairs to the brickwork, chimneys and stonework, and landscaping.

David Lowe, Managing Director at MC Construction, said: “The refurbishment of Westwood Cottages has been a tremendously satisfying project for MC Construction.

“Working closely with a number of key stakeholders, we have successfully retained a part of the city’s heritage while giving a new lease of life to this historic building to provide affordable and energy-efficient homes for families in an area where there is a need for this type of accommodation.

“It has been a pleasure working with One Manchester, the city council and the other parties involved to bring this scheme to a successful conclusion.”

One Manchester Chief Executive Nicole Kershaw said: “I am delighted to see the Grade II listed Westwood Cottages back in use as affordable homes for local families.

“The cottages had been empty for several years, and we have worked hard to create light and spacious contemporary homes internally, whilst preserving the heritage qualities and landscaped shared gardens.

“We have also improved the insulation levels to achieve our 2030 energy efficiency targets, meaning the homes will be warm and affordable to run.”

Construction, Construction News, News, South East, Sport

Builders merchant helps Winchester City’s under 16s ‘build’ for the future

The Southampton branch of Covers Timber & Builders Merchants is delighted to be the new kit sponsor of Winchester City Football Club’s under 16s team for the 2022/2023 season.

The builders merchant’s sponsorship will help to support the players and their coaches, and new match day and training kits displaying Covers’ logo have been issued to the team.

Winchester City Under 16s is a squad of 15 hardworking and talented boys. Core members of the team began playing together nine years ago as under 7s and have competed in all age groups of the Southampton Tyro League. Last season they won the league and made it to the league cup final.

Russell Vowles, Manager of the Winchester City Under 16s, commented:

“Sponsorship for match day and training kits from local companies is invaluable. Like most clubs, Winchester City is run on an entirely voluntary basis and, therefore, the funds to purchase kits are not available. This fantastically generous sponsorship enables the club to compete and offers the team a uniformed kit, which creates a feeling of belonging, a sense of pride and worth, and contributes to a professional match day and training experience.

“We are so very grateful to Covers for their generosity; the worth of the new kit is immeasurable. We look forward to seeing the boys wear the new kit next season in the City of Southampton League. Thanks Covers for your support.”

Michael Sheath, Depot Manager at Covers Southampton, added:

“Local sports teams give so much to the community, and we are delighted to be making this commitment to Winchester City’s under 16s team – the kits look great. We wish the squad the very best of luck for the season and look forward to hearing about their results.”

Construction, Construction News, Mental Health, News

Mental Health In The Construction Industry: The Silent Crisis

Men are still three times more likely than women to commit suicide. In such a male-dominated industry, it is hard to believe that mental health isn’t more of a talking point for those in construction. 

In fact, the macho facade and toxic hyper-masculinity are preventing a lot of people from even mentioning the words ‘depression’, ‘anxiety’ or ‘stress’. The industry continues to feed a culture of grin and bear it. 

This attempt to keep up appearances is extremely damaging, often reflected on building sites and in the general environment of this industry. Men in construction can become competitive and adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms. With the figures for male suicide sky high, changes need to be made now in order to attack this silent crisis. 

Blakeney Leigh is a team of property and construction consultants who have been delivering high-class building, construction and property services for over three decades. They have been thinking more about the mental health struggle in the work they do and have been identifying some of the major factors. 

A spokesperson for Blakeney Leigh mentioned that “a lot of us in the industry forget that it is made up of pretty hard-hitting roles. We work in all weathers doing very physical jobs and often with strenuous shift patterns.” So with stress one of the leading causes of depression and anxiety – ensuring support is available for people struggling with these conditions is the first step.

“Then you need to remember that this macho culture is probably one of the most significant things impacting the mental health of our colleagues. When people don’t feel as though they can talk about what’s going on – they’re using all their energy to hide real feelings and keep up appearances. It’s a recipe for disaster and burnout.”

If people aren’t making managers, colleagues and even doctors aware of their struggles, these people aren’t going to know that help needs to be implemented. The facade blocks any hint that something could be wrong because they do their jobs well, join in with the social aspects of construction and go home. 

As a result, it is clear that support needs to be implemented without the need for asking for it. Blakeney Leigh has recently discussed actions for the construction industry such as educating workers.

Providing mental health workshops, resources and social events are suggested to open the conversation about mental health and provide the initial point of contact for breaking down this hyper-masculine culture. 

Working with different sectors from education to private and social housing as well as wearing many different hats throughout a project – the whole team at Blakeney Leigh see first-hand the number of people that can benefit from changes like these. It needs to become the topic of more conversations both at home and at work. Only then may those higher up realise the extent and be able to do something to fix or tackle the problem before these workers become another statistic. 

News, Property, Property Buyer News, South East

All homes sold at new Bellway development in Brampton

A Bellway development which generated a £1.5 million investment for Brampton and the surrounding areas has sold out.

Brampton Gate, off Laws Crescent in the village of Brampton, features a collection of 150 new build homes.

The first homes at Brampton Gate were released for sale just over three years ago, when building work had just started.

As the construction programme nears completion, most of the homes are already occupied and the final residents will move in over the coming months.

Luke Southgate, Sales Director for Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “Brampton Gate is a stunning development in a residential area on the edge of this sought-after village.

“Many of our customers have been particularly keen to move to Brampton Gate because it is in an established part of the village.

“We have installed footpaths through the development linking to popular walking routes and created new green open spaces for residents living at Brampton Gate and nearby. The first of these spaces opened in May 2019, when trees and shrubs had been planted around a 10.5-acre landscaped area.

“The village itself combines semi-rural charm with exceptional transport links, including the newly upgraded A1 and A14 sections around Huntingdon.

“Each of these factors builds the picture of why this development has been so attractive to people looking to set down roots in Brampton.”

As part of its planning agreement for Brampton Gate, Bellway committed £1.5 million towards education and public services through a Community Infrastructure Levy, known as CIL. A further £54,000 was allocated to new digital boards at bus stops which provide real-time information for passengers.

Bellway also built 60 affordable homes at Brampton Gate, which were made available to local people through shared ownership or rental.

The remaining 90 homes were three, four and five-bedroom houses which were sold privately.

Since work started at Brampton Gate, Bellway has chosen to support local causes, including Brampton Primary School and Huntingdon Rugby Club.

Bellway site manager Paul Lawrence was recognised for his exceptional work at the development by the NHBC’s Pride in the Job Awards scheme.

Bellway continues to build in the Huntingdon area, with a new development to follow at Whitehill Gardens in Godmanchester.

For more information on new Bellway homes across the area, see https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties.

 

CAPTION

  • All homes are now sold at Bellway’s Brampton Gate development in Brampton
Construction, Construction News, News

Roann Limited celebrates a successful six months with £4.7 million in sales

Roann Limited, the premium granite and quartz worktop supplier, has celebrated reaching a six-month sales total of over £4.7 million – a record-breaking achievement for the Wakefield-based business.

Established in 1990, Roann Limited has secured a number of projects with credible house builders, property developers and construction businesses in recent years, which has contributed to extensive business growth. Key partnerships include Taylor Wimpey, Crest Nicholson, Midgard Construction, and Hill Partnerships.

The company has reported a £975,000 increase on last year’s six-month sales figures and is on track to exceed 2021’s annual sales figures.

The business has experienced substantial progression and now produces over 15,000 worktops per year and this year, Roann is set to complete over 400 projects by the end of 2022.

Scott Wharton, Sales Director at Roann Limited said: “We are delighted to have experienced such a successful six months here at Roann Limited. We have worked on some very exciting projects across the country, and we look forward to continuing this period of growth. As the demand for our products and service continues, we strive to meet the needs of our clients and stay competitively priced.”

News

HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO officially opens Unity Campus

HRH The Duke of Gloucester visited the new Unity Campus development in Cambridge on Friday 24th June. 

Welcomed by Nicholas Bewes, CEO, Howard Group, the developer of the site, The Duke and dignitaries, including HM Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Julie Spence OBE and The High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, Jennifer Crompton began with a tour of The Works building. Completed in February 2020, The Works was re-developed from an old industrial warehouse into a vibrant, contemporary laboratory and office space during the first phase of re-development on site.  

Having discussed the history of the Campus, current campus occupiers, Summit Therapeutics, Phoremost, Domainex and Telensa met HRH The Duke of Gloucester to explain more about the innovative work being undertaken within these organisations.  A tour of the laboratory facilities of biotechnology company, IONTAS, followed, enabling The Duke to experience ‘science in action’.  Led by IONTAS Chief Operating Officer, Jon Green and Chief Scientific Officer, Peter Slavny, His Royal Highness had the opportunity to visit selected laboratories to see and hear about the research being undertaken by IONTAS, which is focused on the development of novel antibody therapeutics using phage display and proprietary next generation Mammalian Display technology. 

The Duke was then introduced to representatives from FutureIn – a Cambridge focused programme providing young people at risk of homelessness or from challenging backgrounds the opportunity to train as apprentices within the  construction sector – and met the first FutureIn apprentice, Tony Cooley, whose apprenticeship is being facilitated by Howard Group and Morgan Sindall Construction, the contractors currently on site at Unity Campus.  

A ceremonial turf cutting to celebrate the next stage of development on campus; the provision of an additional circa 90,000 sq ft of exceptional, flexible life science laboratory space across three buildings was followed by tea in The Works where HRH The Duke of Gloucester had the opportunity to meet invited guests and campus occupiers before unveiling a commemorative plaque to officially open the campus. 

Having unveiled the plaque, HRH The Duke of Gloucester commented: “Having watched how Cambridge has grown internationally in the science world there seems no limit to the scope of research and development being undertaken here. Visiting Cambridge, meeting the scientists involved and seeing first-hand the type of discoveries being made here is fascinating. Providing the appropriate space for these discoveries is critical and you are carefully providing it; discussing and thinking about what these organisations need and then delivering it. I am delighted to unveil this plaque to commemorate the opening of Unity Campus.” 

Nicholas Bewes, CEO, Howard Group added: “We were extremely honoured to welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester to Unity Campus and showcase some of the amazing science and innovation taking place here by organisations that are working to make a significant impact upon our society.  We look forward to welcoming many other companies to Unity Campus over the next few years as the new facilities emerge within a development which has sustainability at its core.   

“As a long-standing, family-owned business, Howard Group is committed to making a real difference across the communities where we work; a value shared by the organisations we work with to deliver projects such as Unity Campus.  Many of our partners and members of the community were represented at the event and we were delighted to be able to share the day with them.” 

Located eight miles from Cambridge at the centre of the life sciences cluster to the south of the city, Unity Campus is an exciting new urban innovation district in the heart of the Cambridgeshire countryside. Its compact, bold aesthetic proudly builds on the industrial legacy of the site and the neighbouring villages of Sawston and Pampisford.

Construction, Construction News, News, South West

RGB thanks the South West community for generous donations to Ukraine appeal

RGB Building Supplies is thanking those who donated to its appeal for essential items that could be passed on to Ukrainian citizens.

In support of the Builders Merchants Federation’s (BMF) national appeal, RGB received 13 bulk bags of donations. The bags usually hold around 800kg of sand or aggregates.

The donations included thermal clothing, bedding, sleeping bags, torches, first aid kits, toiletries, baby items, household cleaning items and non-perishable food.

All the donated items were delivered to the charity Feed the Hungry by Umberleigh-based RTD, which is part of the RGB Building Supplies group. Feed the Hungry will distribute the donated items to those in need.

Andy Gamble, Managing Director of RGB Building Supplies, commented:

“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who generously donated items to the appeal. Some of the people the items will be passed to have lost everything and are in a desperate situation – everything that has been given will be greatly appreciated and will help to change the lives of hundreds of people.”